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A Cafe New York
Categories: Restaurants French Restaurants Cafes French, Cafes [Edit]
973 Columbus Ave(between 108th St & 107th St)
New York, NY 10025
Neighborhood: Manhattan Valley
(212) 222-2033
- Nearest Transit:
-
Cathedral Pkwy (110 St) (A, B, C)
103 St (A, B, C)
103 St (1)
- Hours:
Tue-Sat 6 pm - 11 pm
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Romantic, Intimate
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
119 reviews for A Cafe New York
Review Highlights
-
"...for the grilled hass avocado and the roast duck leg confit." In 7 reviews -
"The $20 prix fixe is a great value." In 37 reviews -
"And don't forget it is BYOB with no corkage fee." In 7 reviews
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119 reviews in English
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Review from Katie C.
Brooklyn, NY
3/4/2012
This restaurant was fantastic and I loved it, but you should be informed about how it certain aspects that you may or may not like. Do not go here if you are in a hurry because it will take 1:30-2 hours for you to get your food and finish eating because there is only one cook and one waiter. The waiter is also the owner and he is a perfectionist. It is best to get a reservation because it is the first question that he will ask you, even though there are plenty of seats, is if you have one. If you say no, he looks kind of annoyed. Also, it is BYOB and there is a liquor store right down the street. There is no corkage fee either.
Now for the good stuff. The prix fixe menu is the way to go. Appetizer and entree for only $25. The menu was short but each item has a unique combination of flavors that are combined into an absolutely delicious dish. I got the roasted avocado and the wild mushroom ragout. I've never had a roasted avocado, but it was really good, especially when I dipped it in the sweet dressing that was served with it. The ragout was exquisite, the taste of truffle oil exuding through every bite. I definitely want to go back and try the portabella wellington...and the pear appetizer...and pick up a bottle of wine on the way...already got it all planned out. :) -
Review from Ida C.
5/14/2012 1 Check-in Here
We had a wonderfully romantic (and probably calorically extravagant) meal last Saturday at A Café. Despite being named for the A-train, the restaurant boasts a decidedly relaxed ambiance with dim lighting and mouth-watering aromas wafting from the small kitchen area.
When we arrived at 9p, we were warmly greeted and offered the last table in the back by the kitchen, one of the largest 2-tops on offer. Our bottle of sparkling (procured down the street at Whole Foods wine shop) was efficiently whisked away, popped, and returned in a cooler wrap along with wine glasses and water. Happily, we sipped our bubbly while agonizing over the extremely seductive menu. It was probably the best BYOB service I've EVER had!
We finally managed to make our decisions after we found out that the shrimp was finished for the evening:
1. Baked Scottish Pheasant pate ($12) - introduced by our waiter as the most popular appetizer on the menu, we were quick to order it, and given the preparation with truffle oil, cognac and a creamy brie crust, we had absolutely no regrets. It was amazingly rich and delicious and perfect on the accompanying French bread
2. Broiled Bourgogne Escargots ($12) - this was an interesting twist on the traditional escargots dish. The cilantro chili butter almost resembles a cilantro-rich Indian saag and it worked well with the earthy and tender escargots. I was happy to soak up the extra butter with the bread
3. Roast Duck Leg Confit ($20) - widely touted as the best entrée in the house, we were quite impressed with this fork tender duck. The skin was balanced with a slight crisp and becoming (but far from overwhelming) fattiness. The sauce was citrusy with a subtle kick of jerk spices. Truly a refined taste of the islands!
4. Portobello Wellington ($18) - this ball shaped pastry was chock full of veggies with a Portobello mushroom gravy on the side. It was well presented but perhaps a bit heavy on mashed broccoli inside the pastry for my taste. I would have preferred a lot more mushrooms in the filling
5. Tarte aux Pommes ($8) - home-made medium sized apple tarte with thin sliced apples arranged beautifully on top, perfect sharing size for 2! We liked that it wasn't too heavy, just a nice, sweet finish
Overall, we loved our experience at A Café and it was well worth the trek uptown!
PARTING THOUGHT: We'll be returning, perhaps for the $25 Prix Fixe from 6p-8p one of these nights!Listed in: Seduce, reuse, recycle
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Review from Tiffany P.
Manhattan, NY
4/19/2012
The boyfriend and I headed here for an Easter dinner based solely on the fact that we wanted to eat rabbit or duck for dinner. This place offers both and did not disappoint. It has a cool vibe, is low lit and is good for conversation.
A Cafe is BYOB and doesn't have a corking fee, which right off the bat I thought was pretty boss. We made a reservation and when we got there, as small as the place was, found we didn't need one (not sure if it was because it was Easter Sunday or if it is generally not very packed). At our candle lit table near the front of the tiny restaurant we could see all the way to the back nook being used as a kitchen that only had one man working it. Other than the chef, there was only one waiter.
Though we came because of certain specific items on the menu we had a little bit of a struggle once we were sitting with it because everything on the menu sounded delicious and every dish had something a little intriguing about it. We, of course, ended up ordering what we came for. Our food took a bit longer than I generally might have liked, but I was I was in good company and didn't mind. The rabbit sausage in a carrot, ginger & cashew purée was delicious. It had a bit of spice which I generally try to stay away from but eaten with the bread I worked through it, because it was totally worth it. The duck, though, oh the duck. It was falling off the bone perfection and the jerk spices with hints of citrus complimented it exactly right.
For dessert we split a creme brulee, and I said there at the table I would go back just for the creme brulee. I loved it. -
Review from Doreen L.
4/9/2012
A Cafe is a self proclaimed French Caribbean restaurant started in 2001, only at its current location for 4 years. It was as if someone took a look at 5 guys and said, "Five guys! I can run a place with one!"
And that one man is owner, chef, waiter, host and dishwasher in this cozy 30 person cafe. On the weekends, there might be (gasp!) two people working!
Yes- there is a Ikea divider separating the kitchen from the dining room and yes- at most the chef has several ovens and a broiler to work with but come on! You have to give the man props for running at least a four to 5 person job completely without help!
Despite the lack of staff and the longer wait, the food was sufficient, rich and unique.
Locals come here regularly and you might even find New Yorkers grimace and smile when told there will be a 1-2 hour wait. (Also why I highly recommend you make a reservation).
We ordered escargots with cilantro-chili butter, rabbit sausages with carrot puree and gulf shrimp saute. The rabbit sausage was a spiced roasted blend of cumin, paprika, and coriander; nestled amongst buttery mashed potatoes and cream based carrot sauce. Certainly my favorite amongst the two entrees but halfway through, I found myself satiated on the cream and butter, so I began picking off my partner's plate. -
Review from Shawna L.
Manhattan, NY
5/18/2012
For those of you who hate vegetables, you have found a match.
The menu items are so rich and flavorful, and for the most part delicious - but there literally is not a single thing on the menu you can order to cut the fat.
Part of what makes French food French food is the balance and often delicacy of flavors pairing together. That's why pates are normally served with acidic fruit jams or frisee salads to put on the toast. That's why even decadent meat dishes will have some side vegetable component to balance the unctuousness of butter and oil and fat.
We ordered the chicken liver pate, the escargots, duck confit, and rabbit sausage. All but the latter were quite good; but my palate was so bogged down with cream and heavy sauces that honestly the flavors kind of melded together by about the middle of the meal. Had there been a salad or even side veggie offering, I think I could have made the balance work and had a near five star meal. But I really have to take two stars off for that; however they gain one back for being BYOB which is always awesome and appreciated. -
Review from Katie M.
Manhattan, NY
5/18/2012
I spent 4 years living on the UWS while in college, and went to this restaurant for birthdays, dates, and other special occasions. Years later, I still find myself coming back time and time again because this restaurant is perfect.
By "perfect", I mean the following:
1) FOOD - absolutely freaking delicious. I can say that I've tried just about everything on the menu, and everything is rich and full of flavor. I'm a vegetarian now, but my mouth almost exploded when I tasted the duck for the first time. It was so crispy and tender, I didn't see it coming!! And it practically goes without saying that the baked pear and avocado appetizers are some of the most unique and tasty apps i've ever had.
2) AMBIANCE - when it's 0 degrees or 80 degrees outside, walking into this place gives you an instant warm feeling, in an amazing way. I love the small space, wooden tables, and dark curtains/paintings/decor. Great date spot in that regard.
3) SERVICE - like others have noted, there's usually only 1 waiter here, so make sure you bring a date you actually like talking to because it will take time for you to order, get your food, and enjoy your meal. That being said, the staff are wonderful and it is definitely not a negative aspect of eating here - it's part of the experience.
4) Lastly, BYOB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That really should have been right after #1 -
Review from Celeste M.
Miami, FL
5/16/2012
Look forward to dining here everytime we're in nyc! Our favs: pheasant pate and seitan meatloaf!
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Review from Michael T.
New York, NY
4/15/2012
Terrific food and good eats!
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Review from Stephen L.
New York, NY
11/14/2011 1 Check-in Here
A Cafe is the best restaurant in the Manhattan Valley area. In a wasteland of dive bars and cheap latin food, this French Caribbean bistro really shines. When you discover the menu is prepared almost entirely with convection ovens you are even more impressed.
It's a tiny place with just a few tables, one chef, and one server (the owner). It's best to make a reservation if you're more than 2 people.
And don't forget it is BYOB with no corkage fee. If you bring white wine or beer they'll even keep it chilled for you in a mini-fridge under the cash register.
The menu is pretty simple - a single page of a half dozen starters and a half dozen mains. Highlights are:
Starters
Country Pate. This is the no-doubt star of the entire menu - a chopped goose pate baked in a ramekin with a cheese crust. Absolutely delicious. One of those flavors I crave when I think about my last meal there.
Escargot. Savory snails. Very nicely seasoned. They've been shelled so you don't have anything left to do, but eat them.
Mains
Duck confit. Delicious.
Shrimp Curry. Big prawns sauteed in a sweet Caribbean curry over a very nice rice.
Portobello Wellington. Beef Wellington, but with portobello instead. Very tasty.
Every time I go back I'm not disappointed. Definitely worth the trip and if you live in the neighborhood you owe it to yourself to try. -
Review from Sal S.
Manhattan, NY
12/24/2011
So I'm not exactly sure how the story goes but this place is somehow a sister/cousin restaurant to Ivo & Lulu which is in west village. From what I was told from the owner/operator at A Cafe (I think his name is Al?), apparently they were both once started and owned by the same person and eventually broke apart. Either way, A Cafe and Ivo & Lulu have remained very similar in terms of menu and feel.
Anyhow, back to A Cafe. In terms of food, it is French-Caribbean fusion which makes for an amazing blend of flavors blended with outstanding ingredients. The menu is limited, but this is okay considering they have perfected the select items which are served. Considering the short menu, I highly recommend going back multiple times to try all the various dishes at least once. Between the short menu and the pre-fixe deal offered it shouldn't be terribly difficult to try everything.
Some notables are the pear with roquefort, shrimp curry, and the duck confit.
In terms of layout...the restaurant is quite small but still maintains a warm cozy-feel about it. You should definitely make reservations if you're going during peak times, particularly if you have a group of 3 or more.
To note: It's cash-only. Also, it's BYOB with no corkage fee so don't forget to make a stop somewhere before hand. -
Review from Niki C.
Queens, NY
1/8/2012 8 photos
Ever had French Cuisine? For most who think of French cuisine they think small portions and expensive meal. Well, this is place far from being any French cuisine and expensive. Its' French-Carribean style is very unique. The food is amazing and atmosphere is casual and intimate. I went there with my colleagues from work. My dearest colleague wanted to take us there to experience a very different type of cuisine and style. I must say I was blown away by this place.
This establishment is not huge and there isn't a bunch of waiters and busboys. It is very simple place to wine and dine. Three guys work there, who are awesome. Al, who waits on the customers and keeps them satisfy is an amazing person. The chef is just as amazing with his unique style in cooking. Want to know? You gotta go there to see it for yourself. I am hardly the type of person to even write any reviews. However, this place really amazed me at how it special this place is.
The food portion might not be something like Carmine's family style. But, the food is rich and filling. The dishes we had ordered is an absolute must to brag about. This place you can bring your own wine and the prix fix menu is seriously an awesome deal! Which is served usually daily from 6:00PM to 8:00PM. Reservations is advised. Again, this place is not huge. I can say the majority of the time we were there, people had reservations when coming in.
I highly recommend this place for those who want to try out a different cuisine. -
Review from Stephanie C.
New York, NY
10/1/2011 1 Check-in Here
I can't believe I haven't reviewed this yet! Last night was my second adventure up to the Manhattan Valley for this decadent French Caribbean BYO spot. I came here once a year plus ago with a big group of foodies.. and I think last night was honestly better. The menu changed slightly- I can't say A Cafe offers too much variety, but the key thing is that it's consistently good, and they know the few things they put on the menu can be executed well.
Let's first start off by the obvious: BYOB (which should be wine...cause it's A Cafe and Wine Room) with no corkage. The waiter opened us your wine ASAP and gets it a cooler... to chill (for whites). Last night, on Friday, the place was jammed packed with people- with most coming in after 8... I would say, they still offer the pre frixe (2 course for $25) even after the specified hours of 6-8pm. I saw people still getting the pre frixe menu after 8. That's nice. You need to make a reservation though because the place is small (10 tables maybe) and gets filled up fast. My bf and I came here at 7:30 and it was just getting started...
The service was good- the one guy was nice. But considering there's just one guy, you can expect dinner to take a while. Long while. It's not his fault- so you have to take it with a grain of salt. Even if you tip him the minimum, he'll still go plenty to go around. He works hard for having the whole place to himself. There's only one cook too- amazing considering the quality of food. Even more amazing, as it's been said because there is ZERO kitchen here- just a little corner with maybe a bunsen burner and oven (legit!). The room is nice for how small it is...
The ambiance is great too; a little out of place in a very deserted, gentrifying neighborhood. But overall, good for intimate group gatherings (no more than 4) and dates.
ONTO THE FOOD, which is awesome. My bf and I got the 2 course pre frixe. If you don't like French food, you might be limited with options- which means, yes they have rabbit and escargot. I have not yet tried any of these. I can't remember what I got last time. This time, I went with the haas avocado with mushroom terrine- I'm not sure what that was but it was good. The best part was straight up the grilled avocado- so flavorful thanks to the grilling. I even ate the skin! It was crispy.
My bf got the baked pear with gorgonzola- there's lots of that so you need to like that cheese to enjoy this. He said he preferred his pear over my avocado. My memory is coming back to me..I think I got the pate last night. I prefer both the pear and avocado over the livers.
This time around, I ordered the roast duck as my entree. It might have been possible I got this the last time. I must admit there is not a lot for meat eaters here- only duck, and chicken breast (boring). There is, though, a LOT for vegetarians, which is nice- seitan meatloaf, mushroom dish, and portobello wellington..which my bf ordered. Get to this in a bit. I think a lot of the stuff here is organic too- no doubt they use high quality ingredients.
The duck is melt in your mouth goodness- soft, on the inside and perfectly crispy on the outside. Even better is the excellent sauce- citrus and good. Good cous cous too, when mixed with the sauce, becomes curry like. Pretty French-Carrib. Other dishes, even have an Asian twist (I think my avocado had a sesame/shittake dressing).
My bf got the portobello wellington; I don't even think that if you were a meat lover, and fan of beef wellington that you'd miss the meat. I think this is a newer dish- the gravy around it is beef. But the puff pastry is done to perfection and the filling is so goody and good. Portion size across dishes is satisfying, even though it might not look it.
They give you bread on the side while you're waiting- french baguette with their own EVOO mix. Yummy for soping your sauce, too.
Def. worth the trip up once in a while- I'm recommending it to all my friends. -
Review from Brett D.
New York, NY
2/15/2012
My wife and I went to A Cafe with a Groupon and left happy. The service was great (which is typical when the owner is the server). Food was very good French fusion food. We loved our appetizers and argued over whose was better (I got the escargot with sop-it-up yummy cilantro-chili butter sauce, and my wife got the grilled avocado). We tried to be daring with the entrees and were a little disappointed after having had such great appetizers. We got the seitan meatloaf, which couldn't avoid the fact that it was made with seitan (somehow I thought I'd finally like seitan, but I was wrong). The rabbit sausages were tasty but not as great as I had hoped. Overall a very nice night, topped off with a very nice red wine that we brought (BYOB makes it a much less expensive evening!)
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Review from Jess L.
8/14/2011 2 Check-ins Here
My friend and I came here for dinner last Friday, and we really enjoyed ourselves. The BYOB set-up alone is a selling point.
While the menu is small, everything sounded unique. The prices, while high for the neighborhood, were worth paying for the quality food that we received. We recommend the vegetarian meatloaf and the wild mushroom ragout.
The service got a bit spotty at the end, and it took forever to get our check and change. However, I wouldn't hesitate to come here again when looking for a good meal in the 'hood. The owner is very nice. -
Review from Sue P.
Bayonne, NJ
2/17/2012
Ah-may-zing !!!!! Took my husband there for his birthday :) just bring your own wine/beer. Food was soooo good, my hubby had rabbit sausage and I had the duck leg confi. Both highly recommended!!!! Yummmo cant wait to go back
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Review from Kelly E.
Manhattan, NY
3/3/2012 1 Check-in Here
They played easy listening music the whole night = perfect and so relaxing. Peasant pate, escargot. Portobella Wellington and the rabbit sausages = delectable! Hidden Gem!!
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Review from Jeannie H.
Bronx, NY
2/5/2012
Awesome food, awesome service, great date night place! BYOB makes it even better! Will def be back at this place. The grilled avocado and the poached pear app were to die for and the duck confit rocked the house. The owner is so sweet and caring!
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Review from Danny H.
Manhattan, NY
5/9/2011 1 Check-in Here
A tiny but incredibly delicious place to eat and it's BYOB!
I've been here twice, both times for birthdays, and it's always been a treat. I would go for the prix-fixe menu because the food is delicious! I had the: Baked d'anjou pear (scrumptous), Grilled Hass avocado (I don't know what a terrine is but it was SSSOOO good), Roast duck leg confit (it was perfect and tender in a savory citrus sauce). My mouth is watering just by writing this review!
The waiter was very nice, but service can be a little slow. There's just one tiny kitchen for the entire restaurant (which can house maybe 15 people at most).
All in all, I love this place! -
Review from Jennifer H.
New York, NY
11/4/2010
I spent $16 on a vegetarian meatloaf made on a bunsen burner.
And I thought the rain was going to be today's lowpoint.
We sat down immediately following a large table which, in a small restaurant like this, means there's going to be a delay. Ok. That happens. Such is life. But normally your waiter will apologize or let you know or at least bring the bread in a timely manner. Instead, we were essentially ignored in the hour (!!!) it took our entrees to arrive. And during the 20 minutes between us asking for the check and receiving it. The food was good, if small in portion size for the price, but I was willing to consider coming back if this crap waiter wasn't working.
Until I went to the bathroom. And walked by what I realized was the kitchen.
Their kitchen is a large toaster oven, a fridge and essentially a bunsen burner.
What. The. What.
Did I seriously spend $16 for something you reheated?! Suddenly the entree lag time makes total sense. And yet it is no less annoying.
Two stars because the food is decent, especially considering what they're working with. But I have no interest in paying somebody to treat me poorly while they reheat my food on chemistry class equipment. -
Review from Monique S.
New York, NY
11/4/2010 1 Check-in Here
A Bunsen burner and a microwave do not A Cafe make, or at least not one that can serve food.
What I thought would be an intimate, sort of unassuming and potentially lovely dinner with my two girlfriends, turned out to be a 2 hour long dinner punctuated by the barny smell of alfafa sprouts and the ambivalence of a delinquent server.
My wild mushrooom ragout should have been titled "boiled mushrooms and grass in gray bean soup ($15!!). The seitan meatloaf was underportioned ($16!!). To be fair, the pear-stuffed with roquefort was good, and the coconut milk shrimp, decent.
I believe in fusion foods, and I believe that had they had an actual kitchen and cook, they could have pulled it off...as it now stands D Cafe would be a more appropriate name. -
Review from Liz M.
Woodside, NY
3/28/2011
This place definitely deserves 5 stars. It's small, romantic, the food is great, and it is BYOB!!
It is very easy to miss if you are not looking for it, which I love. The place probably fits 25-30 people, but the way that it is set up it does not seem cramped at all. It wasn't packed when we went but I would make a reservation just in case. This is a great spot to take a date, or meet up with friends. There was a large group who seemed to be having their rehearsal dinner there when we went and they were having a blast. I will definitely keep this place in mind when I want to take family or friends out for dinner when they are up to visit.
The food is delicious. My date and I split the escargot and the pheasant pate as appetizers. He got the duck entree and I got the rabbit sausage. Everything was delicious, so it was definitely worth the trip (since I live in Queens). The service was great and, of course, it is BYOB! It's hard to find byob restaurants that serve food other than sushi, indian, or middle eastern so it makes A Cafe a rare find. We left tipsy and satisfied, ready to take on the rest of our night exploring the bars in the area. -
Review from alexandra p.
New York, NY
6/2/2011 1 Check-in Here
Cozy, quiet, friendly.
Consistently thoughtful and creative food. -
Review from Andy B.
San Francisco, CA
11/6/2011
It's small, but not crowded. You can BYOB with no corkage fee. They even bring you a cooler for whites. The prix fixe is a steal at $25. The baguette is fresh and refilled on request. The food is great and there are good vegetarian options. What's not to like?
To start, we had the grilled avocado and the baked pear and roquefort, which was simply delicious. I had the rabbit sausage, which was spicy and flavorful. My girlfriend enjoyed the portobello Wellington. BYOB was just the icing on the cake. -
Review from Billy C.
NJ
9/10/2009
I did my research on A Cafe on Yelp and their website just like most of the restaurants I go to. Lots of glowing reviews (4.5 stars average). But by now, I have learned to curb my enthusiasm and not expect too much.
Thursday evening, 7:30pm. Group of 22. This place is a bit bigger than I imagined from the reviews. Cozy ambiance. Service was very good. Bottles of water were never left empty for long. BYOB, no corkage fee, nice!
From 6pm-8pm, choice of appetizer and main for $20. Following the general consensus of reviews I ordered the Scottish pheasant pate, fennel, truffle oil, cognac and brie crust. Definitely to be eaten with bread as it is on the salty side. Reminded me of sausage as the taste of fennel over powered everything else but the brie crust. It was okay.
I also tried the baked d'anjou pear, roquefort, raw honey, balsamic vinaigrette. The balance between the sharp taste of the roquefort (sheep milk blue cheese) and sweetness of the pear could of been better I think as the roquefort was too overpowering.
For the main, I went with the Roast duck leg confit, jerk spices, peppercorns and citrus jus reduction. The skin was crispy, I liked that. The duck, although a bit dry was good. I did not like the citrus jus reduction as I found it to be too sweet, almost like dessert. Too rich. Would've liked to have more of the jerk spices flavor stand out.
So overall I found the place to be A-OK as there wasn't really anything memorable or at least nothing memorable enough for me to warrant a return visit. -
Review from Chris H.
9/20/2009
A Cafe is a lone bright spot in an otherwise desolate strip of nothingness in the UWS. Seriously, this area is the neighborhood that restaurants forgot.
At $20 and no corkage, their prix fixe dinner deal is unbeatable. It's cheaper than cooking at home, and is certainly worth the priced paid. Major points for the frugality and value for money.
The decor is eclectic to be charitable, and downright weird to be un-charitable. It's cozy enough, but I made a comment that the decor was reminiscent of my stoner friend's dorm room in college.
The menu, like the decor, is also eclectic, with some questionable items. An escargot starter with a garlic butter sauce, spiked with West Caribbean spices, had me sopping up every morsel of butter and snail juice with the complementary crusty rolls.
However, the scottish pheasant pate was more of a gratin and clumsily done. Baked pears seem more of a dessert than a starter, and the grilled avocado, while I didn't try them, did not look appealing. I couldn't fault my duck leg confit, but the accompanying cous cous seemed like an afterthought, and didn't bring much to the party.
To be fair, these guys are working under some serious restrictions. An open air kitchen shares space with the dining room, and is about the size of a broom closet. More impressively (or scarily), they lack a range, plancha or any flat cooking surface. They do all the cooking with a salamander and a few small ovens, which severely limits the type of execution that they can achieve. Unfortunately, this limitation resonates in their food, which is fairly clunky, heavy, and about as elegant as a NY Jet's Defensive lineman.
It's obviously popular with the locals, as the place was packed on a weekday evening. But would I travel all the way up to BFE UWS for some hot snail action? Probably not. -
Review from Mog C.
6/9/2008
My friend Jon suggested we try this for dinner a couple of weeks back. He'd never been but had heard good things. After checking out the website and finding out that they were related to Ivo & Lulu, I was curious to see what this place would be like.
The area is still gentrifying and it's weird b/c everything closes at 7pm. Ie: I was looking for a coffee place to hang out at while waiting for Jon and everything was closed. So I just went to the restaurant. The space is tiny and I passed by it a couple of times before retracing my steps and counting down the numbers until I found the small restaurant front. The restaurant layout consists of a very long and narrow space that goes far, far back. The kitchen seems to be tiny (it would actually fit into my studio apartment - though to be fair, there wouldn't be room for much else) and I wonder if there's not a downstairs or another room past the back door b/c if that's all there is to the kitchen, then the chef is beyond talented for being able to cook these dishes in that small of a space.
Anyways, there is a prix fixe menu until 8pm that includes the majority of the normal menu, except for a couple of dishes. Jon started with the grilled avocado for appetizers. I had the escargots. I'd heard the large table behind us moaning about how good the avocado was so I wasn't surprised when I took a bite. It was very good. And so, I was completely surprised when I took a bite of the escargots. The cilantro chili butter gives the dish the kind of kick that makes you wonder why it hasn't been done before. It's pure genius. Even Jon who is not an escargot person ended up eating half of my half dozen. So, round I: Avocado vs Escargots, escargots win.
Jon then had the merguez while I opted for the Duck Leg. Duck came on the bone with skin on. Skin was perfectly crispy with that gorgeous orange color only duck gets. The leg meat inside was tender enough to cut with a fork. I'm sure the merguez was good but the duck so blew my mind that I don't remember much else. Round II: Duck leg vs Merguez, duck wins.
This is BYOB and with the prix fixe menu at $20 for an appetizer and entre, you can't go wrong with this place, though I highly recommend spending a little more and trying some of the non-prix fixe menu items. At the end of the day, both Jon and I won since we got to eat all the yummy food. But, seriously, if you live within 30 blocks of this place, it's definitely worth checking out. -
Review from Aaron L.
3/1/2010
It's time to write a very serious review. You see, I do take my food very seriously; it's just that some restaurants don't take THEIR food very seriously. This isn't the case with A Cafe and Wine Room.
I have lived above this restaurant for almost two years and have visited it several times now. I can happily report that you can believe the hype.
While many Yelp patrons rave about their BYOB policy (yes, with no corkage fee) I must insist that they be reviewed on the merits of their food and service exclusively. After all, the last time I visited A Cafe, I brought a bottle of ginger ale. Yes, it complimented the food just fine.
I must warn that despite the supposed $20 Prix Fixe on the window menu, the actual Prix Fixe price is now $25. Also keep in mind that it is only in effect between the hours of 6pm and 8pm.
Despite that inconsistency, the food looks and tastes far more expensive than what you are paying. The baked d'anjou pear is among the most surprising appetizers you will find, but the moussee truflee and grilled avocado are equally delectable. The baked Scottish pheasant pate was a particular favorite of mine, though it doesn't leave much of a visual impression being served as if a casserole.
Again, it may not surprise you that my favorite main course is also the most expensive, being the roast duck leg confit. It is surprisingly refreshing, served with a citrus reduction and a tender orange slice with tender peppercorns that balance each other in a perfect harmony that must be tasted to believe. They don't mention it, but it is served with a portion of cous cous, which turns out to be the perfect side to soak up the leftover reduction.
Did I mention that this is all cooked in a kitchen the size of a Manhattan closet?
A Cafe is one of our great Manhattan Valley treasures, and locals need to take the time to experience it.Listed in: Best of Manhattan Valley
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Review from Jeff C.
2/10/2010
BYOB W/ NO CORKAGE? I'M SO THERE
From the hit restaurant Ivo & Lulu comes the follow up hit, A Cafe. I took 20ppl my Foodgasm meetup here for our monthly Mix & Mingle. Quite friendly and accomodating was the Manager. Warm and cozy was the ambiance. Everyone had a great time with good company, making new friends and enjoyed the food equally.
Ordered:
-Roast duck leg confit ($20) [with jerk spices in a citrus jus reduction] - melt in your mouth goodness, you may need 2 to get full though
They also offer a $25 Prix Fixe (6-8pm)
Choice of appetizer and main course
Total came out to $26 after everything -
Review from Ann L.
New York, NY
8/11/2010 1 Check-in Here
A Cafe and Wine Room is the restaurant equivalent of a studio apartment - no borders between the bedroom, dining area, and kitchen. The kitchen is literally sectioned off by small metal shelves holding all the cookware, with a small stove in the back. But the tiny size of the kitchen belies the huge (and great!) taste of the food coming out of it.
I'm a big fan of prix fixe menus - hence my obsession with Restaurant Week - so I was immediately drawn to the $25 offer that is a permanent fixture here. For the appetizer, I had the baked d'anjou pear with roquefort in a balsamic vinaigrette - I'm not a fan of pears, usually, due to the grainy texture, but this baked pear was smooth and had a pleasant mix of sweet and sour from the pear and the vinaigrette. For the entree, I had the free-range smoked chicken breast in a key lime and papaya puree - perfectly cooked chicken, not too dry or overly greasy, and the puree provided a light, zesty complement. I had the creme brulee for dessert, but it was relatively standard fare.
Drinks are BYOB with no corkage fee, another factor that contributes to the awesomeness of this place (aside from the quality of the service - one of the owners stopped by to talk to our table and was very friendly).
Highly recommend this place - a must try if you're ever in the area and looking for a gourmet dinner that won't bleed your wallet dry. -
Review from china p.
New York, NY
10/22/2008
Marc & Blue are the friendliest people in earth and make you feel like a regular your first visit. By the second time, they throw their arms around you and give you a kiss when you walk in.
There's nothing about A to complain about, really. The prices almost doubled since they moved, but since it's still BYOB and they were comically underpriced to begin with, it's hard to complain.
The food is always delicious. The lamb merguez, the pheasant pate, the duck and the escargot are special favorites. The vegetarian options are also great, and everything is organic.
There can be a little bit of a wait, but it's worth it. Bring a strong red wine to go with the food. Most things are very rich and overpower lighter wines.
Actually, now that I think of it, don't come here at all. It's terrible and crowded enough as it is.Listed in: My Neighborhood
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Review from Ava R.
9/18/2009
Thins I loved:
-My dinner date
-They had organic soap and 7 generations toilet paper in the bathroom
-The entire menu is organic and there are some vegan choices (I'm no veg, but I respect that)
-Prix Fixe from 6-8 pm includes an appetizer and an entree for $20. This is such a steal because the prices ranges on their entrees alone were between $16 and $20
-The restaurant smells like delicious food
-They had a local artist's paintings hanging for sale and the ceilings were draped with sheer cloth which made me feel like I was in a pillow
-The duck was effin amazing--the skin was crisped to perfection and the meat was tender and flavor pervaded every bite
-Gateau au chocolat fondant and Tarte de pommes were mmmmmmazing!!
-Free BYOB
What was just OK:
-Grilled avocado. Came in a delicious sauce, but it wasn't packing the flavor I was expecting and certainly reminded me nothing of shittake mushrooms
-This place is teensy! We were the first customers of the evening but it felt really crowded by the time we left
-One waiter (and 1 cook, I think) poor guys were busting their asses to make sure the service was good (and it was!) -
Review from Rachel D.
Los Angeles, CA
10/5/2007
I am a devoted Ivo & Lulu fan, so I was really excited to find out they had a sister restaurant uptown. This place is equally phenomenal. sexy and hip but also relaxed, friendly and affordable. Put a plate of merguez sausage & couscous in front of me, and I am a happy woman. Also the music playlist included "hungry eyes" from dirty dancing. Could you ask for more?
they have a $20 prix fixe dinner menu from 6 to 8. jump on that deal, my friends. -
Review from Jamie M.
New York, NY
6/9/2009
I thought this was a really cool place... As previously mentioned, the place is tiny so if you are not ok with a small table, this place may not be for you. BYOB with no charge (not that I mind paying a little but for the AMAZING deal that is byo...) but it was a nice perk to not be charged a corkage fee. The food was nice, not the best meal I have ever had but it was really good and I left full and satisfied. My friend and I split everything so, effectively, I had the pear and stilton appetizer (pretty good, heavy on the cheese) and then the baked avocado (so tasty!!!) then we shared the chicken (cannot remember what it came with but very good) and the jumbo shrimp with coconut lime curry and rice which was very good.
Overall, bring a good friend and a nice bottle of wine to enjoy because the server is bound to be busy and service will be a bit slow. I honestly didn't notice since I was occupied by good conversation and booze -
Review from Emily W.
Boston, MA
3/15/2009
This place is my new favorite restaurant/hole in the wall in the City! It was literally the smallest restaurant I have ever seen. It is about 9 ft. in width and about 30 ft in length and the kitchen is the size of my studio apartment bathroom. But the taste of the food is astronomical.
I ordered the anjou pear with blue cheese as an appetizer and had the duck leg confit. I literally died when I cut into the pear and the crispy skin and perfect meat of the duck just took me to a whole new paradise. My boyfriend had the duck pate with baked brie *amazing* and the chicken breast with key lime and papaya puree which had a surprisingly strong kick to it.
To top it off, the owners are super nice and being able to bring our own favorite bottle was wonderful. They have a super affordable 6-8pm prix fixe for only $20.
Go. Now. But don't tell anyone else in case this place becomes over crowded. -
Review from Chris G.
6/20/2010
I had some friends in town and we were looking for someplace, somewhat in the area. No one wanted to make any decisions, so I chose to look for BYOB's (recession and all) and then we narrowed the cuisine to French.
We arrived with our wine and beer in hand. The place was fairly small and there were only two other tables occupied, yet when I called to see if I needed to make a reservation for 9 pm, I was encouraged to do so. Go figure.
Our table was reserved in the back, and we were promptly sat, and our wine and beer were opened. The remaining beer was placed in a fridge to keep cool. It was at this point that we began to feel a little weary as to our restaurant selection.
We noticed that our server/host, may have also been /cook. The "kitchen" was tucked away in the back of the room, "hidden" by a bamboo curtain. It was the smallest kitchen we had ever seen. My manhattan kitchen was twice the size, and thats saying something.
Thankfully, good things do come in/from small packages (despite what my ex might say). It turned out that there was a cook, he was just in the potty when we were casing the joint. We all ordered the Duck Confit, and while it was being prepared, we had time to munch on the bread and ponder why the place is called a Wine room when you must bring your own.
The duck, we all agreed, wath the betht any of uth had ever conthumed. It wath thucculent and juithy. Perfectly crithp, yet it melted in our mouths. It was accompanied by a delicious couscous atop a pureed veggie. It was the perfect size, leaving neither of us any room for dessert.
Unfortunately, we werent there in time for the prix fix, but I will definitely be back. The service was extremely attentive and friendly. The atmosphere was dark, yet warm. This may just become my regular go to cafe and wine room. -
Review from Yumi A.
New York, NY
5/25/2009
I came here because my friend raves about the food, and also because I had a great experience at a different byob french bistro (La Sirene) and was hoping this place would rock my world as well.
The night started off great as they graciously accommodated us even though we were almost 30 minutes late for our reservation. I did my yelp homework before coming so I went with the pate appetizer and duck confit that everyone seemed to recommend. The pate was almost like a sausage casserole. Even though I'm not quite sure I like the crumbly texture, the fennel went well with the gamey meat. The duck came out a little cold, so that was a bit of a disappointment. The jerk sauce was not too sweet and went really well with the meat and couscous, but the duck skin wasn't crispy! So sad.
I really wish they had real wine glasses instead of scratched up plastic wine glasses that look like they were bought from Party City. Yes, I did just graduate college and I should be used to drinking wine from plastic cups, but not in a restaurant and not when drinking good pinot noir!
As for the size of the restaurant, it IS small, but there are much smaller restaurants out there. There's space between the tables so no worries about people eavesdropping on your conversation. Just be sure to make reservations for Fri-Sat because it fills up quick.
I think this place is worth trying out again, especially because it's such a good deal. Next time, I'll have to try the cilantro butter escargots. -
Review from Liz B.
10/3/2009
5 stars for the food (and my date) :-)
Here's one of those places I would have never tried if it weren't for yelp. And this time, I can also thank yelp for allowing me to add some checks to my "Things to do in life" list: Eat escargot.
So I got the escargot. Absurdly good. If you can get past the whole snail thing. I was able to get past it.
You must get the duck for dinner. I can't imagine anything else on the menu being better. I don't even LIKE duck. And I licked my plate clean.
The apple tart was okay. It smelled better than it tasted. Ava's chocolate dessert was way better but I wasn't in a chocolate mood.
$20 3 course prix fixe. BYOB no corkage fee. Everything organic. I must be dreaming you say? No, it is real indeed. A little oasis on a street of mostly nothing else. Take the journey there and you will surely be pleased. -
Review from Koko H.
New York, NY
10/3/2008
Nice option to have in the neighborhood. The $20 prix fixe is a great deal. The staff was really sweet and friendly.
The food was very good, but not mind blowing.
Free bread - meh. hard as a rock! Really good olive oil to dip it in though.
Pear appetizer - delicious, but the cheese was really strong.
Avocado appetizer - my sister ate every last bit but I didn't like it much.
Merguez sausage + cous cous - I was a little turned off by the pool of liquid in the bowl (oil??). The figs and dates in the dish were delectable.
The menu is pretty small, so check it out beforehand to see if you like the options.Listed in: From the Columbia days
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Review from Juston P.
New York, NY
6/1/2009
A Cafe gives the complete NYC Hole In The Wall experience, both good and bad sides of it.
The Light Side of the Hole
- Low-fi decorations and an intimate space create the feeling you've wandered into a parallel dimension, or are at the very least not in NYC.
- Tasty food that was clearly prepared by a chef stuffed in what used to be a closet. It's delicious, if not glamorous.
- An ever-so-friendly skeleton crew makes you feel like a regular.
- BYOB, B!
- The other patrons all seem happy to be there.
The Dark Side of the Hole
- The service was slow, very slow. The friendly waitress was also in charge of the entire restaurant
- It's not expensive per se, but you can also tell there's no economies of scale here.
- It's worth mentioning the wall in which A Cafe is a hole. Put it this way: metaphorically, it's covered in graffiti and unmentionable fluids.
I definitely recommend it if this is your thing. It's tasty and intimate, just not terribly refined. -
Review from lillybug a.
Hoboken, NJ
1/23/2009
This place is really great. If you like Ivo and Lulu downtown then you'll love this place - it was started by the same owner. The food is very similar if not the same, and the BYOB policy is the same. A Café is much bigger than Ivo and Lulu and you don't need to be sitting on your date's lap to eat here, but the vibe and relaxed neighborhood atmosphere is the same.
They have a $20 pre-fix dinner which includes one appetizer and one entrée - try the escargot and coconut curry shrimp. VERY GOOD!
