- overall rating: 2.5 - great management; the rest of the staff leaves something to be desired - came in for brunch, food was meh and certainly not worth the price - took over an hour for us to get our food, and even then it was wrong ::sigh:: read more

We really enjoy venturing into speak-easy spots! This restaurant has a hidden room in the back. getting there is almost most of the fun about it as you have to pass through the kitchen and go down a small flight of stairs to get in. Once in, it's a small three to four table room with a small mine person bar and about 6 cocktails in the menu. The drinks, were not really our favorites and well, I asked for it to be sour and instead got a drink hat was pretty bitter. The bartender was friendly though and actually have us great advice of another speak easy which wasn't too far away! Though I think it was cute and staff was great, the drinks they offered were not really good enough for me to come back. I could see many others loving it to escape your regular bar type scene. Also, though I really enjoyed the walking the through the kitchen part, it kind of smelled like old wet mop in there... Maybe I haven't been in many restaurant kitchens. read more

Cafe Select - Small bar in the back room - Bars Near Me - New York, New York

I didn't want to argue with the pro bartender, I'm just helping her to get an idea about Italian coffee read more

Cafe Select - Bars Near Me - New York, New York

I was walking around and spotted the cool lights from the outside and decided to go in and have dinner here. The atmosphere was so lovely and Christmassy. I had the truffle burger and it did not disappoint. It was so good. read more

Cafe Select - Bars Near Me - New York, New York

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*** 3.5 stars *** My fiance and I slipped in here for a quick drink before grabbing dinner. It has a nice, Euro vibe with not so Euro music. But it works. Our waiter was pleasantly distant but ready to pour more beer when our glasses were empty. There's a small but good selection of beers, just two on tap and ~5 bottles. Cafe Select was a nice escape from the SoHo hustle and bustle. I'd consider coming back and eating something. I wasn't knocked off my feet at this bar, but it was definitely cute! read more

This place was on my bucket list before I leave NY and I have to say, I have mixed opinions on spending money here. Got the cocktail with Calvados, peach and mint and it was solid. The zucchini fritters also are quite good- the accompanying tahini is AMAZING with lots of dill, the hummus is meh and the almond dip creamy without an overwhelmingly almond taste. I got the quinoa salad which had a bigger portion that I expected, which was a welcome surprise. Red peppers are buried under the quinoa and the nutty taste pares well with the creamy avocado chunks. My husband got the branzino, which was much smaller than either of us anticipated. It was pretty bland. I like mild-tasting fish but this was... nothing. For $26, that sucks. The mediocre review stems from the ridiculously long time it took for our dishes to come out and the crappy service. We had to flag down our waitress each time for anything- no one every checked to see whether we needed refills, how our food was, etc. We will not return. read more

We totally enjoyed our meal at Cafe Select! It is a very cute, intimate space with a lot alcoves and quiet corners. The ambiance is very casual and would be great for a first date. The service was very good, the waiter was attentive without being overbearing. We had: Zucchini chips with 3 dips - Very tasty. The chips were lightly fried so you weren't choking on the oil. Bresaola Arugula Salad - Very good - air dried beef with arugula on top Bone marrow - delicious Hanger steak - extremely good Swiss Bratwurst - tasty Spatzli - delicious Apple strudel - delicious Mousse like dessert (white and regular chocolate) - very good Cafe Select also has a great and reasonably priced wine list. Can't wait to come back and try the fondue!! read more

Super cool atmosphere, stopped in here for a drink. Love the lights on the ceiling.. I couldn't help but come in from walking down the street. read more

Cafe Select - Love this ceiling! Also, the drink coasters are freaking amazing. - Bars Near Me - New York, New York

We went there for my friend's birthday dinner - she wanted to have fondue. We sat there and loud music was blasting, everyone was shouting to each other - it was a very discouraging start. Then I don't know what we did to deserve this but all servers completely ignored us. A waitress came over to set up the empty table next to us and I politely asked to place an order. She said she will be right back, but never did. I asked another serving staff to take our orders and he said he will send someone. Another 10 minutes went by and finally we decided to leave. When we got up a guy came over and asked if everything is okay and I said it is not. I calmly explained to him we've been sitting with a glass of water for over 20 minutes trying to get attention of 4 servers walking around but they all looked totally indifferent. Not a word of apology, and we just picked up our coat and left. I have zero intention of going back there. read more

The dessert was good but the attitude of the staff were not. They put a sticker on your clothing to mark you are vaccinated and yet the bar did not even cut his nails while making our drinks. Talk about viruses and bacteria. This is not to attack the bar tender but if You are imposing a sticker on my jacket for whatever purpose it serves I think I am more concerned about the unsanitary long nails that you use to make my drink. That is I think more important than putting a sticker on my shirt that says I am vaccinated! LOL read more

I had been craving some kind of Swiss-German meal after my missions trip to Switzerland last summer and a place I had frequented, Heidi's, had closed down. Enter Cafe Select! I was very pleasantly surprised with my experience there. My favorite part of the cafe was the atmosphere. There was a lot of really cool decor: posters, german antiques, nice place settings and a really beautiful ceiling decoration. Sitting inside, I was amazed at how much room there was in the cafe. The food was pretty delicious too! Of the three entrees I shared amongst my friends (Swiss Bratwurst, Veal Schnitzel, and Risotto), I was most happy with the Risotto. It held a really creamy flavor and was cooked perfectly. The Bratwurst was nice and tender, but I was underwhelmed by the size because Swiss sausage tends to be huge! Finally, the Veal Schnitzel consisted of pretty much fried pieces of tendered veal. I was most disappointed with this meal. The greens included were good and fresh, but the veal seemed more like a tender chicken cutlet than anything else! Finally, the service was really great! I made a reservation really late the night before through their OpenTable service and everything worked out great for our big party of 8. The server was patient even having to wait for my friends to come. Pros: Great atmosphere, good service, solid selection of food Cons: Small portions, not super authentic Overall, a great experience! (: read more

Cafe Select - The really nice table settings! (: - Bars Near Me - New York, New York

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I love the croque monsieur here and you should def try that!!!! The second time I went my experience was good but a little more than what I expected. The only complaint was about the cocktails is that they're more expensive than some of the actual dishes. while the drink was strong, very well made and delicious. the portion was smaller than what I felt the cost should have been. The last time I was there a I ordered a lobster BLT and a gin and tonic made with Hendrick's Gin and cucumber and the drink was as much as my sandwich.. Though it was a great cocktail and the service was superb I was not expecting such a high bill after.. It was over 30 dollars. Meanwhile, the Lobster sandwich was 16 of it and there was not much lobster.. read more

Cafe Select - Lobster club sandwich. - Bars Near Me - New York, New York

Came here for lunch for the second time this week. My husband & I with our dog Bella sat outside. Came with no reservations & we were seated quickly. Such a dog friendly place. This time I had the Rosti Norwegian which is smoked salmon over potato pancake, delicious! My husband had the Lobster Club Sandwich with Bacon also fantastic. I had a cup of Americano & my husband had a beer. It was a beautiful sunny day in Soho & Select Cafe was the perfect spot for lunch. Our waiter was great & friendly. Love this place! Perfect for a small party & dog friendly!!' read more

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Great place to have coffee and sit to chat. It is a little cramped and small (as everything in NY) and there were people waiting for a long time to have a sit and enjoy the coffee. But overall it's nice and with a good ambiance. read more

Cafe Select - Bars Near Me - New York, New York

I saw the back room of Cafe Select featured on the food network and just had to bring my friend for his birthday. In the winter it is a fondue room and in the summer they sever oysters. It was easy to make a reservation, however they didn't have it listed when we walked in. We were still seated in the back room with no problems. The atmosphere was very casual and relaxed. The wait staff was great and accomidating. We had the oysters to start then the ricotta fritters, schnitzel and the potato pancake. Everything was amazing, but the ricotta fritters blew us away. I would go back just for that. By far a great date nite!! Just remember the back room is cash only. Luckily they had an ATM in the front. I will def be back!! read more

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Really good food and good vibes. I went here as a late night option but I wanted something healthy and they had great options. I got the Greek salad. It was huge and delicious. A fun inside too. read more

I absolutely loved this place! My friend and I randomly popped in to have wine and cheese and it was wonderful. The staff was nice, the wine was alright, the cheese platter was super filling - the cheeses were delicious, the meats weren't my style. But overall we had a wonderful experience! Also the inside was super cute and cozy. read more

I came with a group of friends on Monday night and we came back for brunch on Thursday, I had such a great time ! The food is great and the staff is very considerate. The place is cozy! Got served by a French woman who guided us through the menu and the bartender gave us good drinks recommendations ! Definitely will be back!! Thank you! read more

Cafe Select does not honor their reservations. They keep changing their story and try to make it sound like it's your fault. They have no regard for their customers. We waited for 30 minutes before being told that they had no table for us. This has happened to us twice now. So rude! I recently heard that rats have been sighted in their outdoor "chalet" so maybe it's better that we didn't get our table after all. read more

I came here quickly to grab coffee to go and something to munch on. I ordered the americana coffee and it was AMAZING. It is very hard to find good americana and this place is it! The bartender/waiter was really nice as well. The only reason I gave this place four stars is because they have a limited variety of breakfast goodies that you can order to go and the almond croissant was not that good. stop by for a bite, I plan on going here to actually sit in soon. read more

Nice space. With a Christmas like lighting that makes it warm. The menu has a bit of an Austrian connection. Not super-exciting though. The menu feels a bit short. Service is good. But overall there is a bit of quality on everything missing here. Food is good but not great, staff is professional but not super friendly, the interior is nice but not super beautiful. A reliable place never the less. read more

Lovely establishment if you are not hungry and have three hours to spare. Sat 45 minutes ago and just got our food after having to order it twice because our first waitress walked away mid order. I got the fried halloumi, which actually was less fried and more cold and hard. The poached eggs were cold I almost threw up in the branches that are intruding on my table. We waited 25 mins for an orange juice served with a complimentary soapy cup and my Bloody Mary is so chunky I can't even drink it with a straw. 10/10 would not recommend. Cool ceiling tho. By far the worst service and dining experience I've had in New York City. read more

This is quickly becoming my favorite place in SoHo for lunch. The decor and atmosphere are perfect. When it's nice out the front opens half way to get the perfect breeze and view. And the food... oh the food. I'm in love. I can't get enough of the prosciutto and mozzarella panini and like a true fattie love their potato chips so I skip the salad. oops! If you're into chicken schnitzel it's pretty good... not the best but def good. And that hashbrown potato thing is SO GOOD! Perfect quaint little cafe in the perfect area of SoHo with reasonable prices. YUMMYYYYYY! read more

Cafe Select - Bars Near Me - New York, New York

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3.5 stars By default we ended up at Cafe Select for breakfast (Despana was closed). There's a certain "coolness" to this european bistro similar to Cafe Gitane. The waitress wore a pistachio uniform and was so patient... F and I hadn't seen each other since the summer (Red Hook ballpark) so we were busy talking, didn't look at the menu but the waitress said "take your time" which was sweet! We sat at the round table looking out to the newly constructed planned park. F: ordered the Uovo Ticinese -poached eggs + polenta Me: Bircher Muesli with fruit (tiny bite sizes fit for a mouse) Concept of the dishes were good but portions were small. Liked: Red & white checkered napkins Large clock by Rolex Pastry showcase w/yogurt Red benches in front Didn't like: Soy milk not offered read more

Cafe Select - Exterior view - Bars Near Me - New York, New York

I have been here twice now and it has been great both times. The apres ski chalet in the back is very cool, has a retro divey vibe. I prefer the main dining room, it's really charming and cozy without being claustrophobic, perfect for a date or enjoying a nice meal with friends. But both rooms are nice and have a great ambiance. For whatever reason the back room is cash only and the main dining room is not, even though it's the exact same menu. A bit confusing and inconvenient but not a big deal. I got the fondue both times; The fondue is very good, and served with enough bread and fruits/veggies so that you don't have to keep asking for more. I especially enjoyed the classic, wild mushroom, and dark beer fondues. We ordered some of the sides to accompany which were a little hit or miss. We got something from the charcuterie selection (I think it was bresaola but I don't remember) which was very good. The rosti wasn't great, wouldn't order again. Service was good and attentive enough both times. They didn't rush us at all, allowed us to leisurely finish our wine after the meal, which I appreciated. Decent wine selection, and the waiter was knowledgeable, recommended the Cote du Rhône which was quite good. Overall great atmosphere and tasty fondue. Really happy to have found this place! read more

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Don't go. It's that simple. My family walked out before out entrees came. First off, three things we ordered they didn't have. Service was appalling. Better - it was insulting. The manager should be fired. There was a possessed screaming baby and the manager had no guts to ask the mother to take the baby outside until calm. Another table walked out as well. You had to hear it to believe it. Not sure who owns this place, but they probably know how bad this guy is. The fried zucchini chips were tasty - but not worth dealing with the dysfunction of this place. We walked next door to "Jack's Wife Freda" and had a great experience. I look forward to eating in the restaurant that replaces cafe select when they go out of business. read more

The outdoor social distancing measure setup is by far the best I've seen, there are separated rooms outdoor for different parties so that we can enjoy our brunch safely during the pandemic. All servers are nice and friendly, services are good. Food are awesome and with huge portion (I ordered the Schnitzel). Overall a nice experience. read more

This is another one of those places that should get 3.5 stars, because I liked it more than three stars but there were enough shortcomings to not give it a 4. For those of you who can't stand the suspense, I'll give you my overall opinion up front: a decent place and worth a return visit. You may now return to playing "Angry Birds". And now here's the rest of the story: Came here for a Saturday brunch with b/f and bff from Massachusetts. We were starved but she had eaten previously so we had meals and she had a dessert. Service was leisurely but not horrible, however we did have to flag down the waitress to get our order taken, order coffee, fix an error* and get the bill. However, it was friendly if not a little distracted. They weren't that busy so thought it could have been more attentive. Food was pretty good. B/f had pancakes which were good and I had the croque monsieur, which was awesome. I also ordered an orange brioche, which was a step below mediocre. It was extremely dry and I really didn't taste any orange flavor, so I wouldn't recommend it. Bacon on the side was $4 for two small slices so I don't think that was a good value. Bff had some apple pie which actually looked delicious and was promptly consumed. Coffee was good, just took a little effort to get a first cup and a second cup. Usually at brunch they ask if you want coffee so it was weird that we had to ask for it the third time she stopped by. *the error from above. Pancakes were brought, but no syrup provided. Waited a few minutes to flag down the waitress who promptly brought over...a container of honey in a syrup dispenser. So, a few minutes more to flag down the waitress to get syrup instead of honey and we were good to go, though the pancakes were a bit cold at that point. Maybe they should label honey as such or just bring syrup when they serve pancakes. It is a European-type place, so maybe they don't eat syrup on pancakes over there? I don't know, just seemed kind of common sense to me. Anyway, it was a nice atmosphere, the people were friendly and I truly loved my croque monsieur, so I'd recommend this place. read more

Cute cute cute. Cafe Select is incredibly trendy but not pretentious. They have really good gazpacho. Normally I have to be in the mood for gazpacho. It's like a strange stepchild to soup. And looks like the contents of a tomato's bowel barfed out (sorry). But Cafe Select wowed me with their gazpacho: it had texture, flavor, red and green bell pepper pieces, and potato chips in the bowl. Nicely done, Cafe Select. read more

Cafe Select - Gazpacho - Bars Near Me - New York, New York

let me first say Athina greeted me as I came in and she was perky, spunky, accommodating and informative. She sat me down right near the projector so I could watch the world cup game!!! :) :) :) Evan was my server and he was superb! He was really great at providing honest suggestions about the dishes I asked about. I came in wanting a snack and the food was so fantastic that I am now splurging on a small plate, a mix drink, a seasonal veggie special, dessert annnd a macchiato! oh my god someone stop me from eating all these lovely happy-making foods!!! (1) quinoa salad with over medium fried egg: lemon-thyme dressing lived up to my expectation + hot sauce = grains never tasted so good (2) mont blanc (substitute gin for vodka) add cucumber, lime, mint... perfectly refreshing on a nyc summer afternoon~ (3) sautéed spinach with garlic and something else spectacularly savory... chicken broth?? (4) linzer tart - warm cranberry tart with a hint of lemon perhaps, whipped cream, fresh sliced strawberries and the real tastebud kicker: toasted almond gelato!!! (5) macchiato... short and blunt! just like me :p EDIT: rose blush sangria... pretty in pink and perfectly punchy! i am totally smitten with the staff... i might have to come back again and with friends next time!! read more

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We walked in to this place because we didn't have to wait.. worts decision EVER The sandwich was tasteless and dry! The brunch was definitely not worth its price read more

Sandwich had no sauce, all employees are entitled and give you so much attitude. It's not worth the experience & the food sucks

We had a very pleasant brunch at Cafe Select, a cute cafe with European ambiance, friendly service, good music, more options than your typical Eggs Benedict, and no ridiculous lines like its neighbor. Rosti Norwegian comes with interesting herb sour cream, Fried Halloumi has perfect poached eggs paired with tomato relish, both hearty and savory. Our waitress recommended a side order of sptzli with mushroom sauce, OMG heavenly buttery smell of slightly fried egg pasta... I have to stop counting calories read more

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This place is super busy. We made a reservation but we still had to wait around 10-15 minutes to be seated but it wasn't a big deal. The decor and the lights were so pretty which was a major plus! My friend and I shared the MuesIi pancakes and Fried Halloumi paired with our brunch cocktails (Hugo & Pimms Cup). Both dishes were delicious but I definitely enjoyed Muesli pancakes the most, hands down. The Hugo was also light and refreshing! read more

Cafe Select - Brunch: Muesli Pancakes & Fried Halloumi - Bars Near Me - New York, New York

I stopped by Café Select to try their apple strudel. This made to order dessert had a tart and crisp flavor. Their special touch was the chopped pecans baked into this sweet treat. It came with a side of vanilla ice cream and pomegranate whipped cream. It was fresh out of the oven and very delicious. Very nice atmosphere and friendly staff. read more

Cafe Select - Bars Near Me - New York, New York

I didn't sit down and eat I ran in for a few minutes to grab a to go coffee and an almond croissant. Everything smelled delicious and the staff was super super friendly and efficient. They had oat milk for my coffee which was a huge plus for me! My coffee was really good and the almond croissant was delicious. I should have gotten it warmed though I'm sure it would have been even better. read more

I liked the restaurant, went there with a group of friends and we order appetizers to share. We definitely loved the Zucchini chips, risotto and tartar.. the rest was okay. Our service was great I would just go back again and again for the Zucchini chips. Ps: the restaurant is gratuity-free read more

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This is one of our favorite places in Manhattan. Petrosino Square is such an amazing respite from the chaos over on Broadway and Cafe Select is a little twinkling gem. The bar is quintessentially classic usually manned (or womaned) by exceeding friendly staff and when the weather is nice, it's open air. It has a European-tinged vibe -- no ice in your water!!! -- a good wine list and nibbles and is a fantastic way to spend a few hours with a glass of wine or a cocktail and people watch, both in and out of the restaurant. A great place to "hide out" when all the madness out there is just a little too much for you. read more

Cafe Select - Bars Near Me - New York, New York

Disappointing. Group of six young professional locals for a Friday evening. Cute decor / fun vibe. Overall food was overpriced and mediocre. Fried zucchini was the best thing we had. Entrees came out 45 min after we ordered. Two of us got the chicken and assume that was the delay - they both came out dry and over cooked. It rested on a weirdly flavored cooked kale. Even the vodka sodas a few of us ordered just seemed - ehh. I'd say pass if you're looking for a spot in the area. read more

$52 for 2 "truffle burgers." Could not taste any truffle. Tasted like a plain cheeseburger (served w a few stale potato chips). Not good. Would recommend going somewhere else, for burgers at least. Hostess was nice. read more