Little Collins — Restaurant in New York

Disappointing and Discriminatory Treatment

I visited Little Collins with high hopes after reading many positive reviews, but my experience was upsetting. From the moment I ordered, I felt that I was treated differently from other guests. While others’ orders were taken immediately, I was made to wait an unusually long time. A runner, who noticed my discomfort, came over to ask whether I had already ordered.

When I finally placed my order for coffee and food, the service was shockingly dismissive. My server, John, was visibly rude, barely acknowledged my presence, and took a long time to take my order, while other tables received prompt attention. At first, I tried to give them the benefit of the doubt, but as time went on, the pattern of neglect and disrespect became too obvious to ignore.

Although I ordered first—a simple iced coffee and a toast—I only received my coffee after 15 minutes, while the other tables around me had almost finished their food, even the same items I had ordered. I asked three times why my food was not ready while others next to me were already eating, but John repeatedly answered, "The food you ordered takes longer, and it is very usual." However, this did not make any sense, as the guest at the table next to me, who ordered the same food after I did, had nearly finished his meal while I was still waiting.

After hearing the same excuse for the third time, and seeing that everyone around me had finished their meals, I decided to leave the table and cancel the remaining order. I told John, "I would like to cancel my food order because it is taking too long, and I will only pay for the coffee that I had." However, the server insisted that I still had to pay for the food that had not been served.

I spoke to the supervisor and explained the entire situation. The supervisor told me, "John said you requested your food to-go, and you should pay for it." The atmosphere had grown tense, and it was clear that others were beginning to notice the situation. I had never asked for my food to-go—I had simply asked why my food was not ready. Both the server and supervisor manipulated the situation, suggesting that there had been a miscommunication, blaming it on the fact that I spoke to an Asian runner with limited English skills.

Thankfully, a lady at the next table, who had witnessed the entire situation, stepped in to help explain to the supervisor that I had indeed ordered first and had never asked for the food to-go. Eventually, I was able to cancel the food order and left the establishment. The supervisor, however, never once apologized.

I understand that everyone can have a bad day, but the consistent lack of courtesy made me feel discriminated and disappointed. The resolution should not involve blaming an employee's language skills. I hope that Little Collins takes serious steps to address these issues and ensure better treatment of...

The food and coffee were enjoyable, but my overall dining experience was quite disappointing. I visited on the Friday morning before Christmas Eve, and as I dined alone, the host seated me at the communal counter near the entrance. Brianni, the initial waitress who took my order, provided excellent recommendations for dishes. However, my experience took a downturn when she was transferred to the take-out order section before my meal arrived.

The newly assigned waiter who took over did not check in on my experience, only approaching me to present the check 46 minutes after I entered the restaurant. When I requested a few more minutes before settling the bill, he insisted he had already granted me a one-minute courtesy and pointed out that I had spent 45 minutes in the restaurant. He stated that if I didn't place additional orders, I needed to pay and leave.

I sat quietly the whole time and spent approximately $30 per person on my breakfast, while the two pairs sitting next to me at the same countertop only ordered coffees. Furthermore, the pair to my right, who arrived earlier than me, only ordered a coffee during their stay. It's perplexing that despite spending significantly less (under $10), they were allowed to stay longer than me. The only plausible explanation seems to be that I am Asian, while most of the other patrons were White, even though the waiter himself was not.

Disappointed with the discriminatory treatment, I chose not to tip the waiter who failed to attend to my dining needs. Instead, I tipped Brianni, the original waitress, who deserved it for her excellent service. Before leaving, I inquired about the typical turnover time for a table in the restaurant, and she mentioned it is usually about 1.5 hours.

This was the worst dining experience I've ever had, and it seems the behavior of the newly assigned waiter was...

Took a chance on this place one random morning after an overnight sleepover in Manhattan with my bestie. The food picture porn was enough to encourage us to walk here un-caffeinated without reservations. It was about a 20 minute wait initially, but were then told it was shorter if we opted to sit in the bar stools by the front window, which we quickly said yes to. I wish they had a hook to hang your handbag, but we managed.

Our waitress was friendly and took our orders quickly and didn't hover. Everything coming out of that kitchen looked too good to eat, and was stoked for our turn. The overall vibe is organized chaos. Families laughing and dogs in strollers mixed with the morning rush of hurried plates and refilling of coffees. My latte was not only beautiful but delicious. It almost instantly made me more personable as I am not a morning glory. My bestie had some food restrictions, and our waitress was very patient and noted with care her concerns.

Our breakfast overall was savory, beautiful, filling and tasty. I practiced some mindful eating, and felt like it heightened my experience. I quickly referred this place to three friends mid-chew.

Come and enjoy and wait the 20 minutes; it's packed...