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Café Minerva
Categories: Restaurants American (New) Food Coffee & Tea American (New), Coffee & Tea [Edit]
304 W 4th St(between Bank St & 12th St)
Manhattan, NY 10014
Neighborhood: West Village
(212) 242-4800
- Nearest Transit:
-
14 St (1, 2, 3)
8 Av (L)
Christopher St - Sheridan Sq (1, 2)
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner, Brunch
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual, Intimate
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
52 reviews for Café Minerva
Review Highlights
-
"they have great espresso drinks." In 8 reviews -
"their chocolate croissant was great too." In 5 reviews
-
"Very good eggs Benedict." In 4 reviews
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52 reviews in English
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Review from Yanill P.
Manhattan, NY
4/11/2012 1 Check-in Here
So.. I'm a regular here. Where else can you find a wine bar in the West Village bordering Meat Packing where every wine bottle is $20? The staff here is so friendly you feel like they're friends you're visiting. Jeff and Bill are cool and always at your service.
My favorite part about this place, aside from the extremely low key trendy New York vibe, is the scenery and feel you get when you're here. The best comparison I can make is old New York meet Sex and the City. It's good for a weekday out with a friend or even a first date. I'm not sure how this place is on a weekend, never been...but weekdays are very interesting and fun :) -
Review from Lindsay M.
Brooklyn, NY
3/5/2012 1 Check-in Here
I never expected to write a review because I really loved the bread, BUT I really loved the bread. I went to Cafe Minerva for my second time and I'm truly in love with this place.
Great West Village spot for wine and snacks. Get the mussels (with extra bread of course) and the escarole crostini. I'd love to try their coffee drinks but I can never resist the urge for a $20 bottle of wine, or two! -
Review from Justin A.
2/19/2012
I stumbled across Cafe Minerva on a nice Sunday after all the other options on West 4 were very crowded at the time. Cafe Minerva was able to seat us right away, and for good reason.
The first thing I want to order when I sit down to brunch...a mimosa or bloody mary. They don't offer bloody mary's so I ordered a mimosa. The waiter says fine but then comes back to tell me that they were all out of orange juice. How the heck can a brunch spot not have orange juice? Even if you are out, go to the bodega next store and pick some up. I then ask to add some grapefruit juice to the prosecco instead of orange juice. Guess what? They were out of grapefruit juice too.
Anyway, I ordered some eggs and my friend ordered eggs benedict. Both entrees came out very runny (there was basically raw eggs in the middle) and had to be returned to the kitchen.
The waiter was also a bit spacey and kind of creeping me out a bit.
Oh well. -
Review from Ranu R.
2/15/2012 1 Check-in Here
Obsessed with this place.
The perfect cozy spot for wine (so many options under $20), and solid food too, at very reasonable prices for the neighborhood.
A great size with a bar in the center where you can do work/grab a drink, along with tables along the sides of the restaurant. Friendly staff, great wine prices, and yummy menu items--I had a panini that was delicious and only $8. None of the entrees are over $25, I don't think, and there are also pastas and small plates.
Great spot for a casual date, drinks with friends or daytime relaxing. I can't wait to come back! -
Review from Shella P.
Manhattan, NY
2/3/2012
I found this place on a rainy day between christmas & new year and loved every moment i spent inside it.
From the laidback and relax atmosphere to the great coffee it was a real delight to waste a couple of hours in.
I ordered the roasted pepper soup which hit exactly the right spot and my coffee was served with a heart in the foam...what more could anyone want from a neighbourhood cafe! -
Review from Rob B.
Long Island City, NY
5/2/2012 1 Check-in Here
Was a nice setting for a delicious cup of coffee with friends.
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Review from Michelle P.
NY
3/1/2012
Cute cafe/resto where you can watch West Village go by with their dogs through the giant windows on West 4th Street. I don't know anywhere else you can get a bottle of wine in the city for $20. I highly recommend this as a place to go for some wine and light bites.
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Review from Ileana S.
11/15/2011
This is my eighth Yelp entry of my Tuesday coffeeshop series.
Imagine entering a hardwood floor, well-lit, and clean cafe. The emphasis is on the word cafe here (versus coffeeshop). On these white walls hang black-framed photographs. One wall has photos of American iconic people/moments. On the other wall, photos of a well-traveled individual (i.e., landscapes, buildings, etc.). There is a u-shaped espresso bar at the center of the cafe with high chairs along the sides.
Plenty of seats and tables available. I pick one where no one would be peering over my shoulder to see my laptop screen. The cafe has large windows and when you sit across from the windows facing the street, you are looking ahead at residential brick buildings. **East Coast love**
I am greeted by the server, who appears to be in charge of the whole floor this weekday afternoon. She gives me the menu and I start with a panini with mozzarella, tomato and basil. It is okay. I wouldn't quite call it a "panini." The bread is more like toasted sourdough. It comes with two halved small tomatoes on the side. I am still hungry so I ask for the dessert menu. I order the apple crisp. It comes with a dollop of, what I believe to be, whipped cream. It is also just okay.
Overall, a cute cafe with okay food and consistent service. You will not be the only person surfing the internetz if you bring your laptop here. :) -
Review from Dolores R.
Jersey City, NJ
11/26/2011
Lovely. A wine bar/coffee shop with small plates, nice lighting, charming window seats, and a wonderful 20 for $20 special (twenty bottles of wine for $20 each) on a relatively quite West Village block.
The somewhat undiscovered nature of Minerva is part of what makes it so special. The food is very good (try the eggplant bruschetta...divine!), basic bistro fare: pressed sandwiches, salads, bruschettas, small pasta dishes, etc. The coffee is made by French press and is very good. The service is attentive and friendly, even casual. The decor is simple and unobtrusive. The pricing is excellent: a bottle, a coffee, a desert, a salad, a pressed sandwich, and bruschetta for $60. Order two glasses of wine and you've spent the same as the bottle, so may as well pony up for one of the many very servicable bottles on the "20 for $20" list.
On a quiet mid-afternoon or early evening when the winter light is dwindling, Minerva is just about the perfect place to watch the light go from dusk to evening. The window seats are just precious. I would definitely return. Easy on the pocket, on the eyes, and on all the senses, Minerva is one of those sweet little treasures you feel happy to have discovered. -
Review from Crystal W.
New York, NY
11/6/2011
I sat at the bar here for a couple of hours and read a book one Sunday afternoon. I felt very much like an elegant New York lady, in part because I was reading a very elegant book about an elegantly disintegrating couple in the late 1950s - 1960s and sipping my drink quite delicately.
The cappuccino the capable barista made was quite delicious, and being at the bar made for excellent people watching. I would return and tis a happy edition to my Coffee Me list. -
Review from Alli H.
1/31/2012
Cute shop, very relaxing, bad chai.
-
Review from Dewey T.
Manhattan, NY
2/23/2012
Great menu, but the best is the $20 bottles of wine.
-
Review from Van D.
Brooklyn, NY
10/23/2011
The ambience is nice. Spacious airy feel and a nice central bar.
Food was below par. Pancakes were most flavorless and reminded me of the ones we used to get in our elementary school cafeteria. Egg and leek dish was also bland. Prices seem moderate but the portions are smaller than you expect. We left still hungry. -
Review from David C.
Manhattan, NY
2/14/2012
Cute little neighborhood restaurant. Much better than Doma on Perry Street.
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Review from Master P.
Los Angeles, CA
1/5/2012
Wines under $20. Met with a pretty famous filmmaker there who lives nearby. He told me bunch of his writer and director friends also hang out and chill. Sophisticated grunge/organic, if you know what I mean. Kind of place you hope NYC has more of - good bistro food, nice wine and coffee, easy to pass time or catch up on magazine reading, or meet up with friends. Will be there again when I'm in the village.
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Review from Helen G.
Brooklyn, NY
8/14/2011 1 Check-in Here
STRICTLY A COFFEE REVIEW...
The owner and staff are incredibly sweet and they offer a high quality product in a quaint environment. I really like this place. I just wish I was in the neighborhood more. Support small business and enjoy ;) -
Review from Christine C.
Manhattan, NY
7/18/2011
It was a bit warm and humid inside. Check out your AC!!
Sat down and had an iced coffee. The server was very sweet, if a bit slow to get around to me. But then again, they are probably used to people coming in and camping out for a while for the free wifi.
Around lunch, so I had a tomato mozzarella panino and the dessert panino. Slightly underwhelmed by both. I think I should have gone for the prosciutto panino. The tomato mozzarella one wasn't that special. And the
bread was too much for the dessert panino.
Likes: free wifi, give you a carafe of water, no attitude if staying for a while (i was eating, so not a problem. but others just had a coffee and were there before/after me), great coffee, wine under $20!!
Meh: Food wasn't that amazing. I might try a salad next time. Or maybe the pasta.
But overall a cute neighborhood cafe. -
Review from Dana F.
3/17/2011
I start working when the coffee does.
Needless to say, I stopped by Cafe Minerva before it was time to start the hustle of the day. The interior itself is fairly spacious for a cafe, with a bar in the center, and tables off to either side. I found the arrangement of the space to be very inviting.
My double espresso was of the perfect consistency and had no bitter aftertaste, although it lacked that little hint of sweetness I love in a good espresso. The very attentive waiter also brought me a big bottle of water and asked if I was interested in ordering anything to eat.
Although this was a quick visit, the menu selection of antipasti, pasta, and panini sandwiches looked simplistic, yet interesting. There is also a list of 20 wines under $20 and bottled imported beers. Too bad it was too early in the day to get a glass of wine!Listed in: An Espresso a Day Keeps the…
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Review from Craig S.
New York, NY
Went for brunch last weekend... Hit and miss, in my opinion.
Beautifully done decor, finishes. Server very sweet. Very good eggs Benedict. Understaffed (on Sun morning). Not fresh, dry pastries (which we ordered with coffee (crazy strong, btw- which I love)... and they arrived after entree's. 2 out of 4 ("clean") knives on table had food on them when we sat. Needs work, but will try again in a few months... maybe.
Would be a great spot to have a coffee/espresso at bar and read paper... but should be more. Much MUCH prefer the neighboring Extra Virgin. -
Review from M C.
Manhattan, NY
11/12/2011
Lovely West Village cafe. Eggs benedict is quite special. Great wine bottles at $20, unheard in the city. Smart day crowd. Anytime dayspot with wi-fi.
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Review from Alec F.
Long Island City, NY
2/17/2011
Great food.
I would give four stars but the service changes so drastically based on whether I come in with someone rich, versus alone. I hate being class discriminated against and it's super obvious here. Get a life Minerva! My $ is as good as anyones! -
Review from Bassam K.
NY
4/1/2011
I don't know much about wine but I do know a deal when I see one and with a slew of bottles for $20 dollars, how can you go wrong?
Located in the heart of the Far West Village on West 4th street, Minerva is a little cafe with great ambiance. There's a spacious bar in the center and large street facing windows. It's laid back, quiet, and the staff is friendly and knowledgeable. Also great first date spot... -
Review from Annie R.
4/30/2011
Went for brunch today, first of all the service is terrible, really disorganized, the waitress was pushy at first, then disappeared, it was all awkward on that front.
Had pancetta eggs benedict, seemingly hard to mess up, the egg was not fully cooked, and no I don't mean like at all, obviously its eggs benedict you want the inside runny, but not the white part to be slimy, eh maybe im not explaining this right but I eat a fair amount of eggs benny and this just was not right in the egg part.
So many great brunch spots in this area. Wouldnt go back for brunch and service was terrible so not worth trying for dinner. Eh no thanks -
Review from roger b.
New York, NY
7/18/2011
I'm just reviewing the cappuccinos as I haven't eaten here yet.
One of the best coffee places if you just want a fantastic bold rich smooth delicious cappuccino. The beans come for Caffe D'Arte in Seattle (Alderwood Fabriano "Wood Roasted") and though I've purchased the identical beans, I can't get as rich and wonderful a cup as Caffe Minverva consistently makes. Though the snob-factor is in high gear, expect it mostly from the clientele and not the staff. The baristas are super calm and friendly and seem to be above the above-it-all attitude that strolls in from the daily/weekend fashion crawls. I suggest sitting at the bar (mostly because there aren't any seats available), but also so you don't have to look at the people or listen to their Hamptons recaps. Weekends feature both Wall Street Journal and NYT with Arts & Leisure and Style Sections blotted and wrinkled with coffee spills. -
Review from Viv C.
New York, NY
3/24/2011
I'm a big fan of cafe minerva, it is one of the few options in the area where you can eat without shelling out $20+ for an entree. The cafe is cute, serves as a great brunch place during the weekend, while serving as a great place to read with a glass of wine during week nights. The service is super friendly, and they have an affordable selection of wines by the glass.
Portions are not large by American standards, but who needs to eat 5 pounds of pasta in one sitting? I'd say the place is adorable, charming and laid back enough so you don't feel like you have to put on your 6-inch stilettos for a drink out (which is exactly the kind of place that the neighborhood/West 4th street needs). -
Review from Brian L.
Manhattan, NY
6/13/2011
Love the design and the menu but the service is poor.
You can sit down at the counter and no one will say hello for at least 5 minutes. Once you do get someone's attention it's still slow and poor.
Figure it out guys! -
Review from Nancy S.
4/6/2011
I live extremely close to Cafe Minerva and when it opened a couple months ago, I have always wanted to try it out. I went here to get some work done in and for some coffee and breakfast in the morning. Living in new york, you start to expect workers to linger around you, start clearing off your table, etc. after you sit there for more than one hour, but Cafe Minerva was definitely the opposite of what I expected. The waiter and chef were extremely friendly and nice, the atmosphere was extremely relaxed yet chic and I just enjoyed sitting there drinking my cappuccino and eating my chocolate croissant doing some reading.
I saw the board with 20 wines under 20$ and couldn't wait to come back for dinner so me and a couple girlfriends decided to stop by that same night. Once again, the service was great and the atmosphere was just a great place to be at with friends. The wines weren't exquisite but what do you expect for 20$! We got a bottle of the Malbec and the Sauvignon Blanc and I was pleasantly surprised at the white. As we were just there to talk and drink, we just got a antipasti appetizer and it was fantastic! I can't wait to come back another day to try the food. From the little I tried, I'm sure the food will be great!!
If anything, just come here for the friendly and chic atmosphere and good prices! -
Review from Arnav G.
Manhattan, NY
11/11/2011
Great place to get work done or meet a friend over light food and drink.
Entrees are simple and well made. Brunch, which I wandered into accidentally, was exceptional.
Avoid desserts - pain chocolat was stale. -
Review from Jenn D.
Brooklyn, NY
10/18/2011 1 Check-in Here
I've heard such mixed reviews about this place, and have to say that it's not my favorite. I've only had their coffee and iced tea and I found the coffee to be disappointingly bitter. I also felt like I was an inconvenience to the barista, which is never good for business! With so many other options around, I think the next time I need a spot for a coffee date, I'll choose differently.
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Review from Paul D.
9/11/2010 1 Check-in Here
As noted the paint is still drying as we speak on this new spot in the Village. It was kind of sad to step into the space where Left Bank Books once stood and I spent way too many hours :-(
Very nicely fitted out for that Parisian café feel, beautiful coffee bar, and a stunning espresso machine!. Though I could not escape a rather sterile atmosphere (the music, or lack thereof? the attempt to over engineer a theme? not quite sure). It really did feel like they were still unpacking, with the owners running around almost frantically.
Service very friendly, they were trying a little hard, I was asked how my croissant was three times ... it was, well a croissant, it tasted um, appropriate. The pasta was beautifully cooked though a little lacking in flavor.
The espresso coffee on the other hand, now that had balls and a robust flavor ... very nice indeed.
Will certainly give the place another try once it has been through its opening honeymoon. -
Review from Elizabeth W.
New York, NY
5/8/2011
I love this place. It's a fantastic spot to get work done by yourself with your computer, or to come with friends/a date for a nice dinner or brunch. They have free WiFi and don't mind at all if you stay long.
There is a ton of light, and it's on a quiet spot away from most of the annoyingly pretentious nearby shopping, although the other day when I was walking by I did hear someone ask why Marc Jacobs is taking over the neighborhood, and that's a fair question.
The food and coffee/tea is excellent. All organic and mostly local, but I do think it's a bit overpriced (thank Marc Jacobs for that one I suppose). The wine that I have had is good, and they have a nice list of 20 different wines for $20 a bottle - awesome.
Pros:
-lots of airy space and light, beautiful setting
-good, local/organic food
-good music selection - enjoyable but not distracting
-service is friendly and fast
-great neighborhood
*Free WiFi*
Cons:
-i think it's a bit overpriced, but oh well -
Review from Earl C.
9/10/2010 3 photos
This place just opened on Monday!! Great location for this little cafe to be established. It's in West Village in a quaint little street just off the beaten path of traffic congestion.
My friend and I went in today and the place is beautiful with lots of natural light shining throughout the restaurant. I ordered the Grilled Chicken Panini and my friend ordered the Mozzarella & Tomato Panini (both $8). The Mozzarella & Tomato was delicious, but the Grilled Chicken was bland with a little bitterness (it had green leafs I couldn't figure out). If they could improve the grilled chicken a little it'd be a smashing hit! The little cherry tomatoes it came with was very tasty though.
Would I come back here again? Of course! I'd like to explore their menu some more. The also serve espressos and coffees. -
Review from Lauren K.
Manhattan, NY
2/20/2012
I LOVE Cafe Minerva! To start, it is located on a quaint street in the West Village. You almost feel like you are at a European Cafe when you stumble across it. Their $20 wine bottle selection is great. Their food is delicious. I had several appetizers there- the mussels were awesome, the burrata mozzarella was good, and their homemade ricotta was divine! Service there is friendly and attentive. I have not been tried their coffees, but will soon!
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Review from masateru y.
New York, NY
10/9/2011
love classic hand lever espresso machine for espresso and french press for house coffee. Foods are all simple and basic. I get a pancake sometime.
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Review from Kate M.
New York, NY
9/24/2011
Great coffee but consistently bad service. It seems as though there is high turnover and the staff is unfriendly and unresponsive. The breakfast menu is simple and the food is always great- the dinner menu is ok. Good place to get wine/coffee but EVERY time the service makes me regret coming sadly...
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Review from Barbara P.
New York, NY
2/17/2011
I really want to love this place. It's right around the corner and it's such a lovely space, so bright and airy. I went for Brunch on a Saturday and like another review wrote, they were just understaffed. We waited 20 minutes while we saw several empty tables just sit there uncleared. Then when we sat down, we waited another 20 minutes before anyone took our order. The food was good and the staff that was there was friendly (though harried). If they can get their staffing worked out, I will return in the hopes that this can become a neighborhood staple.
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Review from sarah l.
Washington, DC
3/9/2011
A beautiful coffee shop, bright and airy. The staff needs to be trained better in customer service though. I sat there for a long time and no one came to take my order. So I left.
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Review from Jeff H.
New York, NY
8/15/2011
I really wanted to give 4 stars but couldn't as they screwed up on a few details. However I'm confident or at least hopeful that'd they will get better as they have so many things in their favor.
Pluses:
Location. The cafe is on one of the most beautiful streets in the W Village
Interior: Lots of natural light, high ceiling and uncluttered. Reminds me of several cafes in Europe.
Laid-back and friendly staff. You can sit there for hours reading or working on your laptop w/o being pushed overtly to buy food.
Wifi access (albeit password required)
Better than average latte
Minuses
Pricey. Don't mind paying $$ but the cappuchino was small - actually quite small.
Lousy croissant. They need to get a different supplier. Easily one of the worst croissants I've eaten in a long time. Papery, dry, no flavor and not crisp. Yuck. They sold out their chocolate croissants so perhaps those are better.
Incredulous. I asked if they had any jam as the croissant needed something to make it edible. They didn't have any. Huh?! So the barrista offered Nutella. That's was very nice I thought and they gave me a ridiculous amount. (Keep reading)
The unpleasant surprise. When I got the bill, there was a $1 charge for the Nutella. Plus they charged me for latte when I'd ordered cappuccino. I just paid the extra and still gave them a 19% tip. -
Review from Helen Z.
New York, NY
8/19/2011
This place is my neighborhood staple. Absolutely love it for a low maintenance dinner and glass of wine. The service has been great every time I've been there, though I always sit at the bar. Super homey and beautiful interior with a very impressive espresso machine.
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Review from Gavin M.
10/11/2010
Cafe Minerva is really charming and we had a great breakfast there this morning. We were so pleased to get a new cafe in the neighborhood to attempt to slow the Marc Jacobs-ification of our increasingly less quaint neighborhood. Thankfully, Minerva fits the bill. We started with what I might boastfully call the best cappuccino in the neighborhood and then had eggs pomodoro and my wife had a fresh baked croissant. Two cappuccinos, an egg entrée and a croissant came to $17 which is very reasonable. The service was quick and they played some Johnnie Cash tunes in the background. We elected to sit at the counter which was a nice change of pace. All in all, this is a great new addition to the neighborhood and we'll certainly be back to try out the dinner menu.
