Best dark roast coffee in union sqaure. However my poor rating is due to the manager. During lunch I left my cell phone on the counter. I was about 2 minutes away when i realized what I did. I ran back to the location hoping to retrieve my phone. And thankfully so, the individual that assisted me, turned in my phone to the manager. When I approached the manager, he had(within the 2−5min it took me to return) turned off my phone and turned off the ringer. Apparently he was«logging» it in a book. If it was being«logged» into a book, for safe keeping. Why would he turn off my phone and turn off the ringer? Logically I would call my phone since i lost it. Hoping to pick it up as I did. Shame on you!
Eva A.
Place rating: 4 Manhattan, NY
This Pret is spacious and has free, *working* Wi-Fi, but by far the reason I go here as opposed to the other coffee shops near my work is because they have smiling service! Hands down, these people have made my day at times. On one occasion I had realized that I left my wallet when I went to pay, and the associate gave me the coffee on the house. And trust me… I NEEDED it that day. They saved my life. It’s just something simple, but whoever the manager is knows how to bring out the best of their customer service. The food is a regular Pret… I generally go here for a snack or breakfast, because their lunches are a bit too small/not filling enough, I end up having to buy two lunch items which adds up. The reasons I don’t give it 5 stars is that 1) there are outlets in only one corner, and 2) one time… there was a bunch of ants crawling out of that corner! I told the manager on duty though and she took care of it right away. So top notch service, good food, and OK cleanliness.
Kristen M.
Place rating: 4 Brooklyn, NY
Yes it’s a Pret. Yes it’s «fast casual» dining(because the restaurant industry loves naming their subtypes like New York names their neighborhoods — needlessly and with made up titles that don’t make any sense). But sometimes it’s worth reviewing chains because each one has something different to offer thanks to the people behind each door. Stopped in here on my way home(technically I walked a block out of my way) desperate for a cool drink and they were all out of my favorite. The cashier felt my pain and graciously joined in on my needless drama and humor after a long day. I like to think we bonded. All this to say, sometimes, a place like this isn’t about the drinks(they are pretty good — I like the chais and black teas for something warm) or the sandwiches(the grab and go section is great in a pinch), it’s about the friendly cashier who laughs with you about lemonade(the beverage kind, not the Beyonce kind) after a long day/week. For that alone I look forward to another visit to this Pret.
Barbara H.
Place rating: 5 Manhattan, NY
The staff here is so kind. It is a pleasure to see them every morning. I wish more stores would follow their model of customer service. It is so nice to have a neighborhood feel in a city.
Sade G.
Place rating: 5 New York, NY
I visit this restaurant often because of this one employee there, Pedro! He’s a barista there in the AM. I love their chai lattes but what I love even more is that he always remembers my drink.
Rob S.
Place rating: 3 Manhattan, NY
It’s a Pret and there are quite a few of them in the city. That being said, you should know what to expect regarding options and choices. What sets this location apart is that the space is absolutely huge and while getting a table can be a challenge, there is a large communal one centrally located where you can usually grab a seat.
Samantha S.
Place rating: 4 Elgin, IL
Why don’t we have these everywhere? I definitely prefer this to Starbucks. Ample seating and good healthy food selections! Try their mini brownies and their iced coffees. You need a code to get into the bathroom a well for the wifi. Wifi code = Hotwrap
Lauren C.
Place rating: 3 New York, NY
Lovely place for a quick bite to eat — sandwiches are good but don’t be fooled by its appearance — its definitely not a baguette. Great coconut water and almond croissant but coffee reminds me of the kind they serve at gas stations. Super stingy with their napkins — thanks but I’ll need more than one.
Joy L.
Place rating: 1 San Jose, CA
Horrible^1000000 experience here today. Ordered an iced chai latte and instead got the most disgusting drink of my life. It was 80% diluted watery milk and had a chai tea bag still in the drink. What coffee chain thinks this is even remotely acceptable? Went to the counter and got the drink remade again, and was treated horribly by the lady behind the counter. She tried to tell me that they left the tea bag in there because that was where the flavor came from… no duh? And then asked me if I added cinnamon. Why would I add cinnamon to a drink I ordered? I think that’s your job to make my chai latte… not me? Got the drink made a second time and somehow it ends up tasting 100000x worse than the first. There was a toxic amount of cinnamon in my drink and upon first sip, I wanted to vomit. It was like drinking water with cinnamon… literally the most disgusting drink I’ve ever had. I went back, told her how the drink tasted, and just asked for a simple iced latte. The lady was clearly pretty pissed and me and begrudgingly made my drink… it was okay(it’s kind of impossible to mess up coffee and milk). This was just a horrible experience, and do not ever order the chai latte here. I am never coming to a Pret again in my life.
Danielle S.
Place rating: 4 San Francisco, CA
I don’t usually check into a pret a manger because their over use of A/C and cold feeling in general makes me want to grab and go. or not go at all:), but the workers here are lovely, and the exposed brick and open space make it cozy not to mention some of the larger chairs
Brianna F.
Place rating: 5 New York, NY
COFFEECOFFEECOFFEE! Seriously. I get my iced coffee here(almost) every morning. The staff is great: always focused on keeping the line short, always making drinks and ringing up purchases quickly, and always smiling.
Krystal T.
Place rating: 5 Richmond Hill, NY
I have been to a bunch of Pret’s around the city and this one by far my favorite. I love the big windows and being able to sit back and relax on my lunch break while the sun shines through. The staff here is always very helpful, when I can’t decide what I want they don’t hesitate to help me out and give me their opinion. This Pret is great, its spacious, the food is great(like all Pret’s), the staff is great, it’s clean, and rarely ever gets super crowed, or at least when I go. I normally go around noon on weekdays for my lunch break and I always find a nice comfy seat!
James R.
Place rating: 5 Flagstaff, AZ
This chain always has a nice, clean contemporary look. This store has lots of exposed brick and high ceilings. It’s not high design but it’s nice. There is plenty of seating. My cappuccino was made quickly and was fine. But the real reason to come here is for the absolutely perfect pastries. Croissants are crisp on the outside and soft and flaky inside. The pain au chocolate had the right flavor and amount of dark chocolate ribbon inside. These are authentic and delicious.
Nyla K.
Place rating: 3 San Francisco, CA
Pret reminds me of London and I expected to see the same offerings in London here, but I was a bit disappointed. There was no cheese and tomato croissant and no chicken stuffing sandwich! However there was mac n cheese with bacon bits, which was very tasty but the cheese was a bit too strong.
Tanya T.
Place rating: 2 Manhattan, NY
The manager there is a dick. The cashier was pleasant. I bought my friend a sandwich and soup. We chose to go somewhere low key, non fancy restaurant so I could finish my little carton fried rice, while she have a meal. We were fine, chilling for an hour. The workers said nothing. Then manager comes over, doesn’t say hello, and has this attitude I can’t have my chinese carton out. I had like 3 bites left. I put it in my brown paper bag, to hide it was a Chinese carton. Before long, he comes over to show his Manager’s sandwich muscle, that he could have me thrown out for taking the last 3 hidden carton bites. I told him it was finished. He still wanted to argue. I explained I supported the store, I bought my friend the sandwich and soup. And was just there for company. The rice is hidden, plus finished. But he cont. to be douchebag. Some spanish looking guy, with a beard. All puffed up that he’s a sandwich manager, but lacks people skills . I said bye to the cashier. He thought it was him, and said bye back. I said not you, the cashier. He was nice. When I was outside, he runs out shouting, «what was that, what was that!?» I repeated myself. I said bye to the cashier, «He was nice!» My friend said«that Manager was such a jerk!» Sad when insecure Managers take their job too serious, in a customer service industry. Get over yourself dude. It’s a sandwich place, it’s not that serious .smh
Teasy S.
Place rating: 4 New York, NY
This is a pretty good place to stop by and take a break. Service is nice and seats are comfy. However, the wifi didn’t work well for me, I may try it the next time.
Ms. J.
Place rating: 5 Manhattan, NY
The staff is very friendly and efficient! This location is beautiful. It has spacious and has windows on two sides of the business since it sits on a corner. There is outdoor seating and free wifi. The food is definitely above par. I personally love their roasted beef, arugula & parmesan Baguette. However, the décor there makes this my favorite lunch/coffee spot in New York. I’ll stop at any Pret A Manager for a sandwich, but I will sit at this location for hours drinking coffee and watching people browse the outdoor books at Strand Bookstore. It is obvious. I can never get enough windows or fresh french bread! *Ask for a tray and napkins if you dine in.
Red A.
Place rating: 3 Cambridge, MA
In general, I find myself ambivalent about Pret. It is quite cheap and you get your money’s worth for the most part. I’ve had their sandwiches in London and was not as big of a fan, so I did not have it here(despite being very hungry). I decided to go with a café au lait and a muffin. The barista(accidentally) charged me for a latte, which I only noticed after paying. I had to wait in line for the next person to order an triple espresso drink(!!!) before getting my like $ 0.89 back.(I know you’re thinking why didn’t you leave, but I don’t respond well to feeling ripped off. I also wanted it to be a lesson for him to remember the difference between a café au lait and a latte, which is not that hard.) Besides that, the staff seems friendly. The coffee was not that great. It was definitely better than something you’d get at a starbucks or a dunkin, but I liked The Bean’s coffee more(see other review) and it’s right across the road. The muffin was alright. It had too much sugar(I don’t know why so many things in the US either too much sugar or too much salt!!) and I preferred the Le Pain Quotidien’s. Then again, LPQ is more expensive. Unlike some other café’s in the area, this Pret has a ton of space and more variety of food, so I can see it being better for meeting up or studying etc.
Ali H.
Place rating: 4 New York, NY
This place is a ‘starbucks food’ meets ‘panera’ Everything is already made pre to order, but there is no ‘substituting’ as everything is pre-made. They have several organic ingredients which I appreciate, and they have a wide array of drinks available. I like that they have the option to choose two halves of different sandwiches, and their chip selection is definitely on the healthier side.
Martin W.
Place rating: 4 Brooklyn, NY
Well this is not a bad spot with so many stores and restaurants to chose from. Stopped by in need of a little nutrition. Trying to lose some pounds coming out of hibernation. I not only got some real good wrap but also some friendly and kind service now that is a plus in Manhattan. I surveyed the selections and settled on a, Avocado Pine-nut Wrap Tomato and Avocado Caprese Salad The salad was real good I love fresh basil in my salad really satisfying. Place is real roomy but I didn’t have time to stay. Maybe next time!