New to the area, place always busy when we drive p...
New to the area, place always busy when we drive past, last Saturday decided to go based on the reviews.
We arrived early, ~9AM on Saturday, wife was parking. Hostess told me we would have to wait till all of the party was here (only me & my wife), there was 3 open tables? While I understand policy, I could have easily said "Party of one", would they not serve me? Anyway, no big deal, I realize they get busy and that it just must be their policy, so gave them my name and waited.
Two minutes later my wife arrived. We went to the hostess, Jackie (spelling?), and said we were both here. She said OK, and said she would call us. A little confused, we stood there and waited. 30 seconds or so later she pointed to a table by the windows, which was open, away from the street, but promptly changed her mind, and told the waitress to sit us at the table closest to the street.
We asked if we could sit at the table next to the window. It was a small table, with 1 chair and a bench against the window.
Jackie, the hostess, said that was reserved for a larger party, and said we had to sit by the street.
Again, not what I expected, but we moved to the table closest to the street.
Less than a minute later, I look up and see a couple (only 2 people) sitting at the very table we asked to be seated at originally, that Jackie denied us.
Both my wife and I were very disappointed. We had made a conscious effort to arrive early to be seated away from the street.
Of course, as luck would have it, a large Suburban pulled in 2 feet from us, and was idling for 10 minutes while we ate. We were choking on fumes.
Overall our experience with the Square Cafe was terrible.
For breakfast, we each ordered a coffee/latte, we shared the 'Lemon Berry Ricotta Pancakes' (as they were highly recommended), I ordered the 'Lovely Lox' (Smoked Salmon Bagel), and my wife got the 'Chorizo Benedict'.
Coffee - Mugs were cool, artsy, her americano/my plain latte was meh and nothing to be excited about. I appreciate that the Kiva Han Coffee is locally roasted in Cranberry, but our favorite last brunch place (Volt's Family Meal in Frederick MD) brewed la colombe coffee from Philly PA, and we liked that better.
Lemon Berry Ricotta Pancakes - They were good - tasty
Lovely Lox - Meh - The parts arrived separate (decomposition), and I could build it, which I liked, but the ingredients felt processed, bland, and not fresh. The cream cheese was in a plastic tub and a generic brand that just said "Cream Cheese". Our last brunch hangout would bring the cream cheese out in a small shot glass. Even if it was Philadelphia cream cheese, it would have been better. The bagel seemed more stale than fresh, and the salmon/tomatoes did not seem fresh either.
Chorizo Benedict - My wife thought the house-made pork chorizo was icky (over salted and too greasy - the meat tasted very processed). The tomatoes did not taste fresh, neither did the avocado. The rest she said was OK.
The overall vibe was good with lots of interesting people eating there (+1*), the food was marginal for all the hype (-1*), and we may have tried different fairs if we were to go back, but after our disappointing experience with Jackie (-2** - maybe we got her on a bad day?) and slightly disappointing food, we won't be heading back.
If you do go, we would recommend the Lemon Berry Ricotta Pancakes.
The East End Co-op (right down the street) weekend brunch buffet has fresher, more wholesome tasting vegetables and foods.
