- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Baco Cafe
Rating Details »
Categories: Mediterranean, Middle Eastern
Neighborhood: DUMBO71 Jay St
(between Water St & Front St)
Brooklyn, NY 11201
(718) 694-2226
- Nearest Transit:
-
York St (F)
High St (A, C)
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Alcohol:
- None
11 reviews for Baco Cafe
This review is purely for the espresso, as I did not try the food. I have to say, this was perhaps the best I have ever had in my life. Really perfectly prepared, nice and fresh with a distinctly rich, velvety texture. A little on the expensive side at $3 for a double shot, but this was no doubt very high quality.
The environment is also very charming; modern and sleek, yet relaxing and laid back. The seats at the bar are outrageously comfortable. There is a little bit of a strange vibe here, and I don't say that in a bad way; the owners are very low key, so you have to speak up when you're ready to order, which I would normally find irritating, but found it sort of pleasant here. They even gave me a taste of this delightful, fancy, fruit drink they were blending. The younger man working the counter is extremely friendly too, and made me feel quite welcomed.
Very chill atmosphere and dynamite espresso. What's not to love?
Love the design of the interior. So funky, mod, mixed with Middle Eastern touches (mainly Morrocan). One thing that kinda annoyed me was the back area made for babies. But I guess that's BK. Ugh.
The Iced Mint Tea alone is worth the $4. I didn't try the food, but this tea....oof. It is so friggin good, and unique (as far as I know) in NYC/Brooklyn places. A new take on an age-old Moroccan classic, the iced mint tea is kind of like a slushy in texture, has some fizz, and tastes oh so yummy and sweet. I notice someone said they wouldn't share the ingredients list, but I believe all it was was: mint leaves, black tea, ice, sugar, and rose water (that is probably their "secret" that white people would not recognize).
Omg. So so good. I will be back for that.
Be forewarned, this is gonna be ugly.
Let's start off with the few good things:
1) Digged the decor
2) I can't deny that what I tried of the drinks and deserts were yummy, though way too pricey for my taste.
Here is where things go downhill. Please don't be fooled by the over-talkative owner. During my experience here, the service was appalling. These people do not know how to treat their customers, nor do they have good common sense/people skills. They are inconsistent and don't follow through with what they say/do.
Maybe it's just me, but I personally do not enjoy getting my ears talked off when I just want to see a freakin' menu and order. You're long speech does not make me more eager to eat there as much as it makes me want to punch you in the face. But hey, I'm nice, so I can forgive you for that.
What I cannot forgive is having to wait forever for you to come back and take my order/answer my questions, because you're off sharing a bottle of wine and kissing some other customers' arse for another half hour.
I cannot forgive you for consciously giving my friend a large smoothie, when she ordered a small, but then expecting her to pay for the whole damn thing. If one of your dopey waiters comes by with a drink and says, "I know you ordered a small, but I'm giving you this anyway," then that is not our responsibility. He shouldn't have been so idiotic to do that in the first place, seeing as someone else at our table had already gotten a large smoothie- why would you charge one person for their large smoothie, but then give someone else the same size smoothie and charge them for less? -Not that they even did that anyway.
Furtherfuckingmore, I can nay forgive you for giving my friend a large pastry when she ordered a small and expecting her to pay for it. After we saw the check and told them she had ordered a small, these people had the audacity to ask her why she ate it. How the hell are we, the brand new customer, supposed to know what freakin' size your food is!? If we order something and you hand it to us, then we assume that is what it's supposed to be.
I left this place in a fury.
These people may kiss your ass at first, but all they really want is the money. They have no idea of the concept, "the customer is always right," even though they were clearly in the wrong.
The moral of this review is:
IF THEY TRY TO GIVE YOU A DRINK/DISH LARGER THAN YOU ORDERED, DO NOT ACCEPT IT. You think you're getting lucky, but you're just getting money torn out of your pocket.
I've been to this place twice. The first time I swore that I would never go back, the second time I went back, lured by cheap lunchtime specials, some misguided sympathy and a dire need of somewhere different to go in Dumbo at lunchtime, I realised why.
However lets start with the good stuff. The coffee is really good and food is pretty good (my only experience is at lunchtime, evening diners can fend for themselves) Both are inexpensive right now (Nov 09) The choice is limited but its adequate.
The service was OK. The first time I went in I couldn't find service for a full 5 maybe 10 minutes and practically had to wander into the Kitchen to find someone. The second time I went was better on that front and the very pleasant and meek staff that work there brought out samples of food to try.
However, after 10 minutes in this place, I couldn't wait to leave. The decor is awful, tasteless and cheap. The table we were sitting at threatened to fall apart when I leaned on it. Everywhere screams of incoherent, garish, mixed themes and "cultures'. It is charmless despite its efforts. The "books" on the wall scream lifestyle and travel. It all makes me feel nauseous. A hollow veneer.
The music is dire too. The songs playing both times I've been there sound like theme tunes for sanitary towel adverts. Added to this the same songs on both occasions repeated several times until you are begging for mercy -then quickly changed halfway through its third, maybe fourth play to some other god awful tune about ascending into a blissful state or some nonsense like that. Dreadful.
If it weren't for the food I'd think these people had no taste at all. But I get the feeling that the owners that sit outside smoking cigarettes wouldn't really care what my opinion is as I am not the kind of elite crowd that they are catering for.
Lastly, lately I heard a story related by a very reliable source that these people have had workers come into their kitchen and work for a whole day and then refuse to pay them. Saying that they don't pay workers for the first week. If this is true then its just another reason not needed for staying away from this style hole.
This place was a fantastic find! I dont know what that girl is yabbering on about, the service was superb and everything checked out with the bill. Maybe she's one of those sad people, who just like to complain because they have nothing better to do....It happens. Yes that owners chat alot, but thats what makes it great, you feel part of the family, its warming.
A must when visiting Brooklyn!
I would like to start off this review by saying.. I AM SO COMING BACK HERE!!
I was having a typical case of SUNDAY ( tired, hungover, need coffee) On my way back home from photo festival... I passed by this street. this place completely standed out for me..
I couldn't help myself walk inside and check it out.. WOW... I couldn't figure out if this is a store, a cafe or dessert or a restaurant.. I loved how this place kept me guessing. eventually I read the menu.. looks like they are ALL THE ABOVE.. how can it be possible??
I ordered my usual CAPPUCCINO.. it was very good...
It's been few days.. I can't get you off my mind.. I think I'm in love..
I tried Baco the very 1st day it opened by chance and found the owners to be extremely nice and enjoyable to talk to. My mom was with me and we loved chatting with Miritika, her husband, Motti & meeting their adorable kids. It was fun to flip through beautiful books, vintage clothing and try some delicious snacks with coffee. I went by yesterday and again had a lovely time! Tried their tasty & refreshing mint ice tea w- crushed ice and took home a yummy chocolate/banana dessert. The women next to us had a great looking platter of meditteranean dips/spreads with pita. I will return for more substantial food, happened to be on way to dinner somewhere else last night. Hope they do well!! It is a really cool interior, too! Placed a few pics on my blog Blipadee today :-)
I work down the street, so when it opened up I had to stop in to see what it was all about. I asked the barista what they served, meals, drinks etc. They seemed very flustered by the question and not sure how to answer other than "yes".
I am the type that hates *bucks so I love the small coffee house that serves great coffee... only had a cappuccino there, but at the prices they were asking I would much rather just go to Jimi's and grab a large for $1.25 and be on with my day. Just because you aren't *bucks doesn't mean that a small cappuccino has to be $4.00
Anyway, my second experience was mixed as well. There are two owners first off, husband and wife, the husband was quite nice but a little too talkative while the wife was just plain annoying to talk to. She spoke down to customers and went on and on as others have noted.
On my second vist, I was going with co-workers who wanted to try it out so I allowed it. Not only did they not greet us, (we went inside to ask if we could take the table outside, they nodded). The two of them actually sat across from us and smoked the entire time we were eating. (Yes this is NYC and you can smoke where ever you want, but if you are the owner of a restaurant please don't smoke within range of your customers it is quite rude)
On to what we came for... the food, menu was very limited, like 3 entrees all a bit pricey for the ingredients. Portions were not large but enough to fill you up if you have an app as well. The food was so-so, but pair that with the service being painful I will save my money for just about anywhere else.
We were enthusiastically greeted when we entered and given a sample of a very refreshing mystery drink. We finally found out it had mint and lime in it but the other ingredients were kept secret. The bartender then made us a mango lime smoothie that was awesome.
The menu is café fare with a middle Eastern slant. The atmosphere was cool and the music worked.
A great place in DUMBO.
Nice new hangout in Dumbo. It's a Tapas Bar/Furniture store. I went here with my friend one morning to kill time. We had a croissant and mint tea. Since the place is just opening, we also sampled some of their middle eastern tapas. The homemade tzaziki and roasted garlic on pita bread were my favorites. The furniture is a nice mix of contemporary with a Middle Eastern vibe.
I am a resident of DUMBO and I must say Baco is very hospitalble and there service is on point. I really enjoy going there for my daily dose of coffee and lunch.
I have had many a meal at Baco and I must say the entre's are delectable. Baco's breakfast and fish dishes are delicious, and I really commend the service. I highly recommend this establishment and think all should try it out, as it has become a staple in my weekly routine.
