Fall Café

The staff is definitely friendly. But dreadfully slow. There are a few exceptions, but I would limit that exception to maybe one or two of the staff. If there’s more than one person waiting to order, it feels like an eternity before I can place an order.
The coffee is good. Nothing unique. But good enough for me for my study sessions.
The free Wi-​fi is obviously an awesome feature.

Service takes forever and the food isn’t *that* great either. Some old guy took the guy’s order before us, then ignored us for about 10 min until some other dude in the back came out to take our order. The old guy was more concerned with his magazines — which he then went out into the café to read — than with concerning himself with his customers.
The atmosphere is not very welcoming for the area — although there are a lot of mom & pop shops in Carroll Gardens/​Cobble Hill that sort of don’t seem so welcoming (Winn, anyone?). Feels dark and dingy. More so, there are rules and signs everywhere for how long you can sit without buying anything. (Maybe use a password and timeout?) «We want you to be here, but please respect our business.» The only problem with that is that their actual business, customer service and being a café, isn’t so great. I also noticed a sign on one of their 4-​seater tables that said, «This is a 4 seat table. If you are working alone, you need to share. This isn’t your office.» Really? How rude. I was just eating with my boyfriend, who was going to stay and work, but I felt really put off by all these rules. I think Fall Café needs to get over itself.
Also cash only. Not worth tipping here.

Quiet, pleasant, relaxed, place to work/​internet café. 50% outlet convergence. Internet is fast. One of the fav place in Brooklyn.

Probably not a fan. With so many great coffee shops in Brooklyn, I can’t imagine coming back here…
I understand being protective of table space, and not wanting folks to camp out draining wifi (and camper outers, do take note… it’s rude to use cafes as libraries especially when you aren’t buying more than a $ 2 drip coffee!), but there must be a better way to communicate this.
The entire shop is plastered in signs warning wifi suckers to move along, or to buy more drinks, or to be mindful of other people.
I guess it if were me and I had this problem… I’d, turn off the wifi. Or, cover the outlets. Certainly I wouldn’t post 15 fliers in a small coffee shop in bold letters, because frankly I wasn’t even there for the wifi and I felt unwelcome. Adiós! It’s not very cozy anyhow and the whole place feels a bit grunge.
Also, the blackboard basically orders people to bus their own tables. Americano, Cappaccino (BUS YOUR OWN TABLES) Espresso, etc. Like, really? There’s just a lot of rules to follow, and I’m just not into it. I prefer cafes where the social norms are understood and everyone can get on board without being admonished. This vibe is whack.
However, every place has a saving grace: the coffee! Well, here. OK. I ordered a simple iced coffee, and it was served to me in a hot cup. Which, I sort of hate. For $ 3, can I please just have a real-​sized plastic cup that will keep my drink cold? It’s 400 degrees. I do not want to carry around a hot cup with iced coffee in it trying to sip awkwardly out of a straw through the mouth hole. It’s just uncivilized! I jest, but really… correct glassware is key. A worthwhile investment, especially for those of us that are paying customers dropping in for a quick coffee, and not the dreaded Mac-​toting able tumors that grow and spread throughout the day.
Cash only.

This place has been around for a really long time. I used to come here with my cousin back when we were 10 and annoy the cashiers and such. We live right around the corner so as stupid, rowdy kids do, we annoy local business.
Nowadays, this place is constantly filled with laptop-​ridden folks, sipping away at their coffee or tea. No matter what the time is, you’ll always find that every seat is taken and every person had a love affair with an Apple store with their glowing apple logos in front of them.
The coffee is pretty weak (I don’t drink coffee but my friends and family do and they all say the same, too weak!). The food they serve is kind of bland and sometimes taste pretty stale. Free wifi… up until a few weeks ago when they posted a sign outside that reads «Wifi for paying customers only!» So I think they may have gotten sick of those people who sit on the two benches outside the café and jack some wifi… but who doesn’t, seriously? The couches are super comfy. I swear, this place has so much potential to be like Central Perk from the show Friends… but it just needs a better crowd, less yuppies and stronger coffee!
The staff is always very friendly, even on a Saturday when they could be doing better things than serving your coffee and listening to keyboards tick away. Props, kids, because if it were me, I’d chuck those stale pastries at some of these upper crust customers!

Very chill place with lots of outlets. Would return here, but would _​NOT_​get the chai. This place has the worst chai latte I’ve had in the city. Add in a 3.75 price tag and it’s definitely a regrettable choice.

Was killing some time, felt hungry for a snack (always), walked by this place and it seemed relaxed and cozy. When I went in I felt a little on display and I realized later that it was because it was absolutely silent in there. No music, no chitchat. Ok since I just wanted to read for a minute, but I think it’d weird me out if I stuck around.
Can’t speak to drinks, but pretty sizable selection of baked goods, including vegan bars! Had the peanut butter treat (pb rice crispy bar with a creamy layer on top and a delicious fudge-​y chocolate layer over that) and it was really great. $ 3.50 felt sorta steep, but it was definitely made recently and with love, plus I really dug that bar and vegan goods are usually more expensive and it was a big piece (two snacks worth for some, maybe). I didn’t mind the ramshackle décor (I find that pretty welcoming, actually) but I’m not over the moon about this place yet. Give me some light music and I might be!

This place serves as one of my remote meeting places. Working from a home office leads you to search for good places to do work outside the house, either to meet people or to just get away from the house. I have yet to find a place I love for this but Fall Café does the job for now. They have free internet which is key however they are little grouchy about people hanging out an using it for a long time. Understandable but if you’re going to offer it then don’t be pissed off that people use it. This place is also quiet, another great characteristic of a good work café. The food and coffee is average and servicable. Probably if I didn’t come here as a place to work I wouldn’t find my way here very often.

Awesome local coffee house. Very laid back, perfect place to study or do some work. The staff is very friendly and the food and drinks are pretty fresh and tasty. Free WIFI.
Philosophy: you share the WIFI, Why not share the tables too.
Some times, if you are here when they close for the day, you get to take home some free pastries.

Great little coffee shop for a lazy afternoon. Typical selection of coffees and pastries. The best part about this place is the free wi-​fi and laid back vibe that sets the mood for studying or surfing the web.

Very average. Coffee was bad and waaaaay too hot. Tempted by the free wifi but not worth another visit.

I always come here whenever I need to make a trip to Stinky Brooklyn down the block. There is always at least two good looking men on laptops doing «work things» and looking oh so academic. The coffee is top notch and their zucchini/​carrot bread rivals my mothers… and only costs a dollar.

Free
Wifi
Fine coffee
And they are the
Sole Smith Street coffeehouse for studying.

a). I have never had the regular coffee there. well, once i had a sip of my friends coffee and didn’t feel the urge to spit it back out, so i guess it wasn’t THAT bad.
b). I find their soy cappuccino splendid! the best I’ve had in the hood. besides one place. Many coffee joints don’t get the foam right with soy milk. so i’m extra appreciative when they do. When i want a real cap i wind up there. not that there’s much of a choice.
c). they only have one vegan treat, the rice krispies treat. at 8am or anytime before noon i just don’t WANT a rice krispies treat that’s been smothered in peanut butter and chocolate. they make oatmeal, but that’s not really anything to take on the go. i’ve requested more vegan baked goods and they said that «it’s hard to get anything new on the menu there. like, impossible, they’ve tried.» so that sucks.
d). the atmosphere is in major need of an uplift. major. it took me 1.5 yrs to even STEP FOOT into that joint because of the décor. I said to my friends that it seemed like the most depressing place to sit in all of Carroll Gardens. Harsh lights, bad seating, melancholy!
e). on sunday nights they *might* offer you free pastries! I’ve taken them to work for people, as they’d just throw them out otherwise… and though i can’t say if they’re good or not cause i’m vegan. I can say that my coworkers appreciate monday morning breakfast!
EDIT: 3.4.11
they have acquired more vegan bites! a vegan tofu scramble, a dark chocolate that is vegan… possibly something else I cannot remember.

You know what? I think the coffee and espresso at Fall Café leave a lot to be desired, but I still find myself going back again and again. Fall Café is one of the few places in the area with a lot of seating (and a number of outlets) — especially after the Tea Lounge branch on Court Street closed. Even when all the tables are taken, someone is always willing to share a table with you, which can be fun.
For the most part, I’m also quite fond of the staff there, but then again, I know when my favorite people work.
So… 2 stars for the coffee (I get hot chocolate there every time), but 4 stars for the ambiance and staff.
If you want good coffee on the go (seating is limited), head over to Café Pedlar on Court street and Warren where they have Stumptown coffee and delicious milk. (And while you’re at it, bring that coffee over to BookCourt and take a look for a good read.)

I found Fall Café by accident and am so glad I did. This no frills café has an amazing house blend and for $ 2.50 you get unlimited refills which makes a caffeine addict like me very happy. Their menu is small but sufficient with breakfast sandwiches, oatmeal, granola with steamed milk, as well as lunch sandwiches and soups.
They offer free wifi and it is the perfect place to chill out with a newspaper or to study. The laid back atmosphere is inviting and there is no pressure from the staff to leave. I will definitely be back and wish it was on the walk from my apartment to the subway so I could go every morning.

saturday morning 9.30 am, location target, priority drill machine for girlfriend’s new attraction towards hardware … 11.30 am, location slope fitness, priority massage with morisha (fabulous) …12.30am location fall café, priority to avoid carbs…
ordered: croissant (scratch priority off) brie (calories on an overdrive) and green apple (source of rich anti oxidant pure energy. makes up for brie AND croissant! magical truly)
girlfriend ordered steamed scrambled eggs in a croissant — minus butter…
truly fabulous, healthy, unexciting to the tastebud kind of food…
did not order the café so would not know about the joe… was confused by the general «alternativeness»… it’s very mainstream here… cute, v. cute… the sitting was tres uncomfortable
i am never going back but… i guess i should never say never… i’ve got nothing to complain it was interesting and nice. hmmm

I tried to like this place, I really did. Especially since for a long time (B.S., ie, Before Starbucks) it was the only game on Smith St. But all it did was make me pine for a Starbucks, mediocrity you can at least count on.
Is Fall Café pretentious? Well, if not putting any effort into the space is pretentious, than yes, they might as well have an urinal hanging on the wall. And that’s the problem, it’s not a place you’d want to spend much time in. The seating was all rescued from the curbside and most of it should have stayed there. It’s like a hostel coffee bar, a homeless shelter with muffins and free wifi. But maybe you’re just grabbing a cup on the way to the train? In that case definitely skip this place and hit the bagel place on the corner or Dunkin’ Donuts.

The staff actually seem to enjoy working together, which is pretty unusual in the «Land of Weary Hipster Coffee Shops». I have never seen a staff member on their cell phone. Sometimes they seem tired, but I chalk that up to just enjoying life.
There was a new guy there last week, and when I walked away with my coffee, I actually heard him say «The customers here are so nice.» Where else do you hear that kind of compliment from the staff?!?
Frankly, I don’t really know or care how good the food and coffee are. The coffee is just fine (much better than Bagels on the Park, my other option during my morning commute). I go here because I like the way I feel when I walk out. Coffee shops are for hanging out and socializing, first and foremost — just ask Starbucks.

Lol, I was here just today. I liked it. I don’t want service. I sat on a lumpy red couch and didn’t ever feel like I had to leave. I left of my own volition within the hour. But I would definitely go back. The guy even gave me a pen to write with.
The café was full in the middle of a Tuesday, and several of them seemed to know each other. One of them, the woman who sat down next to me on the couch, pulled the table over closer to her without asking. Not that I cared, but still. Fewer people like that would be nice. Everyone else was cool or okay.