Alegrito Espresso Bar — Restaurant in New York

Well never again! As soon as I walked in with my 93 year old grandmother, the blonde waitress was extremely rude and disrespectful and it was very clear from the start we were not welcomed but we were still interested in the menu and the beautiful decor. I simply asked where we would be able to sit and I was very nastily told “everybody knows the front section is for laptops. Sit in the back and wait” and was rudely brushed off. I couldn’t understand all of what she said so I asked her to repeat and she rudely ignored me. We asked if there was regular coffee and she said “I put the menus in the table”. I said thank you. No response. Waiting 10 minutes, didn’t come to the table as it was very clear she didn’t want us there and would only speak to the customers who were speaking her language. This is an inclusive country and we should be respectful of all customers. We were honest, kind potential customers and loved the decor inside and the menu looked great too. It’s such a shame because if they were more inclusive of other customer types, they could really have potential to be a cozy neighborhood spot. This should be a lesson to be nice to all people when they are nice to you, especially if you are running a service business. Please be kinder. Completely unacceptable behavior. Do not go here unless you know them personally and know you will be treated with respect based on who you are. Otherwise you will be incredibly disappointed and saddened by your experience. The world needs more kindness.

I wish I had read the reviews before I entered the establishment. I'm sure a lot of the 5 star reviews were planted to hide the bad ones (or these reviews were by customers that they inherently respect bc of who they are/who they know personally), because when I go deep and scroll through all of the reviews, I see experiences that were exactly like mine. It's strange that the owners reply to the bad reviews and say that these customers "are lying". I don't see what incentive these customers have to lie, nor is it kind to call those who leave honest reviews "liars" . I can assure you if you see reviews with similar descriptions as mine -- well,...

I went in on Sunday morning with my son just looking to order something quick to go, and this was honestly one of the worst restaurant experiences I’ve had in NYC. As soon as I walked in and asked if I could order takeout, the lady behind the bar looked at me like I didn’t belong there. Instead of a normal response, she kept saying “huh?” with an annoyed look on her face, like I was bothering her just by being there. I repeated myself, said “to go,” and she still gave me attitude. When I asked for the menu, she literally yanked it and handed it over with this expression that basically said she didn’t care at all.

I decided to just go with the avocado toast, which was listed as $14. When it came time to pay, the total on the card machine jumped to $18. I asked why and saw on the receipt there was a $2.10 service charge added on top of tax — for takeout. Nobody explained this upfront, and it felt like they just sneak it in hoping customers won’t notice.

She told me it would take 10 minutes, and that was it. No thank you, no smile, just cold and rude. I waited, picked up the food, and left. When I got home and opened the box, I was shocked at how bad it was. For $14 (plus the bogus service charge), I got a single piece of bread with a thin smear of avocado paste, three tiny slices of tomato thrown on top, and a couple of sunflower seeds sprinkled over it. That’s it. No seasoning, no flavor, nothing. Honestly, it looked like something you’d throw together in 30 seconds at home when you’re out of groceries. I took one bite, spit it out, and the rest went straight into the trash.

Between the rude service, the hidden charges, and the absolutely pathetic food, I felt completely ripped off. $18 for something that isn’t even edible, and on top of that, being treated like they don’t want customers in the first place? Never again. If I could give zero...

If I could give zero stars, I would. I have never been treated with such rudeness in a café before.

When I walked in, the woman behind the counter wasn’t even at the desk—she was sitting on her phone. She got up with a straight-up rude attitude, looking at me as if I was some kind of beggar asking for money.

When I ordered a cappuccino, she snapped at me in a loud, sharp tone: “Ice or hot?” I didn’t hear the first time and politely asked again, only for her to repeat herself in an even harsher tone. Not once did she show basic manners.

When she brought my drink, I said “thank you”—twice (once for the cappuccino and once for the sugar)—and she completely ignored me. No acknowledgment, nothing. At the register, her attitude was the same: cold, dismissive, and flat-out disrespectful. She looked at me like I was trash, like I didn’t even belong there. Even when I asked the price, she couldn’t be bothered to say it politely. She shoved the bill at me like it was a burden.

Before I left, I told her she should try being kinder, but honestly, I doubt it will change anything. I checked other reviews afterward, and I see I’m not the only one—many people have complained about this exact same rude behavior. Lady who works there if you don't like people so much, then don't work. I hope you receive the same horrible treatment you give people wherever you go.

Whether it’s discrimination or just her general attitude, no customer should ever be treated this way. This was a deeply unpleasant experience. Do yourself a favor and go anywhere else but here. Edit: The owner finally responded with café was closed that day. Are you guys serious then did I imagine all of that in my head, instead of apologizing you are trying to gaslight me. You should be ashamed of yourself. I can provide receipt from café. How Are you not ashamed....