I've been going to Cafeteria for nearly 20 years, dating back to when it first opened. Over the years, it has consistently been a place with great energy--often filled with artists, creatives, and celebrities very much in their natural habitat. The Wildberry Mojito favorite, the gouda and bacon mac & cheese and truffle fries have always been a few of my favorite standout.  On this most recent visit, we had two to three drinks each, an order of green beans, a mushroom toast with a fried cheese topping, and two entrées (I had the  ginger salmon; my guest had Branzino. The total came to about $222 with tax and tip.. Normally, this place never disappoints, and everyone I've ever brought here has been impressed. This visit--on a quieter Saturday right after a snowstorm--didn't quite meet the standard I'm used to. It wasn't bad, just not the kind of experience I would rave about the way I usually do. That said, based on years of consistently strong experiences, Cafeteria remains a very solid spot and one I'd still recommend without hesitation. read more

Dillan was great. Great food, and atmosphere. Lemon pancakes were awesome. Will be back.

We decided to walk over from Penn Station to grab brunch at Cafeteria without having a reservation at noon. We were greeted by a host who had such a great demeanor and seated us quickly. Gino was our waiter who was polite, professional and didn't rush us while deciding on what we wanted to eat. I really enjoyed the Cafeteria and look forward to visiting again when I'm in town. Food was fabulous! Service impeccable. read more

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First, the restaurant is a nice design. Modern, bright and airy. The greeting is by a very polite and professional staff. The food was well prepared, delicious and prompt. Reasonably priced. I was fortunate to have Ayat as my server. She was pleasant, intelligent and engaging. She made lunch a treat with her personality and mannerisms. A definite repeat lunch stop! J Lane read more

I had a calamari salad and it was very good. I sat at the bar today and Michael was the bartender helping me. He was very helpful and funny. I am giving a 5 star review because I am not drinking and he made me a strawberry lemonade that was definitely a highlight of this meal. read more

Cafeteria - This is the strawberry lemonade - New American Near Me - New York, New York

Decent food and decent drinks. Good service. My friends wanted to come here and try it out! I didn't know that this restaurant is famous because it's come out on Sex and The City! I really enjoyed the Mac n cheese sampler! It was delicious! Be careful going down to the restroom. The stairs might be a little too steep for some. read more

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Staff and food are equally delicious with a special shout out to Ayat! She made brunch a great experience read more

As a frequent customer I would now add that the staff and ambience and friendliness has come even better than in past years. Food is excellent great vibe but it's mostly about the people working there in particular is Andie and the host Fagama. I can't wait to go back. read more

Always a fave. Such a vibe. Was here for brunch recently and Ayat was a DREAM. Best service I've had in ages. Will return often!

Presentations for food are pretty as pictures shown. Taste fine while it is not like wow. We ordered ricotta lemon pancake which I really wanted to love but it was mediocre. Avocado toast was pretty and tasted good but a bit hard to eat as toast was a little stiff. Ice cream (vanilla) was not impressive at all for 2 scoops at $8. Very noisy and I could not hear my friend's voice 100%. The check came with the electric machine starting only 20% tip. You are shown the machine at the front of you and you have no time to think and will only tap 20% at lowest. Yeah it is NYC. It was an okay experience. read more

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i had a great time here with husband, i had the branzino & he had tteir meatloaf with mash potatoes & green beans, both had yummy meals. the atmosphere is very calm nice & the services was a+, i recommend this restaurant read more

Neighborhood spot for me and an excellent one at that. Originally went because I saw an episode of Sex & The City with them eating here and I got influenced. The food and the ambiance on a weekday evening is electric. Highly recommend the risotto, excellent portion size and very good for leftovers. I would also try their tuna crudo, it's so fresh and an excellent appetizer to balance the heaviness of the mains! read more

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DJ Lina makes Friday nights at Cafeteria beyond special. Thank you to Chris my favorite bartender, he always makes the absolute best drinks. Nick Rocks absolutely rocks in every way. Thank you for making all of my experiences so fun and special. Congrats on your promotion. The truffle Mac & cheese, the artichoke, the Brussels sprouts, the salmon entree; I would eat it all every time I went if I could fit it all in my tummy. They're that delicious. The ambiance is fabulous. A true New York iconic establishment! read more

I used to be a cafeteria groupie and forgot how fabulous this place is. Cannot wait till the warmer weather, this is definitely going to be my summer go to place! Shoutout to Dyllan for the amazing service and Nick the manager who is a party of one his vibe is amazing so friendly and so attentive. I've missed this place ! read more

Cafeteria never disappoints! I go frequently as it is nearby and has a splendidly diverse menu with something for almost everyone. What's also terrific, and not as common as you'd think in the hospitality industry, is how warm and welcoming the staff is. Here, I should give a shout out to Nick and Haven who took fantastic care of us on Wednesday! Every dish I've had is scrumptious-- fresh ingredients, inventive and well prepared-- but I indulged in the pork chop most recently and an order of the charred Brussels Sprouts. Both really hit the spot. I only wish the Brussels stayed on the menu year round, as they are probably my favorite vegetable and deliver tremendous flavor here. My other favorites are the chicken paillard, broccolini, crispy calamari salad, the bronzino, and the burger (both turkey and regular). My companions also have enjoyed the pastas and chicken parmigiana (a frequent special). Cafeteria is always a great call. It's stylish and hip while being welcoming to everyone and serving delicious food. read more

I love visiting NYC from our farm in Maine and I always include a dinner at Cafeteria! My twin sister and I both love the atmosphere and the many gluten free options on the menu. Our server, Nick R., could not be more warm and friendly. He always has great suggestions and made us feel really special. The floor manager, Louie, ran everything so smoothly and even sat and talked with our party. I'll definitely be back on our next trip and will continue to recommend it to friends visiting the city. read more

Food is just OK. Prices are high for small portions. Shrimp was a bit fishy tasting. Service is lacking. We had a wobbly table and one of our drinks spilled. We were charged for the drink, although it was never replaced. There were six of us so the service charge was included. I wonder if that's why the service was poor. read more

Had a nice last minute dinner here with friends. The Strawberry Rhubarb Spritz is delicious but could be a lighter. Maybe a bit more soda water to get it slightly more refreshing. The frozen cosmo is perfect. We had a smattering of apps that were all excellent. Beet salad with grapefruit? Genius. I never would have put those things together. One of the best burratas I've ever had, it's so creamy and again, the addition of strawberry is unexpected but excellent. Mac attack is a staple. Add the spicy pepper from the deviled eggs on top before you bite so you can get some good heat on it. My turkey burger was the tiniest bit dry but delicious. My friends raved about their meals, a burger with a fried egg and the Cobb salad. The lighting outside was a bit dim, anytime we tried to move the tiny lamp to make room, we couldn't really see our food but easily fixable. read more

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Dyllan was the best server I've ever had in my life, everyone should send a server like Dyllan - gave me great suggestions for food

Dyllan was incredible! So kind, attentive, and could catch a vibe. Would come back here just for him

Cafeteria has to be one of the BEST places to go. The food is excellent with many options. I wish I knew the servers by name because every single one is STELLAR. The crème of resistance is the DAY MANAGER NICHOLAS GINNETTO! He makes you feel as if you're home! He deserves 5 stars! Professional, caring. Please Go You will probably find me in the bathroom Shazaming their GREAT music Nicholas! read more

Awesome food and even better service. Loved my hibiscus gimlet. Thank you Haven for a great experience.

Best service ever from Dyllan! He completely elevated an already excellent dining experience. The food and service were 10/10. Thanks Dyllan!!! read more

This is just a cocktail review as I didn't eat. I wanted a seat at the bar, but it was full so the manager graciously let me sit at a table for a drink. I ordered the Purple Rain, which was really tasty and well balanced. I recommend! read more

Cafeteria - Purple rain - New American Near Me - New York, New York

We love Cafeteria and go there frequently! We want to recognize our waiter who was there tonight! Frank was exceptionally nice And accommodating! read more

Ayat E gave us great service with a smile. Club sandwich on cranberry bread was delicious.

I had a wonderful experience at Cafeteria, and a big part of that was thanks to our server, Dyllan. From the moment we sat down, he was friendly, attentive, and professional. He made excellent recommendations, checked on us regularly without being intrusive, and ensured everything was perfect throughout our meal. read more

Dyllan was the best! Food and vibes were great! such a fun atmosphere! Will be back soon!

Dyllan V took such good care of us at lunch! And breakfast burrito hit the spot.Would definitely come back!

A place I have come to frequent when visiting NYC. Had an opportunity to dine here this past Labor Day and it was still a great choice offering a variety of American food, along with many breakfast and brunch options as well as lunch . We were Sat upon arrival and our server was courteous and kind. You may dine indoor or outdoor which is a garden style feel. A small bar and seating is adequately spaced. This is my third or fourth time and if didn't disappoint. read more

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This was my first restaurant experience in New York City and it did not disappoint. Despite how busy it was we were sat right away. Our waiter was very attentive and patient with us when we asked questions about the menu. The restaurant has lots of seating options including a heated patio. We sat inside and it was quite loud. It definitely mimicked the hustle and bustle of the city. I ordered coffee to drink, it was basic diner style coffee. I really appreciated the little pitcher with cream inside, so adorable! My friend ordered a smoothie and really enjoyed it. For an appetizer we shared the mac and cheese egg rolls. I was absolutely obsessed with the sauce they came with, i could drink it! The egg rolls themselves were okay, could've been a little more crispy. For my main meal i ordered the Steak and Eggs. IT WAS DIVINE! The steak was cooked perfectly(medium rare) as well as the eggs(over medium). The steak was drizzled with an herby chimmichurri, i could have drank that too! Two big slices of toasted sourdough accompanied my steak and eggs and they were the perfect vehicle for my runny yolks. Overall it was a delicious meal that prepped me for more delicious food in the city! read more

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I had a wonderful brunch with our server, David. David always has outstanding customer service. He is very attentive, warm and always communicative. The food was tasty. Definitely recommended read more

Amazing ambience and service, thanks to Atrice! She provided excellent service and hospitality, with a great personality and recommendations. read more

I loved this place I only went once but we had a hilarious server named Nick rocks or rocz I don't really know but he was so funny! the menu is really great and had a lot of my favorite foods. we went at night but they still found a seat for us even though it was busy! read more

Consistently great! Always a good vibe here. The food is always great. The service is always good. I love the burgers and tacos. Very sleek chic diner read more

Cafeteria NYC offers a fantastic dining experience, and our waiter Thiago made it even better. He was incredibly attentive and gave excellent recommendations that truly enhanced our meal. Highly recommend asking for him! read more

Cafeteria - Cafeteria - New American Near Me - New York, New York

Made a reservation at Cafeteria for my party of 10 on a Friday night. The lighting, music & staff were all amazing. We started at the bar and moved to our table Once the whole party was there. All specialty drinks were on point and very flavorful. Once sat our waiter came over and addressed us immediately. Hardly any wait time for the first round of drinks to arrive. We then ordered our food. To our surprise (as a large party) the timing of everyone's food was perfect. Not one complaint only amazing food. Couldn't be happier that we picked Cafeteria to have a small reunion. It had been at least 6 years since we had ALL been together and everything ended up perfect. Thank you!!!! read more

Cafeteria - Our reunion at Cafeteria. Miami to NYC baby!!!! - New American Near Me - New York, New York

This was my first time dining here. The staff here are great! Keeping things running smoothly. The establishment is clean. I ordered a burger and forgot to take a picture of it. The burger was ok. I'll definitely return. Keep up the great work! If you're ever in the neighborhood. GET SOME!!! read more

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I love this place, amazing food, amazing service, and great cocktails. Our server, Isaiah, made our experience SO much better. He knows the menu very well, and has amazing recommendations. He was not only attentive but has an amazing personality. I will definitely come back. read more

No idea why this place has 3.5 stars! We loved it! Three of us went at 11 (we were early for an 11:30 reservation and they sat us right away). We loved apps and our meals! Our server was THE BEST! He was telling us about Broadway shows to see, speakeasy bars to go to, just such a fun server! From walking in and being greeted by the friendliest people to the food and outdoor seating, we'd go right back here! read more

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