Penny House Cafe

Great bagel sandwiches! I had the smoked salmon with red onion, hummus and tomato on an everything bagel and it was the best bagel I’ve had so far since living in Brooklyn. The staff is friendly and its a nice no nonsense café that is down to earth. They also have a no fee atm machine which is awesome. I will definitely be back.

This is a real Brooklyn gem. Brings you back to what Brooklyn must have been like a decade or so ago, and it is incredibly welcoming. Was looking for a place to get some work done on a Saturday and have lunch. I searched for ‘BLT’ on Unilocal and this place showed up — they serve it with turkey bacon, which I wasn’t expecting but it was delicious nonetheless. Cup of coffee is strong, and they offered me a real cup when they realized I was sticking around. 90 Min max at the table FYI for those who are looking to take advantage of the free wifi.

I wish I could like this place considering it had wonderful reviews. My coffee was water and my sandwich was blandly inedible. I was so uncomfortable because they kept asking me if everything was ok. I guess I give them kudos for being attentive. Clearly it wasn’t ok but who wants to have their order remade when you just want to relax. You know something isn’t right when after ordering your order is ready in a minute? I’m a big coffee lover, and I know when they take their time, the quality is usually better.

Solid honey pecan bun and friendly enough staffers at a remarkably highly rated café amongst many competitors on Washington.

Avant que Unilocal né me propose d’écrire un avis sur ce café j’avoue que je n’y pensais plus et surtout le nom né me disait rien mais en voyant les photos je me suis souvenue du moment que nous avons passé ici et il faut dire que c’est un bon souvenir.
Ce jour là nous étions seuls dans le café et avons pris un thé glacé et avons partagé un muffin ainsi qu’un bagel au beurre de cacahuètes. Et ce dont je me souviens le plus c’est que le serveur n’avait pas lésiné sur la quantité de beurre de cacahuète… C’était très très gourmand !
Un bon moment au frais avant de repartir sous la chaleur écrasante du soleil New-​yorkais !

this place is super cute, very welcoming and the gents behind the counter take the time to listen and talk to you about what you want. they make an amazing latte and mocha. its nice to know that places like this still exist and that you can feel good shopping local.

One of my favorite spots in Prospect Heights to grab a coffee, a quick breakfast, or to get some work done.
The staff here are always very friendly. You definitely feel right at home here — and unlike some of the newer coffee shops that are invading Brooklyn, it doesn’t give off that hipster/​gentrified/​sterile vibe (not that there’s really anything wrong with that). Definitely feels like a neighborhood/​local spot. Their breakfast sandwiches are always good and come out fast. My favorite is the egg white and turkey bacon on a roll. They have free, fast wifi and plug sockets, although seating is limited to 90 minutes — although that’s not really an issue. I also love that they have NPR playing on the radio the entire time you’re there. Especially a plus on Saturdays, when the entire NPR lineup is killer!
Definitely a place that I hope sticks around in the neighborhood for a long time to come!

I don’t do turkey bacon, love the pork; However loved the Favorite breakfast sandwich which is turkey bacon, Gouda, egg, and siricha mayo. Delicious! Coffe is great too, and even better prices. Great visit

Coffee was ok. Not a large variety in syrups for lattes. Inside was small but the staff and breakfast sandwiches were great!

This place is great! With a lot of very good coffee shops on Washington, this atmosphere is one of the best. I love that it is never too loud here and you can not only get great coffee but also have a very tasty and well priced lunch. Many coffee shops only serve good beverages but for those that like to work while sipping on a nice, strong coffee, food is a great plus!
The owner is always here, very friendly, accommodating, and makes the experience all that more enjoyable.
There isn’t a hipster vibe like some other similar places and the customers are a nice mix of people. There is also a super comfortable couch in the back if you want to feel like you are at home. Another plus, the bathroom is always clean!
Go here!

I was wandering around in Brooklyn, not knowing where I was going and looking for a place to eat. I was starving to death but didn’t feel like grabbing a random Chinesefood on the street. so I turned on Unilocal and typed sandwich shops. And this place was the first place to pop up aka the nearest. So I went in. Didn’t even bother to read the review.
I ordered a grilled chicken wrap and an iced Americano. the gentleman behind the counter was very nice. And finally I had a bite of my sandwich.
Wow. Didn’t expect much but was good! very simple but good! What I really liked was coffee. One sip, I could taste the freshness of it. I’m an coffee addict who only drinks Americano and their coffee is considerably good.
so if you’re looking for a spot to quench your hunger or thirst, this is definitely a good stop-​by.

Bagel sandwiches are huge, delicious, and inexpensive… What’s not to love? On top of that, service is great. The guys behind the counter are really attentive, sweet, and work quickly. Took less than 5 minutes to get our order brought to the table. My friend and i split 2 sandwiches — the BLT on a wheat bagel ($ 5.45) and a lox spread on poppy seed ($ 3.50). Both were good but I wish there was iceberg lettuce or romaine on the BLT. The greens they had on it did not hold up well to the heat of the toasted bagel and wilted/​turned somewhat bitter.
There was a constant stream of customers while we were there on a Saturday around noon, but even though the place is small it never felt cramped or too busy.
All in all a great place I’m happy to have in the neighborhood and will definitely be returning to soon. Really the only reason it’s not 5 stars is that I’d love a $ 1.50 or less cup of coffee, but the small runs $ 2.25. I guess you can’t have it all…

Very pleasant place. Delicious hot sandwiches (I had the bagel with turkey bacon, omelette, smoked cheese and spicy mayo — divine!), good coffee and decent prices. Free wifi and friendly owner who makes sure you’re happy with your experience. Will definitely be back.

nous avons été dans cet endroit suite à ses bonnes notes sur Unilocal.nous avons été déçus. le pain des bagels n est pas frais, donc toastés, le cream cheese sans aucun goût. correspond plus pour un déjeuner (pas de pancakes, oeufs, bacon). nous n y retournerons pas!

Tucked away on Washington Ave, this little Brooklyn gem has what it takes. If you want a hometown, home cooked Brooklyn delight, then Penny House Café is exactly what you are looking for.
From their amazing BLT topped with a fried egg on a soft roll to their wonderful array of teas, you will be glad you stopped by this great little Brooklyn café.

On one of the most hectic days for me this was a place of salvation! I came into Queens early on a Wednesday morning from eastern long island (ie LIRR), subway to Botanical Gardens where I walked around for a good two hours then was super hungry. Looked up some lunch spots in that area of Brooklyn and this place was pretty much it in a reasonable walking distance. In short, close to the Botanical Gardens and subway line.
This place is known for its sandwiches and apparently sells Columbre coffee?! I’m not so sure what the big fuss is about this brand of coffee but I got it on the rocks in addition to a spicy sandwich which was fresh and big! There’s tables and chairs beyond the counter where you order and three bar stools facing the street so you can people watch. The wifi is free but beware of power charging hogs! I was there for about 2 – 3 hours on the phone with Ticketmaster — ugh — and my main complaint was the volume of the radio. I like NPR and all but it seemed to be a bit loud, especially if I was trying to talk to someone. I found myself halfway yelling into my phone to compensate.
The guy who was taking the orders was nice and the place is realitively clean. I didn’t use the bathroom facilities but I expect nothing special. The price for the food was decent for what you get. No A/​C which on that hot day, and carrying around a backpack that weighted about 30lbs was tough — had to wait until 3pm to check in my hotel. They do have fans but travellers take note!

I was in the neighborhood and stumbled upon this place by chance. It was raining outside so I went in for coffee.
I had an egg & cheese on a everything bagel with Sriracha mayo and a latte. The egg & cheese was slamming!!! That bagel was so flavorful and that mayo really give it extra touch.
The latte was not what I expected. I like a creamy latte and thus was more like a coffee with cream. If was good though.
Service was good. That’s always a + with me. I would come back again.

Hm, maybe my expectations were too high? I saw all the amazing reviews and brought a friend here for some coffee and bagels. Coffee was very average (though freshly made) and the bagel was unsatisfying. Very bare bones area in the back to sit that they tried to make more homey.

I’ve passed by this place for years and kept saying I need to stop in. Especially since it’s a hop away from my apartment. Saturday morning kitchen laziness had me throwing on sweats to venture outside.
The first thing I noticed was the friendliness of the staff. I’m not a morning person what so ever, but they made me wish i was.
Yummy breakfast sandwich and coffee. I opted to take it home b/​c the spot is a little small and I wasn’t really in the mood to sit with a stranger. This may become my Saturday morning go to spot.

With the Botanical Garden hosting a festival this weekend the neighborhood was especially crowded… so we walked a little bit farther down Washington Ave to the Penny House Café and discovered a little treasure on the border of Prospect Heights and Crown Heights.
It’s a cozy place with a small kitchen/​counter and a few tables in the back, but they serve up a nice selection of baked goods, sandwiches and coffees.
We both opted for something off their lunchtime menu — three-​cheese quesadillas. Hubs added veggies and chicken to his order, I don’t have time for veggies so mine just had chicken. The guy behind the counter made sure to mention «it doesn’t come w/​salsa or anything…» ok… no problem. And it wasn’t a problem at all. The chicken in this quesadilla was so juicy and flavorful you won’t miss any of those silly condiments.
The menu board says «three cheese quesadilla» … come to find out the three cheeses are American, Cheddar and Swiss. Each cheese layer added a different element to the quesadilla and created a lovely gooey cheesey goodness. Paired with that amazing seasoned chicken and you’ve got a dreamy quesadilla. I tried to get the guy at the counter to tell me what was in the chicken marinade — but he smiled and said it was a secret… I guess I’ll just have to visit again and order another quesadilla (or maybe their chicken sandwich) and see if I can figure it out for myself.
Note — the website menu isn’t updated. Quesadillas are $ 6 + $ 1 for veggies and $ 2 for chicken. They area also huge! So don’t balk at the price… they’re worth it.

Was looking for a nice, quiet place to sit for a while, and recharge with a simple coffee and bagel (my favorite combo) before tacking the Brooklyn Museum. This was the perfect spot. Staff was wonderfully pleasant and awesome. Literally one of the freshest bagels I’ve had in a while. Perfectly moist and toasty. They also made one of the best dirty chai teas I’ve ever had, period. Didn’t have to add any type of cream or sugar or cinnamon to it at all. Literally flawless. Like they’ve known me my whole life. Boyfriend had the breakfast sandwich and was in love. They allowed us to sit in their nice, clean quiet environment and let the caffeine kick in before heading off for our day. Great shop ran by great people. If I lived in Brooklyn, this would be the go to spot. Stop in when you get a chance.

Just moved to the area and this place is super close. Decided to check it out the other day and I’m glad I did! It’s super cute, the staff was very friendly and the egg, cheese & turkey bacon on an everything bagel was phenomenal!!! My bf loved his chicken sandwich as well. We will definitely be going here often :)