I think Breezie is giving Caffe Bene a bit too hard of a time, given that they opened their doors so recently! My partner and I went to Caffe Bene this afternoon around 1:30 p.m. They are still definitely working out some kinks (the ordering situation was a bit chaotic, and it seems like they have yet to get the hang of their computers, as they ended up writing orders for the kitchen down with a sharpie on register tape), but the space is quite cute, with lots of warm light from the copious Edison bulbs, planters in the windows, and comfortable chairs. Breezie is right that the tables are a bit on the tiny side, and the chairs don't tuck away entirely, but it's certainly far more comfortable than the perpetually overrun Starbucks! We split a ham, egg, and cheese bagel, which was pretty tasty (though just between you and me, the best ham, egg, and cheese bagel in the neighborhood is to be had at Central Cafe), and a cinammon raisin bagel with walnut cream cheese, which was delightful! Their bagels have a nice chew to them, and they don't go overboard with the cream cheese, mercifully. The drip coffee was fine, but I preferred the americano, which was a bit stronger. I was jealous of all of the people having waffles, which looked quite delicious indeed. They have a wide selection of upscale beverages--flavored Pellegrinos, multiple types of mineral water, Ronnybrook drinkable yogurts, kombucha, etc.
Put simply, it's a welcome addition to the neighborhood--a clean, well-lighted place with some novel snacks and a nice atmosphere. Do they have some wrinkles to iron out? Certainly! But it's to be expected, and I look forward to going back and seeing Caffe Bene grow into a new neighborhood institution.