East Harlem Cafe

$ 5 minimum. Smoke from burning inside, so if you want to smell like burnt tires. Took 10 minutes for a hot chocolate, and the barista didn’t even look at me when putting it on the table. Inattentive, unapologetic service.

Wow! This place is great. I’ll be back for sure. The pancakes were hot and moist. So filling. The atmosphere was quiet. The employees were so friendly and smiling. I felt at home.
I love the wall art, free wifi and comfortable seating. It’s small but not crowded during the week.
If you walk back south on Lexington you will climb the highest hill I’ve taken in Manhattan. I imagine it is treacherous after snow and if ice builds up. I was told a long time ago it was used for sledding. I’ll head for Fifth Avenue and then south next time.
I highly recommend East Harlem Café!

Have come here at least once a week since I moved to the neighborhood. Love the French toast, decent coffee. Good atmosphere for meeting friends, working, or reading. Wish they were open in the evenings.

Four stars for kind service, caring owners and staff and a business that cares about the community. I’m all for (four? see what I did there? It’s a homonym… cause I gave them four stars… moving on…) that.
I love the cheesecake swirl brownie as well as the red velvet. The turkey sandwich is delicious. And I really like the spiced Chai tea, especially when I’m feeling under the weather.
What makes East Harlem Café special is their commitment to the community. Note the Safe Haven sticker in the window (it’s bright yellow and shows they are a safe place for children who need help). EHC staff and customers ask you how you are going, wish you a good day on your way out, and get to know you a little bit more on each visit. That’s my kind of café and if spreading that kind of love means eating more brownies then I guess that’s a sacrifice I’ll have to make!

This place is adorable, a great atmosphere, and friendly service. I really liked the menu options and the delicious blueberry iced coffee. I would definitely go again.

I go here to study and work although in the summer it is not air conditioned. Place is super laid back and relaxed about everything which I appreciate. Food has been ok but def not the reason to go, especially with other great options nearby. Coffee is great, which is really the most important thing for a café.
Just to note, last time I was there the customers were all super friendly, sharing tables if there weren’t enough seats etc…

One of the only places in the area where you can sit and get some work done over lunch.
I’ve found the food here to be pretty good. I’m on board with their sandwiches because the bread is always fresh. True, the kitchen is essentially just some hot plates, but I’m not sure what the source of the heat has to do with the food.
Salad portions are nice. Ask for some bread with it. Coffee is good too. Free wi-​fi if you ask for the password.
Cons: 1. I tend to walk out of there smelling like the place. Perhaps opening the door, or investing in another fan or two would help. I’m guessing there’s little circulation around the kitchen area. When they chop the onions my eyes always burn, and I’m in the dining area.
2. I always had to fight for a table near an outlet. Could be great to get a few more outlets, especially around the coffee bar area. Overall, they’re doing they’re best in a tough part of town.

Not bad, but not exceptional. I had a breakfast sandwich, which was decent, but not better than anything I could make in my own kitchen. Prices are high, coffee was mediocre, and service was a bit slow. Nice ambiance though, and the baked goods looked seriously tempting…

Me — «Would you happen to have any salsa that I could put on my eggs?»
Latina cook, mid 50s — «What? What do you want?»
Me — «Salsa if you have it…»
Latina cook, mid 50s — «What is ‘salsa’ ?»
Me — «Hah ha.» the cook stares at me incredulously.
Latina cook, mid 50s — «I dont know what ‘salsa’ is.»
Me — «Seriously? what?»
Latina cook, mid 50s «NO. Do you want hot sauce, we call it hot sauce»
Me — «Whaat? uhh okay fine whatever you have»
The eggs were overcooked, but I was certain to get no sympathy at that point and just wanted to get on with my day.
In summary, with all the great cafes in NYC, there is absolutely no need to patronize this establishment.
I ordered the $ 10 breakfast special (see pic) which included decent whole wheatish pancakes, 2 strips of turkey bacon, overcooked eggs and most notably some really terrible customer service. Although the food was edible, it was a waste of a breakfast choice in my short trip to the city. This is one of the rare times in my life I’ve left without tipping, the lady was that rude.

I got a coffee today and it took 10 minutes, who has time for that in Manhattan, I like to support the small business man/woman…but could you at least pretend you care if I come back or not.
I guess if you are not in a hurry, it’s ok. They need to step up the customer service, with so many other options in NYC, there is no need to come by here.
Management could use some social skills.

I didn’t get any drinks. Got the walnut apple salad + chicken. Chicken is dry. The salad is drenched, and i mean DRENCHED, in dressing. It was so greasy that all the lettuce was wilted. It was pretty gross. Just so much dressing. WHY???
Their «kitchen» are just 2 coiled burners right outside the bathroom. It took about 20 minutes to make my salad… must be because it took so long to pour that much dressing!
Pros:
There are outlets.
They make iced chai lattes (which you don’t see a lot of).
Yeah, that’s about it. Service isn’t very friendly. When I asked what’s in the el barrio salad, the girl tells me to read the sign on the wall. Gee, thanks. What if i’m illiterate???
I gave an extra star for the benefit of the doubt since I didn’t have any drinks. and it is a café, not exactly a restaurant.
i might come back to try their drinks and get some work done if I’m in the area.

NO WIFI BEFORE NOON. Keep that in mind before you think you can go into this café like any other normal one and just get to work in the morning.
I have really liked going in the afternoons but I will not be coming again. What a brainless policy.

$ 3.00 for a large café con leche and you have to add the sugar yourself! You get it down the block for $ 2, and in the bordegas for $ 1.50 with sugar. I know they’re trying to gentrify Spanish Harlem but let’s not jump the gun and rip people off?

I loved the atmosphere at the East Harlem café and the food and service were great as well! My boyfriend and I ordered the turkey and cheese sandwich which was a good size that we shared for an afternoon snack. We also ordered a cream cheese brownie which was delicious! I had a wonderful gingerbread latte that I would definitely order again.
The staff was very friendly and welcoming which added to the relaxed vibe of the café. A great find in East Harlem! I will definitely be going back to maybe even sit and get some work done. Would definitely recommend!

Pretty good place — coffee is pretty decent, nice/​relaxed atmosphere to hang out and get work done. I had their turkey and cheese sandwich, it was done pretty well, I would say average to slightly above average.
Nice people and service. If in the neighborhood and looking for a place to work or chat this could be a good option. Good selection of pastries and other treats.
And yes, they do have outlets and wifi. Killer combo for those that need a reliable place to get stuff done

Une adresse mentionnée dans notre guide de NYC par miss Pénélope Bagieu pour prendre un super petit déjeuner à Harlem.
Nous n’avons pas été déçus, un cadre chaleureux et un sens de l’accueil certain: On est loin de l’usine Starbucks. Le café a une ambiance cosy avec de nombreuses petites tables, un canapé en vitrine, un mur en brique, une chouette mosaïque et pas mal de locaux (a good sign).
Après avoir passé la commande, nous avons attendu gentiment assis à une table, le temps que nos assiettes soient préparées (plutôt rassurant). Nous n’avons pas été déçus pour un peu plus de 20 $ à deux: boissons chaudes, des pancakes bananes et noix de pécan pour monsieur, et une bonne assiette breakfast de champion pour moi (œufs brouillés, bacon grillé et pancakes).
Nous avons ensuite pris le temps de déguster notre petit déjeuner new-​yorkais, avant de partir à l’assaut de la grosse pomme. Une très bonne adresse, merci Pénélope !

Friendly people who work there but my salad really left me yearning for more.
Mostly lettuce, no tomato as stated in the description, olives were cheap and feta was minimal.
The dressing tastes like sugar and oil and the chicken was kind of bland and dry.
I think I would only come b