Cafe Paradiso — Restaurant in New York

WARNING: this is review is LONG

Not good service. At the least the server I had was inattentive. Had to flag down another server for attention. When I arrived I was told to sit anywhere there was an available table, which I did. I waited for several minutes but no one came with water or menu. The place was relatively busy but not full and I was eating alone. I wanted to wash my hands, but was waiting to at least put an order in but still no menu or water. I finally stood up and walked to a server asking about the bathroom and whether I should just grab a menu from the outside kiosk ( entrance of the restaurant). He then asked if the server who seated me brought menus, when I told him I wasn't technically seated, but rather just told to "sit anywhere the was availability", and had been sitting waiting, he replied, " that's strange" and informed me that menu would be brought when I returned from the bathroom.

Bathroom- it has a coded door ( which I wasn't informed about) and there was an elderly man with a walker trying unsuccessfully to gain access. I tried to help him, but the code he had wasn't working. I walked back into the restaurant to get help and encountered the first server who had waved me in to sit wherever and before I could even ask about the bathroom code, she started asking me about my order. ( um excuse me...I didn't even get a menu, how would I know? And don't assume what my question is..) I told her that I was helping someone trying to gain access to bathroom which I was also in line for and asked to verify if the bathroom code the elderly man had was correct. She then gave me the correct code and asked me again if I knew what I wanted to eat. I replied, " I would need to see a menu to fully decide that and I never got one" and walked away to go help the elderly man who was still waiting at the bathroom.

I finally get back to my table where there's water and a menu.

Food: I ordered an Avo Toast with egg. It was underwhelming. It came with greens which is nice, but I wished they had put the dressing on the side. It was drenched with some balsamic/chia seed type dressing. I also didn't realize the Avo toast came with a salad to which I would have informed them no tomatoes ( I'm not super allergic but tomatoes mess with me). There were tomatoes. I just pushed them aside and steered clear from them in my plate. Honestly, I should have sent it back but I was so hungry- between the wait to get a menu, then the bathroom code situation, then finally ordering, I just gave in, knowing I'd be able to at least eat some things on the plate.

Also ordered a matcha latte and couldn't drink it. It was watery- I like my lattes to be creamier texture and it didn't even have a true matcha flavor, maybe it's the mix they use? It was more like 'essence of matcha' in a watery mug of milk. I could even see the milk fat separating.

Back to service: I noticed the server who had waved me in was actually seating other customers who came in after me...menus and water were brought in a timely manner, in fact some were seated with menus at hand. Maybe after my interaction with her, she became more attentive? Who knows...but she also passed my table several times and never checked in on how everything was, whether I needed anything else from the menu or if I wanted my check. Meanwhile she was a chatty Cathy with other customers. I basically stood up at my table and started gathering my belongings as a signal that I was ready then she walked over to me.

If I could give no tip, I would have, as I truly don't feel like I received service for what I'm paying for. I felt unseen in this restaurant meanwhile watching other patrons being attended to. Sure, they were larger groups, but that shouldn't be so. I did leave a small tip out of integrity knowing that someone prepared the food, the bus sets, etc. But honestly didn't feel like the...

LOVE Cafe Paradiso! If you’re looking for a cozy, intimate spot with a welcoming atmosphere and delicious Mediterranean-inspired cuisine, Café Paradiso in NYC is the place to be. Nestled in the heart of the city, this quaint café offers a perfect blend of flavors, warm service, and a relaxed vibe that makes it ideal for both casual lunches and more special moments.

Ambiance: As soon as you step inside, the modern yet rustic décor immediately sets the tone. Light pours in through large windows, and the soft hum of chatter adds to the comforting vibe. The interior has a stylish European café feel, with wood accents and artful touches that give the space a vibrant yet peaceful feel.

Food: The menu at Café Paradiso offers a variety of Mediterranean-inspired dishes with fresh, high-quality ingredients. For lunch, I highly recommend flatbreads, or one of the amazing soups, sandwiches or salads!

If you’re in the mood for something lighter, the Hummus and Pita Plate is a delicious choice, offering creamy hummus with freshly baked pita and a side of marinated olives. The balance of flavors in each dish is impressive, with just the right amount of seasoning that enhances the natural ingredients.

Drinks: Café Paradiso offers a solid selection of wines and craft cocktails. I tried their Mediterranean Mule, a refreshing twist on the classic, with flavors of cucumber, mint, and a splash of citrus. It paired wonderfully with the meal, but for non-drinkers, the Fresh Lemonade is a bright, invigorating option.

Service: The staff at Café Paradiso is attentive and friendly, providing excellent service without being intrusive. They take time to explain the menu and are quick to offer...

I came in with a group (total 4), we were able to be seated right away, which was nice even though the place was packed. The server was nice and did his job well. The only issue is the actual food was nasty. I want to emphasize, my only issue was the actual food, the staff and atmosphere was nice. Our table ordered tomato soup with grilled cheese, baked rigatoni, spaghetti meatballs, and some pizza. When I tell you, I was not expecting this quality of food for $92! The spaghetti was regular spaghetti, the sauce tasted like diced tomatoes from a can blended with water and extra water on top. I also paid extra $5 for meatballs and got literally 2 balls added on top. Then the pizza, Bianca something, it was regular pizza with arugula leaves placed on top. It tasted okay. The baked rigatoni was not good at all, it also came with a diced tomato mixed with water sauce and a singular meatball. The cheese was also just melted on top so only a few pieces had cheese and it was hard and dry, where it looked like it was a slice microwaved on top. How can a dish be watery yet dry at the same time? Finally, the tomato soup and grilled cheese, the tomato soup tasted like v8 poured into a bowl and the grilled cheese was okay, the dish was missing like salt or garlic or something. This is definitely not the experience I was expecting for an expensive place in such an area. Is their only ingredient tomato water?? Definitely not close to Italian food. Save your money. The only thing I ended up enjoying was the bottle of water. This is the 1st review I've done in my life but I literally was gobsmacked to say the least. The restaurant name should be Cafe...