Cafe Eighty Two — Restaurant in New York

Just left Cafe Eighty Two and my experience was so awful I had to write a review. I have been here twice, the first time to pick-up and the second time to dine in. My first experience I was pushing my stroller in the cafe to pick up food and a lady came running out yelling, "no strollers allowed!" I kindly told her I was there to pick up and she had me wait outside and it was 30 degrees outside. Annoying but not a huge deal -and the thing was my toddler has a two year-old's undeveloped palette and he liked their thin greasy slices of french toast and sugar juice covered strawberries.

Thinking maybe it was just a one off experience we went back today, about a month after the first incident. Today I made sure to leave my stroller outside and brought my toddler in. Immediately I could feel they were not happy I had a child. I didn't get a hello or anything, I was motioned to take a table. An older gentleman with grey hair and black glasses (who had also been the one to motion) came over to take our order. At this point my toddler who hasn't said a word yet, has pulled out a few of the sugar packets and is stacking them (not opening, just stacking ) the man gets super upset, snatches all the sugar packets off the table and brings them to the next table and starts reorganizing them and we haven't even received a hello yet (to be sure when we arrived at the table they were not organized to begin with). He is now audibly huffing and puffing so loud you would think my child just had an accident in the middle of the restaurant and he's been made to clean it up. My kid is now scared, staring at him and I am so uncomfortable I probably should have just left but I didn't want to make a scene.

After his dramatic display about the sugar, he asks what we want. I say I would like french toast with scrambled eggs and side of strawberries. He gets upset again because I didn't point to my which French toast and there are two options on the menu. At this point it's taking everything not to pay and walk out on him. He takes our order then goes back to the bar and starts shovelling his own breakfast into his mouth. Minutes later, without washing his hands, he comes to toss our food down. As expected it is well below average diner food, which is fine for my two year old. Long story short, if you have kids (even the most pleasant) DO NOT take them here. If you like good food also do not eat here. I easily could have been a great customer as I live only two blocks away but I will never come to this...

Cafe 82 was the first food stop my chum and I made on Saturday morning during our hike up Manhattan (which means we were pretty hungry when we showed up). We didn't have a giant, elaborate meal here, but like any respectable diner it had the food we needed it to have, and kept us chugging up the island.

We showed up around 10:30am on an incredibly humid day. The plan was to get a little sustenance in lieu of a "real" lunch we intended to have further uptown. The place was bustling, with both the outdoor and indoor seating pretty packed, though we were seated right by the entrance inside quickly. Unlike the prior 100 blocks or so, this was clearly a locals spot, with a lot of older patrons who clearly have lived in the area for years. Good vibe. Both of us ordered two eggs and toast, and my chum also got a side of potatoes for good measure. Everything came out fairly quickly (a diner like this is a well-oiled machine) and drama-free.

It's pretty hard to mess up eggs and toast. Coupled with a huge appetite, this was always going to be a tasty snack. Was it the best eggs and toast ever? Eh, probably not. (I like my scrambled eggs a little fluffier, and both of us were mildly saddened that the toast wasn't pre-cut into triangles, which I promise you I did not actually take points off for - I'm high maintenance but not THAT high maintenance). But everything was devoured, as it should have been.

The service was solid. This is the kind of place that has an army of people roaming around so even in the chaos it's easy to hail someone down for assistance. It didn't take long to grab the check and continue our trek. And the added bonus of a legit diner safely tucked away from the tourist traps? We got a meal that was less than $15 per person - I'll take...

Cafe 82 is a disappointment in every sense of the word. From the uninspired and flavorless cuisine to the abrasive and impolite staff, dining at this establishment is a forgettable experience. The abrasiveness started as soon as we walked in. My wife wanted to leave right away. I convinced her to stay since our daughter was quite hungry. I should have listened. As a therapist of color, I understood that the abrasiveness might be cultural. It was not. What culture is rude to a 1yr old and an elderly lady? I observed a server berate an elderly woman trying to understand her bill. She was trying to understand why there was a surcharge. They charge extra if you pay with a credit card and this is not clearly explained.

Furthermore, the menu lacked creativity and the dishes served were devoid of any real character or taste. The focus is not on providing a flavorful experience, but on the convenience of mass production. Which I question. Ask yourself, have you ever eaten at a restaurant, ordered french toast, and gotten a single slice of Pepperidge Farm bread?

In truth, the real tragedy of Cafe 82 is how its staff conducts themselves. The employees were rude and lacked any sense of hospitality. Their demeanor was unprofessional, and it was evident that they were not passionate about their work or providing a positive experience for their customers. If you are from NYC, do yourself a favor and go somewhere else. If you are visiting and you need a quick meal, please know that this is not indicative of the NYC...