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Smooch

4 star rating
based on 14 reviews

Categories: Coffee & Tea, Vegetarian, Wine Bars  [Edit]

Neighborhood: Brooklyn/Fort Greene
264 Carlton Ave
(between Dekalb Ave & Willoughby Ave)
Brooklyn, NY 11205
(718) 624-4075
  • Price Range: $
  • Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
  • Parking: Street
  • Attire: Casual
  • Good for Groups: Yes
  • Good for Kids: No
  • Takes Reservations: No
  • Delivers: No
  • Take-out: Yes
  • Waiter Service: Yes
  • Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
  • Outdoor Seating: Yes
  • Wi-Fi: Paid
  • Good for: Breakfast
  • Music: Live
  • Best Nights: Sun
  • Happy Hour: Yes
  • Alcohol: Beer & Wine Only
  • Smoking: No

14 Reviews for Smooch

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Photo of Dominic R.

 

3

9

Dominic R.

Brooklyn, NY

4 star rating
04/10/2008

Hip and hidden, but not too much.

Cute little coffee shop. Tasty pastries and cookies. Delicious coffee and really good masala chai.

A little less clinical than Tillie's, further up DeKalb.  and super convenient if you walk down DeKalb to the train station.

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Photo of Anna H.

Elite '08

11

93

Anna H.

Brooklyn, NY

3 star rating
02/13/2008

So....I was taken to Smooch by a friend who really, really loves it there.  (It may have something to do with the fact that she saw Keri Russell there once.  That added many points for me, too.)

I was less than thrilled with my trip there.  Everything was too damn expensive! I don't want to pay three dollars for a mug of tea! It goes against my cheapskate nature.

We split a huge and good piece of vegan red velvet cake, which again, was expensive, but pretty worth it.  My cappuccino was pretty delicious, and had chocolate powder sprinkled on top.

It was quiet in there, with most folks on headphoned-laptops.  We parked in a sort-of comfy corner couch area and stayed there for a few hours...they let us sit and gave us no dirty looks. So that was good.

I guess I'd be a big Smooch fan if I didn't feel like I was getting a little bit ripped off.

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Photo of Meredith W.

 

2

3

Meredith W.

Brooklyn, NY

5 star rating
01/31/2008

Hippie soul food that far transcends the over-woked kale and tofu of my youth.

In spite of the narrow space and sometimes awkward seating, I'm all about it.

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Photo of Arthur O.

Elite '08

111

304

Arthur O.

Brooklyn, NY

4 star rating
09/20/2007

I mean, it's a little cafe.  Well, it's a bit more special cause they will serve you some alcohol.  Yes.  No!  Shuckz, when did we become all these hapless alcoholics?  Oh, yeah, back in High School, yes, I remember.  Trying to snag some half racks of Molson Ice ("Dude, Ice beers get you drunker faster, man!") at local 7-Eleven . . .

Anyway, the place is kind of cute, I suppose, in that I-Want-to-Open-Up-a-Cafe-with-an-Alcohol-License-i n-Clinton-Hill way, totally different from Tilly's traditional Coffee House stylings.

Yes, they have kind of a decent food selection, so you should check it out.  I do enjoy getting a little bite - a moofin or something (definitely get it toasted with some butter, since it's kind of dry and rough - out on their little benches before/after playing tennis at Fort Greene park.

Some of my friends like to take their notebooks and compute there, but I haven't been writing much of late, so when I leave the apt, I try not to take my boxes with me.  What does that all mean?  F if I know.  I guess I tried to get a bit Smooochie and failed or something.  Gimme another drink!

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Photo of Jesse N.

 

6

14

Jesse N.

Brooklyn, NY

2 star rating
08/03/2007

I believe the people who say they love this place and feel totally at home here.  However, I would never be friends with them.  This place just gives me the creeps.

Let's get this out of the way:  I'm almost positive that they advertise as being a vegan or vegetarian restaurant yet serve chicken, actual chicken made out of dead chickens.  I'm sure it's organic as hell, but still, I find that strange.

Other things that give me the creeps:  I don't like the decor, it feels stuffy, and one time I went there it was buzzing with flies like some organic hippie overpriced Ethiopian death camp.  

The tea tasted good.

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Photo of Lex A.

Elite '08

16

68

Lex A.

Bronx, NY

4 star rating
08/21/2007

Very simple menu, great brunch.

This is by far, my fave spot for brunch. I would recommend their eggs over their waffles which were nutty and grainy. And sitting outside is great but be prepared to cover your food from the flies. Also, it's a great spot to meet people you've never met or know through friends and just watch the passers-by.

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Photo of Jenn W.

 

8

48

Jenn W.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
07/16/2007

This was my first opportunity to just fucking relax after catching a red-eye from the West Coast and enduring the packed rush hour subway ride from JFK. And of course, all of this followed several days of no sleep because I'm retardedly irresponsible like that and once I get to drinking, I pretty much lose all foresight which presupposes the fact that I had any to begin with.

Anyway, as I emerged from the station, the weather in Brooklyn was perfect. Sunny clear skies and warm with a slightly cool breeze. I suddenly felt so alive! Strolling down Dekalb, I became reanimated as I snidely took note of what the poor saps back in San Francisco had to deal with: sunny clear skies accompanied by a freezing ocean draft. It's sad actually, to have to endure being perpetually mindfucked and cockteased by the elements. And here I was, going all the way and it was great. Smooch awaited like a post-coital cigarette. I ordered an omlette (organic!) and a beer (locally brewed!). Then I sat outside, soaked up the sun, ate, drank, and chain-smoked over good conversation. If living is like chasing that first high, Smooch was like trying a new drug.

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Photo of Jennifer S.

Elite '08

169

320

Jennifer S.

Brooklyn, NY

4 star rating
03/12/2007

Brunch was excellent. Some of the best tofu scrambles ive ever tasted. The muffins are delicious. The prices are good. The neighborhood is awesome and great to take a stroll around after enjoying your meal. fresh squeezed lemonade was yummy.  It was crowded but they made room for us. Very cute place.
Only downside is that its cash only

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Photo of Rozz N.

 

55

72

Rozz N.

Brooklyn, NY

5 star rating
10/16/2006

Now this is a vegan restaurant that I can get down with! My friend Kalalea opened this place several months ago, and it is truly the bomb! The vegan muffins are too die for (especially the peach/strawberry, toasted with a lil pat o butta), The breakfast sandwich with hummus is my staple, and the tofu sandwich which is called the "Vegan Goddess" simply makes me swoon.

This is vegetarian fare with flava, damn it! And I mean this in every since of the word! Located right in the heart of Fort Greene, people of all races, colors, and proclivities, make their way to this neighborhood joint. It's where you go to get your cup o Joe, read the paper, chat with a local, set up your laptop to do some work, or just sit outside in one of their comfy chairs and just watch the time pass. It's so lovely. I live in Williamsburg and commute to this place, ok? Dedication, baby.

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Photo of Deana S.

 

4

15

Deana S.

Brooklyn, NY

5 star rating
01/26/2007

So I can't scream and shout out about the great beer selection, but at least it had unusual and diverse choices.  The wine list was extensive with a few organic choices too but most of all, I totally loved the little, shoe less sitting area to the left of the entrance.  Who wouldn't want to stretch out, shoes off, warm coffee in hand, to flip through art books, to talk with their friends, or just pet the damn cute cow print wall hanging and upholstery?  

The bar tenders were very friendly, discussing the gems of the neighborhood with my friend who is thinking of moving into the area.  They told us about all of the other local bars and restaurants that they think we should go check out.  

We didn't eat any food, but the atmosphere alone is well worth it.  And the menu looks fabulous and affordable.

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Photo of seth n.

Elite '08

24

55

seth n.

NY

5 star rating
07/02/2007

love love love this place!  just a totally relaxed vibe cafe.  our waiters were just enjoying the beautiful weekend and not rushing anybody out of there.  which is really the main reason i go to a cafe with my friends, to relax, have a good conversation and a good coffee (which by the way the 12 latte, not 12$ just a name, is delicious with a spicy kick).   cant wait to go back on a lazy sunday...

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Photo of Ameena G.

Elite '08

139

201

Ameena G.

NY

4 star rating
02/08/2007

I'm beginning to understand why everyone thinks Brooklyn is so damn cool (at least everyone in Brooklyn thinks that)... it's these nice little cafes and shops that one can find on every corner (many of which seem to be supporting the organic cause - YAY!) Granted, this is not the case for all of Brooklyn, but it certainly was for Fort Greene where I was visiting a friend today. Now, like a dedicated Yelper, I did my homework beforehand  and checked out Smooch (where I knew we would be lunching). From the reviews, I was expecting a vegan place (which I personally find a bit scary). So I was VERY VERY relieved to discover that this was in fact, more than just vegan! True, there are a lot of vegan options, but they definitely used real milk in my hot cocoa (which was very good, btw). There was also chicken and turkey on the menu (of course, I don't know if they meant tofu masquerading as chicken, but I have a feeling it was actual organic chicken). Anyway, I had a FABULOUS lentil soup (was really good). My friend had the scary vegan burger, and I admit, I took a bite and I have to say, it was quite good. I was too full from my hot cocoa and soup to try the vegan desserts (which would have been really daring on my part b/c I really like butter in my cakes) but they looked good (albeit a bit pricey). So overall, a good experience and definitely worth a yelp shout out (esp. b/c 95% of the ingredients used are organic). The one negative thing was that the seating were not particularly comfortable... there was a seating arrangement on either side of the long narrow room where you could sit sans shoes, which looked nice but the seats were taken... Still, a nice little neighbourhood place with friendly service.

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Photo of Daisy L.

 

2

34

Daisy L.

New York, NY

4 star rating
01/16/2007
Photo of Josh H.

 

6

32

Josh H.

Brooklyn, NY

4 star rating
02/10/2007

Good coffee and snacks.

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