Cafe Fresh

 

5

12

Frances W.

Conshohocken, PA

This place is a bit overpriced and underwhelming. It has a comfortable atmosphere, but the coffee just isn't very good. I still come here once in a while because it's so convenient, but every time I do I go away wishing I had spent my money somewhere else. Once I got a latte and the milk was burnt! That was a big disappointment.

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4

61

Ben L.

New York, NY

This place is a mixed bag.

On the one hand, I've been unable to find many spaces to settle down and work in my short time here. This cafe is serviceable for that purpose: there's wifi, a solid menu of pastries and sandwiches, and self-serve water.

On the other, the tables are small. It's not a comfortable space in part because there always seems to be some sort of bureaucratic drama occurring amongst the labor. It makes me anxious, which isn't terribly good for productivity.

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2

12

Pepper W.

Washington, DC

I live two blocks from Cafe Fresh, and go there a lot.  I deeply desire a solid neighborhood coffee shop, and Cafe Fresh is almost it.

My friends and I call this place "Cafe Mismanaged", aka "Bottleneck Bagels."  The space is carved out of two storefronts that have been merged, and is shaped like a horseshoe; the counter is at the peak of the horseshoe.  

Effect:  The place where you stand to order, wait for your coffee, sugar your coffee, and walk in the door are all the same.  And it's about 10 square feet.  Watch your elbows.

I've always had great food and coffee here, but they are always 1 hand short, forcing long waits and awkward exchanges.  And they ALWAYS run out of bagels by 10am--for my money, they've got to figure this stuff out before I'm willing to visit regularly.

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0

7

EastHudHghts D.

New York, NY

Everyone who said that this place has BAD service, long waits, and a terribly cramped entry is correct.

I've lived and worked in this neighborhood for a few years, and I almost never go there because the service is so frustrating.

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0

8

Adam P.

New York, NY

My shock at the number of stars given to this place led me to stop being a Yelp lurker and join the fold.

This is the flat-out worst service and attitude of a business establishment I've ever seen -- and I'm a lifelong New Yorker.

Prices are fairly high, and pastries sit out, uncovered all day.

The owner simply does not care- she is rude, brusque, and my guess is a horror to work for given how often the staff turns over.  I always feel like I'm imposing when I stop in and spend money.

The hours are ludicrously limited for a coffee shop in the same building as a University.  They could make a ton of money if they stayed open in the evening.  But not only are they not open late, they rush you out. At approximately 4pm on a recent Sunday, they "closed" half of the restaurant and started telling people they were closing....2 hours later.

The only plus side is the location and lack of coffee shops with decent lighting (hint hint Caffe Max and Hungarian)

Also, they do not have free wi-fi, unless you count the wifi you can steal from Columbia or sometimes Panino Sportivo.

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0

1

L M.

New York, NY

More like.. CAFE MICROBE!?!

Warning: Small children, old people, sensitive populations, or those who don't like drinking coffee with other people's saliva in it... DO NOT GO TO CAFE FRESH. DO NOT GO HERE. Thank you

[Sidebar - The owner is probably the rudest and most horrendous employer I have ever come into contact with (see previous reviews) ... stark crazy. Not that I would avoid good coffee on this basis alone, but she is so over the top that her constant chastising and yelling at her employees can really ruin my morning zen. i don't know why any sensible human being would come within 50 feet of this lady until she has graduated from anger management therapy]

Picture this: A man walks in, the girl behind the counter serves him a coffee out of the thermos. Its sludgy and strangely murky. She slaps a lid on it and gives it to him. He pays, turns to go, takes a sip, comes back, shows her the coffee, and asks if it has milk it in. Although kind she was pretty inept in her respond, merely telling him that it just came out of the thermos. He finally talked her into a fresh cup, and left the shop. The girl .... here is is.... pours the offending coffee... that same coffee that he drank out of.... BACK INTO THE THERMOS!!! Disgusting.

I also witnessed a Cafe Fresh employee doing something not so fresh - She drank out of a latte, then put it under the steamer, steamed it, and then proceeded to steam the large pitcher of milk under said steamer without cleaning it. Disgusting!

The old hag of an owner was handling food without washing her hands too.

Cmon people. Tell your friends. Don't go here.

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Elite '08

150

215

K Tempest B.

New York, NY

Cafe Fresh, you are almost everything my heart desires.  Organic coffee, nice atmosphere, free wifi, nice seating.

Why the heck are you so far out of the way, then!?  Sheesh.

This place is great for those who live near it or go to Columbia.  But it's far more of a trek from the subway than I'd like.  Too bad, for it is lovely!  But I'd only come here for writing if someone desperately wanted to be here.

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Elite '08

1501

743

Sam P.

New York, NY

Being stranded in the deserts of Manhattan above 116th Street, Sam looked up to the Gods of Morningside Heights and said "Please, oh kind gods!  Grant me a cute cafe with organic coffee, free wi-fi, yummy sandwiches, and plenty of places to sit that's close to Riverside Church, where I'm currently rehearsing.  Because seriously if I have to go to that crappy deli on the corner of 121st and Broadway one more time I'm going to kill someone."

And the Gods heard his prayers, and rained down the abundances of Cafe Fresh upon him, where he contentedly sipped a mocha, ate a cookie, and checked his e-mail on his break from rehearsal.  And where the staff didn't seem crazy, but really nice, as they spotted him $1 since he was short and they don't take credit cards (almost took a star off for that one).  And Sam saw that it was good, and would certainly return soon to prepare an appropriate offering.  Mostly likely in the form of $10 for a sandwich and a coffee.

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Elite '08

49

115

susan j.

Santa Monica, CA

"When In Rome, Do As the Romans Do"

I came to NYC for Thanksgiving weekend to visit my friend who attends Columbia University and so for the couple days I was staying with him I became a student (once again). Being a student entails coffee shops and eating cheap. Sounds good to me!

Down the street from where we were staying was Cafe Fresh (CF).  A cute little cafe with the usual cafe treats. Sandwiches, wraps, salads, and pastries. Our afternoon ritual for my trip consisted of daily visits to CF and soon discovered my absolute love of their chocolate chip cookies and lemon cake. A great afternoon treat and completely affordable! Hmm..maybe I can go back to being a student again...Nah!

Service is a bit slow here, but the workers are very friendly (also helps that we got a free cookie and discussed the importance of Shakira in pop culture) :) Otherwise, a cute hangout for students, great dessert, and friendly place for cheap good eats!

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57

124

Emily L.

New York, NY

The coffee here is pretty good, as are the sandwiches and the baked goods (especially the pumpkin loaf!) but the service is totally lacking!  The staff seems to be constantly turning over, which does not bode well for any establishment and the owners seem brusque and oddly defensive toward patrons and offensive toward employees.  I've actually seen them scold employees in front of patrons.  It just gives the place a bad vibe I think.

It's a shame because there really is a lack of good cafes in the area.  I'd take Max Cafe right down the street or even a cup o' joe at Panino Sportivo over Cafe Fresh though.  So kudos to tasty, organic food and beverages but boo to long, slow lines and socially awkward staff and owners.

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Elite '08

25

54

Mike W.

New York, NY

Cafe Fresh consistently puts me in a better mood when I go there. For one, I want them to offer a Guatemalan coffee IV drip. Also, the free soy milk. There's a lot of seating, including stools at the window and a window banquette on the other side with big plush pillows. It gets a little busy around lunch, but there's always a beautiful lull from four to close that is perfect for chilling out in the window and watching the daylight subside.

And! The curl-topped barista is perhaps the friendliest person I've encountered in a customer service position since moving to New York. I believe he makes some of the desserts, and it should be at a felony in most states not to try his apple pie.

The only teensy downside is that it's right next to my school, so it provides little refuge from my classmates. And we social workers can be quite the Chatty Cathys, too. But I won't fault the cafe for that. Love it!

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0

3

Cristian R.

Atlanta, GA

a bit overpriced but food is pretty good

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Elite '08

60

86

Ben C.

New York, NY

Update:  Staff is argumentative and rude.  Clearly their goal is not to please the customer.  Perhaps the staff should brush up on their culinary knowledge and, more importantly, their customer relationship skills.  Regardless of the decent food and prices I won't be visiting again anytime soon.  

               ************************************************** *********

Original review (3-stars due to lackluster service):  Nice location on the corner of Amsterdam and side street and big windows makes for good viewing.  Soups and salads are prepared with fresh ingredients and are delicious.  Entrees are tasty and served in ample portions.  The quality of food and relatively cheap prices make you feel like you're getting a good deal and eating well at the same time!   With that said, I must admit, I wasn't crazy about the spinach pie, which was a bit bland and soggy ... but I was studying for an exam that day, so maybe I'll give it a second chance at some point.

Otherwise, brewed java is decent to good.  One of the better options in the area.  Haven't tried the espresso yet.  Part of the reason is that I fear ordering an espresso beverage because the staff is s-l-o-w and, in my opinion, tend to be overly chatty with customers.  I'd rather spend *my* 10 minutes walking over to Oren's than waiting in line, hearing a drawn out conversation b/w staff and customers ahead of me.  Speed it up!

Overall, very comfortable place, good food, good prices.

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15

163

Ryan C.

Los Angeles, CA

we wanted to get the chinese breakfast tea with milk but they were out. how can you run out of tea! so we got english breakfast with milk instead and an almond croissant. the croissant was not notable at all, and the tea was all right but not hot enough. the atmosphere was pretty good and the server was reasonably friendly. a lot of students like to hang out here.

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0

42

Franc S.

San Francisco, CA

I came to NY for a business trip - took a redeye to JFK from SFO, arrived at 7:30, had a lunch meeting in the area, and then was back on a plane to SFO that afternoon. I went on yelp to find a nice refuge (with Wi-Fi) where I could sip some of the best green mint tea (organic) I have ever had and found this place. Not bad.

Tea and Soup:
       The tea was great and the lentil soup was warm and really made you feel good. Their bottled herbal drinks are also good. I would definitely come here after a long trek acorss the country again.

My Experience:
       My Wi-Fi experience was not the greatest. The connection kept coming in and out. The location was great but I did run into the lunch crowd. I was hoping to have a conference call in here, but that was not going to be possible at all. Half a star for the murals on the wall.

--

Scale
5 Stars = How did I live before this place? Amazing.
4 Stars = This place is great. Not mind-blowing, but great.
3 Stars =  It was okay. I'll come back to this place.
2 Stars = If I don't have to be back here, I won't.
1 Star = Count me out, this place should pay me.

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10

46

Ethan C.

Brooklyn, NY

Wow. Some people have really strong opinions of this place! My first trip was this past Sunday with my girlfriend when we were looking for somewhere close to eat for brunch. I had noticed the place on the corner many times and was excited to try it out. They serve brunch until 4:30 in the afternoon, which I think is excellent so I can get brunch after partying until 4:30am. It was moderately priced, about 7-12 dollars each. The service was not very good, with two people running all over the place and barking at each other, definitely understaffed. I ordered the southwestern omelet, which was fantastic with onions peppers and cheese, and came with really good home fries. My girlfriend ordered pancakes with fruit, she really liked them. We ordered a side of sausage, which turned out to be really good Italian sausage. The cups of coffee were huge and really good, and my girlfriend (who works in a coffee shop herself) said they had the best cappuccino she's ever had. Good experience, I will be going back.

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Elite '08

141

201

Ameena G.

NY

I have a love hate relationship with this place. Love the fact that the owners strive to serve organic fare. Hate the fact that it's understaffed and incredibly slow - lines can get ridiculous and once you place your order, expect quite a wait. Also, the owners are kind hot and cold too. It's a "mom and son" enterprise and mom can sometimes be in a really crappy mood and will talk poorly to her staff in front of everyone (it's no wonder that one of their best counter people has left for Panino next door!) The son is really no better and often just looks pissed. But they can be really nice too. Regarding the food, the sandwiches and salads are great and I've also enjoyed some wonderful omelets here (they have a nice weekend brunch menu). I'm not so thrilled with the desserts and sweet stuff in general so I basically don't order those things. I do keep going back but they really need to work on their speed.

Speed: 1 star.
Value for money: 4 stars (it is a little on the expensive side, but it's mostly organic so you pay for that)
Atmosphere: 3-4 stars
Overall: 3.5 stars, but I'm going to give them 4 because I do keep going back.

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0

3

Rob C.

Brooklyn, NY

***Update 6/19/2007
I came here for coffee on again/off again during the first of my two years at Columbia.  They have a nice atmosphere (counter seating facing the street, great for solo diners) and play good music.  The espresso varied from somewhat good to OK, depending on who made it and other unknown factors, on at least one occasion dipping into downright bad.  Can't comment on the drip coffee or any other drink.

They also have a sandwich menu with good vegetarian/vegan options (spiced bean and avocado, hummus, grilled cheese and veggie, etc).    I came in a couple months ago and was pretty much treated like dirt, an event which angered me so much that I immediately wrote a scathing review with one star (below).

After some rational reflection, I decided I could give the place another chance, and I have to admit that the food is pretty good, if perhaps not stellar.  Put simply, if you go to Columbia and you are vegetarian (or *especially* if you are vegan), this is the only place within walking distance that you can get a meal with real nutritional value for less than eight dollars.

As for the poor hospitality practiced by the owners, which appears to be a regular occurrence according to people I have talked to and the reviews here, well, to quote Blur, "you might as well just grin and bear it."

-----------------Begin Original Review-----------------

Absolutely the worst customer service I have ever experienced in one and a half years in New York City.  And NYC is not exactly known for restaurant customer service...

I came in and ordered a hummus and avocado sandwich.  When it arrived, it had a white spread on it that looked suspiciously like mayonnaise.  The menu does not list mayo (or any other spread) in the ingredient list, so I wasn't sure what it was.  I went up to the front to inquire whether mayonnaise had been put on the sandwich even though it was not on the menu.  I did not ask this question beligerently, I just asked.  The woman immediately began *yelling* at me (no kidding!) non-stop, telling me that I was making a big fuss, acting like a baby, that their sandwiches have the best organic ingredients in the world and so on and so forth.  I tried a couple times to ask her what the big deal was, but I could barely get a word in edgewise in between her insults.  I couldn't believe it.  I left the sandwich on the counter and walked out; I cannot eat in a hostile environment.  I will never go back to Cafe Fresh.

(It turns out that the sauce was tahini, which was fine, but couldn't she have just said that?  I don't need it to be said all cheery and whatever... just say it without yelling at me!)

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26

55

lauren a.

New York, NY

cafe fresh, i feel this is the start of a beautiful friendship:

-four types of coffees to choose from, so i get to decide what i want each morning.
-i don't even really know what being organic entails, and never select organic by choice, but i'm impressed at the fact that almost all your food is organic.
-oh my god, absolutely delicious homemade muffins?
-fancy vegan sandwich options.
-some of you are so nice to a girl! makin' me feel all welcome in a new city. (others of you, the older ones, are kinda... interesting. but i can ignore it).


***update. um i went in the day after i wrote a five-star review, and you guys were totally not able to handle your shit... like all overwhelmed and not exactly nice about it. it's cool, i understand, but you were almost downright rude... so i'll give you the benefit of the doubt (it was first weekend of campus opening and whatnot) but i gotta dock at least a star for that...***

***second update! you people are crazy. i don't know where you find your staff, but people got ISSUES. sooo disappointing.***

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0

2

Jay j.

New York, NY

UPDATE: Summer 07: Big fat cockroaches appeared this summer at Cafe Fresh, sending some customer screaming and running out of the place when said cockroaches climbed up their legs. The management literally did not care. They didnt even care enough to buy a can of raid, the 'son' manager said to me: "I dont know what to tell you, you can more your seat to somewhere else if you like". I said okay, and walked out. I dont think i'll be back there for a long while.

---------------------------------original review:
Let me say at the outset that i do keep going back because the coffee and muffins are decent, and they let you sit there all day with a computer, and they have ac outlets. But there are a LOT of CONS that offset these PROS:

CONS: *incredibly* slow. I mean, you wont understand why its that slow. You'll scratch your head, you and the other customers in line will look at each other in wonderment at how slow they are. and so UNECESSARILY slow. They're slow because EVERYTHING behind the counter is organized wrong. Need a spoon? Take a stopwatch and time how long it takes them. Literally 3 minutes to get you a spoon. Placing an order? Count on close to 10 minutes from when you get in line to getting something resembling your order. AND THATS WHEN THEY'RE NOT CROWDED.  No joke, its brutally, brutally dysfunctional. DO NOT go there if you're in a rush. Even when you're not in a rush, they're retarded slowness will annoy you anyway. And the thing is - its been that way since they opened - AT NO POINT do they seem aware that they have SEVERE problems with the organization of their work flows.  They seem oblivious.
The reason for this probably is because, simply because of their location, they get a steady stream of students who come by anyway whether or not their service sucks. So they honestly have not needed to deal with these atrociously incompetent work flows they have.

Other cons:
-no wireless access despite proximity to columbia. How much would it cost them to put up a router?  Supposedly if you take your laptop near the bay window facing the street you're supposed to pick up a weak columbia LAN signal. Its never worked for me though.

-their SOUPS SUCK. Like dishwater.  Stay away from soups.

-OVERPRICED - EVERYTHING is overpriced - and i mean WAAAAY over priced. Coffee is overpriced. Refills are overpriced. Sandwiches are WAY overpriced. You will regularly pay 4 to 5 bucks for coffee and a muffin, or 8 to 9 bucks for a VERY MODEST lunch.

-quite small, quite crowded, especially near the counter where the line is always long and there is NO room to maneuver.

-coffee cups are the wide-mouth ones that spill VERY EASILY. I hate that style of coffee cup. Doesnt help that some of the tables are very rickety.

-They serve breakfast in the mornings, but I wish it were all day though.

-they dont take credit cards

-music is occasionally too loud.

-in this incredibly tiny space, they then sometimes divide the space in half and reserve it for 'waiter service' for lunch (very overpriced lunch) or dinner (very overpriced dinner). So it gets even more crowded.  Its ridiculous to have waiter service in what is essentially a tiny, tiny coffee shop. BUT THEY TRY, they're obviously milking the money out of the customers for all its worth.

-the 'mom' owner is very grumpy and very rude, all the time. She's especially rude to the staff, and is so right in front of the customers, when they fight everyone hears it cuz its such a small space.  The 'son' owner has his good days and bad days.

PROS: Coffee is drinkable in terms of taste. They let you sit there all day with your computer, which is one of the big draws for students (and i've seen faculty having lunches in there too).  AC Outlets are available and easy to get hold of one.   Nice cushioned seating in one section.  Sandwiches are edible for the most part, though with some of these organic wraps you'll be surprised at how tasteless they actually are, but some of them are okay.  
Best foods: Cranberry muffins, bagels, coffee. Omelets are excellent.

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