Witches Brew Inc - West Hempstead

We were instructed to wait in the takeout section near the bathroom. While waiting, I noticed several empty tables, which made the one-hour wait time hard to understand. Then, the person ahead of me received her order, and I thought, great, ours should be next. But to my surprise, the people who ordered after us got their food first. When we inquired about our order, the person who took it informed us that they were training someone new, which was causing the delays. That raised a major red flag for me. It shouldn't take that long to prepare hot chocolates and grab premade pastries. After more than 45 minutes of waiting, it felt ridiculous. I requested a refund because the wait was just too long. The staff member, who might have been the owner, said it was almost ready if we could wait just two more minutes. We declined, and she handed back the cash with a noticeable attitude. Management seriously needs to reconsider their training process if it takes so long to serve hot chocolate. Other than the nice decor, you’d be better off getting your dessert and drinks somewhere else.

When I arrived, I asked how long the wait would be and was told it would be about an hour. We decided to place a to-go order instead. I ordered a hot chocolate, chocolate pecan pie, and a Cinnabon, while my sister ordered a hot chocolate, a half coffee half chocolate drink, a cake pop, and a brownie. Keep in mind that they only accept cash, but there is an ATM on-site. After we placed our order, the problems began. The staff did not greet us warmly, which set a negative tone for our visit. We didn’t mind waiting initially, but when we hit the 40-minute mark, it became frustrating. We asked for an update, and they informed us that someone was being trained and it would take a few more minutes. It was just the two of us waiting for takeout, so I don't understand what was taking so long. If we’d known it would take that long, we would’ve preferred to wait for a table instead of trying to expedite the process with a to-go order. Eventually, we went back to the register to request a refund. They told us our order was almost ready and would be done in two minutes, but we had already waited long enough and decided to leave. To top it off, while we were waiting, the staff member in charge was quite rude. She asked us to move and pointed us to a corner near the restrooms, which felt unnecessary since there was no line ahead of us and we were trying not to get in the way of dine-in orders. Regardless, we complied and moved to where she instructed. In the end, all we got from this experience were a few pictures, and it felt like a complete waste of time. Save yourself the trouble and look for another restaurant.

This restaurant is cash only, but they offer an ATM on-site. It’s the most charming and relaxing place! The lighting is warm and cozy, and the real candles add a lovely touch. It’s an ideal spot for a date night. The servers are incredibly friendly, and I appreciate that there’s no strict uniform; you get to see their personal style, making it feel more like a trendy hangout than a formal restaurant. The pesto gnocchi is absolutely amazing—if I had to choose one dish to eat every day for the rest of my life, it would be this! It's incredibly delicious. The tea is also fantastic, and the utensils, teapot, and cups are stunning. I believe everyone should come here at least once, especially with a date! All the dishes my friends and I tried were top-notch and worth every penny. Everything seems to be homemade, and as I write this, I can’t help but wish I was there right now. You should definitely visit, but please don’t take my gnocchi!

Ambiance was 10/10. Dessert was good but I was underwhelmed by the s'more I got. Service was excellent and quick.

Food and service is always amazing. Really a staple of Long Island eateries . The atmosphere is always relaxed and comfortable. A diamond in the rough.