Inman Perk Coffee - Atlanta — Restaurant in Atlanta

Atmosphere-Inman Perk fits nicely into the local, neighborhood coffee shop genre, and it is exactly that for the Inman Park pocket of Atlanta. While there are a few other place to go for coffee on the popular N. Highland strip, Inman Perk provides a spacious location to relax and get comfortable. The run-down and unpretentious feel of the interior of the cafe gives off a laid-back and all-are-welcome kind of vibe. The big open space, colorful walls, and sunny windows brighten and liven the place up. There are plenty of seating options, including a library-like nook in the back corner. The customers there are just doing their own thing on the Saturday morning that Anand and I happened to be visiting But we're here for more than relaxing. . .it's time to experience the coffee. Coffee-Serving Intelligentsia coffee. This is refreshing as most cafes in the Atl area are hopping on the B&B or Counter Culture wagon. The Intelligentsia brew that Inman Perk is serving up today is bold, in your face coffee, which I love! But for those who don't side with me, there are other brews to choose from. Anand opted for the regular roast and remarked that it was "spot-on." Service- Standard degree of friendliness I expect, nothing more. The cafe is clean and well kept. Location- I love the Inman Park neighborhood: there are so many good restaurants, the gorgeous park, the beautiful Victorian homes, the PATH Foundation trail that deposits bikers and runners and even roller-bladers onto the N. Highland strip. This is a wonderful spot to walk around and explore on a nice Atlanta day. Parking is plentiful around Inman Perk. Legitimacy- Cafe menu full of different food, desserts, espresso drinks, tea options, beer, wine, even ice-cream! We admire the versatility. And Intelligentsia speaks for itself. Inman Perk has art for sale, hosts events, and provides live music every once in a while so it's more than just a...

I want to love this place, I really do. Its the closest coffee shop to my home by far, and I often go to coffee shops to break up the monotony of working from home. My husband and I decided to give Inman Perk another shot (after a few bad experiences in the past, we took a very long break from it), and at this point we've just decided to write it off completely.

First, the "good": The coffee is fine. Not great, not bad. Was made in a timely fashion, not crazy expensive. The vibe of the shop itself is pretty good. It has more of an old-school feel, with dim lighting and dark furniture. It's different than most coffee shops these days, which are often bright and modern.

Now, the bad - the reasons why I'll probably never go back: The folks behind the counter are just straight-up rude. They seem miserable - like you're inconveniencing them by being there. Every single time I've been here, they have been out of something I ordered. Basic things, like milk. I get that sometimes places run out of oat milk, no biggie. But to be out of stuff every single time feels a little egregious. Also, related to the above point, the people behind the counter act like you should have known they were out of X before you ordered it. The guy taking my order basically scoffed at me and then impatiently looked at me while I figured out what I wanted to order instead.

TLDR - If you're looking for great coffee, this is not your place. If you're looking to have a full range of coffee options, or have a positive interaction with a stranger, this is not your place. If you're looking to sit somewhere and work, not speaking to anyone, this could be your place? I would still go...

To start with the pro's: Inman Perk has a great ambience and aesthetic. It has plenty of long tables and outlets for the productive coffee drinker. It also has delicious panini sandwiches: my favorite being the avocado Sriracha panini. As for their drinks, they offer coconut milk and almond milk (though for a hefty charge). It also has an ATM inside, which is helpful. Oh, and they have a dog hook to "park" your dog outside!

The cons: My biggest complaint is that the service is incredibly and infuriatingly slow. Inman Perk gets a ton of traffic, especially in the morning, and yet they only have two, apathetic servers who move at a glacial pace even for the most simple orders. Case in point, I ordered a bagel and a croissant this morning and it took 30 minutes to finally get my food. I actually had to ask about my order and they server acted like she could care less and told me that they accidentally burned it and will re-toast one. I was late for work at this point and said to just give me a bagel un-toasted, and she gave me the wrong kind of bagel. I was fed up and late, so I just left. This is not the first time this has happened.

My second complaint is that the wifi is so poor, it's impossible to get work done if you need the internet.

All in all, I would not recommend Inman Perk. There are other coffee shops in the area that have much better service, as well as great...