Hole In The Wall
Restaurant · 15 Cliff St, New York, NY 10038, United States · United States
★ 4.8 on Google · 4,184 reviews · View on Google Maps
Manipulation score
CleanCompleted Jul 19, 2026 · 196 reviews flagged
How this score works
The score estimates how strongly this place's review record matches known manipulation patterns, from 0 (no signs) to 100. Verdicts: Clean below 40, Suspicious from 40, Likely Manipulated from 70; Review Drive when the flags are mostly staff asking customers for named reviews. It rises with the share of reviews flagged and how suspicious each one is.
- Burst
- — an abnormal spike of five-star reviews in a single day compared to the place's usual pace.
- Low activity account
- — the reviewer has almost no other reviews, photos, or Local Guide history; throwaway accounts look like this.
- Duplicate text
- — the wording is nearly identical to another review of the same place.
Verdicts are statistical estimates based on public review patterns, not accusations. Full methodology, signal definitions and known limits →
Case conclusion
What the numbers say
1,000 reviews examined
- Google rating
- 4.8★
- Not-flagged average
- 4.8★
- Flagged
- 20%
- Coverage
- 24%
All reviews shown by Google
804 examined reviews
196 of 1,000
1,000 of 4,184 Google reviews
“Not flagged” means no configured Revdict signal matched; it does not prove a review is genuine. Data fetched Jul 19, 2026.
Review brief
What reviews not flagged by Revdict say
Reviewers report that this is a popular café in the Financial District offering a creative breakfast and brunch menu with Australian-influenced coffee and dishes. While many praise the flavorful food, warm ambiance, and attentive staff, others note significant downsides such as long wait times, restrictive seating policies for incomplete parties, and a strong lingering cooking smell indoors.
+ Repeated strengths
Delicious and Creative Food
Reviewers frequently highlight the high quality, great flavor, and variety of brunch options, specifically praising items like the pulled pork Benedict, kimchi scramble, and avocado toast.
3 supporting reviews
5★ · 2025-11-11
Great breaky! - Ask for the kimchi eggs …. Delish!! awesome staff , a true ‘Hole in the Wall’ and a must when in NYC!
5★ · 2025-12-08
The pulled pork benedict is amazing! Great service all around as well.
5★ · 2025-12-30
Kimchi scramble toast is a revelation! Get the add on halloumi whatever you order !
Friendly and Efficient Service
Many reviewers describe the staff as warm, welcoming, and accommodating, noting that service is often fast even during busy rushes.
1 supporting review
5★ · 2025-12-20
Super friendly, fast service, good food
Quality Coffee and Drinks
Reviewers often mention that the coffee, specialty lattes, and matcha drinks are well-made and stand out as a highlight of the meal.
3 supporting reviews
4★ · 2025-11-04
Brunch spot in Fidi with a calm, rustic vibe. Love the decor w/ all the plants and lights. My kimchi omelet with feta was absolutely delicious! Turmeric latte was also great.
5★ · 2025-12-23
I had a perfect flat white and pulled pork Benedict which was just a explosion of flavors. Loved it.
5★ · 2026-03-14
For the love of god, the best mouth flavors explosions i've ever had in the morning.
− Repeated complaints
Host Policy and Seating Issues
Several reviewers report frustration with strict host policies that prevent parties from being seated or ordering until every member of the group has arrived, sometimes resulting in long waits outside in the cold.
3 supporting reviews
4★ · 2025-11-05
The food at this restaurant is very good! I had the brekkie roll and it was excellent. I also tried the Green Out smoothie, which was delicious as well. The decoration is lovely and gives the place a great vibe. However, there were a few...
1★ · 2025-12-06
We were not able to get food for breakfast after waiting for one hour for 6 people. One of our party was missing fue to delays in the subway. She was going to be late for 10 minutes even though 5 people were there and ready to sit down. He...
1★ · 2025-12-27
Super rude and lazy host. Came for brunch on a friday as a party of 2, and my friend was running late. Even though more than half the tables were empty the host made me wait outside until my friend arrived. He was also on his phone for a lo...
Poor Indoor Ventilation and Smells
Reviewers frequently complain about a lack of proper ventilation inside the restaurant, noting that food odors and grease linger strongly enough to make clothing and hair smell long after leaving.
1 supporting review
3★ · 2025-12-10
YOUR CLOTHES WILL SMELL LIKE FOOD! Great food, terrible smell. To the owners/managers (I hope they read these reviews). Please invest in better ventilation! Your food is delicious yet the atmosphere in the restaurant is off putting because...
Crowds and Long Wait Times
Due to its popularity and small size, reviewers note that the café gets crowded quickly during peak brunch hours, leading to lines and wait times.
3 supporting reviews
4★ · 2025-11-29
Great place for a big breakfast and great coffee as well. Dishes came out fast. You should get there early if you don't want to wait in line.
5★ · 2026-01-02
Good food, good vibes and good attention. Just be prepared to be waiting on line
5★ · 2026-04-21
Always packed, always worth it! The food here is delicious
Good for
- Savory, creative breakfast and brunch dishes
- Specialty coffees and lattes
- Relaxed, cozy atmosphere
Avoid if
- You are meeting a large group where people might arrive at different times
- You are sensitive to strong food odors sticking to your clothes
- You are in a rush and want to avoid potential weekend brunch lines
Review anatomy
Reviews per month
| Month | Reviews | Flagged |
|---|---|---|
| Oct ’25 | 27 | 6 |
| Nov ’25 | 163 | 35 |
| Dec ’25 | 149 | 28 |
| Jan ’26 | 105 | 18 |
| Feb ’26 | 60 | 13 |
| Mar ’26 | 88 | 22 |
| Apr ’26 | 111 | 14 |
| May ’26 | 130 | 25 |
| Jun ’26 | 109 | 23 |
| Jul ’26 | 58 | 12 |
Rating distribution
Evidence
- low activity account 194 reviews flagged weight 0.8
- generic account 2 reviews flagged weight 1
Flagged reviews
Showing the 10 most suspicious of 196 flagged reviews.
Dianne Simmons
273 reviews · Local Guide
★★★★★
2025-10-31
I found this place perfectly acceptable despite its critics. The restaurant sits in a perfect spot and we enjoyed ourselves. I can't recall when I last experienced this quality. Everything on the menu tastes great! Form your own opinion by giving it a try.
James Cooke
14 reviews · Local Guide
★★★★★
2026-06-18
Brunch here was excellent overall, with a well-balanced combination of good food and a pleasant atmosphere. The setting was comfortable and added to the experience without feeling overwhelming. Service was friendly and attentive, making the visit smooth from start to finish. The food was consistentl...
Michael Dwyer
1 review
★★★★★
2025-10-26
Zesty Plots
1 review
★★★★★
2025-10-27
Great food, decent service, easy to have a solid brunch here
Daniela S.
2 reviews
★★★★★
2025-10-31
tarshia rodgers
2 reviews
★★★★★
2025-11-01
Simon A.
1 review
★★★★★
2025-11-01
Maya was great & accommodating. Gave great food recommendations!!
Ivor Biggun
1 review
★★★★★
2025-11-03
Great for coeliacs. Been several times and never a problem.
Itumeleng Mothibeli
2 reviews
★★★★★
2025-11-03
Liz K.
2 reviews
★★★★★
2025-11-03
Report generated Jul 19, 2026. Reviews change — you can request a fresh investigation.
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