Cafecito
185 Avenue C
(between 11th St & 12th St)
New York, NY 10009 (212) 253-9966
- Price Range: $$
- Accepts Credit Cards: No
- Parking: Street
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: No
- Good for Kids: No
- Delivers: Yes
- Take-out: Yes
- Waiter Service: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: No
- Good for: Dinner
45 Reviews for Cafecito
By far the BEST Cuban food I've had in my life (not that i've eaten much cuban food, but still.) I went with my cuban friend, who said it was authentic, although places like this are apparently a dime a dozen in Miami (and cheaper). Still, the food was so delicious, I snarfed it down in mintues and wanted more. The north Ave C ambiance is not the best, but the sketchy characters hanging around there give you a sense of old school alphabet city. Go there with an appetite. Yum!!!!!
I liked Cafecito fine. Pleasant atmosphere, good prices, and ya know, steak. Not a damn thing wrong with skirt steak.
But the cuban sandwich was boring and inauthentic, with a pathetic meat-to-bread ratio and maybe one lonely pickle. The dominant flavor of a cuban sandwich should definitely not be mayonnaise. Ewww.
For the love of god, what do I need to do to get a really good cuban sandwich? This is not a rhetorical question. I'm taking suggestions. Lead me to the cuban sandwich of my dreams and I will yelp-stalk you forever, complimenting you and your endlessly useful/funny/cool reviews.
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I came here on a date and must say it was a pleasant surprise. Walking through the brick-arched wall we entered the *small* dining area - it was dimly lit with Cuban mambo playing on the speakers.
We started with a pitcher of sangria -- it had the perfect amount of fresh cut apples, oranges and pears to accompany the mellow, not too sweet red sangria.
For food, we started with chicken empandas -- perfectly cooked, shredded chicken breast was inside the tasty empanada!
The conversation with my date was enthralling and flirty. By the last glass of sangria, she reached over and kissed me!
-moments of obvious PDA later-
Our entrees arrived, she had the Churrasco steak, while I opted for the Chicken breast with rice & beans and plaintains. Very authentic, very delicious! I fed her with my fork and she made the most sexy expressions!
After we finished our meal, and a second pitcher of sangria, we had the tres leches for dessert. The sponge cake wasn't as moist as other tres leches I've had at other latin restaurants -- but my date didn't seem to mind -- again she made those faces when I fed her with my spoon.
--more kissing and hand flirting--
Then she whispers in my ear that she wants to continue the mambo experience elsewhere......**CHECK PLEASE**
Gracias Cafecito for providing the right ambience and venue for a very **lucky** night!
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The place is small and packed in together, and the service was okay. But the food is worth it. I had the Churrasco skirt steak with chimichurri and it was just fantastic. The steak was cooked to the right temperature and was tender and not chewy at all. Well seasoned that you could eat the steak without anything else. Loved the rice and beans as well. I ate everything on my plate.
I couldn't believe how cheap it was either. To get good quality food like that at low prices is unusual here. I had to ask myself if I was still in the city. Only wish it wasn't so far east, otherwise I would be a regular.
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Have intended to try this neighborhood joint for the longest time and finally ate here last night. When i came in around 8pm, it was packed. The guy behind the counter told me its a 15 min wait. I waited approx 15mins or less. There were a few barstools to wait and have a drink if you wanted. And a bench. This is my ideal spot. Quaint, relaxing, and inexpensive. My aunt said the place made her feel like she wasn't in NYC. There were basically only 2 servers. The guy behind the bar who was making the drinks and bringing the food and the girl (who btw looked like kate beckinsale) taking orders and serving food. As busy as they were, everything came in a timely manner!! The place was so small so she always passed by and all i had to do was glance her way if i needed something. I hate other places where i feel like i have to wave them down. I got the Churassco and my aunt had the Ropa Vieja. Mine came with chimichurri sauce, lime cured onions, served wtih yellow rice, black beans, and plantains. REALLY GOOD. i know i wanna go back to that spot. Half a carafe of Sangria got us a little nice and went perfect with our dinner. Credit to the 2 people that ran that place. And also to the chef. Fast and friendly in such a busy atmosphere. Excellent service.
btw, cash only.
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update: came for a second time with a party of 6. exceptional service again. we all ordered something diff and everyone loved their food. i think the favorites were the churassco, ropa vieja and the pollo empanizado. no homo, but the waitresses were really pretty
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Love this place..the steamy, unpretentious summer vibe, strong and sweet mojitos, great music and fun crowd. And on top of that, the very reasonably priced food (entrees $12-15) is delicious. The standout is the char-grilled Churrasco steak, medium rare with chimichurri sauce and the perfectly moist chilean sea bass special. For desert, cafe con leche is almost as it should be- strong, rich and with a help of 2 or 3 sugars, enticingly sweet.
Cafecito is an inviting, warm and casual little restaurant on Avenue C that delivers tasty Cuban food for a fair price.
When date and I arrived last Saturday night for a late dinner, the place was packed but we were greeted at the door with a smile and led to a great table. While our waitress wasn't overly friendly, she got the job done.
We skipped apps and went straight for the main courses -- churrasco steak (a nice cut of skirt skirt served with rice, beans and tasty fried plaintains) and the fish of the day (striped bass served with rice, platanos and a white garlicky sauce). Both meals were delicious.
My only qualm is the cash-only policy -- man that really bugs me but what can you do?
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I'm surprised at how expensive Avenue C is. I kind of expected it overall to be cheaper than other areas that are easier to get to. But then again, I can see how it can have a hip factor that warrants a higher price.
I had the Cubano sandwich here. Following a friend's advice*, I usually try to compare Cubano sandwiches the first time I try out any Cuban joint, to provide a basis of comparison for them all.
So, how was the sandwich? Well, it was pretty good, probably the best I've had in the three or Cuban joints in the area that I've been to (the other two are Cafe Cortadito http://www.yelp.com/bi... and Bodeguita Cubano http://www.yelp.com/bi...). The perfectly toasted Cubano was appropriately packed with juicy ham and pork, and the melted swiss made it difficult to separate each bite, as I tried to bite off the stretchey portion while at the same time tried to suck in my drool.
However, it was expensive, around ten dollars, AND it didn't come with fries. I hate it when sandwiches don't come with fries. To me, it's just a sign of cheapness and no class when a sandwich dish doesn't come with a side.
Other than the food, the place itself was cute - a diner-like bar area near the entrance that leads to a dark loungey area in the back. This could make a nice place for groups, but I'm not sure if I'd want to go back again, unless someone else suggested it.
*Apparently it was Arthur O. that inspired me on this
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The setting: East Village on a Saturday afternoon in the dead of winter.
The cast: Two hungry 20-something students in search of delicious, cheap, and filling fare.
The solution: Head over to Cafecito, a supposedly cozy little Cuban restaurant a few streets down for a quick bite.
The results: Awesome. First of all, once you walk through the brick archway and into the restaurant portion of Cafecito (vs. the bar area) you're leaving NYC for a much warmer, more inviting climate. I was seriously loathe to leave the comforts of my warm little booth once we were done eating.
As for the menu - it's a decent size with extremely affordable sandwich options ... both of us got the Cubano sandwich and we were not disappointed. The portions, flavor, and speed to the table were just about right.
The only thing I can possibly gripe about is the CASH ONLY policy. Seriously, I'm not sure how this can even be an option in a city where even the taxis take plastic.
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Usually when a place has 35 generally positive reviews on Yelp and you don't have reservations - you're gonna wait - luckily that wasn't the case on a Thursday night...sweet!
I'm a big fan of Cuban - and Cafecito was the best I've had in NY. The Chicken Cafecito was very good and spiced well but I think if I went back I would need to get the Churrasco with the Chimichurri sauce - from the small amount I got from stealing off my table-mates - it was damn good.
The service was a little flaky but good.
What a fun place with great food. Love coming to this place everytime I'm in New York. Fun vibe and atmosphere with great food and you don't feel like you're stuck in mid-town, which your'e not.
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We had a party of 6 and was seated in the perfect area to have great laughs and being close to the bathroom was a plus.
Gosh I didn't know half the stuff my friends ordered, but I remember it was very good and a lot of Fried FOOD.
BUT a must have is the flourless chocolate cake!! and their coffee with milk. Can't remember what they call it, but it wasn't just COFFEE please. :)
There will be a wait, so drink up at the separated bar area, Mojitos are yummy and the sangrias, I've had better in SF.
Amazing!!!
Just thinking of Cafecito gets my mouth watering...I am dying to go back already! This teeny tiny restaurant over in Alphabet City serves the best chicken dishes I have ever tasted. The entrees can be as simple as Pollo Empanizado, which is breaded chicken with yellow rice and red beans (and is my favorite dish), or you can order something far more exotic and elaborate such as the Picadillo, which is a beef dish with olive capers, tomatoes, and raisins served over plantains and white rice.
YUM!
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Based on reviews off Yelp, my bf and I went here when we were in NY recently and craving Cuban food. We were not disappointed. My boyfriend is Cuban-American and from Miami, and both of us have spent extensive time there and have had plenty of authentic Cuban food. One of the most disappointing things about living in Boston has been the complete lack of Cuban, or even Latin American, restaurants here, hence going to Cafecito when were in NY. The place is a hole-in-the-wall on Ave C, but the food is definitely worth the trip. We had the papas rellenas (potatoes stuffed with picadillos/ground meat) as a starter, and then we both had the bistec empanizado (breaded steak), our favorite cuban dish, which of course came with black beans and rice and tostones (plantain). The food really rivaled the best places in Miami and it was CHEAP (at least, cheap for new york). Now if only we could move to the city...
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It was my first time eating Cuban food and I loved it. It was really good, and inexpensive. The place was nice and small and quite cozy if you sit by the window.
My sister and I got a dessert to share, which was quite delicious until I almost bit into a piece of metal. Yeah that was not cool and we told the waitress and so she took it away. We thought she was going to come back and give us a new one but she didnt! We didnt even finish the one we had and she took it away and we had to pay full price for it. That was quite unsatisfying, and seriously because of that incident i dont think i will be going back.
This doesn't quite live up to the hype but it's still solid Cuban food. It's a smallish place (hence the suffix) but there were several open tables on a weeknight.
Split a Saborcito de Cuba (mixed app plate) with my dining companion and found it to just be okay. I liked the Empanada and Croqueta de Jamon better than the Shrimp Fritter.
I went with the Masitas De Pureco which were three chunks of fried pork that was served over a corn/sweet potato medley. I liked it but it really could've used an accompanying sauce.
I tried my companion's Ropa Vieja and it was just good but I've had better. I did like the tostones with creamy garlic dipping sauce.
The mojito tasted sweeter than most I've had - it could've used less sugar or more mint. The Cuban Punch I had was so-so.
The location is definitely not a plus. Avenue C. Jeez louise. I think this location is farther east than Havana.
If you like Cuban food (like me), you'll enjoy your meal. But don't set your expectations too high.
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Vaca Frita! Holy, mannnnnn! Good Lord! Everything about this dish was perfect. Everything. I would eat this everyday. I love this place. I order delivery a lot from here as well. One of Ave C's little gems!
Turns out that NYC doesn't have great Cuban restaurants (except for Son Cubano and Cafe Habana)... I've tried a bunch by now and I haven't been all that impressed. And I'll have to include Cafecito in the non-impressive / mediocre bunch. I wish I could write a glowing review (or an all-out diss / rant) since this is my big 200th yelp... but I'll keep it real and tell it as I see/ taste it.
We started with a combo appetizer plate that included the usual... empanada, croquetas, and shrimp fritters. All were pretty good but a bit overly deep-fried... I recall tasting more batter than anything else. For the main dish, I stuck to the traditional Ropa Vieja, which was solid. I enjoyed this the best out of everything I had that night... pretty flavorful tender skirt steak pieces with roasted peppers. I had some of my friend's pork dish... pretty good but I doubt I would've enjoyed a whole plate of this since it was a bit on the dry side.
Located way out yonder on Ave C, Cafecito is a cute, quaint restaurant with a casual / comfy vibe. If I had a serious craving for Cuban food, I'd probably go back there. It's cheap, filling, and most of the food was solid. But would I recommend that somebody trek all the way out east just for Cafecito? Unfortunately not. My quest for really good Cuban food in the city continues....
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I like the lively atmosphere created by the small space. It was a fun place to dine at on a Friday night, even though we had to wait a bit. Excellent appetizers and entrees. I had the chicken...something or other. I'm sure the other entrees are just as tasty. But the mojitos were not very good. Maybe it was an off night...
I would like to go back and revisit the food. I had the fish sandwich which was tasty but not particularly memorable. The margarita and mojito were too sweet for me. What's cool about this place is the vibe and outdoor counter space where you can order your food to go, including your margarita. How awesome is that?
As someone who's grown up eating Cuban food (I have Cuban family) I have to say that this is one of the best places in New York for Cuban cuisine. In fact I'd rate it second to Victor's Cafe, but since Victor's averages $85 a head and Cafecito is around $15 I'll take Cafecito anyday. The breaded skirt steak w/ chimicurry and Ropa Vieja are my favorite dishes and the Tostones are always crunchy and too delicious smothered in garlic sauce. And if you happen to be eating there during the daytime then ask for a Batido in a variety of fruit flavors. (They're Latin versions of smoothies)
As with many places in Manhattan space is a premium so this is not a good place for a large party but good for a handful of friends to enjoy near Little Havana quality of food North of the Mason Dixon line.
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Cafecito is great. The food is quite tasty and the atmosphere is comfortable.
I tried going there with a group, and called ahead to arrange a table for 8.
Silly me. I arrived and the waitress looked baffled. Even the man I spoke to, whom I confirmed twice with, wasn't helpful in the slightest.
However, the waitress did her level best to get it done, and it was good.
Go there with a small posse. Bring your appetite.
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It's probably the best Cuban food in New York (especially when you consider the cheap prices), but the best part of Cafecito is everything besides the food. The sangria is strong. The lighting makes everyone look great. The servers are sweet. The hours are great (they're open late). And did I mention the low prices? (They really are very low.) Troy the appetizer sampler and remember your cash, they don't take anything else.
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I can't believe that I hadn't already reviewed Cafecito--I just got finished e-mailing a friend to recommend this place, so now I'm v. much in the mood.
Everything I've sampled from their menu is delicious and inexpensive, especially Ropa Vieja and the Masitas De Puerco. Their sangria and mojitos are among the best I've ever had.
Yes it's tiny and far from all, but that gives it an allure of its own, and makes me feel like I'm in some small Caribbean town that has yet to be spoiled by tourists. And after those ubiquitous ''bahamma-vention" ads taunting us in the subway, what New Yorker couldn't use a little faux-getaway?
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Maybe this place was too hyped for me, but I wasn't all that impressed. We ordered the tasting appetizer platter and it seemed like it was just fried stuff. The Cubano was decent, but not the best ever and my boyfriend's steak was overcooked (well-done when he asked for rare). The drinks, however, were fantastic and that is what really saved the place. The price too, was a treat.
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Why did I only hear about this place the month before I left New York for the west coast? For YEARS, I've been looking for good Cuban food in the city that could match what I grew up with in Miami. Cafe con Leche was the standby because it was close to where I went to college, had a cute ambiance, was better than the Chinese/Cuban restaurants and pretty cheap, too. I found Sophie's after college, which was great homestyle Cuban with cafeteria-style service. But my heart still ached (and my stomache, too.) for the best of both worlds- a place that was cute and (dare i say it?) a little hipper with the quality of those great cafeterias.
Enter Cafecito. Out of the way, amazing amazing food, strong cafe cubano, friendly service. And not filled to the brim with gringos (but I went during a weekday lunch, so maybe it's different during evenings/weekends?).
Perfect spot, and you New Yorkers better appreciate it! The Cuban food in SD is non-existant, and it's tragic.
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The only bad thing I have to say about this place is its location, Avenue D is far! Well with that said, the food is phenomenal. I love the mini empanadas, croquettes and tostones. The stewed beef with rice and beans is to die far, so tender and moist. I tried the lime skirt steak and it was a bit tough, but despite that the majority of my visits have been splendid.
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I really liked their shrimp skewer salad: fresh avocado, tasty shrimp, garnished with papaya. My friends had sandwhiches and were full the rest of the day!
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YUM... and fun. This little Cuban joint is a favorite East Village spot among my friends. The sangria is sooooo good and the food is so flavorful albeit rich.
Haven't been to this place in a while, but used to go often when I lived around the corner. Good food, for good prices. Most entrees are around $10. I remember liking the skirt steak dish and the fried pork chunks with corn. They also have a nice, comfy neighborhoody vibe. Only downside is that the food takes a while to get to your table.
The Cuban sandwich is one of my all-time fav. sandwiches. It's not so filled with flavor that you have to stop once you're halfway through like a Viet sandwich. But it's also not as dull as a plain ham sandwich. It's got just the right amount of flavor that you'll gladly eat another one once you're done. You won't be able to, but you'd want to...and that is def. the mark of a good sandwich.
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churrasco & cafe con leche. order it. eat it. drink it. love it.
I recently went on a very nice date here, with a travelin' man who told me that the food he'd eaten in Cuba was nowhere near as tasty as the steaks we co-moaned over at Cafecito. I don't find this hard to believe considering how good the food and drinks are at this Alphabet City gem.
The flank steak with chimichurri sauce is a must for carnivores. The perfectly/barely cooked beef pairs unbelievably well with the tart, garlicky chimichurri sauce it comes with. Bring your appetite because in addition to a very large steak, you'll get delicious rice and beans with that... AND tostones with the delicious garlic cream sauce they come with. Mmmm, garlic.
Also: the mojitos here are quite addictive. Strong but crammed with fresh mint, they're sweet without being too sweet. A must.
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LOVE this place...
The only reason I can't give it 5 stars is because the service isn't always that great....and if it is busy--it's tight in there (really tiny--but they did expand it a bit a year or so ago)
But the food is amazingly good always and the price is awesome.
I love the chicken fried steak, the rice, the beans (black or red doesn't matter!), tostones, etc.
If you are in the mood for Cuban--you def have to check this place out.
It is one of my favorites.
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Cafecito is a trendy Cuban restaurant that just never did it for me. It's just a personal preference, I like my Cuban a little more down-home than this. And I'm probably resentful that on the weekends, Cafecito draws hordes of over-dressed overly madeup girls from Jersey, who otherwise wouldn't venture farther east than 1st Avenue. Bah humbug.
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Cafecito is incredibly charming. The staff is great and we bring all of our visiting friends there for dinner. I think i've had one good meal and the rest have been great. Pulled chicken and the skirt steak are awesome.
This place is amazing. It gets five stars even though the service is kind of slow, because it is worth it. MINI BURGERS!!! Get them! It is cheap too and really cute even if it is totally out of the way on Avenue C. Who goes there? Not me. It is worth it though; I can't reiterate enough how awesome this place is.
i came here yesterday with my lady friend because i was in love with the cuban/miami style seating outside on the sidewalk. we came for brunch and we both thought the food was delicious (i had the chicken salad with mango). the cuban toast is sooooooo good. as others have mentioned, the service isn't the most attentive but they are friendly for the most part. we enjoyed the food so much that we decided to stop by that night for dinner. now i would NEVER do such a thing, but i made the exception for cafecito since i had a feeling it'd be even better than the brunch. maaaaaaaaaan oh maaaaaaaaaan, the ceviche and the shrimp salad were practically orgasmic. unreal. did i even mention the mojito's? so good. oh so good. cafecito you're my favorite.
I have watched this place since it opened years ago, grow from a little local spot to something of a downtown phenomenon. I have had the little burgers, the rellenos de papa, cubano, ropa vieja, and fish sandwich.
Cafecito is a cute enough place, and I really shouldn't complain about the location - it's right around the corner from my house. Despite that, I find myself there very rarely. The food is quite good, actually, but I find that the service is quite lacking (as noted in other reviews). I have had meals there that while I was eating them, probably warranted returning. I just never do. Little by little, my neighbors that were loyal to the place have found themselves burned, either by the escalating prices or the management's favoritism towards the weekend rush over local regulars.
A terrific hidden spot. the Mini burgers were the best burgers I have ever had. My friend had the Steak sandwich. It came with potato sticks on them. The food was Sick! The wait staff was very good. they kept the pitchers of Sangria coming all night.
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