Cafe Lift: Big Portions--loads of white people

[Chrissy]

This place is straight out of "Stuff White People Like". Seriously.

Let's go down the check list:
Brunch? check!
Asian Girls? check!
Coffee and tea choices besides regular and decaf? check!
Bikes parked outside? Check!
Stupid Art on the Wall? Check!
Overeducated idiots waiting on you? double check!
Oh I got tired, but it ticks every box.

This place is in a converted warehouse space and that makes it "soooo coool, and grity and like REAL". At least it isn't as obnoxious as Morning Glory and there were actually "uncool" minorities and people from Philadelphia eating there. However they were kept separate from the white people and "cool" minorities.

The service was horrible. There were three servers on and really not that many tables. I didn't get a napkin or a plate to put my tea bag on. I had to ask for creme for my tea. I didn't get syrup for my french toast. It also took FOREVER to get service, not having to do with the kitchen speed.

My french toast was good--it was wayyyy too sweet but that's my fault. It was marked sweet and it had ricotta on it. My brunching companion's mushroom frittata (co-opted white people speak for an omelet) was delicious.

I think I might try and go not on a weekend, because the food was actually pretty good. The service will probably be better while the horrible waitresses are in class for their PhD in contemporary and medieval bullshit.

[Marilyn]

Michael,

Thanks for joining the group. All comments are welcome - good, bad, indifferent. I guess I just don't believe in censoring anybody because food is a very subjective thing. However, it is not right to "bash" an establishment just for the sheer fact of bashing them or intentionally hurting their business. I don't believe Chrissy's comments were intended to hurt your business; I took it as merely her observations and opinion.

Anyways, I have yet to try either of your establishments - they are certainly BOTH on my list, though. Her review did not sway me. It's just a matter of time and getting there. :)

Looking forward to hearing more from you!

Be well,
Marilyn

[Chrissy]

I don't know who you bought a drink for but it wasn't me.

[Michael Pasquarello]

I know this a old post but it is pretty insane. I am Mike I own the lift and prohibition. I stumbled across this blog googling my places to see what the people are saying. I already bought Crissy a drink at my bar after first reading the yelp post. Which by the way was extremely offensive for me, my staff, and my customers. But everyone is entitled to there opinion no matter how silly, disturbing and unrelated to the food as it may be. This review of my place is full of shit it is amazing how I have been open for 6 years and this person stumbles in now and wants to bash the place. Just Silly..............

[Harold Graves]

Chrissy,

It was my pleasure. Keep reviewing- I'm looking forward to your future exploits.

[Chrissy]

Harold,

I didn't even see Matt's response until now. Thank you for responding. You're so right.

P.S. the asian people in the cafe were definitely NOT my Chinatown neighbors.
P.P.S. I am a Philadelphian btw.

[Harold Graves]

Matt Swenney, You're a pompous douche.

I take issue with your attacks on the review of Cafe Lift when you start using terms like "Real Philadelphian" as the basis for establishing credibility in someone's opinion. What I got out of your comment was less about sticking up for Lift and more about keeping your head up your own ass. This may or may not be true but I'm betting you grew up here and think you have some special claim on it. Surprise! You're just a local deusche without any more or less cred than an imported deusche.

P.S. If owning a bar or two makes someone a "Philadelphian" than this city is full of fake ones, you included.

P.S.S. Lift is absolutely amazing, especially when compared to such atrocities as Jany's Luncheonette and Billy G's on 12th St. Now that's the original Philadelphia - too expensive and out of touch. It costs exactly the same to get gourmet food at Lift as it does to have a disgusting burger at either of those places. Lift is a real gem if you work or happen to be near Chinatown and don't want to eat Asian. It's some of the best food I've had of late. A real treat.

And, Chrissy is spot on, it's so right out of Stuff White People like.

See Matt, Everybody wins. But you. You lose. Stop sublimating your anger for people who move here and just come out of the closet with it. You're among friends. It's OK to tell us you hate when people move into your city. It's OK. It's Ok. It's OK. Shhhhhhh. No one is going to hurt you here on Ning. Shhhhhhh.


So far you're just the pot calling the kettle black. Try again.

[Matt Swenney]

Wow had to find you Chrissy, I cant believe how angry you are in general. I think you should write food reviews based on the food and not on your insecurities or brain farts. The lift has been in bus. for 5 years if not more, long before you even came to Philly because it is like so the next NY. Let's do this check list again, coffee and tea other then reg and decaf? Well they do call themselves a cafe and not a diner miss sassy pants. Tea bags, napkins, small plates? Not a tea room, just a cafe. Talk about uppity! Bikes parked outside of course its the city. Asian people "its fucking chinatown"! Stupid art on the wall, now come on, you cant also be an art critic, can you? Is there really a such thing as over educated, "stupid". Just out of curiosity Chrissy, what makes you think you can speak so matter a factually without any facts. Philly is not your town you are not even from here, you are just some "stuffy white girl" from some where else with a bad outlook on life and a really bad gauge for GOOD. P.S The Dude that owns Lift owns Prohibition Taproom, now that's a Philadelphian!

[Marilyn]

that's good enough here, missy!

[Chrissy]

yes, but I'm not a foodie. Just a consumer

[Marilyn]

I know this Ning site isn't as glamorous (or populated) as Yelp, but it'll do right? :D