Onderdonk Cafe — Restaurant in New York

I came to Onderonk Coffee in Ridgewood at the recommendation of a friend who spoke highly of their pastries. Unfortunately, my experience here was nothing short of appalling.

It was a Saturday afternoon, near closing time, and the shop was completely empty except for our group. My friend kindly ordered coffees for everyone, and I planned to place my order shortly after. Instead of a welcoming environment, I was met with hostility and blatant disrespect. The owner singled me out — the only Black woman in the space — and told me I could not sit and meet there, if I don't purchase anything, despite the fact that my friend had already purchased drinks for all of us.

The message was loud and clear: certain people are not welcome here. No coffee or pastry is worth supporting a business that treats its customers in such a discriminatory and demeaning way. Ridgewood has plenty of cafés that value community, hospitality, and inclusivity — this is not one of them. I recommend supporting Cholita or other neighborhood coffee shops.

If you care about being treated with basic respect, take your time, money, and energy elsewhere...

Seemingly a nice place to stop and do what you need to do with a coffee and something good to eat. Food was ok and i visited on a very early weekend morning. Needed to do 20 minutes of work while downing a coffee before the day’s family activities started. There was only one other person in the shop. I asked if it would be ok to get one email out as i brought my computer to do that. It was an important one. I was totally shut down and offered the bench outside. Not an easy place to work also with not great weather. I took what I ordered and left. I didn’t have the energy to argue. Ultimately, the coffee was just okay. Food was pretty good. But will never return because of the exchange about the store policy. Very...

It’s a cute little place, but the proprietor does not allow her customers to use the bathroom, though it is easy to access, it is blocked off with several tables and chairs. I asked why she did this and her response was that she is not required to let anyone use it. Is this a hold over from Covid when everyone closed their toilets to even their customers? If it is this precaution is no longer necessary. If you are going to serve coffee, tea to the public, it seems to me a serious breach of etiquette to not let your customers use it. Everything else is nice, but why do her customers have to go home to...