Old Abe Coffee Shop — Restaurant in Rochester

DO NOT COME HERE: RACIST AND RUDE. I wish I could give this establishment a -5 star review if it were possible. As a tourist visiting this place, I was shocked by the unwelcoming attitude of the staff, who seemed to just want to get through their shifts without any regard for customer service. When we were ordering, we weren't familiar with the vegan options, and as we asked questions, we could sense their frustration. Their responses were curt and filled with a sense of condescension. We decided to dine in and, while waiting for our food, received two chai lattes--one of which had coffee added, despite being ordered non-caffeinated due to my sensitivity to caffeine. The other was a misunderstanding on our part, for which we apologized. When I went back inside to request a decaf chai tea latte, the staff visibly rolled their eyes and gave off an air of irritation, despite my sincere apology. A few minutes later, one of the workers brought the lattes to our table and slammed them down as my cousins had was slightly in the way. To make matters worse, the same worker with dirty blonde hair rudely informed us that our dog, whom we had brought on two previous occasions without issue, was not allowed inside unless it was a service animal. When I later asked where I could find tissues, she rolled her eyes and sarcastically replied, "Well, we have napkins." I didn't want to jump to conclusions, but it was hard not to notice that we were the only people of color in the establishment, and we were treated with a noticeable lack of respect. Given that Rochester is known for its kindness and welcoming atmosphere, I was shocked by the way my family and I were treated at Old Abe's. We definitely won't be returning, and I do not recommend this place to anyone--especially those of color or from an ethnic background. On the bright side, I highly recommend visiting Aqui's Coffee Shop, where we experienced a genuinely welcoming and friendly environment.

in response to reply from Old Abe’s We were never once informed about the no dog policy as we have stated that we have been there multiple times and never once got told our dog wasn’t allowed. Also thank you for acknowledging the rest our experience and having nothing to say in response. It goes to show what kind of standards this establishment upholds and reinforces my...

DO NOT COME HERE !!!! RACISM AND RUDE!!!

Following the lasted posted review my cousins and I had a terrible experience during our visit. The staff seemed uninterested in providing good service and were openly rude.

When we asked about vegan options, their responses were curt and condescending. We decided to dine in, but while waiting for our food, we were given two chai lattes—one of which had coffee added, even though we had requested it be caffeine-free due to one of my cousin’s sensitivity. As I had walked back inside to have our drinks remade, I was assuming a complete understanding demeanor from the workers but it was the complete opposite of rudeness and frustration in the air.

We apologized for the mix-up with the other drink, but when my cousin asked for a decaf chai, the staff rolled their eyes and displayed clear irritation. When the lattes were brought to our table, they were slammed down roughly.

Things got worse when a staff member rudely told us that our dog, who had been allowed in on previous visits, was no longer welcome unless it was a service animal. Later, when my cousin asked for tissues, the response was sarcastic: “Well, we have napkins.”

We couldn’t ignore that we were the only people of color there and felt we were treated with a noticeable lack of respect. Given Rochester’s reputation for friendliness, we were shocked by our experience at Old Abe’s.

We won’t be coming back and advise others to avoid this place, especially if you’re from an ethnic background. For a truly welcoming environment, try Aqui’s Coffee...

It's called Old Abe, but its namers could have stayed with that President's traditional nickname, "Honest", because the coffee beverages they serve here are nothing but. This is the stuff one imagines the log cabin Republican puttin back after a hard afternoon of jacking lumber. Back when coffee had teeth. When men were men, women had biceps, and newborns wrestled to the ground the elk that supplied the leather for their own moccasin booties.

I had the War Eagle (mostly war), and my partner had the Iced Zumbro. I find myself capitalizing the names not because they're names, but out of awe and fear. I am wired.

This vegan hangout spot is a tiny little house, with nooks and private-feeling crannies. You can tuck into comfy chairs in the back room or crowd onto the bench in the yard with friends. There's a play room for the children. The menu is written in chalk on a wall.

Where s* gets real is in the book room. Yes, books! There's a whole room of books, and they might even let you borrow one if you ask. Comic books, anarchist primers, an illustrated book of women scientists. There's even an 8 track cassette for those of us old enough to remember voting for Abe.

You've gotta check this place out. It's perfect for your next underground-anything meeting or casual hangout. I cannot comment on the food because I didn't try any, but if the beverages are any indication you won't be left...