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Cafecito

185 Ave C
New York, NY 10009
Phone: (212) 253-9966

Ratings & Reviews Summary for Cafecito

What Users are Saying:

  • Prompt seating
  • Make reservations
  • Romantic
5 Star Rating
 
(26 reviews)
4 Star Rating
 
(6 reviews)
3 Star Rating
 
(4 reviews)
2 Star Rating
 
(2 reviews)
1 Star Rating
 
(1 reviews)

User Reviews for Cafecito

3 Star Rating: Average

09/14/2008 Posted by chikanextel

I came here with a friend yesterday ( Sat. night). The ambiance is very nice. The mango margarita was good but too small and too pricey. They need to make them bigger if they want to charge 11.00. I ate the churasco I must say that it was delicious. My friend ate vaca frita that was also great. I have tasted better Cuban food. I don't think I will be visiting again. The bar tender was friendly. The place wasn't bad, but it' wouldn't be on my top three choices. I would recommend the food but not the drinks. That margarita was more like a shot with a lot of ice in a small cup. That really disappointed me. Three tiny margarita's later and no buzzzz. Go for brunch and drink somewhere else....

Pros: Tostones were good

Cons: drinks too small over priced

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

03/06/2008 Posted by InfanteNYC

The food and drinks are beyond great! Not only that, the service is awesome... Every time I go to Cafecito I always happen to notice returned patrons like me! : ) Friendly environment!!!!

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

01/23/2008 Posted by HeatherC27

My boyfriend took me to Cafecito over the weekend and we had a great evening. From appetizers to dessert, the food was delcious. The ambiance and music really made for a very romantic night. We will be visiting again very soon as it was a great find in the neighborood!

Pros: Great food & atmosphere

Cons: none

2 Star Rating: Below Average

01/23/2008 Posted by mayamayanyc

I have never eaten here but my friend suggested it so we placed an order for delivery. Since it's not especially cheap, I expected something good. My pork chunks came a small handful of vegetables bits (greasy corn, tiny potato bits) but with no rice and beans which I found a little outrageous. My friend's steak was a bland, cheap cut of meat that came with some garlic salad dressing on the side which totally overwhelmed once added; at least his came with rice and beans! The onions were tasty though and so were the black beans. I do not know what it's like to eat-in, but this is not a place to order from: for $30 we ended up feeling pretty disappointed.

Pros: good black beans

Cons: late delivery, overpriced, mediocre food

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

01/22/2008 Posted by NoraR1

We have been dining at many restaurants over the years and I friend of mine suggested Cafecito. It is a very cuaint and romantic spot. Ceviche to die for! We were even greeted by the owner towards the end of the evening. The service was just right, and the food was delicious. What a find! I have no problem recommending it for your a great evening!

Pros: Cuban Food, Ambiance, Service

Cons: None

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

11/19/2007 Posted by evillagefoodie

This place has the best, most authentic Cuban food in this city bar none and at very good prices. The cuban hamburger sliders are really great as well as the empanadas and croquettes. For mains I recommend the ropa vieja or the fried breaded steak.

Pros: Great authentic cuban food and good price

Cons: Can get busy, not close to transportation

1 out of 2 people found this review helpful

3 Star Rating: Average

10/11/2007 Posted by irene_10003

I've been to cafecito many times, and the food has always ranged from decent to very good. The food, however, is not traditional Cuban food--as a Cuban, I would consider it to be generic "Latin food." And it is generally a good value. However, like other users of this site, I have found the service to be occasionally poor and the management to be downright rude. The one manager I've seen time and time again hasn't accommodated any of our party's special requests. The last time we went was absolutely horrifying... I brought my parents to the restaurant for a birthday dinner. I was required to sign up for the pre-fixe ($27) to get a reservation, given that we were 6. That alone seems strange--who requires a pre-fixe for a reservation of six? Anyway, the manager had told me that dessert would be included in the meal, but when it came time for dessert, he claimed that it wasn't. This left me wondering why the pre-fixe was $27, given that the dishes (entree and appetizer) ordered a la carte would have been about $15 total. I explained politely that I must have misheard him, and that I probably wouldn't have come given that this made the pre-fixe relatively expensive. He wouldn't budge, and seemed extraordinarily angry. A member of our party was near tears arguing with him. It required a member of our party to get up and speak to the manager for 20 minutes before he relented . For these reasons, I can't really recommend this place for a special occasion. I would only recommend this place to a friend with strong reservations.

Pros: The food can be great!

Cons: Service/management can be very poor

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

02/20/2007 Posted by emailee

I have been here a handful of times and each time has been a great experience. The food is great and for a reasonable price. The only set back is that it's so tiny and cramped - but it's worth it. If it was any bigger, I think it would take away from the experience.

Pros: Tasty food for a great price

Cons: A little close for comfort

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful

1 Star Rating: Not Recommended

12/22/2006 Posted by jersey123

After being to Cafecito numerous times I finally recommended it one Friday night to my friend for some delicious Cuban food and drinks. We began with double mango margaritas, with a waitress who was eager and willing to please, but a few minutes later our mood was quickly dampened when the mgr came out to question our order. This seemed odd, because he had asked us as if we were sure about what we wanted; in fact he said the following to us in a chiding manner: “Those are two drinks each?” to which we replied: “Yeah, that’s what we asked for.” As knowledgeable customers we were well aware of the orders we placed and the difference between a single and double drink. Our drinks arrived in a timely fashion and moments later my friend had taken two sips and accidentally spilled her drink. The contents of her glass had gone everywhere, from on her bag to the utensils. I quickly and apologetically approached the mgr, MANNY politely asking him for a rag so we could clean up the spill. He came over and moved us over to a dry table, however, he took everything that was wet and moved it as well - from utensils to wet glasses, not to mention her drink which was less than a quarter full! MANNY didn’t even bother to offer a replacement drink. A real, customer friendly restaurant would of gone ahead and gave us a drink on the house. On top of the drinks, we ordered two entrees which we enjoyed. When we received our check the total was sixty-seven dollars! We examined it closely to see if MANNY charged us for the spilled drink. His “kindness” went as far as for him to charge us half the price for a new drink on top of the spilled one. When we asked to speak to MANNY, he was not on the premises. Overall Cafecito has delicious food, but poor service and rude management. Needless to say, this restaurant doesn’t deserve the wonderful reviews it has received.

Pros: Good food

Cons: Terrible service, rude management

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

10/26/2006 Posted by billj4655

Really far out of the way, but some of the best cuban I've had in New York. Excellent sangria and mojitos, very solid food, and great romantic ambience. Will be returning.

Pros: Excellent food, cocktails, service

Cons: Really out of the way, somewhat pricey

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful

Editor's Review

An East Village oasis for lovers of Cuban sandwiches, garlic, plantains, and (of course) rum.  See the full editorial review.

Insider Tips

Know Before You Go

Make sure you've got enough cash--Cafecito doesn't take credit cards.

More Insider Tips

Restaurant Information

Parking

  • Street

Hours

  • Mon-Wed, Sun 11am-11pm
  • Thu 11am-12am
  • Fri-Sat 11am-2am

Dress Code

  • Casual

Cuisines

  • Cuban

Payment Types

  • Cash

Meal Price

  • $$

Amenities

  • Romantic Dining

Recognition for Cafecito

2005 Audience Winner - Cuban Food

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