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Cosmopolitan Café
Categories: Food Coffee & Tea Restaurants Breakfast & Brunch Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch [Edit]
95 W BroadwayNew York, NY 10013
Neighbourhood: TriBeCa
(212) 766-3787
- Nearest Transit:
-
Chambers St (1, 2, 3)
Chambers St (A, C)
Park Pl (2, 3)
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dessert
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Romantic, Intimate
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
53 reviews for Cosmopolitan Café
Review Highlights
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"I highly recommend this place if you are in TriBeCa." In 9 reviews -
"The iced hot chocolate is lovely." In 4 reviews -
"Beats the starbucks next door." In 3 reviews
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53 reviews in English
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Review from Juan F.
Reseda, CA
5/3/2012 1 Check-in Here
All the great reviews from Yelp about this café are true. I came here for brunch and had the caramel and banana sweet crepe with a Belgian hot chocolate. The service was a bit slow only because the café was packed. As soon as I got my Belgian hot chocolate I forgot all about the wait. The drink was hot and sweet, soon after my food followed. After the few bites I have to say that this was the best crepe I have ever had. This is true since there are a lot of European tourists that come here.
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Review from Elaine T.
4/30/2012 1 Check-in Here
I stopped by for a cup of coffee (at the small cafe shop location- not the big restaurant around the corner). I came with 6 other people and the lady at the front was not welcoming whatsoever. She wanted to shoo us away and tell us to go to the restaurant instead. We however just wanted coffee and to try their crepes. We insisted on staying and she served us unhappily. I'm not sure what her problem was?
My americano was delicious but my complete crepe (scrambled eggs, ham, and gruyere cheese) was unforgettable. Apparently this place is known for their savory and sweet crepes but my dish could have been so-so due to an off-day. Overall I'd come back for the coffee. -
Review from Laurentina F.
Reston, VA
3/4/2012
I stayed at the Cosmopolitan Hotel next door and stopped by for breakfast one morning. The cafe is quaint and has an interesting interior, as the owner collects vintage knick knacks and displays them throughout the establishment. It does have a comforting Parisian feel to it, only that your view is of the construction work going on outside rather than a quaint French street.
I had a frothy cappuccino served in a segafreddo cappuccino saucer and it was heavenly... Comparable to some that I've had in Italy. For breakfast, I had a Ratetouille crepe with gruyere cheese and an egg on top. The presentation was a work of art in and of itself. You also had the option of ordering pastries, croissants and even American breakfast such as French toast and strawberry pancakes. My only compliant was that the crepe was not the right texture: tasted more English than French, but still delicious (and they use buckwheat flour, which is a plus). It comes served with a mixed greens salad.... Yum!
This was a popular place for European tourists to frequent as well: there were 2 tables of Italian tourists from Rome and Milan, and also a couple of French tourists as well. They also seemed to be intrigued by the vintage collection, food quality and ambience.
A favorite breakfast place for sure, and I will definitely be back. :-) -
Review from Carol B.
12/22/2011
--Very long wait for our food (while the place was virtually empty)
--No refills on our water (unless we beckoned the waitress over)
--What?! No bread basket?!
--"What's pullman bread?" asks a diner [it's listed as the bread for one of their sandwiches on the menu], "What's what? Oh, they don't use that bread."
Uhhhhm, so why's it on the menu?
--Wobbly table
--My crostini tasted a lot like really salty bagel bites.
=
No repeat business from me, sorry. =(
The place is cute and seemingly French. The menu is tres Americain + "French" onion soup.Listed in: Thanks, but no…
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Review from Linda W.
Rowland Heights, CA
This place was very nice and quiet. The place is small and good for groups of three or four. I love the french decoration. I had the nutella banana whipcream crepe with a chai latte. There was no latte art but the nutella is really to die for. I love that they dont cheap out on the nutella and the banana filling. The fruits were very fresh and the nutella is the soft type of nutella, i know that sometimes people prefer the crunchy kinds. As for the latte it's very plain and the bitterness of the coffee is not there. I had hope for some art but there wasnt any. The servers were nice and they were friendly but didnt seem to speak english well, which i found it as odd... since this isnt really france? All in all this place had soothing music, good crepes and passable normal latte.
Listed in: coffee shops
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Review from Anna V.
It was such a nice impromtu lunch experience here this past Saturday. I was lucky to get a seat by the window and it was fun to watch the locals and the tourists (cafe is part of or right next to a hotel). Great area of Tribeca also. Would be cool to become a regular here.
I had a most delicious Florentine Crepe! And I overheard other customers complimenting their food to the waiter as well. Oh the cutest thing, I got a latte which was brought with a whole portrait on the foam. -
Review from Eduardo F.
Phoenix, AZ
3/2/2012 1 Check-in Here
Need to take credit cards, more encouraging for people to spend more
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Review from Julianne G.
Richmond, VA
7/13/2011
Delicious, simple, cafe-style fare. Very friendly owner. Croissants are up to French standard. Coffee tasty. Intimate atmosphere. Hodgepodge decoration.
An aside: Michael "Christofah" Imperioli is a regular. I didn't gawk, but he seemed to enjoy hiding behind a newspaper. -
Review from Lucy Z.
Manhattan, NY
2/10/2012
I came here with some coworkers. I like the concept of the restaurant but the reality of the restaurant is not so good. All of our dishes came out in different times. We all got either sandwiches or crepes and i didn't feel the food was worth the wait. The servers seemed very disorganized and i don't think i would come here again. The portions are very small is which fine to me so long as the flavor is very good and that wasn't the case here.
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Review from Ephraim S.
Manhattan, NY
1/20/2012
The service was HORRIBLE...Very rude and we had to wait half an hour just to get honey for my tea! Ended up at Jerry's Cafe which is right down the street and had great food n service....try that one first!
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Review from Nadine F.
8/3/2011
We happened upon Cosmopolitan Cafe after failing to find a different cafe that had apparently shut down, and I'm glad we ended up at this place! It was very cozy, and the desserts, espresso, and other drinks were wonderful. I didn't get a chance to try the food, but it looked delicious!
The staff was very warm and friendly and made me wish I lived nearby so I could become a regular. -
Review from Caitlin m.
Manhattan, NY
6/15/2011
I can't believe this place got such good reviews. I've eaten here twice for lunch and both times service has been atrocious and the food has been lackluster.
Our table waited approx 25 minutes for crepes and tea which were not very good at all. I had a savory crepe with chicken in it and the chicken tasted like it had been cooked days prior.
There are much better places in the area. -
Review from Fraya L.
Chicago, IL
3/14/2012
Great spot for brunch. The asparagus, arugula white cheddar crepe is excellent. Great coffee, service and ambiance too.
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Review from Daphne P.
New York, NY
6/4/2011
On the busy intersection at the 1 stop on Chambers, it's a candlelit European-style creperie and salad caffe. I felt...Cosmo-pol-itan indeed. Stamped metal ceiling and dark wood, a bar with small cookies atop, and magazines and pictures and stuff are sprinkled around.
I meet a friend here for savory crepes and coffee when we can get away. We usually sit at the table beneath the strange steampunk-styled espresso machine in the back. It's a great place for quiet conversation or just grabbing espresso and cookies and reading the paper. -
Review from Chris L.
12/20/2010 2 Check-ins Here
The earlier reviews hit the nail on the head. This place is cozy.
Excellent place to start off (or end) your day in TriBeCa, with great food, a strong cup of coffee, and some jazz.
Excellent burger; excellent crepes, and excellent pain du chocolat.
-1 star for super duper slow service. But that could be a plus for someone that wants a long and leisurely meal.Listed in: NYC
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Review from Brian M.
Manhattan, NY
10/27/2011
We ducked in here by chance and were surprised at the authenticity- great croissants, drinks, vibe. A definite find. Support small businesses!
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Review from Jason C.
1/23/2011
This is a small place right next to the Cosmopolitan hotel.
It's nice and cozy but it hardly gives me the impression of a european cafe like feel....just doesn't cut it for me....but it it nice.
The specialty for this place appears to be crepes and they use extremely fresh ingredients. The crepe that I ordered came with salad, and veggies that were so fresh that it gave an impression that it was picked in the backyard before it was put on my plate.
I don't know what it is that isn't making me give a 5* for this place. Honestly, the food and the ingredients really were top notch. I guess I'm just not a crepe guy.
4.5* for the crepe lovers. -
Review from Veena V.
10/31/2010 1 Check-in Here
The Cosmopolitan Cafe is my asylum from otherwise stressful days at work. Even though I don't get to be there for long, sitting at one of the little tables, sipping on a water or tea, and eating my freshly made lunch, is usually enough to refresh me.
The first time I happened up on this cafe, I was exhausted and starving and looking for a place to read. I went in and ordered a spinach quiche and sat down with a sheaf of papers and sipped on my water. A few minutes later a warm quiche arrived accompanied by some cut up fruits and a simple salad. I ate and read and passed an hour in this tiny little slice of Europe cafe.
Subsequent visits have included tastes of their coffee (yum), the beet and avocado salad (also yum), the tomato-basil mozzarella sandwich (yum), the oatmeal with fruit and the egg and croissant sandwich (yum). I've also gotten coffees and pots of tea. (They roast the beans fresh daily, yum!)
The food is simple, but fresh and the service is always wonderful.
Go here if you're in the neighborhood and looking for a simple, hot (or cold) meal where you can disconnect for a little while, from the otherwise frenetic pace of nyc. -
Review from Andrew D.
10/6/2010
Having walked past this cafe hundreds of times, I finally decided to check it out.
The cafe is very small, with room for only 12-15 people to sit at a few small tables. The room is dominated by the coffee bar counter and the dessert counter, but both of those spaces are used to prepare drinks, store napkins, things like that. Despite the cramped conditions, the space is inviting and kind of homey. A peek into the back shows that the kitchen is modern, well-maintained, and very clean.
The food was great. I was mildly surprised to find that my sandwich came with a small salad of arugula and steamed veggies. I also ordered a cup of minestrone that was flavorful, but had some substitutions (chard instead of kale, made it kind of oddly peppery) but was still very nice.
The bill for a sandwich, soup and salad came to about $15, which is a little high, but not unreasonable for the quality of the food.
I'll certainly go again, and put this on the outer edges of my lunch spot rotation... an occasional treat instead of a regular stop. -
Review from Michelle Y.
Hewlett, NY
10/29/2011
Adorable, old-fashioned cafe in Tribeca. I had a Florentine crepe which was pretty good. I think I would go there for coffee next time instead of a full meal though...its a cozy place to sit, relax, and read a book with your coffee. A nice alternative to Starbucks. I didn't realize it was cash only and the woman working there let me go to the ATM with no problem. Honor system is rare these days so that was nice.
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Review from Miriam P.
Boca Raton, FL
12/16/2010
Well this was a little gem. Very cozy and almost felt like I walked through a worm hole and ended up in Paris. Only problem was the view was of a homeless man and not the Eiffel Tower.
The potions were perfect and not Americanized. The food was tasty. I had the quiche of the day and the hubby had the croissant scramble.
Lovely little place for a cozy breakfast. -
Review from D. Licious F.
Brooklyn, NY
5/23/2011
Great variety of food and amazing coffee
I really appreciate that there are so many choices on their menu. The food is tasty and not oily! Their food also come with a side salad so its a heathy choice.
I've had their savory crepes which are made with buckwheat flour so its good for anyone watching what they eat. The portions are also just about right - you feel satisfied without feeling stuffed.
Great place to go if you are watching what you eat bc of the great selection! -
Review from James S.
Brooklyn, NY
2/22/2012
Service was fine and the food was delicious. I ducked into here after running the bridge, it was warm, quaint, empty (early on a weekend) and perfect. And to add to the ambiance, a local pastry delivery man brought in cakes for the lady to choose from. I'll gladly be coming back--those negative reviews be darned.
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Review from Shely S.
Manhattan, NY
10/7/2011
Sure, the place is cute. But whatever you would consume, not so much. Blech now that i think about it again, it was a waste of calories. absolutely nothing special about anything here, especially in comparison to everything that is near it. You have failed me, Yelp reviewers...tsk tsk
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Review from Maria T.
Brooklyn, NY
2/21/2012
The place is beautiful and cozy. The food is delicious. Personally their grepes are my favorite. The service is OK.
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Review from John R.
New York, NY
10/2/2011
The croissants are delicious. The club sandwich and frittata were great.
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Review from Srini V.
11/26/2009 ROTD 12/11/2009
Once I leave New York for a home by the mountains and the sea, I will doubtless yearn to return to the city from time to time. On these trips, you can expect to find me in one of those compact rooms at the Cosmopolitan Hotel, staying by my neighborhood of choice in Manhattan, and right above the cafe of my choosing--the Cosmopolitan Cafe.
The cafe conjures up images of an era long past, with its chalkboard menu, ceiling fans, an old espresso machine and vintage furnishings. And interesting artifacts and books occupy every part of this cozy space, including the kayak hanging from the ceiling.
In addition to coffee and freshly brewed teas, the cafe has a breakfast, lunch and dinner menu selection that includes toasts, salads, sandwiches and even a respectable pizza. And the pastries include scones, muffins and croissants. Small bottles of imported jam and jelly can be found on the old-style bar.
Use of laptops is generally not encouraged. But if you want to hide from the big, bad city and enjoy good conversation, friendly service and a spot to reminisce or think, Cosmopolitan Cafe cannot be matched in Tribeca. -
Review from Katie K.
New York, NY
3/3/2009
I spent the weekend here...literally. With 2 midterms, I needed a place that would allow me to settle in (but not Starbucks) with enough casual distraction to keep me entertained when I needed a break from metrics and marketing.
I tumbled in with my books and papers and studied for hours. The coffee was delicious and the service extremely pleasant. The wood tables, flowers, pastries and fun books combined with the creative conversations makes the perfect warm setting on a cold afternoon.
At one point when it was a little crowded, I whispered, "should I leave?" The waiter (who always knew when my water glass was empty) said, "of course not!" I did change my seat 2 or 3 times to make room for larger parties...it was the least I could do in return for all of the love and care I got. -
Review from Elizabeth M.
New York, NY
10/10/2009
Love it! I came here on a rainy, dreary day, lookin' for some hot breakfast goodness. Cosmopolitan gave me all that and more! It was warm and cozy inside, charmingly decorated in a quaint Euro style, we had a lovely waitress with a lovely foreign accent. And . . . the open-faced croissant with scrambled eggs and sharp cheddar cheese was AMAZING. So f'in good.
Also, I live in the area, so I often stop by the farmer's market on Greenwich. Last time, Cosmopolitan had their own stand, serving FREE vegetable soup (delicious!) with strips of DELICIOUS bread and a bowl of seasoned olive oil to dip. It was awesome. And the people working the stand were super friendly. Go Cosmo!! -
Review from Hootie H.
New York, NY
Updated - 11/15/2009
A year and a half later and I still keep coming back... I love CosmoCafe (my affectionate nickname for this place....).
Highlights:
- Tchotchke all around, crammed in every corner of the cafe, on the ceiling and on the windowsills
- The friendly face of the owner (?) man and woman... He seems to know most of the regulars and she seems to be the french (?) matriarch of the place. Either way, they are both friendly and endearing. He often comes by your table with a little free sample of this or that, or makes genuine conversation.
- Fantastic service - the others who work here are very polite and effective as well. I left my iphone earbuds here this morning and 5 hours later I returned to find they had placed them in a little teacup on a shelf high above the cash register - away from harm and moisture. What service!
- The open-face toasted croissant is divine... the perfect 'morning after' brunch when you need a good dose of protein, carbs and fat.
The only ding ever for CosmoCafe: they only take cash.
To be continued...Listed in: Coffeshops/Places to take a…, BRUNCH
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/24/2008 First to Review
A charming little slice of Europe in TriBeCa.
It's quiet, rustic and very unlike the usual city… Read more »
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Review from Natty B.
New York, NY
7/26/2010
Definitely one of my happy places....and in Tribeca of all places! Who knew?
Srini V., that's who. -
Review from Geraldine K.
New York, NY
1/6/2009
It's hard to imagine that in the midst of construction, fuss, and noise of West Broadway, there exists a charming, cozy haven like the Cosmopolitan Cafe. The owner doesn't try so hard to reconstruct a European ambiance, but inevitably gives off that aura through some anachronistic artifacts like the chalkboard menu, vintage style bar, antique espresso machine and billboard.
I've stopped by here for sandwiches, and the ingredients were pleasantly fresh. This place is a great alternative to the same tiring lines at Starbucks and a perfect spot to have any sort of conversation. I can't imagine why more writers don't come here to think more, but perhaps it could grow into that sort of hangout with time.
***I recently discovered that the Cosmopolitan Cafe had two violations - non vermin proof and evidence of mice - back in Nov 2007. I hope this has been remedied, as public information like this sort of puts a damper on everything. -
Review from Lindsay N.
New York, NY
2/1/2010
No such thing as an inventory management system here. Cosmopolitan Cafe actually only ever orders its beans for one day at a time. That's right, they place an order every single day for the next day's bean, which often arrive fresh out of the roaster and still warm.
I learned all this the other day when I finally asked the owner why the cappuccinos were so much better than anywhere else. Of course, filtering the water and caring for a very nice machine help too. But I was really blown away by the beans thing.
And they really are the absolute best I've had in the city. Starbucks doesn't compare. And they are quick so I can walk in with my $3.50, get my cappuccino and be back off to work in about 4 min. -
Review from Holly W.
Beverly Hills, CA
8/24/2010 2 photos
My roommate suggested going to Cosmopolitan, being one of her favorite places in the neighborhood - so on her rec, me and my boyfriend went there last night for dinner. First of all, any place that serves breakfast all day is automatically getting plus points in my book. If the breakfast they serve all day is good? Even better!
My boyfriend ordered the open face croissant sandwich with eggs and cheese. It was served with a large helping of their salad which was fresh and came with a delicious dressing. I ordered the vegetable lasagna which also came with the side salad. They also brought out a side of bread - really good bread.
The atmosphere was perfect for a mellow relaxed dinner. We were one of the two parties there (the other being a solo dining male reading the paper.) There was one waitress who was attentive and the food came quickly.
I already want to go back again tonight to try their beet avocado and goat cheese salad!
Note: they also have free wifi because of the Cosmopolitan Hotel right above. But, they do not allow laptops, so don't expect to plug in here. -
Review from Adan M.
Brooklyn, NY
12/1/2008
This is a long story, and I won't even bother to keep it short. In essence, Cosmopolitan Cafe is a reminder and affirmation of the reason my girlfriend and I uprooted and moved to NYC. Never in my life have I met a more genuine and interesting person than the owner, Craig Bero. Go for his conversation alone.
Our first (and never to be forgotten) experience here happened tonight. As we were walking around TriBeCa, out of the corner of my eye I spotted this beautiful shop window. The front was decked out with rustic and antique wares, with bins full of huge fresh apples. Intrigued, my girlfriend and I stepped into this tiny sanctuary in the crazy bustle of the city. Time travel truly does exist and it happens when you walk through the front door of the Cosmopolitan Cafe. Not only are you transported into a cafe adorned with antique lighting, vintage furnishings and the espresso machine from The Godfather (yes, it's true), but the warmth that you feel from Craig is real old-school hospitality. It was a surreal experience for us as he took us under his wing and randomly whisked us on a walking tour of TriBeCa, before sitting down and enjoying a
fabulous meal.
They don't have a full kitchen, but don't let that fool you. We still managed to get stuffed on a cheese plate with Vermont Cheddar, Heirloom Apples, and Pate to name a few. I also had some of the best Minestrone of my life (and I can say this as a Minestrone Connosieur), with the perfect blend of fresh vegetables (bought daily from greenmarkets) and pasta shells. They've also got a great wine list to appeal to any palate. Really, I can't say enough good things about this place. If I could give 10 out of 5 I would.
Great pastries too. Superb flaky croissants, and delicious cookies to go with your Cappuccino or Hot Chocolate, which is hand ground from Dutch Cocoa.
Go here. You won't be sorry. And you'll stay for hours, even though no laptops are allowed. -
Review from Katherine I.
Queens Village, NY
10/14/2010 7 Check-ins Here
I love this spot! It's a small, cozy space that sort of whisks you back in time when you step in. It used to be an old fountain soda shop and it still resembles it a little. I always get the pasta dish, but I've had the burger and it's been good. The crepes are to die for! Savory or sweet- you can't go wrong!
The service can be a little slow sometimes, but they are always very polite and friendly. The wait is well worth it, though.
Fantastic food, reasonable prices, and charming ambiance! Can't ask for much more than that! -
Review from Annie P.
New York, NY
7/15/2011
Very cute little cafe next to starbucks in tribeca. Sat down and ordered greek yogurt with fresh fruit, granola and honey but they happen to run out of yogurt. one of the workers ran out to buy it and came back in no time and made me the best greek yogurt parfait ever, thats what you call good service!!!
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Review from Chris T.
6/9/2010
Their European Cafe vibe is cute and definitely a nice alternative to the Starbucks next door. And they make a decent pot of tea, which is important to me as a genuine European. Didn't get the chance to try the coffee as well.
The open faced croissant with scrambled eggs was fine, but nothing special. The accompanying salad came drenched in far too much dressing. Some of the other things on the menu looked tasty, particularly from the lunch side, but this breakfast wouldn't tempt me back again.
I think it's a little odd that they have a blanket ban on laptops, even at times when they're not busy: an unusual choice when they're competing with work-friendly places nearby. But it was a nice atmosphere and good for a meeting. It's cash only, which I think is perfectly acceptable for a small independent place.
All in all, it's a decent place if you're in the neighbourhood. -
Review from Steve S.
Seattle, WA
4/19/2011
I ate here a few times while staying nearby. Cozy, laid back, great omlettes & scones- and they make a much better cappuccino than Starbucks next door!
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Review from amanda p.
New York, NY
2/26/2011
I walked by this neighborhood haunt and saw the "crepe" sign out front, and was thrilled to learn that not only did they serve crepes, they also have a new larger location right around the corner on Chambers.
As always, the hot chocolate was divine- best in the city. The proprietor, Craig, is lovely and works hard to make people feel special. I had 2 guests in town from France and he went out of his way to introduce them to new tastes. The crepes were terrific (we had both the sugar ones and the apricot jam one) and were served with a small side of berries which were delicious.
I was so pleased with our mid-afternoon snack and will definitely go back again- this place is charming, has great food, and is a nice change to the standard-usual Starbucks fare.
BTW- in the summer- their prosciutto and melon is out of this world.
Amanda
