Upon entering you can see the bar scene, not crazy but full of NYUers and a flurry of Union Square passersby.

We were one of the passersby (Aug 2004); I read on the net that this place is past its prime. My friend remembered that this place was where a few models got their start in the business. And now the waitresses are the out-of-work models who traditionally give bad service and are known for their snobbishness.

Actually, I found the ambience pretty cool, a dining area of smaller tables and booths along the wall. It’s certainly nothing to rave about, but a nice place to sit down and have a bite/drink.

I was pleasantly surprised to see the Brazilian twist (as you can see from my other reviews- I love Brazilian). I saw familiar drinks on the menu--caipirinhas, cacacha, etc. I even saw feijoada - but this isn't the place for that!

The place was busy but quiet, we had a table for two and enjoyed a few drinks and an appetizer or two. It was fine, nothing memorable, as the internet review also said. By the way, our waitress was nice, not snobbish (okay, maybe once she walked by without acknowledging my raised arm). She was tall and thin but by no means a model look. Her service skills were okay, but don't talk to her in Portuguese to order your drink. She has no clue! POINT to your selections!!

The nicest part of the evening was after an hour they dim the lights and it was really pretty…almost romantic. I was with my girlfriend, so that didn't apply as it would have with my hubby. Plenty of couples (dates even), and an assorted mix of families and friends.

Favorite Dish:
We orderd caipirinhas and a batida de maracujua (passion fruit frozen shake with cacacha). Very good!

We also ordered fried calamari (actually quite good, but we didn't like the dipping sauce) and coconut shrimp (okay) with a mango dipping sauce.

You don't go here for the food folks, just a nice refreshing drink!

One downside is that the waitstaff can at times be inattentive or on the snooty side, but it's a gamble - you win some, you lose some.

Some negatives:

Occasionally the door staff gets a bit out of control. They will have a velvet rope out front and one or two security guards controlling access to the bar and restaurant. I was a frequent visitor during the summer of 2001 to see a bartender friend, yet every time, I was asked for identification at the rope and sometimes made to wait.

The food. The menu focuses somewhat on South American cuisine. There is great variability in what comes out of the kitchen - a great salad or burger here, an inedible sandwich there. Hit or miss so I'd stay stick with cocktails.

Staff. As I mentioned, I usually went to Coffee Shop to see a friend. Other staff ranges from attentive and friendly to downright rude. Don't take it personally - many of the people who work there are simply hanging on until the get discovered.

One really nice feature of Coffee Shop, though, is the outdoor seating during summer months. It's a fantastic spot for people-watching if you can deal with the other negatives.

Coffee Shop is very easy to get to. Take the 4, 5, 6, N or R to Union Square.