Australian Homemade

It’s a shame they need to use the ‘Australian’ name to draw people in (just like UGG, Emu Australia and the rest).
There was actually one of these in Sydney at one point and it didn’t last long at all.
Go hit up Ben & Jerry’s instead!

A Carvel/​Cinnabon opened in the Port Authority diagonally across from this place, and a Mrs. Fields another door down. All sell pastries and coffee. Interesting to see if there’s enough biz for all to survive.
– previous review –
Total chaos for a coffee and muffin. Coffee lid did not close correctly and leaked through bag, so I asked for a second bag; second bag too small for coffee and muffin, asked for 3^rd bag. I asked several times for napkins. I was served the wrong muffin (twice) and when I get to work, the place still gave me the wrong muffin! To their credit they do smile a lot. A lot! Are they over medicated? Smiling like fools, but can’t put a muffin in a bag.

Australian Homemade has been promising to open for months with big bold signs, to the point where I was convinced the business would never open. When it finally did, I was a bit mystified at my first visit. Rather than having the chocolates it’s so famous for, its primary ‘dessert’ like items are muffins and gelato (which is part of their thing, so that’s cool). In the mornings, they have tons of pre-​prepared omelets (which I’m wary of) and other breakfast foods. The stand is pretty typical of Port Authority, with a glass fridge showing off various foods, a small area for the cashier and staff crammed into the back.
What drew me was the deal for a large .99 cent cup of coffee. So yesterday I ordered the coffee, and it promptly rang up at about $ 1.64. Confused, I asked if the coffee special was «over» (despite the huge sign hanging to the left of the place) and the cashier looked utterly confused until another guy walked over and told her it was a special they were running (seriously, you work there and don’t know this?). So after much confused staring the cashier and the guy managed to open up the register and refund me the difference. The issue was not the money, but rather the principle of advertising a special you don’t even tell your cashier about, which is dumbfounding in my opinion.
I decided to give the place a second chance this morning. I stood on line, with three people ahead of me, and a couple behind. It gets crowded in that area, so the line started to form off to the side. The cashier (a different one this time) saw me standing behind a guy, I looked her right in the eye twice. After the guy left, the woman who was off to the side a bit jumps in front of me to order, and the cashier TOOK HER ORDER instead of saying «Ma’am, this gentlemen was here first.» as any well trained cashier would do. Nope. I told the woman who jumped in front of me that I was behind the guy who just left and again, stunned looks all around.
The coffee yesterday wasn’t that great, the service is terrible and they don’t even have the signature chocolate of the brand prominently displayed (I’m not even sure they sell it). If you want good gelato, go to Pizza Villa downstairs. You want good breakfast food? Go to Au Bön Pain. At least their people know how to train their staff.

I’m sorry Australian Homemade but I’m so not impressed with my first visit. Finally Australian Homemade opened inside Port Authority bus terminal on the second floor so I decided to try it out of curiosity. I had a small cup of hazelnut gelato which was a bad choice for me. It was just too nutty for my liking. I didn’t even finish it which says a lot because I almost never waste my desserts. I’m gonna give the benefit of the doubt and will try another flavor next time.