Drip Cafe — Restaurant in Hockessin, Delaware

A big fan of the Drip Cafe in Newark, I visited this location on a Wednesday morning during the pandemic. I have been supporting local businesses who strive to be safe while still surviving these harsh times. In terms of cleanliness this location abided by all the rules; the servers wore masks and the tables were sanitized - which is great. However, the issues began as soon as I walked in.

I was in line for a mere three minutes and the cashier quickly took my order - which included a coffee. I had paid a near $20, which included a 20% tip (this is something I always do for wait staff - no matter the experience) and as I was putting my card back in my wallet (and still waiting for my coffee), the cashier/waitress gave me a seating tag and said "You can just take this and go find a table!" shooing me away as if I didn't know what to do and immediately shouted to the gentleman behind me who had just walked in "Yes hi can I help you?!" (it hadn't had been a near 15 seconds for him to be even in the restaurant, and there was NO ONE else waiting to be helped).

I can understand that cashiers/wait staff can be stressed for pulling double duty - but unfortunately it didn't end there. I sat down at my table expecting my coffee to be brought to me (even though its generally poured and given to you right after you place your order at the cashier) and waited for another three minutes, even after the cashier/waitress wasn't busy helping anyone else at the counter. I noticed there were two other wait staff there who didn't seem to be helping her. I walked up to one of them and said I had ordered a black coffee and was still waiting for it. The second waitress just said "no problem" and poured me a coffee. Finally!

I usually order the Sourdough French Toast w/ Home Fries which is delicious. I had extended a kind remark to the first waitress who took my order back at the cashier when I realized she was the one bringing out my food. "Wow. That was fast!" I said. She just laughed. Uhhh, ok...?

The Home Fries were ice cold. Inedible. My knife was dirty. I was going to send them back - but I had noticed that first waitress who took my order and brought me my food was checking up on every other person eating except me. Therefore, instead of making a scene, I wrote this review.

Sometimes, even if the food is good, the service can bring down the whole experience. In this case it was both. I think two stars is a bit generous and I can honestly say that I won't be returning to this location.

Skip this place and visit the Drip Cafe in...

This is my local breakfast and lunch establishment. The restaurant is nice and clean and the tables are comfortable. The staff is nice and friendly. I generally come in for breakfast and the eggs are nice and fresh. Coffee is always good, even the house blend. This morning I ordered the turkey sausage (homemade). I wanted to try something a little healthier then the bacon which is excellent. The turkey sausage was hard, lukewarm and generally tasteless. I didn't eat it and would never order it again. I would take this off the menu unless it can be improved. I also once tried the maiale salumeria pork breakfast sausage and was equally disappointed and never ordered it again. The taste of the maiale salumeria pork sausage was strong and overpowered the rest of the meal. I would prefer a traditional breakfast sausage link or patty. Regarding the service, the initial seating, water, menu, 1st cup of coffee is fine however after sitting for 15 minutes, still waiting for my food, my cup was empty and the waitress never came over to see if I needed a refill. The food took about 1/2 hour to come out (I don't mind waiting for the food to be cooked, that's a given) and it was only then I had the opportunity to ask for my second cup. For breakfast I think It's important to get that request from the waitress for a coffee refill within 10 to 15 minutes of getting the first cup and not have to look around to see if you can grab someone. Overall I like Drip Cafe however there is definitely room for...

I’ve been a happy drip customer for years but this last visit is my last. I ordered a Waffle that had salmon after taste. I told the waiter who sent over another young man & he said “ this is strange “ the waffle is made separately” I said maybe it’s the butter or syrup but it taste like Salmon. As I if I was trying to get e free waffle. I have another person come over & say “‘you think the waffle taste like salmon or the butter “ I told him yes, when he asked how I would like to resolve it, I said just refund the eight dollars and that’ll be fine, he said he looked at me like that was gonna be a problem. I said, you know what you can just remake the waffle & I will take it home. It took less than 2 minutes to arrive at my table with a new waffle. (Premade refrigerated) That was really strange, I get it home and it still taste like salmon, I then may have thought it was me and let someone else taste it & sure enough they said the same. What makes me even more upset is, just because the waffle wasn’t made on the griddle with the rest of the food it can still be exposed when making other dishes. The batter may have been exposed but all they thought about was a complaining customer. It’s just that simple, basically treated me as a pain over 8 dollars & I spend way more than 8 dollars. I try hard to support locals but, someone telling you the food was exposed to other flavors. Yea not to happy with the way I was treated...