Citizens Coffee & Wine Café — Restaurant in Hempstead

I've been to the restaurant and several events here and gave them several tries before I gave them the review. I'm acquainted with the owner enough to give suggestions during the time of opening the restaurant and working out the kinks of being new. First the passive manager and most of the staff totally ruins the restaurant. We were there for breakfast. We sat ourselves and the waitress got our drinks Probably ten minutes later, I had to ask for a menu. No asking us what we wanted or anything to figure out that they forgot to give us a menu. We were probably there for twenty minutes before we ordered. I ordered poached eggs and sausage that were not on the menu. Everyone else had the Citizen's Breakfast that had eggs, potatoes, pancakes, and bacon. It seemed to take some time to get our food. Everyone else's breakfast was tasty. I got tickled at my poached eggs. They were boiled eggs and becoming hard boiled eggs. Then I asked for eggs over easy because poached eggs should have a runny middle. It didn't take them very long to get more poached eggs that were so runny you had to use a spoon to pick them up or I could have drank them out of the cup. I can't say they were raw, but half of the whites were runny too. I have heard the owner brag on the chef. A chef would never let poached eggs leave his kitchen in those extreme conditions. A good cook should know how a poached egg should look like. During the hour and half meal, I sat with empty drink glasses for the majority of it. Most of that time we were the only ones in the restaurant. When they brought out the food, I asked for more diet coke. Nothing happened. When I asked for more eggs I asked for more to drink, nothing. When I got my second serving of eggs, I was in shock at my eggs that I forgot to ask for my drink. They did not make sure my empty glasses were filled. When they came to refill the coffee for those at the table, I asked again, nothing. I finally had to holler at the waitresses behind the counter to get me some more diet coke and they finally brought me a can of diet coke. Then she realized I needed ice and took my glass to be filled with ice. I was sipping the last of that drink I finally received when everyone at our table was standing up to go. A manager with higher expectations would have trained the wait staff to never let a drink become empty if possible. The first time we ate at Citizens I ordered their ribeye and asparagus. It is one of my favorite dishes. I order it often at many restaurants. First, the price was on the upper end. I was in shock when they placed it in front of me. It was a small steak with four spears of asparagus the size of a drinking straw. The ounces of the steak were not listed, but because of the price I expected it to be at least double the size. It was just the eye of the ribeye, and not the cap. I find the cap the best part of a ribeye. They had cut all of the fat off of the ribeye. Not everyone likes fat but it gives it some juices and flavor to absorb so you should never cut it off. The customer can cut it off if they want. I ordered another serving of asparagus. Those two servings were probably a normal serving of asparagus. I have never had the nerve to see if they improved the steak as I suggested just because of the price. I went there two more times. The pork chop dinner and salad I had was wonderful but on the high end. The waitress was good, but I still had to ask for my drinks to be filled when they were empty. It took a long time to get our food. Another time my daughter and I came in just over thirty minutes before closing, Sunday afternoon. They gave us a menu and said everything was sold out except one item. I didn't realize Sunday was breakfast items only. We just got up and went to another restaurant. The kitchen needs to be more organized and speed up getting the food out. The wait staff needs to be trained and more organized to serve their customers better. Overall they have to improve tremendously to charge the...

I apologize, after seeing all the high reviews, I wonder how. Especially after My wife and I tried the place. I should have written this review about 2 months ago when we visited for breakfast, there was maybe 3 other couples there.

Appearance: upscale, preppy look, Snobby atmosphere. Personnel: Friendly. Now, our visit and issues: Seated against wall, wife on booth and I on chair. Provided Menu’s, Items ordered. Iced Tea $4, (Way overpriced) Muffin $6.95 (the size you can make at home, not restaurant size) Citizens Platter $15 (Must read Description below on what we received) was definitely not like menu shows on website.

Issues: Upscale wait staff, NOT properly trained. Food inconsistent, disappointing, costly.

Waitress not filling water class more than 1” as if pouring wine. Also poured on table not off along with spilling. Didn’t even apologize or cleanup. I used my napkin to cleanup and asked to have full glass, getting a look as if I was asking too much.

Received tea, asked wife if she thinks was flavored or seems old at 930 in morning. Asked waitress if tea was flavored, response no. Tea was old. She said will get new glasses. Came back and said, “having to make new tea”. So apparently Tea from Yesterday @ $4. Placed order, Muffin and Citizen Platter. Waitress asked wife, “How would you like your Eggs.” Response “Sunny side up”. We ordered same thing.

Received Muffin, Expecting a restaurant size Quality Muffin. NO, got a muffin the size you make at home. I could have gotten a better and twice the size muffin for same price somewhere else.

Waitress came to refill water, while still waiting for Teas, again not removing glass from Table to fill off table, as should be done.

My wife’s food comes out without mine. Still no Tea yet. Her plate: Potato’s, 2 bacon, pancakes, and ONE (1) EGG. My plate follows: ½ Potato’s compared to Her’s, 3 Bacon 1 more than my Wife’s plate, pancakes and ONE (1) Egg. BUT on my EGG, I got salt and pepper (visible) and on Her’s she had no salt and pepper.

We asked each other didn’t the waitress. Ask “How you want your Eggs” so we thought getting 2 each. I guess I should have asked waitress but was still waiting for Tea. Also had to ask for ketchup waited to receive maybe a 1 - 2 tablespoons in a dipping dish. Finally got Tea. It was fresh but took like 20 to 30 min.

We decided to try Breakfast Paradise. Recommend overall, even though run down appearance, Atmosphere – everyday folk, service outstanding, Food excellent and on point. Pricing reasonable. More...

This was my first visit, but it will not be my last! I have been eager to try this place out for many reasons & it did not disappoint. The service was impeccable by all, the hostess, my server Bre'hanna, the chef, & the manager, Dragos...each & every one stopped to be sure that I was enjoying myself. The food was delicious, as well. I had the Citizens Trio starter & though I'm certain it is meant to be shared, I ate almost all of it by myself! Then, I enjoyed a nice glass of wine with the house filet. It was done exactly to my liking & the demi glaze was a beautiful complement. It came served on top of several spears of asparagus & some fingerling potatoes. I was a bit concerned when I saw how thick the asparagus spears were & honestly expected them to be woody & undercooked. Boy, was I wrong! They were cooked to perfection. The dessert menu held promise, but I was already comfortably full, so I saved that adventure for another day. It was a Friday night, so there was also live music to add to the ambiance. If you enjoy a relaxing, well-prepared meal & great service, I encourage you to stop by.

UPDATE: Went by today to try the coffee. Was planning to sit & order breakfast, as well. Was told they only do breakfast on Friday & Saturday, so I settled on a warm ham & cheese croissant with a mocha frappe. Both were delicious! The atmosphere was light & bright, which was perfect for 10:15am. The service wasn't nearly as exceptional as my first experience, but it was acceptable. I finally got a peek in the vault, this time. So cool! Still a favorite restaurant & so happy to have it here in Hempstead.

OK, last update! I ordered the Surf & Turf Eggs Benedict for brunch today. The filet was a little overdone for my liking. It was not only refired happily & promptly, but was delivered to me by the chef himself! The key lime tart was divine. My server, Bre'hanna, was delightful & perfection, yet again. The manager, Dragos, made sure I was a happy customer. Both he & the chef walk through the front of the house frequently, to be sure everyone is loving their meals. It is safe to say Citizens Cafe has become my new guilty pleasure. I will return again & again. I encourage everyone to...