Father Knows Best — Restaurant in New York

My partner and I stopped in for brunch today and it was a total let down from the moment we stepped in until we left. I've lived here in the neighborhood for over 4 1/2 years now and have frequented this establishment several times over that span of time. Today was the WORST! We sat ourselves at an open table. I went up to the bar to place my order along with several other patrons who were also waiting. It took about 10 min. for someone to take my order. During that time I witnessed one girl who seemed to be the manager/shift leader be rude to the other 2 male employees. I overheard one guy say to her "don't be mean to me." Her attitude was very off-putting. When I finally was approached, I was told "just a minute". Another person came to take my order but I was then overlooked. I let it go. I finally placed our order which was:

Lumberdad Breakfast Mushroom Hash sans avocado ( my usual go to) 1 Side of bacon 1 Americano

My coffee came and we proceeded to wait. After trying my coffee, my partner wanted one as well. I went back up to the bar to order another Americano, 1 side of half & half and I added a side of poached eggs to my Mushroom Hash because I forgot to add this initially (probably because it took so long for my order to be taken in the 1st place). It took yet another 10 minutes to place that order. Because of the long wait, my coffee was lukewarm by the time I got back to our table. At this point, I was highly annoyed by how our experience was going. Our food arrived and we were missing the bacon & poached eggs. I get why the poached eggs would come after receiving our food but the bacon wasn't even on our tab. I forgot to mention to my partner that they couldn't substitute the chorizo for bacon and that I'd just ordered her a side of bacon. When I mentioned to the server that I ordered a side she was also confused bc she thought someone substituted the chorizo for bacon. She said "We don't do substitutions for the chorizo. And if anyone told you that, they should be fired." I made it a point to mention that there wasn't a substitution and the person who took our first order did mention this and that I ordered a SIDE of bacon. Her comment totally threw me off and left a bad taste in my mouth; combined with how I witnessed her treat the employees prior to this. This was the same girl who had been rude to the other employees. She put our order in with the kitchen and came back to say it would be out in 2 min. I was now completely unhappy with EVERYTHING & her attitude towards the other employees. My mushroom hash is supposed to come with CRISPY potatoes (Johnny cakes) & it was soggy. I've had this dish several times before and It has never come out like this. The Johnny cake & Mushrooms were under what seemed like a pre-washed BOX of arugula. NOTE TO KITCHEN: Put the arugula/beet salad on the side so the potatoes and mushrooms stay crispy. This was a fail!!! The bacon & eggs didn't come out for another 10 min and by this time my partner had finished her lumberdad breakfast without having the bacon. When the bacon & eggs came I just wanted to wrap it all up in a box & leave. I couldn't stand being there for another minute. I debated not tipping at all but I did. When I went to get the check there was one girl at the bar washing/cleaning up. This section of the bar was empty. Two other patrons approached the bar after I had been standing there for a couple of minutes and she proceeded to help them. I'm SURE she saw me approach first. This also left me feeling overlooked AGAIN!

I'm not sure if it was because it's a holiday and they were extremely busy but the customer service today sucked! The staff needs to be more attentive and maybe have designated roles as they all seemed to be trying to do everything and maybe their wires were getting crossed. I don't think I'll ever return and If I do, it'll be on a day where NONE of the staff that was there today is on shift or when it's not so busy. Also, to the staff; acknowledging customers settles the inconvenience of having to wait so...

I was really looking forward to this place and I avoid leaving reviews for anything esp. for small businesses even if I haven’t had the best time. But my encounter today was utterly bizarre and unnecessary. I went in for a cup of coffee and was seated by the bar as I was alone. I was sketching and tend to take photos for my reference. The two waitresses who greeted me were sweet and everything seemed fine until what followed. I was taking a photograph of the mirror behind the bar, there was another waitress (black-haired) who’s moving around and walks across (obviously coming into my frame of the photograph which I was very visibly pointing at even before she walked by). She turns around and asks if I was taking a photo of her(?!) Completely thrown off by this, I politely said no. I continued to sketch and went to pay the bill. At the time of billing, as any decent being would do, I let her know that I was sketching and click photos for reference to which she said vaguely “oh ok thank you I’m weird about photos”. I then assured her that I was getting the mirror behind and that she may have come in the way. No, this is not a cue for you to act rude or humiliate another. She asks me to delete (which clearly doesn’t have her face). At this point I get awkward, really embarrassed and oblige because this is supremely weird. I would’ve loved to say something back and question her instead but in the places I’ve lived, this kind of behavior is outright rude and alien. She proceeds to say “you should really ask for consent”. What for?!

I’ve worked as a street photographer and journalist for a magazine in the UK and not once has this ever occurred with me whether I was on the job or not on a job. We are at a bar/public space, and if photos aren’t allowed, there is a sign. Also if I really wanted to take her photo, I would’ve just asked. I also would understand if I was a man and the feeling of doubt that may bring. My sketchbook was right there for anyone to see, if anything she should could’ve ducked? or sort your things out if you have something more serious going on? A putting-off encounter that left me feeling so ridiculously humiliated and confused about whatever occurred. I would even understand if she genuinely approached me nicely (rather than the biased accusatory way) and not take the tone she thought she could take. I would have liked the place and would have loved to visit again but no thanks if this sort of horrifying encounter is normal at a ‘creatives are welcome’ cafe.

I hope this review makes one realise that this is not what hospitality should look like and the scope for some sense in how to behave and...

Just left this place 5 mins ago. I can't speak to the brunch here as we were not seated. I wanted to like this place but not matter how good the food may be customer service is paramount.

My girlfriend and I enter and wait to be seated. We were promptly asked if we were a party of two. So far so good. The interaction starts to go downhill from here though.

We let the person know that we're a party of two and she said I'll need to setup a table. No problem yet. We clarify that we'd like an outside table as people inside were clearing out. The response was a sharp "as I said I need to clean up a table I'll be right with you". Strike one.

I think I'm pretty reasonable and can understand this clarification may have felt uncessary if I put myself in their shoes but snapping at your customer isn't the start of a positive dining experience.

The next thing that happens is she starts to wipe down several INDOOR tables. So either completing this other task was more important than the customer in front of you, there was a misunderstanding of the request or she acted in spite. I'd like to think it's the middle option. Strike two.

So a gentleman asked whether we were being helped. Great now we're getting back on track. As the first person continues to tender to the indoor tables we let him know we're waiting for an outside table and he say she may not understand that and walks over to speak with her. Awesome! He comes backs and says we should be good to go soon.

Two women enter after us while we are waiting and speak to the gentleman we just spoke with. They ask about seating and specifically can they sit outside. They were told the don't need to wait and just sit in the back. Strike three.

This is the exact request we spoke with two different people at this point while we wait for the original person to finish preparing indoor tables. At this point we exit immediately. Why wouldn't two people give us this option and make us wait while another patron was provided this option immediately.

I really wanted to like Father Knows Best but I can't recommend this place. The details matter and being thoughtful and considerate...