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Cornerstone Cafe
Categories: Restaurants Italian Restaurants Breakfast & Brunch Restaurants Diners Italian, Breakfast & Brunch, Diners [Edit]
17 Ave BNew York, NY 10009
Neighbourhoods: East Village, Alphabet City
(212) 228-1260
- Nearest Transit:
-
Essex St (J, M, Z)
Delancey St (F)
2 Av (F)
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 8 am - 11 pm
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Breakfast, Brunch
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Dogs Allowed:
- No
90 reviews for Cornerstone Cafe
Review Highlights
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"I got baked eggs with Italian sausage with a good ol' cup..." In 2 reviews -
"French toast is a must try for breakfast or brunch." In 3 reviews -
"...the delicious types of pancakes, omelettes and crepes that..." In 4 reviews
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90 reviews in English
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Review from Lisa Jane C.
Brooklyn, NY
Wow, breakfast all day - and for only four dollars? Yes, it's true, and it's also very good.
Was here in the late afternoon during the week and got the breakfast special, which is 1) two eggs (my order -soft scrambled), 2) home fries, 3) toast (two slices! whole wheat for me), and 4) salad. That's right - four items. Heck, this is a better value than the fast food chains, and it's in a real restaurant - one which looks very nice as well.
The eggs were fluffy and delicious. The home fries were nice and chunky and tasted great. Just (very) slightly greasy - but that's how they should be. The two slices of toast were Goldilocks perfect - no burning or under-toasting. The salad had a light dressing - think it was oil and vinegar - and although I wouldn't think of salad as a breakfast item, this one worked well.
Cornerstone has just the right little touches which make you want to revisit it time and again. The toast was served with softened butter, which is just brilliant. Never could understand why restaurants love to serve those cold, lumpy butter pats which will destroy your food, but that didn't happen here. When I exclaimed my disdain for ketchup, I was offered (excellent) hot sauce as a substitute. Water was refilled quickly. This place is spotless - people are always cleaning. The restroom is fine.
The decor is mellow - gray, brown and blue. The music is 70s classic rock, but low enough that you can have a conversation. Great mixed crowd here, which distinguishes it from the usual hipster places that are a staple of Avenue B.
Cornerstone has a full menu - salads, sandwiches, burgers, etc. Alcohol is also served, which must be one reason this place has a two-hour wait for brunch on weekends.
If you are looking for an excellent bargain breakfast, this is the best to be on Avenue B (or anywhere else, for that matter).Listed in: Lower East Side loves
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Review from Aviva G.
5/21/2012
Sangria! Yum!
Was looking for an all you can drink brunch deal in the area, but turns out this is better. $15 for a pitcher of sangria that seems to last forever--great deal! And the sangria was delicious, and had fruit in it and everything.
The food was equally satisfying. I had the goat cheese and zucchini omelet which came with a salad and potatoes. I love goat cheese!!
Its also very cheap, I had a whole meal and half a pitcher of sangria and only paid $20.
The service was very slow, but it was a saturday morning brunch and they were very busy. It was fine though, because really, what else did I have to do after drinking sangria on a saturday? -
Review from Emily D.
4 of us came here for Sunday Brunch. There was a 45 min wait which ended up an hour and 20 min. Luckily it was a gorgeous day and the hostess took our coffee orders and brought them out to us. That was a perk!
We took a stroll up the street while we waited and yes there's other brunch option on the same block but this Cafe is worth the wait! Take my word on it.. You'll be satisfied after.
We finally are seated and we knew what we wanted to order. After an hour wait... make sure you to know what you want so you can get your food cooked immediately.
We did have a hard time deciding what we wanted, the menu looks so good. Everything on it is probably amazing.
Orders:
Hubby and Friend- They both had the Omelet. My friend had the Spinach and it comes With Toast, Potatoes & field greens. Omelet filled with goats cheese, zucchini, canadian bacon with shredded white cheddar, feta cheese & spinach {$9}
Hubby had a cheedar cheese omelet with bacon and tomato. They both were grinning from ear to ear and barely spoke a word. (good sign)
My Aunt and I both ordered the Eggs Benedict With Potatoes & Field Greens. It had Canadian bacon, 2 organic poached eggs, hollandaise sauce, choice of rye bread or english muffin. We both had the English muffin. {$10}
the eggs were cooked perfectly and there was the right amount of sauce. It wasn't drenched in it. The potatoes were delicious.
We all wanted to try the french toast so we ordered that to share and IT IS THE MUST TRY OF THIS PLACE. Seriously, you will be sorry if you don't get this. It's thick Texas French Toast covered in fresh fruit, cinnamon, whipped cream, and you have choice between orange blossom honey or maple syrup. We did the maple syrup and it was perfect. We were so deliciously full from our own brunch choices but we somehow each fit in a slice of this french toast because it's THAT GOOD! Do yourself a favor and order it.
We washed everything down with coffee {$2.50}, Freshly Squeezed Orange Juice {4.50}, and the mimosa 2 for {$10}.
The prices are great!! The service was actually fairly quick for a busy morning/afternoon. Will I return?? DUH!Listed in: NYC eats!, Pancakes, Eggs, & Toast! Oh…
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Review from Jon G.
Forest Hills, NY
5/17/2012
Italian? About as italian as a nail salon. Had an awful experience with the Chicken Parm Sandwich. Takes forever to come out, bread is room temperature, then you bite into a steaming turd fresh from the microwave. But the chunks are huge and so is the bread, so now I try the knife and forget. The mozzarella flings a little sauce onto my shirt. And the salad it comes with was unevenly dressed, quite and ordinary and very non-italian. Staff was perfectly courteous. Drinks are overpriced too. So basically, this is a tourist trap where they lure you in with shitty food at an ok price in the hope of banging you for drink orders. Nice.
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Review from David W.
5/6/2012
This is for dinner, where it looks like quality varies significantly from brunch. It's Saturday night and I'm looking for a quick bite before catching a show. Yelp leads me here as every other spot with good reviews has a wait. One peek inside and there are two tables filled, that should've been my first hint but I went for it anyway.
First, the menu was pretty basic but I figured hey, maybe they do the basics really well? Well, they don't. I ordered the spaghetti and meatballs which was a huge portion for $10 since it included salad and a large loaf of bread. After an uninspiring salad I dug into the meatballs which were way too mushy. The spaghetti sauce was very watery and I've definitely had better off the supermarket shelf. Actually, I had better in my elementary school cafeteria... -
Review from Sasha M.
4/28/2012 1 Check-in Here
4.5 stars?! Why, Yelp, oh why? You betrayed us, you spoiled such a wonderful East Village dining opportunity. This is a rare instance when I regret consulting you. We could've had Venezuelan arepas. We could've had Zaitzeff burgers. Instead, we had completely forgettable sucky pastas with eggplant and mushrooms.
Actually it wasn't exactly forgettable. It brought memories of eating at cheap Italian restaurants during my college years. Same watery tomato sauce, same taste that has as little to do with real Italian pasta as I have to do with a real Italian, same mediocre breaded eggplant.
I can't rave about $4 breakfast because I was only here for dinner. Unfortunately, for dinner this place earned a solid 1 star. -
Review from Ray C.
5/1/2012 1 Check-in Here
I love this place!
The prices are so reasonable- you could even consider this place cheap for the food you get. The place is simple- just a ton of tables crammed into a small place. But the food is actually awesome!
I got the french toast- probably the best french toast I've ever had. The service was okay, but I can't complain for the awesome prices and the awesome food.
I did wait 45 min though. I wish this place was bigger. I also wish I tried the $4 brunch.... but that's for next time! -
Review from Will T.
Manhattan, NY
4/15/2012 1 Check-in Here
$4 will get you 2 eggs, potatoes, and greens. That's a deal. (5/5)
We also got Steak and egg (4/5). Hard to cut steak with a butter knife.
Only downside....long wait. But if it's sunny out, not a problem. You will build up a huge appetite... -
Review from Jesse F.
4/9/2012
The perfect place to meet friends in Manhattan for brunch -- a big menu, cheap alcohol drink options, and cash only (so you avoid the dreaded six credit card math problem).
At 11:30 Saturday, there was about a 15 minute wait for a party of two. Nothing major. The best part is the menu and pricing. As mentioned earlier, two organic eggs, toast, salad and homefries will cost you 4 bucks. You can build from there, a la carte, by adding meats, sweet potato fries (DELICIOUS -- better than Westville), cheese, or anything else your heart desires. My $9 omelet (cheese, zucchini, came with bread, salad, and potatoes) was perfectly done; my companion had a $6 breakfast sandwich (choose from bread, croissant, english muffin...) and loved it. The dirty chai with soymilk was delicious. Everything was delicious. I left happy.
I'd never have found this place without you darling Yelpers. Thanks! -
Review from Chirag D.
4/11/2012 1 Check-in Here
One of the best breakfasts I've had in Manhattan. The place is nothing fancy and the food is just honest, hearty and well-executed. We came here because the wait at Clinton St. bakery was over an hour long but will certainly go back again very soon.
The scrambled eggs with tomato sauce and baked eggs with spinach were great. The blueberry pancakes were fresh and fluffy and great for sharing. This was also one of the most inexpensive breakfasts in Manhattan. -
Review from Anand M.
3/28/2012 5 Check-ins Here
I witheld completing my review of Cornerstone for so long because for the first three meals, I only had the Texas French Toast. As much as I wanted to try others, the french toast was the most perfect french toast I have ever had. When supplimented by the cheaply priced organic eggs, toast, and greens, the french toast is a well balanced $15 meal for two. One could even eat for just that $4. Nowhere in the city can you get these prices, let alone for this quality of food! Mimosas are $5 each or $25 for a pitcher that gives at least 6 full glasses (4/each). Coffee is a meere $2 for all you can drink.
When I first brought visiting friends here, I monologued about the french toast while the waiter poured drinks and set up the table. Even with my 10 min of persuasion, I was the only one to buy the toast. All the dishes are good but after having a bite of mine, we were forced to return after just two days - they all wanted their own oder. It has a crispy exterior and fluffy interior. No maple syrup necessary, the orange blossom honey is enough. It also comes with a healthy servicing of fresh fruit and whipped cream.
Somehow, they maintain the same exterior on the pancakes - a crispy crust. The interior was very light. If they the orange blossom on the pancakes I would have a tough time deciding what to get. I will have to ask next time.
The eggplant panini was good, nothing mind blowing and a little small (just $7 though). I wanted the vege burger to have more spices or some fun condiments. However, and this is a theme, at $7, there is not much to complain about. It was solid. I prefer the home fries to any other including the sweet potato - they are well fried. My eyes found everything appetizing, I just wish I didn't love the french toast as much as I do so I could try it all.
My biggest complaint was the $2 unlimited coffee. It was terrible burnt coffee that is at every diner. I am sure the espresso drinks are better but I was completely turned off by the first sip.
I want to keep this place a secret. Clinton St is across the street and the average wait is hours. I never waited for more than 20 minutes for Cornerstone. They only take cash, be prepared. The staff is friendly and prompt. I will be returning to Cornerstone often. -
Review from Shin F.
Manhattan, NY
4/29/2012
I've tried two weekends in the past after 10:30am but was too crowded.
So I went for Saturday brunch around 9.45am.
There were already many people but still had some available tables, so decided to take the table for two in front.of the small counter.
Food: 5 stars
They have various menus and sides. It's nothing fancy but, as many people wrote, you can see and taste they've prepared carefully. It's an epitome of good, honest foods. Even though the place was full around 10am, they don't do rushed job, which happen many other places.
However, they still uses organic eggs and very fresh greens.
I ordered French toast and sautéed spinach. Whip cream for French toast was home-made and nice. French toast was crispy outside. I also liked their orange blossom honey. Their spinach was sautéed very nicely.
I thought the pricing for food in general was very good deal for customers.
Atmosphere: 5 stars
Although the place was crowded, tables have enough spaces to each other so it didn't make me feel like choking, which were the case for many places in the area.
From the window, table and floor, it was so clean, which were not the case for many other places.
Services: 5 stars
All staffs I've communicated with were so nice and friendly while each service was very professional and respectful. Even the timing of coffee refills were perfect though they were so busy.
I left the place feeling much better than before going in, which is not only because of the food but also their great services. -
Review from Elizabeth J.
Manhattan, NY
3/25/2012 1 Check-in Here
Came here last weekend for brunch. The wait was super super long. They said 30 and it was more like 45. After possibly eating my right hand, we finally got seated. The place is tiny tiny. Maybe 15-20 tables. The smell in the restaurant was overwhelming. Everything on the menu looked fantastic.
I had the Steak and eggs. Steak was perfectly cooked, good portion of meat, the eggs were light and fluffy --I'm not sure what they put in the eggs, but they were incredible. My friend got the baked eggs and they looked delicious. The portions were good, the service was good and the prices were very reasonable. If only the wait wasn't so long, this would be my go-to brunch spot. -
Review from Jackie W.
3/28/2012 1 Check-in Here
Tasty food for unbeatable prices! You can get an egg breakfast starting from $4 as well as your morning coffee for $2. But we decided on something sweet, Buttermilk Pancakes with strawberry compote (cooked fruit into a jam like consistency), and something savory, Eggs Benedict. I really enjoyed their buttermilk pancakes as they were very tasty just on their own. The pancakes were very buttery and fluffy; I love pancakes that I can easily cut into with a butterknife, as opposed to those chewy pancakes you get at diners. I'm not a big fan of Eggs Benedict as I never really had them before nor am I a fan of egg yolks, but from a bite, it was enjoyable.
Our server was awesome; she was attentive to our needs without being overbearing. She immediately came over to our table when she heard my knife drop to the floor and offered me a new one. She answered any questions we had and was friendly! I'd say, this is definitely the week to week breakfast joint if I was a resident of the area! Oh yes, it's also cash only so bring your dolla bills! -
Review from Cory S.
New York, NY
3/27/2012
The brunch here is great (better than Clinton St Baking Co and half the price), but every knows this by now so let us discuss the dinner here.
It's hard to find good authentic Italian food around here but they seem to have the traditional Italian pasta dishes down pat (come hungry, massive portions) and some more non traditional dishes/side dishes as well (the mac and cheese is legit!!) The food came out quick and the waitresses were really nice. Don't sleep on the meatballs. THE MEATBALLS!
The sangria is underrated here - tasty and boozy.
If you've been here for brunch, check it out for dinner. It gives off good vibes. Quickly becoming a favorite of mine. -
Review from Steven B.
Edgewater, NJ
4/29/2012
This place is an excellent find. The food selection was very good and everything was very well prepared and quite delicious. The prices were very reasonable considering the quality. We lucked out by getting seated quickly, which I hear is not a common thing there.
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Review from Sara K.
New York, NY
4/29/2012
GREAT BRUNCH!
cheap, delicious and adorable atmosphere. The service is a little slow, but it's worth it because the food is delicious. Had an omelette, fruit, salad, toast and the most AMAZING preserves I've ever had. They have everything you could want in a breakfast on the menu. Love it!! -
Review from Jiggly B.
New York, NY
3/11/2012
Amazing Brunch! When you get turned away by the 2 hour wait at Clinton Street Bakery, come here instead!
Spinach Baked Eggs- Excellent
Nutella Crepe- Delicious
Waffle- Amazing -
Review from Ciara G.
$4 for breakfast in NYC?! I think yes.
For $4 you can get two eggs any way with breakfast potatoes, toast and a deliciously dressed mixed green salad.
Although that was a steal of a deal I decided to "splurge" hahaha splurge, on the $9 Goat Cheese and Zucchini omelet. It was delightful.
The joint is cozy and can totally be called a neighborhood gem. I saw a few laptops so I'm pretty sure they've got the WiFi.
The place wasn't packed so I felt that our server was a little to eager to take our order. Our breakie was a meet up between old friends that hadn't seen each other in sometime and a first meet so there was a lot of chatting going on. I know she could see that so I felt that she should have backed off a bit. We finally stopped the convo so we could keep her at bay by letting her take our order.
Food was good and price was more than right. I'd come back if in the area and wanted a quick cheap good breakie.Listed in: Breakie or Bust, Cheap Eats!, New York state of mind
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Review from Eileen G.
Manhattan, NY
5/1/2012
I love this place--I live right around the corner, and I've been going here since it opened. The service here is great, and everything on the menu is too. The breakfasts are particularly amazing. Even the oatmeal--such a seemingly simple, unassuming dish--is loaded with fresh fruit and delicious. I love the crepes, and I love the egg dishes. Such reasonable prices--you can get a plate of eggs for $4 or a tasty bottle of wine for less than $25. Brunches here have gotten super busy, and I'm glad, because this restaurant really deserves the business. It's still pretty quiet here during dinnertime, but I am sure once more people realize this place is here, that it will be busy then too!
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Review from Myra R.
5/2/2012
The girls and I trekked it down to the area to eat at Clinton St. Bakery. To our disappointment it was a 1-1.5hr wait. Yeah I don't need to wait that long for some food. So we whipped out the Yelp to look for an alternative and it let us to Cornerstone Cafe. There was no wait. Halleloo! Three of us got egg dishes while our other dining companion had granola and a green machine smoothie. But since we were missing out on something sweet, we ordered the cinnamon french toast topped with homemade whip and honey. My omelet was nothing to write home about but the french toast won that morning hands down. All for us could not get enough of it. It made up for Clinton St. Cornerstone may offer a smaller menu and not have the notoriety but makes up for it with its french toast and laid back ambiance to really enjoy your morning meal.
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Review from Rebekkah K.
Columbus, OH
4/21/2012 2 Check-ins Here
I came across this actually by chance and oddly enough without Yelp's help, sorry. However, I did feel the need to share that it is an excellent breakfast spot. It has a great 4.00 option for 2 eggs, great potatoes, and mixed greens. I believe for 3 coffees, and 3 of these specials (good portions too) it was around 20.00 total. Great deal! Also, if you check in on FourSquare they have a free large coffee offer for your first check in. The atmosphere is nice, brick walls, okay service the first time, great service when I went back the second time... Our waitress was quirky and friendly. I'll definitely go back, perhaps to take advantage of the sangria special... or for breakfast to sample some of the other offerings.
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Review from JD D.
Manhattan, NY
5/14/2012
this place is an amazing addition to a block that doenst have too many steller food options. its such a great secret, i have had quite a few awesome dining experiences here. one night i came in with my girlfriend starving and craving a burger. they brought out a delicious bacon cheeseburger piled high with bacon and fries. it really hit the spot. you can go here for dinner and order penne alla vodka for 4$! when we first saw this we thought it was a misprint but it was truly $4 and included a side salad and bread. the brunch is really their forte. i have showed up at 11am on a sunday and been seated in under 5 minutes and a brunch for 2 for under $25. pretty incredible deal for an east village restaurant serving quality food. i highly recommend cornerstone just dont want it to get too popular or ill lose my quick seating.
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Review from Jane K.
2/20/2012 1 Check-in Here
More orange blossom syrup, please.
Yes, this little café on Avenue B and 2nd Street is just what the brunch doctors ordered. While we have plenty of amazing brunch places in the East Village I'm always looking for a new place to test out and after a quick Yelp search I discovered Cornerstone at the top of the ratings. And this cozy new neighborhood spot is just the right amount of low key local for a Sunday morning. We waited for about twenty minutes for our table of two to be seated and the space itself is stripped down, simple and even a bit country bumpkin.
Breakfast options hover in the $10 range and mix traditional with inventive spins. All the ingredients are organic and farm-fresh, and you can taste it. Benedict, crepes, baked eggs, Belgian Waffles... For my inaugural visit we both had to order the Texas French Toast topped with fresh fruit, cinnamon, their homemade whipped cream, orange blossom honey. This crispy, delectable treat made us both swoon.
While it will be difficult to stray away from their wonderful breakfast menu, I definitely want to return to try one of their hot sandwiches. -
Review from Asuka N.
3/3/2012 1 Check-in Here
For a brunch spot in Manhattan, you can't get much better than this, particularly if you're looking for above-average food that is cheaper than your regular $15 brunch spot around the block. Despite the fairly miserable weather this morning, my girlfriend and I arrived to a nearly-full restaurant around 10 this morning. You don't get too much personal space here, but it's a little better than at some other spots (like Extra Virgin) that really pack you in like sardines. Although the place was pretty packed, I felt service was a bit on the slow side...not a total dealbreaker, since we passed the time sipping on monk blend tea (this stuff is pretty good, by the way).
For food, we went with one savory and one sweet dish. On the savory side, we had the baked eggs with Italian sausage. It was really good, as it adds a tomato-y Italian flair to the dish. I'm a bit unsure if I like the baked eggs that are done here better than Spoon, which does something similar but with less tomato and more potato, but both are amazing regardless. For the sweet side, I had the Texas French toast. I'm not sure what about it makes it Texan, but the toast was delicious without being too thick (as some toast is wont to be), and the fruit (a good helping of strawberries, blueberries, and bananas) and whipped cream added depth to the flavor as well. You can't go without mentioning the orange blossom syrup, though, which rocks my socks - definitely one of the best syrups I've had in a restaurant.
In short, get yourself down here for brunch! It does get crowded, but not backed up to the point that spots like Penelope do in the morning. It also won't hurt your wallet as much either. While juice is a bit steep ($4.50 for a glass of fresh OJ), the standard 2 eggs with potatoes and fries costs $4(!). Yes, that's right...and that's probably cheaper than the local dive diner as well. A great find whose only downside really is not being as close to public transportation as other spots. -
Review from Shivani J.
Atlanta, GA
5/11/2012
I got the eggs florentine and goat cheese salad with dried cranberries, pears, and nuts. The eggs came with a small salad and potatoes. The salad was AMAZING, but the eggs were average and the potatoes were good. The red sangria was awesome, $15 for a pitcher of 5-6 glasses. I like the atmosphere too, overall good spot in east village.
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Review from Vi N.
I'm so excited for this place! This is my "go-to" breakfast spot from now on!
Cute lil cafe down in alphabet city. The brunch/breakfast menu is not overwhelming, but the food is great! I started w/the "2 eggs any style, potatoes, mixed greens & toast" for $4!! Yes you heard me, 4 buckaroos!! It really doesnt get any better than that... so I thought.
I continued w/the "belgian waffles w/fresh fruits (blueberries, strawberries, bananas), whipped cream and orange blossom syrup". The fruits came plentiful on my waffles. The orange blossom syrup was delicious, not too sweet.
The place gets pretty busy for brunch, so be prepared to wait a bit. As busy as they were the waitresses were super attentive. There are so many great things on their menu, and all with very reasonable prices. I can't wait to go back and try their french toast!! -
Review from Annie I.
5/13/2012
I went to this cafe' for brunch after reading the reviews. My friends and I had to wait more than 45 minutes to get a table but we were expecting that. It was a lovely day so we didn't mind. Also, we had come all the way from Toronto to try out the best food places in Manhattan.
Anyway, we ened up ordering french toast, eggplant panini and baked eggs and salmon. The panini is absolutely worth a try! Very light and tasteful. The french toasts, as raved upon by many a reviewers, were great! But the baked eggs are not everyon's cup of tea. If you REALLY like fish, you could maybe think about ordering it. The serving size was huge and the salmon made me feel sick after 4 bites. I think it was too heavy for even brunch. Overall our experience wasn't too bad but I have noticed that in general people rave about a lot of stuff that isn't THAT big of a deal. I'd say try out the panini if you're in the neighborhood. If not, no need to commute all the way from where ever you live. It's not as amazing as they say it is. But then again it's not that bad either. -
Review from monia G.
New York, NY
2/6/2012
So, A friend of mine had a birthday brunch here and although it's not far from where i live, I had never been there.
I just have to say....mmmm mmm good! I had banana nut pancakes and they were absolutely delicious! Unlike any banana nut pancakes I have ever had., when you look at them, they look like regular pancakes but when you bite into then the banana and the nut are inside the pancake.
I also tasted the french toast which comes beautifully prepared with fruit around the plate and the customer service was good. I tasted everyone's food becase EVERYTHING was delicious! Also, very affordablly priced.
I would definately recommend this place for breakfast/brunch. Haven't tried it for dinner yet but If it's anything like breakfast. Im sure I will love it. -
Review from Heather R.
South Windsor, CT
4/17/2012
Just visited this restaurant on Monday around brunch and they definitely met up with the good review expectations. The wait was not bad. My kids ordered chocolate chip pancakes. They were very large and fluffy. They looked amazing. I ordered scrambled eggs which came with salad greens and a nice light dressing. What a great idea to serve salad greens with the meal. They also had fresh bananas that you could order on the side. Unlike most times when I leave from breakfast at a restaurant feeling like I just ate a pan of grease and feeling lethargic. We left feeling satisfied and healthy! Also just a really cute place!
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Review from nicole d.
1/22/2012 2 Check-ins Here
I'm so happy to find this place in my neighborhood and have a great new place to go for brunch. Cornerstone is really a neighborhood gem to me...not a lot of hype but has solid, good food.
The baked eggs with Italian sausage are absolutely delicious and perfect for a hearty eater. It comes with toast to dip in and sop up all the great tomato sauce that the eggs & sausage are baked in. PLUS a huge side of potatoes that I didn't expect. A mini feast all just for $12.
And you can't beat a $4 breakfast with 2 eggs, salad, potatoes and toast. It's enough to make a good breakfast, but you won't be disappointed if you add a side of bacon or sausage.
The french toast and Belgian waffle are also great options and tasty.
The portions are generous and prices are cheap.
The wait staff is friendly, but service is so-so depending on the day of the week and who you get.
Just a couple blocks north of Clinton St. Baking Co., so Cornerstone is a great alternative when your stomach realizes it really can't last the long 2-hour wait.
They don't seem to have a website, but they're on Facebook and MenuPages.Listed in: My Neighborhood
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Review from Erum R.
Updated - 1/27/2012 1 Check-in Here
Disappointed - now. Cornerstone has turned into a booming hot spot and I am very happy for them but have to say they don't know how to handle the amount of people they bring in for weekend brunch. We went in for brunch around opening time a couple of weekends ago and were so surprised by the huge amount of people waiting. The host (owner?) told us it'd be about an hour or so and we noticed that when people were not at the restaurant when their table was ready he was CALLING them to tell them their table is ready. I'm sorry, this is a quick grab and go brunch spot, not a fancy shmance bar scene.
To top it off when we sat down the owner told us that he doesn't like to rush people who are eating. That's perfectly nice but there were still about 20 people waiting outside to be seated. AND there were 2 tables of 4 behind us who were chatting it up with each other (newfound friends perhaps) the ENTIRE time we were eating and they didn't have a morsel of food on their table. Really? I was so tempted to tell the owner that this is ridiculous, you're going to let 2 tables of 4 sit for an extra hour without eating anything while 20 other people wait outside in the cold.
We were regulars. We haven't been back since.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/6/2011
I'm tempted to not say anything about this place because it is so good yet still clearly a hidden… Read more »
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Review from Emily S.
Manhattan, NY
3/17/2012
Such a cute place! Great if you want to get brunch but don't want to pay too much.
Being a strapped-for-cash college student, I was looking for a good restaurant for Saturday brunch in the area that wouldn't be expensive; this was about the only spot that Yelp could give me.
My friend and I arrived at about 11 am and were told that it would be a 30-minute wait, but it was more like 15-20 minutes. Since it was fairly warm for March that day, they had the doors open and it felt as if we were eating outside - beautiful weather, beautiful vibe. This place is definitely better for summer than winter.
I can't speak for the eggs yet, but the coffee is delicious and the pancakes are GREAT. My banana walnut pancakes were the thickest and fluffiest I've ever had, with crispy edges (which I haven't seen that often but which I think make the pancakes even better). YUM. I will be back to try a savory dish. -
Review from Josh M.
Manhattan, NY
4/14/2012
Great neighborhood spot. Also, a great option if you don't want to deal with the wait at Clinton st. Bakery.
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Review from Lily T.
Modesto, CA
4/4/2012
Mediocre at best! My friends and I went here best on fellow yelpers. I usually don't like to criticize, let alone broadcast negativity. But would it have been properly rated. We wouldn't have made the mistake of dinning here for brunch and had high expectations. Diner food, is all I have to say.
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Review from Eric Y.
Queens, NY
4/15/2012
I came here for Brunch on a Sat afternoon. The food is quite good, I ordered a french toast and my date ordered spinach omelette. Both were delicious. I was a bit disappointed about the pitcher of Sangria that I ordered. It was quite watered down to the point where it tasted like water...Aside from the disappointing Sangria the food, ambiance, service is good.
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Review from Mike F.
Midtown East, Manhattan, NY
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Review from missy l.
New York, NY
4/25/2012
one of the reasons cornerstone is so popular is that they've got it right: delicious food, very reasonable prices (who really wants to pay an arm/leg for the first meal of the day??), and attentive servers. we were here at 9am and didn't have much of a wait. the french toast, baked eggs with sausage, fresh organic scrambled eggs, and eggs benedict were all simply divine. i love this neighborhood and will be back!!
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Review from Ciel O.
New York, NY
4/15/2012 1 Check-in Here
I ate here once before and everything was stellar . Decided to come back for seconds ... Big mistake ! Food was okay, service sucks!!! Waiter messed up my order after I took 5 mins explaining my allergy . When our food came out it was missing almost everything we wanted . I had to constantly chase this guy for our food . I think they need more waiters especially on busy days .
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Review from Samantha C.
Manhattan, NY
1/23/2012 1 Check-in Here
Yelp delivered! Discovered this place during a severe french toast craving and this is the first thing that came up via yelp search. Yum! Quintessentially perfect french toast: sweet, crunchy on the outside, bread-y on the inside (this is American french toast at it's finest here), fresh fruit on top (strawberries and bananas), and whipped cream! What more could a girl want? Oh yeah, a burger with fries. Of course. With caramelized onions and melted cheddar cheese on top. This place does it all!
Additionally, the waitstaff here are so gracious and nice. They make you feel right at home. They helped me find me a warm table on a blustery winter day, didn't rush me, and one was not only courteous and pleasant but had also perfected the art of diner moderne eyeshadow. This place is really amazing!
