Cafe Luka Reviews

A perfect place to stop and eat, the staff was very attentive. The owner never stopped greeting people, stopping by tables with a friendly personality. You can see how much the staff cared about their customers. The food was great and it made for a great day. This place is worth a the visit. Thank you for the great hospitality

Stopped in with the wife on Sunday night. Place was pretty empty, had a booth in the front. The name, Cafe Luka, sounds as if it may be an interesting dining experience. Alas, it's basically a diner serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner. But diners sometimes excel. Just not this time. Service was fine. My open steak sandwich was ok , the overdone or reheated fries were somewhat less then that. My wife s spinach pie was likewise ok. No dessert. Guess our expectations were too high. I may return but probably only for breakfast or lunch. Was a bit surprised that a glass of wine was $10, usually I don't care about prices but that seemed exorbitant for the surroundings so I skipped it.

Busy friendly restaurant. Eggs over easy were perfect but don't look for grits here. Fried potatoes were tasty and plentiful. Accommodating to wheat, gluten and dairy allergies.

We had a nice meal on Sunday night at Cafe Luka. My husband loved their Rueben with Patrami - the meat was tasty and the sauce was homemade and delicious! I even dipped my fries in it and added it to my Roumanian Steak Sandwich. The Roumanian had lots of marinated slices of steak on a fresh, toasted bun. Their fries were perfectly crispy and hot. It is a beautiful building inside with lots of woodwork and cutglass sconces. The only complaint I had was that the coleslaw that came with our sandwiches tasted like it wasn't perfectly fresh. They had a good selection of beer that was served in nicely chilled mugs with a wedge of lemon. I was pleasantly surprised by the prices which were actually cheaper than those at a downtown restaurant in my home city.

I had heard a negative review from a friend but decided to give it a try & was pleasantly very surprised. I cannot wait to go back. Service was excellent & food delicious. Space is pretty cool but wish the lighting could have been a little darker. Wine was very good. This is a very upscale coffee shop but I would call it more of a cafe/bistro. I certainly hope they continue to thrive in this neighborhood. Well done Cafe Luka

Cafe Luka is a great place for breakfast, lunch or dinner . The owners are extremely friendly, the place is clean and the food is great. They also have gluten free options on the menu. It is near many hospitals so if you find yourself needing a good inexpensive place to kill some time and grab a bite this is the place. They also serve great piping hot coffee. Love this place!

i like my weekend brunch at a neighbourhood diner and this place fits the bill. the brunch is exactly what you would expect from a diner - lots of food and nothing fancy but hits the spot. note that it's cash only tips (which is quite strange and luckily i had cash on me)

This place is not great. Mediocre food, poor value. The only positive note are the waiters who are all efficient and nice.

Stopped by for a quick lunch. Good variety of lunch specials. Food well prepared. Close to local hospitals. Tuna wrap was large and tasty. Lentil soup was excellent. House special - turkey, swiss, tomato on rye was large portion and real turkey.

My wife had surgery at the nearby Hospital for Special Surgery so I ran out to obtain takeout while she was recuperating. I had a name tag on indicating I was visiting the hospital and the first words from the manager at the cash register was related to the speedy recovery of my loved one. I went there two times eating on-site once and taking out once. Both experiences were great with good food and service. They have takeout down to a science like most NYC restaurants. Honestly, pricing was not my concern due to the circumstances so I can't say whether is was fair or outrageous but it's the upper east side so don't think it was beyond the norm. I enjoyed the friendliness, the family neighborhood atmosphere, quality of the food and service and I hope you do as well. Did I mention the 10% discount for area hospitals?

My wife and I have dined at Cafe Luka at least a dozen times over the past few years including lunch two days ago on February 17th. It is a diner, the menu is vast, food is always good , portions are large and the service is very friendly and prompt. Breakfast is available at all hours . The club sandwiches and burgers, which I usually have, are top notch. I note that the prices have really gone up over the past year or so. Hot open turkey sandwich is now $15.95. The restaurant is always crowded when we are there but it flows well and never seems to be much of a wait. I would rate it 5 stars but for the relatively high prices compared to other NYC diners we have been to, like the Ritz, farther down on First Ave

Very attentive waitstaff, great portions, convenient and unique. Fun artwork and great to support a business, not Starbucks. Definitely my go to place now!

I ordered poached eggs with hollandaise sauce and lox. The eggs were overcooked, the hollandaise tasted awful (probably from a vending machine) and the lox was probably the cheapest quality salmon they could find. Honestly I'm surprised because breakfast food is usually difficult to mess up but this restaurant managed to do so.

Waiter was extremely nice and accommodating. Great tasting food. Within walking distance to hospitals. Food did not take long to come and it was hot.

Startlingly wonderful place, several cuts above “diner.” Welcoming, great food, fast service. Glad we went, and we’ll go again.

We had visited a hospital in the area and afterwards stopped for lunch at Cafe Luka. My Matzah ball soup was hot and very satisfying. The Spanakopita(Spinach Pie) which followed was more crust than spinach filling and truthfully though adequate was not as tasty as this dish I've had elsewhere. My wife enjoyed her Veggie Burger with Fries very much. Service was good and the prices, fair.

My first time back after they made a few changes. Like the new interior look. Feels much more open and inviting. Don’t like the benches. Feels awkward sitting in them. Ordered a house special turkey, cheese and tomato that comes with fries. Expected a standard sandwich and got an open face covered with cheese that hid all the turkey. The fries were good. Also ordered a salad with grilled chicken. Okay, though the tomatoes were past their prime. Service was fine. The restaurant was not busy. Sad to see they raised the prices which might be justified by the decor, but not the food.

Had food delivered to our hotel. Food was good and portions were large but they omitted a part of the order. Check delivery order before signing. Ask about hospital patient discounts.

$8 for two eggs (just 2 eggs nothing else)...I get they need to make a proft but that is nearly a 4,000% markup. Also my pancakes looked and tasted like dessert yellow cake. Guess they ran out of pancake batter?

We at here for both breakfast and dinner. Food was tasty, the serving size was very large and the price was good especially for NYCity

Place is a diner which made for my needs. Ate there twice. Chicken ceasar wrap was generous though maybe a bit heavy on dressing. Next night, western omlette. Sizable and traditional. Very good. I didn't like hash browns. Thought maybe they were sweet potatoes, maybe not. But not to my liking. Other than that, no issue with restaurant. Diner like menu.

My family and I were viewing the NYC Marathon just down the street from this eatery. As we were not particularly hungry at the time, we wanted to just drop in for coffees to go and freshen up. These folks were more than friendly and hospitable!!!! They went out of their way at the back counter to accommodate, even though we were there only to buy coffee. Wish I got the one employees name. He was exceptional!! The restaurant was full at the time and we were grateful that we stopped in here. If we are ever in this area of Manhattan we will surely stop in and dine next time!

Dropped by for a quick lunch. The chicken fingers were overly deep fried in overused oil, so that they were very dark brown and dried up. Waitstaff was nice, though.

Went here for lunch on our visit to New York. The place was almost empty when we went, but service was very slow. The food was average. We both had a tuna melt and the cheese looked artificial. Prices weren't bad. The do have a decent menu and nice looking desserts.

A very fine place for breakfast or lunch particularly if you are in the area of N.Y. Hospital to visit or see a doctor . Food is excellent however a bit on the expensive side for a diner. Of course N.Y. is an expensive place and the convenience is worth it. Also friendly professional service .

Absolutely the best hosts in all of NYC. Very good food served quickly but not rushed after receiving plates.

We ate there for three meals while a relative was recuperating in a nearby hospital. The cafe is a diner with some very good food. The staff is friendly and helpful. We would happily eat there again, if in the area.

Good selection of breakfast foods, great omelets and pancakes, love the hash browns, Large cups of coffee, filtered drinking water, Fruits, lots of selections for cereal, fruit cups, eggs benedict, waffles, all types of bread for toast. rolls, bagels, Mimosas and bloody mary's, they also sere lunch and dinner. Great for the family, tables and chairs, booth seating and counter seating. vast array of desserts. Fast Service, Tips are in cash only.

During our recent stay at the Helmsley medical tower for a medical appointment, we found this diner within a couple of blocks and enjoyed the ambiance and the food. It was 20 degrees outside but warm and cozy inside. The staff was very friendly and attentive. We enjoyed the matzo ball soup, a Reuben and the spinach pie for lunch; as well as a 15% discount with our room key! We returned for dinner and will return for breakfast too! The price was very fair for the quality and quantity of the food.

Just got back to Florida after visiting NYC and I miss Cafe Luka already. This is my 2nd review and if its possible,they have gotten even better. John and the guys #1 always make me feel like i never left town.Its like the Cheers of local dining on the Eastside. great food,great staff and LOVE the new renovation. Going back to the city mid July.Shame I can't reserve a seat at the counter,maybe i can..lol. Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner or Brunch...you can't go wrong. Cute "Got Mimosa"T-shirts.

If you would like a real New York café where the food and patrons have lots of flavor and variety, see if you can locate the Café Luka on 1st Avenue. It's a little hard to spot because the café is not very wide, and the other stores nearby almost hide it. But when you do enter, you are greeted by smiling host/ess and a table by the front window is offered if it is available. The menu in not large, but holds a good variety. We had the Twin Sliders: one hamburger and one BBQ pulled pork. I'm not much on coleslaw, but I finished every bite that came with the Sliders. We definitely would go back again.

From entry to exit this place has guaranteed us the warmest NYC welcome of all the places we visited during our week long stay in NYC. Cafe Luka became a staple of our visit as breakfast is always excellent and we'll priced with excellent coffee! Service is always guaranteed with a smile and the owners are excellent always ensuring you are being catered for and looked after. All the staff are excellent too following the lead set from the top and everyone seems happy to be there! Also the best recommendation must be the amount of locals that eat there as the are so many places o go nearby but this diner is always busy! An absolute must if you want the full NYC dining experience!

A friend of mine who lives in the area suggested we go here for brunch on April 6th. The place was packed and NOW I know why. Both OWNERS get what it means to be in the restaurant business. The customer service was, what other restaurants should learn from these guys. From the time we walked in I felt as if they were waiting for us to just show up. They knew who was first in line and who was to be seated next. I noticed that people were even greeted by name. What the both owners did is what got my attention!! They touched ever table ( if you don't know what that means, go here and you will find out for yourself.) They even bused tables and wiped them down, it was not beneath them and they even help out by cleaning up a spill on the floor and they were not done cleaning the floor until it was dry. They took the 2 min test to the next level. They made time for small talk with just about table and everyone in the place....WOW. This is not some fine dining place or the Four Seasons as they wouldn't even come close to what these guys do or did. I hope you guys find time to read this or someone tells you about this review because this is a place that should give lessons to other restaurants/owners and staff on how to treat people (your customers). it is called Personal Touch. JOB WELL DONE GUYS... oh and the food?? it was AWESOME too. THANKS for a great EXPERIENCE. I WILL BE BACK... oh ya... GO E-A-G-L-E-S .....LOL Jerry Ehrlich from the Great City of Philadelphia PS I wish I had a picture for this review but I ate the food it was so good... so just think of a smiling face.

Good location, large menu with quite a few choices, attentive staff, good service. Food is typical diner food just with NYC prices!

Enjoyed a late lunch at Café Luka. The fish and chips dinner was good. Also had a tasty lettuce salad. The café is just a couple of blocks from the hospital, so it was an easy walk both ways. Service was excellent.

The food was not horrible but was not outstanding either, given the prices you had to pay for a sandwich.

I ate breakfast there when my wife was in the hospital having an operation. They have a nice meal selection and the food was very good and served with a large cup of great coffee. The surface was prompt and the staff very friendly.

This is an unpretentious restaurant on the upper East Side that serves huge portions of comfort food at reasonable prices. You get soup or salad, a huge main course, and a potato and vegetable of your choice. Neither my companion nor I could finish. They also throw in fresh fruit salad for desert. Very pleasant, even though the decor is quite plain.

This is a neighborhood diner-type place. That said, we manage to stop in here most times when we are in town. The service is always great; it is bright and clean; and the food is well-prepared. It's hard to rave about an egg salad sandwich (really good!) or a typical eggs and bacon and toast breakfast (also good!), but when you don't want to dine in a fancy place every meal and you just need to start or continue your day in a hustle and bustle city, this is a good, clean friendly stop with reasonable prices. We like to sit with a view of the street. In NYC, you never know who you'll see.

The waitress was very friendly, food and coffee was lovely but we waited almost an hour for a very simple breakfast. A general rule of thumb is your customers drink should never be finished before they receive their meal.

This is the typical NY diner though they did have a special brunch menu that included drinks and fruit or muffin in addition to the usual omelet/homefries/toast. Omelette choices were creative and included several vegetarian options. Gluten free options were also available. In general, food was well prepared. Good value for NY brunch for hungry eaters!

Went there for lunch with family. Coffee was good, served in a big cup. The service was quick and friendly. The food was bland. We had eggs and toast, sandwiches and hamburger. Some food tasted reheated. Nothing was bad but with many diners in the area, I am not sure I would go here again.

My husband and I were walking around looking for a outdoor place to sit down and eat when we came upon Cafe Luka. Diverse menu, excellent food and the nicest staff! Hubby had eggs, corned beef hash and potatoes while I had matzoh ball soup and a bagel. Great experience and looking forward to trying the lunch entrees!

Went with family for a late breakfast. Place is nice. Very busy for a Friday afternoon. All the egg dishes were good. Could have used a coffee refill but other than that, it was nice and the workers were nice too. "NYC expensive" about $100 for 4 of us. I would go back.

We had dinner one night. My wife and joked that every in the restaurant was older (like us) because of the diner type food. I had a burger which was good and mine wife had a salad which she enjoyed.

Close the east side hospitals, this is a good spot to grab a quick meal of classic diner food. The space is nicer than most diners, service prompt (if not overly friendly) and food good quality classics.

During our extended stay at the Helmsley Medical Tower we discovered Cafe Luka and went there numerous times for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The food was quite tasty and the service is outstanding. The owners make a special effort to meet and greet their patrons which obviously makes it a very popular neighborhood restaurant.

The manager left a great impression on me...I love nice people!! I just ordered 1 pancake, some sausage, and coffee. The pancake was really good, it surprised me. Everything else was fine, but really it was the atmosphere I appreciated most. Happy people, everyone greeted cheerfully, and very convenient restaurant to the hospital.

This is around the corner from our co-op but we had not been there in a long time. I had the eggs florentine (eggs over a spinach scramble) and my husband had an omelet. The food and service were good but the coffee was very, very weak although it was very hot. A bit pricey but that is the cost of the real estate.

As tourists we walked a little further than some might for Sunday brunch. It was worth the walk.

Like New York's great diners but with a little more "upscale" ambience? Go to Cafe Luka on the middle east side. Extensive menu, daily specials. breakfast (all day long), lunch, or dinner. Good food, well prepared; great and attentive wait staff (mostly Latinos) with a great sense of humor; nice decor; and only slightly mnore expensive with the "standard" diner.

If you stay at Helmsley Medical Tower, they give you a discount, but I walked there and the ambience is nice and the people there were always ready to help.

A local eatery serving good honest fare. A booth style diner serving locals, the Eggs benedict and omletts were better than average and we visitied several times over our stay. Cant go wrong here.

After going in to the restaurant every time we go to the hospital now I was a patient. So I ordered online and had it delivered and it was quick and hot

Cafe luka has a very wide range menu and is a perfect place to drop in for a quick meal like lunch. We had a sandwich and an omelette which was prepared efficiently and perfectly and the price was right. Just stop in and enjoy yourself.

Cafe Luka offers a broad menu of reasonable entrees - amazingly inexpensive for Manhattan. Every entree after 5 throws in a choice of Margarita or sangria free. For sure, much more food than I could eat. Best of all is the friendly and helpful staff. They are the most delightful part of Cafe Luka.

Love this local restaurant..it's a neighborhood place that caters to the locals. I own an apartment around the corner and get to NYC about 2 times a year and always enjoy good food at this establishment! The prices are extremely fair considering it's Manhattan.

Luka just reopened after a full reno. The place looks great. The whole front of the restaurant opens up to essentially be an outdoor space. It’s like an upscale diner. All different options. I love getting the honey Dijon salmon, but I’m OBSESSED with their cauliflower crush pizza! It’s out of this world! The waiters are the nicest guys. Love them all. But the highlight for me are the two gentlemen who run the show. Brothers Mark and Jon couldn’t be nicer guys. They are constantly running around helping and greeting the customers as they arrive. PS Their mimosas are DANGEROUS. SO BIG, SO DELICIOUS, and SO alcoholic. They mess you up quick (careful ladies). Any weekday morning you will see a bunch of lit nurses coming off their night shift! How fabulous is that! 😂

Wanted a casual late morning breakfast for four. Found this little gem not far off Central Park. Very family friendly. Excellent service. Great eggs, sausage, bacon cooked exactly as we requested (extra crispy!), and healthy portion of fresh fruit. Highly recommend.

We just returned from an 8 day trip to New York City. So many restaurants and dining places to choose from. Cafe Luka was almost always a daily choice for either a breakfast to start our sightseeing adventires off, or a quick sandwiich or burger for lunch. Staff was professional and friendly. Spotlessly clean. We highly recommend this restaurant. Everything we ate was delicious.

Where do you go when all you want is a decent cup of coffee in the Upper East side of Manhatten near 72nd Street? Café Luka! This place is like a diner in the middle of fru fru coffee places. They are open all day long and serve meals accordingly. The menu is quite complete.On the occasion I visited the area, all I wanted was place to sit down and have a cup of coffee. Café Luka did not disappoint. My husband decided on a full breakfast with his coffee, while I stuck to a bagel and cream cheese with mine. The variety of bagels was lacking, but no biggie there. Any kind of NYC bagel is good to this out of towner! The coffee appears to be a bottomless cup as our waiter continually came to refill our cups. I highly recommend Café Luka!

Given the dearth of basic diners in Manhattan, Cafe Luka is a welcome presence on the Upper East Side. The ambience and fare is traditional diner, although I was dismayed tp find they did not include Danish on the menu. As for basic maintenance, I was pleased/surprised even to see a table attendant vigorously cleaning the leatherette seats (after a party of diners departed) BUT my pleasure quickly turned to shock when he used the same cloth to then wipe down the table !!! For the Upper Eastside (Manhattan) prices are reasonable for the quality: (anywhere else they would be considered high).

While we were at the Hospital for a Special Surgery several people recommended this place so we went there for dinner on a Monday night. Immediately upon entering we got the feeling that every person, from the waiters, busboys, etc all wanted us to have a good experience and feel comfortable. The owner even came by to chat and check on us. The food was simple but good, mostly Greek/Italian. Prices were a bit high but lower than many other places in the neighborhood and that's pretty much to be expected in this part of town.

Standard fare, but worth a visit for a classic diner-style breakfast. Not a 'destination', but if you're in the neighbourhood check-it-out. Friendly, attentive service

Mouthwatering American fare from hamburgers to omelets, etc. Café Luka has a relaxed and unhurried ambiance that lets you dine in leisure. It has friendly booths for the solo and families. It's open from 6 am - 1 am. It's located at 1319 First Ave.(betwn. 70th and 71st Sts.)

This place has been around for years as you will see from the beautiful wood wainscotting on the inside. There are many booths and tables and service is swift. The Good: Large mugs for coffee plenty of place to spread out. The OK: the food is a bit on the bland side and a tad boring but it's perfectly good for a no brainer breakfast The not so good: The toast is unbuttered and comes with rock hard butter patties that squash the bread as you're trying to spread it and you only get 1 grape jelly (and I hate grape jelly) ALl in all this is a good value breakfast place that I wouldn't go cross-town to eat at but if you're in the neighborhood and need to eat, it fits the bill. By the way. You cannot tip on a credit card, You MUST leave your tip in cash.

I don't know if it's always this way or I just happened to visit it on a bad day but the breakfast was kinda bad. Their omelette was mediocre, poached eggs were poorly drained of water. The service was fast though and the ambience was good.

We have been coming here for years because of the people, the food and the service. It may be a diner but you feel at home. We have brought our grandchildren here since they were infants and they were always welcome, strollers and all. The food is fresh and delicious and the people (servers and owners) are great. Hope to continue to come here for years and years.

We wanted to have lunch in Numero 28 which had been recommended as a great pizza place, but ended up here on the advice of a lady in the street. Such a bad idea. I had the homemade spinach pie and my OH had Eggplant Parmigiana. Huge quantities which is not necessarily a good thing when the quality is so poor. The only thing in its favour is the traditional diner decor and the reasonably friendly service.

We walked in we were greeted right away by the owner who was extremely friendly!! The restaurant was packed but we were seated right away the food arrived very fast great service! Excellent food!

This is an upper east side neighborhood diner near New York Presbyterian Hospital, Memorial Sloan Kettering and Rockefeller University. We ordered the mozzarella sticks, a small soup, a Caesar wrap which came with a large serving of french fries, turkey club with mashed potatoes, French toast (which was sent back to be reheated since it was barely warm), 2 sodas, and a milkshake and the tab came to $72 without tip. These are NYC east side prices so be prepared. There are ample choices on the menu and the food is well prepared. This is a diner so don't expect great gourmet food. Service is usually good.

In the middle of Sloane Kettering's hospital complex is this place that has almost everything you would like to eat. Specials are always available. Moderate prices, and very nice help.

Lots of great breakfast, lunch and dinner options. It was a diner type menu. I had the corned beef rubin special. Delicious and very lean. Husband had a bagel that was so so and the soup was very salty. Prices were fair for NYC and the service was excellent.

Stopped by for a quick bite, spoke to some terrific locals about various things, and enjoyed a lovely chopped Lucas Salad! A but pricey for diner fare, but the experience was fine!

This place gets a 2/5 because the price doesn’t match the quality. The price is fine if the food was better, but I felt I was getting normal diner food but paying restaurant prices for it. If the prices were lower, I would have given a 3/5.

Love it!! It's our local diner...we're weekly regulars. What makes the place are the people and service. Can't get any better!!

I had a solo lunch here a few weeks ago. The interior is more stately than most diners; there are some interesting specials. The food was good and the prices were acceptable for this area, but the manager, probably Luka herself was charming and helped to make it a pleasant experience. I would return if I am in the neighborhood again, it has a relaxed European style combined with diner efficiency.

Very friendly and fast service. Four lines of booths in a very spacious room. Good cleanliness including the men's room. Cheese omelette served perfectly to order; good fresh fruit on the side. Fairly limited but enticing menu.

I’ve had breakfast here several times recently. The service is friendly and efficient. It’s busy but not crowded loud, and they don’t rush you out of there, it’s a very relaxed environment. Their breakfasts are good, and the coffee is the highlight - it’s the best in town. Yes, it’s overpriced, but hey it’s the UES.

I have eaten here after visits to Hospital for Special Surgery. The waiter this week seemed nervous and jittery. The food was just adequate, but my husband and I did not expect more. I needed a lift as I still am recovering from surgery and waited to be picked up by my husband who went to get the car. The manager started to clean the table told me he was running a business, but no one was was waiting to sit. He literally grabbed the coffee cup off the table. When I complained about his rudeness he muttered a term in another language which I understood and which is considered an insult. In all I was in Cafe Luka for less than an hour and had to wait outside leaning on a cane for my husband.

Went to the diner with my brother looking for some comfort food. I had eggs florentine and he had a tuna melt. Mine came out as and soft mushy hash of spinach and feta with two unappetizing poached eggs on top. It was bland and frankly kind of gross. My brother's tuna melt looked worse. The tuna was an odd beige color with an even deeper shade of that color at the edges, presumably from heating, but it looked more as if someone had left it out all night. Too bad because the people are nice and attentive and the space is typical NYC diner.

And we weren't disappointed. Super friendly staff, quick service, good prices and great typical diner food. I'd def go back!

Simple and enjoyable. All the staff chips in for service so I always had what I needed. Food was basic 'comfort food' and was excellent and well prepared. Make sure you say hi to Mark, the owner. A great guy and he's happy to help

Quite expensive for a diner; for those who are like quantity, go for it. We rather have less but good. My husband didn't like his egg whites, they were very dry. Also, the place wasn't very clean. When I looked up, the ceiling fan was very dirty and I was afraid it was going to fall in my food.

I've been going to Café Luka for many years during work lunch hours mostly in the past, but more recently when visiting NYC with family on occasional weekends. It has a very full menu and excellent service. The two owners get to know the regular customers and are honestly friendly and appreciative. Salads and omelets are much better than what many restaurants of this type offer. I'll keep going in the future.

This restaurant is in an area teeming with restaurants because of its closeness to medical centers on the east side of Manhattan. We had dinner. The food was excellent, service acceptable and prices low for Manhattan. I had the chicken meat loaf served with a tomato sauce. I never used the sauce because the meat loaf itself was tasty. Worth a visit.

We live around the block but hadn't visited in a long time- since before their move to a clean, modern renovated space on the same block. My husband had ham and eggs and I had the eggs Florentine and a mimosa which was huge. I like the fact that you can butter your own toast with real butter. Food was good. Expensive but rent in the neighborhood isn't cheap.

We live around the block but hadn't visited in a long time- since before their move to clean, modern renovated space on the same block. My husband had ham and eggs and I had the eggs Florentine and a mimosa which was huge. I like the fact that you can butter your own toast with real butter. Food was good. Expensive but rent in the neighborhood isn't cheap.

Perfect place for a brunch! Fresh food, cooked perfectly. Fast service and really friendly atmosphere. Every day I try to find a way to eat something. I love everything from burgers to salads, from eggs to desserts! I recommend to all those who want a place to eat fresh food and it is also convenient at lunch break because they are very fast.

The Upper East Side is lucky to have a restaurant like Cafe Luka. They have great food, a modern, cheery atmosphere and a wonderful staff managed by Felipe. Cafe Luka has a large menu and serves breakfast, lunch and dinner at all hours. Go and enjoy the food and service!

Diner food with a southern euro slant. Good size portions and timely service.

Great spot right near all the hospitals. We were at HSS for surgery on our son and needed a nice, clean and gastronomically safe place to eat a quick bite and rest just a bit while he was in surgery. We did not want to go far from the hospital either. The hospital cafeteria was crowded with no seats and I was not interested in cafeteria style chicken parmigiana! We asked a hospital employee and she recommended Café Luka. Great great recommendation. Clean, warm atmosphere with a very helpful staff. The owner actually sat us down and the staff took over from there. Polite, warm and quick-just what you would want and expect from a diner! My husband ate breakfast food which was delicious and served hot. I ate a nice bowl of matzo ball soup. We are local from NY and it was all very tasty. Since we were in the city for 12 hrs, we needed another quick bite while we waited for his prescription to be filled at the local Duane Reade(which by the way was also very accommodating and quick)! We walked around a bit but we ended up right back at Café Luka. When you have over an hour ride home, you just want food that sits well in your stomach! Café Luka at night was quiet but just as warm and welcoming. We both had burgers and fries and a plate of fresh fruit which were all really tasty. The soft playing 70's music was also a nice treat. Café Luka is highly recommended for a quick rest stop and a nice warm meal!

This place has excellent food, fast and courteous service, huge Mimosas, and it's just plain fun! You will not leave hungry, and it's one of the few places where we sit down on Sunday and just don't want to leave! Great place and we will be back!

Outrageously expensive for what it is: an ordinary diner. $17.00 for a chicken salad wrap that comes with nothing on the side and has no seasoning? $3.00 for a cup of coffee? The only reason this place stays in business is it's proximity to NY Cornell/MSK hospitals. New York diners need to stop charging restaurant prices. Will not return.

We have eaten here four times with very uneven foods. Today was a good example. My companion's toasted cheese was cooked to perfection, but the cheese was a combination of at least three cheeses, only one of which melted properly and which together had a slight petroleum taste. My lentil soup was perfect -- a few carrots and onions, but perfectly cooked small green lentils in a mild seasoning. My veggie burger was barely edible -- hard rice with some fairly good ground vegetable filler and on an excellent soft roll. It came with roasted vegetables which may have been roasted but were also steamed into total mush -- absolutely no taste. Finally, the lettuce leaf had a two square inch black rotten section -- although the rest looked ok. May be fine for dishes they prepare well -- I had perfectly prepared eggs three or four months ago -- but not worth taking a chance for us -- there are just too many good diners in the Upper East Side.

Since I moved from the area cafe Luka is probably the only business in the area I miss. John and Marc(bros) and their staff were always fun to see. Needless to say,I was back in the city and much to my surprise Cafe Luka didn't look like the place I remembered. It was renovated and moved a little to the left,like 5 feet. Food was and still is the best deal around. Spacious,hip and clean. Only problem is....now I'm back in Florida and they up still on 1st Avenue. Check it out...amazing variety on the menu!!!!

This gem is a hearty, warm, affordable diner on the upper east side. The menu is a staple of the popular foods in new york with specials each day. The cheg and cobb salads are wonderful ss are the steaks and soups. The staff are all very friendly and dont hesitate to refill drinks without you needing to ask. Service is fast! The value is excellent. Well worth a visit.

This is a typical friendly neighborhood coffee shop, not. It's all that but more. Down home good basic breakfast fare is there, but with an upscale, cozy cafe flair. Carol Colitti Levine The Side Trek

With my wife recovering from surgery at a local hospital, I was given a discount card to use at a local restaurant. While walking in the neighbodhood checking out the restaurants named on the card, someone from the Cafe Luka saw the discount card and approached me and asked how things were going with regards to the hospital visit. He told me I was welcome to sit at one of the booths with no obligation to purchase anything - just to take my time to sort out what I wanted to do. I came back later for dinner and continued my conversation with what turned out to be one of the owners. Long story short, the food was great and the wait staff was quick and attentive. I would recommend Cafe Luka to anyone looking for a good meal while in the area.

Only a block or so from NY-Presbyterian Guest Facility where we were staying. Our breakfast was basic but very good. I joked with our waiter that one menu item said, “Bacon, Sausage, AND Ham,” which he admitted was wrong, the “and” should have been “or.” When my breakfast came I did receive all three anyway, which was not the aim of my comment, but which was a very nice touch on his part. Too often these days restaurants charge individually for every item on the menu, even for breakfast; so it’s heartening for me to get a reasonably priced meal with generous servings, no cutting corners on the quantity, with fresh squeezed orange juice and coffee included. The staff is friendly and attentive. I’d go again.