++++ - Chicken sandwich was perfect +++ - A+ service ++ - quaint environment - bottomless coffee - I liked the salad + - not too busy on a Saturday afternoon - pulled lamb pita - background music was groovy, yet low enough to have a conversation - - My tamarind chicken wasn't all the way done read more

My friend was looking for brunch spots within the area, and the mission really motivated us to want to go in. First of all, the service here was impeccable. Felt welcome since we came in. Thee food was absolutely amazing as well; the Bacon within the bacon & eggs was the best I ever had. My friends also loved their chicken sandwich and pulled pork. Cant wait to go back! read more

i love the concept of this place and the pancakes were the best i've ever had. not to mention the dishes were so reasonably priced and the staff were the sweetest?! highly recommend read more

Emma's Torch - Pancake - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

See all

This new incarnation of Emma's Torch is amazing - a rare example of improving upon the original!! The dining room is beautiful. The tile work and details are lovey, and the lighting fixtures are very cool. Worked well for a bench with friends but would also do great for a date night! Our brunch was perfect. The Mediterranean specials are all fantastic, and prepared with largely local ingredients. The shakshouka was absolutely delicious and served over saffron rice. We also loved the tamarind wings. Can't wait to go back! read more

See all

Good cause and food was flavorful, but the portions feel off. Took lambshanks and that was delicious and plentiful, but my partner ordered branzino portions looked tiny in comparison. The part that I wasn't too keen on was that the service was all over the place & to be fair I would like to try this place another time. We were brought someone else's appetizers (which our huge party assumed someone at the table ordered and mindlessly consumed as it was in fact delicious), then before our mains were even brought out the over eager waiter asked us for desserts order, and while everyone is still chatting and finishing tiny portions of the dessert course we were asked several times if we wanted the check. Not really sure why that was as I saw no other party waiting to be seated in the middle of the week and thought it was honestly offputting. NOTE: desserts are mix bag, don't recommend the cookies and milk (cookies were ok, but milk literally added nothing to it). read more

The menu is not extensive, but all the dishes that we had were well prepared, delicious, and the presentation was terrific. I have paid a LOT more for food that isn't even as good, so I'd say that the value is excellent. Staff is friendly and accommodating, and the small venue is very inviting. Overall an excellent experience! read more

See all

Great service and food!! The avocado toast was very fresh and the seasonal marzipan latte was amazing. Love the mission and will be back in the future! read more

I take this time during our global pandemic crisis to cover some restaurants that I haven't had a chance to in the past, and speak to their beautiful experience in the industry and above-and-beyond dishes and service that just elevate your eating atmosphere above the others. At Emma's Torch, you are offering a bit of help to those in a difficult situation. That alone is a beautiful thing that their program offers, and worthy in it's own right, regardless of if the food is "four or five stars". That being said, the food is spectacular. Everything from the appetizer (lamb meatballs) to the dessert, and of course their attention to detail and interaction with their customers, makes this a place I would definitely love to return to. Wish you the best during these difficult times. read more

My friend and I visited Emma's Torch because we were a fan of the mission statement of the restaurant. Ordered: Grapefruit Rosemary Spritz Poulet Cocotte Grand-Mere Kababsi Macaroni Gratin Blancmange Buttercake I would recommend the macaroni. I am normally not a fan of mac and cheese but this dish was fantastic. Our total came out to around $78 (before tips). It's a very cute restaurant with outdoor seating in the back. I thought the rest of the foods were okay but I would go back to support the mission and try their other foods. read more

Went here for brunch last weekend and it was adorable. First of all the cafe its self is so instagrammable super cute! We didn't sit outside, but the founder took us out back to show us the garden (where they also grow their own herbs) which looked lovely and got lots of shade so probably a great spot for weekend mornings! My friends and I all got different items on the menu, but I think the frittata sandwich was definitely the all around favorite. So savory and delicious! The bread basket was also a must - they provided home made preserves and honey butter as well which was super tasty. For drinks, I tried their homemade cherry vanilla soda which was refreshing and hit the spot on a 95+ Saturday in June. My two girlfriends got this delicious coffee drink that was essentially iced coffee with like a creamy Nutella like substance...definitely getting this next time. Finally, the best part about Emma's Torch is the philosophy behind it. The whole premise is that it's a non-profit that teaches refugees culinary skills and other skills in the food service industry, so they do catering and other things as well. TL;DR yummy brunch, great cause, 5 stars read more

Emma's Torch - The avocado toast, bread basket, and the cherry vanilla soda - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Emma's Torch was awesome!! The food was amazing with the menu broken up between small plates and larger entrees. I got the pasta, which was the only vegetarian option of the large plates. It would have been nice to seen something else, but the menu is already pretty small and the pasta was great. The concept of the restaurant is also very interesting and I'm glad it's taking off. Their mission is to help refugees build new lives in their communities. The space is pretty charming too and located in a cute area of Brooklyn. I would totally recommend this place for date night or a great place to meet up with friends! read more

We went for brunch on a Saturday. I think ordinarily I would give this place a 4 star review, but with it's mission of training refugees, then I think it deserves the fifth star. Everything was done as small plates for sharing. We had a mushroom tartine, tamarind chicken wings, bread pudding, and tomato stew dish with poached eggs and rice (I cannot remember the name). All were excellent. I could have eaten the tomato stew dish all day. We also had an good bottle of Cote du Rhone for $44. Atmosphere is casual; there were couples with kids there for brunch. But it is an upscale enough atmosphere to be a date spot at night. read more

They have wonderful service -- everyone who worked there was so friendly, quick, and informative. I loved the food, particularly the radishes and the sea bass, and the wings were amazing! Plus, they have a great mission (to employ, to train, and to facilitate careers for those who are refugees), so that's just one more good reason to go. read more

We went here because I'd been dying to go after a friend mentioned their mission to me months ago. I did a favor for someone and they got us a gift card so we finally went! All I can say is - bravo. I am in awe of the work they do, the aesthetic of the restaurant and its simple elegance and, of course, the food. Every person that helped us was kind and knowledgeable. Everything was perfect and I hope to go again and again. I also bought a t-shirt to support the organization and I hope to donate whenever I can. Thank you for being such an incredible force in the community! read more

Emma's Torch - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

See all

Wonderful concept of a restaurant. But I did go for brunch once and didn't like the look of my poached egg when it came out. It was kind of groggy and sad and half formed. Like that egg wasn't ready for New York Brunch. Anyway, the egg came out (it was wet and sloppy) and so I sent it back saying that I would like a more fully formed poached egg. They brought me back the same egg and said "this is how the chef poaches eggs and it's not going to be different if they do it again". I didn't like the egg, the food wasn't that great and I kind of think that customer service is not great. My friends has pretty good food. It's just not a 5 star spot yet. read more

First off, Michael, our server, was absolutely wonderful. Go to Emma's Torch to support a good cause, have a simple good meal (for the most part for us) and experience good service. Expect not everything on the menu to be perfect (one of our dish was a little salty however I took it home and made an omelette the next day that was perfect)), and understand the concept behind this restaurant. At the end of the day, giving refugees an opportunity to cook for us throughout their learning experience to better themselves in the future, is rewarding itself. I do recommend that the expeditor properly check everything before it leaves the window. You are after all the final step! read more

Well-executed brunch classics for a good cause? I'm sold! We made reservations for a Saturday morning, which turned out to be totally unnecessary (although it was starting to fill up when we left). We started off with plum bellinis, a fun cocktail where the sweetness of the plums was nicely cut with the cava. I'm not really into classic brunch cocktails, but I really dig this one! We then moved on to the plum waffle, shakshuka, avocado toast, and pistachio bread pudding. The waffle had a really nice blend of textures - a soft savory waffle, sweet plum vanilla compote, and crunch flakes almonds. So often restaurants overcook their waffles - the decision to use almonds for crunch was really inspired! The pistachio bread pudding was a great small dessert - a few bites for everyone and again a great variety of textures. The avocado toast and shakshuka were also big hits with the folks who ordered them. Service was great and explained the mission of the place. The restaurant provides paid training in culinary work for refugees and victims of human trafficking, so you get a great meal and can feel good about it! read more

We had an amazing dinner at Emma's. Every dish was unique in flavor, texture. A very creative menu executed to perfection. The service was extremely attentive as well. A fantastic experience. read more

Came for Sunday brunch with the family (4 adults and one child 8 and another 2) after making reservations. We basically sampled everything. The Tamarind Wings were excellent. The crispy chicken sandwich was huge, the other entrees were normal sized. My wife got the Shakuska and declared it a flavorful hit. I got the Ale-Braised Brisket pita and liked it a lot. The food had a Middle Eastern and North African bent but with a twist from standard offerings of those cuisines. Service was excellent and attentive. It is a small restaurant (in location of former Wilma Jean's) but not overly cramped for space. Loved the concept that the restaurant was helping out refugees in a positive way, and thus as paying customers we were too. Highly recommended. We will return. read more

Emma's Torch - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Delicious. With a brilliant cause!! so happy I finally tried it... they have my full support! Who wouldn't want to eat well while doing good??! read more

Want to support refugees and enjoy a delicious meal? Then Emma's Torch is for you. I had a great brunch experience here, partly because of the attentive staff, partly because of the interior design, partly because of the food. We started with a black-eyed pea hummus, which was very tasty. I split the shakshuka with my wife, which I also enjoyed. She got the pancakes, so I had to have a bite. After one taste, I couldn't stop. They are fluffy on the inside yet crispy on the outside - INSANELY YUMMY! The others we ate with also enjoyed their meals - a pleasant experience, and we will certainly be back for more. PANCAKES! read more

See all

What an amazing experience! Great meal in a mission driven social enterprise that trains refugees for the culinary industry. The clean, modern digs on Smith street are very inviting. Everyone who works there is engaging and personable and great ambassadors for the work. We tried several appetizers, entrees and desserts. All were delicious, from the chicken with rice to the lamb shank, the heirloom tomato salad to the meatballs. And the pistachio bread pudding was the perfect ending to a very flavorful meal. read more

See all

We had a wonderful happy hour at this place with my husband and friends. Very neat and cozy. Business embraces a great cause helping refugees. Food: Outstanding!!!! We tried their Black-Eyed Pea Hummus, Tamarind Barbecue Wings, Lamb Meatballs, Charred Corn Cavatelli and Rose wine. Delicious!!!! Everyone there was very nice and helpful. Definitely recommend this place. read more

Went here for a Saturday night dinner. The food was amazing. Service was great too. Definitely try this spot if you're in the area. Excited to come back and try weekend brunch. read more

What an incredible culinary experience! And this was brunch. I wonder what dinner could be here. Aside from the cool idea behind the restaurant (helping refugees around the world start a new life through cooking), the food is really great! I had the pancakes. Hands down the best pancakes I have ever head in my life. The others in my party, who tasted them, agreed. They ordered the chicken sandwich and the pulled lamb in pita. I tasted both and I can assure that they were great. The menu changes, but if this is always the way the cook I will definitely come back here again and again. read more

This brunch spot is definitely under the radar, but one of the best recent experiences I've had. The dishes are fresh, unique and really well executed. The avocado toast and stuffed zucchini were great, and I can't wait to go back to try more - especially all the baked goods on the menu. The sides seem to be really good as well. All I can speak to were the roasted potatoes, which were excellent. They came with caramelized onions and a yogurt type sauce. What distinguishes this brunch spot the most is the great cause it supports. You see refugees providing their excellent skills in the kitchen, and training to become chefs in the US. I'd highly recommend. read more

Emma's Torch - Avocado toast, stuffed zucchini and potatoes - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

I can't say enough good things about this place! The restaurant's cause is amazing - the culinary staff are refugees, asylum-seekers, and survivors of human trafficking. The restaurant hires them in an apprenticeship-style program, trains them in culinary arts and provides English lessons, and upon graduation, helps them find jobs at NYC restaurants. Dining here makes me feel proud to be an American and reminds me why I love this country. And, the food is also very tasty. Everything we ate was incredibly fresh and flavorful. And each dish is designed to teach the students a particular culinary skill. I particularly loved the black eyed pea hummus. If you're in Brooklyn, definitely make a trip and support a wonderful cause! read more

This place is just amazing, the food, the service, and the story. Also they change the menu seasonally which makes going back a must. Highly recommend this spot. read more

Delicious, great decor, warm service, fun music, fantastic cause. What more needs to be said? read more

Emma's Torch - May I recommend the Blueberry Muffin Waffles?... - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Wow. Emma's Torch was really, really delicious. Everything was a delight- creative dishes and ingredients, perfect balance of flavors! Lovely little spot with a great date night vibe. The great cause & sustainable business is just the cherry on top. Speaking of which, I will definitely get dessert next time. Highly recommend. read more

Finally, somewhere to eat fresh, delicious, thoughtful meals! A friend and I went there for dinner tonight and we were genuinely wowed and refreshed by this dining experience. The house salad's buttermilk dressing was to-die-for, and we loved the spiced pickled celery-- such a nice touch! The salmon was also a stand-out dish, with perfectly crispy skin, juicy flesh, and the best side of swiss chard I've ever had! (Normally, I find it unpalatable) Service was attentive and friendly without being overbearing. Also, a great atmosphere: lively and charming, but you can actually hear your dinner-mate speak. All around great experience, will definitely be coming back! read more

Waited for 30+ minutes for food to come. And the food is merely mediocre. Took long to get the check too. Will not come back.

We had a really great brunch here. I was shocked it wasn't more crowded. We ordered the plum vanilla pacakes, the Turkish platter and the shakshuka with a mimosa and Bellini. The service was fantastic, as was the food and I couldn't be more pleased. They have refugees in the kitchen learning about the culinary arts and I really loved that this place has a community caring mindset. I would definitely come back. This month they are featuring dinner meals from their refugee home locations. I can't wait to try!! read more

Enjoyed a wonderful southern breakfast here. Eggs were incredible! Sausage and grits delicious. One of the nicest dining experiences--super -friendly staff! read more

Emma's Torch - Southern breakfast at Emma's T - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

What can I say. Overall amazing. Great food, went for brunch everything was cooked so well. Small spot but enough seating for about 25-35 people. I love the whole mission and will be returning very soon ! read more

We love it here. The shakshuka and the wings were great and the nonalcoholic in house sodas are way above par. The service was exceptional. Samuel was our server and he was lovely. You never would have known the chefs were in training. read more

I love a restaurant with a cause, and I love it even more when the food is great! I went for brunch and got the shakshuka and pistachio bread pudding which were both delicious. Everyone was so friendly and helpful. Emma's Torch has a beautiful mission statement and great food, which everyone should check out for themselves! read more

Upon entering I was greeted rudely by who I believe to be one of the sous chefs. I would not go back to a place with unprofessional people no matter how good the food is. Rude and obnoxious is not classy and unintelligible behavior. read more

One of my all time favorites! The ambiance is lovely and the food is delicious, flavorful,and made with high quality and fresh ingredients. The service was also top notch. I also love the mission of the restaurant! The owner is giving employment opportunities to refugees -- if you are looking for a new restaurant to check out in Gowanus or Carroll Gardens area...this is a must! read more

Echo all the positive reviews, plus the outdoor seating is great dining space!