Atlantique Cafe

Critic's Review

I ended up at this place at Noontime on Sunday by accident; it was raining and a bit windy and my plan to eat outside didn't make much send. I'd heard a little about this place, but not really much. I wanted to hit Bru's to watch the Giants game at 1pm and it was already 12:30 when I got here, so it would be tight. Breakfast is a fast meal, normally. And I emphasize the word "normally".

The place is much bigger than I expected; there are 2 entrances and apparently I found the back entrance. The place is located in a shopping center and if you park around the back, where there are more likely to be spots; you'll come in the back entrance. The problem is that its not clear that its the back entrance. There's a bar when you walk in, and a few tables, so it looks at though it might be the front. There's no hostess here; you have to walk though the restaurant to get to the hostess who is in front of the other door.

I was seated pretty quickly; but that's where the service ended. I've done 395 reviews now, and this would my first 0 star rating, it that was allowed. Because that's the level of service I received: Zero. I guess it serves me right for being in a hurry.

I was seated at 12:35. I didn't see a server for 5 minutes and then someone came by to take my order for coffee. At 12:44 she came back with the coffee and took my order for eggs, sausage and toast. So there was some chance I could get out of here without missing too much of the game, right? Fat chance.

I was just finishing up my second cup of coffee when someone came by and asked if I wanted a refill. I didn't need more coffee. I asked for some water. I hadn't seen or heard from my server. It was now 1:05. I'd read the newspaper; I kept hearing servers apologize because the kitchen was "backed up". But the place was only 2/3 full. And most people were eating breakfast.

At 1:15 I was convinced that my order was never placed and I'd been forgotten about. I hadn't seen my server in any capacity in 1/2 hour. I grabbed my camera and started for the hostess to tell her that I had to go and I would just pay for the coffee. As I got up, I saw a dude come out of the kitchen with what looked like it could be my order.

And in fact it was. 1:16pm. 32 minutes to make eggs. Unbelievable.

What's truly tragic here is that the food is very good. They have the good sausage, well-executed potatoes. Good hearty Rye bread. If I wasn't seething that I was missing the entire first quarter of the football game perhaps I wouldn't have minded. The food was very good.

When I was about 2/3 done, I asked a passing server to get my check as I was in a hurry and would like to make a quick exit upon finishing. I could watch him from my vantage point and he never mentioned anything to anyone. After I was finished eating, I still hadn't seen anyone who I could ask for the check. A manager lady noticed the empty plate, coffee cup and water glass and asked if I needed anything. She finally tracked down my server; who approached my table like a dog who knows he did something wrong; "I'm so sorry" she said. No tip for you.

The problem with this place is that it's too big for its kitchen or its waitstaff; neither can handle the restaurant. So expect to spend a bit of time here.