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Categories: Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch [Edit]
Neighborhoods: Fort Greene, Bedford StuyvesantFranklin Ave (C, S)
Mon-Fri. 8:00 a.m. - 10:30 p.m.
Sat-Sun. 9:00 a.m. - 10:30 p.m.
"I love this place. I generally come here for breakfast everytime I am in the area. The waffles with the raspberry sauce...incredible.…" read more »
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Brooklyn is, simply stated, a haven for coffee shop lovers. Gripes from ex-pat Seattleites (Seattleians? Does anyone care?) notwithstanding, there's a great selection of big, comfortable cafes with good-to-great coffee, free Wi-Fi (just try that in Manhattan) indoor and outdoor seating, and not horribly-overpriced baked goods, snacks, and chow.
And although my first visit or two to Outpost--hidden away on a bland, mostly ungentrified slice of Fulton Ave. near the Franklin Ave. stop on the C train--was a little shaky, I'd have to say that it now ranks near the top of my list. The counter people (I have an aversion to the word barrista) are generally really patient and friendly, and, most importantly, make ridiculously good coffee. (The one and only time in my life I was tempted to walk back up to the bar and exclaim, like an idiot, "Holy S%$ that's a good latte!" was at Outpost. I've since had to restrain myself from doing the same on subsequent visits.) There's also a solid selection of inventive baked offerings and the like--muffins, cookies, the obligatory but undeniably tempting red velvet cake. Like the coffees, nothing is particularly cheap, or ridiculously overpriced for that matter.
The prepared food is also surprisingly good; in some coffee shops the menu is clearly an afterthought (or an embarrassment) but at Outpost veggie chili, mac and cheese, sandwiches and salads, etc.--while in relatively limited supply each day--are fresh and carefully prepared. And unlike many other coffee shops, Outpost has a not-lousy selection of bottled beers and wines by the glass if y'all wanna get wasted.
The room is, of course, on the "funky" side, with distressed, retro, mismatched tables, chairs and couches (and customers) and usually not *terribly* over-crowded, especially when it's warm enough to open the back patio, which captures the same general, relaxed, hipsterish (but not unpleasantly so) vibe as inside. There's free-wifi ("with purchase," as their network trumpets) and the music selections vary with the umm...barristas...I've heard everything from seriously heavy stoner sludge-rock to Phish in a 30 minute block, but the jamz are generally kept at a reasonable enough volume to check your Facebook in peace, or egads, do some actual work on your laptop. (The exception to this I've encountered is in the evening, when the turntables and mixer that usually go unattended are in full swing. Totally different scenario when that happens.)
Other pluses: they open pretty early, and stay open pretty late, and there are two really pleasant and clean bathrooms. In addition, they take their napkins/stirrers/milk/sugar table seriously. It's not a disgusting mess, Starbucks style. Minuses: Not great if you're in a hurry, and there's a $10 minimum for credit card purchases.
See you there.
I should really like this place, but I don't. They are located a few blocks from where I live in Bed Stuy, and their coffee is pretty great. They make a killer iced americana and their homemade hummus tastes amazing on an everything bagel. They DO have a very cute backyard dining area and play good music about half the time.
However, I often opt to go to BushBaby down the street for the following reasons:
It takes ten minutes for a cup of coffee, the service is friendly but verrrry sloooww. God forbid the person in front of you orders a sandwich, you just added five minutes to your waiting time.
The patrons are mostly the newbie hipster kids that think their shit don't stink - dude brah, when I'm trying to read while waiting in line, I don't wanna hear about how you threw up at the "****" show last night ... it ruins my appetite.
They run out of soymilk alot, and that bothers me as I can't drink coffee without it (ok, so this ones a bit more personal but it bugs me)
I suggest checking it out for yourself, maybe its some peoples cup of tea but not mine.
Pros: wifi and usually easy to get a seat. Garden seating.
Cons: service is just too damn slow and the coffee is hit or miss. Sometimes it's a decent cup of joe and other times it's mud. I also think the fact that they expect you to bus your own tables and collect the
food from the counter and leave a tip is too much.
Neat looking place with solid good food at a good price (though watch out for $10 minimum on card purchases). I had the salmon & cucumber sandwhich and really liked it. Upon looks, it was simple...but the smokiness of the salmon and the coolness of the cucumber and on a baguette: delicious! Great and fun place. And the juices from the juice bar are phenomenal! Try the grasshopper (Ginger lemonade). Yum.
I like the layout of Outpost and their food and coffee is pretty good. Overall, a good spot. I have a few gripes, but mainly it drives me nuts that their music is so loud and even worse, it is not at a consistent level between songs. I've seen a few times when people get startled after the music is quiet then suddenly gets loud.
This won't keep me from coming back, and overall I am happy Outpost is here. The backyard is nice, too.
I live pretty much directly behind Outpost and can't stand the place. The coffee is OK, not amazing and the sandwiches and pastries are adequate. Ever since the day I moved into the neighborhood and started going to Outpost I have found the staff to be generally unfriendly, stand-offish even, but that doesn't really surprise me given the hipster nature of the place.
What really infuriates me and has caused me to never go back is the loud music constantly emanating from their backyard, particularly on warm-weather weekends when they have live music and parties that often stretch until 3 or 4 o'clock in the morning.
Whenever I have called to complain, their usual way of dealing with me had been to be argumentative, or simply ignoring me. Once I called at two o'clock in the morning, a man answered and as soon as he realized I was complaining about the music, he put the receiver down and the phone was busy for the next hour. Meanwhile I called the cops, who said they'd had many complaints about Outpost and would send a car over to quiet things down. I have no idea whether or not they actually did. At around 3:30 the place quieted down and I was able to get back to sleep.
In New York bars with back patios have strict rules about when they need to close them and move people indoors. Outpost routinely ignores those regulations. I hate this place because of the disrespectful manner in which they treat the surrounding community and urge people to patronize other establishments.
I want to LOVE Outpost. Nice place to sit with some great outdoor space. Reliable internet, lots of outlets. Simple, reasonably priced food and coffee. Usually great music. It's kind of amazing that it's staffed so poorly. There's one guy who's notably competant, but otherwise, beware of any food that needs to be prepared - ask for some red onion on your bagel, and risk having it diced in chunks the size of small grapes.
I've worked in retail, and appreciate that sometimes things get slow and you chat with co-workers, but sometimes there's a line, and the folks behind the counter literally STOP what they are doing to chat. No number of customers seems to create any sense of urgency. I often order one or two items, say black coffee and a bagel, and the counter person will get distracted by their conversation and have to ask again what I ordered. Sometimes more than once?!?!
Normally, I just kind of deal because I like the actual space and vibe, but now they have hired an EXTREMELY LOUD TALKER. I sit in the very back, by the speakers, and even with a pretty noisy crowd, I still have to hear the long, self-absorbed, profanity-heavy stories about her family and her exploits outside of work.
I am fascinated how bad that makes the whole experience. Do they actually go out of their way to hire a**holes? I would pay more for self-service. Actually, I could get the stuff myself in half the time. Very weird.
Outpost is the cafe I really want to love. I live in the 'deserted' neighborhood it's located in, and as an unemployed bum on the search for good coffee and wifi (I have internet at home, but I love the change of pace and scenery of a coffee shop), Outpost seemed like it might be a winner.
First impression when I walked in? Chill atmosphere, room to relax or make it a quick drink at the bar, lots of local papers and such, great general indie vibe that is slowly trickling into the Clinton Hill neighborhood.
The coffee I had there, both an iced coffee and a latte, were pretty darn good. The latte was creamy and nicely done, the iced coffee, I don't particularly remember anything about it, but I'm sure it wasn't weak. I've also tried the yogurt with granola and apples, and the loaded salmon bagel. Both of these were pretty yummy as well, but a bit on the high side of prices.
My biggest complaint about Outpost, and the main reason I haven't gone back after my first two visits (one, a quick to-go coffee and snack, the other a sit down, enjoy the afternoon) is the music. Not what they play (most of the indie stuff they play, I like) but the volume. EVEN IF I enjoy the song, it's usually BLARING. But, if I want to listen to something on my laptop, I literally could not hear it, with headphones, over the music. Volume level should not cause headaches. And volume level turns me off from going in there simply to enjoy coffee. I'm sure it varies upon whose working there, but seriously, turn down the music, folks.
Outpost Cafe vibe = hipster hipster hipster.
the coffee was fine, but nothing to rave about. the music was LOUD - fine if you are there to hang out, but not ideal if you want to read or write (or type). The internet was out when I went (maybe this was just an off day, but that was pretty annoying), and the staff was not very friendly about the internet being out.
I did like the space and the communal feel (people were very cool with sharing tables and maneuvering computer cords and outlets). and it looked like there was a good backyard area to hang out. But all in all, this place was kinda eh.
First of all - this place is in Clinton Hill. Not Bed Stuy or Fort Greene. But whatever.
Being the only coffee house within a hungover stumble length away from my apartment, I wish Outpost was better than it is. The bagels are doughy and the coffee is just okay.
But the worst part is the people who work there. Not everyone I'm sure, but for the few times I've gone in, each one is rude and acts like they'd rather be talking about what things are now uncool because they're cool.
If you enjoy hipster attitude and long to be treated like you're bothering people who are too busy pulling up their skinny jeans to take your order, go to Outpost. You'll love it.
good food. good drinks. good friends. let's eat.
coffee is consistently potent and fuels me through the day (unlike other bed-stuy cafes). food is quick and delish. their rotating events provide for some awesome local nightlife. they've taken care of being out of stock of any food product and if they are, they definitely take note and nip it in the bud. the owners are not the kind to be backstage; they work amongst their employees. all around, a place i will continue to frequent.
thank you, outpost. thoutpost.
Outpost is literally my neighborhood cafe, only a block from my apartment. The atmosphere is soothing with interesting decor. I've been many times and have found the staff to be predominantly friendly and helpful. Good food and coffee as well. Sometimes the volume of the music exceeds the acceptable limit for a coffee shop vibe. If you are planning to get some work done before heading out for the night, don't go here past 6, when Outpost tries a little too hard to live up to its hipster ideal.
The Outpost Cafe is cool. Free wi-fi = cool. Ok coffee = cool. Outdoor space = cool. Brie and green apple sandwich = very cool. By the looks of the crowd this place screams super cool (the kind of cool that I am not), so I feel a little out of place generally. I can't handle all the coolness, so I can't go too often. I live along the "busted stretch of Fulton" that Scout S. mentions and I honestly don't know where the Outpost Cafe-goers come from. I never see them on the street. I presume they trek in from Coolville. I'm not even cool enough to know where Coolville is.
P.S. The Ryan Ketchum artwork is incredible. Beyond cool. Even too cool for Coolville.
Good coffee, beer and wine, good food, good price, a garden, free wifi.. and it's not too far from my place. Plenty of outlets for computers, and tables.. though they fill up with people early and can stay that way. The first time I ordered food the order got screwed up, but it was still tasty. The coffee is good, and they serve it in a glass or mug which is a nice touch and a nice contrast to the normal paper cup mentality of most coffee shops. The tables and chairs are a little wobbly and ramshackle.. but it also adds to the 'charm.' There are definitely a lot of 'hip' types there, but that's unavoidable at a place like this.. especially in Bed-Stuy. The music is normally good. It literally is an Outpost, when you exit you remember you are in a neighborhood that is in transition.
Love Outpost!
I go there probably more than I should actually... Good coffee and tea and juices.
Service can be spotty, but I've found the people that I click with and try to avoid the people who are vapid and inept. I will say the guys seem to be light years ahead of the girls that work there. The girls during the day will ignore you until you make pay attention to you--they'd rather talk about their music careers... OK, so it's really only one girl that I can't stand. Love love LOVE everyone else!
Oh, and the Chili Mac is GREAT!!!
Outpost is a great little joint out in the middle of nowhere and it's one of my most favoritest coffeeshops in Brooklyn. Here's what makes it great:
-Damn good coffee
-Damn good bagel w/ lox
-Bright, spacious interior and a peaceful back garden
-Located out in the middle of nowhere (= smaller crowds, less commuter traffic and no shrieking children)
-No table service (order at the counter and come and go as you please - no pressure)
-Free wifi and plenty of outlets
So if you don't mind a bit of a walk it's worth checking out. I'm going to assume you live at least a few blocks away because the immediate area is sort of a ghost town...
Delicious beans! The "Ring of Fire" is the roastest with the mostest, give it a try.
It's located on a busted stretch of Fulton. Not really a place you'll stumble across unless you're looking for a tune-up, oil change, or McDonalds. Mellow atmosphere. Bagels are nice and chewy -- fresh from the oven tasting. Unfortunately I am compelled to subtract half of a star because the small coffee (to stay) is just slightly larger than a double shot of espresso, and refills cost a buck. The other half star was subtracted on account of the Grateful Dead album that was playing on my last visit. C'MON! I moved from San Francisco to get away from that bologna. No me gusta.
I love this place. Great coffee, and a relaxed artistic atmosphere with a backyard! Free wifi is always a plus and their hummus bagel sandwiches are fantastic with some unexpected spice. They even come with a small salad as a bonus. It's not cheap, but few cafes are, and it's always satisfying. Plus, what a brilliant name!
Nice vibe.. relaxed unpretentious, reasonable prices, and it has a garden..!!
I had a toasted bagel with cream cheese. It wasn't the best bagel but much nicer than I expected from a cafe. This could become a habit.
really gay
Yes, indeed, this is the best coffee in the neighborhood. Buy some beans from here and you won't be sad. Not as knockout puckering headachy strong as gorilla can be in the slope, but with the same obvious care taken in the house blend.
i like the mood in here a lot, i like the staff a lot. i like biking here. i wish there were a tiny bit more viable lock-up space outside for my bike, but what can you do? it's a nice destination on a sunny day.
the back yard is cool, but watch out for the gingko tree dropping some major stink back there.
i don't come here as often as tillie's because occasionally the general mood of smug beauty and affluence can be a little more apparent here amongst the clientele and it kind of puts a momentary bad taste in my mouth, whereas i feel like tillie's invites a more diverse crowd different ages, types, shapes and sizes, transplants as well honest-to-goodness residents. but, i readily admit that i could change my mind about all that if i just hung out a little more.
also, props for trying to do a movie night and an open mic like every other self-respecting brooklyn establishment must at one time or another try to do. i haven't been to either and i have no idea whether they are well attended or any good, but A for effort. and thanks for the good coffee drinks and a little bit of solitude!
Coffee is the elixir of life.
It took me a while to get there and I am glad I finally did. Outpost has everything that one needs to get work done. 1) Affordable beverages and grub; 2) space; 3) free wi-fi; and 4) lots of of outlets.
In fact, it is the best overall spot within my get-toable area. It has a very congenial and laid-back atmosphere and the patrons were not overly-hipsterfied -- thank goodness.
Too bad it isn't within walking distance and I have to catch the bus to get there. If it weren't for that, I'd be there every single day.
I really like this place. I often go to coffee shops because I do all of my work on my own laptop and hate working from my apartment.
This place is warm and friendly. The staff is very friendly. I had a double espresso and later a chai latte. Both were a sheer delight. It is too cold for me to work in the backyard, but I will be back when it warms up to blog in the back.
I will definitely be coming back and telling my friends about this place.
I'd give it five start but i haven't been there enough times. Compared to most NYC cafes it's pretty cool: the atmosphere is good, there's a little racial and class diversity and they have a great soundtrack playing in the background. On the downside: too many people working on their computers. Luckily they have a back yard for the gabbers and people with cute dogs (and no dogg poop was spotted!)
Also, the owners are cool. I didn't realize I was talking to one of them when I told a guy I thought the name implies a certain Fort Apache consciousness, He shrugged it off and said it was really a positive take on creating a cool space for all kinds of people in their hood.
i give outpost cafe 4 stars.. would be 3.5, but i am an optimist and so i will round up. fresh juice and coffee are wonderful here. the service is very friendly, and for the most part very cute. my favorite to eat is tomato and mozzarella or brie and green apple sandwiches. I recommend avoiding the curry chicken salad.
sometimes it is hard to find a seat.. people seem like they camp out with laptops. sometimes the service is a little slow. but overall, the atmosphere is fun and relaxed.
Update: Today I left all my cash in another wallet and didn't realize it until AFTER my coffee was made and waiting on the counter for me. The guy behind the bar said "no big deal, just get me back at a later date" and that was that.
Now that's how you treat your customers if you want them to keep coming back!
Yea, you get five stars, Outpost Cafe. Cuz I kinda love you. You're directly behind my house, a… Read more »
This is the business I imagine myself owning someday soon. Homey, comfy place to chill. They have something going on every night-movie night, PBR special night (I will never jump on that hipster band wagon), sangria on Sundays, etc.
Their iced tea was really good, and i had a blueberry muffin that was very yummy and fresh. LOVE the outdoor seating and the free wireless. You have to go to the bathroom while you're here too, so cute.
This is hands down the best overall cafe in the area. It opened just a few months before I moved into the neighborhood and I have been a loyal customer ever since. I've tried other cafes (Tiny Cup, Bush Baby, Brown Betty, etc) and the Outpost just seems to give me what I need consistently unlike the others, meaning decent prices, vegetarian options, wi-fi, plenty of comfortable seating space, friendly service, cleanliness and a good vibe. The fresh juices, coffee, veggie chili and soups are well worth it. Oh and unlike other cafes they don't charge extra for soy milk, which I could never understand why places do!
A perfectly fine place for a chair, table and laptop to sit while you sip yer coffee. Coffee has a nice burnt taste, but not BURNT. Appreciate ceramic cups for drinking in, rather than wasting paper.
It is blustery today, but the back garden area looks like it would be a great bonus, and maybe earn more stars.
I love this little cafe. There aren't many interesting places in this neighborhood outside of the typical pizza-halal-fried-chicken-chinese-buffet places. Good coffee, free wireless internet, very gay friendly. My FAVORITE part is Monday: Sangria, DJ, $1 PBRs, and no cover. The staff are very friendly and down-to-earth.
As far as food, I recommend the Iced Tea; Sangria; and the Pear, Fig and Goat Cheese Salad.
I like to move around a lot when I have to do work I would rather avoid. Coffee shops with Wifi are good locations for such behavior. I trekked over to outpost a few weeks ago (Tillie's was packed, jerks) on a sunny day and found it to be wonderful. No one bothered me as I drank my iced tea and nibbled on my bagel for 3 hours. The atmosphere was bright and sunny with practical tables for laptops (mac of course, we're in Brooklyn, are we not? Doesn't everyone have a BFA here?). Anyhow, as for getting grouchy work done, this place is perfect. Lots of juices and basic food. Lesbians. Ironic tattoos. You know the deal. It may be tough to snag a seat, but after a few vigilant minutes I got lucky. I think it's a lot easier when the back garden is open.
I went here yesterday with a few of my friends and I love it! I ordered a tuna salad on bagel which came with a side a fresh salad that was affordable. The decor/ambiance was very vintage rustic which is unique. I felt comfortable right away! The staff were the best! The next time I go there, I will sit out in the garden.
Outpost is a great addition to the Clinton Hill neighborhood. They recently added more food options - salads and other sandwiches, and now serve beer and wine. Great interior and nice backyard as well. The only drawback is that sometimes the service can be a little slow if you go on weekdays.
Free Wi-Fi and I think they do movies, DJ and art shows as well
As a newbie to the area, I noticed Outpost about a week ago and put it on my list of places to visit. I had a chance to stop in for lunch today and was not disappointed.
I ordered a coffee and a brie and green apple sandwich. The coffee was delicious, however they forgot to make my sandwich. After waiting about fifteen minutes, I went up and told them. It came out within a couple more minutes and was incredibly delicious. It was served with small cut up pieces of apple and a tiny cup of warm caramel sauce. It was certainly worth the wait. And at $5.75, it was a very good deal. Everything on the menu is very reasonably priced.
Though it was a nasty, wintry day, it was pleasant to sit and look out on the back patio area and the neighboring backyards. I look forward to coming here in the spring time and enjoying the outdoor space.
Super cute spot for yummy drinks and munchies. Cool mixed crowd, comfy ample seating (inside & out back), weekly events and really nice staff. Sadly, I always forget about this place, but whenever I drive down Fulton and I'm not busy I stop in.
Love it!
I like this place- really nice design, and comfortable, with good food and prices. wish they had pots of tea. Great place to bring someone. Don't know why I wasn't getting much work done there- maybe the music was too good. Glad its there at the Clinton Washington stop, it really seems an outpost going that way on Fulton. Neighborhood is obv changing.
Is this place closed, or just hard to find? I think I was in front of it (1014 Fulton), but it looked like it had been closed for a month or so. If anyone knows, of course I'd try again and update this review.
Great lil coffee shop. Actually, it is kinda big. Character, atmosphere, and solid coffee at typical prices. Cozy and comfy with plenty of seating options: in/out/chairs/couches/etc. Friendly staff and a great location based on the fact that there are few other places like this in this neighborhood. The hot chocolate is average and the bagels I have found to be fresh. The macaroni I'd stay away from and other pastries are all decent.
Overall, great place to hang out and chill with a few friends, a book, or the free wifi. Downside - music can be distracting. It is usually too loud.
Oh yeah, this is a coffee shop, and the coffee is very good. The tea is too. They usually have a bunch of regular tea's and a special or two. This place is a must if you are a local. No other place like this around and the owners are especially nice.
It's really overrated. There were a bunch of little men in tight shirts enjoying their powerbooks together, but my experience was nothing special. My bagel with green olive cream cheese took 20 mins cause the guy wrote down "green olives" and the other counter boy didn't know what that meant. I probably could have enjoyed my tardy food better if the music hadn't been so disjointed, going from Cat Stevens to some Daddy Yankee shit then worldbeat yoga snooze. Maybe if I liked coffee.....
This has basically become my local cafe. A friend introduced it to me and I've been going ever since. It's friendly, the food is good. I wish that the music was a bit quieter since I go there to write, but at least the music they play is pretty good. There isn't much around my area so the Outpost was a welcomed addition to my life.
Free coffee or tea!
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