Quinn "Does the NY Times Sunday Crossword in Sharpie" S.'s Profile

Not sure what everyone else is buzzing about. The space is unfinished, the coffee is frankly awful (I've tried burnt tasting drip, an icky americano and a way of-balance cappuccino). The service was friendly, but inept, both in making drinks (see above), and basic service. We had to remind them to start the drip coffee ten minutes after ordering.

The space is nice, but not enticing. Maybe I have only gone on gorgeous days and it was the weather that made me want not to stay, but it felt like a cave. It's not inviting and comfortable. Maybe they are following the Sightglass model.

I'm certain it will get better (on-site roasting, back patio, etc.), but I'm going to give them a month or two before I return, which is a huge bummer since I live a block away.

Un. Im. Pressed.

Service was painfully slow. Nice, but not enough to overcome the absurd slowness. My beer hadn't arrived until more than 25 minutes after ordering.  Our entrees should have been there before that!  We also had to beg to get them to take away our wine glasses (we ordered beer and cocktails), which sat empty on other tables all the way through dinner.

Food came out of the kitchen really slowly. It was fine, particularly the buttermilk chicken (but the mac and cheese that came with it was better suited for use as a doorstop). Cornbread was nice, but came out after the entrees, whereas other tables got it moments after being seated.  I don't like feeling like an afterthought. Stuffed calamari was good but the brussels sprouts were as uninteresting as a green vegetable can be.

Also, the cocktail program seems pretty beat. We ordered a Pegu Club which was TERRIBLE, not to mention that the server corrected my friend's CORRECT pronunciation of Pegu.  I was at Audrey Saunders' wedding; don't act like you know better.

If this was a soft opening, I could wrap my head around it, but I recommend avoiding this place for the next 3 or 4 months in hopes that they get their act together.

ALSO, THE PLACE IS EXTREMELY LOUD! (that's me yelling, so you can hear me, which is what we had to do the entire time we were there, and we weren't anywhere near the bar, which was even louder)

The folks who work here are SO NICE!

Additionally, the food is excellent and dirt cheap!

Not much in the way of atmosphere, but who cares?

So, the chicken part of chicken and waffles was the highlight, but nothing to write home about.  The spinach and mushroom benedict was lousy, and I was surprised that the server didn't even ask when she took my plate away less than half eaten, but maybe they are used to it.

Service was really slow too, seemingly forgetting we were there. Asked for water soon after being seated and didn't see our server for over ten minutes before she returned to take our food order without bringing the water.

The questionably "maple" syrup was lousy too.  Maybe it was just Canadian, but it was almost flavorless and seemed diluted.  As a Vermonter, I take my syrup seriously... not to mention that the menu said it was supposed to come with honey butter not syrup.

Two stars is starting to feel generous. Not sure why anyone waits on the sidewalk for this place.

I'll admit, I stop in for a salad on really busy days at the office, because it's fast and as long as you didn't think of it Mexican food (or God forbid, order a burrito), it's not so bad.

Today, I was proven wrong. They screwed up my order twice, but were so eager to push my salad down the production line that I could barely get it corrected either time because the line only moves one way.  They also never put the salad dressing into my bag, and there was a chunk of bone in my barbacoa. It really couldn't have been much worse.

What a great little bar! Excellent selection of tequila (even if they were out of 7 Leguas the night I was there), and they know their spirits.  Simple but well executed cocktail menu.  I appreciate that it isn't overly ambitious, but rather impressively understated.

I didn't catch the name of the gal behind the stick, but she's a yoga teacher on her way to India, which will be a loss for this bar, even if it is only for a month.  We all kind of fell in love with her while she made sangrita. Oh, and the sangrita was really good!

Unimpressive for all the hype, and I understand having a small menu if you are going to change it up frequently, but why are there only four items on the menu if they are always the same?

My steak was overdone; medium rare shouldn't be beige in the middle. The spaghetti and meatballs were fine but way overpriced for the quality. I really liked the alfredo and the Caesar salad was decent.

The service was friendly and the atmosphere was great, plus I really appreciate the staff calling us from El Amigo and letting you bring your drinks over.

I've never been for a show, but there's this grumpy SOB who makes fancy cocktails in plastic cups on Tuesday nights, which alone are worth a trip to Texas.

There is no #4 or #5 on the taco menu, which seems suspect, but 2 and 7 were spectacular.  It's a fantastic place to stop for breakfast!

Great feaafel, but a 20 minute wait after waiting 10 minutes to order is too long for a wrap, which was one of my only options since everything else sold out. Fun folks who run the place and I love the stickers.