Always Convenient
By A Yahoo! Contributor, 10/27/08
I have lived and worked here in Manhattan for almost 10 years, and Antique Cafe is close by. I usually go there in the morning, at least 3 or 4 times a month. I used to go when it was across the street from the indoor flea markets, then they moved quite a few years ago to the 26th street location. Maybe they went through some growing pains for a while there, but I've always had a good experience when I go there. Sometimes I just go in and out for coffee and a croissant, other times I bring friends for brunch. The staff is always helpful, to the point, and easy to deal with. The space itself is pretty small, so if you go in alone or with a friend, chances are you won't get a 4 seat table. What I have noticed in the past few visits is they seem to be improving both their food and service. It was pretty good before, sometimes amazing, but it's consistently better now. They have a surprisingly good wine selection for such a small space, though it's still known mostly for it's pastries and coffee I think. It's just a cool alternative to a lot of chain coffee places and restaurants. It may not knock your socks off, but it consistently delivers good food for a decent price. It's a neighborhood full of professional actors, artists, business people who demand a lot, and has managed to keep them coming back for all these years. Myself included.