Dallas
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Cafe Lago
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friendly cafe? not so much. First, the positives: they have a dog-friendly patio, and even a dog-friendly menu. And a portion of the proceeds go to animal charities. And they were one of the first to have a dog-friendly patio. Oh, to be a dog.... This restaurant has a serious service problem. It doesn't matter if you are the only one there. It doesn't matter if every table is full. The service is awful. Period. They have this weird division of labor, where this girl, who acts like she is from outer space, busses the tables but also fills your water and coffee. And if you order coffee, for some reason they have a special cream carafe they pour the cream from, for you. I don't have a problem with this in general, but it interjects a special step into the whole process and it results in a delay. I have been several times where I've ordered coffee right off the bat, and have either had to go to the counter to get it, or remind the waiter. And,yes, this has happened when I was literally the ONLY ONE THERE. Don't plan on eating there in under an hour. I went recently and ordered soup, and a sandwich. 2 hours later I had to go up to the counter to get my check. The menu is full of admonishments - don't talk on your cell phone. Don't let your children run amock. Please pay with cash and not credit card bc we are a small business, yada yada. I don't know why the owner is in the service industry. She doesn't know how to treat her employees, or her customers. I've personally seen her chastise her employees, which is INCREDIBLY inappropriate in front of customers. Why this restaurant hasn't gone under is totally beyond me. We need a good, solid, customer-oriented brunch location in the White Rock area.…
AVOID AT ALL COST. All I can say is WOW. I just moved into the area and I love it. I was excited about having a nice place I could walk to for a cappuccino, or breakfast before work. But regardless of location, I will NEVER be back to Cafe Lago. I had heard some stories and thought, well I'm not going to be rude so there is no reason for them to be rude to me. Well, when I ordered something that I could not take two bites of, I didn't ask for my money back, just something to replace it. This is when Satan's daughter (the actual owner) came out on a rampage. No class, no couth, definitely not wanting repeat business. I am baffled how someone can be so rude because I changed my order.... YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!…
cutest patio in dallas. If you want a relaxing lunch, brunch, or dinner this is your joint! I love it! Pretty fountain and they even have an outdoor fireplace for colder evenings! Their food is great! I love the Lago omelet and the cuban sandwich. Wednesday night is tapa night which is fun to get to try new things, I suggest the eggplant rings or the corn pudding. They also have killer sangria and they are very reasonably priced. They can cater too. Great local treasure.…
best soup in town!.
OK, so I'm a soup lover and I have yet to find a better homemade soup spot. They change daily and there are 2 or 3 to choose from. I particularly like the gazpacho and the spinach soup. They aren't
cream based so the are good for the waistline :)
They have a really nice patio and killer sangria. Oh, and they are dog friendly!…
Great Food, Great Service, Engaging.
I go to Cafe Lago usually weekly and at least several times per month. Several of the staff members and Gaby, the owner know me by name. Having this personal type of service is important to me.
The food is outstanding. I have never had a bad dish. My favorites are the Lago Omelet, the Cuban Sandwich, the Chilaqules and the Yogurt Muesli. The sangria is to die for....best in the city. The patio is so relaxing. I can sit out there for hours. In short Cafe Lago is more than just a place to get a meal, it is an absolutely engaging experience.
Others have mentioned slow service and the rudeness of the owner. The service can be slow if super busy but the staff will always acknowledge you and work hard to assist as soon as possible. And yes, when I first started going to Cafe Lago I thought that Gaby was a little hard on the employees and maybe slightly rude. However, she hires young people and what I came to realize is that she is trying to teach them skills that will take them beyond Cafe Lago. She has a high standard and sometines young people just don't understand how to fulfill the expectations without specific coaching/teaching. I think she does an outstanding job.
I am also impressed that Gaby strives to be a good community citizen and uses the restaurant in that regard. She serves on the board of an organization in Dallas that helps abused women and their children.
I love Cafe Lago and I think you will too. In fact, I have to get off now because Sunday brunch is calling me!…
