Soul Brew — Restaurant in Town of Smithtown

Local here (St. James based), my wife and I have been frequenting this location since their opening as we live around the corner. It saddens me to have to write this, but soul brew has went from an amazing breakfast spot to a complete headache and frustration every single visit. Our visit today was filled with lack of service; not a single thing provided to stir coffee, had to clean up a spilt water while the waitress walked right by multiple times and didn't even offer a rag, only provided enough cutlery for two people when it was a party of 3.

Then we get to the food order, we specifically ordered a kids pancakes (silver dollar), regular adult pancakes were instead brought to the table, while this is not the end of the world, the attitude towards my wife from a woman who was not our server was not needed as she asked "oh you need the kids pancakes?", we responded yes, while in my head im going, yes, my son is 3, its very visible that he would like the kids pancakes. She scoffed and walked away. After waiting for the correct order and eating honestly very good food (kitchen staff is always on point), we then received the bill, which came to upwards of $70 for a Kristen scramble, sandwich and kids pancakes. Food prices have gone up, absolutely, but you can't justify the price when it may as well be self serve. After addressing the fact that we were being charged for an adult pancakes the manager decides instead of adjusting the price they will give 10% off, I'm no mathematician, but if a kids pancakes is $8 and the adult is $16 and you're taking 10% off my bill of $70, it does not amount to a kids pancake price, let alone a discount. My wife's Kristen scramble was also charged $2 for tofu, this dish was always a choose eggs for tofu, not an upcharge and tofu is way cheaper then eggs right now. They also wanted to upcharge for chocolate chips on a kids pancakes when it is one of the options for a kids pancakes on the menu, not a extra. While I was not about to correct them and figured the $1 was far more important to them then retaining a loyal family of customers who has spent a lot over the years, I figured pointing it out here would be best. Consumer beware, PLEASE CHECK YOUR CHECK

The food is great and I'm sure it will always be, the prices are what they are, but I cannot see charging customers that much when the service is rude (not from our server, she was sweet) and non existent. My wife has also left messages on Instagram regarding how this place has been consistently going down hill with zero response. The old management, staff and owners would not have found this acceptable at all. Please properly train your employees, please provide the correct prices when adjusting bills instead of trying to get a fast one over on people, and please take a step back and revisit the location that started it all, the customers that brought you enough business to open your multiple expansions and give it the TLC the local community deserves. It saddens me to say that after almost 10 years of this being my wife and I's spot and referring everyone I have come across to go here, I will be bringing my business someplace else. Cheers to the good times...

food is good, service not so much. i came in with my bf and his mom and was told it would be a 35 min wait for a table. we waited about an hour. i noticed as we waited that there is no proper allocation of patrons to tables and that there is no time limit enforced. when you’re a busy and small restaurant, it doesn’t make sense to allow tables to linger for 30+ minutes after they’ve finished their food and paid the bill. you have customers waiting for seating, so tell people when they’re done that they need to get out. there was a table with 4 seats given to a couple that was right ahead of us on line and while i understand it goes in order of wait, i think it would’ve made sense to have them wait just a few more minutes and give them a 2-seater table that was finished literally 5 minutes after they were sat, and then give us that 4-seater table. the reason that other couple hadn’t left yet is because the waitress took so long to come back and close them out, but if she did then they could’ve left and the couple could’ve sat there. later, we were offered a high stool 3-seater but we kindly requested to sit at the 4-seater lower table bc we noticed the lack of space and comfort (my bf’s mom has a bad knee). we were told it would be a 20 minute wait for that table… why? i saw with my own eyes that they had their check at the table… did they not already pay? if not, then what was the hold up?… we watched people wait 15+ minutes for their checks to be given, another 15+ for them to pay. it was absolutely ridiculous. there’s also a 2 seater to the corner of the restaurant that doesn’t seem like it’s meant to eat food while sitting there (the chairs are like sofa chairs and the table is a small and narrow coffee table) and that was offered to an elderly couple who walked out 5 minutes after being sat because they didn’t feel comfortable to enjoy their meal there. i don’t even blame them. when we finally got a table (the couple had left. the people at the other 4 seater were still yapping away even after paying) our waitress was apologetic for the wait time but frankly, we won’t be coming back. my suggestion to the restaurant is to start using reservations, especially for sunday brunch. and if you wanna eat here, you’re better off ordering pick up/take out, it seems they got their food in a much...

THIS HAS BEEN MY FAVORITE BRUNCH AND LATTE SPOT. I'm actually really disappointed to write this review. I have been coming here for 3 years. I've seen the new staffs that come and go. I looked forward to the lattes of the month. I have come here and brought friends from out of state and even had my post-doctorate graduation brunch here as it has been my favorite thing about the area. Brooke, was the most sweetest and greatest barista I've ever met. Drinks always 10/10. (She just left on maternity) She radiated sunshine and good vibes. The staff has always been so kind and food is great whatever you get you will LOVE.

However today, I got a special of the month that I had just gotten the week before, 2x, that did not taste at all like what it was, it didnt even taste like a drink... I saw that the worker was new and I've had drinks that differ between staffs, and i understand its hard, but when I had told the manager it did not taste right and I'm being kind by saying this because... it really did not taste right, like it tasted like water powder..... the manager was just kind of like annoyed and not even making eye contact with me. I recall this manager being a bit passive aggressive in the past.They made me a latte instead which was fine. It kind of ruined my day because I am so used to the great vibes and atmosphere. I always came here for the hospitality and all the staff has been great but this may just have to be my last time. It's still a 5 star restaurant and 1 encounter doesnt change the 100 other encounters that were so great but like i said, it just ruined my day when i specifically come here for the start...