12/14/08

Incompetent waitress and hit/miss food

by SomeRandomGuy

I have walked past this restaurant many times, but finally stepped in for a late brunch today. They frowned a bit upon hearing I was a party of one, but gave me a table in five minutes. I asked for steak&eggs medium rare, but with just salad, no home fries, and also half an order of pancakes on the side.

When the food came, after quite a wait, the steak was the most sorry example I've seen in any New York diner. 1/4 inch thick, and about 5x8 inches. It was also cooked uniformly gray all through. The pancakes looked great though, with blueberries and strawberries, and fresh fruit on the side. The banana slices however had brown mushy spots that I had to cut away myself.

I was too hungry to cause a ruccus, and didn't want to wait even longer, so I started eating. The waitress never once checked back how things were, except once to take the ketchup bottle to another table.

When the check came, I was rung up for two complete brunches, and I noticed she hadn't even written any of my special orders for the steak and eggs, so no wonder it wasnt what I had ordered. Her only note said "medium", even though I asked for medium-rare.

She said they didn't offer half order pancakes, just full order. She had no answer as to why she hadn't told me that when I ordered, as opposed to just put it on the check.

I was amazed, so I called the manager over. He began offering money off the check, but I insisted instead that he hear me out. He did, saying "sorry" and "it's been busy" at every chance. I paid and left, vowing to put some reviews in online. Ergo, this posting.

I really wanted to like Raffaela's, it looks so cosy and has a good mix of customers -locals, old and young- but I can't bear a waitstaff that so completely botches things.

Pancakes were great though. And they did refill the hot water for my tea when I asked.

• Pros: Great Pancakes. Wonderfully decorated, nice marble diner tables and odd wooden chairs and tables
• Cons: Incompetent service. Sorry excuse for a steak, undersized and overcooked.

On a calm corner in Chelsea, this sweet cafe comforts locals with quiche, crepes, pasta and panini.

by Contributor

In Short
This cute cafe imbues its corner of Ninth Avenue with an inviting homeyness worthy of an antique shop. The carb-heavy breakfast, lunch and dinner menus elevate humble quiches, crepes, pasta, and pizza with interesting ingredients. Ravioli are stuffed with lobster, pizza is topped with prosciutto, and crepes come with a variety of fillings, including strawberries, bananas or Nutella. Other sweet temptations come in the form of pumpkin cheesecake and shakes.

10/31/07

Cosy neighborhood restaurant. Go for dessert, coffee and a good conversation

by pickyb

Rafaella's decor is very cosy with couches and mismatched furniture. The quality of the food depends on what you order. I've had very good steak there, However, their hommos salad is awful. Also don't eat there if you're in a rush. Service is quite slow.

• Pros: cosy atmosphere
• Cons: slow service

10/23/07

Lame

by rd3030

This place lacks in service, ambiance, and food. The furniture can be antique without stuffing coming out of the seat cushions. The service managed to not check on us even once. Our waitress was too busy reading to even see if we wanted dessert, coffee or even the check for that matter. The food, poor to average on the low end. Not even worth wasting time typing about it.

• Pros: ?
• Cons: Too many other good spots to dine at in the area

01/27/07

Relaxed cafe

by bigaub

Rafaella's is a very laid-back spot with antique furniture and chairs and very reasonably priced. I've been mostly at lunch time: good sandwiches - toasted, hot sandwiches on crusty bread, panini, with salads, etc. The food is fairly average: nothing to write home about, but a nice spot to hang out with friends or have a cup of coffee. The service is good, the waiters friendly and not pushy at all. Rafaella's stands out in the neighborhood because of the paucity of these kinds of cozy, home-y, restaurants - it's not super-trendy and loud like a lot of Chelsea restaurants or cafes.

Good for delivery, too.

01/14/07

Great place to chill out and have coffee with dessert

by chris_k71

fantastic, cozy ambiance with good people watching and friendly servers. The kind of place you want to go read a book in for a few hours.

• Pros: Great ambiance, great food, great people watching.
• Cons: None?

01/20/06

Great brunch place

by nogaleh

I've been to this restaurant a few times when I make my way to New York (from Portland OR) for brunch - each time with the same person, and we both order the same thing each time. It's a very cute place, pretty small, with big windows so there is a lot of light...each time we were there, there was only 1 server so it was a bit slow, but I do have to say they have the best lattes in town! (When I am there, I go out to a different restaurant for every single meal, and each place I go I order a latte, so I know New York lattes!)

• Pros: decor, location, inexpensive
• Cons: a bit slow, sticky table

11/02/05

charming cozy

by scottyb05

a great charming place on a quiet street in Chelsea - away from the main drag. An awesome place to stop in for dessert and coffee. Great people watching. The only downside is the service can be more efficient and serve with a smile.

10/09/05

Great Brunch Find

by diverdown

I love this cozy neighborhood nook for Saturday or Sunday brunch. It's utterly charming, full of locals on a quiet, delightful, people watching block of Ninth Ave. The food is delicious and the servic dependable, if occasionally a tad slow. A great place to catch up with an old friend over coffee and an omelette.

04/21/05

Busy Saturday Brunch

by kikutaka

I went to rafaella last saturday, and was so crowded!! eventough, the service was attentive, the food was so amazing, and the prices were even more! congratullations to the waitress!!