Cosi
“On Wednesdays they also have free coffee!”
“I've always been a fan of Cosi, no matter where the locale is.”
Cosi
Delivery: Yes
Take-out: Yes
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
Good for Kids: Yes
Good for Groups: Yes
Caters: Yes
Price range.
$ Price range Under $10
8 reviews
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To say that Cosi has gone down hill, is an understatement. Especially this location. The restaurant is laid out poorly, with the cashiers all the way in the back and the food counters/stations are laid out in a haphazard way. I went to the hot food bowl counter and the food was messy and cluttered with the servers bumping into each other to reach what they needed. I ended up getting the Caribbean chicken with squash bowl and it was really awful. It sounded awful (which I though about after the fact), looked unappealing when I lifted the cover off the bowl and the taste and texture was just gross.
The chicken was not grilled, it was shredded and flavorless. The sauce was creamy and a little spicy and was a terrible combo with the spaghetti squash. Frankly, writing about it is making me feel queasy all over again. I wanted to take some pictures of the food for my check-in (before I even tasted the food and knew how bad it was) and was aggressively stopped by an employee who said that I'm not allowed to take photos. I mean, why not? what's the worst thing that could happen? In fairness to them, no additional photos would have helped this review. Not coming back again!
3 for 3 times i was given the wrong soup!!!
Last week my friend I both ordered the soup salad combo, and were given the wrong soup. Luckily we were eating at Cosi, so we easily exchanged the soups for the ones we originally asked for.
Today, I ordered Turkey chili, walked all the way way back to my office to find that I was given some soup with dark meat that was a far cry from Turkey chili. After calling and requesting that they send me a new one at my office (which they happily did), I received a call back saying that the location was out of Turkey chili and that's why I initially received this random substitute (which turned out to be Cranberry something or other, eww). They then asked if I wanted something else, and agreed to send a chicken pasta soup instead.
How annoying! Would have given one star – but the person I talked to on the phone and the person who delivered my soup were super, super nice!
It did the job. Came in hungry left satisfied. After a long day shopping and playing me plus three were looking for a quick, filling bite. Figured this would be a great place; they were still open at 6pm, many options to satisfy four different and a place to seat and charge phone. We ordered a shareable pepperoni flatbread pizza and for the plus three and a adobo chicken with avocado bowl (DELICIOUS). A bit pricey it all came to $29 with two Snapple Ice Teas but it was very tasty.
I am a Cosi fan. Truth be told I'm hooked on the bread. It's literally out my office building door so it's very convenient. Pluses bread is great and I like the salads and sandwiches. Minuses going there between 12-2 is a nightmare. Mornings not crowded. Also calling the bagels Squagels is annoying. Frequent purchase card for beverages and sandwiches/salads is another plus.
Wonderful variety of fresh and delicious salads, bowls, etc. Comfortable seating area. Very friendly staff. My go-to lunch place when I need to be nearby on East 57th Street.
Setting: A half empty Cosi on a freezing winter day
Characters:
Evelyn – Hungry midtown worker on lunch break
Lucy – Evelyn's hungry friend, also a midtown worker on lunch break
Salad Girl – Disgruntled salad maker
Sandwich Girl – Disgruntled sandwich maker
Cash Register Girl 1 – Disgruntled cashier with propensity for exasperated sighs
Cash Register Girl 2 – Disgruntled cashier and beverage server with propensity for exasperated sighs
Act I
Lucy had just ordered and received her salad and wanted a piece of bread. Dear Reader, please note, Cosi provides bread to go along with salads but E and L were not offered any bread by the servers
L to Salad Girl: Hi, can I get a piece of bread to go along with my salad?
Salad Girl gestures to the Sandwich Girl standing idly in front of a whole counter full of bread, not making sandwiches
L to Sandwich Girl: May I have a piece of bread
Sandwich Girl gestures back to Salad Girl
L to Sandwich Girl: But she asked me to ask you for a piece of bread
Sandwich Girl rolls her eyes and gives L a piece of bread
Act II
Evelyn receives her salad
E to Salad Girl: Hi, can I get a piece of bread to go along with my salad?
Salad Girl points in some ambiguous direction towards the faraway land of the cash register. Evelyn thinks Register Girl 1 is now responsible for giving her bread
E to Register Girl 1: So I ordered a Cosi Signature salad with salmon and a large hot tea. Can I also get a piece of bread to go along with my salad
Register Girl 1 to E: You were supposed to ask for bread when you order your salad *exasperated sigh*
E to Register Girl 1: But I did and was told come here
Register Girl 1: You were supposed to get it from her. *exasperated sigh*
Register Girl 1 walks to get a piece of bread and then takes E's credit card but not Cosi loyalty card
E to Register Girl 1: Thanks for the bread. So ummm but I also have a Cosi card
Register Girl 1 to E: YOU HAVE TO GIVE ME THAT BEFORE YOUR CREDIT CARD. *exasperated sigh + eye roll*
Register Girl 1 proceeds to swipe E's Cosi card at the register. It is humbling to witness such a magnanimous gesture
E to Register Girl 1: Sorry…so can I have my tea?
Register Girl 1 to E: Tea is at the front
Act III
Evelyn walks to the front of Cosi to get her hot tea
E to Register Girl 2: I was told to come here for my tea
Register Girl 2: Do you have a receipt
E to Register Girl 2: I wasn't given a receipt
Register Girl 2 to E: Ugh you need a receipt *exasperated eye roll*
Register Girl slowly proceeds to fill up cup with hot water and put a tea bag in it. It is a hard task, but she manages to complete it without asking for assistance. E is forever grateful
I will raise one star for cosi, as my experience this time was even better.
It was 12pm sharp, no lines at all and we were being served right away, very efficient. Food was equally good compared with last time. Ordered half salad and it came with a small piece of bread. Eating healthy these days is no longer difficult, eating healthy while tasty is.
Will come back.
Only reason I'm reviewing Cosi is that they always run a bunch of promotions so I've been able to eat here for free a lot of times.
In the past 2 months I've been able to 1) get $10 off $10 for ordering via their new online portal 2) get free cosi club or tuscan pesto chicken on the last 3 Wednesdays in November as part of a Feed NYC promotion. Not to mention there's always plenty of bread fresh out of the brick-oven!
This location gets very packed during peak lunch hours and it seems like they have at least 10 employees to manage that. I can only speak for the sandwiches here, but they are very mediocre.. sometimes they're ok.. other times I just feel bad for the sandwich. One plus is that ingredients always seem fresh here.
Keep an eye out for their promotions! I'll try to update my blog when I see one come along, but maybe signing up for their mailing list would help as well.