88 Orchard

12/03/09

Great Cafe

by Foodie968 at Citysearch

Just the cafe to unwind, read a paper, read a book or write a long essay. Free wireless. The staff is great too.

• Pros: service, tea, sweets
• Cons: not enough plugs for laptops on the first floor

10/14/09

great place to hang out

by sunnynero8 at Citysearch

the location is great, the seating area is large so it's a great place to go hang out with your laptop or friends. Drawbacks are the food... its okay but not amazing

• Pros: large seating area, affordable
• Cons: food is not that good

09/13/09

grim unsanitary sight

by hamhock22 at Citysearch

i hate to spread any ill will but even though i have a pretty high germ tolerance today i saw a sight here that made me want to yack. While eating at a table near the counter i had the distinct displeasure of witnessing an unkempt hipster employee play with her hair, rerrranging and retying, shaking it out and repeating ad nauseum all while standing over the food counter and a bowl of fruit and yogurt that some poor unfortunate soul would be about to consume. Then she started over again with the hair before touching and arranging plates for food. Isn't it a pretty basic rule of food prep to not use the prep area as a vanity and hair salon? YEE-UCK.

12/27/08

NO MORE DRAMA!!! WORST SERVICE EVER!!

by purichan at Citysearch

I've worked in the neighborhood for a year now and the service in this place has become so horrifying I had to write a review. I used to love coming every morning and afternoon for coffee, but in the last 4 months, with staff changes there is way too much attitude. Every employee has a chip on their shoulder, if you ask a simple question like "can I get a spoon with my soup" you've just started a fight! Like you are personally attacking them. The food and coffee is good but everyone I work with feels the same. It's not worth the hassle. Go to BABYCAKES or ROASTING PLANT instead. They are on the same block and much friendlier and tastier options. The OWNERS should install cameras to see how rude and nasty their employees have become. It's really ridiculous. NEVER AGAIN FOR ME!

• Pros: Atmosphere
• Cons: Bad Service and OVERCROWDING

05/18/07

Great atmosphere + cafe menu !

by silverfaze at Citysearch

I love cafes that let you sit and relax, without hurrying you out - this place is just that + more. I came here last night w/ my friends after dinner just for some tea and pastries, and we really enjoyed this lovely cafe. They played good tunes and have outdoor seating available when the weather is nice. The cafe is on the corner and has large floor-to-ceiling windows, along with a high ceiling, which make for a very pretty atmosphere. Someone noted that the sandwiches are pricey, but I think it's fair since they let you stay awhile. I will definitely be returning!

• Pros: african tea, vegetarian selections, vegan pastries, ambience, nice baristas
• Cons: nothing!

03/07/07

Cozy Local Cafe

by barryagilbert at Citysearch

Love it as a local. Nice staff, the place is small but well-designed. Food is pricey but you're subsidizing the fact that the cute place continues to survive, like a puppy. I'm a fan.

• Pros: Atmosphere
• Cons: It's small

02/28/07

Hipster Heaven

by fosterc at Citysearch

My old artist boss recommended this place to me while I lived in the 'hood, and now I can see why. A very hip clientele frequent this place; consisting mostly of artists and writers it seems. I went there a few times for lunch, and although I liked the atmosphere, I think the panini I ordered was a bit too pricey..$9.50 for a small eggplant and goat cheese on facoccia panini! I mean, give me a break, it didn't even come with anything else since they forgot my pickle. The horror!! If I pay $9 for a sandwhich, at least give me the pickle that comes with! And it took forever for them to press the dang thing. I'm a very busy woman!

It's definitely a neighborhood place, which is nice, and there's free internet and a couple of newspapers floating about to occupy your time while you wait for your panini.

• Pros: Good food, good atmosphere
• Cons: slow service, too expensive for a little sandwhich

02/19/07

Died and went to heaven!

by jstern4 at Citysearch

I just found the turkey reuben at 88 Orchard! OH MY GOD!!! It is the perfect balance of flavors, and has the perfect crunch after being pressed on the panini grill. This place was so cute- I wish I lived in the nabe and could go there every day. The latte was really good too- but oh, that sandwich.

• Pros: Food, Service
• Cons: Don't live close enough

01/19/07

More like the Employee's Living Room than the Customers' lately

by emf6565 at Citysearch

I've been coming to 88 Orchard for almost 2 years now. In fact, I am sitting in their basement level dining space as I type this, enjoying their free wireless signal. I have a complaint to lodge though: Over the past few months the evening employees seem more keen on creating an atmosphere to suit their own enjoyment rather than the that of the clientele. The music is played super-loud, and it is often a poorly chosen selection that ruins what has always made this place so great: a chilled out atmosphere to chat and get work or reading done. Tonight the granola-hippie girl working the counter must not care much about tips. Her disturbingly uncreative mix of Lisa Loeb, REM, and Tori Amos just keeps getting louder and louder. Earlier the manager was playing Alanis Morrisette's greatest hits so loud that the basement kitchen staff had to struggle to hear their own moderately loud mariachi music.

The problem is that the staff either doesnt care or they think we customers actually want to be subjected to their personal tastes in a way that is unavoidable. Oh man, another song started again. It's a ear-splitting Tegan & Sara tune that sounds like everything else that has been hammering off the walls today. I think I may not come back here anymore, there are other better coffee shops opening up further downtown anyway. This place is good for LES Tenament tourists, Lilith Fair fans and people who don't like to sit in peace while drinking their coffee.

• Pros: location, free wireless
• Cons: staff musical habits, staff musical habits

09/14/06

great coffee

by nativebrooklynite at Citysearch

great coffee in a great neighborhood. Perfect ice coffee after the Tenement Museum, It's nice to have authentic, non-Starbuck's places like this in NYC. Mellow atmosphere on the weekdays.

• Pros: location, coffee
• Cons: food not quite as good as the coffee