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Cafe Cortadito

4.5 star rating
based on 33 reviews

Category: Cuban  [Edit]

Neighborhood: Manhattan/East Village
210 E 3rd St
New York, NY 10079
(212) 614-3080
  • Price Range: $$
  • Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
  • Parking: Street
  • Attire: Casual
  • Good for Groups: No
  • Good for Kids: No
  • Takes Reservations: Yes
  • Delivers: No
  • Waiter Service: Yes
  • Wheelchair Accessible: No
  • Outdoor Seating: No
  • Good for: Dinner
  • Alcohol: None

33 Reviews for Cafe Cortadito

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Photo of Moriah R.

 

6

87

Moriah R.

New York, NY

4 star rating
07/03/2008

Really really cute little Cuban spot. I've wanted to visit for a while and am so glad I did. First off, its byob, so I'm a fan already. We were lucky to get a seat right next to the windows, which open up to create a great people watching area. The decor is beautiful, very old world Cuba, with plants and a breeze flowing though that was soooo relaxing. The food was very good- rice and beans, mini Cubans, bistec- all great, not one complaint about any of it, it was all delicious. The service was attentive but did not rush us at all, I think we ended up staying there 2 hours over the course of wine and dinner and talking. All in all it was a lovely dinner and I'll definitely be returning, next time I'll hopefully leave some room for dessert!

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Elite '08

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allie c.

New York, NY

5 star rating
07/07/2008

Totally loved it! The food quality is just as good as Cafecito. I ordered the same thing. Skirt steak with chimichurri sauce. Brought my own bottle of Cab which made the dinner even more pleasant. I loved that we had the only table next to the window with the pretty plants outside and the cool breeze. I really did not feel like i was in the village. Had that nice relaxing Cuban vibe. Adding this place to my regular go-to spots!

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61

Ben L.

New York, NY

5 star rating
07/06/2008

I am inexpert in Cuban food, which you may want to consider. But also consider that I wasn't hungry when we came here. And yet, everything I tasted was good: a steak pan-fried in garlic and onion, then shredded and served with rice and black beans. Incredibly flavorful for how simple it seemed. I also got fried plantains, which were amazing. Crazy bananas. I appreciate food culture that sneaks dessert into dinner proper.

It's BYOB.

Five stars because I wanted nothing. The staff was painfully friendly, satisfying my hydroholism at every turn. The weather was nice and the front was totally opened up to the street. My only regret is that I ate no tres leches, pig though I am.

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94

Renee C.

New York, NY

3 star rating
07/17/2008

based on the superb reviews of this restaurant, my roomie and i decided to give it a try.  cafĂ© cortadito is definitely a small restaurant- there were probably 6-8 tables in the front room and maybe 8 in the back.  we got put in the back room, which was fine until a big party of girls showed up.  it might be the acoustics of such a small room, but their loud voices seemed to amplify and my roomie and i couldn't even hear ourselves talking let alone hear what each other was saying.  i had the vaca frita, she had the churrasco. the food was alright- it didn't blow either of our minds.  my roomie was appalled that the meal didn't come with fried plantains so she ordered them separately.  i personally enjoyed the beans and rice more than my main dish.  maybe all the hype about this restaurant raised my expectations to unattainable heights, but i was kind of disappointed when i left.

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mr. and mrs. p.

New York, NY

5 star rating
07/06/2008

Cafe Cortadito was fantastic.  Everything we had was great.  I especially loved the mini-Cuban sandwiches and the shrimp.  I was shocked when I saw the bill---so cheap (even considering the BYOB!

We eat Cuban a lot, and I dare say this is the best we've had in NYC.

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Elite '08

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Tori K.

New York, NY

4 star rating
05/05/2008

Homey Cuban fare at reasonable prices. BYOB to a point.  Don't expect to order a few appetizers, and drink the endless bottles of cheap booze you smuggled in under your jacket..it's muy rude of you to linger while customers are waiting for your table.  Besides, you don't want to be remembered as that  "El Cheapo" date now do you?

Ok enough ranting... Hands down...THE BEST "HOMEMADE"  TRES LECHES.  I ordered the vegetarian plate. The maduros are amazing,  and I am happy to report, the rice and beans ((do not)) contain lard.  Wonderful presentation, lovely dishes and glassware, gracious owners and service in a colorful, yet dimly lit Caribbean setting.  It's obvious that the convivial owners (Patricia and her husband )  put  a great deal of time, care and effort into their little Cuban jewel on east 3rd.

I love the festive mural scene on the wall in the front dining room, the clean open kitchen, the lush plants on the windows, the wood furnishings,  the citrus scent  in the cute bathroom, and the individually folded disposable hand towels ( ok so not green) but a sweet touch. I peaked into the back room that accommodates larger groups, however,  I am not quite sure how many tables are back there. You must call to reserve as it is booked solid on the weekends.  I can't say enough good things about charming cafe Cortadito.  Thank you Patricia y tu esposo for being such gracious hosts..next time I have to try your Yuca fries that so many others here highly recommend.

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13

Megan G.

New York, NY

5 star rating
05/16/2008

This is my favorite restaurant in NY, and my go to place for all occasions; dates, celebrations, guests in town, recommendations to friends/co-workers and more.

-affordable
-beautiful but comfortable atmosphere
-very friendly and gracious staff
-best yucca fries
-amazing steak
-BYOB! ($10 corking fee)

My only complaint is there has been some clientele has been obnoxious and taking advantage of the BYOB aspect on occasion. Wish I could either keep this place a secret or send them off to Bar None where they belong.

Don't forget to make a reservation!

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Elite '08

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Julie K.

New York, NY

4 star rating
06/17/2008

4.5 stars

what a lovely place to hang out with friends or a date!!

I enjoyed my company..  and food at Cafe Cortadito..
it's tiny tiny tiny little restaurant..  with dark candlizing atmosphere..

Yuca frita con cortadito salsa (fried cassara fingers with cortadito salsa) for appetizer, Churrasco (grilled skirt steak with chimichurri salsa) for me, and Camarones Enchilados (Shrimp in a creole sauce) for my food coma partner.

my skirt steak was perfectly cooked (medium rear) and ideally harmonized with salsa sauce..  kinda garlicky but since me loves garlic (hey, I am a Korean.. I grew up with garlicky Kimchee), me could handle it very well..
my friend's shrimp was fresh enough!  well..  actually, I don't exactly remember it..  me was so busy with my steak..  'slug'..  
after finishing my steak, there's no way to have desserts..
goshhhhh!  those food!  perfectly entertained my belly!!

our waiter had the most SEXIST + darkest + lowest voice!  I had to tell him (after half bottle of wine..  girls can play with boys.. right?)..  he told us he got lots of compliments about his voice, especially through the phone call..  

me loves BYOB concept!  
luckily, my friend had a good taste of wine (he was in charge of the wine), it couldn't be better!

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N D.

New York, NY

3 star rating
07/06/2008

Stopped by tonight for the first time to have dinner. We sat in the back room where I really enjoyed the decor and cozy feel. For a moment, I felt like I had left the city and was on an island in a house turned restaurant. Great little ambiance.

I had the croquetas de pollo and churrasco and my friend had the bistec de palomilla and a side of maduros.

I can't speak to my friend's dishes, but here's my rundown of my meal.

- Toasted buttered bread - loved that it was toasted and warm. But whatever they used to butter the bread tasted more like margarine or that fake butter on microwave popcorn or at the movie theater. Certainly can't be good for you.
- Croquetas de pollo - liked the crispy, crunchy coating on the outside and would have loved if a mozzarella stick was inside. The salsa served w/ the croquettes was spicy and flavorful and really helped the dish. The croquette filling itself was okay. I didn't really taste the chicken and I wasn't a fan of the mushy texture.
- Churrasco - steak was cooked well...still tender and easy to cut. If you read any of my other reviews on Cuban places, you'll know that I LOVE chimichurri. Unfortunately, I was underwhelmed by Cortadito's recipe. It was a little murkier than I liked, too salty, and was heavier on the oregano than parsley. I prefer my chimichurri with more vinegar, and wasn't getting that in their version.

Our entrees were served with rice & beans, but it was just one small bowl of beans for both of us.

While the food wasn't bad, I wasn't knocked of my feet and prices are little more than what you can find elsewhere.

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Elite '08

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74

Jason H.

New York, NY

4 star rating
04/03/2008

I'm torn on what to give this place... it was 4 stars for food but definitely 3 stars for service.  I decided that the quality of the food was most important seeing as this was the only time I've been there and the poor service might have been an anomoly, so 4 stars it is.  

It is a very small and cute restaurant.  Nice for a date as long as you don't have noisy table neighbors.  

After reading about this restaurant in some food publication a while back, I finally made my way over there with a friend.  I had been craving cuban food and decided last night was the night to trek on down to Alphabet City.  We ordered the chicken croquettes to share as an appetizer, she got the shrimp dish, and I had the skirt steak with chimichurri sauce... then we waited, and waited, and waited.  Finally our entres come out.  Wait, what ever happened to the croquettes???  I ask the server who relays the question to our waitress... several minutes later she comes over and says, "Sorry about those croquettes, I've taken them off the bill."  Um, obviously you are taking them off the bill... but what about giving us some croquettes here?  

We didn't press the issue since our food was sitting in front of us and looked delicious.  Both dishes were delicious (I sneaked a shrimp).  My steak was flavorful and tender and the black beans were cooked perfectly.  I would have appreciated more rice choices, but the white rice did the job.  

I'll definitely come back here... and next time I'm bringing 2 bottles of wine (to avoid the $10 corkage fee) and making sure the waitress repeats our order back to us.

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R. S.

New York, NY

4 star rating
04/01/2008

This place is pretty great.  The dining area is a bit tight and the music a little too loud but still the ambiance is nice.

BYOB Beware:  there is a $10 corkage fee for every bottle you open after two bottles.  

The food was great, I especially recommend the Ropa Vieja.

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Elite '08

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Scott R.

New York, NY

5 star rating
02/17/2008

Awesome little Cuban restaurant just east of Ave. B - b/w this, Bodeguita Cubana, and Cafecito, Alphabet City is becoming a go-to place for great affordable Cuban food.  I'd say Cortadito is the nicest of the three on decor (if a little generic vs. Bodeguita) and tied with Bodeguita in terms of food.  Bodeguita wins out on value.  Might be tough to get a seat during peak hours but it's worth the wait or seeking it out on off-peak hours.  

Loved the yuca fries appetizer (~$8).  I find yuca to be a little bland and heavy but these had a nice, light taste especially when coupled with the salsa verde,

The churrasco steak (~$15) was fantastic.  A nice-sized strip steak (at least 12 oz.) that was really tender.  The chimichurri was super-garlicky.  Loved it.  Could still taste the garlic an hour later.  It would be a travesty to pop in a stick of gum before this taste has run its natural course.

I liked the camarones vieja dish (~$19) was good but didn't measure up in taste or value to the steak.  Four jumbo shrimps atop a layer of sweet plantain and what I think was a type of bread.  The creole sauce was good on flavor but could've used more heat.

The side of maduros (sweet plantains) were great.  Then again, I always love these.  Not a huge portion but much cleaner (less greasy) than many I've had.

Oh, and it's also BYOB!

Highly recommended...and apologies to Courtney P in advance for telling anybody else about this place :)

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Elite '08

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83

Chris H.

New York, NY

4 star rating
02/04/2008

I've been to this small Cuban cafe twice.  It's a cute little place, but the results have been inconsistent.  There aren't many dishes on the menu, so you have to pick carefully.  Some of the dishes make you think you're ordering steak, but the in actuality it comes out as shredded beef that's tasty, but just unsatisfying because, well, you ordered steak!  Learned lesson:  Don't Expect Steak Unless It's One of the Most Expensive Menu Items.

I ordered a Cubano the second time, as part of my ongoing experiment* on which Cuban restaurant has the best food (theory:  whoever makes the best Cubano means that they would most probably have the best food, since the chef's talent would spill over to other dishes).  This Cubano was probably the worst of the three or four Cuban places I visited.  Tastewise it was just okay, and it wasn't that filling either.  Good thing we ordered appetizers.  

I think if you want good food here, you might have to stick with the more expensive menu items, probably the two or three most expensive ones, which kind of defeats the purpose of having a cheap menu because, in effect, it is basically a menu with only two or three worthy items, as opposed to a cheap place with an expansive menu.  

We had a decent time, though, when we went (despite long waits), partly because it's with a big group, and going with friends always adds a layer of fun.  And, most importantly, it's BYOB!  That's always a huge plus, and I'll add an extra star just for that reason.

*Apparently it was Arthur O. that inspired me on this

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Scarlett S.

New York, NY

4 star rating
02/20/2008

If only this place wasn't in alphabet city. Cute little place, great music, and food. We ordered typical cuban food, croquettes, yuca frites, ropa vieja, and steak with chimichurri sauce. Everything was good, except the croquettes were in the fryer for too long. Tender meats, authentic sauces, (unlike, read review for "Ideya"), and believe it or not many places can't make black beans the right way. The flan was okay. Authentic, inexpensive, great service, great food, overall great place.

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Elite '08

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Arthur O.

Brooklyn, NY

4 star rating
12/06/2007

Update: I guess Cortadito can be inconsistent.  Went the other night and most of us left unsatisfied.  One of my friends even claimed sickness from the Fish of the Day.  1-star downgrade to 4.

--- --- ---

Usually, when I have to wait upwards of 50 minutes for a table - even if it's 8pm on a Thursday for party of 5 without a reservation - OUTSIDE the restaurant, I get cranky.  I may start flipping the dishes around and toss the silverware, maybe give the hostess some hard time, you know, or heckling the lagging patrons.

But not at Cafe Cortadito.  I have to admit I started to get a bit itchy for a tantrum, but once we got the word that our table will be ready in the backroom after the departure of a group of, well, elderly folks, my attitude adjusted itself right quick.  

The place is tiny - and so are the portions on some dishes - but they make up for the inconvenience of long waits and small portions with friendly and attentive service that makes you feel comfortable in addition to the great tasting food.  And yes, I haven't even mentioned that it's still BYO.  BYO, baby!

Armed with 5 bottles of wine for the 5 of us, we lived it up in the backroom.  Our waiter, Sergio (in the picture), not only took care of us at the restaurant, but gave Steve F. and his GF pointers on where to go and what to see in Argentina - they are there right now, battling bats in their hotel room and card-eating ATMs.

I got the steak and it was a generous cut and cooked perfectly to order (med-rare).  A couple of my friends got the shredded beef and they were disappointed with the serving size - but not with the taste.  The shrimp dish was also small, but delicious.  The plantains were Mother Theresa good.

Next time I visit I'm going to check out one of the sandwiches.  I hope they'll continue to be BYO.  One of my favorite places in the city.

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Maria L.

East Elmhurst, NY

5 star rating
02/19/2008

I love this place!

Very sweet, cozy Cuban restaurant! Great food at inexpensive prices!  Their skirt steak is phenomenal! That with a nice glass of BYO red wine!  And finish off with a tres leches dessert - you'll die and go to heaven afterwards! Good for any occassion - date spot or dinner with friends!

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Paul K.

New York, NY

5 star rating
02/24/2008

Best Cuban food I've had in the city (granted, I've only been to Cafe Habana, which has the great corn this place doesn't have).  My friend had the Shredded Beef in Creole, and I had the grilled skirt steak in Chimichurri - done to perfection and absolutely delicious!  BYOB.  I only wish they had sides other than rice, beans, or plantains.

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Rina V.

New York, NY

4 star rating
02/17/2008

It's a bit of a trek -- and despite having reservations, we had to wait 30 minutes -- but the food was fantastic.  The red snapper (a special) was delicious, and the fact that it's BYO makes it even better!!

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Nic B.

New York, NY

5 star rating
12/04/2007

Super cozy, my boyfriend and I came here one day for lunch and absolutely loved it.  The wait staff was so helpful and the food was so fresh.  Perfect date spot :)

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Courtney P.

New York, NY

4 star rating
09/28/2007

Sssssh! Please do not tell everyone about this cheap (or should I say inexpensive?), wonderful, friendly, laid back, BYOB Cuban restaurant. If you tell people, then they will go and eat all of those $8 steak sandwiches (which I have decided have MY name on them) or the yummy steak chimichurri, or the fantastic crispy plantain fries. They will take one of the few tables in this tiny itty bitty friendly space. And then there will be no space or pineapple salad for me.

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Kevin T.

New York, NY

4 star rating
12/04/2007

Very tiny place, not much room to wait for a table, but it is worth the wait.  The food here is great, very reasonably priced, with entrees less than $15.  Nice, friendly service, good ambiance.  I'm no cuban food expert but I have been to a couple and this is one of the best.  It's also BYOB!  Would definitely come here again.

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camilla c.

New York, NY

4 star rating
02/18/2008

I thought this was going to be a 5-star review... it was one of those places I walked into that I immediately fell in love with.  And yes, I did love this little gem of a place but I can't give it that extra star... at least, not yet.  I wasn't thrilled with my choice of entree (fish of the day, red snapper with some tomato-based sauce with hardly any kick to it) and they did not have my favorite Cuban dish (lechon asado - slow-roasted pork dish that i simply adore and am still on a quest to find in the city).  Besides the above two points though, Cafe Cortadito was great.  Good value (esp since it's a BYOB which means I won't go overboard on mojitos or wine), cute / quaint vibe, and solid food.  

My friend and I split the mini beef emanaditas to start... these were surprisingly not that greasy... good apps to split.  I ordered the fish which was a bit disappointing... it was a generous portion of fresh red snapper, but the flavoring of the sauce was not that great.  I don't know what I was thinking... ordering fish at a Cuban restaurant so it's probably my bad... but the waiter had advised me to go with the fish when I had a hard time deciding b/w that and the vaca frita.  Should've read some of the Yelp reviews before going... esp Arthur's review RE: his friend getting sick after the fish of the day (oh well, lesson learned).  My friend was wiser and ordered the pork chop, which we both observed was surprisingly moist for pork and well-seasoned.  The black beans that come with each entree was quite good, as well as the side of fried sweet plantains (one of my favorite side dishes of all time and impossible to resist).

Go check this place out now... esp while it's still a BYO (they applied for a liquor license about a month ago so I'm sure they'll start serving alcohol any day now).  Oh, I believe there's a small back area for groups.  I still need to check out  Bodeguita, but I'll definitely be back to Cafe Cortadito soon... esp considering how much I love Cuban food and dining in the E.V.

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Rita L.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
11/04/2007

Love it!

Came here to celebrate sister-in-law's birthday last night.  The friendly wife of the husband and wife pair who own the place agreed to squeeze in her reservation if we were prompt.  Couldn't be more glad because the place was perfect for the occasion.  Oh so yummy food, great atmosphere, and friendly folks!  

The place is so tiny and cozy, you almost feel like you're eating in someone's home.  Our waiter was friendly and hospitable.  It's BYOB, and in case you forget, there's even a wine shop a few blocks away where you can pick something up or ask for delivery if you let your waiter know what kind of wine you want and the price range.  Great!

Food was fantastic.  We shared a bunch of appetizers - standouts include the yucca fritas and the chorizo sauteed with onions and peppers.  Husband had the ropa vieja - great taste and tender.  Birthday girl had the vaca frita - pan-fried shredded beef with a great flavor.  I got to taste both and had the churrasco - a slab of skirt steak (yum... meat...) with some really fantastic chimichurri sauce that made the dish.   Dessert did not disappoint - both the flan and the tres leches were a perfect, sweet end to the meal.

Overall:  The folks were friendly.  The look, warm and laid-back.  The music, lively and perfect.  The food was very, very yummy.  What else can you ask for?

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Karen Y.

New York, NY

4 star rating
09/20/2007

I went here with a small group last night. The service is excellent. The flan was amazing (firm, as a previous poster indicated, not runny). My ropa vieja was very flavorful. The rice was delicious. Also, the avacado/pineapple salad was great (guanganco?). I had a bite of the roast pork bocadito -- with a touch of a hot sauce, it is an amazing mouthful of (greasy) flavor. I loved it. Prices are super reasonable. I'll definitely come back.

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Britt K.

New York, NY

3 star rating
02/22/2008

BYOBs are my kind of place.

I know 3 stars sounds rough, but I am expressing my opinions in relative terms.  Yes, the atmosphere is elegant and well-executed and the wait staff is attentive and courteous, but the food just wasn't that great.  The Yuca Fritas appetizer was quite tasty, but the cilantro dip tastes exactly like the one available at Trader Joe's, exactly.  In this sense it didn't feel fresh and home made to me.  

Though I am a vegetarian and haven't tried the meats, there is no excuse to serve a poor salad, and no excuse to not offer any vegetables as an entree, or even as a side dish.  The menu is heavily weighed on rice, beans, plantains and meats -- so if you're a carnivorous carb lover, negate my arguments.

I had the Guambacoa which included Cajun-like shrimp, (plain) tomatoes, purple onions and a sherry vinaigrette dressing.  Nothing too surprising there, but the dressing was just far, far too sweet.  My friend had the avocado salad and it was essentially a whole avocado sliced-up nicely, with a few leaves and the same dressing.  Both were average at best.

It is an ideal place for a nice, yet casual date.  The lighting is flattering and the ambiance makes it feel a lot more posh than it really is.

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Michael L.

New York, NY

4 star rating
09/30/2007

This is a tiny place, first come first served, with a decidedly cozy feel.  The server was super nice, and it's BYOB, which I love.  They were kind enough to point me in the direction of a nice wine shop while I waited.

The food was excellent.  I'm not connoisseur of Cuban food, but I thoroughly enjoyed the meal.  Prices were very reasonable as well.

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Micah K.

New York, NY

4 star rating
01/07/2008

i was shocked that there was no one in the restaurant at 12 on sunday for brunch.  maybe i shouldn't be spoiling my luck by posting this on yelp, but that would almost defeat the purpose of yelp's existence, right?

cafe cortadito had been on my list for a while and i finally got around to trying it out on sunday after leaving the sunburnt cow because the music was WAY too loud and the interior WAY too dark for a sunday brunch, so off to cortadito it was.  this place was worth the wait.  it was everything i hoped it would be: a small, intimate cuban joint with delicious food.  the eggs and chicken croquettes were fantastic.  served along with fried plantains and a salad with some citrus-type dressing, it was the perfect light brunch i was hoping for.  and, their cafe cortadito, which i guess is like a cuban espresso, was amazing.

next time: dinner.

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Lija H.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
08/09/2007

I LOVE Cafe Cortadito.  My friend John lives just around the corner from this fabulous little gem in the East Village.  It was his suggestion last week when I requested small, cute and cozy.  
He did not lead us astray.
Cafe Cortadito is a family run place and everything about it is warm, friendly and fabulous.  Patricia & Victor are a husband and wife team and its clear they are putting everything into the success of Cafe Cortadito.  
The food - excellent.  The four of us sampled so many things on (and off) the menu.  Not a bad dish in the bunch.  I had been craving ropa vieja and it did not disappoint.  A salad with avocado and pineapple was my favorite.  
Cortadito is BYO for now, so grab your favorite bottle and head over.  Gloria & Victor will greet you and soon you'll make this place one of your regular dinner stops.

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Tarun D.

New York, NY

5 star rating
02/09/2008

as some of you may know, i have always had a very generous and loving relationship with sweet fried plantains. what can i say, it just keeps giving and giving. anyways, that's how i feel about cafe cortadito.

i have been here several times now and the food's always been great and well priced (i know other yelpers have complained about their inconsistent quality  but ive never had that issue). ive noticed they're getting more adventurous with the dishes they put on their menu - whatever, i love it all. i also totally enjoy the small restaurant feel that emanates from this place.

and it's BYOB. that can be a problem if you just land up when you're in the area (there is a wine store close by however). but if you're planning for a date or want to try out a new bottle of wine, it's just perfect. ooh, can't wait to go back.

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Elite '08

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chris r.

New York, NY

5 star rating
08/19/2007

i can count on my hand the number of places where i've instantly felt at home on my first visit.  cafe cortadito is a great new addition to that list.

there are about six tables plus four seats at the bar.  it's a small space but it never feels cramped.  it's great for a cozy and inexpensive date, but this wouldn't be the best spot for large groups.

the cubanito sandwich with it's tender pork, ham, swiss cheese, pickles and mustard was one of the best sandwiches i've had in quite some time.  it comes with some lightly dressed salad greens on the side, maybe so you feel less guilty when you keep eating the sandwich well after you're full because it's so good.

they don't have their liquor license yet, so at the moment it's bring your own.  if you don't feel like drinking they have different tropical fruit drinks:  guanabana, guava, and mango.

i don't even like flan because usually i don't like the texture or that it can sometimes be runny.  not the case here.  the flavor was bright and extremely fresh and after having a bite of it i wish i had ordered one for myself.  next time i want to try their tres leches cake.

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d c.

Oakland, CA

5 star rating
01/02/2008

i just uploaded the first actual pictures of food at cafe cortadito and they illustrate the food perfectly (aka i'm too tired to write about it right now).

and byob! as much as you want!  =5 stars.

i've also tried to get authentic cuban food last time i was in ny (didn't happen). and at this supposedly terrific hole in the wall in miami (couldn't find it, or found the wrong place). this definitely hit the spot.

good for crowds, or a romantic dinner for two. i'd definitely go back, and bring friends too!

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Elite '08

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Tina M.

Brooklyn, NY

5 star rating
09/13/2007

This restaurant is everything that is great about Alphabet City. It's situated on B and 3rd, close to several of my other favorite little restaurants.
They really did a great job with the decor. It's beautiful and inviting. If the weather's nice, try to get a table by the giant front window (with pineapple plants growing in the sill!!).
I got the cubanito sandwich and my vegetarian friend got the veggie one by recommendation from the waiter who was so nice! The sandwiches were absolutely delicious and so filling that we didn't have room for dessert, sadly. Next time I'd like to try and control myself and eat only half of the sandwich but with pork that delicious, who are we kidding?
Also, this is weird to mention, I know, but the bathroom is really nice. They have the super high quality paper towels/hand towel hybrids that you find at the Waldorf Astoria, etc... I thought it was really incredible that a little Cuban restaurant in Alphabet City was putting that much attention to detail, but it shows in every single aspect of the restaurant. The presentation of the food is meticulous as well.
btw: they are no longer BYO - my friend and I were offered wine.

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Elite '08

55

160

Lily T.

Brooklyn, NY

4 star rating
02/03/2008

we went through a lot of ridiculousness to make our dinner reservation*, but i have to say, it was worth it.  we BOOBed (Brought Our Own Booze -- spread it 'round) with lotsa wine, and our waitress was very timely in removing empty bottles and opening new ones.  the atmosphere of the restaurant is much nicer than you might expect from a BYOB spot, and the quality of the food matched.  first we shared some appetizers: chorizo (yum), empanaditas (yum), yucca fries (yum), and the ham croquettes which were the surprise of the night 'cause they were particularly yum.  for entrees i had the ropa vieja which was very flavorful, and i tasted my friend's oxtail which was also excellent.  all in all we had a really great dining experience and i definitely plan on going back.

*for those who are curious, this was the ridiculousness: first my friend made a reservation for 8 people at 7pm.  then when we found out we were going to have 9 people, he called to change the reservation and was told they couldn't accommodate a larger group, nor could they fit us in at a later time.  he canceled the reservation and suggested i call and try to make a reservation for 10 people, just in case they might decide they had room.  i called, someone picked up, and i said, "i'd like to make a reservation for tomorrow night."  "one minute," he says, and then puts down the phone -- and forgets about me!  according to my cell timer i waited for 7 minutes before giving up, and then when i tried calling back i kept getting a busy signal.  *finally* i got through, she asked what time i wanted the reservation for, i said, "well that depends -- i have a group of 10 people so whenever you can fit us in."  she paused for a moment, and then said, "7pm."  why on earth they wouldn't let my friend increase his reservation, i don't know, but we were seated comfortably and promptly, and like i said, it was worthwhile.

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