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Café Ghia
Categories: Restaurants French Restaurants Breakfast & Brunch French, Breakfast & Brunch [Edit]
24 Irving Ave(between Jefferson St & Melrose St)
Brooklyn, NY 11237
Neighborhood: Bushwick
(718) 821-8806
- Nearest Transit:
-
Jefferson St (L)
Dekalb Av (L)
Morgan Av (L)
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Dinner, Brunch
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
52 reviews for Café Ghia
Review Highlights
-
"This is my new go-to brunch spot in the area." In 22 reviews -
"My friend had their delicious daily scramble with sweet and..." In 5 reviews -
"An exception is the tuna melt, which is really nice." In 6 reviews
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- A Yelpy Insight: Vegetarians go nuts for this spot. See more places they like.
52 reviews in English
-
Review from joey S.
Brooklyn, NY
12/6/2011
I eat brunch here almost every other week.
The coffee is strong and the breakfast sandwiches are perfect.
You make look at their menu and think-" Oh an egg and sausage sandwich...what's the big deal?"
The 'Big Deal' is their choices in quality ingredients- Like real farm cheese vs. kraft slices. Really tasty breads and handmade sausage.
Dinner is great too. They have specials that change. I highly recommend the breakfast sandwiches and my other favorite is the grilled cheese! I had a special with scallops that was very tasty.
The staff is very nice and I have had no issues with their service. -
Review from Tony T.
Brooklyn, NY
2/5/2012
Went here for dinner.
The staff was great but the food was disappointing all around. The ginger carrot soup was more like a warm pudding which I could forgive if it actually had flavor. The flatbread was forgettable. The braised pork shoulder entree was a big mistake. I should have asked the waitress what to expect but the menu description sounded good enough: braised pork shoulder, savory kimchee corn meal waffle, braised greens, pickle
I guess I was expecting a fall off the bone slow cooked pork shoulder. Nope. I mean I'm sure it was braised at some point but calling it pulled pork shoulder would seem more appropriate because it's the kind of meat I would expect on a sandwich. The corn meal waffle turned to mush very quickly which was a killer because the dish seriously needed some texture. The greens and veggies were lost in a vinegar slurry amongst the mess. It's a dish that needs to be rethought or taken off the menu.
We ended with the chocolate lava cake. Not bad but I've had frozen microwave versions that were on par or better than this one.
I did see some other interesting dishes coming out of the kitchen and like I said, the service and atmosphere were great along with the drinks.
I left feeling let down but I wouldn't write the place off entirely. -
Review from Ian J.
1/18/2012 2 Check-ins Here
I like the atmosphere. Seeing the location, and then entering, are two contrasting worlds, which makes it an even more welcoming place to be.
The service has always been friendly.
Food is good, but slightly overpriced. Maybe it's just the cheap side of me crying out. Portions are decent, but not huge. I think it all comes down the quality of ingredients, and if the menu's description is correct, then I suppose it's a fair battle.
Looking for brunch in the hood? This is totally worth it.
If you go during the winter, bring an extra layer because they can't keep the cold out due to the size. -
Review from Nuvo C.
Brooklyn, NY
11/27/2011
Loved this place. Servers were actually nice! With real service! Went for brunch, the most chill brunch in East Williamsburg/Bushwick you will find! Most entrees are under $10, cash only!
We ate some super yummy BLT paninos- bursting with taste and a good combo of chewy/crunch. Brunch entrees came with potatoes, but we ordered them as a side thinking we needed potatoes!
Owell! Potatoes for our potatoes!
Coffee is served endless with cute saucers. heart heart. -
Review from Matt D.
Brooklyn, NY
5/24/2012 1 Check-in Here
I love brunch. whenever someone asks me to get bunch I hug them and offer to pay for their bunch. I love brunch so much that I only eat brunch. this place has great brunch. full bar.
-
Review from Beatrice C.
New York, NY
5/16/2012 1 Check-in Here
Small place with really good brunch! My mom and I enjoyed it last Saturday. The server was great. We will be back.
-
Review from Yan C.
Brooklyn, NY
5/15/2012
I've eaten here twice. I would eat here more if it wasn't so popular (i.e., crowded) during brunch hours on Saturdays and Sundays (my new spot is Bushwick Kitchen on Central Ave near Willoughby). In any case, the food at cafe Ghia is pretty good - I think the first time I came here I had breakfast and the second time I had a sandwich. The prices are reasonable and the coffee is good. The portions were just about right. The staff were always super nice. The atmosphere is cozy. No complaints (except for the wait for a table, but that's not their fault - I'm sure it's less crowded on week days).
-
Review from Wiyaka L.
Brooklyn, NY
4/30/2012 1 Check-in Here
I can cross off going here for dinner. It was a little pricy for being ok. The brunch looks great and I look forward to checking that out.
-
Review from Ocean S.
Pacific Beach, WA
4/20/2012
Very solid three stars but gets a bonus for super nice service and multiple Vegetarian selections available on the menu. We had lunch and the vege burgers were excellent. Server found a way to add the vege patty to a dinner salad (upcharge) and it was great. Small dining area so beware.
-
Review from Sarah A.
Manhattan, NY
12/23/2011
I don't know what they put in their coffee to make it so delicious, but their original blend is so delicious that I come here from Manhattan for an amazing cup of coffee.
I've been coming here since they opened. It's quiet, charming, great service, and the food is very well-prepared. -
Review from todd g.
Somerville, MA
11/7/2011
Very solid. Great space, cozy, friendly service. As other reviews mentioned the coffee was good, bottomless, and service kept it topped off well.
I had the seasonal scramble and it was delicious, good portion size. I always fear a minuscule portion size at brunch places, but this was enough, for sure.
This may have just been a one-time thing, or whoever's ipod was hooked up - but the music was amazing. Totally subjective of course, but our table made several comments about how great the tunes were over the course of the meal.
No wait for a table of 6 at 1pm on a Saturday. Seemed to be a small wait forming by the time we left, 2ish.
Tempted to give it 5 stars since nothing was wrong and so much was good - but I'm gonna save it for my second visit. -
Review from Jensen L.
Brooklyn, NY
10/13/2011
Been here once for brunch and the second time for dinner and so far, so good.
Brunch was crowded but a blast. Bottomless coffee is a luxury around here and those pint-sized mimoas do wonders.
For dinner, it was quieter and gorgeous. Romantic place! The tempeh reuben isn't vegan to order, but the chef tweaked it for me and added mustard for me to still give it flavor. I scarfed that motha down and my friend loved his tomato soup and grilled cheese.
Bottom line- they use local, seasonal product and their staff is sweet. The price is right for what they're doing and I'm gonna try and go again soon, even if it's in Bushwick. ;) -
Review from yanwen j.
Brooklyn, NY
7/13/2011
I came in here the other day after having been completely traumatized from observing a mid-twenties hipster peeing on the middle of a sidewalk near Flushing Ave and Knickerbocker. Staring him down, he only responded by giving me a thumbs up. I needed a tall, cool glass of water to recover from this and popped into Cafe Ghia around the corner.
The restaurant is small and delightful. Unlike the decor at Northeast Kingdom, it is simple and accessible - less lumberjack, if you know what I mean. The server was passable, neither friendly nor rude and the food came out fast. I have to say that it was nicely packed for lunch on a Monday afternoon so business must be good. As the food was served, my mouth watered at the sight of everyone else's plates as they passed me. When my food arrived, I was pleasantly surprised. The chilled cucumber soup was slightly too creamy (takes the freshness out of the cucumber) but nice on a summer day. My kimchi salad was right on the mark - salty, tangy, tasted like kimchi and full of healthy, invigorating greens. They have a nice, cold Chinese breakfast tea that is also great when it is a 100 degrees outside.
The prices are reasonable and definitely worth it for the good food. I look forward to returning here. -
Review from Cassy S.
Brooklyn, NY
Cafe Ghia is a good neighborhood addition. Still needs some improvement*** but they are definitely on the right track. 3.5 stars!
I first came here for dinner and thought it was okay. The tuna melt sandwich tasted good with a right amount of ingredient ratio and flavor balance. However, my friend's vegan club was not as successful. It was painful to see the difficulty she had biting through the over toasted bread. Had there been a touch more tahini dressing, it would've slightly moistened the bread and add flavor.
My second visit, this time for brunch, was a lot more pleasant for the following reasons:
- We did not have to wait long at 1PM
- While outside, we saw someone walk out of a community garden with a hand full of freshly harvested herbs run into the restaurant. What's it for? Certainly not for decor.
- Bottomless strong cup of coffee. We inquired where it's from and server shyly admitted not knowing but mentioned it's been dubbed "kick ass"
- Server checked on us often without being overbearing and even apologized when our orders were slightly behind.
- All of us enjoyed the food - french toast, BLT panino and my order of daily scramble of zucchini and cherry tomatoes. Quality ingredients, when prepared with care and simplicity are always a winner in my book.
I'll give dinner another shot for sure. See you there!
***Let's face it, there is always room for improvement.
"Good, better, best; never let it rest till your good is better and your better is best."Listed in: Exploring The Bush
-
Review from Louis D.
Brooklyn, NY
7/7/2011
My new favorite place in Bushwick.
I hate brunch, whenever I am asked to get brunch I want to punch the person in the face but if it is brunch at this joint then I will happily attend. The staff are great (no snobby piece of shit hipsters) they have a bar you can sit at, they pour stiff bloody mary's & the food/price is right
I have never had to wait longer then 5 minutes to get seated
I kinda want to write a bad review just so none of you will go, that way I can continue to enjoy the no wait time
Another bonus is unlimited coffee -
Review from Dee D.
Oakland, CA
6/29/2011
I was in the neighborhood and we wanted to grab some grub around the way and decided to check out the new kid in town, Cafe Ghia. After a short wait, we were promplty seated at table. The space is fairly small, but certainly had a cafe feel to it.
"Kick ass" coffee was bottomless, which is always a plus for me. I think it should be like that in all brunch establishments. It was good coffee. Strong without tasting burnt and loved the lumps of brown sugar. What can I say, I'm a sucker for some brown sugar and good....err "kick ass" coffee.
So on to the food. I had the BLT Panino and it was just right. Not too big, not too greasy, just right. Side of home fries sprinkled with some fresh cilantro from a nearby community garden. Well at least that's what we think from seeing someone walk in with them while we were waiting outside. Everyone else's food looked scrumptious and fresh. I like the simplicity of the dishes, taste good, feels good. OVerall, good stuff which I'm sure will improve over time.
Looking around, it seems like they have a pretty good happy hour as well. It's certainly a great addition to the neighborhood. So if you're around, check it out. And if you happen to just want to take advantage of their wifi, try some of that "kick ass" coffee. -
Review from Alex D.
Brooklyn, NY
5/16/2011
You know that shamed feeling you get when you're leaving NE Kingdom or Roberta's? Like you're in an abusive relationship and promise yourself never again but feel like there's nobody else to turn to? Well F that noise, Jack! Today we stand together and raise our heads high and proclaim "no more"!"
Hi-fives to Cafe Ghia and their "give more, take less approach". I've been twice now, once for brunch and once for dinner and I can't say enough. The food was exceptional, the staff was friendly and the prices were...wait for it...reasonable (crazy right?)
My only suggestion would be to add a couple more vegetarian options to the brunch menu. Maybe some tempeh BLT type thingy or avocado sandwich? You and me, Cafe Ghia, we'd be unstoppable. We could get a 2BR apt together and be best friends and spend all of our free time staring into each others' eyes just thinking about how much we like each other. -
Review from Briana T.
Brooklyn, NY
9/27/2011
Finally got in here to check this place out, and all I can say is that I wish I had sooner.
Staff was very friendly, helpful, and totally unpretentious.
Food was excellent.
Going back tomorrow for brunch!
Cafe Ghia, Amen. -
Review from Stephanie S.
Brooklyn, NY
12/14/2011
My girlfriend and I like treat ourselves to brunch at Cafe Ghia on the weekend. Ghia serves very good food, but not quite enough to satisfy on a late weekend morning, though the bottomless coffee is comforting to grasp onto for the duration. The breakfast sandwich and vegetable scrambles (vegan or not) are my favorites .I like the idea of their biscuits & gravy, but the dish is too salty. Go early, the place gets filled pretty quickly. Also, Ghia had a mushroom and wheatberry soup special for dinner recently that was outta this world!
-
Review from Nadia g.
Bushwick, Brooklyn, NY
5/2/2011
I came here for brunch on saturday at around 1 and it I was surprised to find that it was pretty busy! especially since its kind of in the middle of nowhere..aka our neighborhood and also pretty new. But anyway, we walked in and we were not greeted by anyone for a really long time. I know it was a busy brunch and that they were apparently clearing a table for us (never communicated that fact, but I could see that it was happening) but it was really awkward standing around forever and I did kind of consider walking out.
So besides the service being pretty awkward, I did really enjoy the food! I got the biscuits and mushroom gravy which was just about perfect - except know that the sausage (delicious and house-made and kind of sweet in a way) comes on the side so I cut it up and mixed it into my gravy. There was enough gravy for the 2 big biscuits! which is sometimes hard to find..My boyfriend got the 2 eggs, bacon and potato item and it looked good but I tried the bacon and it was kind of more like a thicker jerky than the crisp-type bacon, kind of weird to me but good. I also noticed that they make their own strawberry jam! which was totally exciting to me and the butter for the toast has cinnamon and sugar in it! Its little details like this that make brunch awesome for me. Real excited about this place being so close to my house. -
Review from Amanda D.
Brooklyn, NY
5/21/2011 1 Check-in Here
I'm so glad this place exists.
The food was delish and affordable. The daily scramble with mushrooms, asparagus and goat cheese was yummy (but could've been a bit more goat cheesy.) Breakfast potatoes with rosemary and thyme were cooked perfectly. The vegan scramble with tofu and sweet potato in a black bean sauce with ginger lime tofu cream was great. You can really taste the ginger and lime. We also had the BLT panino with applewood smoked bacon. Sooo good. Also, DO NOT MISS THE HOMEMADE SAUSAGE! It's sweet with a spicy finish. Mmmmmmm.
Service was sweet and unpretentious, a rarity in these parts. I will definitely be back. -
Review from Mark H.
Brooklyn, NY
1/8/2012
Wonderful brunch this morning - except for the sausage which I am glad is homemade but was way to garlicky and salty. Service was good even though they were very busy this morning. It was hard for our server to maintain his cheerfulness with so many tables but he never ignored us, which often happens with subpar waitstaff during busy times. We will definitely be back soon - the lumberjack breakfast (eggs and bacon between two waffles) is calling me.
-
Review from Umi H.
New York, NY
4/27/2011
(http://www.feedingumi....)
Anyone living in the area can attest to hoping that something cute would open up on the corner of Jefferson and Irving. It's spot is a prime location from the Jefferson subway.
LOVE that a restaurant/cafe is open for breakfast/brunch/lunch/dinner 7 days a week. Awesome, right? They are open until 12am-2am (depending on the foot traffic) and their kitchens currently close around 11pm (although they will probably start having late night snacks available until closing).
The menu is simple, but has vegetarian options, soups, appetizers, and my SO's favorite... Charcuterie plate (and a cheese plate). They have wines, local beers (Sehr Crisp! Pork Slap! Oh my!) and a good brunch cocktail selection. (Including some serious hangover recipes: Emergen-C cocktails? Ben's Breakfast Beverage Buffet: Coffee + Water + Coke + OJ?) The best part is the price point is really good. Their house wine is delicious and affordable. They have a seriously lovely white wine, called BOE (with a beautiful label done by a local Bushwick artist).
Their dinner menu is a little light (but hearty enough with good portions), currently consisting of their soup of the day (more on that later), salads, charcuterie plate, cheese plate, and sandwiches. We got the turnip soup to share with the cheese plate and charcuterie with chicken liver. The SOUP was seriously good, you guys. I still think about it. It was the perfect consistency and creamy with some drizzled pesto and pumpernickel croutons. I loved everything there, but that was MY FAVORITE thing.
The cheese plate was delicious. They were all very earthy and they are all from the farm that the chef worked at previously (local in NJ, I believe). There was a creamy harder cheese, a stinky soft cheese, and a sharper harder cheese. The breads were toasted (kinda like a sandwich) and was soft and crispy. The charcuterie plate was good. Love the prosciutto and coppa. They were all cured in house, as well. GET THE CHICKEN LIVER. It was creamy and savory and everything I love in pate. It was A LOT of food.
We also went back there for brunch twice and loved what we had. Some home runs were the breakfast sandwich (bacon egg and cheese? You can't really go wrong, daily scramble (I love the combination of goat cheese, butternut squash and kale.), and the belgian waffle (I have no words to describe this. It's like a pumpkin pie custard delight).
We're so excited that this place opened up on that corner. With this place, arepas place, the coffee place and the salad place on Wyckoff, there are tons of daytime options near the Jefferson stop now. Over all Cafe Ghia is a missing puzzle piece to the growing culinary scene out here. It's quality, satisfying, and affordable. -
Review from Kira F.
Brooklyn, NY
5/15/2011
Cafe Ghia is a a jewel with great, home-cooked food and well-appreciated Brooklyn prices. I went here for brunch with a friend and had their magnificent BLT sandwich - the bacon was crunchy and thick and not sparse at all, the tomato was fresh and not mealy, and it came w/roasted potatoes as a side. However: the roasted potatoes COULD have been crispy... or maybe thats just me wishing they were fries. My friend had their delicious daily scramble with sweet and tender butternut squash.
Iced coffee and iced tea with refills is another plus. Their iced tea is a Chinese blend and it's a nice change from what you usually get. Our entire meal was $20.
I love how this place really had the chance to becoming well-integrated w/the neighborhood- their price point doesn't alienate young 20 something's with small bank accounts but also invites what some would call "the real Bushwick" to take part in. -
Review from Allison S.
Brooklyn, NY
6/13/2011
A very welcome addition to the neighborhood. My first visit was for dinner, and though the ambiance and the service were both wonderful, the food I found to be uninspiring. Also, with the prevalence of good craft beer served in many local establishments, I wish they had a more thoughtful selection, although it certainly wasn't bad.
A subsequent trip for brunch was just perfect in every way. The "today's scramble" was simple yet delicious with obviously very good ingredients, service beyond friendly and attentive, lovely atmosphere, and I was thrilled they serve micheladas. This is my new go-to brunch spot in the area. -
Review from John C.
Brooklyn, NY
12/21/2011
Maybe I have a huge problem with greasy food or something, but this is kind of ridiculous. Really simple average food. I have a tuna melt there for lunch once and it was great. I had a tempeh sandwich another time. Inedible. Good vibes though. I know a lot of people who swear by this place.
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Review from Bo H.
Brooklyn, NY
7/15/2011
This new cafe is most welcome to the neighborhood, which lacks a decent lunch spot.
Although the vibe is really nice, everyone is friendly, and the menu is decent, these guys could use a couple of tips with the food. I have two main problems: 1) bacon fat. 2) portions.
1) I know there is a trend toward loving fat these days, but everything has a limit. Bacon fat in your burger? Come on guys. Bacon fat in your apple confit on the turkey sandwich? Why? The reason we needed a new lunch spot was to have a LIGHTER lunch... if I want lard, I'll go to one of the many mexican joints. Please lighten up!
2) The portions for many of their sandwiches are pretty tiny. If you get a salad side instead of potatoes you can count on being hungry in the next couple of hours. An exception is the tuna melt, which is really nice. The worst portion is the daily scramble... I'm sad to say that this dish was really disappointing. Portion was tiny, the potatoes were overcooked and had been sitting around. And I could have made much better eggs at home. (Sorry!)
I'll probably keep going here because I'm in the neighborhood and I want to support them, but I hope they read these reviews and take them to heart. They are great people, they have the right idea, and they are just starting out. I would definitely give them time to figure these things out and will continue to return, hoping for these improvements to take place. -
Review from Ashley M.
Brooklyn, NY
5/10/2011
Watch out Northeast Kingdom! Cafe Ghia is giving you a run for your money!
Cafe Ghia is a great addition to the neighborhood. The owners are very friendly which always makes for a great neighborhood spot. Before it opened, I thought it was going to be a simple coffee shop with light fare but it far exceeded my expectations. The menu is exciting and unique and everything I have tried has been delicious. They serve brunch all day,everyday. I have yet to try their dinner menu but I'm sure I won't be disappointed. -
Review from roberta k.
New York, NY
4/23/2011
I love Ghia! The vibe is laid back and the staff are eager to please. It is obvious that a lot of time went into choosing the decor and it works great for the space. Everything I had was delicious - Kale Salad, Tuna Melt and ice cream with fruit and granola. My friend had the burger and said it was to die for.
The chef prides herself on offering organic farm to table fare. There is a good mix of vegetarian and meat options . I also really like that they serve coffee, tea AND wine/beer. Best of all everything is reasonably priced. I highly recommend trying the Bloody Mary as well. I watched one of the owners mix them and he was very meticulous. I will be spending a lot of time here! -
Review from Jack R.
Brooklyn, NY
11/6/2011
Great place to have in the neighborhood. I brought my parents. The menu is small, but focused, and they now offer a full bar (only simple mixers for now but a cocktail list is incoming, said our waitress). I enjoyed my tuna melt. Our flatbread app was excellent.
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Review from Missy C.
Ozone Park, NY
8/27/2011
My beau and I kept on passing this place and after weeks of waiting around, we went last night. We were not disappointed with our meal or the delightful service!
We seated ourselves in the corner next the window and took in the ambiance. You feel like you're in someone's kitchen; it's bright, colorful enough without inducing nausea, and cozy. Our waitress walked right over to our table with a large smile and was perfectly charming. She was easygoing but attentive. She went through all of the specials and all of which were very enticing. We wound up ordering the hummus, the seasonal scallop dish, and the grilled cheese.
Hummus: perfectly creamy with the right amount of tahini. Sometimes you order hummus and it's grainy or too pasty, this was delicious! It's served with a crusty grilled bread which was awesome on it's own. The grilled cheese is served on sourdough bread with Vermont white cheddar, fig compote, and chopped almonds. It is a very decadent combination of creamy, crunchy, sweet & salty. I could eat one of these every day... but then I would end up in hospital with a heart attack. The side salad that comes as an option with the sandwich (the other option being potatoes), was light and very topped with a tart sherry vinaigrette. The seasonal sea scallops were served with parpadelle pasta, cremini mushrooms, grape tomatoes, and baby spinach. Very yummy! The scallops were fresh and cut like butter and the portion size was just right. Only complaint about this dish: the pasta was a little too soft. I prefer my pasta al dente, but this is only a personal preference, not a requirement (obviously).
Our waitress helped me pick out a beer to accompany my meal which was very nice; she wasn't a beer buff but she has a clear idea as to what she liked. She recommended the Allagash White: a very light and citrusy beer which reminded me of a Belgian white but definitely not as creamy. Perfect for a warm Friday night.
Would we be back? Yup. Especially for brunch! -
Review from Alexis L.
New York, NY
7/27/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Good service. The panino is good, the biscuit and gravy less so. The one thing that would give it an extra star is to figure out a proper HVAC. The dining area smells of grease, enough to make my clothes reek for a bit. That being said, glad to see some variety in the neighborhood.
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Review from Preston D.
Brooklyn, NY
8/28/2011 4 Check-ins Here
The best waffles in Brooklyn
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Review from Kitten P.
New York, NY
9/16/2011
I've been hearing good things about this place for a while and finally went for dinner this week on Wednesday night and loved it!
I ordered the tempeh ruben (it's not actually vegan though, it comes with cheese) with some to-die-for roasted potatoes and my meal was amazing! Had a few good, cheap beers with it too. Loved it!
Our waitress was super polite, quick with our order and actually came back to check on us and make sure we were set and get us more beer.
The kitchen staff did a great job making our food this past Wednesday!
I'd go back in a heartbeat. Loved the food/service and love that this place is in walking distance from my house.
Prices were pretty good too. -
Review from Alan G.
Brooklyn, NY
5/17/2011 1 photo
I like it when restaurants open in my neighborhood. Who doesn't like a little variety, right? I had brunch at Cafe Ghia over the weekend, and this is what I thought.
We ordered the Biscuits and Gravy with a side of Bacon and the BLT with a side of Breakfast potatoes (home fries). We both had Bloody Mary's.
B's and G - These biscuits are righteous! I mean knee dip perfect, when that buttery bread hits your taste buds! Crispy on the outside, but fluffy and buttery on the inside. They truly give the biscuits from Pies n' Thighs a run for the money. The mushroom gravy was very good as well. It was nice and creamy, with the perfect amount of little mushroom slices. My one complaint with the B's and G at 'Pies' is they are way too salty. That is not the case with Ghia's version of this breakfast classic.
The bacon on the other hand was way too greasy and limp. I think they get it locally, which is cool, but does that mean it has to be so soggy and flavorless? I don't know, maybe it does. I was not impressed. I guess I like my bacon crispy and full of smoky pork flavor. I'm weird like that. So win on the B's and G, lose on the bacon.
BLT - Well, it's fancy..... I will give it that. honestly though, I am getting kind of tired of this pretentious restaurant blah, blah, meh.... when old classics are ruined by over cooking, over ingredient-ing them. STOP!! 'mmmhyes, today's menu consists of wood oven toasted PAN, with a dollup of fronch mustard and oven rrrrddoasted Solanum lycopersicum berries from the far reaches of Jersey of New, with imported, smoked, brined and cured bovinae strips, on a bed of upstate NY Lactuca sativa. .... mmmhhhh yes... quite delicious guvnah!'
OK, so I might be over exaggerating a little, but seriously! You get the idea. Just give me two slices of goddamn bread, toast it, don't toast it, whatever... some crispy smoked bacon, fresh lettuce, fresh tomato, and let me go to town. I don't need my tomatoes oven dried or roasted, and I certainly don't need the whole thing smashed in a grill like a panini. Again, the bacon was not crispy, and bland.
The disappointment of the "BLT" really overshadowed the side of breakfast potatoes. so let's just say they were dazzling.
Bloody Mary's - These suckers are tall and delicious! Nice and spicy, with plenty of vodka. If you order this with the BLT, drink it first, it makes everything so much better.
***Edit***Overall, 4 stars. Unlike Northeast Kingdom, this place doesn't feel like restaurant rape. - 1st star... This might be the place for Biscuits and Gravy!! - 2nd star. ***edit*** The food is constantly good and the service is always friendly - 3rd star. And, they didn't give me diarrhea or make me vomit! - 4th star! They also have free Wi-Fi y'all!! I look forward to upping the stars on a future review, after I have sampled more items. -
Review from Cynthia G.
New York, NY
4/11/2011
I walked into Ghia from the sidewalk today after looking at their menu. Largely standard restaurant fare with a twist (think Diner, Roberta's, or Tandem), the food is very well-done and very reasonably priced - brunch entrees are seven or eight dollars. They also have an extensive and very reasonably priced bar menu, with beers ranging in price from two to seven dollars. The staff is very friendly and service is good.
The restaurant itself is simply decorated and flooded with natural light, making for a very nice atmosphere. There are power outlets near every seat and free wi-fi, making Ghia an excellent choice for Bushwick work-from-home types.
I look forward to returning to Ghia. Their brunch holds up very well against other neighborhood offerings and is significantly cheaper, while their lunch and dinner options fill a much-needed void in the Bushwick culinary landscape with tasty, interesting, and affordable burgers, soups, salads, and sandwiches. -
Review from Jessica Q.
Brooklyn, NY
1/10/2012
Solid brunch spot in this hood. Potato bowls for brunch are super tasty. Sausage patties are awesome except one time I got them and it was undercooked in the middle. Gregarious staff for the most part. Receptive to customer suggestions.
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Review from Mandee J.
San Francisco, CA
7/26/2011
I want to give this place four stars but I feel like there needs to be more options on the Brunch menu! Am I being silly? I might be. THEY MAKE THEIR OWN JAM. This was amazing and probably my favorite part. The service was lovely. No huge complaints. 3.5!
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Review from Jeniece P.
San Francisco, CA
4/21/2011
Nice owner, good, friendly vibe, lots of windows and healthy and tasty lunch fare. Have only been here in the day, but will be back!
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Review from S T.
Brooklyn, NY
7/9/2011
Love this place. Good vibes, great food, friendly staff... one of the only places in the neighborhood that got it all right. They have a decent amount of vegetarian options for their small menu, and their daily brunch is delicious. So far, every experience at cafe Ghia has been hassle free and tasty.
