I've been coming here since 2004 when I moved to the city for college. It's consistently hit all the notes nearly 20 years later! We came by for lunch on a mini reunion and everyone revisited some of their classic favs, which of course, included the Mac Attack, the delicious and comfort food signature Mac and cheese! It still slaps! I felt like I was 18 again! Cocktails are still on point, and servers keep everything lively! My salmon was cooked perfectly and it was delicious. I love places that stand the test of time, and Cafeteria is one of them! read more

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

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Cafeteria used to be my spot after clubbing in my mid twenties. It was one of thee only places open at odd hours of the morning/middle of the night that served good food. Like food food! Not a corner kabob or a deli sandwich but a full meal. I would come here with friends and get the Mac n cheese trio. I love their sautéed spinach and they're entrees are great as well! I also love their yodel dessert! Yumm! It's a super moist role mini cake with a vanilla shake on the side. Never gets old. This is a great place because of their odd hours. If you want a place to go and think it's too late for a full meal, like after 11pm when most kitchens say 'We're Closed!'. Cafeteria is OPEN! Thank me later! It brings a mixed crowd. The night owls. The swanky Manhattenites. The slightly tipsy club goers and all the food lovers in between! Take your jacket off. Sit back. But don't take off your shoes! (Eyes all the people that wore heels to the club in the city) jk Lol! read more

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

Great comfort food. Great bartender Karl. Mac and cheese is the best. Seriously try this place out. So good!

What a gem of a spot!! We came here on a Sunday morning with our 6month old and the staff were so wonderful and welcoming to us and our daughter. Nickolas and Jason were attentive, friendly, and went above and beyond to make our dining experience easy and fun! The food was delicious and ambiance was inviting, clean, and cool. Will definitely return! read more

I was there yesterday. It was very nice looking place. The staff were very attentive. The food came very fast. Everything tasted delicious. It is not overpriced. read more

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Stopped by cafeteria for a quick bite and had a great time. It was crowded at 6 but we were seated right away. We decided to do outside seating since it was such a nice day. The menu had alot of our go to choices. We started with bang bang shrimp want the watermelon and feta salad . Both were tasty and well put together. We tried the mac and cheese and it is up there with top 5 mac and cheeses. The Cesar salad was ok..under sauced and our chicken was a bit dry. The steak taco was simple. Nothing to brag about. The staff was friendly and the space is esthetically pleasing. Overall we had a good time and I would return for brunch. read more

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Always love " the cafeteria"- but Nick R enhanced our experience - great server, attentive and all around nice guy - a winning combination !! we will def go back! read more

Cafeteria is that rare place that has maintained its style and "cool factor" for well over 20 years. It manages to be cool without making ANYONE feel unwelcome; the hosts greet everyone like old friends. While the name "Cafeteria" evokes school or hospital food, and while the menu may appear to ape some diner menus, don't be fooled. It's all in the mood of an ironic 'wink and nod.' Everything I've ever had there -- breakfast, lunch, dinner, desserts-- is up to the moment, gorgeously fresh and skillfully prepared. My favorites are the chicken paillard, the pork chop, the burger and the omelet. The omelet in particular epitomizes what really distinguishes Cafeteria from the rest: it arrives beautifully composed and plated, with the fluffy eggs, perfectly cooked stuffings, and hash browns that will knock your socks off. In almost everything I've ordered, there's an element, sometimes an incidental one, that surprises with its ambition and flavor. All that, and Cafeteria makes some pretty mean cocktails too. read more

We loved our experience! I came with a party size of 12 people and Atrice made it an amazing experience. we will definitely be coming back !

Service was on point, our waitress was great! Came here on a Wednesday evening around 7 pm and was seated quickly. Quickly got packed throughout the evening. They also have outdoor dining. They give you complimentary biscuit and butter which were so good. The biscuit and butter were warm and yummy (I personally hate when places give you cold butter). Drink: we got the frozen Cafeteria Cosmo ($16) - highly recommend. Food: Burrata ($17), Prince Edward Island Mussels ($20) and Bistro Burger ($24) substituted for truffle fries for extra $1. Burrrata and mussels were good, portion for the mussels was small considering the price. The Bistro Burger and truffle fries were a disappointment, ordered the burger medium and got a well done burger. Wouldn't order the burger again. read more

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I just left this place, and I enjoyed my experience! The staff is very friendly and professional! I ordered the chicken and waffles which was delicious! I'm definitely coming back to this establishment read more

We had the best time at Cafeteria the other night and Nick our server was fantastic! He was upbeat, energetic and such a pleasure! The drinks kept flowing and the banana split waffle dessert was a great way to end the night! read more

WOOOWWW!!! What an amazing experience from the food to the excellent service. I will be sure to return and bring more guests because this was one of a kind. Nick was definitely the star and we appreciate him along with his sense of humor. A plus to all of this is that the ambiance was very relaxing and refreshing. Look forward to making our next trip to your wonderful restaurant! Marie read more

Louie and Patrice provided amazing hospitality! Both were very accommodating. Cafeteria had amazing food would highly recommend tomato soup & chicken paillard read more

I love this place! Staff is great! Food is great. And I love the ambiance. Mocktails, waffle, fried Oreos and Mac attack were chefs kiss! read more

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

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Walking by this cute restaurant made us crave a refreshing drink and lunch. It wasn't too busy when we arrived, but was filled by the time we left. Our server, Dylan, was friendly and allowed me to make slight modifications to my dish. I ordered the butter lettuce salad and added crispy shallots for the crunch factor. It was pretty good, but needed more dressing or more flavor. I added some balsamic vinegar and olive oil, which was fine. Cafeteria is a nice place to pop in for a meal. read more

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Food is okay. Really nice restaurant in the village. The fried Mac and cheese egg rolls are really good and a must try. Service was okay could be better. And the ambiance and mood is very posh for like date night. I would recommend this spot just don't got with too high of expectations. read more

stumbled across this chelsea staple by accident tonight, and i (*my mouth & my belly*) could not be more pleased. first, nick. simply remarkable. his recommendation, chef's kiss. his conversation, delightful. --even if the food wasn't absolutely amazing and just really good, i would still be back simply to discover nick's take on the new ambitious flavors of the cafeteria's daily specials that are not on the menu-- now for the recommendation: cheddar // tabasco chicken & waffles. a bold choice to suggest for a seriously southern patron, but his confidence told me everything i needed to take a chance on this new york version of an old school southern favorite. the verdict: outstanding. simply effing outstanding. also, they rock the deviled eggs, the bartender does a mean old fashioned, and the pastry chef is a master of the carrot cake. kudos, cafeteria. and thank you for a lovely meal. read more

Cafeteria - deviled eggs + cheddar//tabasco chicken & waffles - New American Near Me - New York, New York

I've been going to this restaurant since it first opened. Delicious food, glamorous atmosphere, convenient location. The mac and cheese can't be beat. But the last time I went there was a little disappointing. I got a mojito like I always do but it was skimpy. I'm not a big drinker but I didn't even feel the little glass of mostly ice. At these prices we should get more buzz for our buck. read more

Cafeteria is an amazing restaurant with stellar service. This is a Shaved Prime Rib Sandwich and It was so tender and delicious. The fries were great too! read more

Cafeteria - Shaved Prime Rib - New American Near Me - New York, New York

Came here for a self care day. I have eaten here plenty of times and LOVED IT however this time shocked me a bit. I sat at the bar ready for my favorite chicken dish. The kind and amazing bartender recommended the salmon so I figured I would try something new. Upon quite a wait I saw something in the corner of my eyes and lo and behold... A ROACH the size of my ring finger crawls all the way towards my seat. I look around to see if the staff was going to get it and I saw one just looking at it with "yes that's a roach... and?" Look. He then ask's the hostess to get rid of it. Mind you she was terrified of the thing the second she saw it. I had to stomp the thing and ask for a manager. It wouldn't be till maybe 45 minutes before I saw him. At this point I had returned the not so tasty salmon back and was waiting on my chicken dish which I honestly couldn't eat . I took a bite or two and had it packed to go, I had a drink and dessert (I didn't order) comped off the ticket. But my thing is ... who knows if this was indeed a roach from outside or was coming up from the food area. The manager said that the roach probably wondered him from outside due to dewpoint. And me being a little OCD researched it. Dewpoint would have to change dramatically for that to happen. And this one did not come from outside. I legit saw it coming from the area where the staff was standing. Not saying it was a horrible experience, but I expected better from such an amazing place. Also coming from a restaurant background I would've just comped the whole ticket and given them my card as the manager. There was just something about the way it was just played off to be , not their fault or not too sympathetic. The only good thing was the drink that I had. And it was a simple pineapple tequila. In summary, I definitely will go back, but I feel like something should be done. Even now, as I try to heat up the chicken, all I can think about is that roach and if it laid eggs on any of the food or something like that. It just turns my stomach. And I just don't think that they really did anything worthwhile to solve the situation. I have attached poor little Freddy's death photo for you guys to look at. read more

The crispy chicken thigh sandwich is mind blowing. Pickles are so good, I think there is blueberry cream cheese in it? Anyway fantastic flavor. read more

Cute place. Shripmtaco appetizer was on point. Great burgers. But my favorite was the cocktail. Frozen Cosmo. I will take a gallon to go. Strong, frost and refreshing! read more

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

Lovely restaurant, enough variety to keep anyone happy. Some talent in the kitchen. The broth of the matzoh ball soup was quite good although the matzoh ball itself was bland and needed additional salt and pepper. The appetizers, including deviled eggs, bacon wrapped dates were excellent. The Biscuits they bring to the table are crumbly and not particularly flavorful, but they are served warm. The entrées were all excellent. The Wait staff are very attentive, and know how to pour wine. read more

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I visited during lunch time and the place was packed. I remember seeing about three empty tables only. The entrance is a little weird. The host stand is sort of in the way. People were blocking the door way coming in and out. The host was busy with other guest but another lady greeted me and took me to a table. The waiter that we had was amazing. He was really nice and took my order quickly. I ordered the fried calamari. It was very delicious. It came out hot. It was crispy. The pieces of spicy peppers are amazing. Unfortunately we had a hair on our piece of lemon. I also had the prime rib sandwich and the fried fish sandwich. Both sandwiches were disappointing. Very underwhelming and bland. I really had high hopes for this food and felt disappointed. The meat in the prime rib was soft which was nice. The au jus sauce needed salt, needed garlic, it needed flavor. The bread had alot of flour on the outside of it. The fish sandwich was disappointing. The batter on the fish is not good and doesnt leave the crunchy texture one expects with fried fish. It needed seasoning badly. My biggest issue is that the bread was COLD. I kept touching it with my finger because i couldn't believe it. Fries were over cooked. Hard but thankfully salted. This place leaves alot to be desired. Especially for their prices. I made the waiter aware of the hair and he actually comped it from our check without us asking. That was really nice of him, i did not expect that. The restaurant itself is nice. The decor is simple, neat. It's smaller then it looks from the outside. This place has a narrow width. It also has one side that looks like a garage door. Its nice and ive seen it open during the hotter months. The only downside is that it was cold inside (its winter time). I've heard some good things about this restaurant so I'm disappointed that it didn't give what i thought it would. I'm not sure if I'll be back. read more

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I love coming to Cafeteria. The restaurant is clean with a great ambiance. The staff is really pleasant and attentive. The food is always good. I had the Mac & Cheese, Grilled Turkey Burger, and sweet potato fries. Everything was really good. read more

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Best meat loaf & grilled salmon. Nice atmosphere with good service . Will definitely be eating here again read more

Decided to have brunch here on a quiet Easter Sunday. We ordered the avocado toast with salmon, grits and eggs Benedict with smoked salmon. Every dish was perfect. The grits were addictive and we could not stop eating it. The Avacado toast was seasoned so well... my friend who ordered the eggs Benedict and all I kept hearing was yummmm. read more

I've been to this location a handful of times and the food is good. Not 5 star but it gets the job done. Because winter is here, I ordered their soup and sandwich combo meal and I must say, the creamy tomato basil soup was really good. The grilled cheese sandwich was underwhelming and could have used more cheese. Overall service was good and the restaurant is always clean. read more

Cafeteria - Tomato Basil Soup - New American Near Me - New York, New York

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I stopped in the other day for lunch with a coworker and was greeted by Nicholas who turned out to be the manager. He is so personable and genuine. He chatted us up, Made great recommendations as well. Dyllan our server was amazing and he recommended some great shows to see while in the city. Food and drinks were amazing and we can't wait to go back read more

Cafeteria is a staple for me. I love coming here for lunch, on a late night after hanging with friends, before a Broadway show, it's always appropriate for any occasion. What I love is how friendly and fast paced the service is and the food is amazing every single time. I absolutely loveeee the Cornmeal Calamari, the banana peppers are such an amazing salty/ spicy addition to this dish. The Mac and Cheese Trio is naturally a go to, the truffle Mac has just the right ratio of truffle oil to cheese and isn't overpowering. Last but not least if you visit Cafeteria you MUST try the Carrot Cake. the softness or the cake along with the icing and walnuts is simple mind blowing. I come back constantly for this cake. I highly recommend stopping by, you can never grow tired of Cafeteria. read more

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Oh boy, what a hectic work week! However, my dearest friend recommends a hotspot in Chelsea to grab a drink and did my mood change...? Absolutely!! Karl and Chris changed my vibe for the season. The drinks, service and food were amazing! The back of house was incredibly attentive and I couldn't ask for better bartenders! read more

Brunch place that serves NY fashioned brunch until 4 pm. I came because their outdoor seating area (which is enclosed and heated), looked super cute. Lots of faux flora and natural light. Great place to catch up with friends over your regular American fare. Eggs on the eggs Benedict were poached to just the right amount where it isn't too runny but just runny enough for your English muffin to soak up the yolk. Portion sizes were ok, and we didn't have to pack anything to go. But if you're a big eater, the portions might seem small. The green juice came in a mason jar, so I would say the pricing is on par with what you would get at a juice shop. The staff were friendly and were able to give us recommendations. Overall the food wasn't anything to write home about but Cafeteria provided a pleasant cozy environment to catch up with people. read more

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Love this place, casual and cute. Good food and there are lots of options, even for the picky eaters. The customer service was wonderful. read more

This was overall a great experience for late night food and drinks! So much space and tables inside and outside so it wasn't an issue getting a seat on a busy night. We got the mahi mahi tacos and the mushroom sandwich which were both soooo yummy. The service was great and even though it seemed busy, the staff were kind and accommodating. Cool vibes read more

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We strolled in here after a long day of New York tour staying for happy hour snacks and drinks on the recommendation of our Airbnb host. There are some negative reviews on Google and yelp about service at this place but I saw no evidence of anything but top-notch customer support and interaction. We had water and menus and regular attentive service throughout hour/ hour and a half there Despise being very clear that we were not there for dinner but only apps and drinks. No problem. Now the truth of the matter is we got 4 apps and had no room for dinner, so I could call this a dinner of you if I want it. The chickpea fries were so good we immediately googled the recipe and are trying it on both coasts. The broccolini was a little lackluster but still was completely devoured. Roasted Brussels sprouts were a hit & Who doesn't love a pile of Shishido peppers? And of course, my specialty, the bathrooms. Dimly lit enough to be dramatic dungeon, really appreciate the gender free open sink concept with bespoke art and every stall. That is worth a star alone. The fact that you have to go down some pretty steep stairs is something that I would just like to say is not very access friendly but, it is New York, so I do understand. read more

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Food was solid and the service was amazing! Our waiter was super attentive and took time to make sure we had everything we needed during our dining experience. The decor and ambiance are super modern and trendy. It is a bit pricey considering I shared an app, had 1 drink, a burger and spent $75. Not sure if I will be back but no complaints! read more

Cafeteria - The Classic Burger - New American Near Me - New York, New York

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Just had an amazing experience at an office holiday dinner. Our server Nick Rocz was the best, usually group outings can be chaotic, but Nick kept everything running smooth and he had the best personality! read more

Pre Bday dinner and I enjoyed my Dish. This place once again is solid place to dine. Make sure you make a reservation before showing up. This place is usually booked up. Live, love and laugh. -Sha read more

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Fantastic, perfectly cooked quality piece of salmon. Appreciating the suggestion to have the sauce on the side. Even ordered a second order of the broccolini, it was so good. As a previous diner noted, the stairs are quite steep to the downstairs bathroom. read more