Agora — Restaurant in Houston

[Edit] I had originally left a vague 1-star review because I didn’t want to be personally attacked like others have been, both publicly and dismissively, in this business’s replies to critical reviews. I’ve now decided to share my negative experience, because I believe it may shed light on an unfortunate truth of Agora Coffee.

My experience was earlier today, I had planned to come to Agora to study with a friend. I got to Agora earlier than my friend-I entered through the back entrance, which I usually do because the front is crowded and stress-inducing. I was there for about 10 minutes when the owner came upstairs and immediately confronted me. Without giving me a chance to speak, he says that he saw me walk in through the back, go straight up, and ignore a sign saying I had to order something to sit. He said if I didn’t purchase immediately, then I’d have to leave. When I tried to explain that I was waiting for my friend so we could purchase our drinks together, he interrupted again, pointing to my vending machine Coke Zero and said I wasn’t allowed to purchase outside drinks. I said I’d put it away, but he repeated the threat of removal if I didn’t order something on the spot. The interaction was aggressive and dehumanizing. I complied, but the damage was done. It made me feel uncomfortable and unwelcome.

My negative experience is not an isolated incident.

In the past 4 months alone: 6 one-star reviews were posted in just the past month 16 one or two-star reviews in the past two months 24 one or two-star reviews in the past four months

Many of these reviews mention similar hostile treatment from owners and management of the establishment. Here’s what others have said recently.

“The bearded guy with the accent... comes upstairs straight to my table and starts yelling at me... I went downstairs to purchase a drink. A few minutes later he comes back upstairs to my table and starts yelling again... The amount of aggression... was unnecessary. I hate to feel this was racially motivated but I was the only AA person upstairs and he singled me out.” (Charles O., April 16, 2025)

“He followed me outside and ordered me off the patio/property until I finished my [outside] drink. His tone was unnecessarily harsh, to the point where other customers stepped in.” (Byron, March 31, 2025) “The new security guy there: he sucks. He is so abrasive... literally yelling, at people who are minding their business, not hurting a soul.” (Victoria M., March 24, 2025) “He said ‘You need to leave, you’re not welcome’... I immediately started packing... he proceeds to say he’ll call the cops AS I WAS LEAVING. I let [the manager] know I don’t know what other Black customer... they confused me for, but it’s unacceptable... it was blatant racism and mistaken identity.” (Peniel Otto, 2 months ago)

“There was an encounter with racial profiling... I’ve never been before... I will never purchase anything.” (Nia Alexander, 2 months ago)

“I tried to make peace... he was still hostile. He told me I had no business there and was causing issues. I was confused by his hostility.” (Fernando Nguyen, 3 months ago)

I feel that this pattern of behavior, specifically targeting individuals with unnecessarily aggressive tones, often without allowing an explanation, reflects something deeper than just policy enforcement.

This coffee shop used to be one of my preferred spots (although I do genuinely think the food expensive), but the consistent reports of mistreatment over the past several months (particularly towards people of color) speaks volumes. I won’t be returning, and I hope others think twice about where they spend their time and money. [Edit] I saw your response. These are not the facts, and I will not entertain this back and forth. This is not an isolated incident, but a pattern of belittling behavior. See the...

I have two charges on my Uber Eats bill from this restaurant or coffee bar whatever this is. I have been going back-and-forth with Uber Eats because I have never been to this restaurant or ordered from here. I have celiac as well as other food allergies I cannot eat from here if I wanted to. Somehow, Uber eats has me ordering from this restaurant with two unpaid orders, which I don’t even understand how it’s possible if you’ve ever used Uber eats it’s really not an option either the order goes through and it’s paid for it or it’s not. I decided to call the restaurant to see if there’s anything they could do to help. A lady answered the phone. She should not be allowed to have a phone in her hand speaking to customers the way she does. I asked if I could speak to the manager she told me he would be in around two. I said OK may I have his name? She said no and hung up on me. I called back several times and each time she just picked up the phone and hung it up without answering. Something is not right about this place. How do I end up with two orders? I never placed on two completely different dates. They won’t even talk to me to help me. The lady is so rude. I would definitely second-guess this place. Somethings not right from false orders on my account no Customer Service hanging up in my face when I asked to speak to the manager I mean it just doesn’t make sense. Is this how you run a business? There’s nothing to share below as to how much I spent what I ordered all these other options they give you to choose from because I’ve never been to the place. I’ve never had anything from the place. I don’t even know what the place is. it’s on Uber Eats so I’m assuming they have food but it’s advertised as a coffee bar. Definitely not the experience I thought I thought I would call speak to the manager, and he would somehow discuss with me if there was a way he could help me or not. Instead, I was met with an extremely rude woman who hung up in my face when I asked the managers name. ALSO, I just went to the reviews and chose the lowest ones to see what their problem was every single last one of their reviews talk about how extremely rude all of the workers, including the manager and the owner to the point of being aggressive and racist. There’s no way all these people just made this up. This is a pattern. I would stay away from this place at absolutely all cost again. I urge you to go read the reviews and then read the response from the owner. They are just nasty people from what it sounds like, I know my experience is terrible and I’ve never even been there. I don’t drink coffee and I don’t eat pastries. I’m reading in the reviews. That’s what they have but yet I have an order on Uber Eats from them. , I know my experience is terrible and I’ve never even been there. I don’t drink coffee and I don’t eat pastries. I’m reading in the reviews. That’s what they have but yet I have a order on Uber Eats from them. It really makes me believe they may own another business and did a false order Else. Does an order get through Uber eats to the point that supposedly you get the food and you owe them money I have never in my life scenes such a thing anybody that uses Uber eats knows when you place an order the order does not even go through at the restaurant until they accept it and it’s paid for it on my end. It wasn’t paid for it was delivered. I can only imagine how kind the response is going to be from the owner on this one so whoever plans on responding yes I’ve already talked to my credit card company. Yes, I’ve talked to Uber Eats and they have all told me to talk to you. However, it’s clearly never going to happen. BAD...

I’ve never experienced something like this in my life.

I ride an e-bicycle as my main mode of transportation. I ordered a black coffee and sat outside, drinking it at a table in the picnic area with my e-bicycle beside me.

A man with a beard told me to move it. His tone and energy were aggressive and hostile. (Keep in mind, it’s a regular-sized bicycle, and it was my second time there, ordering my second black coffee.) Due to his hostility, I was resistant to his command. I didn’t know who he was, and to me, he was just a random pedestrian telling me what to do.

I questioned his authority because of his aggressiveness. He never told me who he was, his position, or his place.

I told him I had just ordered a coffee, was drinking it outside, and would be leaving soon. My tone was normal and friendly, as I was trying to understand who he was and explain that I was a customer. He didn’t care at all and didn’t listen to a word I said. In his hostile tone, he told me to move my bike because I was blocking other customers from sitting. (I was blocking one seat, right next to me in the picnic area. I am aware of the space my bicycle occupies.)

I figured it was a fair point, so I moved my bicycle to the sidewalk. I did what he wanted, even though he never introduced himself or his position in the establishment.

Before this initial interaction, I had charged my bicycle battery inside. (At a café, everyone brings their laptop, phone, and other electronics inside to charge.)

As I came in, I approached him, trying to make peace. I wanted to make friends and have friendly conversation. I’m a people person and felt bad for arguing with him. I tried to make peace, but he was still hostile. He told me I had no business there and was causing issues. I was confused by his hostility towards me. I genuinely didn’t understand why he was so aggressive. I was just talking to him inside, like I would talk to my family or friends—friendly........

After my conversation with him, I went upstairs to get my battery. He followed me.

He continued to berate me. To summarize, a mob of people formed, telling me it was a private business and that they could kick anyone out they wanted.

Like, fair enough, I did leave. The whole situation felt like the Salem Witch Trials—one man accusing me and telling me I was bad, which then turned into a whole mob.

One man even made a comment that if I didn’t leave, he would fight me.

I wasn’t afraid. I don’t back down from bullies. They didn’t know the context, but I understood that their violent remarks were just their way of dealing with the little conflict.

I attempted to explain to the group of people the context, but they didn’t care.

I knew my words weren’t reaching them, so I left.

The coffee was good, and the woman who served it was nice. The bearded man’s hostility is the problem. I’m a chill guy, but this guy’s emotions are clearly unhinged—tyrant-like. It seems like he gets away with it a lot.

Please be aware of this man. Others have experienced it too. Please read the other reviews. It might be due to racism, i genuinely dont know why the heck this person was so aggressive. He was a white older man, with grey beard. Probabaly in his 50s to...