Ludlow Coffee Supply — Restaurant in New York

Time our review:

It’s New York–level multitasking at this new, dual-concept LES charmer from John Seymour and Kyle Martin of Sweet Chick, Williamsburg’s popular chicken-and-waffle spot with a satellite location next door. The space, which was once home to the iconic Pink Pony bar, has been redone as a tiny café called Ludlow Coffee Supply up front, with a three-chair barbershop called Ludow Barber Supply in the back ($40, cuts; $20, beard trims).

Behind the former bar top, which has been retrofitted with a marble farmhouse sink and a swanky La Marzocco espresso machine, baristas brew excellent Kenyan drip coffee ($2.75) along with espresso drinks both playful (maple latte, $5) and standard (macchiato, $3.50) using a proprietary blend roasted in Red Hook, Brooklyn. On the food front, the café offers more than the run-of-the-mill artisan coffee shop, which are a dime a dozen in this neck of the woods. An avocado toast, which costs $8 and comes three ways—as a BLT, finished with chili flakes or topped with sprouts—, is the standout, a perfect option for fueling up before a day out downtown. Skip the baked eggs with truffled mushrooms ($10), however, which are prepared in a microwave and taste a bit funky, and instead get a second round of that avo toast.

Nestled one of the neighborhood’s trendiest blocks—it’s a stone’s throw from Major Hood Group’s Dirty French, across the street from The Indigo Hotel, and just down the block from the newly opened members-only Ludlow House—, the café is a quick-stop repository for the largely chic international crowd and downtown fashion kids that take over the area on weekends. In other words, it’s not the best place to cozy up with your laptop to work on that screenplay, but it’s certainly great for people watching.

Beyond coffee and clientele, one of the common downfalls of these hybrid venues is that the gimmick cannot sustain the actual concept (remember laundry with grilled cheese and beer?). However, if you are in need of an actual haircut, just take a seat in one of the vintage Belmont chairs and tell the pro’s what you’re looking for. Refreshingly, at Ludlow Coffee and Barber Supply, the cuts are right up there with the...

Drip coffee was decent. The salted caramel latte was great, BUT the service and attitude of the baristas and counter people were awful. The people you interact with at any business are the face and vibe of that business, and this one is represented awfully! There’s a pretty white female working mornings there that told me I was ridiculous and to go back to where I came from! I almost filed a police report for a hate crime! I’m a US Soldier, 2 time Iraq war veteran, and a Purple Heart recipient and I’m from here mind you! (Sounds like a great morning news story huh). I have never been more offended in my life! There’s also a young gentlemen (White) working mornings who is quite rude himself. (The rest of the staff are decent but you can tell everyone there seems to hate their life and job, which makes it uncomfortable for customers. I also happened to be with my girlfriend who is the editor of the travel section for Elle magazine, she was furious! We have both eaten at Johns “Sweet Chick” and grabbed coffee often at ludlow (right next door) and that will never happen again! My girlfriend is eager to right her review to a Broader audience.

Good luck Ludlow...

I was there on Saturday afternoon. It was busy and the drink was good, the problem was the barista (black male). We didn’t realize until after the fact but 3 Indian women ordered before us and a few others (about 10 customers). The Indian women patiently waited for their coffee (iced latte, which was easier to make than the hot drinks we ordered). After about 7-8 people got their drinks before the Indian women did (they ordered first), they asked when theirs were coming out. The barista just stared at them, didn’t say anything, continued taking and making other customers orders. After about three more drinks he made their drinks, splashed espresso over the counter, and couldn’t care less. The girls were so polite, didn’t make a scene, and at one point one of them said..should we just leave. I have never witnessed anything like it. I apologized for not noticing earlier and telling the barista to make their drinks before ours. No one should ever be treated like that and I honestly couldn’t believe what I...