What do you think?
Seriously, these places are all great alternatives to the ubiquitous Starbucks.
Porto Rico Importing Co. |
Very Good |
Beans!
As you step into the store, you are literaly assaulted by the smell of coffee beans - it's wonderful and nearly overpowering. What must it be like to work here? Do all your clothes smell like coffee beans?
So yes, this is the perfect place to purchase coffee beans (whole or they will grind them for you) of all kinds of varieties from all places in the world. Canvas sacks sit all over the store, opened with the canvas rolled up to expose the beans within. Very sumptuous.
But, they also sell liquid coffee (and latte, cappucino, espresso, etc.) to anyone who wants it. It's cheaper than Starbucks, but there's no place to sit down inside, and only a small bench outside.
PS: It's right next to the Washington Mutual bank, on St. Marks between 1st and 2nd avenues. (2005-11-03)
| Also In: | Shopping / Food |
Mud |
Excellent |
Ugly as mud. Orange and brown mud. But great coffee.This started out as "the Mud Truck", a hideously ugly truck on Lafayette by the Astor Place #6 subway stop. And now, it's a coffee shop on 9th street as well.
It's a fun place. The servers are very chatty and friendly, the coffee is great, and the whole place has a retro feeling. And, of course, it's orange.
They also serve food here. I had the Grilled Chicken Salad (salad with grilled chicken added) with corn, roasted red pepers, cheese - very good.
NOTE: They do not take credit cards! So be sure to have enough cash with you. (2005-11-03)
| Also In: | Restaurants / Regional / North American |
Cafe Orlin |
Excellent |
This is probably my favorite place to share a quick bite with friends. Cafe Orlin is a wonderfully comfortable place with excellent coffee, soups, and sandwiches. Highly recommended: The salmon sandwich.
Salads ($6-9), sandwiches ($6-8), vegetarian dishes ($5-8), hot entrees ($8-13), pasta ($7-10), (2006-01-21)
| Also In: | Restaurants / Regional / North American / Salmon&Brown Rice |
The Bourgeois Pig |
Relaxed |
Cozy french coffeshop with overstuffed chairs and small marble tables with coffee, cheese plates, wine, fondue, and bruchetta. Excellent for intimate conversations and more fun than sterile Starbucks.
But avoid the fondue. The fondue pot is a simple two-tier ceramic pot with not enough BTU's to properly melt the ingredients (they try and compensate with garlic butter, but it's just not the same).
Fondue ($18), wine ($7-10), coffee, cheese plates. (2006-02-11)
| Also In: | Restaurants / Regional / Western European |
Cafe Brama |
Very Good |
Nice cafe, free wireless (why doesn't everyone do this?) with a delightfully varied menu that makes this place very hard to categorize. Wonderful salads (highly recomended: the St. Marks Salad), excellent tomato soup, Mexican, and various middle Eastern dishes. But lots of small tables means that no one feels out of place with just coffee or tea. Appetizers: 5-10, entrees: 15-20, brunch (very good deal sat. & sun) 12-15. (2007-11-03)| Also In: | Restaurants / Regional / Middle Eastern / Greek Restaurants / Categories / Highly Recommended |
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