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This is a restaurant in a grocery store. It must make money, otherwise Fairway would lose the café & expand the organic grocery store adjacent. Shopping in the tiny, cramped space of Fairway's organic store is something akin to visiting the airport of a war-torn, developing country: the aisles are cramped, the quality of the produce is erratic and the consistently angry workers are in bad need of sensitivity training. Despite the EXORBITANT price-gouging regularly employed by Fairway (e.g. a recent 200+% price hike of mustard, from $1.89 to $3.29) one can only guess that the wages earned by these workers may account for their consistently sour moods. Management is no better, a fact that one phone call placed to the store will confirm. Curiously, this average diner rarely offers any vegetarian options or utilizes any of the organic produce it's parent company sells right next door. So why does anyone continue to shop at Fairway? Because it's one of the only comprehensive groceries within walking distance on the Upper West Side, and their selection IS excellent if you can afford it.

We had high hopes for the Fairway cafe but were sadly disappointed by the so-so service and the miniscule portion sizes. My $8 very small portion of scrambled eggs, although tasty, came with about half a new potato and 1 cherry tomato. My husband's $12 "big boy special" (plate of eggs, bacon and a "full stack" of pancakes) came with a tiny stack of 2" pancakes and two measly strips of bacon. The cafe latte I ordered was lukewarm and overly milky. And a large orange juice for 5$ was only a tiny bit bigger than the small for $3 - go figure. In order to keep up with the stiff UWS breakfast competition this place needs to increase their sizes and up their service a notch.

I've eaten here countless times. Ok, while the meat is better than average, it's not the BEST steak in this City — or the best burger. The service is lackluster and, sadly, I always feel like most of the staff would rather be somewhere else. I come back because it's close and it's ok. And because it sits atop one of NY City's best markets.

Got the complete meal option for $39. Lamb was excellent. Wine was great. Waiter hard to find.

When confronted with a Hanger Steak that was ordered "Medium" specifically "Not well done" After a few slices told the busman it was overcooked (underside was charred) and ordered another . None was prepared. The Espresso was served cool in a large cup.Bill came with a charge for the Hanger Steak. The manager came by and said the hanger steaks are by nature thin and not to expect a "Medium" She would have to speak to the owner to get it taken off the bill. She agreed the Espresso cup was inappropriate size. Came back with a half price hanger steak.Bottom line that was a bad decision resulting in a never to return.

We have an apt. in the neighborhood, and like the food very much. The service is spotty, and last night it took a new low. We had to ask 4 times for bread, asked for a medium steak, got it mooing- barely seared and raw inside, had to ask for salad which came with dinner. I got my coffee right away but my husband waited 10 minutes for his tea. I had the fruit crumble for dessert which was yummy, however, I almost broke my tooth on a pit. During this time tha manager sat at a table eating!Will add this place to our not again list.

My wife and I took my daughter and three grandkids to the Cafe after a day at the Museum of Nat. Hist. We had seen the place featured on the Food Channel show "the Food Detective". The food was great, the wait staff pleasant and polite. The manager, however, was rude and complained that my grandkids were too noisy! Remember this is a cafe attached to a food market that is very busy and active, not the lobby of the Plaza. My grandkids are 7, 4 & 2. They were no more noisy than the 2 and 4 year old at the next table. Once again the wait staff was very understanding and told us not to pay the manager any attention. The food was very good and reasonable. We had an entre' each with two bottles of beer and two glasses of wine between the adults and pizza for the kids and desert for all for $133.00 including tip and tax, a bargain in Manhattan given the quality of the food. As for the manager, I guess he has never had any kids.