Strange Brew Cafe — Restaurant in City of Binghamton

This has been one of my favorite places in Binghamton since it opened and this review makes me sad to make. I really don't even bother with reviews of places I didn't like, but I really liked this place... I haven't been in a few months as Binghamton parking doesn't always allow getting too close to this place and a walk is often needed, but the sun was finally out Sunday and the SO and I decided to drive to Bingo for a late lunch and walk around. It was past the rush crowd and no one was in line (often pretty busy)... my SO and I stayed back from the counter but close enough to read, the guy working the counter asked what we wanted (not in a friendly way) and we said we were not ready yet (it had been a while and the menu had some changes) and we stayed back from the counter and he seemed downright upset... about 20 seconds later he asked again and was very annoyed that we were not ready and glared at us until I walked up. I told my SO I would order first to give her another second, he seemed very annoyed I was getting food. I came for the famous grilled mac&cheese sandwich that I have had so many of.... sure it's a little expensive, but is always so good, well... WAS. There used to be some more options (pulled pork, beef brisket ), but now only the tuna sounded good and I went through the steps... Grilled Mac&Cheese, garlic aioli spread, tomatoes and tuna... $13 - yep... $13 for a tuna melt (maybe they get theirs from the airport). Now, $13 may seem like a lot for a grilled cheese, but good is good right? Also got a coffee, now, being a little later in the day, the coffee in the squirt pots was less than hot, but I understand in the afternoon. Got my tuna melt and bit in and no tuna. I thought they made a mistake and forgot, but after opening it up, my partner was able to find some small bits and you could almost taste it in some sports. Also, the Mac&Cheese had gone down hill a bit and was very boring with less flavor than some boxed store brand and seems to have had all the seasonings removed. So sad as the cost cutting seems to have killed a great place. However, if you're looking for coffee, they have a few options and it's usually pretty good. There's also very limited drink options if you don't want a coffee or...

Had a really horrible experience with Strange Brew after several years of going there occasionally for coffee and a dessert or a breakfast sandwich alone or with my husband and son. Ordered a Chef Special Salad. Description is “arugula, roasted beets, goat cheese, sliced almonds, dried cranberries, roasted pulled chicken, mustard tarragon dressing “ for $12 (an entree salad per the manager). There was a ton of arugula but very, very little of everything else — see photos. I was shocked when I saw this and immediately called them. I had already used my lunch break to pick up the salad so couldn’t go back to return it. The manager had me take photos and email them twice, talked twice on the phone, and then said the other ingredients only looked sparse because I had mixed up the salad. The side photo clearly shows little mixed below the surface. Why make me go to this effort and then insult me by suggesting I was hiding the ingredients. Manager offered to bring me a new salad but if he thinks the original is acceptable, then we’re back where we started. Plus it’s getting late and I don’t have any more time. I did the right thing by calling immediately and sending photos. That should have been the end of it with the charge being reversed on the unacceptable item, apology made, and asking me to come back to try them again sometime, or some normal response like that. Instead, he starts being subtly insulting and trying to negotiate half off since it’s like a side salad — but I didn’t order a side salad, it’s supposed to be an entree salad! I didn’t get what I paid for, end of story. This is 100% unsatisfactory. Beware of buying food there if this is how it can be, a rip-off. And you will be treated badly by the management to boot. Just read a few other reviews that were negative and the manager or owner gives a long defensive response, citing industry standards and supporting small businesses for why the complaint isn’t legit, even insulting another reviewer. The bottom line here is that a customer found their experience to be unsatisfactory, was asked to prove it by providing photos, was still not believed, a lot of time was wasted along the way, and the customer service experience was very negative. This is not the way...

This place has truly amazing food, especially if you’re looking for a top-notch breakfast café experience. In my opinion, it really doesn’t get better in town when it comes to quality, flavor, and consistency. The only thing I would mention is that the service can feel a little slow at times, but that’s only because they’re usually packed with customers—which honestly says a lot about how popular and loved this spot is. Even then, I’ve noticed over time they’ve made real improvements and the staff keeps things moving much better now.

As far as drinks go, I actually find myself gravitating more toward their frappes and smoothies than the coffee, which might surprise some people since this is primarily a coffee shop. But that’s a personal preference, and honestly everything they make is crafted with care. You can tell there’s pride in how the place is run—it’s clean, organized, and managed really well despite being so busy.

When I first left a review here, I gave it three stars. But after making the rounds and trying out a number of other local cafés, I realized that nothing else compares to the food, atmosphere, and overall experience here. That says a lot, because I almost never go back and change a review once it’s written. For me to add two stars and update my opinion shows just how much this place has grown on me. It’s earned its spot as one of the best cafés around, and I’m glad to say my updated review...