Cafe Tomato

Checkout lady threw my sandwich in the trash when I realized I had forgotten my wallet!
You know how some days everything goes wrong, and but you can deal with it, until someone is so mean to you that you want to cry and crawl back in bed? This restaurant served me that that mean person. I rarely write these reviews – only if I have had exceptionally bad or exceptionally good service. I come here three times a week because its on my way back from the gym to work. The woman who checks people out is excessively rude, and while I have continued to put up with it, today was too much.
As I said, the workers know me, and start making my sandwich as soon as I get there. When I got up to the front today, I realized that I had left my wallet in my daughter’s stroller at her nursery school. I know my credit card number, and offered to this woman to punch it in. She glared at me, grabbed the sandwich from my hand, and threw it away. She then shrugged her shoulders and said, «Next!»

The deli guys are assholes. Came in at 5 to 11 «you do this every time come here at 5 to 11» I just left every since I been going to toastes the bread is not stale and they are great with customer service not like those cunts from tomato

I’m a little surprised by the # of bad reviews for this place because I would love to have a deli/​restaurant like this near where I work. Prefacing this that I’m in this area on a business trip.
I had a mish-​mash of items from the cold bar. From what I could tell, anything from the buffet, cold or hot, is 7.99/lb. I appreciate that the items are split up by temperature in separate buffet bars. The quality of the cold bar looked pretty good, maybe subtlely Asian as I had tofu marinated in some soy sauce, but also a cold salad of sher li hong (some chinese vegetable that tastes like kale) with some type of dressing. I really enjoyed what I got though.
The check out line can be long and it tends to blend in with the pasta/​sandwich lines, but it constantly moves with the lunch rush. Service seems to be «hurry and get out» which is fine if you’re not picky and ready to go with food.
Ooh! They have matcha green tea Pocky sticks! This can be an impulse buy if you’re waiting in line.
Definitely going to keep this place on my repertoire when I’m in the Financial District for work.

iShould have read the reviews first… everything I was about to say has already been said.
Overpriced
Sucky service
Super large lunch crowd
Everything mentioned by other Unilocalers 100% true. My meal ran me 14 bucks and isn’t bad but isn’t that great either. I’m new to FiDi so I’m constantly trying new places in the area. Came in here for a chopped salad but the line was way too long. Opted for the hot food buffet instead. Doubt I’ll be back. Maybe, but not likely.

The truth and nothing but the truth… Wayyyyyyyyyy overpriced!!! Matter of fact, I think they make up different prices on the same item every day. No really!!! The is a very standard deli, nothing great, below par. The help there are shady! I’d rather eat leftover white castles from a week ago.

$ 7.99/lbs hot or cold bars. Udon, Bi Bim Bab, Sandwiches, Salads. Wish I could eat this healthy all the time. Great place for a quick lunch.

Stopped in here for a quick bite before a business meeting across the street. Not much to report here EXCEPT for the sumptuously good Kimchi Jjigae stew that you can order at the back of the restaurant. It was a huge bowl for only $ 9.95 and I was drooling over it. Really, really good and spicy. I will go back to Café Tomato, and give it three stars, not for the ambiance (non-​existent), the personal customer service (also non-​existent) or the buffet (so so), but for that Kimchi soup that’s calling me back with its siren song!

Standard NYC deli, but add 100% to the tab. A sandwich, cookie and a drink ran me $ 16. But it will stay open because it’s fast and offers variety in an area of the city completely lacking in soul.
2 stars because it is food, it’s an ok sandwich, and doesn’t seem to have gotten me sick. But really, go somewhere else.

I’ve finally had it with this place. I don’t understand how they so consistently mess things up. Today is the 3^rd time in which they have prepared a cheese omelette with nothing in it. I’m not kidding. nothing. They just burn some eggs, fold it, and throw it in the container. Seriously, who makes an omelette with nothing in it? I’m 100% positive that since the beginning of time, an omelette must contain something inside of it to qualify as an omelette. I could understand if I told the guy «burn some shitty eggs and throw it in a box for me, thanks.» If I’d said that, then the dude would have hit it out of the park. The owner (s) have been informed about this multiple times but they don’t really seem to give a shit. In fact, on this particular visit, the owner just shrugged and then informed me that I needed to spend another 3 bucks to meet their credit card minimum.

This place has the worst service I’ve ever had in my life. I asked for a Reuben (pastrami, sauerkraut, dressing, and cheese on toasted bread) but asked them to leave off the cheese. I waved my hand with the «no landing» signal and said «no cheese on it.» I server acknowledged the request by saying, «okay boss» and after I paid for my sandwich, I found there was cheese in it. I went up to clarify the matter; I wasn’t even mad at this point because mistakes sometimes happen. But the cajones on this guy! He neither acknowledged his mistake, nor would he give me a refund or make me a new sandwich.
He said this was the only way to make the sandwich. He said if I wanted it my way I should have ordered a «pastrami with sauerkraut with Russian dressing on toasted rye bread.» According to his microbrain logic, if I wanted to order a sandwich on the menu which had 20 ingredients, I would have to name everything except for the one thing I don’t want and pray that he remembers it all with his aforementioned microbrain.
I went to another deli down the street, Toasties, asked the man for a C4 with no cheese, which he acknowledged, and got a sandwich which unsurprisingly, had no cheese in it.
Every new semester, I tell my students to avoid this deli like the plague. You should too.

ordered a sandwich, asked for ‘no cheese’ — server acknowledges request, then sells me a cheese sandwich anyway.
i noticed only after i paid.
when i confront them about it, they say, ‘that’s just how the sandwich is made’ — - what the hell does that mean, pray tell? the cheese MUST come with the meat? these two elements must be conjoined forever more? wtf?
i asked them to please make another sandwich with no cheese, as originally requested.
they flat out refused!
i asked for refund, and of course, that didn’t go well either.
go suck a lemon, folks!

I can’t even say that I tried their food… Tonight I attempted to try grab a quick bite to eat after work, but a Café Tomato owner, manager or even someone who just simply worked there, completely was so rude to me at the door I told him that I was turned off with his attitude. His domineer was so nasty, he basically was implying that I shouldn’t even come in to buy anything. So I didn’t. I told him to his face that he was rude and that I wouldn’t be back, and that neither should anyone else if this is how they are going to treat their customers. Definitely not worth spending your money to support a business who is rude to their customers.

Go here for lunch every now and then. Their chopped salads are pretty good and decently priced. Everything else is just meh.
The place gets packed around 1pm so if you’re going for lunch get there before or after otherwise you’ll have to deal with a hefty line

I just have to write a review on this because thats how DISGUSTING it was. I usually get breakfast here and thats never a problem but I guess you cant really screw up eggs. I was in the mood for a cheeseburger so I decided to order the cheeseburger deluxe with fries, NASTY!!! It reminded me of when i was in high school and we ate the «burgers in a bag» mystery meat type of things. A gross patty pre-​made and heated. And the fries were horrible! Im completely turned off from this place now period. If you go here stick with the breakfast. This is the second time I ordered lunch there and thought it was gross. The first time I had a quesadilla and the chicken was so dry and the wrap tasted like cardboard!!! Total fail for café tomato!

Good for lunch at office hours

I just returned from not getting food at Café Tomato. Why did I not get food you ask? B/​c one of their chefs went to put on gloves and dropped it on the floor and put in on his hand anyway. Then started to slice bread. I then told chef I did not want my order and left.
I did mention incident to the manger prior to leaving.
Good luck if you eat there

Okay for a quick bite or snacks and things, but definitely not the best place in the area.
Buffet is usually hit or miss depending on the time of day, since I usually come in late the food is usually either mostly gone or kind of dried out. Heard okay things about the sandwiches but since I don’t really go for those, that doesn’t really help me.
Seating is kind of bad too, not a lot of space.

Long post–
I’ve been coming here since December about 4 times a week, during the nights. Usually get the same thing over and over, pay the same price, consistant food. But once they fired the usual guy who makes my sandwiches, it has gone DOWNHILL. The short korean cashier is a idiot, the people who make the sandwiches are idiots.
Saturday, September 1^st.
I came in to get my a sandwich as i have always been for the past 6 months. I’ve asked the deli guy for a TUNA wrap with tomato and jack cheese, and another turkey+salami combo with tomato and jack cheese. He tells me «I CANT MAKE 2 AT ONCE, CAN YOU REPEAT IT LATER» with an attitude. I get it may be busy, but if you can handle making 2sandwiches, i dont think you should be working here.
Tuna wrap+tomato and cheese was priced at 6.50, usual price. Here comes the kicker. Oh the sign above, It says Turkey+salami combo 5.50, and thats exactly what i have ordered. Tomato+cheese 1.00 $ more. When ive asked for Ovengold Turkey+salami, the guy gives me mequite smoked turkey and i pointed out that i wanted something else. This was his response «ITS ALL THE SAME, BOARS HEAD BOARS HEAD ALL THE SAME, WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME?» Excuse me? I beg to differ they are not the same. So instead of fighting over a goddamn turkey, i’ve decided to take whatever he gave me. He gladly wrote 7.00 $ on the sandwich and i proceeded to the cashier.
I’ve asked the cashier «Hey, why am i being charged this obscene amount for this sandwich when it clearly says 5.50 on the menu board and .50 cents per topping?
His response: «idk the prices man» A few months back, i have had the same issue with the same cashier. Bought 3 Tuna wraps, tomato and cheese and was charged 7.00 $ each. I asked him, why is it 7.00 $ today, and every other day its 6.50 $?
He tells me «Its tax». So on top of that, 3 wraps+1 beer+3 sodas and a bag of chips came out to be 33 $. WITH tax. So wait, i just got charged TAX again after my wraps got taxed? This doesnt make any sense. You only tax after the entire purchase has been made, not tax the items individually.
Moral of the lesson? Fuck this place. I have been a loyal customer since december, and this is how i get treated after coming here for so long.
I usually stop by here since its on the way home, but now i rather go to the ²⁴⁄₇ deli by 55 fulton. Opposite way of where i have to go, but i rather walk the distance than get treated like shit by the dumbasses who work here.

Guys that work there are idiots…
I been going regularly here to get lunch and service is usually ‘okay’
Last time, the cashier short changed me but I let it go because it was an honest mistake but he gave me an attitude for pointing out the error.
This morning was the last straw. I gave them my breakfast order and I waited there for 15 mins just to find out that they gave my order away to another guy! No apologies, no remorse. Won’t even make my order right away after they realized the mistake.
Never going here again.

Okay, I don’t like giving negative reviews…
…but this place sucks.
It’s cramped and sweaty and just all around no. It’s really expensive too, for mediocre stuff. I figured it’d be a nice change from my work cafeteria… boy was I wrong. My salad and snapple came to something stupid like $ 14. It wasn’t from the salad bar either, it was from the guy who makes them behind the glass! My lunches from the cafeteria run me about $ 10 for a salad, drink and cottage cheese/​yogurt. So, yeah, no thanks.
Sorry Café Tomato :(