Want to target ads on New York City blogs? Visit the NYC BlogAds Network

Free advertising

All content and photos on this site are copyrighted and may not be used without the owner's written permission.

This is a personal weblog. The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer.  My thoughts and opinions change from time to time...I consider this a necessary consequence of having an open mind. This weblog is intended to provide a semi-permanent point in time snapshot and manifestation of the various memes running around my brain, and as such any thoughts and opinions expressed within out-of-date posts may not be the same, nor even similar, to those I may hold today.

 

The Cloister Cafe, New York City Restaurant

« H E Restaurants :: email
posted Sunday, 12 June 2005

This weekend my friends Jason, Dana and I stopped by the Cloister Cafe in the east village. I have eaten here once before, and the service was so bad I didn't return for two years. But we decided to try it again.

The Cloister Cafe has a fantastic space for the spring and summer. Their indoor area is ok. But outside they have a gorgeous garden area and an area under a roof that is open to the garden. We sat under the roof as it had rained earlier and things were still wet. Even so, it is a very nice place to hang out.

We ended up with the cutest Asian waitress. Which was where the trouble began. She was trying. I will give her that. But, she was obviously new. So new she couldn't yet carry a tray single handedly. Or more than two plates at a time. Which meant service would be slow, but it was ok because she was trying.

Taking our order was another issue. Her English skills were not very strong. We ended up pointing to everything we wanted and she slowly copied the words out of the menu.

The food was pretty good. Nothing fantastic, but with the garden view it was fine. The dinner prices seem a bit high, but there are plenty of sandwiches and pastas to choose from for lunch.

At the end of the meal, we waited and waited for our check. Our waitress was busy wiping down the wet tables in the garden and had forgotten about all of her customers, many of whom were trying to get her attention. You can see her in the background of the picture below wiping a table. We finally alerted another waitress, who made sure we got the check.

Overall, I would say this is a great spot to stop by for tea, coffee, or soda if you wish for a drink and a nice place to hang out for a while. Just don't stop by if you are in a rush or want normal service.


Cloister Cafe
238 East 9th Street
212-777-9128

links: digg this    del.icio.us    technorati    reddit


comments (2)


1. cal left...
Monday, 25 July 2005 3:52 pm

True the food there is unexceptional, though the garden at night is pretty etc. Having said that, however, I never went there again after a friend and I saw mice scampering about near our table one summer evening. Apparently they chose to emerge under the cover of darkness from the bushes/greenery near our table. Just sayin'.


2. Steve left...
Monday, 25 July 2005 4:18 pm

Ditto. Mice is a nice way of putting it. In fact, two rats the size of a small dogs joined us the one time I was there. New York restaurant "gardens" are often home to these fellas which is why I avoid them (the gardens and the rats) whenever possible.