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    Cafe Esme

    3.9 (78 reviews)
    Closed 7:00 am - 4:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

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    CAFE ESME ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Quiet
    Classy
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Cafe Esme

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    Merry S.

    Cafe Esme is a cute spot by our neighborhood. The owner was super cool and friendly. I got the vegetarian sandwich and he offered to put pesto on half of it me which was really good. A little taste of everything. A lot of locals stop by. I also like the chill vibe here. The coffee is good I got one of the special ones with butterscotch. I'm a sucker for sweet beverage. More like dessert coffee.

    Menu
    Federico G.

    This cafe seems to get a lot of mixed reviews: some say it's great, others say they had a terrible time? The place is decorated beautifully with background music that is not too loud and allows for conversation. Keep in mind that it is on the smaller side so they only have 3 tables insides. There's also sitting outside which might be nice based on weather. We got the Fountain of Youth smoothie and it tasted very natural and balanced. Nothing like those overly sugary blends you can get at some chains. They do have free WiFi and even dog treats if you stop by while walking your pupper :D

    Café Latte and Almond
    M T.

    We made a little stop here for an after-breakfast ending. It's been here for a while, but even though it is only a 10 min casual walk from our place, we had never ventured in. We ordered a latte and almond croissant to stay. (I am all about 'to stay' and have a meal on real dinner ware) The almond croissant was light and flaky with a thin layer of creamy frangipane inside. Not the most amazing (of course nothing compares to pastries in Paris FR) but for around here, light and tasty. The latte was delicious - rich and dark and creamy with a strong, but not too heavy, coffee taste - nutty and cocoaey. This was a 5- latte! The barista and cashier were extremely pleaaant and welcoming. We enjoyed this nice little reprieve on the comfy green sofa in the rear. (Bonus - the baristas are really good dancers - quite entertaining)

    Ordering station
    Kylie N.

    Such a cute place! I was first drawn into this place because I saw the cute decor on instagram last year and was finally able to visit. The workers were very nice and wearing their masks. Me and my boyfriend picked the Revitalize and Energizer juices and they both tasted so fresh and fruity. For food we both got the Bruschetta de Poulet Panini. I was so happy this was on the menu because I love bruschetta and it did not disappoint. The price was a bit steep but there was a lot on the plate and we were both full by the end! We were also able to relax on the pretty couches because there was no one else there. We went around 1pm on a Saturday. Overall a great experience and I will definitely visit again and try new things from the menu.

    Ritesh S.

    Amazing decor, cool vibe, friendly staff and nice strong brew. Ordered latte, iced americano and loved it. Definitely gonna skip bucks and come here for caffeine fix if i am in Newport mall.

    Krs M.

    Rose latte is perfection made by the friendly barista who was so kind enough to help me decide what to get as soon as I walked in. Thank you for the great and warm service

    strawberry Crepes Maison
    Sanjna S.

    This place has a very cute aesthetic, lovely outdoor space next to a park and delicious coffee but their food items really fall short (and expensive). I had high hopes for this spot and came by here with a few friends but their food was quite disappointing. Personally I had the strawberry crepes which was not soft at all, rathery rubbery texture and overwhelming sweet. I was hoping they would be able to accomodate and make a savory egg/cheese crepe but they didn't allow that, I ended up ordering egg whites and cheese on the side that ended up being extremely salty!! I was so unsatisfied with my meal. My friends had the bruschetta sandwich and meat one which they found rather mediocre as well - they comments were similar in that for the price point they weren't so impressive. Furthermore, the menu states the paninis come with plantain chips! Nobody gave any plantain chips and it was towards the end of the meal when we realized anyways, but why was that missed?! Overall very unlikely to make my way here again, there are many little cafes around JC, I didn't think this made a mark. At most the coffee was great but was hoping for much better food.

    the interior of a bakery
    Mariam K.

    So pleasantly surprised with this adorable cafe! I love the location of it & the ambiance. The indoor area is a bit tight but it's nice they've got an outdoor area with tons of seating (& play area for kids). The sandwich I got with salmon&cream cheese tasted really really good and the latte was strong as well! Looking forward to trying more of their food menu items!

    "Filled" almond cream center?....Almond Croissant, $4 (good, but not worth it)
    Kristen G.

    Wanted to try the coffee here since it has such great reviews. Mine fell short. Delivery also took a long time. I'm not sure why. I ordered a large latte with almond milk ($0.75 more) and seamless made me choose a flavor, I didn't want one. I chose hazelnut, adds more to the cost. My latte was $6.25 for 16oz! Crazy! That's a medium at Starbucks btw. I also ordered a large cold brew for my boyfriend with almond milk ($0.75 extra) because seamless makes you choose a milk. And I ordered the almond croissant for $4 against my better judgement. What if I want coffee without milk or cream?? I wish that was an option and you didn't have to put it in special requests (which some places don't pay attention to). This is a Seamless issue though. Doesn't reflect my review.*** Anyway! The almond croissant turned out to be the best part of this order. It was a typical size croissant, nice and flaky. Soft and fresh. Not warm... if it was supposed to be? But I didn't mind. It said filled with almond cream. Mine was not "filled." But the almond center was sweet and tasty. Lots of toasted almond slivers on top. A little overpriced at $4 though. For that reason alone, I wouldn't order it again. My latte I thought would arrive hot since it didn't say iced. But it arrived iced! I also didn't get a hazelnut flavor...it was some strange super sweet minty syrup on the bottom that didn't mix in thank goodness because it was gross. I'm not sure what it was exactly but I don't want it again!! It's such a shame because I think the latte itself tasted pretty good, as long as I didn't accidentally sip some of the strange minty sugar syrup! Yuck. It was disgustingly too sweet. My boyfriends cold brew was $5.25...for 16oz. Again, that's a medium at Starbucks! This place is so overpriced!! Especially for Jersey City. Come on now. NYC prices. He said the cold brew is an "acquired taste." Something to get used to lol. I'm personally not a fan of it, it's ok but I've had better. I will not be reordering. Sorry. Glad others enjoyed their experience though!!! :)

    Latte
    Nicole W.

    Cafe Esme is a little touch of France in JC! This quaint cafe located on Marin Blvd makes everything from scratch and it smells sooo good inside!! I can't wait until the world returns to normal so you can experience the smell yourself! The staff is really awesome here and the atmosphere reflects it. The lighting is great if you're coming here to do work and there's sufficient work stations. I love the different takes from Lavender to Rose lattes because the taste was so different from anything I'd ever had! Definitely a Bushwick/Williamsburg feel of the arts which we need more of here! It's a very relaxing workspace and can't wait until your doors open again :)

    Omelet Au Fromage Plate
    Prianka S.

    Got the omelette with arugula salad and it was delicious! I loved the dressing that came with the salad, and the omelette had a bunch of vegetables and cheese. The matcha latte I got tasted really good too!

    a cup of coffee on a table
    Kristina B.

    I was looking forward to having Cafe Esme again because when I first tried it at a Yelp event back in March, I was really pleased with the experience. Unfortunately, my recent visit was pretty disappointing. My boyfriend and I stopped in a few weeks ago and ordered what we had last time: breakfast wraps and cappuccinos. When we opened up the boxes, we thought we got the wrong order. The usual chunks of ham were replaced with thin slices and there were no greens at all. They tasted okay, but the comparison pics make me sad lol. Cappuccinos were also okay, definitely didn't taste as strong as we remembered. Unsure if maybe they ran out of ingredients or changed up their menu since our first visit in March. Hopefully the latter isn't the case because if it is, then I'd suggest skipping out on the food. Other than the food, the aesthetic of this cafe is really nice and seems like a great spot to get some work done. Parking is a little difficult to find, but not impossible. You might have to circle around a couple times.

    Cappuccino
    Catherine H.

    Great food, great service, amazing food! Me and friends went and we had an amazing time will be visiting again! 10/10

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    7 years ago

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    3 years ago

    AMAZING! Best breakfast ever. Everything cooked to order. Definitely coming back if I'm in the area

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    7 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Food was so good and the service is incredible! The staff is so sweet! The food is fresh and the coffee is so delicious!

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    7 years ago

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    7 years ago

    Mediocre coffee and charged me $4 for steamed oat milk. Usually every other coffee shops charge a dollar or two for just milk.

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    4 years ago

    Delicious espresso, fresh croissants, friendly people, and contemporary clean boutique cafe decor. Will be back when I'm in the area.

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    The Sandwich Board

    The Sandwich Board

    4.4
    (72 reviews)
    2.6 mi
    $$

    The lap cheong mala wrap alone is enough reason for me to come back…read more Bolo bao sandwiches seriously need to catch on in NYC, since they're quite common in Hong Kong. This was my first time seeing one with roasted duck though. Just a heads up that the street felt a bit sketchy even though it's near the edge of Chinatown. We were unfortunately harassed by someone outside of the store and ended up giving him a few dollar bills... *Chinese Sausage Mala Wrap $10 ** The lap cheong was spread so evenly throughout that I got some in almost every bite. The mala aioli was quite spicy, but not overpowering or lingering. The crispy shallots added such a nice crunch too which I loved! *Duck Tsangwich $16 I was quite surprised that the roast duck skin stayed crispy! The crackly cookie topping could've been thicker since it was pretty flat. They give you chili oil on the side, but it was already super flavorful with the hoisin sauce. Only thing I wished for was more cucumber and scallion to help balance out the richness.

    Get the Mala Tsangwich, it's bursting with fresh flavors that really hit the spot for me -- nice…read moreportion of chicken (which wasn't spicy), fresh cucumber/greens, this tangy sauce that was to die for, all between two semi sweet buns -- felt really unique and satisfying to me. There's a couple tables to sit at and an unassuming window inside to place your order at, which gives it a fun little touch.

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    Interior
    Interior
    Takeout
    Takeout
    Duck Tsangwich

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    Duck Tsangwich
    Sal, Kris, & Charlie's Deli

    Sal, Kris, & Charlie's Deli

    4.7
    (1.6k reviews)
    7.5 mi
    $$

    Where do I begin??! First of all i must thank my Yelp buddy…read moreSuper K for recommending Sals!! Absolutely delicious subs!! Better than Katz and Carnegie!! Sandwiches are huge!! Its possible to share a sandwich with a friend. My favorite is the da bomb or pastrami. I love dipping mine in Italian dressing.... Service is great! Located in the Astoria part of NYC. You might have to wait but its worth it!! They don't take plastic!!! You need cash!! Oh yeah no place to sit ..so take it the park.. so after you eat you can take a stroll and not feel guilty!

    I was recently visiting NYC & knowing my for a top tier sub sandwich, I must try Sal, Kris &…read moreCharlie's. So I did, and ordered "The Bomb", everything except Mayo. Cut in 4 Here's the deal. The service is very professional. Takes a minute because they're extremely busy if you visit during the lunch hours. If you're a foodie and enjoy the view of fresh meats, cheeses, salads, breads, and sandwiches being made fresh..... then the ambiance was bliss. The fact it was in a common neighborhood made it even more enjoyable of a visit! Now to the sandwich..This sandwich itself DEFINITELY lives up to the hype! It really is the REAL DEAL!! Maybe they should change the name to "Da Bomb", because it's that's good! However, through no fault of anyone, this is the learning experience I take back for my next visit: 1) Extra lettuce, tomatoes, onions, hot peppers. Potato Salad IF extra hot peppers! 2) Bring reusable containers for your sandwich, especially if you're not going home/ hotel right away. Next visit, which will be my next visit to NYC, I intend to try the roast beef and turkey hero, extra lettuce, tomatoes, onions, hot peppers. Overall, I still rate 5/5. They do a fantastic job here. Service is awesome, food is fresh, and the amount of food they offer for the price is well worth it. Definitely worth visiting again and again!!

    Photos
    Inside and menu
    Inside and menu
    The Bomb - Split 3 ways.
    The Bomb - Split 3 ways.
    Sal, Kris, & Charlie's Deli

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    All'Antico Vinaio

    All'Antico Vinaio

    3.9
    (23 reviews)
    3.7 mi

    We are big fans of this chain. We have tried different sandwiches and the Mediterraneo was the…read morebest. But we ordered one at this location and the person preparing used a squeezer bottle for the Calabrian chili paste/oil and soaked the sandwich. We could barely eat it. There was almost no burrata - no fennel shavings just arugula. We could not even taste the prosciutto. So the sandwich was horrible. Why would you use Calabrian chili and apply like ketchup ?? We gave them feedback and asked for more burrata and they said they would have to charge extra. Even tho we showed them how little there was in the sandwich . We will not be back to this or any other shop in this chain. Bad food. Bad service. Bad combination.

    When we were in Rome, Italy last year, I noticed an All' Antico Vinaio spot, but there was always a…read morelong line of tourists, thus we avoided it. Little did we know that the famed sandwich shops are becoming ubiquitous here in New York city. There are already seven, maybe eight, and they're spreading across the country already in: Beverly Hills, CA, Las Vegas, NV, and Nashville, TN. I can understand the hype - The Tuscan bread, called schiacciata, is baked fresh and your sandwich is prepared according to a long list of Italian ingredients, all quite healthy and delicious (unlike greasy 7th Ave burgers which is another ubiquitous brand popping up all over the place). - - Anyway - - - My husband is a sandwich lover (especially Turkey sandwiches). Their version named "Venice Beach" loaded with turkey, avocado, mozzarella did not disappoint. The sandwich was so big we split it in half - I added tomato and basil to my half. Yummy! **Five Easy Stars** - - - Did you know that All' Antico Vinaio originated in Firenze, Italy back in 1991 by the Mazzanti family? Their son Tommaso had the genius idea to flaunt it on social media and the word spread - the rest is history! - - - Buon appetito! Grazie mille!

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    All'Antico Vinaio
    8/21/2025
    8/21/2025
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    Sunny and Annie's

    Sunny and Annie's

    4.4
    (601 reviews)
    3.1 mi
    $$

    ((4.5 stars)) Sunny…read moreand Annie's is very much a 24/7 neighborhood gem of a corner store and deli. it's packed with packaged foods--candy, chips, cookies, ice cream, soft drinks, beer, and a lot more plus the deli counter serves ups an endless list of creative sandwiches. i am not going to say this place is cramped but it kinda is. for example, if people stand in the wrong areas of the store, it will cause a complete standstill of a traffic jam in the store. my advice: order from the deli (and stand somewhere people aren't trying to get to) or grab whatever you need, pay, and leave. this place is not a place to linger. keep it moving. anyway, the obvious draw of Sunny & Annie's is the endless list of sandwiches that are handwritten cards that are stuck outside glass of the deli counter. there is literally something for the pickiest eaters--from hot sandwiches, cold sandwiches, wraps, and more. some sandwiches are named celebrities, politicians, etc. i have ordered a bunch of different sandwiches and have not made it through much of the menu. you can also create your own Frankenstein monster of a sandwich. while the sandwiches are a big part of the draw, the insane amount of snack foods crammed into the store is quite remarkable from the large stand of Doritos, Takis, Cheetos and other popular branded snack foods in the front to the separate stand of Wise snacks to an entire back corner of the store filled with all kinds of chips, popcorn, etc. imo, Sunny's has the freshest-tasting Smartfood Cheddar Popcorn. i know an insane take consider it's a packaged popcorn snack from a megacorp (PepsiCo), but i'll die on this hill. maybe it's cause Sunny's sells a lot of Smartfood popcorn so it gets refreshed often, maybe they have a secret in/pipelinbe from the factory, or it's just magic/alchemy. i don't know, but the Smartfood Cheddar Popcorn never tastes stale-ish like it does at grocery stores, the bags never feel deflated because they have been on shelf long, and the popcorn never has that soft mouthy feel but still has the crunch to it. maybe it's just me, but Sunny's serves a great list of sandwiches...AND the freshest Smartfood Cheddar Popcorn. beyond the snacks, the service from the deli to cashier is upbeat and friendly. in all seriousness, Sunny and Annie's is an Avenue B institution at this point and remains a charming family-owned store--and is NOT a sterile modern clone of a neighborhood business.

    Huge sandwiches. Would recommend eating on a roll vs a wrap only because a wrap falls apart more…read moreeasily. Lots of flavors going on. Expected there to be a more accurate pho-palette, but the fusion is fun and appetizing nonetheless.

    Photos
    Sunny and Annie's
    Pho 10 with Bulgogi | Instagram: @telephonesmoothie
    Pho 10 with Bulgogi | Instagram: @telephonesmoothie
    Sunny and Annie's

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    Cafe Esme - coffee - Updated July 2026

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