What separates a great cafe from an okay one?

A couple of things:

Sound design. No for real. Walk into a brasserie in France, you can’t hear the steamer blasting and people yelling. It’s a place of respite and the low din of conversation.

Abundant and comfortable seating. Two person tables with standard heights and standard cafe seats with backs where I can sit for hours if I choose to. Americans love to make them cafes as uncomfortable as possible. Probably to keep folks turning over.

Ofc in NYC this is all a dream state because real estate is too damn expensive.

Yes I completely agree with you - this is what I care about most too. A place worth spending time at and showing down.