Festivál Cafe — Restaurant in New York

Myself and two other guests visited this place and were really excited to have a cocktail bar come to the neighborhood. We really wanted this place to be exciting but in all honesty, it wasn't. Anyone who is familiar with cocktail bars and the cocktail scene will quickly see that many elements are service are lacking here so here is my advice:

Ditch the plastic cups! Why the heck would you use plastic cups at a cocktail bar? I get you're trying to promote a to-go business but if a guest is sitting down, they deserve a proper curated glass.

Improve your service. We had a gentleman who was all over the place (he may have been the owner or GM which is even more alarming). He forgot our first round of cocktails, didn't bring water after we asked, and we watched in dismay as our neighboring table got their oysters but didn't have their silverware and were missing other items that they had asked to be coursed first. We were also handed this Toast POS terminal to check out which required Manager approval only to have no one return after some time for the device which was frustrating especially after we had somewhere to be.

Stick with the classics or do something unique. The cocktails were quite small and not very exciting. They have off brands of liquor (likely from their partnership days of prior events) that just aren't appealing for someone who understands cocktail bars. Also, overuse of the term 'Bespoke' – what is Bespoke Vermouth or Melon Cordial? I don't understand this Farm To Bar thing here. If I think of FTB, I think of Blue Hill.

Overall, the experience felt quite pretentious, in a place that didn't have their elements of service honed in. I hope it improves overtime because I really want this place to turn it around and do well. Lastly, while outdoor dining is tough, I think it would be nice if you invested in some planters to soften the noise from Lexington Ave as it is quite noisy to...

I rarely give 5 stars to restaurants. I've made an exception. Please read why? You have to have guts to open up a restaurant in New York City at this time. In my opinion this place, Festival Cafe, has broken every barrier that needs to be broken. What a success story! I am not a drinker but the Oysters and the Raviolis were fantastic. I generally like Oysters Rockefeller and homemade Ravioli, but these dishes were beyond my scope of ingredients, simply divine. The menus are new, fresh, and completely innovative from a culinary point of view. If you enjoy beverage drinking, not only will the taste of the drinks tantalize you, but the drink decors will move you. The presentation of the drinks are simply mesmerising and sumptuous. My guest and I had a spectacular time. Once this place catches on in New York City and everyone is allowed out to dine, we are not going to be able to find a seat in this place for hours, it's that good! The owner is fantastic. The staff is helpful and attentive. The inside is spacious and the patio outdoors is delightful. I encourage all New Yorkers to stop by and enjoy yourselves because I came all the way from Westchester and thought it was supurb. It's the newest place in New York City's splendid Upper Eastside on 2nd at 61st. Please respect patrons and workers and where your masks until you officially start eating and drinking. The world has done so well, so let's keep supporting each other to enjoy this new rendezvous without...

Very bad service. Very rude.

Yesterday, I was in the area, had some time for lunch before returning to work and was looking for a nice place in the neighborhood. Festival Cafe caught my eye—the exterior was inviting, and the menu outside seemed appealing. I entered the cafe, waited to be seated, and looked around for assistance. A man sitting at the bar caught my attention as he seemed to be the only person available to help. He might have been a server, though his attitude made me wonder if he was the owner. His demeanor was incredibly arrogant. I smiled at him politely, hoping to confirm if I could sit anywhere—at that point, there was only one other table occupied by two customers.

Instead of a welcoming response, he looked at me, stood up, and made a hand gesture expressing irritation. He then asked, in a very unpleasant tone, something along the lines of "What do you want?" I couldn't believe it—I was kind and polite, certainly not presenting myself in a way that would warrant such hostility. Surprised by his unwelcoming behavior, I smiled and asked, "Don't you like customers here?" He responded with another dismissive gesture and said, "I don't need this. I don't need you," effectively making me leave the cafe. The two customers nearby seemed just as astonished as I was. I don't recall ever being treated this way in any other establishment.

Won't go...