The Inwood Farm — Restaurant in New York

First off, I have been coming here for almost close to four years. I live in the neighborhood so it’s a place that I go 2 to 4 times out of the month. However, as of late the service has been slow and inattentive. Many would say well if the service is bad why continue to give them your business. I’m trying to look at this as you’re my local eatery that normally did give wonderful service compared to the other businesses on Broadway but now it’s just turned into take the money and run because of the price point of the menu. That being said if I go alone and spend almost $100 for dinner on a Sunday night, I expect to have a bit of service and at least one check back from my server at the very least. And maybe a hostess, who wasn’t reading when I entered the door so I was made to feel as if I was disturbing her from not doing her job. Yes my last three visits there was a 3 to 5 beat before the hostess acknowledged myself or me and my guests because the hostess was engaged with her book as per usual. And that is exactly what happened. My server, though friendly and pleasant, took my order. It arrived, but sadly, there was no second check back. That means if you need pepper, vinaigrette, what have you and the server doesn’t check back for at least 10 or 15 minutes by the time you need something for that order you were pretty much finished. I asked for pepper and ordered a cocktail to which my server then got engaged with guests at the bar and completely forgot that I was sitting there. They got a bit busy and she got a six top so clearly she forgot me not to mention every time she crossed the room, there was nothing in her hands nor did she acknowledge me. My server in the end was the bus boy and the bartender whom I did express my dismay. I am not over the top or high maintenance but regardless whether it’s one person or three you’ve got to do a second check back in less than five minutes after you’ve dropped food otherwise what’s the point? And again if I’m going to spend close to $100 just around the corner for my house and I come there how many times a week I expect a little service. I’m one of those people that seriously does not write reviews, but I’m throwing folks under the bus because you gotta tighten up. Stop assuming we’re all loaded because we live in this neighborhood. Most of us are folks who work more than 10 hours a day and when we come over to your café, just wanna have a nice dinner to reward ourselves for the work we’ve done all freaking week. At least that’s what I was trying to do but I digress. I understand this is a relaxed, casual atmosphere but relaxed doesn’t mean take my money drop my food then walk away and never come back. Yeah I don’t think that’s how that works. Just saying….. I do hope you take this review in...

⭐️⭐️⭐️ A Community Favorite in the Making — Just Needs Sharpening

Inwood Farm is a beautifully located restaurant with a warm, inviting atmosphere and an energetic team of young professionals. I truly admire the vibe and potential here — this could easily become a cornerstone of the neighborhood. With over 30 years of senior service management experience, I understand both the challenges and the opportunities that come with running a high-expectation hospitality business. That’s why I offer this feedback in the spirit of growth, not criticism.

During my visit, I ordered the Golden Latte, which unfortunately arrived lukewarm. The cinnamon dusting on top dominated the flavor and made the drink bitter, especially with no sweeteners or stirrer provided or offered. Small touches like this matter — they’re part of the polish that turns a good experience into a great one.

For the meal, I had the Pulled Pork with Waffle. The pork lacked seasoning, and the waffle was so overcooked it required real effort to cut through — not ideal for what should be a comforting dish. The table I was seated at was also unstable and rocked with every move, which detracted from the overall dining experience.

These may seem like small things, but they’re exactly the kinds of issues that accumulate in a guest’s memory. They’re also the easiest fixes when a team is committed to excellence. Here’s what I’d suggest as a longtime industry veteran:

🔹 Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) — Reinforce baseline expectations around food and drink temperature, garnishes, table setups, and side item presentation. It’s the difference between “served” and “served with care.”

🔹 Pre-Shift Coaching — Daily 5-minute meetings can build awareness, improve menu knowledge, and prep staff for smooth, consistent service. Use that time to run through specials, check for wobbly tables, and assign eyes on details.

🔹 Guest Anticipation Mindset — Encourage proactive service: Offer sweeteners and stirrers when drinks are delivered. Check in early in the meal, not just after the food’s gone cold. These gestures build trust fast.

🔹 Leadership Visibility — A visible, engaged manager can calibrate the floor, boost morale, and model the tone for team performance. It’s a game-changer when guests and staff alike know someone’s actively ensuring quality.

To be clear: I want this restaurant to win. Inwood Farm has so many of the right ingredients — youthful energy, a great location, and a community-ready vibe. With some operational tightening and a deeper focus on guest experience consistency, this place can absolutely become a neighborhood essential.

Looking forward to returning and seeing the growth. You’ve got something special here — it just needs the right...

Hubby and I came here on a Saturday afternoon around 4:30pm. We made the reservation online. We enjoyed the atmosphere of the restaurant and its crowd. The service was really fine, not at all as bad as described in some of the other reviews. My hubby mentioned the service was just a bit slower, but to me personally it was truly fine, the waiters showed up when needed and were kind.

Hubby had the “honey mule” ($14) and I had the “uptown sangria” ($14) to drink. We shared the “artichoke hearts” ($12) and “truffle fries” ($12), both were very yummy! I just bit the artichokes too early and burned my mouth, so just an FYI to give it some time to cool down first. I really wanted the “country fried mushroom” as my main, but to my bad luck they were out, so I substituted for the “eggplant rollatini” ($18) which was delicious btw! Hubby had the “bistro steak” ($32). He was a bit worried that it wouldn’t be filling, but he ended up feeling satisfied afterwards. He mentioned really having enjoyed the mashed potatoes and the salad on the side of the bistro steak. We ended with sharing the “bread pudding” for dessert, which was just okay, I won’t order it again, next time I’ll stick to the crème brûlée.

Overall we really enjoyed dining at Inwood Farm and I have to come back to try that “country fried mushroom” as a vegetarian! We plan on coming for brunch this weekend, so I’ll be updating this review afterwards with more info and pictures.

EDIT We came for brunch on a Saturday at noon (12:30pm reservation) and the vibe was so much fun! It was almost fully packed and the coffee station had a bit of a line. I had the “matcha affagato” ($9) which was like a cold dessert drink, but it was sooo good and lasted me for the entire brunch. I finally had the “country fried mushroom” ($20) and it was okay taste wise for me. The presentation was beautiful, but it could’ve used a bit more seasoning for my taste. Glad I had it, next brunch I have my sight set on the “bruschetta buratta toast” (will only update photos, no further revision of review after this. Hubby had the “steak &...