Vernick Coffee Bar — Restaurant in Philadelphia

I visited Vernick Coffee Bar recently (for a third time), and I must say that while the pastries were excellent, the espresso I ordered has consistently been underwhelming. It tasted the complete opposite of "sipid" (read: sour/tasteless) and seemed to be made from stale beans, with a consistency that was thin and lacked the quality one expects from a place like Vernick.

Coffee serves different purposes for different people, and it really does not have to be an exotic blend from Yemen or Ethiopia to be good. But when you present yourself as a place that values quality espresso (they try to play the part too, with espresso served in an expensive looking cup, etc), you have to at least get the basics right. There’s a clear dissonance between the image Vernick projects and the quality they deliver, which feels somewhat deceptive. Coffee shops should embrace their true strengths instead of pretending to excel in areas where they clearly fall short.

If Chef Vernick himself were to visit and try the espresso offered at this coffee bar, I have to wonder if he would be satisfied or consider returning for another.

Again, the pastries are excellent at this place BUT if you’re coming specifically for the coffee—especially if you value authenticity and quality in your espresso—it might not be worth your money. It’s disappointing when a place sets expectations it doesn't meet, especially in a city rich with genuine...

So I came here because it had high reviews. However the service was very disappointing. Thinking an establishment like this would hold its customers in its very best interest, I was sadly mistaken. I came here the other night thinking service was going to be great, I order my drink after my colleagues but after I paid the person taking my order, he walked away with total disregard with a misunderstanding of finishing their customer service. I was not asked if I would like my receipts, I had to pull them from the printer myself. And I think the guy even saw this and failed to come over and assist me. He did not wish me a good evening. And failed to point to where the lids and sugar were to supplement my coffee. This Cafe gives Philly and Comcast a bad name. If you are visiting Philly I would steer clear if you are a person of color. And I will not even go into the incident that happened today. As they were unwilling to serve us with our party, and deferred service to a later time, "after another party would arrive." The time of the party would have arrived 10 mins after we had sat. The manager (I will assume because he was in a suit) did not consider the time it would take this table to "order." I think the intention here was to serve us not at all or as late as humanly possible. But I digress. I will not be coming again. And if you are attending AERA this weekend would...

My university had a reception here. The manager didn’t want us to come in and physically blocked me from entering the space with his body even after I told him I was with the university.

He then proceeded to tell me that one of my faculty members did not buy out the entire space and that they were booked.

He did not even offer us to order at the bar and then seat ourselves. He just kept insisting that it was booked.

My professor even got up to have us come and sit with her and he would not allow it. We sat down at a self-service table. Meanwhile, my professor is negotiating with him to have us get service.

and then he came up to us to tell us that he could not serve us until his 2:00 reservation had arrived and ordered and until he served them. He wanted us to wait 20-30 mins

After he delivered this message he continues to go to the counter and take orders and service to-go guests. He did not have the decency to even serve us water.

We left.

He wasn’t making sense. He basically asked us to leave by telling us we would have to wait until after the reservation showed up and got servedeven thought they were not even present.

All we tried to do was be customers and we were met with humiliation and resistance. Vernick needs to handle their managerial and customer...