Having been to many of the cafes in the Bayside area over the years, I was excited to try Galanti cafe because it is located so close to where we live. Unfortunately, the experience was nothing to be excited about! When we came in, the atmosphere seemed cold and sterile. We were told to order and pay at the counter (in advance, which means you can't relax and order other items as you go) and that we could get our own bottle of water from a table over in the corner(!!!)

Once you've paid, the service becomes close to non-existent. We ordered one normal and one skim latte and received two normal (and the waitress took it back, but not until after trying to tell us that we ordered two normal ones). Once we got the right coffees, they tasted average and certainly weren't anything to write home about. My husband asked for some tomato sauce and didn't get it until he had almost finished his meal.

The menu is limited, and there is a little note that states that you don't "need" to make changes to any dishes, "trust us!" When I asked for poached eggs instead of fried eggs for my big breakfast, I was told that it would be better with fried eggs and that it "wouldn't work" with poached eggs. Clearly they were wrong, because the fried eggs were overcooked and greasy; the hash brown and tiny sausage were also overcooked. The food was definitely overpriced for what you got.

This place is only new, and perhaps they're having teething problems, but we won't waste our time and money giving them the benefit of the doubt when there are other places we know are good and would rather return to.

Approximate cost: $18