Perk Coffee — Restaurant in New York

I'll preface this with the claim that I have been coffee'ing at Perk since its original founder opened it. Years ago, this was NOT a place that - thanks to customers and new management - operated like a mini Starbucks. Today, sadly, and definitely today, entitlement reigns supreme. And the parent company needs to determine and enact policy and procedure so Perk E. 37th Street doesn't become more of a WeWork replacement than it already is.

The coffee is terrific. Ditto the tea, and pastries from/by Balthazar, and the sandwhiches and salads by a maker whose name I forget. And with staff like Angie, Zaire, Brian, Evie, Ed, and Jordan, whether you're grabbing and going or sticking around to enjoy your cuppa, Perk E. 37th is the look.

What, or who, isn't terrific, too often than not, are customers.

On a particular day in April earlier this year, one person and their laptop took up three two top tables, and one person sat with their laptop in one seat at the community table, with their backpack on its own chair. This behavior exemplifies the entitlement we frequently see on buses and subways.

People park at Perk for hours, not ordering again, and bogarting seats and space to the detriment of other customers, but, more importantly, this harms the business. The latest (mid-December) is people bring their own food and fill their Yeti bottles with the water in the dispenser. And these things, besides being theft-like, if not actual theft, offend those who buy everything consumed at Perk. That they are allowed really does flip off those who show respect with their money and their presence.

While now owned by an out-of-state company, Perk is still local, it's NOT a chain, and staffed by a few exceptional people who, like most who work in food and beverage service, work hard because they care and not because they are paid six figures. On 10/4/24, a couple had decided that they bought one cup each and could conduct meetings, take up 3/4 of the community table, and just be who they were and act however they wanted, instead of being at an office. Or WeWork. Or at home.

I recognize that my statements here are mine and mine alone. At the same time, too many customers do not behave the ways we should, in a small, local, high-quality coffee-serving and product-providing place that is not a large space.

Whether or not management enacts policy and procedure to prevent or limit bogarting of seats, customers need to apply more empathy and less entitlement to their visits to Perk E. 37th.

If you're curious, on the aforementioned the day in April, I sat at the foot of the community table, and ordered and enjoyed finished three beverages. And on 10/4/24, I sat along the wall, where I enjoyed, after purchase, two coffees, one water, and two pastries.

Shouts to Brian, Angie, Zaire, Brian, Jordan, and Ed. If I left out anyone, my apologies and please let me know....

Much like the metaphorical flower persevering through the concrete Perk Kafe serves up delicious cups of coffee in a world saturated with Starbucks and Dunkin's on every other corner.

A cute little coffee shop tucked on the side street of Third avenue, Perk Kafe doesn't try to wow you with a thousand different drinks or a million single origin varieties of beans. What they do is simple in concept but impressive in execution - turn out a great cup of straight coffee every time with little fussing or overdressing - much harder when you can't flood a cup with mostly sugar and whipped cream.

While there's not too much space to sit and work (though who would want to do that during COVID), a small table and windowside to sit out and work from with a cup of espresso. Overall the coffee is very good, strong shots brewed with Stumptown grinds and freshly...

What a bad experience I just had today at my favorite coffee shop! I am a customer who goes every morning to buy her extra hot cappuccino, so I like them and there are 3 cashiers who know me and know that I always ask for it that way, those 3 guys are very nice and especially the older gentleman is a great person! BUT TODAY! It was not nice to go buy my cappuccino! A new guy was so rude when he made my coffee and I told him extra hot and he gave me a lukewarm coffee, I told him I want it hot and he came out rude, then he gave me the coffee in a rude way, and started saying things to me! What an unpleasant experience and how the day started! BEFORE I LEFT I TOLD THE GUY THAT HE SHOULD LOOK FOR ANOTHER JOB BECAUSE HE IS VERY BAD...