Coffee Shop

04/11/09

Anything can happen in a NY Coffee Shop

by Mehling381

I come through here a few times each month when meeting clients and friends from out of town. Sometimes I sit at a table but I often opt to sit at the bar where I usually get great service. Anna and Camila tended the bar the last time I came in and I had such a great time. The bar is pretty big and it was packed but they managed to provide great service and charming conversation. I haven't written a review about this place before now, but I overheard a guest saying some pretty offensive things about the bartenders here and I feel obligated to express my opinion that the Coffee Shop, while sometimes hectic, is quite a fun and spontaneous place to dine at. I've met numerous interesting people there, staff included. I'll continue to be a regular.

• Pros: Sweet bartenders
• Cons: Sometimes too busy

03/29/09

Terrific, terrific as always! This time better

by nowmanhattanbutfromqueens

As always, Coffee Shop is a terrific place for a mid-day burger and beer (or Screwdriver, in my case). I was in with my brother the other day, my first time in about five or six weeks. On a pretty busy Saturday afternoon, we bellied up to the bar and were greeted by the bartender Jo, who, surprisingly, was the sweetest and prettiest of the staff! This place is known for it's bitchy but gorgeous model wait staff, but Jo defied the former and nailed the latter. Jo was on it: she read our minds, asking if we needed a refill, napkins, or anything else, even before we knew we needed it. And she did it all with the nicest smile in the place. To top if off, the medium-well mozzarella burger and my brother's fries (I got a salad like an idiot this time) came out in a flash, as tasty as the first time I tried it all ten years ago. I'll go back again soon, and, when I do, I don't know if I'll get a table again. Thanks, Jo!

• Pros: Best burger and bartender (the pretty Jo) in NYC!
• Cons: Usually packed with annoying tourists

03/17/09

model staff?

by shagrug

i recently had lunch at this place and encountered a monster bartender who wears red lipstick and has black hair. when she talks she just seems to be fake and doesnt live up to the coffee shops reputation...

MODEL STAFF? HAH!

• Pros: good burger amazing fries
• Cons: not model staff at all

03/14/09

Surprise Surprise

by magalirosita

Somehow this place keeps bringing me back. I vowed not to go back to this place after one really bad waitress experience over 2 years ago. At any rate, in it's unavoidably convenient location, I came in late on a Sunday night right before they were closing. There was a surprisingly charming and adorable brunette bartender who even though was clearly focused on closing, made time at the last minute to be patient and make sure my food (macaroni and cheese she suggested is very good) came out. The service is always bad-mouthed for gorgeous staff that isn't good, but in this case I was pleasantly surprised. I can't remember her name , but hope the other servers catch on to her positive, patient attitude. Otherwise this place is ok, just needs a little hyping up.

• Pros: macaroni and cheese, bar service
• Cons: bit pricey

03/13/09

ARE YOU CRAZY????

by rainderrslipper

I can`t believe they fired Noel, their best bartender. He`s cool unlike that readhead Sun in the front bar, who is always checking her cellphone while behind the bar.

A lot of us went there only because of him, not because of the mediocre food this place offers. This place totally nothing without Noel. And I`d never go back there!

• Pros: none
• Cons: bad food, bad attitude, bad place to be

01/28/09

The Food is Hot Amongst Other Things

by TNails

I'll be honest I go for a few reasons: the food's reasonably tasty, the vibe is fun and I desire all the waitresses. It's a feast for the senses, smell, taste and sight. The service is this side of pathetic. But if you were expecting to get great service from girls hired for their hotness, it's like asking for French Service at Coyote Ugly. Be grateful they remember your order. I love the United Colors of Benetton swatch of ethinicities they get: Nordic ice queens, tragic mulattoes, exotic africans, to south of the border hotties.

And you don't have to tip them with money in your teeth.

And what I really love about the wait staff is the turn over. New models (literally and figuratively) every couple months. Only wish they could do that with the food. My only big regret is this isn't Rio. If it was they'd be servicing in mini skirts, bikini tops and boy shorts.

Stop acting like it's a restaurant already. It's a scene to see, be seen and when the food is less then - great place drool. As far as food is concerned I recommend their burger, nicoisse salad, risotto, beans/rice and seafood soup. Stay away from the Paella, Kalimari and any drink that requires a real bartender (Manhattan's and Martini's are a dicey proposition). If they bartender looks aloof and heavy lidded - don't expect anything memorable from the bar.

• Pros: Tasty Food. Great Seafood Soup, Burger and Nicoise Salad. Waitresses are Smokin.
• Cons: Waitresses are true amatuers. Stay away from anything fancy. Martini's are a gamble.

01/10/09

Completely unexpected

by renco01

Coffe Shop used to be my spot!!!! My fiancee and I went there on several occasions and will probably contunue to go. The food is great but my problem is with the lounge area. I have been down there on many occasions and it h as a great ambience if you want to chill out with some friends and have some drinks, but beware of the waitresses down there, they are fierce!! My girlfriends and I went to Coffee Shop after a very stressful dinner, just to kick back and relax. A couple of them do not drink which we thought would be OK. We quickly learned otherwise. As we arrived in the lounge at about 930 on a Saturday (very early for any real lounge activity) we were abruptly greeted by a blond waitress who immediately stopped us from sitting down in an area that was reserved for parties of 8, we were a party of 5. She seated us elsewhere and gave us our menus. I was ready to have another drink, the other ladies were interested in dessert. She came back over to get our orders (I ordered a glass of Chardonnay) and the girls were still deciding on what they wanted. Long story short, we didnt realize that there was a minimum to sit down there, especailly since there was all of 4 people down there. We were told by our blond attendant that it is $20 minimum. we thought it wa $20 for all of us; she rudely and coldy corrected us and told us it was per person and it had tobe on drinks. I didnt like her tone of voice and I told her that, especially since we didnt know about the minimum rules. She decided to tell me and I quote, "well I figure if yu decided to goto a lounge on a saturday night you would know there would be a minimum drink charge"! That got me quite angry as none of that was called for. I regret to this day i didnt get her name as I would have mentioned it here but I hope someone from Coffee Shop reads this. Tell that blond chick that if she doesnt know how to speak to people, she shouldnt work in thsi type of job. Needless to say I never got my glass of Chardonnay

11/29/08

Better-than-average diner

by holly1987

Coffee Shop is a good place to visit if you're in the Union Square area and you want a quick bite or drink before you head somewhere else for the night. The food is better than average diner fare--the fries are a must, and the macaroni and cheese and Brazilian seafood chowder are pretty good, too. They have a great selection of well-priced specialty drinks, such as caipirhinas, mojitos and mimosas. My main complaint about Coffee Shop is that the service is consistently sub-par; at best, it's slow and indifferent, and at worst the snooty waitresses and hostesses are flat-out rude, so expect to wait a while before someone comes around to take your order. Also, the tables are pretty cramped, unless you're with a larger group and you score a big booth.

• Pros: Yummy food and well-priced drinks
• Cons: Slow, inattentive service and cramped tables

08/26/08

nicey nice

by PoppaJoppa

wow... had i read some of these reviews before hand, i don't think i would have ever gone into the coffee shop. luckily, i am just reading them now. my friend and i stumbled in and had brunch at the bar on a busy sunday afternoon. we got nothing but smiles from the hostess and the bartender (Camille, best bartender ever!). we got a seat at the bar right away, got served drinks right away, and got our food right away. the food was really good too... the bacon, the french toast, the french fries... holy p00p! i wish i had some right now! if anything, maybe it was a tad pricey, but hey, it's the city... get over it. haha i don't know if the good service we got was a fluke, but what i do know is that i will definitely be going back again to find out.

• Pros: Camille and the other eye candy
• Cons: none that i saw

08/23/08

coffee shop regular

by review212

Despite the 'reputation' or just speculation this restaurant receives, I continue to go there, happy with the home-made (they bake their own bread) french toast and interesting/trendy atmosphere. it is extremely busy and service is not up to par with many other places in the neighborhood, but I still bring my friends in for brunch every once in awhile. We were witness to the scene described below as 'worst serving experience' and I must say the only time I've seen something so exciting has been in a movie scene. Our service was fine, despite the obvious hurry the waitress was in. We overheard her attempting an apology after forgetting someone's drink order and noticed the customer becoming irate, making accusatory statements; "you spilled water on our food and didn't even say sorry!' to which we all had a laugh because he wasn't going to get a free meal for such a harmless error. The waitress appeared puzzled, then said 'i work for tips. why would I pour water on your food or give you bad service intentionally?' It got loud after that and she stormed off. She at least came back to apologize to everyone around and we all agreed that the customer was unrealistic about what can and can't happen to any patron, in any restaurant. Having encountered waitresses at the coffee shop over the years, I've learned that they are often set up for disappointments because of expectations regarding customers and the unjust / illegal treatment they receive from management. It seems that these employees value the money over a respectful working environment, and therefore, tolerate all kinds of inappropriate behavior on all sides. That being said, as a customer, you get what you're out for and if you're looking for the bad stuff, you'll always find it, no matter where you dine.