"the cafe is also quite spacious and for once in this new york life the music is not overpowering and i can actually think."
"Very nice place great coffee and tea..and water in real cups (none of that plastic paper stuff)."
"Very lovely if you want to spend some time reading, chatting with a friend, or a great pause from shopping/walking, exploring, etc."
"Large spacious bakery by way of Denmark, with shelves and displays of breads, pastries, and sandwiches to entice even the street passerby."
"If I didn't look outside, this place could be in Denmark. The food, the staff, and the design is all great."
"Nice relaxed atmosphere, and they have a mix of regular tables, communal table, and low seating."
"The vibe in this place rocks. Chill, easy-going, relaxing and comfortable!"
Cons:
"The layout is nice, but the fact that most of the goodies are near the window means people will be gawking from the line or gandering in the space between the line and the window."
"The front of shop is rather chaotic and crowded."
"It's a nice venue but the staff is really irritating. I was doing work in their seating area and was interrupted about 4 times over various small things."
"The atmosphere was a bit stark to my liking."
"The cafe is long and spacious, and the decor is black, stone and mirrors with widely spaced seating."
"Ole & Steen is a hip outpost in union square offering a slice of Danish coffee culture with minimalist decor."
"The cafe attracts a down to earth yet well dressed crowd."
Service
Pros:
"Staff is well trained and friendly."
"They shared with me their knowledge about the new items I wasn't familliar with. They were sooooooo nice."
"Service was fast and nice customer service."
"The staff is extremely nice and always move at a good pace."
"Very friendly and attentive staff."
"The staff is friendly and helpful."
"Nestor was incredibly welcoming and helpful at the counter."
Cons:
"The staffs were sort of rush to close the store and forgot our drinks at all."
"Staff ignored me and gave me with a plate."
"The barista was serving people who were after us and when we asked if we missed our turn, she shouted at as to 'wait your turn!'"
"a total disappointment, i went to work for two days. After that I couldn't continue and the least that a company like this should do is pay for my hours worked. I have been waiting for the payment for more than a month and no one responds to me for anything."
"This place used to have the best service and now its abysmal!"
"Staff was not friendly as well."
"Staff at this location is completely unbothered and slow, paying no attention to what is going on."
Payment and Pricing
Pros:
"Price great."
"Those pastries where worth every cent we spent on them."
"I would love to know how to tip here to commend the excellent service, if anyone can get back to me!"
Cons:
"Can’t hold a candle to Maison Kaiser—and what the hell is with only accepting cards? Danes probably don’t realize that in the US, not everyone has a debit card but they should have done better research."
"CHARGED extra dollar for putting butter on my bread and told me that 'we are not allowed to do this'. Not allow to do what?! Serve butter at the bakery?!?!"
"Cash is legal tender in the United States and I find it ridiculous and discriminatory against those who cannot get a credit card, when they refuse our currency."
"Not only were the pastries overpriced, but the staff also seemed intent on scamming customers with hidden fees and inflated prices."
"Prices are pricy."
"But what irked me was after I placed my order they informed me that they didn't take cash after I waited in line and waited for service."
"You're paying a slight premium for it."
Food Quality
Pros:
"Very authentic! Pastries are lovely and the cappuccinos are some of my favorite in town."
"The cinnamon swirl was especially good."
"The cardamom, raisin, and almond pastry was so flavorful."
"All fresh bakery goods with a danish twist."
"I got some of the best rye bread in NYC here, along with a decadent chocolate cake and bright strawberry tart."
"It's layers of shortbread cookie dough with rasberry jam filling in between the layers and this yummy light icing on top. It was pretty perfect."
"Denmark knows how to make sweets. :)"
Cons:
"The cinnamon buns don't taste as good as they look."
"The other pastry was way below expectation too."
"Unfortunately we picked up sandwiches, croissant and cinnamon roll to go and they were all stale."
"I gave it a try anyway and I was right. Got a bland pastry and a weak cold brew for $13. Was charged for a tiny splash of milk and simple syrup. Too expensive to be that underwhelming."
"it was obviously left over from the day before it was dry and a wet bottom."
"The chocolate puff was beyond disappointing. A chocolate shell stuffed with nothing but whipped cream."
"Absolutely tasteless carrot bun. No flavor, no carrot taste."