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Fall Cafe
Rating Details »
Category: Coffee & Tea [Edit]
Neighborhoods: Carroll Gardens, Gowanus307 Smith St
(between Union St & President St)
Brooklyn, NY 11231
(718) 403-0230
- Nearest Transit:
-
Carroll St (F, G)
- Hours:
Mon-Fri. 7:30 a.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Sat. 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Sun. 8:30 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
- Price Range:
-
$
- Parking:
- Street
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
20 reviews for Fall Cafe
I found Fall Cafe by accident and am so glad I did. This no frills cafe has an amazing house blend and for $2.50 you get unlimited refills which makes a caffeine addict like me very happy. Their menu is small but sufficient with breakfast sandwiches, oatmeal, granola with steamed milk, as well as lunch sandwiches and soups.
They offer free wifi and it is the perfect place to chill out with a newspaper or to study. The laid back atmosphere is inviting and there is no pressure from the staff to leave. I will definitely be back and wish it was on the walk from my apartment to the subway so I could go every morning.
This place can be an excellent neighborhood cafe at times. The space is nice, and the location is great. Sitting outside on the benches when the sun is out can be a great simple respite. And they do have a great rotating display of art from local artists that is actually worth looking at.
But honestly, if you get the wrong staff/counter person that can ruin the whole experience. And I know that can be said about most any place, but the few times I had some real "winners" serving me, I felt like just leaving and canceling the order. Heck, I've done that!
But past that, when the staff is decent the place is decent.
This place caught my attention because the name is from one of Albert Camus novels. The coffee is actually pretty good and the beat up chairs add to the charm.
The staff actually seem to enjoy working together, which is pretty unusual in the "Land of Weary Hipster Coffee Shops". I have never seen a staff member on their cell phone. Sometimes they seem tired, but I chalk that up to just enjoying life.
There was a new guy there last week, and when I walked away with my coffee, I actually heard him say "The customers here are so nice." Where else do you hear that kind of compliment from the staff?!?
Frankly, I don't really know or care how good the food and coffee are. The coffee is just fine (much better than Bagels on the Park, my other option during my morning commute). I go here because I like the way I feel when I walk out. Coffee shops are for hanging out and socializing, first and foremost - just ask Starbucks.
This place is great. Not pretentious, not overpriced, and no one is going to rush you out. I'm actually sitting in here RIGHT NOW as I write this, and have been for about three hours. The staff are very down to earth and the food is good. $2.50 buys you a mug of coffee with two refills, which isn't bad a'tall. Oh -- and they make a great hazelnut iced coffee.
I'll definitely be back.
I tried to like this place, I really did. Especially since for a long time (B.S., ie, Before Starbucks) it was the only game on Smith St. But all it did was make me pine for a Starbucks, mediocrity you can at least count on.
Is Fall Cafe pretentious? Well, if not putting any effort into the space is pretentious, than yes, they might as well have an urinal hanging on the wall. And that's the problem, it's not a place you'd want to spend much time in. The seating was all rescued from the curbside and most of it should have stayed there. It's like a hostel coffee bar, a homeless shelter with muffins and free wifi. But maybe you're just grabbing a cup on the way to the train? In that case definitely skip this place and hit the bagel place on the corner or Dunkin' Donuts.
Lol, I was here just today. I liked it. I don't want service. I sat on a lumpy red couch and didn't ever feel like I had to leave. I left of my own volition within the hour. But I would definitely go back. The guy even gave me a pen to write with.
The cafe was full in the middle of a Tuesday, and several of them seemed to know each other. One of them, the woman who sat down next to me on the couch, pulled the table over closer to her without asking. Not that I cared, but still. Fewer people like that would be nice. Everyone else was cool or okay.
saturday morning 9.30 am, location target, priority drill machine for girlfriend's new attraction towards hardware ... 11.30 am, location slope fitness, priority massage with morisha (fabulous) ...12.30am location fall cafe, priority to avoid carbs...
ordered: croissant (scratch priority off) brie (calories on an overdrive) and green apple (source of rich anti oxidant pure energy .. makes up for brie AND croissant! magical truly)
girlfriend ordered steamed scrambled eggs in a croissant - minus butter...
truly fabulous, healthy, unexciting to the tastebud kind of food...
did not order the cafe so would not know about the joe... was confused by the general "alternativeness"... it's very mainstream here... cute, v. cute... the sitting was tres uncomfortable
i am never going back but... i guess i should never say never... i've got nothing to complain it was interesting and nice.. hmmm
a bit of a ramshackle hole in the wall, with equally ramshackle people behind the counter, though this café is perfectly adequate for getting in a few hours of work on your laptop.
disappointed by the quality of the coffee - regardless of whether it comes as an espresso drink or a regular cup of coffee. it is weak and lacks depth and flavour. very middle of the road, so i find it a bit hard to believe that customers believe that they are being served anything more than an average cup. sorry.
since the café is right around the corner from my new home here in brooklyn, i imagine that i might stop by on occasion - though i'll be on the look-out for a better cup of coffee.
Great vibe, free wi fi. Food, not so hot.
Uncomfortable decor. Pretentious atmosphere. Apathetic service. Vegan cupcakes. And most importantly, BAD COFFEE. There's just no excuse for that in this town.
pretty darn good version of the typical 90's coffee shops where i wasted my time during high school...
i don't really like the drip coffee, but if you get an americano, you'll be satisfied.
i know that it sounds weird, because there's no real secret to it, but their toasted bagels with cream cheese, tomato and onion are the BEST. delish.
oh, and the breakfast burritos are good too.
and i almost forgot how great the music is! they always listen to good stuff :)
A coffee shop is a coffee shop is a coffee shop... but what sets the Fall Cafe apart from many cafes in Brooklyn is the consistently friendly staff. The coffee and food is just what you'd expect: good sandwiches and pastries, the usual coffee drinks, a few special items (egg creams!!). But while places like these may be a dime a dozen, super-friendly baristas can be hard to find. It affects the whole atmosphere of the cafe-- everyone walking out seems to be in a great mood.
I did happen to notice a sign on the bathroom door mentioning that the free wifi has limited hours, at least for the time being. Be sure to check up on this if you plan to head over here to do work.
Eh. It's your typical neighborhood coffee shop... if your typical neighborhood is in the middle of an eco-conscious, DIY, hipster world... At least their coffee is better than Dunkin Donuts'.
I moved here from Seattle where I was spoiled with Stumptown coffee roasters. Still, I knew there was something about Fall Cafe. Since I'm a West coaster I'll spare you the good vibe rhetoric but dude...Jonathan Ames & Dean Haspiel met here.
The Fall Cafe is everything it needs to be. It is really the only coffee shop in Carroll Gardens and it doesn't disappoint. The staff that work there are friendly but not overly friendly. Many of them have worked there for years, so it is always nice to see a familiar face. The cappuccino has just the right amount of froth and the standard joe is pretty alright as well. The baked goods are dependable and "the Dave" is sure bet for breakfast. The decor could use a bit of improvement, but we are there for the coffee not the couch.
I'm surprised so many people have given this cafe positive ratings. When I went there last week, the guy behind the counter was your typical weary hipster who took no pride whatsoever in making my mocha. The drink was one degree above lukewarm.
Yay, a haven open late amidst other amenities that seem to close at 7pm. Has a great selection of drinks and pastries, isn't too pricey, and the service is really jokey-friendly.
Every time I visit Brooklyn I stay within a few blocks of the Fall. There are plenty of other breakfast places in the area that are pretty good, but they're all pretty pricey, too. This being the case, the Fall is my standard wake-up spot. Every thing is very fairly priced and they have the best deal on a bagel with lox of anywhere I've ever been. The staff is friendly once you've been in a few times, just business otherwise. whatevs. A couple of the guys are in a great band called Balthrop, Alabama. The decor is definitely odd, and the seating area is often crowded, but if you can't deal with it take your coffee across the street to beautiful Carroll Park.
Fall Cafe is open late and a calm place to get your work done or perhaps sip coffee, being that it is a cafe. I'll agree that the decor could use an uplift and the lighting is a little harsh, but it has free wifi. i dont know if i agree about the baked goods being dependable. i was about to buy one and the man behind the couter told me he thinks it had mold on it and it was made last week so maybe i should get something else. ewwww? dont ya think you should THROW THEM AWAY if they have mold on them?!
