Cafe Lalo

The desserts are excellent, the staff great. None of you have experienced rude until you have eaten in Seattle. I have actually flown from Seattle to New York just to have dessert at Cafe Lalo. The last time I was there (in sept) I tried to purchase a shirt for my wife and the hostess bent over backwards to help me out finding a size that would fit. The waitstaff took our order (seven people at the table and two more at the apartment) and we were served quickly and WITH a smile and some humor. They even had a place to put our stroller while we ate. Everybody in my family loves Cafe Lalo from my 2 1/2 year old daughter to my 86 year old grandmother and my 100 year old great grandmother even loved going there.

Cafe Lalo. Like a scorned lover, you want to love it, but it keeps disappointing you. The decor is cute, but the waitresses are ok, at best. The food is quite good (Lalo's Favorite Salad), but the prices are high, and they charge you double for a lousy refill on coffee. The tables are way too crowded, and the wait to get served on the weekends is simply silly. If you must go (and sometimes you must), go when it is off hours and bring cash.

I am not sure why the waitstaff (I am not referring to the bus boys) has to be so rude. I have been there a number of times and only once had 'acceptable' service. Rude would be a good word to describe the 'ladies' who work there. The noise level makes one think the owner or one in charge is hearing impaired. And, they love to put 3+ people at tables that are extremely cozy for 2. All this said, the food is great-hence my repeat performance.

I've been here several times and have only had desserts, which were fine. However, I must agree with other postings regarding the waitresses (I have yet to be served by a waiter). Most of them act like poseurs--a kind of a "I'm too cool to be doing this and yet I am" attitude. When you smile at them, they actually look frightened--or disdainful. I'm not expecting smiles 24/7, but would it kill them to smile back?

The desserts here are very tasty, and the bathroom is nicely decorated! However, most of the cashiers there have nasty attitudes. Even though the menu says they accept credit cards, one cashier rudely let me know that they did not. On another night, the same cashier got rude with my friend, who she completely ignored while my friend was in line to pay. When my friend called her on skipping over her in the line, the cashier was entirely disrepectful. On the other hand, all of the waitresses I have encountered there have been very nice. I'd recommend this place for its good dessert and eccentric atmosphere, but I'd say to look elsewhere when it comes to friendly service from cashiers.

I loved it it's very New York and fun. I loved the atmosphere and the desserts were very good. Its a great place to go late at ngiht. The only problem I had was I ordered one of their specialty teas and was happy when they brought me a small little tea pot. However, then then charged me about 6 dollars just for my tea so be careful as to what you order to drink. Other than that I was very pleased!

Cafe Lalo, in my opinion, is one of the few overpriced and well-known dessert places that actually has terrific desserts. Granted, they are known for their desserts and not so much for their actual dinners, much like Serendipity 3. I find Cafe Lalo's desserts incredible...the mousses are more like dense fudge that one can actually slice. Although the servings may look small, they are so rich that they last quite a while. Give this place a try, especially if you're from out of town. I'd definitely recommend it.