Mercantile at GrayBarns — Restaurant in Norwalk

I was visiting family in town and came across this small, nice looking café while out for a walk. From the outside, it looked inviting but the experience inside was quite the opposite. The moment I walked in, I was met with an uncomfortable, almost hostile energy from one of the staff a gentleman who made me feel like I didn’t belong there. It wasn’t just cold or indifferent service; it felt personal, like a silent “why are you here?” kind of judgment. After placing and paying for my order, I watched as the next customer who looked very different from me was greeted with a warm, cheerful attitude, even jokes and laughter. The contrast was undeniable and deeply disheartening. The whole interaction left me with a strong impression of being looked down on, possibly due to race a subtle, but painfully familiar vibe that many know too well. It’s sad to experience something like this in what should be a welcoming community space. No one should have to question whether they’re being judged for simply...

Solid La Colombe coffee at a quaint, airy, and spacious location that includes multiple types of seating, an outdoor space, and a small shop. It was very quiet and peaceful on a Thursday afternoon. The baristas were friendly and provided some recommendations for other coffee places to explore in the area upon learning of our interest in good quality specialty coffee. The chocolate chip cookie, an attempt to mimic Lavain as stated in the name, was very unique but mostly bland. The dough had minimal flavor, so I felt like eating chocolate chips. The cookie wasn't sweet or savory and lacked a good salt balance (that is to say, there wasn't one either way). The affogato I had was solid, though the ice cream wasn't anything special. The espresso served over top was extracted well and complimented the vanilla ice cream perfectly, so despite not having the highest quality coffee or ice cream, the end result was tasty. Deserves an extra star for the ambiance, location,...

I wish I could give more than 5 stars! The staff are absolutely AMAZING! Each and every single one of them, especially Oliver, Marianna, Maria, Ian, Juan, Johnny, the women in the kitchen, the event manager, the owner. They have the absolute best customer service and working atmosphere I’ve ever witnessed! ANYWHERE! Everyone has a smile on their faces, they’re kind, extremely helpful. They are very hard workers and you can tell that they enjoy their jobs and their customers. I also overheard many customers talking about how wonderful the staff is as well. The croissants are amazing, their food looks like plates of art I saw some of the items other people were ordering and I was in awe. The community that comes here is amazing. The fall foliage is such a great accent to the already amazing and warm welcoming feeling you get by coming to this wonderful cafe. I would absolutely recommend!! It was a...