88 Orchard
Category: Coffee & Tea [Edit]
Neighborhood: Manhattan/Lower East Side88 Orchard St
(between Broome St & Grand St)
New York, NY 10002 (212) 228-8880
34 reviews
Neighborhood: Manhattan/East Village
"Recommended for: Tea connoisseurs, relaxing in EV. Food 5, Service 5, Ambiance 5. You all know I'm horrible with names, and one of the…" read more »
34 Reviews for 88 Orchard
This is one of my favorite places in NY---a cute, friendly cafe, which serves a plentiful assortment of beverages, various sandwiches and snacks, and is perfect for relaxing by yourself (or with your laptop) or also a good social meeting spot.
I almost hate to give this place so many stars,a s they can be a little pricey. However, the granola is great, their baristas make a mean soy cap, and there lower level houses many seats and great entertainments such as scrabble! Plus there is a really hot Asian (gaysian?) boy who works the counter, he's definitely good enough reason to try 88 out. Although, there is a blonde girl who has one of those fast paced, always busy and furclempt attitudes... a few times I'd see her through the window and decide not to go in.
Many a night, when my friends and I had time to kill before a show or gallery opening, we'd stop in for a coffee and game. After 6 or 7pm they lower the lights and make it so intimate.
When I worked in the LES I'd frequent 88--often making more than one trip a day. Breakfast, I'd get a Soy Cap with Granola and Mixed Berries, running a total of $8. For Lunch and Dinner they have a good eggplant sandwich and some vegan loafs for dessert.
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Love, love, love this place! My husband and I go there often on Sundays to read the NYT over a cup of coffee. The coffee is really good, and the baristas are always very friendly and chatty.
The place can get a little loud on the weekend, but it's a very cool atmosphere. If you want somewhere quieter, head downstairs (where the bathrooms are) and hang out there. They also have Scrabble and other board games you can play.
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This is how I discovered Yelp! My friend and I were looking for a cafe that would give her wireless access and have really good food too. She knew about this website already and was telling me about it while we were searching for "that" cafe. Once she found 88 Orchard on Yelp we decided we would try it. I was a bit skeptical, I didn't really know if the reviews would be accurate or not...
Well I was surprised! I ended up going with my brother because my friend became tied up. It was such a cute small cafe. Warm and cozy, great because the weather was so ugly and rainy out.
I tried the hot chocolate, really good! And I ordered the turkey panini, also very good! The bread was crispy and the cheese was quality. We had the brownie for dessert, which was ok. Coffee was very good!
I was very pleased! The decor really was very nice and the food great. If I had some work to do on my laptop I would definitely come here. A great discovery. I was sold on 88 orchard and sold on Yelp!
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Best french toast I have EVER had. Really fast delivery too. The waffles were a little tough, I mean they were tasty but heavy and kinda hard to chew, very think. The quality of the food at this place is real and the prices aren't too bad. I would definitely come back to try other non-breakfast items. I'm hooked, it's official.
Meh. The location and outdoor seating are excellent, especially on summer nights. There's free internet apparently and lots of people come here alone with their laptops. Downstairs has some old board games.
They have a nice drink menu and the coffee is good, but the food is not that great. It gets very crowded around noon on the weekends and a couple of the staff members are a little snotty.
i stopped drinking coffee last year, but before that, i'd go for their iced coffee--why? *because they make the ice cubes out of coffee!!!* (i wish they'd do the same for iced tea)
this is the perfect neighborhood cafe. i live right around the corner and find myself here quite a bit to read, write, study, or hang out.
food selections are typical cafe fare but tasty and consistent. it's kick ass to be able to roll downstairs for a ham and cheese croissant. slightly overpriced, but oh well. would have gotten 5 stars but like a few have mentioned their service is godawful slow. so slow you wonder if they're actually baking the bread from scratch as your order it (they're not). scratch that--you wonder if they've gone to some remote wheat field to harvest the grain that will make the bread.
pw needed for internet, but other than that, i tend to frequent the place at the least busy times. otherwise the crowds are many and annoying.
bathroom's usually clean.
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By the time I came to 88 Orchard I had literally been to 30 different cafes and coffee shops in the city looking for a great place to write. So obviously I am not easily impressed and, honestly, I come at every place with low expectations these days. But 88 Orchard barreled through my cynicism and completely won me over in a matter of minutes.
First of all, it's a cute space. Dark on the upper level at night, yes, but they are trying to create an atmosphere. During the day the huge windows make it light and airy. On the lower level there's a decent amount of space (and plenty of light in the evenings. This is the kind of place I could see bringing a group to, if we could snag all of the seats along the wall or something.
The one place 88 Orchard could use some improvement is the food. My friend and I spent several hours there one day and both had much to eat. The food was slow in coming, much slower than a salad or a grilled cheese has any right to be. Also, some of the sandwiches are billed as being way fancier than they actually are (like aforementioned grilled cheese sandwich which wasn't called that or described as such on the menu). I also can't say enough that the food service left a lot to be desired.
Still, the food is pretty good, once you get it, and the drinks are very tasty.
For laptop luggers, there are a *few* outlets upstairs by the window. There are more downstairs, mainly in the corner farthest from the kitchen door. The bench along the wall is pretty comfortable, thanks to the pillows. But watch out for the kitchen staff - sometimes they like to turn up the music really loud, which clashes with the already loud music coming from upstairs. When we asked someone to ask them to turn it down, she acted like we were being entitled princesses. Well pardon me, honey, but if I'm going to be forced to listen to music, I'd like it to be one song at a time.
Other than these two relatively minor issues, this is a great place. I only wish they had later hours. They're open until 11:30--I always want places like this to be open until 1 or 2am. But you can't have everything.
Watch out for weekend afternoons until 4, those are the busy times. It's slower in the evenings. Afternoons on weekdays are fine.
The final element that puts this place over the top from good to great: Location. Near the F train stop, which makes life very easy, but also a mere two blocks from my beloved Fried Dumpling! I can just imagine myself coming down here to get some work done, taking a $3 lunch break, and coming right back to finish the great American novel.
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When 88 Orchard opened its doors in, I think, 2002 or 2003, I enjoyed their food, coffees, teas, hot chocolate and more from the get go..
I was struck by the charming corner space which this cafe occupies. 88 Orchard's location is lovely because it is nestled on some of the best streets of the historic lower east side landmark district. 88 O's interior has a great atmosphere. The exposed brick wall which displays several photographs adds to its great ambiance and vibe. Upon visiting, one will find many happy customers working intensely on their computer (free wi-fi -yay), having a bite and beverage, quietly reading or talking with friends.
Here are some of my favorite things at 88 Orchard:
-The hot chocolate- so nurturing to me because it is served in a large comforting mug. It is terrific. I'm told this rich, thick and delicious hot cocoa is a special blend from Italy. The whipped cream with a dash of cinnamon is a plus for me.
-The panini sandwiches: Two in particular which I recommend are the grilled chicken with aioli and other spices and the vegetarian-grilled vegetables and mushrooms.
- I love their soups, but my favorite is their homemade on the premises corn chowder. I am also a fan of their chicken noodle. I enjoy all the breads they use for sandwiches, panini, focaccia and assorted side slices with soup.
- The desserts/sweets are wonderful. The almond croissants are popular. The biscottis and cupcakes are too.
-The chai lattes are very good. Customers seem to enjoy the espresso. Others seem to enjoy the frothy cappucinos the lattes and regular brew.
While I spend most of my time upstairs, the downstairs is comfortable too- and the cute bathroom is on that level. There are boardgames and more.
I love this cafe. The two sisters who own it are pleasant too and they seem to do a good job in hiring their staff. The baristas/food preparers/servers are accomodating and the cafe is clean, even meticulously organized.
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very friendly staff and an excellent peanut butter-banana-honey breakfast panini. really made my morning, and at an hour when nothing else in the neighborhood was open. the don ho smoothie was also spectacular.
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I LOVE this cafe so much I wish I lived in the neighborhood! Not only is the atmosphere great in a very old-skool cafe sort of way, but the coffee is superb, and the people who work there are friendly AND cool. There are two levels to this place, and the downstairs is my fave--a very cozy and inviting space indeed. Plus they play great tunes, (such as the Shins and the Smiths,) which always makes me a happy camper.
On a cold winter's day I went out to find this place with my laptop. I sat next to some English tourists in its lower level. You need a password for their internet. The drinks in this place are pretty good and so is the service. Try their teas just wonderful.
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Been there twice with my wife, who loves this place. If you're looking for a romantic little coffee shop to stop at as part of a date here it is. Good place to fantasize about being a writer as you stare at the art on the walls and listen to Madonna playing in the background. Both times I was there the male to female ratio was clearly skewed toward female. People do linger, so getting a table could present a challenge at times.
While it's not pricey when compared to other places on the LES, it isn't a great value. I didn't mind for one reason: the coffee is absolutely excellent! We're talking a seriously good cup here. The baked goods they sell to go with the coffee are also memorable.
The food is hit and miss. A green salad showed up topped with cucumber and tomato slices. The tomato was underripe, and the vinaigrette (thankfully on the side) was bland and way too sweet. The white bean and bacon soup was good, but not remarkable. The pressed sandwich of chicken, tomato and pesto ($9) was delicious.
Perfect place to linger over coffee and a snack. It gets more expensive and less reliable if you choose to treat this cafe like a restaurant.
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This is my favorite cafe in the Lower East Side/East Village. The atmosphere is really cozy and conducive to doing a little work or just chatting with someone. Plenty of seating upstairs and downstairs, good food and as a bonus, they have boardgames downstairs!
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I know it seems that I only rate places at 5 stars. I think that must be because when I find something that I like, I hammer it to death. I try to get a good system/routine going on good food because we are so busy, I need the fuel and I need it to be a good experience as well. This place does a great lunch - really fresh spinach with raisons, goat cheese, etc. etc. That kind of thing. They also deliver. They also have crack coffee. They also have very sturdy plastic serving dishes that we re-cycle for all kinds of stuff: salads, paints, glue and the obligatory what not....It is a spendy place, but I have gone there for lunch to plot all sorts of political intrigues and always found it very very comfortable and a good eat.
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Great coffee, decent food, semi-okay wifi. Huge windows (open in warmer weather), and dark downstairs over-flow seating. No power outlets upstairs. Quirky waitresses. Beer and wine when the sun goes down.
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Pretty much the ideal place for a quick coffee or yummy bagel sandwich or a table to mull over the New York Times or study for your chemistry final on a lazy sunday morning. I ended up here after a night of debauchery (or something...) on the Lower East Side, and it was exactly what I was looking for the morning after. I had a chicken-salad sandwich on a bagel and an enormous iced coffee. Yum.
The staff could not have been friendlier and the day could not have been lovelier. Apparently they have free wi-fi too, so should I find myself down here often (here's hoping!), this may be my little LES haven.
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Really really good curry chicken salad, iced coffee, sweets. Good people.
They also cater, which is very very great if you need to organize nice lunches for a meeting.
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I wish I had a place like this in my neighborhood. Great little coffee shop... and perfect for meeting up with a friend before your fabby dinner at some trendy LES restaurant.
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I'm a fan. Thank you yelp for introducing me to yet another awesome place. really great coffee and I had chicken salad on whole wheat bagel, so yummy! blueberry muffin - eh - it's ok, but sandwich and coffee made up for it. interior is cool, wish i had more time to stay, next time I'll hang in for a bit and try the wifi.
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great venue for a get together (tea and games). coffee ice cubes are brilliant. and owned by females (yelp is full of factoids)? awesome.
They pour a mean espresso here, and it's a nice place to stop in for dessert. You and your date can get cozy in the basement, provided you can get a seat down there. They also serve beer or wine if you're so inclined.
Indeed, one of my favorite things to do in the Summer is to bike across the WIlliamsburg Bridge, park outside, and cool off downstairs with some wine, one of their sandwiches, and a casual game of scrabble.
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Great place to grab a bite when you don't mind splurging. The prices are a bit high but the food and the coffee/espresso is excellent. They make a mean Soy Latte, which is what I always get. The portions are small for the food, so don't plan on getting a large amount for your money (Sandwiches can be like $8). Good location for people watching, but admittedly feels a bit pretentious. Definitely vacillates between a hipster/yuppie vibe...but I enjoy bringing a book and reading there on a nice day anyway. The staff is really nice as well. Also, though I've never personally brought my laptop, I'm pretty sure there's free wi-fi available.
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I love any coffee place that will lure my man away from his evil Starbucks addiction. This one does the trick with yummy strong mocha and appropriately simple snacks. The seating is a little bit cold and hard and the service isn't exactly with a smile, but the quality of the eatables and drinkables is worth it. Quality(Coffee + Food) = love.
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Good breakfast spot south of Delancey, with a wide variety of options for a coffee shop. I am a big fan of the herb omelette sandwich. Though there is not much room in the main seating area, there is a downstairs with more seating and fun boardgames. Nothing like a little scrabble the kickoff your Sunday morning.
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I am sitting here as I speak. Mmm, freshly squeezed orange juice. The veggie croissant is ok (though the wait was soooo long)... and I don't know if it is supposed to look like it got run over by a car... Very comfortable space, earthy, open atmosphere on the corner of Orchard and Broome. Wooden tables and chairs, hardwood floors, long low counter where you order. The large windows open in warmer weather. And free wi-fi! So good, so good.
Edit: Also check out the downstairs-- nice seating and a decent clean (gasp) bathroom.
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The selection of food at this coffee shop was very good and the reason why I give it 4, and not 3. I would also still probably come back here if I ever find myself on the LES sober and during the day (like that will ever happen). Didn't think the coffee was great, and the place is tiny. Also, for whatever reason, my laptop couldn't connect, but that is my laptop's fault, not 88 Orchard's.
As I knew from the reviews below, there were no outlets upstairs. I had figured that I would be able to do some work downstairs, but that is pretty tiny too, and there were already two groups down there. As I mentioned before, they have a great food selection, and I really loved my ham and cheese croissant. Pretty easily made, but darn tasty.
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I love coffee shops like this one. It's right on the corner of Orchard & Broome, so has plenty of light during the day to do some reading. (At night, though, the mood lighting makes reading near impossible). There's coffee, sweets and sandwiches/salads to feed your every need.
There's also free wifi to get a bit of work done while you sip & nibble away. There's no juice though, so you can only surf til your battery dies. Otherwise, I would have been there all day doing work. There's also a downstairs area which is small and a bit cold, but you can find outlets down there.
People seem to know each other pretty well both in front of & behind the counter. It's definitely a friendly neighborhood coffee shop, of which there's an increasing dearth in NYC. I love it and will be back soon!
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My favorite cafe ever. I love getting a ridiculously huge mug of black coffee and sitting downstairs playing Scrabble.
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A good (if somewhat expensive) option for a quick lunch and/or cup of coffee. Great location right on the corner, with big panel windows that open for warm days. It's small, but there's a basement (no windows) for when the storefront fills up. The free wifi makes it linger-friendly in theory, but it feels like more of a eat-and-be-done-with-it place. It's certainly not one of those cafes where you walk in any everyone is silent, face aglow, huddled over their laptop. I felt a little conspicuous with mine.
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Its the cafe that blows kisses to the Lower East Side Tenement Museum. Since she arrived, Broome street really hasnt been the same. Great coffee, eats, muffins, cookies, bread from your favoite bakeries, and free wifi. They also seem to hire the nicest people on the planet.
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Everything I've tried so far is superb and I am glad to have just discovered this lil' gem of a place. Besides the obvious staples that a good coffee shop must possess (like good coffee with staff that knows how to actually prepare the coffee) it has other perks as well, the main one being good strong free wifi & a downstairs space to occupy with wood benches to sit amongst an array of cushy pillows.
The coffee is nice and strong and the food, from what I gather is all made in house and is tasty quality eatin'. I've had a spinach salad that was a special of the day and now I crave it, though to no avail... it had grilled chicken breast (made to order,) sliced along with blanched slivered almonds, dried cranberries, and some lil' tangerine slices. the dressing was balsamic and vinegar, my personal fav (or maybe i requested this) ... perfect portion size and not a single leaf of spinach was left uneaten.
another time i had a pressed panini. the turkey Reuben. again fresh, simple, made to order, and delicious. with a pickle. and i had butternut squash soup. vegan blended thick and nicely spiced served with a hearty fresh slice of wholegrainynutty bread sliced on the diag. perfect accompaniment to the sammich that i split with my chum.
So far, so good.
The staff is nice and friendly, too.
*edited to add fifth star*
m*
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At first it looked really tiny - i didn't realize there's a basement space till i got up looking for a power source. The basement is cool kinda secluded - but if u get a noisy group it gets stuffy. I tried their mozzarella pressed sandwich, was awesome! highly recommend.
I have to say 'Grounded' in west village has the best coffee in town.
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good delivery, awesome bagels, chai and fresh OJ.
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