Perfect Vibe, Awful Service: The Medan spot I love and hate
qponx
2026-03-06
People's Place Cafe in Medan offers a stunning, Instagram-worthy ambiance perfect for photo ops and chilling with friends. While the Salmon Mentai is a must-try with its generous portions, there's a major catch: the service. This review weighs the cafe's beautiful design and tasty food against its notoriously poor and rude service. Discover if the perfect vibe is worth the potential hassle and get tips on how to navigate a visit to this love-hate spot.
My friends in Medan are always hyping up this People's Place Cafe, saying it's the best in town[1], and today I came to check it out for myself. How should I put it… my feelings were like a roller coaster ride🎢.
The ambiance is truly Mantap. I was instantly a fan of the modern design the moment I walked in. Both the indoor and outdoor areas are super photogenic, every corner is a masterpiece, definitely an Instagrammable treasure[2]. Coming here to Nongkrong with friends for an afternoon, taking photos and chatting, the vibes were immaculate.
We ordered the much-hyped Salmon Mentai[3], and honestly, this one didn't disappoint! The sauce was rich, and they were generous with the salmon; it was just divine mixed with the rice. But girls, take note, their portions are huge. The two of us almost couldn't finish one main course, so I highly recommend you share[4]! Otherwise, it'll really go to waste.
OK, enough with the praise, time to be real. I mean, the service really doesn't match the ambiance and price. The staff having a poker face the whole time is one thing, but when we wanted to change seats, the manager actually said “nyusahin aja kau” (you're such a hassle) to our faces[5]?! I was shocked on the spot🤯. I've also seen people online say they were served raw chicken cutlets[6], so it seems the quality control is really inconsistent. Anjay, you don't pay money to be treated poorly, right?
Tips to Avoid Pitfalls & Save Money 📝
For the girls who want to check it out (and take photos), here's some solid advice:
- Book in advance: It gets super crowded on weekends, so if you don't want to wait in line and you're in a big group, you must book a table[7].
- Parking is a matter of luck: Parking spots are very limited, and looking for one during peak hours will make you question your life choices[8].
- WFC-friendly: Some seats have power outlets underneath, so bringing your laptop to slack off for an afternoon is pretty nice[9].
- Keep your expectations in check: Go for the ambiance and the photos, don't have high expectations for the service, and you might be pleasantly (or unpleasantly) surprised.
- Modern design, super photogenic inside and out. Every corner is an Instagram shot[1]. Perfect vibe for an afternoon Nongkrong.
- The hyped Salmon Mentai is a must-try! Rich sauce, generous salmon, and amazing mixed with the rice[2].
- They even have power outlets under the seats! Bring your laptop to People's Place Cafe for a WFC session[3].
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