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The first time I went to Cafe Lalo, I had a decent time. The cake we ordered (some chocolate cake) was terribly dry and definitely old - definitely not worth the $8-$10. Wasn't even worth .99cents. However, the frozen ice cappuccino I had was really good. That's why we decided to go back a few days ago - we wanted to give this place another try, and have one of their delicious ice cappuccinos. WHAT A MISTAKE. If ever there was a definition of a tourist trap, Cafe Lalo is it. I gave them 2 tries, and will never go back. We ordered the frozen ice cappuccino again, and we got a chocolate milkshake with chocolate syrup on the bottom of the cup -?? Huh? When I asked the waitress if they usually put ice cream in their cappuccinos, she looked like she had no idea, but said "YES" anyways. I told her that I think they got our order wrong, because this was a milk shake, but instead of being understanding or saying sorry, she gave me a rude look and said "So you don't want it anymore?" In addition to the rude waitress (maybe she didn't mean to be rude, but her english was lacking, and it seemed like it was her 1st day on the job, and it was quite hectic), the service was EXTREMELY slow. 5 minutes to get seated with tons of empty tables, 10 minutes to get our menus, 5-10 minutes to pay (while standing in front of the cash register with no one there). This cafe is slammed with tables - so many tables it's hard to walk anywhere! You have to lift up chairs and move tables, just to get to the table you're assigned to. And the whole time we were there, with maybe 30+ guests, there were only 2 waitresses. It was hot, crowded, slow and overpriced. It looks like a nice place to go from the outside, but it's definitely not a place to sit and relax. It's frantic, with loud music, bad service (NO AC!!!!), and bad food. I'd suggest going somewhere else.

I don't know why people give Cafe Lalo low ratings. Their food is really good and their staff is really nice. The cafe is very beautiful.

I live close to Lalo, so I have given it a few chances. Inevitably, the cakes and tarts are just okay. The mousse I had tonight, for example, tasted like JELL-O brand pudding. The place is just phoning it in for the tourists who are drawn in by the movie connection. Of course, the price for mediocre cake is $7.50 per slice. Crazy. Also, it always takes at least 5 minutes for the person to give you a slice of cake at the counter, and service is rarely friendly. The place is also packed and too brightly lit.

We like to go to Cafe Lalo with a group of friends because it gives off a bustling, happy and festive vibe. However, the music is loud and the place is always overcrowded and service can be slow, so if you need some peace and quiet, this will not do for you. Food is forgettable but you can find a good variety (especially desserts) on a late night here, every night.

When i first walked in i was so excited by the decoration of the cafe. however, as soon as I sat down, the experience started to change. They have terrible service, none of the waitresses care to take your order. Four of them stand to chat with one another while the restaurant was packed with customers. The food is really bland, we ordered five things, frozen hot chocolate, coffee ice cream, tuna salad, frozen yogurt, pecan pie, and nothing was new or unforgettable. DO NOT order the frozen hot chocolate. That you need to order at Serendipity, it is as good as they say. Anyway, if you want to come here, just come once for the atmosphere don't expect too much from anything else!

This was my second time to Cafe Lalo. I remembered it more favorably than it actually was. The desserts are fine but not for the price. Although, they get ten points for other food (dinner and such) presentation. This time I ordered a chocolate espresso mousse cake while my guest had creme brulee. Her creme brulee was torched to death making it very difficult to retrieve the creme from the heart-shaped dish. My chocolate espresso mousse cake was edible, mostly. On top of the cake were three coffee beans. I made the mistake of eating one with the cake. It was clearly old and almost soggy. As I stared at the vast array of treats behind the glass, all I could wonder was how long they'd actually been sitting there. It's very LOUD inside. Be prepared to shout at your friends. The best part was the delicious little Toblerone that came with my coffee.

I've tried to like Cafe Lalo, since I live a few blocks away and it's open late. But, it has some of the most mediocre and bland baked goods and pastries I've ever eaten. Their mousse-based cakes and tarts taste like they're made with fillers, extenders and gelatin. And they're very overpriced. Their sandwiches taste bland and the menu is completely uninspired. And yet, it's hard to get a seat--must be the tourists and Nora Ephron fans. I don't get the appeal.