Ambition Coffee & Eatery, Inc — Restaurant in City of Schenectady

My husband and I have gone here probably about 5 or 6 times. I loved the eggs benedict that they had on their menu but unfortunately they took it off for some reason. I'm not very impressed with the menu options that they have now but my husband and I went there with my seven-year-old daughter yesterday for brunch.

My husband is a picky eater and gets the same thing every time which is the breakfast sandwich with a fried egg. For some reason this time,  the waiter advised my husband that he can't get a fried egg because they do not allow substutes. Litterally for just an egg, cheese and meat sandwich! Even though my husband never had an issue ordering it before, he didn't argue about it and just changed his order to the Barry Manilow which is blueberry pancakes. He ordered 2. They do not offer a kids menu so I asked him if they could just make one plain pancake for my daughter and the waiter said he could. I ordered the quiche and a Boody Mary. The BM was very weak. I wasn't expecting anything super strong but I didn't even taste vodka in it at all. The quiche was pretty good and so were the home fries but we were not happy with the service or the bill.

It was pretty busy when we first got there but started dying down while we were dining. We were seated across from the bar and our waiter had other tables in the front of the doorway for some reason.   He was not very attentive and seemed to pay more attention to his other tables. We saw him walk by us without even acknowledging us several times. He never asked us how our food was after we got it and  waited a long time to get the bill and then he never even came back to get the money we had to walk it up to the bar ourselves. He was literally at the bar next to us and walked by us and did not bother grabbing card so we used cash and gave to the bartender.

The Barry Manilow was $8 and then an additional $2 for any additional pancakes he wanted so his two blueberry pancakes came to $10. That one regular sized plain pancake that my daughter got, he charged as the Barry Manilow which is again, $8. Even though that's not what she ordered and didn't even get blueberries in or on side. We asked him about this charge because it didn't seem right and he just explained basically that that's how he had to "punch it in". Any good waiter would have noticed that this seemed ridiculous and would have asked a manager or someone else to assist w/ a price clarification and how to punch it in for one single plain pancake. My kid didn't get any side and they charged her additional for her chocolate milk. Which I understand the cost for drink.

It would have been more logical if they charged her for the additional pancake charge of $2 or if the waiter told us that my husband can order THREE pancakes and just give her one. But instead he just up charged us and didn't even care to fix it.  These pancakes are not large by the way like you would get at some restaurants where they're like the size of a plate. These are regular medium sized pancakes.

We were so annoyed by this experience, that I decided to call when I got home to speak to a manager about it.  The lady that answered the phone took down my name and number and wanted a brief explanation of what happened and she seemed to understand and agree but because the manager was busy she said they would call me back to discuss details. I never did receive a call back.

This waiter just came off as very non kid friendly and even if at any point he was busy, he passed our table and could have just said "I'll be right with you" or acknowledged us.

As far as the substitutions I completely understand when a chef doesn't want to substitute an ingredient for one of their main meals or certain dishes but come on, this was a regular breakfast sandwich!

Because I did not receive a call back I cannot confirm if this was all just an issue with the waiter or if this establishment really puts these prices and...

Still Shining Bright After All These Years: A Review of Ambition Ambition. The name itself speaks volumes, and after over two decades of frequenting this local spot, I can confidently say it has lived up to its promise in consistently delivering a satisfying experience. From my high school days until now, Ambition has remained a steadfast presence in the local culinary scene, and it's genuinely impressive how little it has changed.

One thing that hasn't wavered is its popularity. No matter the day or time, Ambition seems to hum with activity. It's a testament to their enduring appeal that they consistently draw a crowd, and it's frankly astonishing to witness the sheer volume of food that emerges from their remarkably tiny kitchen. They've clearly mastered the art of efficient and speedy service.

Speaking of the food, while largely consistent and comforting, there are a couple of minor points worth noting. The breakfast potatoes, a staple for many, could benefit from a little extra time on the heat to achieve a more golden and crispy exterior. And the tortilla chips served as a side for some dishes have always struck me as an unusual choice, though it's become a quirky and somewhat endearing hallmark of Ambition's offerings.

However, these small quibbles are easily overshadowed by the must-try items on the menu: their boozy coffee and boozy muffins. These are truly where Ambition shines. The boozy coffee is the perfect pick-me-up with a delightful kick, and the boozy muffins are an indulgent treat that you won't find just anywhere. They are absolute game-changers and a key reason why I keep coming back.

The staff at Ambition are generally friendly and welcoming, contributing to the overall positive atmosphere. On this particular visit, however, our waitress, while pleasant, was clearly feeling the pressure of the bustling environment. Check-ins were minimal, which is understandable given the constant flow of customers.

Visually, Ambition does show its age. While not unclean by any means, the interior could use a refresh. Patched-up holes in the ceiling are noticeable and contribute to a slightly "dingy" feel. However, this hasn't seemed to deter the loyal clientele, and perhaps it even adds to the unpretentious, comfortable vibe that Ambition has cultivated over the years.

The Verdict:

Despite a few minor criticisms regarding the decor and the preparation of a couple of items, Ambition remains a beloved local gem for a reason. Its consistent quality, the legendary boozy coffee and muffins, and the generally friendly staff outweigh the minor imperfections. It's a testament to their enduring formula that they continue to thrive after so many years. If you're looking for a reliable spot with character and some truly unique offerings, Ambition is definitely worth a visit. Just be prepared for...

So , where to begin here. Been in here once before just for a quick coffee but always meant to come back to really catch a vibe. Walked in ready for the crab cakes. Except they were sold out at noon! At noon? Ok. Nothing else sounded appetizing to me, but i ordered the ragin cajun chicken sandwhich . The flavor was good, but thr chickn was a big piece of rubber. Not good, only ate half cuz couldnt even cut through the other piece. gotta stop eating chicken in these streets apparently. Ordered 2 matcha lattes, forgot to ask for oat milk, but wasnt offered any options to begin with. It was ok. But whats funny is i was telling my friend how i love the vanilla matcha at whistling kettle, theres no syrup involved just subtle vanilla flavor and they ask if you want oat milk-well our waiter heard me mention the name and took it upon himslef to jump in oir convo and comment that WK was totally overrated and everyone from there comes to Ambition. Totally out of pocket, and rude. Especially considering he was running around like a chicken with no head nc lack of waiters , and the fact that i had the chicken sandwhich at WK the day before and it was delicious, unlike the one in front of me in real time. So , anyway, after that tacky comment and the taste of the food, i was annoyed and ready to go. My friend was eating their meal, which they did fairly enjoy, until he got to the mac salad. Which was actually just mayo with a few macaronis in it. It was disgusting like i had to spit it out . It was like eating a spoonful of pure mayo, no seasoning, no onions or peppers. Just hot mayo. 🤮 Idky, but even after that, wanted a muffin. I ordered 2 of their boozy muffins. Now, im no muffin expert, but i do partake from time to time. To me muffins are fluffy and soft, a bit moist. These muffins were the chewiest, wettest, weirdest muffins we ever had. Im still confused by the texture. And fhe flavor which should have been sinfully delicious, was just meh. Took 2 bites and threw them for the birds. Im sorry to even leave a review such as this, tbh i may have spared them was it not for the arrogance of our waiter , but honestly the food was trash. Sorry not sorry. The matcha was mid. The waiter was a hater and the muffins were ya last hope. I love the atmosphere in that place, was hoping to make it a reg spot but theres plenty other cool joints nearby with humility and quality food. Ill stick to them. Its great to have Ambition, just dont lose who you are in...