181 Cabrini — Restaurant in New York

Now most persons might wonder why two stars. Well, this is my over all impression about this place....over the years. I fell in love with this place when it first started. The staff combination was awesome....no hipsters staff :)..the original cook was awesome...but then he left. The second one was good...but then he left. The morning guy, the first one, left...then that's when I started to notice the morning differences. The staff, in the morning, can be a bit too chatty with their favorite customers. As for the rest of us, it depends if you fit their profile of what constitutes someone worthy of their attention. The first guy, when it first opened, was charming with everyone that came. I remember seeing the school kids stop by just to say hello to him and they got hugs from him...this guy was genuinely nice to all. Now is a bit cold in the morning. Some people come, mornings, to use the place as their office, well, if I wanted that feel, I could go to Starbucks on Fort Washington. Some parents treat the place as a morning daycare/play pen an don't keep the sound down from their kids. The nights are like you go to a bar not a restaurant. The bar area is full of regulars who look like they should go to a bar on the Lower Eastside in the 70s. The staff is hit, or miss...no personal service......the crowd, boring, no sense of community like the old Emilous, which is gone. They could have learn so much from that restaurants owner....Jammar. I used to have dinner every night with my family, but no more. If you want inconsistent taste, service, and over priced food, then visit. If you want great food..order Pick and Eat from 177th and Broadway. Incredibly great food, attentive owner, if you have problem, they go out of their way to resolve it. The owner will...

Unfortunately "A very nice place" just does not cut it anymore for me at 181 Cabrini, and that is really all this place has going for it. The service is poor and lacking organization from the staff of young girls that appear not to demonstrate any experience or professionalism.

I had been coming here about once a week and every time, i was given a reason not to come back. Either I was not explained that I had choices for substituting alternate style food items, not reflected on the menu. Or their poor selection of beers on tap and their wasteful inability to pour them. And the one time they allowed a minor behind the bar to serve customers drinks.

The only leadership I have noticed seems to be coming from that little hole in the wall they call a kitchen. Overall, the incompetence and lack of direction and leadership along with favoritism of select clients has justly and rightfully landed 181 Cabrini...

While the food was good, our waiter ruined our whole experience. He was an older gentleman with glasses and clearly hates his job. As soon as we sat down at our table, he berated the bus boy in front of the entire restaurant - it was awful - we should’ve known then that it was going to be an AWFUL experience. When asking simple questions about the menu he seemed bothered and answered with rude responses. The only thing that saved our meal was said bus boy that the waiter berated, he was lovely. Unfortunately we will not be returning. There are too many wonder place, with wonderful food and wonderful staff to waste money here. Decent bar and would go back for...