Dear Mama Coffee West Harlem - New York

I absolutely adore this place for working! While I almost want to keep it as a hidden gem, any student or remote worker should definitely visit to enjoy a cup of coffee and boost their productivity. I've tried the coffee and matcha spritz and they were both delicious. Just be aware that it may not be the best spot for meetings due to the loud music.

The music at this restaurant is always incredibly loud and not neutral. It can be disruptive to concentration and ruins the dining experience. It's so loud that you may need ear protection. If you plan to work here or have a conversation, consider wearing noise cancelling headphones or sitting outside. It's puzzling why a restaurant with plenty of seating would choose to play music so loud. Nonetheless, the staff is very friendly. Enjoy a tasty scone and the ambiance, but be prepared for the noisy environment.

Update: On July 4th, I received a somewhat snarky response from the owner, which I found unprofessional. I did not appreciate the tone, as I did not make the poorly made chai latte. Update: Dear Mama responded to me on Instagram on July 5th with emojis, which I found immature and unprofessional. I have changed my rating to one star due to their unprofessional responses to my fair review. I will not be returning and will advise others to steer clear of this establishment. Update: Once again on July 5th, Dear Mama left me another comment on Instagram, inviting me back for a complimentary chai and cookie. I found this passive aggressive and unprofessional. If the harassment continues, I will report them. It is concerning that a business representative responds to customers with emojis instead of words. It is easy to hide behind such responses when customers can't see the person behind them.

I visited Dear Mama today and everything was great, the overnight oats tasted amazing, I was studying until they raised the volume of the music and I needed to leave because it was very annoying. I would like to support small businesses but it seems like this one doesn’t care about their visitors. Additionally, I read the other reviews on here and I noticed I’m not the only person complaining about the loud music, and they are aware of it but they still chose to ignore their customer’s wants and needs.

The sunny and airy ambiance the delicious drinks and food are great! Would give a 5 star, but the music they play here is always so loud, it doesn't help either when it's hard rock. I would come here more often to work or chill if the music was at a lower volume, but it seems the music volume will stay as is based on previous reviews I've seen.