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Java Java Cafe

MY REVIEW: My partner and I went to Java Java after church on Sunday. We were immediately seated, but afterward, it was at least 20 minutes before someone even bothered to take our order. Following our order, it was approximately 45 minutes before we received our food. I still held out hope. I figured for a wait that long, the food was going to be excellent. I was sadly mistaken. My potatoes were overcooked to the point that they didn't even taste like potatoes. They'd run out of croissants, which came with my eggs benedict, and rather than inform me and let me choose my substitution, they placed my eggs on white toast. Furthermore, my eggs weren't poached correctly at all! There was raw albumen (egg white) on my plate!!! The ham used was lunch meat (cold cut) ham. I can say the hollandaise was great, though. My partner's waffle was hard and overcooked, and her eggs, like mine, were horribly undercooked. The egg white just jiggled on the plate. I kind of think it's hard to undercook a sunny side up egg, but I was again mistaken. The mocha java was great. It was the highlight of the meal we waited over an hour to receive.

Here's the really sad part: when we got up to close out our check at the front counter, the gentleman (and I use that term very loosely) was extremely rude and unprofessional. He dared not to ask about our experience, so we let him know that we were very unhappy with the service and the food. We weren't rude at all, merely voicing our opinion so that maybe it could be corrected and other's experiences wouldn't be so bad. His response: "well you don't ever have to come back!" He then walked off, to another table, still going on about it, waving his hands in the air and making a few choice comments. He even said "and if you need to see the manager, I AM the manager" After the experience we'd had, this was totally unacceptable. We asked to see the owner.

He came out and profusely apologized. He's a very sweet man. He explained that it had been a crazy day and he sincerely apologized for his lover, "the manager".

Sad to say, we won't be going back ever again. The food we may have been able to excuse since it was such a busy day and the restaurant was packed. The unprofessionalism and the way we were treated, we will not excuse. Matt just lost 2 customers behind a lover who doesn't know how to treat people. I really wouldn't recommend this place to anyone.

NAME: DeShawn
SUBMITTED: 9/20/2010   LAST VISIT WAS: 09/2010
FREQUENCY: Visited once

MY REVIEW: Service sucks, food is ok, it takes to long to get fed, no one seems to know what the hell they are doing.

They have young kids trying to wait tables but no one has trained them so they have no idea what to do.

Go someplace else, or bring a book, since you are going to need something to do while you wait a 1/2 hr for them to decide to go to your table to see if you'd actually like to eat something.

NAME: maniac
SUBMITTED: 8/1/2010   LAST VISIT WAS: 7/31/2010
FREQUENCY: Visited 2-3 times

MY REVIEW: Although I lived a couple blocks from Java Java for years, I never went there until I started working for a place that held frequent company meetings there. So I've eaten there about 10 times because of those meetings, and I think that some of the food is tasty, like the breakfasts, the veggie burger and the salad/soup bar, but some of the selections suffer from food-truck-itis - the cold cuts on the sandwiches for instance. A lot of the food here comes off of a cisco-like purveyor's truck, and some is excellent and some not. But the breakfast eggs are fresh-cracked, the fruit is some of the freshest I've ever had in a restaurant, the seasoned fries are crispy, even the breads are exemplary. I'd say just stay away from the cold cut sandwiches, and try to go during the week because as has been pointed out, the weekend waitstaff is not good.

NAME: Yumyum
SUBMITTED: 6/11/2010   LAST VISIT WAS: 06/10
FREQUENCY: Visited 4-6 times

MY REVIEW: Our Garden Club had it's monthly meeting at Java Java yesterday and had a wonderful time. The food was excellent as ALWAYS. The service was great as ALWAYS. The owner made us feel at home as always. Thanks Matt!!! If you have not tried this jem in the Houston Heights, you are missing out.

NAME: M. Mandola
SUBMITTED: 6/10/2010   LAST VISIT WAS: 6/9/2010
FREQUENCY: Everybody here knows my name...

MY REVIEW: i love java java! it's right around the corner from my house and is delicious. i always order the eggs benny with breakfast potatoes and it is amazing!!!!!!! i order it to go most times but enjoy the restaurants atmosphere when im there. my kids love their muffins, they say they're the best they've ever had.

NAME: miss james
SUBMITTED: 9/12/2009   LAST VISIT WAS: 9-12-08
FREQUENCY: Visited 4-6 times

MY REVIEW: Great food and some of the best soups in the city. Each day has a featured soup. I especially love to go on a Friday and take their potato soup home for dinner.

NAME: msmobic
SUBMITTED: 8/18/2009   LAST VISIT WAS: August 11, 2009
FREQUENCY: Everybody here knows my name...

MY REVIEW: Great place to eat & relax. Matt & Paul are the best. Always friendly and will sit & talk with you. A co-worker & I go at least once a week. I usually order something from the breakfast menu and have never been disappointed. Food is wonderful, service has always been great!! Will go back many more times!!!

NAME: Karen W.
SUBMITTED: 8/12/2009   LAST VISIT WAS: 08/09
FREQUENCY: Everybody here knows my name...

MY REVIEW: What makes a business thrive is a great product and great service. Paul and Matt, the owners, are true and loyal to their customers. There is a cool coffeehouse ambiance with work by local artists inside and out. You can't miss the building with its grafiti wall and depression era type murals. Great coffee, unique menu items, and croissants that are to die for! I recommend the big breakfast and the pitty pat waffle.

NAME: Thomas Zeppelin
SUBMITTED: 11/23/2008   LAST VISIT WAS: 11/23
FREQUENCY: Visited 4-6 times

MY REVIEW: This is such a cute place, and their back patio is so quaint and comfortable. The food is consistently delicious, and the owner is so nice! Sadly, all the servers are snarky teenagers, and they leave much to be desired. Still, the food keeps me coming back!

NAME: Eve
SUBMITTED: 11/14/2008   LAST VISIT WAS: October 2008
FREQUENCY: Visited 4-6 times

MY REVIEW: THIS HAS ALWAYS BEEN A LOCAL FAVORITE OF MINE. LATELY, I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING. CONSISTENCY IS WAY DOWN AND YOU NEVER KNOW HOW YOUR FOOD IS GOING TO BE THIS WEEK COMPARED TO HOW IT WAS LAST WEEK AND YOU ORDERED THE SAME THING. ON TOP OF THAT, THEY'VE SIGNIFICANTLY RAISED THEIR PRICES. IT'S NO LESS THAN $25 FOR EGGS, POTATOES, 1 MEAT, CROSSANT & COFFEE FOR MY SIGNIFICANT OTHER AND I TO DINE. C'MON $25 FOR EGGS??? IT'S REALLY TOO BAD THEY'VE HAD TO RESORT TO THAT BECAUSE IT REALLY WAS A GREAT PLACE AND A GREAT ATMOSPHERE.

NAME: JTRBUG
SUBMITTED: 9/2/2008   LAST VISIT WAS: 08/2008
FREQUENCY: Everybody here knows my name...

MY REVIEW: Excellent eggs benedict, best hollidaise sauce I've had in years. They don't skimp on the sauce either. Not the best service but the food makes up for it.

NAME: carol
SUBMITTED: 12/30/2007   LAST VISIT WAS: 12/30/2007
FREQUENCY: Visited once

MY REVIEW: Although it can be VERY busy on the weekends, the food is always superb! I recommend the potatoes they have at brunch - wonderful! The owners Matt and Paul are VERY nice and genuine. The staff tends to change on a pretty regular basis, but the food and quality is always the same.

NAME: Becky VM
SUBMITTED: 12/7/2007   LAST VISIT WAS: 12/2007
FREQUENCY: Everybody here knows my name...

MY REVIEW: We love love love love love this place!! The guys are so nice!! We have become such regulars that Matt and Paul come by and sit with us and talk it up over eggs and coffee. Those two are truly an asset to the Heights, sort of a tradition when you visit. I am from a small town myself and that is the type of atmosphere it is. Not to mention the food is incredible! If you have not been in to visit and have a cup of Java, you just have not had a good morning yet!

NAME: Jill and Kim
SUBMITTED: 11/28/2007   LAST VISIT WAS: 11/2007
FREQUENCY: Everybody here knows my name...

MY REVIEW: I LOVE Java Java! Matt and Paul are the best, they truly care about all of their customers....you have to try the Waffle Lupa (a corn bread waffle with Beef Fajita and Chilli on top)...it is to die for! This is one of the best kept secrets in the Heights. You will not be dissapointed dining here.

They also catered my law firm's last evening party - it was spectacular and much better than the other over priced caterers that we have used.

NAME: Jennifer R.
SUBMITTED: 9/27/2007   LAST VISIT WAS: 9/2007
FREQUENCY: Everybody here knows my name...

MY REVIEW: Surprised at all the reviews. I have to comment that I go there all the time with a LARGE group and we have never failed to get seated promptly, waited on with a smile (if somewhat harried because of the large crowds who KEEP coming back - so that can't be doing everything wrong). My group is of women is very friendly, so I have to agree with the review that said maybe we get all the good service because we are actually kind to the staff. Try being kind ... you might find it gets you alot further than being overly critical. And, frankly, if you haven't ever worked in a restaurant, it is my personal opinion that you have no right to complain. It is one of the hardest jobs, because maybe driving a Metro bus, because you have to deal with more rude people than kind.

The food has ALWAYS been fantastic, regardless of what I have ordered. I love this little place - love the building, love the decor, love the owner, just think the whole thing is a little treasure in Houston where more often than not many of the restaurants have poor service, no ambiance and are all cookie-cutter versions of each other. Coffee is great. Breakfast is great. The only I can say that is even remotely a weak point is that there was once we visited and there was a hostess who didn't smile at us and snipped at one of my friends. The owner overheard, promptly fired the woman, and comped us (all 15 of us) our meal, and waited on us personally. Now that is good management, good service and something that will keep me going back. In fact, we are going today. Can't wait!!!

NAME: Sherri Fuller
SUBMITTED: 8/25/2007   LAST VISIT WAS: 7/2007
FREQUENCY: Everybody here knows my name...

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