I was surprised to read here that people have had bad experiences at the Farm lately, but after a recent visit there, I have to concur. The last time I was there, I was told a few minutes after ordering that they were out of what I’d ordered. OK, no problem. I asked to see the menu so I could choose something else, and the server impatiently told me that the kitchen stops serving breakfast at 11 – it was well before 11, and people were still coming in to order breakfast. I fought the urge to remind him that I’d already ordered, so please don’t give me a hard time, but I was very annoyed by his attitude. I also had to order coffee twice, and then had to call him back to get sugar and a stirring spoon. These are basic breakfast things. I don’t completely blame the server, though. He seemed to be the only one on that day, which isn’t fair. But he should know better than to rush customers, especially when they’ve already ordered and it’s the kitchen that’s lacking, and not the customer. For the record, I’m a former waiter and have worked many busy breakfast shifts. There are certain base rules of service that should be observed.

I want to love and support PF. I hope the owner is reading these posts. He has to know that on a weekend night there is a wait for a table at Farm, PY, Top Cafe and even at San Remo. Yet PF seems half empty. So clearly the posters here are not the only unhappy customers.

I think the areas of improvement are implied in the complaints- be more consistent with food, bring food out at a reasonable time, apologize and make ammends when things don’t go well (take things off the bill/free dessert etc), and overall appreciate your customers – I have rarely been greeted in there, or told thanks and goodbye. When it was mother’s day and we went in with a big group, it was a nightmare and didn’t feel celebratory at all, we felt like we were in their way. The moms of the group should have been greeted and the morning should have been smoother. Anticipate that you will be busy and adjust.

I had years as a waitress and loved my work- I’d say there needs to be someone always at least saying “hello” upon someone’s arrival, the basic checking in on tables, the servers need to be trained to consider their entire section as one table (meaning don’t run back and forth for one errand/one table, see ALL the things your section needs, make one large round trip) and if all of that doesn’t help, hire another server so that people have a good experience (and thus tip better, also more likely to come back and give more business- making everyone happier) Maybe hire a food runner. A great server could do it all, but with a kitchen that drives them nuts and then wanting to avoid communication with their customers…it’s a bad cycle. The servers have to be given range to make things better- offer something to waiting customers, take something off the bill. The management is to blame.

Mainly, communication. Err on the side of over-communication and then when you learn to read your customers better, you can know when to back off.

In terms of the atmosphere, all would be forgiven if all of the above just happened.

It seems to me that there are far too many choices on the menu. Perhaps if the kitchen did not have to prep for/serve so many different dishes, they could concentrate and become more efficient. They could start by looking at what gets ordered least and axe a few of those.

The food is decent. I like the veggie sides and veggie burgers (the only place to serve them in the neighborhood!) It would be even better, however, if most items were a dollar or two less. The place seems to be somewhat highly priced for the kind of food they serve.

I might get hell for this comment, but I’ll say it. Another area that could use improvement is the decor, especially the backyard. The decor is a bit chintzy or too cutesy. I’m not sure what it is really, but it is a bit “off” (best I can describe it for now). The yard should be planted with herbs and cleaned up. It could be such a fantastic space. We enjoy it now as it is, because it is wonderful to be able to eat outside without waiting for a table, but the yard really has potential to be super.

It is important to care about whether a restaurant succeeds here as over the last 26 years living here I have watched Cortelyou Rd become a “destination restaurant” spot. This has made it possible for other small businesses to open and take a chance on surviving here, properties to maintain their value in this bad economy, and for all of us living here to have choices without having to leave the neighborhood.

Whether you like the food or service, or not, as someone living here you should feel somewhat invested in the businesses doing well.

I see a lot of complaining and not too much problem solving. That being said, I would like to suggest that we turn this conversation into forthcoming posters offering a suggestion for improvement.