Cafe Gitane Reviews

We enjoy being in SoHo just to explore alternative life style! This visit wasn’t different: just browsing around we ended up at this small and attractive cafe restaurant. I’ve added the restaurant as a great adjective to this cafe, because the menu was wider than a regular place; also because we enjoyed our sandwich with guacamole and eggs, plus the cheese plate order, to be complemented with a nice wine. It was 11:30, and our brunch was perfect. Try it! No regret!

We stopped by Café Gitane on our way from our hotel to the financial district, and we loved it! It's kind of got a retro vibe, and the food was fantastic and not expensive. We both had Americanos, which were good, and I tried the baked eggs and tomatoes; he had the baked eggs with smoked salmon. Both were very good, but after watching the avocado toasts going out to other tables we wish we'd tried that.

With Moroccan / French roots, this is the perfect brunch place in Nolita (Mott/Prince). I had some eggs with merguez on a French bread followed by a great fruit salad with fresh mint. Not to forget fresh watermelon juice!!

My teenage daughter and I had lunch here today. We sat at the counter overlooking the small kitchen. We shared a prosciutto and Brie sandwich (most people would not want to share but we are small eaters.) it was really delicious. The atmosphere is fun,loud and friendly. The mint ice tea and lemonade were home made and very refreshing.

Such an inviting cafe on MOTT far enough away from all the tourist traps and t-shirt shops. Excellent food and great service. The baked eggs were fantastic and the avocado toast on gluten free bread made us think of home (California). There is a line on weekends so I suggest weekdays.

Hostes was so nice, always giving us updated on when our table would be ready. The food was out of this world!! All four of us in our party enjoyed every single bite. The place is super lovely, small with lots of charm. Will go back every time I visit the city.

Loved everything - the food was very very good, the service excellent and the restaurant itself was SO beautiful (especially the bathroom!).

Interiors are cozy and nice. The service is chipper and friendly. Mocha is good -- not too sweet. And drinks come with complimentary dark chocolate! Avocado toast was fresh and zesty. Baked eggs with salmon was savory and delicious without being too much. Brie and apples makes a fantastic light shared brunch appetizer.

It was a bit of a walk from our hotel, but we had heard that they have lovely brunches so we headed out and were not disappointed.

Love, love, love this place! Anytime me and my friend were sort of in the area (soho, east village, west village, chinatown, whatever) I asked to go. It's the whole French/Italian unbeatable style that attracts me. Food is great and so is the crowd and the music.. And the world famous avocado sandwich.

Wanna have breakfast or lunch among locals? Go to Cafe Gitane and have delicious sandwiches. Great neighbourhood, it makes you feel like a local for a few.

Small and cozy, so very welcoming. Authentic nyc eatery. Tucked in the neighborhood just north of little Italy you’ll find good wines and hot delicious food. Served quickly and professionally. It’s tight inside so you’ll want to meet the people dining next to you and it’s fun as most people are from out of town but been before. The bar is small, like 4 seats but it’s right in front of the kitchen. Watching these guys work in a small place while preparing delicious food is New York at its best.

I run accidentally in this place and I found a small and nice place, very good french wines, good food for a reasonable price and very kind people that works there. Didn’t have a big proper dinner just some appetizers and wine but I ended up very satisfied. Recommended if you are looking for something easy but good. Enjoy

I went for dinner with my housband in July and we absolutely loved it. The location can't be better. The place is cool, cozy and romantic. The waiters were beautiful, must be models. Food was super nice, I'd recommend the cous cous, avocado on toast, tiramisu and chease cacke. Not overcharged as it is usual in places alike. I'd go back for sure.

Highly recommended by many of my friends i went there with great expectations but was disappointed with their brunch. Small portions but high prices. Smoked salmon and baked eggs were really dry and so were the waffles with fresh fruit.. Coffee is good though.

I'm a local who has walked by this restaurant many times with high expectations. Our party of five arrived on a Tuesday night open minded and expecting a great night. We were disappointed in the service and let down by the food. We were treating a friend and she could not hide her disappointment. There was ONE waitress (who was new on the job) for the entire restaurant; she was very pleasant but could not manage the work load. Three guys behind the bar could not help with filling water and clearing plates?? We ordered 2 starters for the table that were dry and unappetizing. Our entrees were flavorful and we enjoyed them, but were more suitable for a lunch or brunch menu than dinner. So many great choices within a 5 minute walk..... I suggest that you walk by this one unless the management changes.

Cafe Gitane holds a special place in my heart since it was my first date with my husband 18 years ago. I'm delighted it is still there but not surprised. It is a very stylish, very intimate cafe in a very walkable downtown neighborhood. Great place to rest your feet and enjoy the NY vibe.

I had the granola with fruits. It was OK. What was very frustrating was the quality of service. Slow, but also kind of rude treatment.

We went for dinner and we absolutely loved it. The place is very nice and special, with cool waiters and crowd. The service was very good. Food was amazing, I'd recommend the couscous and the avocado toast. Great value. You can't miss it if you go to Nolita.

French café in a French setting. Very healthy meals for under 20$. We chose a seat at the bar/open kitchen and it was amazing. All fresh products and my banana tart was made in front of me, so not just store bought.

Atmosphere: a bit snobby when I went for breakfast, they don't accept cards, and circled "gratuities not included" on my receipt when I went for breakfast. However, the waiters at lunch were much friendlier. Love the avocado toast and the salad with hearts of palm and chicken. Good spot if you're in the mood to feel a bit ~trendy~

Being in New York city, loving Moroccan food and hearing about "Gitane coffee", we decided to have dinner there. We ordered Meat balls in tomatoes sauce and Couscous. What a disappointment. Frankly the couscous was the worst cous cous I tasted in my long life and the meatballs were totally tasteless nothing to do with the Moroccan dish.

Nice café. Cozy. I felt comfortable. Had delicious cake and coffee. Had a nice break. Nice service. No tourists

Great little french cafe. The food here is really great. Vegetables are fresh, the serving is beautiful and the service is friendly and professional.

We have not been back to NYC in 7 years. We were so happy to see that nothing has changed at Café Gitane during our absence. The vegetarian small plates and salads are as flavorful and delicious as we remembered.

Great food, coffee and selection of breads! Family of 4, it was a tight squeeze in the restaurant but well worth it!

Had brunch at Cafe Gitane this morning. Excellent coffee, the baked eggs where as expected (be careful of the hot plate) and the service attentive and swift. The atmosphere is very pleasant and the food of a very high quality. More of a young set though I suppose the oldies had already come and gone at 11:00.

Super place to have a breakfast in New York. The hot chocolate is really good!! The staff is super friendly and the cafe is situated on a lovely street!

Fantastic little simple cafe serving Moroccan inspired food. Very friendly service, and a happening vibe. Very good value ( cheap ) and delicious!

Gorgeous food, a great place to visit for lunch. Our food was scrumptious and all the other food coming from the kitchen looked amazing also. Well worth a trip.

Hot spot in Nolita. Best place to have a cool lunch with a good crowd. The food are very good and tasty. I recommend the couscous! And the avocado toast. Cool people and great food. Perfect for a coffee break.

Unacceptable customer treatment. 2 tables were free when I arrived, they offered me one, I said I preferred the other table, they asked me to wait while they cleaned my preferred table. 2 mn later, I was told I had to wait 20 mn... No wonder the place is not as popular as before!

We went on the recommendation of a travel guide. The place is small, but is very fashionable, and we eat very well. I recommend the couscous and salmon.

It was perfect, the dish was excellent very quick serbes, the place is beautiful and warm. The Best restaurant from nyc

This cafe is in a great position and we had a nice spot sitting outside. Waitress was disinterested and made multiple mistakes to our very simple order. Coffee was very disappointing compared to some of the other cafes nearby. Long black looked like dishwater. Food was ok but lack of care across the board

Delicious salads and couscous, as well as the obligatory bread pudding. I'm not normally a fan of what I think of as starchy food but this is a whole new level of delicious. I love the casual atmosphere and our service was great. Only negative is their fresh juice is over -priced and not as delicous as what I am used to in Los Angeles. Of course, we are loaded with fine Mexican auguas frescas so perhaps I am not taking certain things into account. The rest was a terrific value.

Cons: cash only, terrible service, very small and crowded, food in the other location is much better. I appreciated more the other location (113 Jane St) than this one. First of all it's cash only which is annoying. Specially because this is not a cheap place. Then is very small and the staff is not nice. And I enjoyed better the food in the other location. Check my review and pics.

Such a fantastic little gem - it may not look like much but it packs a punch for good value - tasty eating. Lovely NYC vibe without NYC prices!

Love this little gem. I have been many times, with friends and family. Love the simple decor and the food, the cous cous is a must!

GITANE AT JANE HOTEL: I have stayed at The Jane Hotel many times and this incongruous tenant restaurant is its weak point. Staffed by European (I am European) staff that haven't grasped New York's effervescence and energy, their rather tiring attitude and lazy idea of service doesn't fit in. The menu doesn't work either. It's not French and it overcomplicates breakfast with lame attempts to be sophisticated. I struggle to pick anything at any time of day. In the West Village, there are so many vastly better places for value, food, and service. The last thing I ever want in New York is self-satisfied surly unwelcoming service. Such a waste of time.

This was a last-minute find for a quick lunch around 2:30PM. The tiny place was packed, but a table for 3 just cleared up and we didn't have a wait. They offered French-Moroccan items and we ordered 4 different options to share: avocado toast, bruschetta, prosciutto, and brie with apple. All were simple, delicious, and affordable. We ordered the melon mimosas as well, which were a bit tart but still good. The server was friendly and the service pace was decent. Cool atmosphere and young crowd!

Likeable Nolita classic. Food is "cute" and Sex-and-the-City style (the baked eggs could have been tastier, the avocado bread was fantastic), service is friendly. No wifi which may be a no-no for international travellers.

We found this small cafe/bistro quite by chance. Its very tiny but the atmosphere and the staff were great. The food is Moroccan (which is strange as we were in Little Italy!) and totally delicious. Loads of happy people both inside and at the outside tables. Excellent wine list too. Cannot think of anything else to say except a big thank you to the Patron and the two lovely girls waiting at tables and for the delicious food. We loved it.

We went back twice to this place during our stay for 4 days in NYC. Great place for quick bites and of course the watermelon juice. Interesting decor, colorful crowd. We grabbed a pizza from the neighboring store(prince street) and juice from here ! Good life !

We spent a few hours on a Sunday morning at The Whitney, went to brunch at nearby, intimate Cafe Gitane, and then walked along the Highline Park. Made for a wonderful weekend morning. Loved the baked eggs!

Great spot to hang out with the locals from SoHo/NoHo. Try the avocado 'sandwich' or the baguette-breakfast.

Honestly, this is the kind of place that makes you love New York. The kind of French restaurant that I would be hard-pressed to find anywhere else (maybe even France!) on a crowded street where you can sip a coffee on the sidewalk and watch the world go by. Not exceptional but definitely solid food in a place that has great atmosphere especially in the summer. Was the perfect way to start my day in SoHo/LES

Cafe Gitane is a tipical Soho restaurant. Very small, tables are very close to each other, young and cool,peolple. Not esay to get a table. It is not my first time, and i do not mind waiting haf an hour to be seat. Good food, nice ambience.

Cool atmosphere friendly people exotic still delicious food we just walked by and find a table outside had some summer beers tried new flavours good prices excelent surprise

Visited this Mott street cafe and was sadly disappointed. After being overlooked by the maître d' at the door whilst she greeted two parties arriving after me, I asked to sit outside on a cold windy day to avoid the 45 minute wait. She almost seemed offended with my suggestion and quickly pointed out I would not be on the list to sit inside. I was quickly followed by several others who opted for outdoor tables... Maybe I started a trend they did not like? I was served by a disgruntled waitress with a rude tone and a bad attitude. Her service did not get any better as she opted to almost throw (rather than place) brunch in front of me, without saying a word. The coffee was ok, and my avocado on toast was good. I am usually quite generous with gratuities but this is the first time in NYC I decided not to leave a tip! Apologies to whoever made my coffee & toast... But the service was terrible! Go to two hands on Mott Street for much better coffee (one of the best in nyc in my opinion) and friendly service :)

Hands down my favorite place to grab a bite in NYC. Charming, great service, cool atmosphere, AMAZING food. On our first visit, we had Sunday brunch and could not have been more pleased. If I was a New Yorker, I would be there every single week (prob several times a week!). Love, love, love this place and will most definitely go back next time I'm in Manhattan.

This was not our first time at cafe Gitane...but I won´t go back there anymore. Last week we went for dinner and I had a Cous Cous that was overcooked. My husband had the baked pasta, that was dry and hard, and burned on top. He sent it back and asked for the salmon casserole that wasn´t good either. Very disappointing. But after we payed the bill, the blond waitress came to say that her tip was not enough! (it was 12% btw and the food was terrible and no one even came to appologize). So many other places to go...

The couscous was very good and I ordered the goat cheese appetizer and mixed it in with bites. I ordered on an app and had it delivered so did not get to experience the actual restaurant but the food was great.

we just went again, but we go here pretty regularly. its in the jane hotel on the westside highway. it has sort of a french morrocan menu. for brunch i am addicted to the trout salad and i also like the avocado toast. sandwiches & salads are also tasty or you might like a tajine. you can get a very good selection of fairly priced bottles of wine or they have a nice selection of teas as well. there is a well stocked bar if you want a cocktail. the staff is pretty nice. if you go late for dinner be sure to stick around and check out the jane hotel bars, they are pretty spectactularly louche and fun. near the new whitney museum, the highline and the hudson river waterfront in the far west village. highly recommended.

Small bistro style restaurant with delicious food. Couscous was very good! Prices are fair. I’ll be back.

I was staying in Nolita so decided to try breakfast at Cafe Gitane. I ordered a breakfast sandwich and some coffee. Opens at 8:30 am.

Grab a paper, order the latte and then just sit back and let the food come... the baked eggs are my go to my partner loves the waffle. The setting is just fantastic - Paris in NY - lively, fun, familiar. Lunch is great as well but this is our little spot for Sat morning- if there is a wait - which there could be - just enjoy a bench outside grab a café to go and relax - once you get inside life is gooooood!

What a wonderful little cafe - emphasis on 'little' With friends who live a few doors down, it's been years since we were able to get in - always a crowd waiting. And for good reason! Finally went there last night, when the neighborhood was quiet (holiday time.) Enjoyed a few glasses of nice wine, goat cheese / pomegranate syrup appetizer and the most AMAZING chicken salad/mango sandwich. Bread was absolutely perfect - crunchy exterior but tender inside, flavorful mayonnaise, fresh chicken slices with mango & strawberry on top. Served with a lovely salad, it was a light but satisfying dish. Staff was also lovely.

The little hidden gem on Mott delivers a very good meal in a nice environment. The bar is a great place to watch the chefs work their magic. We had a few drinks at the bar while waiting for a party member. Once st our table we ordered the egg on a French baguette, the veggie burger and the Moroccan cous cous. Everything was excellent and very filling.

When in NY I love going out on Brunch with my friends. Try their Avocado toast and Moroccan couscous.

Petite Soho brunch/coffee venue for trendy New Yorkers in the know. Bowie lived around the corner. French magazines hang on wall racks with photos of Jean Morreau. Large mirror on the back wall reflects Villagers coming and going. Healthy breakfasts include avocado toast with fried egg on top (Madame!) so tasty you'll order another. Decent coffee too - mais bien sur!

One of our New York favourites, we've become regulars! Go for waffles for brunch, or a light early evening meal (the fish dish is incredible). Great to sit outside and people watch. Nice coffee too. www.oliviaroundtown.com

whenever i need some calmness and good food this is the place i come to !! i love sitting on a stool at the counter. i always order an avocado toast. the sophistication is in its simplicity. it is comfort !! go. you'll see.

Great little place to have brunch. The wait is not too long and there is seating outside as well. Inside is small, enough for about 10 tables. There’s also seating at the bar. We sat inside and our wait for our food was not that long. The cappuccinos were a bit light, that is if you are used to strong coffee. The meals were delicious, the waffle topped with berries and the salmon, potatoes and egg dish were great. The double espresso was very watery.

Highly recommend by a friend this is an excellent cafe with superb coffee, a great light breakfast in a stunning location. The whole area had a great vibe, lots of friendly people.

I am a regular and I do like the place. It's frequently busy and hopping up onto one of the bar stools for an early dinner is a good idea. Personally the tangines are a little dry for me. My recommendation the Hachis and a half bottle of Cote Du Rhone. The wait staff are pleasant but I do find that the greeter is often less than helpful. I'll admit I don't look like one of the 'in crowd' but when entering a near empty restaurant early on a Sunday morning do I need to be reminded that for two 'only take one of the small tables'? Noticeably the younger trendier couple entering after us didn't have the same instruction. The food is good - and the cafe crèmes just about the best you'll get anywhere, but the bill can mount a little here. Popular, chic and worth a visit. But it needs to remember that it's a café, not a club. The charm is in the simplicity, not in some idea of exclusivity.

We went there for lunch with friends .. we really enjoyed our foods .!! Delicious.!! Nice staff.! Great atmosphere

Laid back place with friendly staff. Lovely menu. Inside is quite busy but tables outside are great.

So very glad that my husband and I stumbled upon this restaurant while walking down Mott St. in NYC. We sat at the bar (highly recommended because you can watch the talented chefs preparing the food!) and my husband ordered a beer while I ordered a hot chocolate, which came complete with a little paw print "drawn" on the top and a piece of chocolate on the side. We also ordered the avocado toast, which was absolutely incredible. I wish that we could've eaten at least three more pieces--it was really that good. If you go to Café Gitane, I highly recommend the hot chocolate and avocado toast; you WON'T be disappointed and will hopefully be anxious to come back for more! :)

Next to The Jane, told they were owned separately. We checked into The Jane and popped in for a early bite about 4pm very empty, asked if we had a reservation. They seat us reluctantly and ignore us for a good 15 minutes. We were so famished and wanted to like this place, since The Jane is such a cool place, the decor is nice but seats were taped and glue got on my expensive pants...Ordered the couscous, pretty tasty, the chicken sandwhich was run of the mill, cheap ingrediants. While we were there only a few tables were taken maybe 4-5 they were turning people away if they did not have a reservation and were coming in. Much later it does get jammed but this early? We did a small breakfast the next morning, we ordered coffee right away because we knew about the service and wait the night before, it was not busy, the waiter went extra slow I think on purpose to not accommodate us...and he never came back to the table for the duration, we had to try to keep flagging people down, they just hung out at the bar area, drank and checked their phones...coffee was good, they messed up the rest of the order which only consisted of toast and a fruit bowl...the fruit and yogurt very cheap and tasteless. Seemed like we were a bother being there, we waited another 15 minutes for another coffee. Its a shame that half of the staff did not seem to care. If you have lots of time to waste go and see for yourself, but I would not bother there are other great places with better service and much better food It is Rated Grade B

Almost too small. Definitely come at odd hours because otherwise it is packed. Delicious food, avocado toast, couscous and sausages, baked eggs, meatballs are all little gems.

This is a calm place, with warm and welcoming staff. The atmosphere and food was very nice. I would recommend this to anyone who wants a calm, fast, and good breakfast. (Our food came very quickly)

Perfect place for vegetarian people, cosy cancel light diner in an relaxing environment. A lot of courses are made live, so if you get the Chance, sit by the bar.

I love this boho organic restaurant and in every visit to NYC , I will have lunch there while shopping Soho Service is amazing , crowd too and the food delicious

Cafe Gitane has two locations on Mott Street or at the Jane Hotel. I have enjoyed both locations but Mott Street is a fave haunt when I am in the city. The atmosphere is wonderfully French boho, sit at the counter and marvel in the food prep, schmooze with the bartender and delight in the vintage kitsch! A crazy combo of locals and tourists inhabit the intimate space. The food is deeply satisfying, the avo toast is a real fave!

Great atmosphere, small cozy. Food was super. We had special Salmon pot pie and Chicken Satay both were wonderful. No reservations so wait may be a bit but there is a small bar to have a drink while you wait.

Feeling giddy, even sheepish when I'm able to claim one of the four outdoor tables at Gitane. So nice to take refuge under the umbrella and enjoy the views of The Basilica of St. Patrick's Old Cathedral, which is now encumbered by CitiBikes. Nothing against CitiBikes of course ... unless they sully my vista. Love the Moroccan styles dishes here; the Spicy Moroccan Olives with oranges and the Couscous With Eggplant and Hummus. The eggplant was nowhere to be found, but it was delicious nonetheless. Plus the wine was sumptuous and hubby loves the beer on draft. When countless businesses in Soho and Nolita are closing and so many spaces sadly boarded up, Gitane has always been here and hopefully always will be.

We stop here on every visit to New York. Love the hot cocoa, almond croissant and especially the baked eggs. Across the street from Old Saint Patrick's Cathedral. Cheery with great service.

We were staying at The Jane Hotel which made the Cafe our local! We are there 4 times in our stay. The food was impeccable every time. Avocado on toast is amazing as are the baguette sandwiches. All with organic meat and ingredients. We Recommend the French fries, also are breakfast there. We would definitely stop by if you can.

We had lunch here after a day of visiting the East Village. We sat at an outside table on their small terrace overlooking the grounds of Old Saint Patrick's Cathedral. I had the special cous cous with pine nuts and chicken and it was really delicious. Not at all dry like another review has mentioned. My husband had the chicken with satay sauce which was also very nice. The food was presented very well. Service was quick. Our female server was OK, efficient enough but couldn't crack a smile or say anything more than the bare necessity but the male attendant was far friendlier. This is cash only which is surprising in this day and age.

That is one of restaurants I been coming in since arrived NY in 93. I was yesterday after many days and always makes me so happy. I had as many times the Couscous and the delicious cappuccino to end the meal.

I have tried to think of a good thing to say. However minute. But I just cannot. And I love french places/food. But this.. Is a disaster. Dirty, lackluster, unfriendly service , unappetizing food (if it is what you want to call what that seems like it was either a) cooked by my 5 y-old nephew or b) coming out of a can, food). The place looks like it needs a good scrub, the staff need to be trained to understand they need to smile to get tips.. Or just know what they serve. Extremely pricey wine by the glass.

Been going here for 15 years now and always enjoy the place as well as the food we eat. A nice place for breakfast and lunch and they do evening meals as feel, but only done that once It's a great place for a Sunday late breakfast, waffle with fruit, baked eggs, baked chicken baguette, warm cous cous with humus etc. It can be busy, but worthy he wait, they also have outside seats and a take away service. The area is nice, Mott St is lovely and Elizabeth st is great too. Mott street is close to Soho.

I really enjoyed Cafe Gitane near Elizabeth Street. The paw on the coffee is so cute, perfect for Instagram moments! I had mine with Josefinas sneakers of course!

Loved this little french inspired cafe. The avocado toast, eggs, cappuccino, croissants and fresh squeezed orange juice were all delicious. The atmosphere was lively and casual. It was a popular restaurant on a Sunday morning but we were able to get a table right away.

Edgar Allen Poe once said "In the realm of universal adoration, naught but a striped awning prevails. It beholds the extraordinary and the mundane with equanimity, extending its embrace to all, as if cognizant of our common origin" ...Okay he didn't say that, but perhaps he should have. Few things get me going like a striped awning. We sat under the blue and white striped awning that Cafe Gitane provides. Great people watching spot with a lot of foot traffic. The human experience truly fascinates me, and the outdoor seating is a front row seat to it. All sorts of characters walking by giving you everything from a live performance to style inspiration to the cutest dog you've ever seen. I got the baked eggs with tomato, and it ended up being one of the best decisions I made over the weekend, although that's not saying much ahahahaha. I added the Merguez sausages, and I will stick my neck out on the line here and say those are what made the meal. They took it from good to great. One of the better and more unique dishes I have had in a minute, as the sausages were cooked to perfection, teaming up well with the eggs, tomato sauce, and potatoes that are lurking at the bottom of the dish. A better Shakshuka. Thank you for the inspiration Cafe Gitane, but more importantly, thank you for the striped awning. IG @jnov_ Tiktok @jnov__

As I walked by, I could tell immediately that the customers eating at the little tables on the sidewalk were neighborhood locals grabbing a quick bite. I glanced inside and saw a few tables open, and noticed a little bar area with stools as well. After continuing on a few blocks to finish my errand, I came back to give the place a try, and arrived just ahead of the lunch crowd. I ordered the baked organic eggs with tomato sauce, basil and cream and the side of merguez sausage. It was all so amazingly delicious. Clean food. Simply prepared. Wonderful. They brought me a beautiful Americano coffee - the best cup of coffee I'd had during this visit! -- and I savored the experience. The place filled up quickly, and the staff remained friendly, kind and efficient. They were very nice to me, dining alone, and I only wish I had dared to stay a little longer and order the chocolate croissant that the little boy next to me was eating. That looked wonderful, too! All in all, a delightful experience.

How to eat healthy, balanced and at reasonable prices: excellent grilled salmon with vegetables and rice and mint tea: a delight with pleasant service

I usually come here for brunch on Sundays and love it. However today my friend and I were welcomed by a very inconsiderate waitress. Her arrogance and lack of good manners chocked us as we were trying to decide if we wanted to sit outside or not. I then proceeded to closing the umbrella outside (as I always do) to show my friend that we could be sitting in the sun when she ran outside to tell us to stop and said: "can you not?!" After the many impolite comments she made, this was the last we could bear and had to leave because of this terrible experience. I hope she can change her attitude as it is not an attractive one for all customers.

We came here sent by a friend that said that this is a very good place to get a tea. Personally I didn't like it. Thea was normal and wasn't made in the Marock way as the place suggests it to be. It seemed a bad made fake of the Arabic culture. Despite these things, it was quite cheap and the place in anycase is nice.

We went about 1:30pm on a Tuesday and they were packed since the place is very small. We put our names on the list for this small French Morrocon place and were told it would be about 20 minutes. We walked around for about 10 minutes but when we returned she indicated she'd already given our table away. This time we stood in the corner outside to wait but there is really no good place to wait so just be prepared to wait in the sun without walking around. It didn't turn out to be too long the second time and when finally seated we were packed into a packed room with difficult negotiations to get by the other tables and into the booth. I got a watermelon mimosa which was good. To start we got a baked feta dish with bread which was tasty. For lunch I got the cous cous which was a tower with many different kinds of vegetables and raisins. I actually liked that well enough although I would probably not order it again. Note that it is quite a lot of food. My husband got the eggplant tower which was fairly bland in my opinion. Overall the tiny place, the indifference service, the not-exciting food made this place far from my favorite.

The space and staff were lovely enough but server forgot to put in my order and was surprised as I was when I asked where my food was (nowhere). I left to eat somewhere else. They were more focused on orders for take out, which were keeping their small kitchen slammed. People in person should require more attention.

I can't recommend this place enough. Tiny squished cafe - miniature kitchen where they serve up fab flavoured food. Often simple food allowing the food to stand on its own. The avocado on brown bread is to die for as is the Gorgonzola with walnuts & honey. Super atmosphere. Lunch, brunch, dinner Anything I'd highly recommend for a real NYC experience.

We loved the fruity breakfast and the frenchy-marroc environment. Style done in perfection regarding tailored details as European change plates (not sure if right wording).

Very nice cafe with original New York style. If you visit Nolita you need to stop and have espresso or a nice Starter/ meal. Also it was filmed in the movie Begin Again.

I ate here four times as I was staying at The Jane Hotel and this is technically the hotel restaurant. First time, good. Second, revolting food. Third, raw food. Fourth, bad service and cold food! This place is seriously pricey for what you get. Also, the menu is seriously limited so you would think they could cook it correctly! This place does have great ambiance, but there's no substance behind it.

Had lunch with my girl friends yesterday and surprisingly we didn't wait for a table! Yay ! The food was pretty good. We had: - couscous - avocado toasts - hachis parmentier (probably a little overpriced for what it is) - brie toasts It didn't take too long to get to the table we really enjoyed it. Main throw off : the waitress. Not so nice, no smiles, not so quick, maybe a bad day...

Completely stress free cafe with terrific food and wines. Great atmosphere and professional wait staff. Couscous are recommnded!

I stopped for a croissant and coffee early morning. It was really pleasant sit outside and watch the people strolling by while enjoying the cafes offerings. All in all the coffee and pastry were fine without being outstanding. Service was friendly and well judged.

I love Gitane more than words can say. The cafe is beautiful, the food is lovely. The bread in particular is amazing, especially with the avocado and chilli on top. The carrot and orange blossom salad is light and fresh. The little red checked napkins are charming. It is also very well priced. I'd eat here forever.

My husband and I were shopping in the neighborhood and stopped in for lunch on a Saturday. A very pleasant hostess seated us. It is really a charming looking place. The menu was promising. We just could not get anyone to pay a bit of attention to us. A table of 6 or so was seated next to us after we got our table. One of the people seated there aggressively flagged down a waitress who took their order. He kindly tried to get us some attention. Upon hearing we needed service the waitress said ok and wandered off. We waited a few minutes more and left, disappointed and certainly never to return. I would have rated the food "don't know" but that option was unavailable. So having been unable to get any FOOD at a RESTAURANT I guess would make it poor.

Good vibe, great music, and great service. The food is good, but not the best. I would say it's a nice place to have a rest in the middle of the day.

Café Gitane is undoubtedly one of my favorite places in NYC. Their avocado toast is simply unsurpassed: served on seven-grain bread, topped with lemon juice, olive oil and a sprinkling of chilli. The flavor combination is perfect, making it the best avocado toast in town. The atmosphere of the place is intimate and welcoming, with a French-Mediterranean touch that makes it unique. The staff is always friendly and attentive, contributing to a truly enjoyable dining experience. Located in the heart of Nolita, it is the ideal place for a relaxing breakfast or a light lunch. I highly recommend it.

For several years I took my daughter to the U.S. Open on our birthday weekend and we day-tripped around the city. Each time we went, we both agreed that Cafe Gitane was one place we wanted to hit for breakfast on our walkabout. In the four times we went, not once were we disappointed with the food, service, nor ambiance. If you are staying in the area, or just walking about the city, Gitane is a funky French cafe that is worth making a side-trip to. Highly recommend.

My wife and I were walking through this soho/noho neighborhood and stopped at one of our favorite cafes. We’ve eaten here many time before, and brought friends as well. But we hadn’t been back in a while. Nothing has changed. Food is great and reasonably priced. Service was gracious and efficient. The weather was great, so we dined outdoors and watched the world go by. Highly recommended.

The busy athmosphere of this restaurant is very nice. The service is fast and friendly. We had the spicy meat balls and pasta witch were very nice and tastefull. Thank you to all the team.

I would recommend the merguez sandwich and their coffee wasn't bad either. They are located in a nice neighbourhood for walking and looking in stores.

Off the beaten track and tucked away in Soho it is very much a local spot and one I found years ago and have been visiting whenever I am in NY. This time it was breakfast and it continues to offer freshly prepared interesting food and good coffee.

Now you know what to order you can relax and take in the crowd as they enter or walk by. Fantastic spot for brunch or lunch, work or pleasure. Reliably good in every way. Good star-spotting location too.

This is a great brunch spot!! It does get busy, but it's a great neighborhood spot... Great French-Moroccan food. Gitane is all about sipping a glass of Bordeaux or shot of espresso while sitting at one of the sidewalkstable and ogling the fashionista traffic.

A little to noisy but an amizing ambiance. Nice staff, efficient and cool. Food is very good and tasty. Carotts have a taste of carotts Eggs have a taste of eggs Avocado have a taste of avocado Tomato have a taste of tomato Chicken have a taste of chicken I mean that with clised eye you can recognize the ingredients. I recooend the couscous or psrmentier which are just fantastic For the dessert order a tiramisu which clearly is homemade. The wine is not as good of the fpod, but we are on US which is definitively not a country of wine lovers... It is possible to eat outside on the small terrace I will visit again this cafe b4 flying back home. Tobe recommended

Went there for a quick dinner a Thursday evening and had a unpleasant experience. Got a table for two and ordered chicken Satay and my wife had a veg-burger and we both enjoyed the food. Asked for the check and paid. Left more than 10% tip which I thought was quite alright. The waitress came back and told me that here in New York I should give at least a 20% tip!!! Well, I'm 55 and been to more than 1000 restaurants in more than 40 different countries and I have NEVER been told how much to tip elsewhere. So instead of a thank you I got a f-k you and I got to admit it was a very sad moment. I can live with it but 1. Will I ever go there again? NO 2. Will I recommend this place to anyone? NO 3. Will I share my bad experience? YES, I'm just about to....

First of all - The Jane is the funkiest hotel with the best staff, and we had the most wonderful stay there. Gitane is where we had breakfast every day - you can't go past the smashed avocado on toast (just trust me), lovely service, beautiful paw-print chocolate with your coffee (we brought the chocolates back to Australia)...perfect start to a brilliant expedition in New Yorkl. However, also perfect for a late night drink at the bar...or afternoon tipple with friends. Come to The Jane - no need to leave! xxx

Loved this little cafe for breakfast! Must try the baked eggs!! Baguette was very authentic and fresh too. There are out doors tables ( not too many - maybe 4?) so you can dine al fresco but don't go too late on the weekend, because it's quite busy and on a beautiful day, those seats are the first to get snatched, the coffee?? Wicked good & plenty strong -I don't drink coffee, but I was pulling the " when in Rome"... trick and that buzz had me going ALL day , so proceed with caution if you're used to American coffee and/ or Starbucks.

Great people watching and healthy but tasty food. Mediterranean. Great ice tea. Nice salads. Deserts are good as well. Cool part of NYC.

I was here with my family and we tried the avocado toast, waffle and omelette. The toast was absolutely amazing and so tasty. We were all disappointed with the waffle though because it was kind of too hard to chew. Also a bit pricy. One minus was that we got the coffee before our food came so it got cold. Service was ok, could be nicer though, maybe smile to your guest and make them feel welcome. We came all the way from Sweden after reading about this place but I wouldn't recommend it because of the service. They are much better options in New York.

Great place for breakfast, lunch and dinner. We have been here 2 times. First for a drink late afternoon. We saw the delicious food served at other tables and decided to come back here for dinner another night. Good food for reasonable prices. Great ambiance and hip local crowd.

I like be cafe Guyanese for lunch Every time in am in NYC and in Soho , I walk to No-Lila and have lunch there It's very boho , organic , great crowd and usually amazing service This time the host was great , he seated us out side but the waitress that served us was cold , a bit confused We enjoyed the food and maybe we fell to the wrong waitress , the other one seem great

I had late breakfast here and I really enjoyed it. It was tasty and the staff is very nice. This place reminded me of France.

During my trip to New York, every morning I went shopping and in the afternoons I went more to visit the city. I was able to visit Central Park which is New York’s largest park, the Empire state building which is one of the largest building. I was able to visit Central Park which is the largest New Park in the city as well as many museums such as the Solomon R Museum Guggenhein which has me much more. I ate every lunch in different fast food tasted what was hot dog, macdo, kfc... And in the evenings I went to eat in the most famous restaurants in New York. And also visit the status of freedom that I unfortunately could not see because of my short stay.

I like this quirky small restaurant on Mott Street it's my new favorite for brunch. The baked eggs with chorizo are amazing and the ultimate hangover cure. It's taken a while to click that we had eaten at the other location in the Jane hotel, I'd choose Mott street every time.

I have eaten at Gitane many times when I am in town. I love the tiny space, the delicious cous cous and the interesting French Moroccan menu. True, there is usually a wait. Don't leave, or they will give your table away. You can have a glass of wine and enjoy a fragrant meal while taking in the obviously local crowd. The staff has always been pleasant and friendly. This location is just off the corner of Prince and Mott so go shopping -and hit it up! You won't be disappointed. Cash only. No credit cards.

I went back here recently after remembering a great meal I had last time I was in New York several years back. It was just as good as I remembered. The food is absolutely delicious! The actual cafe could use an update, the bench seats we were on were being held together with gaffa tape. Only downside to the visit was a photo shoot going on at the time, with all the flashes going off I felt I was eating in a disco, although I imagine this was a one off.

Great food - great value for money - very cozy - no frills! Try the watermelon mimosa and the avocado toast (without egg)! Love that place and always visit it when in NYC!

This is one if my favorite places in New York. Every time I am in town I come here. It never disappoints. Super small, cash only, and very casual. The staff is always friendly. People who gather here are an eclectic blend. I have never had anything bad here. From the avocado toast, the orange waffle, the baked egg breakfast sandwich, you can not go wrong. Everything is excellent. Such a small place you can pass by and wonder, should I eat here? YES!!

I found myself walking down Mott Street on a bitterly cold mid-week afternoon recently at that bewitching hour just before lighting up time. It was too late to eat lunch and too early for dinner but I was alone and wanted to rest up somewhere quiet for a while. I ducked into Cafe Gitane and took a seat to the side of the restaurant giving me a view of the old St. Patrick's Cathedral and people wandering by going about their business. I was on holiday and reveling in the luxury of calling my time my own. I wanted to eat everything on the menu but had dinner reservations for later and so I decided on a glass of mulled wine, because I could....The staff were so friendly and the vibe so incredibly relaxed, it was impossible to feel anything but good with the world. I sat there and read my book and looked around and didn't take out my phone and spent the most lovely hour there. I had read all about the achingly hip and beautiful who flock to this cafe and wondered if I would feel intimidated, I didn't thankfully. There is such a hard-to-find neighborhood feel to this little place, which is cash only. I really can't wait to go back and next time I'll order one of the amazing sounding egg dishes. A delightful little jewel on Mott Street.

I went with my wife for supper. Good service, a lot of people (young atmosphere) Decent wine card. What I liked is the suprising plates they offer. I took the couscous. It was not like the more traditionnal ones I could eat it in the past but was really good. The way it was presented was original as well. With a bottle of wine, it cost us around 140$. I would recommend.

One of my favorite spots, especially sitting outside on a nice day when you can enjoy the neighborhood. the food is fantastic, the best couscous! friendly service. Love it.

Fabulous place for breakfast or lunch or just a coffe or drink. Cool atmosphere, and a lot of costumers, very lively place. Everything I've eaten have been good.

It's a very nice place for chatting with friends and eating deliciuos food. Very simple and adorable, I suggest to try the maroccan cous-cous with veggie and hummus! The best I ever had!

We went following a recommendation from my son. Small establishment, somewhat squeezy but we'll set up. Had to go for the baked eggs, brilliant. If you are in the area give it a go.

I sat at the counter of this cute little French cafe and very friendly staff welcomed me warmly and served me a wonderful brunch. The baked eggs with salmon was light, rich and just the right amount creamy, and the capers added a wonderful sharp-but-sweet bite. The accompanying mimosa was sharp, juicy with just enough kick. The atmosphere on a Saturday morning was buzzy but relaxed. Best brunch I've had in NYC.

I used to love this place and I used to go there almost once a week! Until one night, a couple of months ago when I went there with 3 friends. There was a 15 minutes wait, so we waited. After 15 minutes, a party of 4 left a table so we were ready to be seated. At this point, a group of girls gets to the restaurants and get seated at the table that was supposed to be ours. (in this restaurant they don't accept reservations) so we try to ask why and the waiter says 'You're right, I'm sorry the next available table will be yours' and that was another 15-20mins wait. I felt that it was so rude that they let these people seat before us after we waited. And they haven't tried in any way to fix the situation. At that point we left the restaurant and I will never go there again if this is the way the staff treats clients.

We went in here for a late breakfast. My wife noticed on the menu outside they had fresh granola, which is what she fancied. We both ordered the bowl of fresh granola but what we were served was a load of yoghurt, a mix of fresh fruit, chaotically put on the yoghurt and a very thin, hardly to be found, fresh granola. It's hard to comment on the quality as there was so little. We complained about it and got a French shrug, which meant so much as: 'take it or leave it'. We paid and left. While leaving we heard the table behind us make the same complaint about the non present granola, which made us realize, it wasn't us.

My husband and I stumbled upon this restaurant late Thursday night near closing.... we were greeted with a huge smile upon entry and the service never stopped! The staff in this place are warm and very charming! The food was AMAZING!!! The food is North African ( Moroccan). Dinner was a success!

Definitely the best place where I have eaten in NYC. My couscous was a bit pricey but worthy. I think I'll never forget it. The place is small and crowdy but the delicious dishes make you forget about it all. I would recommehnd it to all my friends. The menu is extraordinary and everything is prepared with care.

Stopped by for a quick lunch and we all enjoyed the many appetizers. The cheese plate was terrific and the bruschetta was very good.

Came to this Cafe for drinks with my children. Was sat by their staff and asked if we were eating or just having drinks. Even after telling staff we were just going to enjoy drinks, some of their fresh juices and after we ordered, I had the manager come over and basically tell us to never come back because she doesn't "seat" people for just drinks. I quickly told the manager that I understood her policy however they shouldn't have sat us. She was so rude and happened to be pounding wine out of a coffee cup-highly unprofessional. Even her staff came by to apologize for her. I promised the manager I wouldn't come back and I intend to stick to my promise.

Very nice service but restaurant smells so heavy and bad that everything single peace of cloth we had on will be sent to dry cleaning... Food was not good or bad.

I really liked it. The food was really fresh an tasty. Staff was friendly and nice. The location is just perfect.

I heard so much about this place! All my friends said it was the new place for brunch. I was really looking forward to going, when the waitress utterly shattered my experience. We arrived on November 25th around 1pm famished. We nicely asked to be seated inside but the waitress was insufferable. She was arrogant and non-chalant, as if she new better than anyone in the entire room. We said we might be three , since there was no room inside we kindly offered to sit outside, as it would make everyone’s life easier. She refused to let us sit out, saying it was too cold. It wasn’t her decision to make. We decided to still give it a try and she then gave us another salty comment. After her 3rd useless interruption we decided we did not want to deal with her attitude. We left and were extremely disappointed we didn’t get to try this new hot spot everyone has been raving about. I usually never comment on restaurants, but this waitress was so rude that it made us leave the restaurant before even sitting down.

The CousCous is to die for! Best ever, if you are in NYC, it's a must visit, try out the CousCous! another good plate is the homemade Granola with fruit and, yogurt. highly recommended.

This has been my go-to restaurant in NYC for 15 years. It had always been an affordable, unpretentious, fun and tasty respite in the crowded city. But this year, I noticed the food costs more and has gone down in quality. The hostess wouldn't let me sit at a table (because I was a party of one) despite the fact there were 6 open tables and it was 2:30 in the afternoon. It was uncomfortable sitting at a stool at the counter. I think that was my last trip there.

I've always heard about Cafe Gitane so i decided to finally take a look at it and eat a lunch there. The little terrace (as little as it is) is just lovely. The menu is interesting with mix between occidental (french mostly) and arabic (Morocco) specialties. The couscous with red peppers, raisins, toasted pinenuts, hummus and eggplant (optional add-ins: organic chicken, Merguez sausage) was good but way too dry (chicken included), even with is special sauce. The water melon juice is amazing and we regret that the Lillet we took was shaken. It is way better served with just a couple of ice cubes or simply neat. The service is wonderful. Our waitress was really attentive with good advice and a communicative smile. I will give them another chance by trying another plate but i'm a little bit disappointed regarding the popularity of the place.

Happened upon this lovely cafe while walking the Lower East Side on a snowy April morning. Simple breakfast fare--French-ish with a Moraccan flare. Perfect cup of coffee Americano, croissant and fresh fruit...and wonderful service from Lily. Only wish I'd come across it later in the day to try some of their interesting lunch offerings.

We had a nice breakfast at Cafe Gitane - I recommend the avocado toast and the baked egg and sausage sandwich. If you go early-ish on the weekend, like 9-9:30, you should have no trouble getting a table.

Quick salad lunch at this place, didn’t disappoint. Coffee was surprisingly good too, not amazing but definitely drinkable. Ok service

Cafe Gitane is a small, hip local hotspot that is my go-to neighborhood spot for brunch or dinner. While their kitchen is tiny, they somehow manage to offer up an impressive menu of interesting foods with a couple of standouts. Best in class is their Avocado Toast. I don't know why this is so tasty, but it's simply the best out there. I've seen many restaurants try to copy it to no avail, and even if you don't like avocado, it's a wonderful treat. For dinner, my most common order is the Heart of Palm salad with chicken. Simple and light, this is a meal I'm happy to have multiple times a week. The Couscous and Hachi are also great, but a bit heavier. Be sure to try their Moroccan Mint tea, wonderul coffee, an banana tart or chocolate bread pudding for dessert! Note that Bar stools are first come first serve, so even if you are not on the list for a table you can grab them if they come available.

It offers something to drink and eat all day long.Not the world's greatest cuisine ,but an honorable craft. Casual style, passing good among the neighborhood clientele.Do not forget to bring cash , no credit cards accepted

I had the couscous.is so original and so tasty. The service is fast perfect when you are in rush even when its busy. Nice place I recommend

We met friends for breakfast here and they rave about this place. We must be missing something! The place is small, packed tightly and a bit dungy. The breakfast menu is very limited and expensive. I ordered the baked eggs with basil and tomato. It was a tiny dish and certainly not worth $8:50. My wife ordered the orange blossom waffle. It was way overpriced ($9:50) for a tiny unmemorable waffle. The latte (café crème) arrived cold, but they replaced with a warmer one when we complained. They only accept cash. Very disappointing.

its always great to visit this place orgo true that even when you have some plans or running true your appointments. its give you energy,make you fool of emotion,dont give up the chance to know the beauty of this park!

This is a really nice place, good ambience, nice pleasant staff, nice twist on French/Moroccan cuisine. We had a really nice olive/orange starter. Interestingly, they couldn't take a card for payment, so make sure you have cash!

I have been here in my first trip in New York, and when I came back, I wanted to come here again! I like this place! The first time I had cakes and cappuccino, while the second time I came for a brunch (I had eggs and sausages)! It's delicious!!!! Highly recommended!

After a long morning of wondering ( and shopping:) at soho entered for lunch. A little bit of wait ( not that bad considering it is sunny saturday..), somewhat slow service but the food was good

Happened to drop in here for a late lunch with a friend. Wow, such a good place. We sat outside with some rosé and just did people watching for a while. The food is great and the place is obviously popular as there was quickly a lot of people waiting for tables. Highly recommend.

We had a toast with avocado (yummm!), salad and salmon bagel. Everything was very tasty and you could tell the food is very fresh. Atmosphere is lovely, and the coffee is great. Highly recommended!

We heard about the place and really liked the idea of the coffee shop but was disappointed with the attitude of the staff

Very nice and relaxed atmosphere, very good food. Perfect for a good start into a nice day or for dinner with friends in teh evening. Interesting menue. Loved it.

Its menu sprinkled with delights of typical French-Morrocan cuisine, this understated little café brings people of all types together in its small quarters. Owned by a Frenchman from Marrakesh, CG's waitstaff and line cooks sport military-inspired khaki ensembles, set to a backdrop of simple decor, a huge wall-hung map of Morocco, and prêt-à-manger fresh baguettes and croissants on the counter of the open-air kitchen. One of my secret cravings is for buttered toast topped with sliced avocado and a dash of salt and pepper.... and there it was, plain as day on the menu: “Avocado Toast”. Swoon. Service leaves a bit to be desired as staff were a bit cool in receiving and treating diners, but all is well when enjoying good cup of coffee (they have). Take a look at other NYC restaurants I reviewed at http://www.deanes-list.com/6/post/2013/05/eat-downtown-nyc.html. Bon appetit!

This is such a great brunch spot! All you need is the Avocado Toast and a coffee! The egg bakes are great too, but nothing compares to the Toast. It does get busy, but it's a great neighborhood spot that should not be missed if you're in the area.

Ladies...just because you have a French-themed restaurant does not mean you need that dismissive service one stereotypically expects in France. The delicious food and interesting setting were sadly diminished by the service.

Ist a charming location located in between soho and little italy. Given the sizes of the portions, they are kind of pricy, but they make it up with great food. Awesome avocado toast and the choices of egg cocotte are delish!!

I almost don't want to say too much about this spot as I lov the fact it is discreet and frequented by locals rather than tourists. If I am in the neighbourhood I always pop in for a coffee and I really love it here.

The place itself is charming and unique. Located at Jane Hotel with a great atmophere. We loved their brunch. The omelet was delicious and the waltermellon mimosa unique.