The first time I tried Cafe Orlin was for dinner a few years ago. We waited a good 7 minutes after we sat without menus, but we were finally able to flag down a bus boy who brought us menus. After looking at the menu, which is reasonably priced for the City, (both in food and drink prices) I ordered the Warm Mozzarella sandwich, which at the time came with fries AND a small salad. My co-diner ordered the Chicken Cutlet sandwich, which also came with fries and a small salad. We also ordered one of the special wines at the time, which cost only $20.00 for the bottle. When we ordered, we requested bread for the table and never received said bread the entire meal. This was especially frustrating because ALL of the tables around us were getting bread! Note - the bread debacle has happened on a few other occasions as well. Truly puzzling. Despite this, the food at Cafe Orlin is consistently great. I have never had a dinner meal that I did not feel fully satisfied with at Cafe Orlin. Also, the wine is always good too. Recently, I also tried their spicy margarita, which was the perfect amount of hot. Their alcoholic blueberry lemonade is tasty too, not overly sweet. The waitress also told us they have a non-alcoholic version as well, which I imagine is just as delectable.
I have also dined at Cafe Orlin numerous times for breakfast and brunch. They have a great selection. I highly recommend the Malawach if it is listed as a special at the time. Simply superb and different from other brunch items I've had anywhere else. During the week when breakfast is served they have a really good breakfast special where you get two eggs (any style) served with home fries and toast, plus orange juice and a cappuccino for only...wait for it...wait for it...$6.00 - CRAZYYY.
So there you have it, the love part of the relationship. Moving on to the hate...
You know how in interviews sometimes the person interviewing you asks "now tell me one thing you could work on about yourself" or "tell me one flaw you have" - well, I think Cafe Orlin would or should answer, their service. Cafe Orlin's servers are SO neglectful. Besides the failure to bring bread to the table consistently, even when asked, I have went an entire meal without getting my drink until my food is brought or after my food is brought. Once, I didn't even get my drink at all! I have also had instances where I never see my waitress or waiter again after my order is taken. They simply vanish, to where is one of the seven wonders of the world. Now this is really where the hate part of the relationship comes in...the thing is it doesn't last for long because as soon as you are about to complain, the waitress or waiter will come to your table and they are extremely kind and pleasant to deal with and really do not seem to realize that they have been absent for the entire length of your meal. It is a true conundrum.
Cafe Orlin makes me feel like a middle child must feel, always there, hardly noticed. Better yet, Cafe Orlin makes me feel as though I have a split personality, one minute I'm happy and smiling and enjoying my meal and the next minute I am frantically searching for my server before I become irreversibly dehydrated. Overall, the food makes up for the service and I will continue to suffer at the hands of my inattentive waitress or waiter and return to Cafe Orlin for many meals in the future.
I must say, I completely agree with this review. I also went without an entire drink during brunch one time. It's especially frustrating when everyone around you is getting theirs! It was only after completing our meals were the drinks brought over which at that point we just said we did not want them anymore. But, must agree, love the food and love/hate CO.
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