Zatar Cafe & Bistro — Restaurant in New York

Strongly would not recommend this location to anyone looking for even decent service. I very rarely have had a terrible experience, but this was on a completely different level.

After sitting down and waiting 5-7 minutes to have our order taken in an empty restaurant the waiter (the only male waiter) approached us in not the most accommodating manner. We asked for water and it was lukewarm and not even cold. Waiter did not even offer any ice. After placing orders for two burgers with bacon, waiter did not even specify the temperature they cook it nor ask how I’d like the burgers cooked. After receiving our burgers, both me and my brother noticed that not only was the bacon burnt, my burger was overcooked. I politely asked the waiter to make another burger with the right temperature. I want to stress again that I very rarely have asked to have any food remade.

The waiter was not only condescendingly rude in my request but also made an excuse about how and when they take requests for burgers temp preferences.

After receiving the new burger, although the temperature of the burger was okay, it was missing the bacon I had ordered initially. At this point I didn’t even want to ask because it’s been pretty evident that the employees (waiter) is highly incompetent, unprofessional, and careless about his job.

At the end of all this, the waiter’s behavior was passive aggressive as he gave us the bill (also charged for the bacon that I never got). Worst part of it all was after swiping my card, didn’t even give me the chance to choose the tip as my brother did which only solidified that this waiter is absolute trash. I will never support this business after all this. There’s plenty of amazing restaurants in park slope, please look elsewhere or at minimum be aware of this terrible waiter/manager that has a position here.

I want to make it clear that I don’t mind paying as much as I have to for a good restaurant as long as the service and professionalism is there, and I hope this saves a few people from having the same experience I’ve had. Given my large group of followers, I will absolutely be making sure this is made aware to anyone that may visit...

After my Friday run, I decided to finally check out a spot that had been sitting on my list for a while. It was recently recommended again by someone I trust, so I headed there, hoping to recharge and indulge in another beautifully executed Yemeni meal. Unfortunately, what I encountered was far from that.

The restaurant in question had all the visual cues of promise — a lovely outdoor seating area , inviting and spacious, the kind of place you’d imagine hosting a relaxed family brunch under the sun. But despite the setting, the experience was—regrettably—far from pleasant.

I ordered the Yemeni Soufflé, initially thinking it might be their take on Fahsa, the traditional Yemeni stew. When I asked, my server confirmed it was—but what arrived was something completely different. In fairness, upon rereading the menu before I left, I noticed it did indeed describe the dish as including eggs and ground beef. The traditional clay pot it was served in may have misled me, and that part I’ll take responsibility for. Still, the taste was unremarkable—not offensive, not memorable. It simply existed.

What truly soured the visit, though, was the service. I rarely feel compelled to write critically, but the treatment I received during my short time there was frankly upsetting. There was a particular coldness and rudeness that contradicted everything I’ve come to associate with Yemeni hospitality—where warmth and generosity are at the heart of the experience. While I normally don’t name names, I feel obliged to mention that Tom, one of the staff members, was unfortunately central to what made the visit so unpleasant.

Hospitality is more than presentation or plating—it’s the tone, the welcome, the care. Especially with cuisines like Yemeni, where the spirit of the meal is tied to tradition and togetherness, missing that element alters the entire experience. I left feeling disappointed—not just by the food, but by the lack of care I felt throughout.

A beautiful space, yes. But I hope the service one day matches the promise...

This morning I came in to order an almond milk latte to go. The barista ignored me at first and started to help the next person in line who was there to order in. It was a strange eye contact exchange with the three of us. I ordered the latte and gave a 20% tip. I stood and watched him making the latte. When the milk was done he let it sit while he helped another customer. He then poured it in the cup. The milk looked very separated as he poured. After he gave it to me, I took a drink of it. It was way too hot and watery. I have asked for a latte to be redone once in my lifetime (I’m a 58-year-old woman who is somewhat addicted to coffee). He stood around the corner in the kitchen and I politely asked if he could do me a favor. He gave me a dirty look and walked right passed me and went and talked to someone at a table. I patiently waited for him to return. I asked him politely again if he would do me a favor, and I added that I don’t ever asked this, but….. he ignored me again. I finally placed the coffee on the counter and said “here you go, have a nice day” and walked out. He didn’t try to stop me or asked anything. Disgusting! Treating a woman like this who was very polite and needing basic customer service.

UPDATE: I am grateful for an apology from the owner after my review. I have changed the review to a 3-star. I have also calmed down after taking this situation very personally yesterday after feeling completely disregarded. Unfortunately, missing out on two nights of sleep does not help with my mental and emotional state of mind.

I’m not interested in a refund or returning for future business, but a personal apology and explanation from the barista is more valuable to me. I am so curious about how or why I offended him so much.

Thank you for responding quickly and wishing to make this right and exploring an investigation. As a formal cafe owner, I understand the impact of a poor review. They are learning...