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    Cafeteria

    3.6 (3.8k reviews)
    Open 9:00 am - 1:00 AM (Next day)
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Order Cafeteria Takeout or Delivery

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    CAFETERIA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Trendy
    Outdoor seating
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Cafeteria

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    Amber A.

    Cafeteria is such a vibe! The ambiance is completely on point--stylish, lively, and perfect for a brunch outing. The food came out fast, hot, and exactly what you want when you're craving the perfect brunch. Everything was fresh, flavorful, and hit the spot. But the best part of the experience was Nicholas. He was incredibly accommodating, so sweet, and genuinely personable--it made the whole visit feel extra special. Honestly, I'd go back just to see him again. If you're looking for great food, great energy, and standout service, Cafeteria is definitely worth it.

    Yasmine B.

    Had this place saved for a while. It is a bit of a tight space and a long wait. The tall slinky man with glasses said it'll be about a 20-25 minute wait. And it sure was a 45 min wait. Bar area was congested and standing by the entrance was not sufficient (as it was very cold outside). When finally seated I ordered the BLAT - bacon, lettuce, fried green tomato, and avocado. Chef Ali surely elevated the BLT with the green tomato, as I mentioned when he came over to our table...which was nice. I've never had a BLT with green tomato so it was very memorable. It was an amazing size and loved how it was seasoned along with the sauce ratio. Maybe another piece of bacon or two would've done it justice for the proportion. The bread was spot on, not just your average piece. It was light and slightly crunchy, with great texture and none of that dry, crumbly feel. Chefs kiss to the sauce on it. The fries were soooo goood. I am a stickler for truffle fries done right and it indeed surpassed my expectations. On another note, Waiter David was such a pleasure to have serving us, loved his connectedness!!! Music was cool too. A different mix of genres but liked the nostalgic touch to it. Fatou was also a cool vibe at the front after replacing the tall man when his shift was over.

    Kayla P.

    I love this place! Stopped by for brunch, requested patio and it was accommodated no problem. Tables are perfectly spaced, and service is friendly. Cocktails, while pricy, were delicious - a lot of thought put into each on for fun and new flavors. The food menu was vast, offering a little bit of everything you could want. I loved sitting outside with the semi covered and heated patio - the blankets on the chairs were a fun and thoughtful touch.

    Eggs Benedict
    Lisa G.

    I had such a great experience at Cafeteria. We found parking right out front which already felt like a small miracle in New York. We were seated right away and the space had a nice welcoming energy. We ordered the Crispy Rock Shrimp, the Truffled Eggs, and the Eggs Benedict along with a Rude Margarita and a Blood Orange Margarita . Everything was delicious, but the Crispy Rock Shrimp was the clear standout. Perfectly seasoned, crispy, and one of the best versions of that dish I have ever had. The brunch dishes were fresh and flavorful and the cocktails were strong and well made. Our experience with service started out a little rocky. The first server seemed annoyed when we politely declined water service and mentioned that the napkins on the table were stained. Thankfully, our next server, Gino, completely turned things around. He was amazing from start to finish. Warm, attentive, and genuinely pleasant. His service made a real difference and helped the entire visit end on a very high note. Cafeteria completely won me over with great food and thoughtful service. Despite the small hiccup at the beginning, everything that followed more than made up for it. I would absolutely return the next time I am in the city.

    Ashley J.

    Incredible! Everything was absolutely delicious. From the ambiance to the food. Starting off, the host and waiters were so friendly and welcoming. We sat down right away and they gave us menus and constantly refilled our water. The Mac and cheese was mouth watering, I loved all three styles. I ordered the grilled chicken and my friend ordered the beef pasta. It was quite pricey but definitely worth it since portions are huge.

    Ginger ice tea
    Raven Q.

    Okay, so let me start this off by saying I am an OG Cafeteria girl. Like, back in the day when Cafeteria was 24 hours, this was my spot. Many late nights, early mornings, and everything in between have happened here. I've been loyal for years. Yes, COVID changed things and they now close around midnight or 1 a.m., but honestly? That still works for me. I love this place. This review is... embarrassingly overdue (July 11th, to be exact), but here we are. Better late than never, and Cafeteria deserves her flowers. So, I went for a good late dinner with my brother--my eating partner, my foodie partner-in-crime. I think I ordered the ginger iced tea (this is what I get for waiting so long), but I'm 99% sure that's what it was. Either way, it was excellent, really refreshing, not sweet, and the ginger comes through beautifully. Their teas are generally a win. Now, because it was summer and we were trying to be cute and seasonal, we tried the watermelon "salad." And... yeah, no. That was not it. It was literally a huge watermelon "steak" with feta and microgreens sprinkled on top. No dressing, no seasoning, no zhuzh, no nothing. The watermelon itself wasn't sweet enough, and the entire dish just felt flat. A little salt and pepper helped, but honestly? I wouldn't recommend it. When you hear "watermelon feta salad," you picture something completely different than what arrived. Now onto the good stuff. The steak entrée? Always a hit. Always. It comes with this delicious butter sauce that brings everything together. I did mine with a side salad. My brother did the same plus sweet potato fries, which--listen--Cafeteria's sweet potato fries are top tier. They're crisp, perfectly seasoned, and just everything you want from a sweet potato fry. Dessert time! My brother ordered the key lime pie, which he loves. It tastes more like a cheesecake-style key lime--which works. He let me try it, and it was good. I went for the citrus sorbet, which came with grapefruit, orange segments, and the whole vibe. Light, refreshing, perfect after a heavier meal. I loved it. Now... let's talk about the espresso martinis because our server hyped them up. Apparently, the bartender on that night "makes the best espresso martini." And listen, one thing about me: I love a good espresso martini, but I am VERY particular about them because they can go wrong fast. And this one? Awful. Absolutely not. The flavor was off, the mix wasn't balanced, it just... wasn't good. Would not recommend. At all. But overall, Cafeteria is still one of my favorite restaurants ever. The classics always hold it down. The seasonal items can be hit or miss, and the espresso martini (for me) was a miss, but the food? Consistently solid. The vibe? Always great. The nostalgia? Heavy. I'll always be a Cafeteria OG.

    Lavender lemon spritz
    Caitlin B.

    Cons: $16 for a mocktail. Locks on downstairs bathrooms didn't work. Pros: very good food, good service, lots of space

    Melissa A.

    Took my partner here for a nice birthday lunch. States right away, not outdoors, but by the open door leading to the outdoor seating. Perfect views and fresh air. Served came over right away, he was super pleasant and attentive. For appetizers, we had the mushroom crispy tacos (delicious and flavorful) cornmeal calamari, also delicious and flavorful. My partner had a late breakfast, brioche French toast, scrambled eggs and smoked salmon. He likes it all. I had the ginger salmon with broccolini. Didn't like it much. The salmon was nice and tender, but very salty and the broccolini had a weird after taste. We each had a mocktail, a watermelon cooler I had a ginger beverage, both good. Overall great lunch.

    Watermelon spritz
    Yvonne D.

    I had no idea they were still opened. Used to come here back in my college days lol. Very loud on a Friday night but the music was good and so was the food. To start We had the ceviche which I would get again and the salmon tartare which I would skip next time. My salmon entree was delicious with the most perfect crispy skin and my man enjoyed his pork chop and risotto. The star of the show of course is their Mac and cheese. We did the bacon and Gouda. Could've ate the whole thing by myself! Watermelon spritz was good but very light but I expected that. We couldn't find out server by the end of the meal but someone else was able to get us the bill.

    Grits Bowl
    Ingrid C.

    Delicious, great lunch spot. They have cozy outdoor and indoor seating. It looks like they also have seasonal menus. I ordered the grits, and my friend the BLAT. Both were satisfying and flavorful. I didn't feel greasy or bloated after finishing my grits. Service was friendly and fast. They still seated me even though my full party didn't arrive yet. They were also very attentive with refilling our drinks.

    Shrimp Tacos, Truffle Parmesan Fries
    Donyshia B.

    It had been a while since I dined at Cafeteria, and boy.. it did not disappoint! The food was delicious, fresh, and well-portioned. My sister and I had a beautiful time. Nick, the lead server, along with Nicholas, made us feel like family. Our waiter was accommodating and attentive. The ambiance is enjoyable, bright and fun- making it perfect for a daytime lunch or a nighttime bite at the bar. If you haven't visited in a while, this is your sign to run down to cafeteria- 10/10

    Sauteed Broccoli Rabe  Crispy Calamari Salad
    Celina C. N.

    Met a friend for lunch here on her recommendation. She dined here frequently since it was near where she worked. The food was pretty good and the place was pretty busy. I had the Mac and cheese flight which was pretty good. I mean who wouldn't want three different varieties of Mac and cheese???

    Caroline C.

    I was surprised that the place only had 3.5 stars! We enjoyed our food it was delicious. The Mac and cheese... my mouths watering thinking about it right now. Our drinks were made perfect and the ambiance was intimate. Our waiter was attentive and not only him but the runners as well! I would come back here and with a date next time.

    The ambiance here is everything

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    Amazing place! Would 1000000% recommend, you won't regret it! The service and the food were phenomenal

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    Thank You and Welcome Back !

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    So glad you enjoyed everything!

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    Thank You For The Love !

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    Thank You So Much For Taking The Time To Review Us And Our Team.

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    Thank You So Much For All That Love!

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    Page 1 of 95

    Cafeteria Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Cafeteria

    Is there table service or order at counter?

    Table service at the table and bartender service at the bar

    Do they still serve their silver dollar pancakes?

    Hello, from what I saw today, they do not

    Do they offer gluten free Mac & Chrese?

    No they did not have a gluten free mac and cheese option on their menu as of 1-7-2023

    How would they fit a party of 14?

    They have a function room adjacent to the main dining area on the ground floor. A group that size would likely be required to pre-book that room. I have attempted to book it before, but it was not available (granted it was around Christmas party… Read more

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    Cozy spot that is always has the best drinks. The presentation of each drink is also very unique…read more Make sure to reserve before you go though, since this place is hard to get in to

    Thyme used to be a fun, charming spot that I genuinely enjoyed visiting and bringing out-of-town…read morefriends to. I was warmly greeted by the gentleman at the door (5 service there), which set a great first impression. However, as soon as I walked downstairs, it felt like the space had lost its speakeasy vibe. I was seated right near the stairs and could feel cold air from outside every time the door opened, which made the experience uncomfortable. I was also surprised to see how much the cocktail menu had been reduced. When I asked about it, the response was that "the place changed a lot." That's fair -- places evolve -- but instead of highlighting the improvements or new strengths, the explanation focused negatively on what the bar used to be. As someone who really enjoyed the former version, that wasn't reassuring. Unfortunately, the drinks themselves didn't make up for it. One of the two cocktails was simply not good. No one came back to check on the drinks, and when I asked for the check after about 20 minutes, there was no acknowledgment that I had barely touched mine or any inquiry about my experience. Overall, a place I once enjoyed and recommended now feels more like a standard dive bar where " Mixologist " were replaced by bartender and were fun cool looking and tasty drinks were replaced by " less complex cocktail ", lacking the warmth and attention to detail that once made it special.

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    4.2(430 reviews)
    0.5 miFlatiron
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    I'd give this place 6 stars if I could. It's my favorite speakeasy in the city by far…read more The drinks are absolutely phenomenal. They're experimental, whimsical, delicious, and worth every penny. My absolute favorite is Child of Light, and my BF's was High Frequency Device. The interior was dimly lit, with a couple of candles per table or counter. It's a perfect place for a date night. And while there may be a wait on busier nights, it's always worth the wait. We were sat at the bar once and were very well taken care of by our bartender, Nikola. It was a Sunday night, so it wasn't terribly busy. We chatted up a storm and he was able to create some drinks off the menu just for fun (on request). He also made my BF and me a couple of drinks to celebrate our anniversary too. Wonderful people and wonderful service. Needless to say, we will be back as frequently as we can!

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    I was looking for a spot in the area to meet a friend, and after a quick search settled on Little…read moreNed. As I walked in and saw just how swanky this place is I panicked - there was no way we could just walk in here without a reservation, right? But the hostess was, thankfully, so down to earth. I was straight up like hey I totally messed up and thought we could just walk in here, she was like you know what, let me see what we have. Lo and behold, she did have a table for us - as long as we were out in an hour and a half, which was just the right amount of time. Stepping into this place feels like you're in some secret, super special cocktail club. Decor is super high end, vibes are upscale AF. The cocktail menu is incredible -- and incredibly pricey, but truly worth it. I ordered the Valentino which was strong and sweet, really well made. They gave out a complimentary nut mix that was also delicious. Service was swift and gracious. If you're looking for a spot to impress a date, this is it.

    Come to Little Ned for fantastic cocktails in an intimate setting, you won't be disappointed…read more The space is gorgeous, with bar and table seating on the main floor, as well as some standing tables next to the bar if you can't find a seat right away. There's also seating on the second floor, perfect for couples or small groups. I tried two of their cocktails when I went. The first was the Eastern Julep, a delicious twist on a classic. The mint Moroccan tea gave the drink a cool, refreshing taste on every sip. I also tried the Silver Screen, the closest drink I could find to an old fashioned. It was interesting, there was definitely a hint of a buttery taste. Overall a really balanced bourbon drink. I walked in and found room at the standing tables. A bar seat eventually opened up but I was already on my second drink by then. Definitely make reservations if you're planning a visit!

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    The Tusk Bar

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    Clemente Bar - Clemente mushroom burger

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    4.3(48 reviews)
    0.6 miFlatiron

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    Date: Wednesday, March 4th, 2026 Time: 7:15pm…read moreParty of: 6 Reservation Made Thru: Resy about two weeks prior Accolades: No.15 North America's 50 Best Bars 2026, No.11 North America's 50 Best Bars 2025 *Clemente Martini ($26) *Negroni Colada ($24) *Apples to Orange ($26) *Oyatsu Club ($25) *Parakeet ($24) *Glenfiddich Reserve ($25) *Against the Grain ($26) *Three Boxes ($25) Our reservation was originally for a party of five. We had an extra person when we checked in and they happily added her to the rez. We just had to wait about 15 mins which was fine. We were seated around 7:30pm. It was busy and bustling in the upstairs bar. We were seated at a spot resembling a coffee table(s) with chairs / ottomans surrounding it. I got the martini. It was a fun play with the green curry and saffron. This place is a little loud, so it is not easy to have a convo with your party. I am old so this probably wouldn't have been something I clocked in my younger years. They do have food which looks intriguing. Especially anything with truffles on it. If in the area, would definitely consider coming back for a quick drink and bite. REVIEW #4013

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    The Lounge

    Cafeteria - newamerican - Updated May 2026

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