Wendy H.
Yelp
I'm glad I came here once, but I don't feel the need to ever come again. Their coffee IS very tasty (taken black, no sugar), and I thoroughly enjoyed its rich flavor. It was a nice medium roast, with earthy notes and very low acidity.
My friend had a B.A.T. sandwich and found the aioli very tasty. They forgot the egg she requested, but that was fine in the end.
My everything bagel and cream cheese was not that fresh. They toasted it, which, in my opinion, you never need to do for fresh bagels. It lacked the warmth, fragrance, and springiness of a fresh New York bagel. The cream cheese was fine and cut into a cute triangle, but not anything out of the ordinary.
Overall, really good food and coffee for the price, especially in this neighborhood: $6 for a bagel and coffee (NY breakfast), $3.50 for a standalone large mug of delicious coffee, and $14 for a sandwich platter with home fries.
The downside is mostly the ambiance, which is the typical stressful, crowded, always-a-line for the bathroom, pressure to get out of the way, and a cacophony of plates and silverware constantly drowning out conversation type ambiance typical of overly popular places. I got yelled at by a disgruntled busser for no good reason, which really threw me off.
I probably would've loved this spot if I were a college student. Now that I'm older, I'd rather pay a bit more for a cleaner and quieter environment where I don't have to yell to be heard. Amazing coffee or not!
If you do want to venture here, here are some tips for a more pleasant experience:
1. If you want to get to-go, head inside to the counter where there's a touch pay screen and a person ready to take your order. Easy.
2. If you want a seat, wait outside for the host to notice you when they come out, or peek inside to see if you can locate the host. While waiting, try to back as far out of the way as possible. By no means should you try to approach the counter, even if the person behind the counter asks if you have been helped. They are not the host. Seating is first come, first served, back patio, or inside, whichever is available. I don't think you can pick. It's warm in the back, and I think it's nicer anyway since it's dim inside.
3. If you need to go to the restroom, get up earlier than you think, and assume there will be a line.
Have fun, and please enjoy the coffee for me!