baba cool — Restaurant in New York

It is a sad, sad day for me; writing this review. TLDR: Service has become intolerable and Baba Cool is losing a couple of good customers.

Baba Cool has been an extension of our kitchen - a convenient, reasonably healthy, always tasty option for food when we are too rushed or too tired to cook (which has been far too often.) We would frequently order both in person or via apps. Sometimes we would get delivery, but more often than not pick-up. I used to be greeted with a smiling face, recognizing me and handing me my order.

Recently Baba Cool has opened a new second location in Williamsburg and I wonder if the good people have all been moved there. There has been quite a bit of staff turnover at the Ft. Greene location. I don't mind that I am no longer recognized - that was nice, but nothing more than nice.

The real problem seems to be the kitchen. It seems as though they simply cannot keep up. We have had quite a few errors - dairy milk instead of almond milk (one of us being lactose intolerant this is sort of a big deal,) missing items, missing add-ons that had been paid for, etc. Time has also become a problem.

Today was my last straw. There was no line when I arrived and the outside seating was about half full. There appeared to be two delivery guys waiting for orders, and one or two customers in front of me. I had someplace to go, but I had fifteen minutes or so. I figured that was enough time for a breakfast sandwich. I was wrong.

My drinks were brought out to me quickly, which is a mixed blessing because the quality of their to go coffee cups is atrocious and they leak from the seam after about 30 minutes, but I waited and waited for my sandwich. After 15 minutes I asked the status. The server was polite and said she would check. She came back with the news it would be another 5 minutes.It is a pretty simple egg sandwich. If I were to make it at home, it would take MAYBE five minutes, so after 15 minutes it wasn't even started.

A few months ago, this would not have happened. The kitchen was better able to multitask.

I am genuinely saddened by this. I loved Baba Cool, but it just isn't...

I walked into Babacool after reading several positive reviews, for the first time. When I entered the restaurant I immediately acknowledged the bartender person(young man) and sat down at an empty seat. However I had to use the restroom so I got up, and did that. After I came back I noticed they had a nice crowd in the backyard space and opened seating in the actual restaurant. I returned to the seat, that I originally sat at, in the restaurant, there were then, the bartender and a wait person(young lady) at the bar moving around working, but they saw me. I was in clear view. After that, multiple customers, walked up from the outside and the bartender, at that point, gave them menus and they proceeded to the back of the restaurant. Another person came to pay, and a lady with a baby came, she was acknowledged, but stood for a minute and then she just sat down. I understand that they were somewhat busy. Nevertheless, someone should have greeted me after a 7 minute wait, especially since they saw me. I got up and asked for the manager and let her know, that I was not even acknowledged or greeted at all. And that, I would be giving them a 1 on my review. The manager attempted to apologize and give me a menu at that point, but it was too little, too late. I am respectfully asking that all people that come through the door at Babacool is greeted and acknowledged, so they will know and feel welcomed. It is important to note I am a woman of color. Hopefully this review will place Babacool on notice to greet all people as they walk through the door, and not have them waiting to figure out what was going on. I will return to Babacool, in the future, to see if my suggestions and concerns...

The first time I visited Baba Cool, I was truly amazed by their wonderful quality of coffee (latte) and food including: their tasty cookies and their breakfast brioche sandwich. What truly made my day wonderful was attentive and kind customer service and a smiley positive, beautiful and radiant attitude of the server. She even encouraged us to purchase another dessert, which we gladly did! 5 star Sunday morning experience. Loved it.

Unfortunately, several weeks later, my husband and I stopped by to grab a cup of coffee at 8am on Friday, and our experience wasn't the same. Our order was taking a long time and we didn't even get a glass of water, as promised. The morning sandwich came out great, but the coffee lacked creamy foam (watery) and wasn't consistent with what we received in the past. The server was rude and not attentive at all. He never stopped by our table and just simply ignored us. Lots of angry people standing around the window and waiting to make an order signaled that something isn't right. Very stressful experience. I wished the consistency of coffee and customer service stayed the same, since the place...