Next Stop Vegan — Restaurant in New York

Went to this restaurant for the first time on mother's day 2024. Had an okay experience, I say okay because the food was very good but got bumped to a really small table for three by the bathroom, after a couple other members in our group couldn't show. It was fine because the food made up for it. Was in the area a couple weeks later and was looking for a place to eat. I thought we could go here because it was not far from where we were and I had told my daughter about this place. My mom was with us and had eaten here with my sister and I on mother's day and she liked it. This time our experience was TERRIBLE. We got there close to 7pm, we stood by the door for too long waiting to be acknowledged, we watched the person behind the counter take to-go orders as they came in after us and waiters passed us and made no eye contact. Finally someone approached us and we sat at a table. A waitress with a hat and a long ponytail took our order but she seamed frazzled, there were only three other tables with people that had already been there when we got there. When we were walking in there was someone sitting at the table outside also. A pitcher drink and some utensils were put on our table in a rush. We had finally ordered, so we sat and waited, and waited, and waited, and waited, and waited, over an hour had gone by no one said anything to us, clearly something was wrong. We watched a couple come in after us, they sat down, ordered and had food brought to them, the waitress in the ponytail looked at us from the corner of her eye as she brought them food. Meanwhile another waitress was now bringing food to people outside. The people that came in after us finished their food and left. We were still waiting. It looked more like we had decided to come into this restaurant to sit in the middle of random people and simply watch other people eat. Since none of the employees would talk to us and the restaurant was about to close, I went up to the counter and said the obvious; 'something went wrong with our order right'? The girl in the ponytail was still frazzled and just said "we can deduct your drink" she seemed stressed but was not communicating with me the way she should have under the circumstance of the situation. A manger would have been best suited, but it seemed that there was no manger. One of the waiters a young man brought our food finally and expressed to us that they were short staffed in the kitchen. I wish we would have gone somewhere else that evening, we were tired and hungry our food came out but it was subpar. It felt like we were a disturbance for mainly the waitress with the long ponytail. This review is not to discourage anyone to going to this restaurant, people seem to be enjoying this place. This review is for the owner and staff. I don't know how long you've been open, but it's clear that you are short staffed, and not everyone can deal with stressful situations like this at work, as the example of the waitress that I've been mentioning here. You should never ignore your customers, an acknowledgement that doesn't even take much effort like a glance and a smile 'I'll be right with you' 'I apologize for the wait'. If something has gone wrong approach the customer let them know! I would have appreciated more being informed instead of ignored. Would you like going to a restaurant and being ignored for over an hour. I don't think you would. We could have gone somewhere else instead of waisting our time and the food wasn't even good. Had someone acknowledged us early on we could have just come back another day. Things happen, let your customers know with an apology and maybe an incentive like one free empanada or something small next time. With this experience I wont be returning, my family feels the same and I'll continue to venture out other vegan restaurants...

It really pains me to leave such a poor review, considering I’ve been a loyal patron since they opened this location (back when they were struggling to acquire a liquor license), but here we are. I usually order the mofongo with the fried oyster mushrooms, but to my surprise, they revamped the entire menu. So many of the classics were not present. Out of sheer hunger, I ordered the Ropa Vieja Cubana. I noticed they’ve added Haitian Black rice to the menu, so I asked the waiter if it was possible to swap the regular white rice for it. He said “no, everything comes as is, and you can’t add or swap anything.” This was news to me, because usually I swap the rice or protein for a minor fee. I asked if the owner was present (because she’s always very nice to me) and the waiter said no. So I ordered the Ropa Vieja with a side of guacamole (which they were out of). The dish left much to be desired. The protein was bland and chewy, and the black beans were room temperature, as if the chef had them sitting on the plate while he prepared the other dishes. I don’t know if they changed chefs, but the flavor was definitely lacking. So I asked for some hot sauce to add a bit of flavor to the dish. Also, while I was eating, guess who waltzed from the back of the kitchen? The owner! I called her over and asked what happed to all the classic dishes? She said they changed the menu, but I could order a side of oyster mushrooms if I like. At this point, I was annoyed. I beckoned the waiter over and asked why did he lie and say the owner wasn’t present when she was clearly in the kitchen? He looked at me dumbfounded like a child caught in a lie. I just shook my head and proceeded to order a side of oyster mushrooms. When they arrived, I noticed he didn’t give me any sauce for them (just dry ass oyster mushrooms). I asked for some sauce and he brought me some. When it was time to pay, I noticed he charged me for the hot sauce and the sauce for the oyster mushrooms. I just shook my head and ignored it because at this point I was over the entire experience. When I paid for my order, I noticed I didn’t receive any loyalty points (NextStop has a loyalty system, which you receive points for every purchase). I asked the owner about it and she said they have a new system, and the old points don’t transfer over. So all the points I accumulated in the past are now null and void. So yea, I don’t think I will be dining here for a while. I think I’ll try some other vegan restaurants until NextStop Vegan irons out their kinks.

Edit: First off, I never said your business was struggling in general. I said there was a time when you were “struggling to acquire” (as in trying to obtain) a liquor license because the city was giving you a difficult time. It was mentioned to signify how long I’ve been dining at your establishment. Also, according to your explanation, if a patron has a problem, your waiters are instructed not to get the manager? Even if the patron asks for the manager specifically? Even when the manager is in earshot? That’s great customer service. In addition, I find it funny how you addressed everything, but the quality of the food and the charging of sauces, which should be complimentary. Lastly, what’s the use of a loyalty program if your loyal customers aren’t accommodated for their patronage? I understand you have a new system and points do not transfer. However, you could have notified patrons prior (via email or text) or offered some form of comp or recompense...

After a rigorous day of admiring vintage subways and turnstiles at the New York Transit Museum, a hop, skip, and a jump away is a verdant oasis in the concrete jungle – Next Stop Vegan. This is where the beets drop harder than in any Brooklyn club, and the kale is massaged more tenderly than a five-star spa treatment.

Upon entering this temple of tempeh tranquility, you're greeted not just with a menu, but with a manifesto that screams 'Plant Power!' Forget the sad lettuce leaf and carrot stick stereotype; this is where vegan cuisine struts its stuff on the culinary catwalk.

My adventure began with 'El Plato' – a dish so harmonious, the United Nations could take notes. The portobello mushrooms? Sautéed to such perfection, you'd swear they whispered sweet nothings to the black beans beside them.

Next, the Mac & Cheese - a dish that defies all dairy-free logic. It's a creamy, dreamy, 'are you sure this isn't cheese?' masterpiece that could bring world peace if given a chance.

Then came the Twisted Burrito, a spectacle of spiraled splendor that's as twisted as a daytime soap opera plot but much more satisfying. Each bite is a plot twist that your taste buds never saw coming.

The Empanadas, oh, these golden crescents of joy, were packed with Mac & Cheese that could make a grown hipster weep with joy. It's comfort food within comfort food; it's like Inception, but with dough and no need to wake up.

To quench my thirst, the Fresh Passion Guava Juice, a drink so divine, it must be what the gods sip on Mount Olympus while watching vegan cooking shows.

And the cast of this culinary show? Blenlly and her team, the maestros of the meatless, the savants of soy, the wizards of wheatgrass. They don't just serve food; they serve smiles, they serve passion, they serve that 'I'll definitely be back' experience.

Next Stop Vegan isn't just a restaurant; it's a destination. A place where your palate can backpack through a world of flavors, where every dish is a stamp in your culinary passport. So, fellow travelers on the veggie voyage, make your next stop, Next Stop Vegan. Your stomach will purchase a...