Maman’s original SoHo cafe opened in early Fall 2014 without much fanfare. That is, until people tasted their Nutty Chocolate Chunk Cookie and that cookie alone should make you want to stop at their newest location at 80 Kent Street (between Franklin and West). Luckily, the southern-France-chic bakery has plenty of attention-worthy treats beyond the cookie to make it a welcome addition to our neighborhood! Continue reading →
After a lazy afternoon at the McGolrick Farmers Market, I was considering heading to Little Dokebi and ordering bibimbap, but I decided to see what was around.
Yelp prodded me with its four and a half stars for Vietnamese café Nha Minh, promising “flavorful (and abundant) rice bowls, crisp tasty sandwiches, early breakfast, beer/wine.” Yelp promised both “rotating art shows” and “rotating vegetables.” I’ll never say you never did anything good for me, Yelp. Continue reading →
Owner Rich Nieto outside his newest cafe on Freeman Street
You know those times when you don’t set out to do something, but somehow it just happens anyway? Well, this is pretty much how Sweetleaf, Greenpoint’s newest coffee shop, came about.
“I wasn’t looking to set up another cafe”, says owner Rich Nieto, “I was just looking to find a space to roast.”
Rich established Sweetleaf Coffee with a friend in 2008, in a tiny shop just over the Pulaski bridge. Seven years later and there is now an additional coffee shop in LIC, one in Williamsburg and, as of last week, a new one in Greenpoint. Rich bought out his partner about a year ago and now runs the entire operation. He recently started roasting his own beans out of a friend’s loft in Bushwick, but as he started to step up production it made sense to find a roasting space of his own.
“I was looking for a warehouse of around 1000 sq ft, but it was almost impossible to find something this small, everything is huge”, he tells us as we sit sipping coffee in the brand new Greenpoint outpost of Sweetleaf on Freeman Street. “I discovered this space because I used to drive past every day on my way between LIC and Williamsburg, and although it turned out to be the smallest warehouse space I could find, it was still way more space than I needed. The building is in a great location, just off Manhattan Avenue, so we decided to use the extra space by creating a cafe at the front and having our roastery at the back.” Continue reading →
There’s no shortage of top-notch coffee in Greenpoint, but it’s always fun to have options and, as of last week, we just got one more, courtesy of a new cafe with the suitably caffeine-related name of ‘Early’.
Early Coffee & Sandwich Shop (967 Manhattan Avenue), held its official grand opening on Saturday, where the neighborhood was warmly welcomed in from the cold with free-flowing coffee and canapé-sized tasters of their yummy sandwich menu. Owner Radek Kucharski was cheerily doing the rounds with prosecco and hot cider, whilst cafe manager Peter Chrostowski was doling out espressos, mimosas, and sweet treats by Vegan Divas. Radek told us he’s always dreamed of opening a cafe in the area and, now that the stars have finally aligned in his favor, he’s super excited about the new venture. Continue reading →
One of my favorite things about Greenpoint is its neighborhood vibe. I can walk around and find myself in any cafe or bar and feel at ease. There’s so many great places to explore, drinks to drink, and marvelous books the read — so why not a few recommendations? Read on to find out the favorite drinks and libations in our editors’s favorite spots. Continue reading →
Charlotte Patisserie (596 Manhattan Avenue) is like a little piece of France in Greenpoint. Although it’s been open since 2011, recent renovations and the addition of a dining room have given new life to the pastry shop, which also boasts a wonderful back yard surrounded by ivy- covered brick walls.
They have also expanded their menu to offer brunch and a casual but elegant dinner. Menu options include French classics like a croque monsieur, ratatouille, omelette, crepes, Niçoise salad and croquettes. Continue reading →
(sponsored)Perfect summertime brunch now offered at Charlotte PatisserieWe can all agree that Greenpoint majorly delivers on the foodie front – with one exception – lunch. The biggest complaint I get (and I get ALOT of complaints) is that there aren’t a TON of lunch spots to chose from. We Greenpointers want choices! Well, guess who just rolled out not only a new lunch menu, but also dinner AND brunch service, that also includes wine? Charlotte Patisserie on Manhattan Ave. And don’t forget their incredible outdoor space and the infinite array of drool-worthy desserts! Continue reading →
At Cafe Edna, an #OSOM coffee shop on Nassau Ave in Greenpoint, the baristas rule! If you live on “the other side of McGuinness” not only will you get great coffee and bites here, but in my personal experience the service is always lovely.
In this post we get to know a few of the baristas and some of Cafe Edna’s delicious food options. Continue reading →
Hot on the heels of Tørst and Konditori, the long-anticipated Budin (114 Greenpoint Avenue) has become the newest addition to Greenpoint’s burgeoning Scandinavian scene. Continue reading →
Crema (182, Driggs Ave.) opened in September, serving up cups of coffee, pastries, and deliciously simple sandwiches. Owner Jin Han gave us an introduction to his fascination with pour-over techniques and charcuterie, which both led to his desire to open his shop. Continue reading →
