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Cafe Katja

4.4 (887 reviews)
ModerateGerman, Bars, Austrian
Closed • 5:00 pm - 10:00 PM
Updated 1 month ago

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Cafe Katja Photos

CAFE KATJA ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Casual
Moderate noise
Dogs allowed
Good for groups

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Recommended Reviews - Cafe Katja

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Front to back, Gulasch, Blutwurst, roasted veggies and Frittaten Suppe.
Mark P.

I love coming here ever time I visit NYC. The food is truly amazing - everything tastes so pure, so fresh , so delicious. I'm a sucker for Blood Sausage, one of the specialties tonight and it was fantastic as expected. A tremendous variety of Austrian and German beers and wines, but i'll stick with the Elderflower Lemonade. Wifey had the goulasch tonight - it's my usual, and was terrific as always. Do yourself a favor - if you love Austrian Food, make this your second home, if you've never tried it you are Long overdue. Service is always friendly and the Cafe interior could be in any Alpine town.

Goulash blood sausage, roasted vegetables, and a chicken soup with sliced crêpes.
Alexandra P.

Highly recommend this charming restaurant. First for the food second for the ambience and the service is charming. Several items on the menu. Remind me of what my mother used to make. Classic and also memorable.

Liptauer. $16 in 2025.  A tangy whipped cheese. Good.
Lorraine S.

It's Spargelzeit in Germany from the end of April until June 24th and Katja is the place to celebrate it here in NYC. What is Spargelzeit ? It's the celebration of the white asparagus (Spargel) season that is so beloved in Germany. Katja has several dishes on this tender vegetable that is less grassy tasting than its green cousin. Traditionally, it's eaten with hollandaise sauce and boiled potatoes but I always opt for sliced German ham. A small is good enough for a light meal. It is pricey at 27 dollars but the asparagus are imported from Europe and they are thick. You'd be hard pressed finding good looking ones such as Katja's in Whole Foods, sadly. Cafe Katja makes their spargel perfect. Tender and with just the right amount of butter that is barely noticeable but gives a slight salty creamy taste. The accompanying ham I choose is similar a French style boiled ham so it's not too salty which will take away the flavor of the spargel. For an app I get liptauer. It's a smooth whipped slightly salty cheese that is perfect for smearing onto the toasted rye bread that comes with it. A substantial size plate , it also comes with a variety of radishes and pickled vegetables. I got the wine that is recommended for the spargel. It was good but I'm not a sommelier so I can't tell a good wine from a bad one hahaha. However , if beers your thing i do like their assortment here. Here's where I give a star off. I never cared for the service. They seem aloof. Barely a smile and I had to stare at my empty water glass for far too long. Also , handing the bill without me asking is rude. It wasn't like I was there for long and they had plenty of seating. Also, they sat others down for drinks 10 minutes before closing so I was politely asked to pay and go for no real reason except for maybe bc I was a solo diner. Also, although I was seated outside, the parties both on my left and right lit up cigarettes and the waitress turned a blind eye. Who wants to inhale a mouthful of nasty cigarette smoke when biting into some good food ?

Pretzel
Christine L.

I can not get enough of this restaurant!! It's one of my all time favs for not just the cozy ambiance but the food itself. Their entrees come with certain sides but they're so flexible with switching the 2 sides for others on the menu which I can't say for other restaurants similar. I always have to get spatzel and here I can just swap out a side to get my fix! The servers here are always amazing, but the last time when my fiancé and I sat in the cozy booth corner, we had an amazing waitress that was so kind to us and actually chatted with us when we interacted with each other. I really regret not getting her name because she was impeccable!!! We told her this was my fav restaurant in the city and she even let us try some drink (it's like a post dinner digestive alcohol- forgot the name) on the house! I'll always come back to this place and recommend it to anyone!

The food here brought my German-speaking friend to tears. The sausage platter was ausgezeichnet! The apple streudel was divine accompanied by schnapps. Great atmosphere on a Friday night. Highly recommend!

Wiener Schnitzel
Demi R.

Hubby came for the schnitzel while I satisfied my Kale Caesar salad cravings. The schnitzel is not as thin as we'd like it to be, but hey - it's their own spin. The Kale Caesar is huge - good for sharing (for two). The staff is friendly and attentive. It's in a great location on the Lower East Side. The atmosphere is not too loud, and they have a great selection of drinks. Great for couples, group dining, even solo.

Beef Gulasch with Spaetzle noodles and dark Koestritzer beer. Great comfort food combo for a cold wintry day.
Edmond C.

Cafe Katja is a solid restaurant with good and friendly service. I can see this place as a great place to gather with friends who like beer and wine German style. I stopped by on a Sunday afternoon and there were plenty of places to sit. Some of the tables are in odd positions relative to each other, which may make maneuvering around a little tricky without bumping into other patrons. However, the German ambience is unmistakable and they have a very large u shaped bar that may wrap all around, but I did not see all around the bar area. I arrived when only the brunch menu was available. Wienerschnitzel was on the brunch menu, but not Jaegerschnitzel. So I opted for the beef Goulash with Spaetzle noodles. Accompanying the Gulasch, I ordered their dark beer, Koestritzer, an excellent pairing with the Gulasch. The Gulasch had nice chunks of tender beef in that savory stew or sauce, with the Spaetzle noodles offering a firm al dente, slightly buttery counterpoint. The slight sweetness of the stewed beef allowed the palate to be washed down with that beer, highlighting its slightly sweet malt. The malt and richness of the stewed beef come together nicely and is great comfort food for these colder months. The full menu looks promising and Cafe Katja is a place worth revisiting. Prices are reasonable and will allow you to revisit without fear of overcharging. If you live nearby, this would be a reliable place to be a regular and experience the full menu. A good value and very solid three star experience.

Robert P.

Small Great food The Sunday crew all speak German Clean Fun Good drinks Great service Not really handicap friendly Old building

Wiener Schnitzel with cucumber potato salad
Marianne F.

Not the best schnitzel I've ever had but very decent. Good beers. The schnitzel was pricey but the beer was cheap. Go figure. So so service.

Best service of all time. Waiter was super attentive. The pretzel was to die for. I didn't like my drink and they made me another one with no issue. The owner is so sweet and gave us a free shot for moving from a section. Overall 10/10.

Shani F.

A friend and I went for dinner on a busy Saturday night. But luckily we were able to get a table pretty easily. We started with the roasted beet salad. It was flavourful but I thought it would have been better with more cheese and not quite aa many beets. We each had the trout almondine. I love trout and really enjoyed the dish. I'd go back to try the fried chicken, hickory-smoked salmon and the spatzle.

Matt S.

Had dinner here on Saturday...was able to get table with no reservation.. small menu...Food was ok, kind of boring menu...Nothing exceptional, this seems more of a drinking place. Service was fine.

Fall Spaetzle

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1 year ago

Outstanding in every way! Amazing authentic austrian food, friendly lively ambiance. Attentive service, just excellent!

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Cafe Katja Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Cafe Katja

Do they still do happy hour as of Jan 2020?

Trying to call and no one picks up, I get message that voice mail isn't set up. Is this place still open?

They open at 5pm. Just wait a few minutes.

I would like to visit this place tonight around 8:30, do I need to make a reservation? can't find the place in open table..

You do not need a reservation for tonight. If it's crowded, eat at the bar where you can watch the chefs cook and chat with the bartenders. This is my favorite restaurant in NYC!

Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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Grove Street Social

Grove Street Social

4.0
(30 reviews)
1.3 mi

Grove Street Social has an excellent happy hour with a million choices of food! When I'm looking…read morefor a happy hour, I'm always looking for one with bar food. We had the sliders, mozz sticks & fried pickles and were happy with all of them and the prices. Drinks were also good. This place is very small, with maybe 3 tables, a small couch seating area, and seats around the bar. To snag a happy hour table, getting there before 5 is preferable. It can get loud in there, but it's a great spot!

We met up for happy hour at Grove Street Social with friends--one who has lived in the West Village…read morefor over a decade and another visiting from Pennsylvania. It ended up being a nice spot for a casual catch-up, though with a few mixed impressions. The space itself is cute and very much feels like a neighborhood bar. One of the things we liked most was that they have games available--we ended up playing Scrabble while waiting for our friend to arrive, which made the time go by quickly and added to the relaxed vibe. Happy hour prices are solid, and the fried pickles we shared were decent. I also had a watermelon cocktail that was refreshing and perfectly fine, if not particularly memorable. Service was a bit inconsistent. The bartender wasn't very warm or welcoming to us initially, though that changed once our friend--who is a regular--arrived. Overall, it's a comfortable spot to meet friends and hang out for a few hours, especially on a weekday like Thursday. That said, I probably wouldn't go out of my way to return, but I can see why it works well as a local neighborhood hang.

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Interior
Interior
Lamb chops
Lamb chops
Grove Street Social

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The Spaniard

The Spaniard

3.7
(440 reviews)
1.2 mi
•$$

The Spaniard is a spot for a real drink if you're in the mood…read more I've been here a few times. The last time was a couple of weeks ago, were in town for the weekend. After a nice stop and a secret garden in west Greenwich, I decided to use the points I had racked up and suggested a beverage at the Spaniard. It was agreed upon, in part as i suggested "they probably have a nice bathroom". Of which they did. It helped they had a nice house drink menu too. My gal found something she would like, and she did. After a fun drink off their menu I got a scotch. Old Putney 12 year. Actually the bartender came up and said they were out, would I want a 18 year or 20 year, something like that. it was a bit more money but it was he last beverage of the weekend trip so I got it. My Lourd it was good. If we had time I would have gotten an Oban they had, but we were off. But we will be back, maybe this year. And if I have racked up enough points in the area, I will suggest this excellent whisky bar.

Well if this isn't a perfect late night destination in NYC, I don't know what is! A last minute…read morewhim landed me in NYC on Holiday Eve 2024 and I needed a meal. Walking through the cold streets, I stumbled upon The Spaniard which has quickly become one of my favorite NY destinations! We were there for a quick 30 hour trip to experience the "Holiday Magic". After a long day of travel, we just needed something good. We arrived and they accommodated us in a back booth tucked behind the bar, perfect! Our waiter was a delight and very responsive. The martini was kick-ass and our waiter was kind enough to offer us many recommendations. We landed on Charbroiled Oysters, Steak Tartare, and French Onion Dip. Someone slap me, I'm drooling while I write this review over a year later. Seriously, phenomenal. Every bite was amazing! We cleared the table and manged a few cocktails during our time with The Spaniard. If you are ever in the West Village, stop by, you won't be sorry! Thanks me later, actually!

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Back bar at The Spaniard
Back bar at The Spaniard
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Dear Strangers

4.3
(29 reviews)
1.1 mi

Dear Strangers is a wonderful hidden gem! We celebrated Valentine's Day there last night and while…read morethe restaurant was incredibly busy, we never felt overlooked or underserved. The owners were milling around making sure everyone was well taken care of and the wait staff were kind and personable. Now the food...AMAZING!!! Every bite we took was wonderful and so surprising with creative combinations and gorgeously presented. The restaurant itself was hip and refined and seemed to be the happening spot of the night. We will certainly be back!

Met up with friends here for dinner before a show near Washington square. It wasn't super crowded…read morewhen we arrived around 6pm (maybe due to the extreme cold that day) but started filling up gradually. I loved the ambiance and decor, very cozy. As for food, there were some true hits but most of the food was good but basic. The highlights for me were the wild mushrooms & rice cakes as well as the Caesar salad - loved the use of nori in the salad and would definitely come back for the mushrooms. The chicken cutlet and chicken dumplings were fine but I probably wouldn't order them again. The wait staff weren't super attentive nor super warm, but they were efficient when we asked for water refills, etc. There was ample standing room at the bar while we waited for our friends, but the table/booth that we sat at was super narrow, I was knocking knees with my friend all night and generally felt squished.

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Dear Strangers
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Smoked chicken croquettes
Sip & Guzzle

Sip & Guzzle

4.1
(286 reviews)
1.1 mi

Run, don't walk to Sip&Guzzle! I managed to get a resy for Guzzle and got off the waitlist for Sip…read moreduring dinner. Operating as two separate entities, with separate drink menus and some shared food items, both Sip and Guzzle lived up to the hype!! GUZZLE This is the restaurant component with more casual drinks and creative dishes. For two people, they recommend about 6 dishes. I was so sad that the Tavern Burger already sold but I guess it means I have to come back! -Started off with the tasty volcano roll. Combing spicy tuna, coconut sticky rice, and candied, crunchy seaweed roll, it had a nice textural contrast amongst the spice, umami, and sweet flavor profiles. -The pork yaki featured super tender and well seasoned meat skewer with a candied outer layer in addition to the fun cotton candy! -The mochi french fry was FIRE! Its chewy and crunchy at the same time and be sure to pair it with the addicting gochujang-based sauce that is garlic-y and honey-y with a nice spice kick. -The bikini was perf for cheese lovers like me and especially if you like jamon and truffle to make it even more umami. Just make sure you get a good well-balanced bite! -The electric chicken was juicy, tender, crunchy, crispy, and well seasoned! Its less spicy and salty compared to that of Pecking House but still delicious! Plus you get to cut it with fun scissors! -The cabbage was good with a creamy, tangy white sesame sauce, but can skip next time -The chicken chips and salsa was interesting with their chicharron-inspired chicken chips. The salsa had 3 layers of mango, avocado, and jalapeño with a salted foam. -The Hokkaido milk soft serve was super smooth and milky - exactly how I envisioned what I want my milk ice cream to taste like! -Drinks: The lychee martini was amazing for people who like floral/sweet drinks. The wagyu old fashion was very peanut- and whiskey-forward. SIP This is speakeasy bar downstairs that features a variety of innovative drinks -Strawberry Hotpot: I was skeptical at first but this drink was *delicious*!! I find myself too guilty to drink the soup after hotpot or ramen because its often too greasy. Fear not because this clarified drink packages similar flavors into an easily enjoyable alcoholic drink!! Its umami and spicy with just the right amount of peppercorn oil. The strawberry is just present enough to balance out the savoriness, and not too fruity nor sweet at all! Its also cutely served at tableside with a big teapot. -Satsuma Creamsicle: A multilayer drink that was so fun to drink because each sip at a specific angle allows you get a little bit of the tangy and creamy foam, as well as the sweet and cream soda-like drink. -Plantain Colada: A banana/plantain prominent drink with some coconut vibes and bites. -Negroni in the Shade: A refreshing drink with just the right amount of grape flavors. Drinking out of the bowl while eating the tea leaf salad from a miniature bowl/spoon was also fun! Overall staff were very nice and attentive. They helped me get on the waitlist for Sip and timed everything very nicely so that the transition from dinner to more drinks was seamless. Thoroughly enjoyed my meal and can't wait to get my hands on their Tavern Burger!!

Five stars if we not counting price. Very good burger, bun didnt get soggy and meat was charred…read morewell which i feel most of these gourmet burgers dont do well. Flavors were great too, most times i feel these burgers just grease bombs with no acidity to cut through besides two pickles However sip n guzzle burger was very well balanced where i did not need to ask for extra pickles, really enjoyed it, maybe the number burger for me in nyc My only complaint is price, 35$ is wild, i know its cuz they use a5 miyazaki wagyu but wagyu burgers is just a gimmick to upsale. Grinding the meat destroys all the hard work of the Japanese cattle farmers. In a burger you can effectively create a wagyu burgers just by adjusting the ratio of fat and meat so using wagyu and regular beef to get to a 60/40 blend is the same. I guess my complaint is mostly just to wagyu burgers lol

Photos
Bar Area by the entrance
Bar Area by the entrance
Hand rolls $
Hand rolls $
Wagyu old fashioned

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Wagyu old fashioned

Cafe Katja - german - Updated June 2026

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