Breakfast Review - This is really the "This is [NOT] it Café" - Just Skip "it"!
First, TG has been there once or twice a year over the last five years, and so this is "strong review." TG REALLY wants to like this place (to support local businesses), but cannot. TG reluctantly gives the "This is it Café" a "D-" (almost an "F").
The "This is it Café" is located in the Northwood area of West Palm Beach with can be most kindly described, as a "transitional" area boarding on a "very rough" area of West Palm Beach (check out the crime stats if you don't believe me - http://www.areavibes.com/west+palm+beach-fl/northwood+hills/crime/ - Rated a "F" on the crime scale by AreaVibes). Located very near on US1 on the corner of 24th St and Spencer, you get the first indication of the local dining experience by the bars on the front windows (fact). The area has a lot of potential (a bohemian feel), and there is substantial new development going on nearby that will hopefully help the area turnaround in the future (unfortunately not too soon). There is on-street parking and a small parking lot (do not leave valuables in the car).
There is no outdoor seating (most likely for good reasons), and there are nine uncomfortable counter seats (a couple of which are near to falling off), there are mainly tables and a few booths. The place is VERY noisy it would be difficult to have a regular/normal conversation with more than two people without yelling to match everyone else's volume (there is no music in the background, but you could never hear it anyway). The crowd is mixed locals, tending to a local older crowd (probably attracted to the reasonable prices) and lack of other nearby options. On the weekends during the season, the place seems to attract a lot of older Québécois (who tend to be a bit louder). The tables are spread apart, but it does not seem to help the noise level. There are some larger tables, and some tables can be moved to service larger parties.
The menu is fair extensive (and uninspired) with a number of daily specials. The dishes the Ghost has ordered tended to be "bland" (at best) and unappealing (at worst). All the dishes needed more seasoning (most likely a result of catering to an older crowd). The most recent special, a "southwest breakfast wrap" was the worst that TG has ever had (true), the hash browns were more like lumpy unseasoned mash potatoes. Plating is an afterthought. The prices are good/reasonable. Hence the place is crowded with patrons (on weekends) who put price ahead of food quality and service. On a recent visit the flatware was not well cleaned (there was "stuff" sticking to the handle of the fork I was given) - I have included a picture (attached to this review for reference).
Coffee is OK (the best thing TG can say about this place).
Unfortunately, the service mirrors the food. It is "spotty" at best borderline "rude" at worst. On a recent visit, the Ghost sat at the counter (recall there are only nine seats) and waited 5 minutes for any of the four people behind the bar to greet him. After 5 minutes the Ghost left the counter looking for a table (and service). Coffee refills are difficult to get (getting attention from overworked staff might be the key issue).
"Facilities" are not as good as they should be, but not bad enough to a trigger visit from the health inspector. This saved the rating from becoming an "F".
TG has been to the "This is it Café" once or twice a year for the last five years and was hoping that his experiences were unlucky and/or things would get better. Sadly neither seems to be true. The Ghost will not be returning to update this review unless owners or management changes. Note: to show you can't trust newspaper's reviews; the restaurant has a Palm Beach Post article framed (behind the checkout counter) touting the newspaper reviewer's positive experience (unbelievable).
If you are a visitor, it would be better to try any number of other great West Palm Beach breakfast places. If you are a local to the Northwood area, want cheap, have "dead taste buds," and are "packing heat," then go for it!... but not after dark.
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