DTUT is a coffee shop on the UES with a super laid back vibe, plenty of seating, and a variety of coffee drinks, alcoholic beverages, pastries, and food options.
I’ve always had a soft spot for this coffee shop and have been back many times over the years, mostly because I like the vibe of the place and they have some creative offerings. First, I love the fact that they have a bunch of free board games you can play. Just ask any employee you see what’s available, make a selection, and they’ll get you the game. Options include Jenga, Apples to Apples, Battleship, Guess Who, etc.
Second, I love that they have creative food options, like a “roast your own s’mores platter”. How fun is it to roast your own s’mores and where else can you do this in NYC? They give you graham crackers, marshmallows, a Hershey’s bar, and skewers on a small tray with a mini fire in the middle. Sadly, the execution doesn’t live up to the idea. The fire is so weak that the marshmallows roast very slowly, the ratio of chocolate to graham/marshmallow is very wrong, and each ingredient seems old and stale. Great, fun idea. But the taste is a bit of a disappointment. They also have a similar concept with fondue. Great idea, but I haven’t tried it, so I don’t know if it would be as big of a let down as the s’mores or not.
And lastly, despite the fact that I have gone back several times for the reasons named above, I have never actually liked anything I’ve eaten or drunk there. Unfortunately, I think the coffee beverages are pretty terrible. Not good quality and served cold half the time. And the pastries are often dry or mediocre. Also, seating isn’t the most comfortable. There are high tables with backless stools and then some couches without proper tables to put your coffee/food onto.
There is a TV projector as of late that quietly plays TV shows and movies in the background, which is a nice touch. But overall, I wouldn’t recommend going out of your way to get here. If you’re in the area and want a break, it’s a nice place to sit and relax or play a game for a bit. But don’t go there hungry or thirsty and don’t commute much to get here. Some great things about the place, but needs improvement overall.
