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Café Orlin
Categories: Food Coffee & Tea Restaurants Middle Eastern Restaurants Breakfast & Brunch Coffee & Tea, Middle Eastern, Breakfast & Brunch [Edit]
41 St. Marks Pl(between 2nd Ave & 1st Ave)
New York, NY 10003
Neighborhood: East Village
(212) 777-1447
- Nearest Transit:
-
Astor Pl (4, 6, 6X)
3 Av (L)
8 St - Nyu (N, R)
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Brunch
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
664 reviews for Café Orlin
Review Highlights
"The pumpkin pancakes were sweet, airy and delicious."
(in 112 reviews)
"i really liked the cinnamon yogurt."
(in 39 reviews)
"Great atmosphere, outdoor seating and awesome food."
(in 45 reviews)
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664 reviews in English
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Review from Lauren L.
1/23/2012 2 photos
I knew Saturday was going to be snowy but I really wanted to do brunch in the city as I had a friend in town. I also really wanted to go to Cafe Orlin since it's been on the list for a while and they have pumpkin pancakes. I read some other reviews in regards to brunch, about what is the ideal time to arrive so you can score a table right away, but you can't really plan that you've just got to go with it.
We arrived on a snowy morning, well afternoon at about noonish. I saw some people waiting outside and I figured there might be a little bit of a wait. When we strolled in and asked how long the wait would be for two, which now I think about it I should have asked what was available but I was assuming. Whenever she said we can seat you right now, I thought to myself where?! This place was jammin and every table was full. Almost all the tables had two people it, whether they be couples or girlfriends catching up. We were seated in the corner and it was a tight squeeze to get to the table it was well worth it.
We reviewed the menu, although I was already sold on those pumpkin pancakes. There were some other items that almost swayed me to order something else more in their fare of middle eastern food, but I held my ground. My friend ended up ordering the feta cheese and spinach omelet. All omelets are served with a side salad, home fries and toast. What was interesting about this omelet was that the spinach wasn't really inside but still whole leafs of greeny goodness begin exposed. She was obsessed with the side salad. She loved having it for breakfast!! Her omelet was a hit and she was very pleased with her order.
Now the moment I had been waiting for, the pumpkin pancakes! It was a huge stack of 3 pancakes smothered in cinnamon yogurt. It was definitely Greek yogurt as it had more of that tart taste. The pancakes were fluffy and melted in your mouth. The combo of cinnamon and pumpkin is always one of my favorite and with a little drizzle of maple syrup all was well in the world. The pumpkin flavor was there and maybe it's because I'm so obsessed I thought it could have been a little more prominent. I also ordered a side of home fries as these pancakes are left alone, they need a side of love people! The home fries, while I like mine a little more tender and burnt, these were dressed in rosemary, soft and tender to the bite.
We also had some cappuccinos, which they made look oh so pretty by giving the foam that swirl. For such a busy eatery, I couldn't believe how quickly the food came out. Also the service was exceptional and very attentive. So don't be discouraged on a weekend when you see how busy this little east village resto is. It's certainly worth the wait. You're best bet is to come as a party of 2 because seating larger parties there is tough. And for the record, we ate at about 12:30 and I was so full for the entire day. This meal was no joke and it was delicious! -
Review from christine c.
Covina, CA
2/8/2012
I give this place 3.5 stars - it is definitely a great value for the price. Came here on a thursday morning with my husband so there was no wait. I was really looking forward to the pumpkin pancakes that everyone seemed to be raving about but I was a little disappointed with the one note flavor.
The staff were all very pleasant and attentive. The bathrooms were clean but tiny.
Would recommend this place for the value and atmosphere. Good brunch place to go to with friends. -
Review from SeungHee N.
West New York, NJ
2/6/2012
I was looking for brunch. I found "cafe orlin".
I love this place!!!!!
I prefer "ORWEGIAN SMOKED SALMON". -
Review from Elle L.
Manhattan, NY
Updated - 2/5/2012 7 photos
went around 10:20-30am on saturday, and thankfully it was not as
crowded as it is in warmer days, and we got to sit anywhere we wanted.
service was quick and fairly swift, so we didn't wait much long to fill our hunger
got the brunch specials for around $14 each with a friend!
eggs benedict canadian bacon, poached eggs and hollandaise
eggs blackstone bacon, sautéed tomatoes, poached eggs and hollandaise
poached eggs were truly a masterpiece. as you slowly cut into the egg,
the yolk flows out onto the rest of the components and that alone just fills
your mouth with droooooooool !
i really loved the freshly squeezed orange juice, with little bit of pulp, very thick!
definitely worth the brunch if it was not for the family of four that sat next to us,
parents and two young kids that were crazily loud and annoying :)1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/28/2012
i was worried the place would be packed and lined up outside the restaurant,
but thankfully there was… Read more »
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Review from Linda T.
Los Angeles, CA
2/4/2012
Love this place for breakfast.
Best salmon eggs benedict, orange juice and cappuccino. Yumm! And it's so reasonable!
The only downside is that it gets pretty crowded, so it's best to go earlier. -
Review from Amy Y.
Manhattan, NY
1/26/2012
If I were to create a FOMC list , Cafe Orlin would be near the top. And that is the ONLY reason why I visited the restaurant for the first time, since my undying curiosity got the better of me. It was a great thing though, as I have now crossed it off my list, and do not think I will be returning again anytime soon on my own accord.
Tiny tables, cramped space, hungry brunch fiends peering at your food through the windows outside...
Pumpkin pancakes were the highlight of my meal. Unfortunately, there was not enough of that yogurt syrup goodness to go around all 3 ginorrrrmous slabs of pancake. SUCH great yogurt syrup.
Eggs benedict disappointed, but I'm hoping, hoping it was just a one-off fluke. Instead of warm juiy yolk that runneth over, we encountered what was practically a hard boiled egg atop the ham and english muffin. *Shivers* -
Review from Yasmin E.
1/24/2012
EXCELLENT FOOD! I got the Yemeni dish (slipping my mind) and goat cheese/spinach omelet. Both equally amazing. This place is cozy, not that much space. Our server wasn't the nicest (tall woman with thick glasses...Cafe Orlin hiring committee, get on it :) which is why I've rated this a 4/5. Otherwise, a great place to bring friends for Sunday brunch. Would be a cute, chill first date (this place's decor/ambiance iis pretty laid back).
Bon Apetite! -
Review from Alyssa M.
1/23/2012
Hmmm, was debating between 2 and 3 stars for this place. Once again, I feel Cafe Orlin is totally overrated! I ordered the poached egg and potato cake, and I will say the potato cake was quite yummy (and slightly greasy :-) ).
Of course I opted to add the mimosa for $6...but I just can't believe that this is an option for only 7 of the brunch menu items. If you buy this drink a la carte, the mimosa is a whopping $9/glass. I mean after you've gone places where you can have bottomless mimosas for an additional $6-$10 more, this place just seems a little crazy (especially considering the lack-lustler ambiance!)
The service was friendly and the wait was ridiculous for a weekday afternoon. Once again, not rushing back--too many other brunch places with better booze options. -
Review from Sharon L.
Manhattan, NY
2/4/2012
Brunch here is great and worth the wait. I got the poached eggs over potato cake with the smoked salmon. The eggs were perfectly cooked, and I appreciated the extra care taken to drain the water off before putting them on my fried potato cake. The cake was not too thick and fried to a nice crunchy texture. The smoked salmon was a nice salty addition to the dish as well. My friend loved her millet pancakes with home-made chicken sausage so much that she forgot to share. lol
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Review from John C.
Manhattan, NY
1/11/2012 1 Check-in Here
This is a great brunch place. But be prepared to wait for a table - this place is popular. The pumpkin pancakes are awesomely delicious. You can taste the pumpkin without it being overwhelming. And it is complemented nicely with a dollop of cinnamon yogurt on top of it. The homefries are solid and flavorful.
Service was pretty good and the environment was quite lively. I would definitely go here again! -
Review from S H.
New York, NY
1/16/2012
I am still feeling the satisfied effect of a great brunch. Came here after the gym ravishing and ordered the pumpkin pancakes and hummus while my friend ordered the salmon omelette.
I love pumpkin anything but these pancakes make the top of the list. Paired with light Cinnamon yogurt, it was absolutely divine. Even my friend who normally doesn't like pumpkin had seconds off my plate. The hummus was creamy and smooth. Everything was so flavorful down to the complimentary whole wheat toast provided with the omelette. Every piece of food was wiped off our plates and we were happily stuffed to our faces.
Pair the awesome food with a warm and delicious cup of chai latte or coffee or tea and you've just laid the foundation for a happy rest of the day. -
Review from Lisa Jane C.
Brooklyn, NY
Have been here three times in the past ten days and am convinced that this place can do no wrong.
The fried eggs with potato pancake from the lunch menu (got here at 3:55 p.m. last Wednesday - just made the cutoff!) were perfection - love how the potatoes were shredded and fried - reminds me of grandma's cooking.
The eggs Florentine today were also great. The roasted potatoes were incredibly well-seasoned. Just love spicy food, so these were heavenly for me.
Really have to start going to other restaurants, but this might be my new favorite place to eat in the East Village.Listed in: My Top Twelve of 2011, St. Marks is the spot!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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12/13/2011
Was in the East Village on a Friday night and decided to try the dinner menu. Heck, everybody has… Read more »
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Review from Jenny S.
post-new years SUNDAY BRUNCH that totally HIT THE SPOT for my hangover cure!
i heard Cafe Orlin is USUALLY PACKED but thanks to new years everyone was still in bed when we came! (NOTE: the guy on the phone said brunch starts at 9:30 on weekends but the website says they open at 830 on sunday?)
---GET THE HOME FRIES w/ YOUR MEAL.. salty grilled goodness, best i've had!
---breakfast sammie: just what i needed ESPECIALLY that buttery challah bread
---eggs blackstone (ordered by the bf): too tomato-y for my taste BUT ON THE PLUS SIDE it was one of the breakfast specials (which are all served w/ BOTH fresh squeezed OJ & a cappuccino)
food came out FAST, but then again the place was pretty empty which is never the case! so i'm glad i got to experience Cafe Orlin on this off-day!Listed in: BREAKFAST.. never skip it!
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Review from Emily G.
Woodbridge, VA
1/24/2012
Had best home fries ever (crispy bits of skin, hints of rosemary, not at all greasy, yum!), and overall wonderful brunch this morning. A lot of diversity in the menu as well. Only downside was the waiter didn't come back during our meal, leaving us w/o water for quite awhile. In his defense, they were slammed and his section seemed to span the entire length of the restaurant. Overall, was great eats, would reccomend.
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Review from Joe H.
I was actually surprised that there weren't that many people here. We went on christmas eve, so we kinda wanted to beat the rush for brunch. That meant getting there at 9AM. There were about 5 tables filled already but there was plenty of room.
If anyone's read my eggs benedict list, you don't really have to ask what I ordered. My girlfriend ordered the french toast.
The cool thing about this place is that they served fresh squeezed orange juice! This is a really nice touch, cause sunkist and random concentrate juices are not good. Another awesome thing is that they include tea or cappuccino. That's right... cappuccino. Screw drip coffee cause this is way way way better.
On first bite, I took one of their home fries. This is probably the 2nd best place for home fries I've had in north america. No joke. The potatoes were flavourful and soft. Reminds me of the ones at L'Avenue in Montreal. The potatoes are flavoured in garlic, onions and I think rosemary oil?
The eggs benedicts were so so... They weren't anything special or anything which is kinda a shame. They put a big piece of canadian bacon underneath the egg, but it's pretty thick (About .8 cm). Maybe that had to do with the overall experience. Also, the hollandaise is fresh, so that's always a nice touch.
Surprisingly, I actually really liked the french toast too. I'm not too big of a fan of pancakes or french toast, but they were pretty good in my opinion.
Overall, I can see why everyone loves this place. I would probably try something else next time. I wish the eggs benedict was better... but hey you can't be perfect ;-) -
Review from Amelia P.
New York, NY
1/20/2012
Recent change in management? Cause the service is starting to really decline. I've been coming to Orlin for 6 years, since I moved to New York. I've introduced it to all of my friends, and we've all been there regularly for years. Recently however, I was refused a side order of tomatoes. I got my coffee and juice halfway through my meal. I told the waitress I had been coming for 6 years and that they had always given me a side order of tomatoes. She just shrugged and walked away. Other friends of mine are noticing the shift too, and we've gotten to a point where we just don't go anymore because of the grief we get. Disappointing.
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Review from K C.
Glastonbury, CT
12/21/2011
This is by far the best brunch in the area. The chicken sausage is always delicious and the poached eggs are cooked to perfection.
The drawback though, is the popularity of this place which makes it rough to wait when you're starving! -
Review from Chaya A.
Manhattan, NY
1/6/2012 1 Check-in Here
Millet pancakes (gluten-free!) as a special on the weekend are worth the queue that oft forms out front! The espresso coffee is spot on, they have soy (yay!) and all the egg breakfast options on the menu are great. It is light on the grease and big on the flavor. Great for a lazy weekend brunch!
Note: Order a side of the homemade chicken and pistachio sausage...mmm or the potato cakes! (or both if you are a greedy bunny like me) -
Review from Harmony I.
Brooklyn, NY
1/9/2012
I was worried on my approach to this place, considering how many people were standing outside waiting for a table for brunch. Cafe Orlin is a lot larger inside than expected, and my wait was only 10 minutes. I ordered the goat cheese, spinach and tomato omelet which came with perfectly toasted rye toast and a scrumptious homemade potato salad - the way potato salad should be; light on the mayo, full of flavor and perfectly tender potatoes. My omelet was one of the best that I have ever had. I got to wash it all down with a Bloody Maria (made with tequila) and the waitstaff was super fast and we had a very short wait for the food. Excellent brunch location, it is no wonder this place is always packed.
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Review from Lu H.
Once for dinner and twice for brunch here so far, and planning on more. I have not been disappointed yet with this place.
For dinner, they accommodated a table for 10 last minute for a late Saturday night dinner. The chicken braised in red wine with vegetables was delicious and generously portioned, and the kumquat mojito was the winning drink of the night.
The brunch menu has the classic benedicts and omelets, but there are items with a Middle Eastern twist that make this place a special brunch experience.
Last time I was here for brunch, we got the following:
The MALAWACH brunch special consists of two eggs any style with Yemenite fried dough, tomato sauce, and a side green salad. The eggs come out on top of the fried dough, which is light, slightly sweet, and completely addictive.
The TUNISIAN EGGS are eggs over easy over sauteed peppers & tomatoes with homefries. This is a a relatively "safe" choice if you like traditional brunch but want to try something a little more exotic. I did wish the sauteed peppers and tomatoes had more flavor - it kind of tasted like mild salsa. If they improve the flavor, this dish would be great.
We shared the PUMPKIN PANCAKES WITH CINNAMON YOGURT - and it was amazing. I'm not huge pancake person, I will almost always choose eggs over something sweet. But these were SO GOOD. Most of the time, pumpkin flavored pancakes or waffles are not pumpkin-y enough. These were full of pumpkin flavored goodness, and that cinnamon yogurt was so delicious. Just sweet enough that you don't need to add any maple syrup. The yogurt was so good that we asked for more so we could eat the last few bites of the pancakes with it. They kindly obliged.
Not everything was perfect - the chicken sausage is skippable. I was tempted by the pistachios in it, but the sausage itself was pretty dry.
The restaurant was bustling for brunch, so our waitress sometimes disappeared while she ran off to help other tables, but I didn't experience any issues with wait staff like some other reviewers.
Definitely looking forward to coming back. Not sure if the pumpkin pancakes are seasonal, but I hope they're around all year.Listed in: Brunch it up
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Review from Christina T.
Manhattan, NY
1/19/2012
Solid brunch place. I got here at around 10:30 with a friend so there was virtually no wait, the place was packed by the time we left though. They have great drink specials with lots of choices. The interior is much like a bustling diner, but the place is pretty spacious. My friend and I got the Pumpkin Pancakes and Eggs Benedict. The pancakes were perfectly fluffy and whatever cream it came with was a match made in heaven. I'm crossing my fingers those weren't seasonal! Had fun catching up with my girlfriend here.
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Review from Barrett L.
Philadelphia, PA
11/28/2011
I came here for brunch with the BF and a friend from college this past weekend in the city. Ironically, she found it by yelping for brunch locales in the East Village and I'm so glad we ended up here. This non-pretentious, neighborhood favorite has all your favorite brunch staples, plus a bunch of non-traditional mediterranean-inspired dishes that will please brunch purists, adventurous eaters, and foodies alike.
I was pretty hungry when I arrived, and I had just come off of a lackluster brunch from this past weekend, so I stuck with a traditional favorite: steak and eggs. My hanger steak was cooked to perfection: medium rare, juicy, and flavorful. It paired well with my over medium eggs and rye toast. The BF went with the salmon salad (delicious, he remarked), while the friend opted for straight up eggs. Truth be told though we did have a hard time arriving at what we were going to eat, as not only everything on the menu looked delicious, but so did the plates of food that the other diners were eating.
With a reasonable price point ($15 for my dish, the most expensive on the menu, and an Americano, not including tax and tip) and a pleasant neighborhood ambiance, it's no surprise that Orlin is as popular as it's reputation, but luckily for most diners, it never feels particularly crowded (it's probably because most of the clientele is waiting to dine al fresco on the narrow patio outside). A solid alternative (but not substitute) to the madness of brunching at Veselka. -
Review from Ashley B.
1/10/2012
Cafe Orlin is charming and the waitstaff is very pleasant. However, I just don't get the hype. Maybe it because I've only been for dinner? I had the goat cheese sandwich, which was very unimpressive. The veggies were cut extremely thick, making it very difficult to eat. The bread was pretty standard. Thankfully the price is right, otherwise dinner would have been a much bigger let down. I haven't given up on Cafe Orlin .... I'll just have to come back for brunch.
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Review from Jessica H.
Manhattan, NY
2/2/2012
Nice place, nice staff. I didn't like what I initially ordered, they took it back and brought me something else no problem. Great customer service! Loved the french toast.
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Review from Dennis L.
Manhattan, NY
11/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
First of all, I have to say that the food was amazing as usual. I had the falafel sandwich today and it was perfectly portioned with the vegetables and the french fries were crisp without being completely burnt. The food was great and everyone at our table enjoyed it.
So you must be wondering why am I giving Cafe Orlin a 2. Customer service can play such a major role in a dining experience. I can explicitly state which waitress completely brought our lunch experience down: taller brunette woman who had a couple tattoos made our experience horrendous. When she was taking our orders, she just asked us bluntly and coldly what we would be eating? There was no smile, no friendliness in her demeanor and, to put bluntly, she acted like she did not want to be there. She never refilled our water and when we asked if we could split the check, she threw down the receipts after she printed them, asking who had what when we were splitting.
I didn't understand because every other waitress and waiter I had talked to for change or who came to our table were friendly and completely accommodating EXCEPT for the waitress who was actually serving us. We were just so fed up with bad service that we barely tipped her. Good customer service warrants a good tip and I have to say that her horrible customer service left me with a bad taste in my mouth once I left. -
Review from Emily W.
Manhattan, NY
1/15/2012
This is my go to brunch spot because they have the best eggs benedict! Something about the biscuit, canadian bacon, perfectly poached eggs, and the best creamy hollandaise sauce really works. It also comes with a perfect tiny glass of freshly squeezed orange juice. A glass of orange juice that almost made me go out and buy a juicer! The cappuccino is also good.
I have tried other brunch offerings from my companions' plates, but I will always find myself going back to the eggs benedict here.
Dinner here is decent. Many hearty pasta choices. May be a good option for big groups.
Service is eh. Not the warmest staff but decent. -
Review from Alexandra R.
Manhattan, NY
11/24/2011
Café Orlin is a high demand brunch spot for locals. It's under the radar, low-key and most dishes are $12 and under. Groups of good looking young singles gather here for yummy French Toast and Mediterranean fare including outrageous Yemenite Fried Dough. This plate of dough is actually not as heavy as fried carnival treats and tastes both sweet and salty. Def something you should order a side of- just for kicks.
Food to get: (to see photos click on the link to my blog listed under my profile)
-Breakfast Sandwich: Bacon, Egg, Cheddar on Challah Bun + Salad.
-Brioche French Toast and Maple Syrup.
The bright orangey walls inside are not doing anyone a favor, and if the weather is nice, snag a table outside under the peaceful awning. The restaurant is set back from the street providing great people watching on one of the craziest streets, St. Mark's. However, when the crowds roll in around 12:30 and stare your table and food down, be prepared to feel like an animal on display in a zoo. Come to Café Orlin for an easy, legit, good brunch or when you need to mix it up from your regular weekend hot spot! -
Review from Erica R.
Manhattan, NY
11/15/2011
I went to Cafe Orlin on a Sunday for brunch. We arrived around 1pm and waited roughly 30 minutes for a table, which we expected. The pumpkin pancakes were alright, but too sweet in my opinion. Request the cinnamon yogurt on the side, otherwise it may be overwhelming. The chicken and pistachio sausage was fried or something. To get a side of it meant you received three bites worth of a sausage cut up into triangles. Not worth it.
My biggest complaint would be that there are no free refills of coffee. WTF? -
Review from CUNYC S.
San Francisco, CA
1/13/2012
Continuing my quest to find the bestest Eggs Benedict in the world...
I found an excellent version of traditional Benny here! Hollandaise was an excellent balance of buttery and tart, with good consistency. The poach was also well done - not too runny, not too solid.
The service left something to be desired. It was an unseasonably warm day Thanksgiving weekend, and not wanting to wait for an outdoor table (hunger can get powerful), asked for a table inside near the window. There was only one that had just been vacated, so asked if they could wipe the table, set it up, etc. There was a bit of schmutz clearly visible even though the table is black. Hostess just took a dry napkin and rubbed on it. Then it took 10 minutes to get water from a busboy, another 5 minutes for a waitress to come over and take my order. Asked again for the table to get wiped, and again, a dry napkin just rubbed harder on the table.
So while the food was excellent, the service was kinda - crappy.
I will give this place another chance b/c of the food. There were several other menu items that looked excellent. Not to mention good brunch places in the EV seem harder to find than in WV, LES or UWS. -
Review from Erica J.
11/18/2011
Cafe Orlin is fantastic. Millet Pancakes? Fantastic. Even at busy weekend brunch days, you never have to wait that long. The staff isn't overly attentive, but who needs that when you have a delicious plate of creative brunch in front of you? I really enjoy the mediterranean inspiration sprinkled throughout the menu.
Minus one star for not feeding my caffeine addiction and having no free refills of coffee. -
Review from R Y.
Manhattan, NY
Brunch
So, before you read this place, I just think I am not a fan of Mediterranean foods in general. I had this flat bread that has been deep fried with eggs and salad. The Flatbread was a little too oily for me and waay to heavy.
My friend got a brunch dish that had a white yogurt like food with olive oil. Again, too greasy for me.
I think if you enjoy Mediterranean food, you'd enjoy it. For me, it was too oily, a little too salty and waay too packed and not worth the wait. -
Review from Christina H.
Delray Beach, FL
12/29/2011 1 Check-in Here
The pumpkin pancakes were not as moist as I would have liked. Ordered a side of bacon and it didn't seem that appetizing. Very fatty and served over chopped greens. Im huessing the greens were a garnish?? The curry split pea soup however was incredible! The beet salad was good just heavy on the dressing. Overall not my favorite breakfast joint but would try again for lunch. They get slammed after 12 so come early. Btw the fresh squeezed Oj was very tasty.
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Review from Suzanne L.
Ramsey, NJ
12/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
Very nice menu... posted outside so you can review it while you wait to be seated, and though there was a decent line outside, we got seated rather quickly. The atmosphere inside was great. Wait staff very nice. Food was delicious... health conscious and tasty. Organic egg dishes and a good variety of other types of foods. I had the arugula salad just because I had already eaten something before coming here unexpectedly with a friend, who got poached egg with smoked salmon dish, which was also very good. I have no complaints about this place at all and would go there again.
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Review from Tiffany L.
Brooklyn, NY
1/10/2012 1 photo
I went today for brunch with two other friends and I can say that we were all very happy with our meal!
I ordered the salmon omelette, my friend ordered the tunisian eggs with a side of chicken sausage, and my other friend ordered the steak and eggs.
Everything was very delicious (especially the steak and eggs!!) but i would definitely pass on the chicken pistachio sausage. (it was dry!)
I will definitely come again soon! YUM! -
Review from Saul G.
Purchase, NY
1/10/2012
Not just for brunch.
Went for lunch and was pleased with the food and service.
A kielbasa and kale soup was savory and attractively presented in a large bowl. This was followed by a lamb sandwich with a nice portion of fries. The lamb was well seasoned, and presented with grilled onions in pita, harissa on the side. My companion's vegetarian plate featured good portions of hummus and tabbouleh , both savory and well-prepared. I believe there was baba ghanouj as well but the plate was swiftly dispatched. The ambiance was casual and well worn, and suitable to the terroir.
Look forward to a return visit. -
Review from Michael B.
Manhattan, NY
11/7/2011
Exotic and extremely tasty.
During brunch this place is PACKED, and for good reason. I went about 1:30pm and we still had to wait 15 minutes for a table.
I'd definitely recommend getting one of the Mediterranean-flavored dishes. The hummus/yogurt stuff was amazing, and my flavored eggs were super good. The flavors are quite exotic, and they all really mend together well. -
Review from Alice C.
New York, NY
1/8/2012
Solid brunch fare and very inexpensive. The lamb sandwich was delicious with perfectly seasoned and tenderly cooked meat (just wish it wasn't balled up in the middle of the pita). The order came with lovely crispy fries, which were really satisfying, but wish it also came with a small bit of salad (if just for the greenery). Service was friendly and prompt.
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Review from Devin D.
10/31/2011
Brunch, my all time favorite meal. Cafe Orlin scores the coveted 'best brunch I've had since I've been in nyc (1 month) for it's price' award. And believe me, I've had A LOT of brunch in only one month.
A bit of a wait for a table of six (30 minutes), but there is the conveniently located coffee bean shop across the street if you need your fix while you wait. Once seated, service was great, food came out quick, and everything went without a hitch. Ordered the poached eggs over potato cake, served with smoked salmon and some greens. Sounds soooo simple, but OH so delicious. All of the components on the plate just mish mashed perfectly into one harmonious and satisfying mess.
At only 15 bucks a person, I'd say it's definitely worth the wait. -
Review from Maggie M.
Orange, NJ
11/17/2011
Brunch is why I look forward to the weekends. The whole brunch experience is awesome - eating breakfast food @ 2pm with family and friend with no concept of time (not really but fantasize w/ me). Brunch is cool and its even cooler at Cafe Orlin.
My boyfriend and I arrived about 1:30pm on a sunny fall Sunday. At first we were a little intimidated by the growing crowd spilling onto the curb of St. Marks, but I refused to let the fear of the hipster syndicate stop me from the much talked about pumpkin pancakes! We fought through the crowd and put our name on the list and joined the crowd on the curb.
In 15 minutes we were called and seated outside. I ordered the pumpkin pancakes with some Canadian bacon, while my BF ordered the Tunisian Breakfast - eggs sunny-side up with home fries, pita and some sort of spicy relish.
The pumpkin pancakes came with cinnamon yogurt on top with a twist of orange on the side. I like the pumpkin pancakes as there were light and fluffy but I have to agree with the reviewer below as I too thought the pancakes were too sweet and the yogurt was overwhelming. The bacon was good as I expected.
My BF eggs were tasty. The home fries were like nothing we had before! If you are expecting IHOP home fries go some place else cause these potatoes were the truth especially with the spicy relish.
The inside of the cafe was very rustic...it did kinda feel like i was in an old french cafe...there were alot of people but it wasn't so crowded that you couldn't walk.
Overall the service was pleasant and efficient and the food was good, so I will definitely be back next weekend to live out my brunch fantasies, but until then I will have to enjoy my lukewarm coffee and blueberry donut. -
Review from Allison J.
Henderson, NV
12/16/2011 1 Check-in Here
Good, solid neighborhood spot. I've been coming here on and off through the years. The pancakes are delightful and the eggs are cooked just right. But.... the service doesn't come with a smile. On a recent visit in November 2011, our server had an attitude that was as cold as ice. S/he was pissy dispite the fact we had no special orders or requests. Oh, s/he was nice to some folks, just not us. A little too clique-y for my taste.
