Café Gitane

Great place for a quick delicious meal.
Service is very friendly. We came here on a Saturday night there was a ten minute wait. Very very small inside and hot. The meals are well worth it.
The ambiance is a very 1920s French vibe. Casual and relaxed.
You must try the carrot mint orange blooms son salad. The salmon pie is amazing too!
Cash only!

The food was ok. This place is cash only and the waitress asked me if I should give her change back. She basically wanted a $ 23 tip for a $ 56 order. Shameless as hell.

I prefer this location over the other for two reasons
1)Neighborhood
2)Atmosphere
The food at both locations is great but the one at Nolita has a smaller setting and cuter ambiance. Great for a SMALL GROUP (maximum 4 people). Preferably 2 people. Great date spot. I have been here multiple times and try to order something new each time and have never been disappointed.

I came on weekday for lunch around 1pm. They serve both lunch and breakfast items all day. I get baked eggs dish. It tastes a bit too salty but not bad. It contains around 3 whole eggs. My friend gets salmon pot pie, which is a whole thing with salmon. She said the pie thing isn’t French at all. What amazed us most is the Moka. It’s sooooo cute for $ 4. It’s the perfect combination of chocolate and coffee, maybe more on the chocolate side. Very Instagram worthy. Totally recommend it.
Small store, I can see the long wait during weekends for brunch. Luckily for us no wait and cash only!

i heard this was the first place in NYC that had avocado toast. not sure if this is true, someone please confirm.
go here for the avocado toast.

This place is so cute. We stopped here the other day when we were in the neighborhood and were looking for a place for dinner with outdoor seating.
I had the veggie burger, he had the macaroni & cheese. Everything was fantastic, and the service was excellent. Our servers were really attentive and friendly. The hostess/​server that was there was so cute and stylish, which matters.
Cute little spot that is probably not great for big groups, but a perfect date spot.

The emperor has no clothes. Café Gitane is one of those places that everyone seems to love, and for the life of me I can’t figure out why. For sure, there are some good things about it. The place has a great vibe, and the wait staff is always super friendly. And if you can snag one of the tables outside, it’s a wonderful place to sit and have a drink in front of St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral. Maybe that’s why I kept giving it a chance.
But the food — it just isn’t good. I always feel like I’m eating something I could have just thrown together at home (and I’m not much of a cook). This is especially true with the appetizers, which really just seem like piles of unprepared ingredients. The entrees tend to be presented really nicely, but then you start eating and wish you gone somewhere where the kitchen hadn’t apparently run out of salt and pepper.
In short, come here for a drink or if you want to sit somewhere with a good atmosphere and aren’t particular about the food.

I’ve always heard about Café 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 starters like the avocado mix on a toast are good but not crazy. The water melon juice was 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.

sitting in a café, channeling my inner hemingway. the sun sometimes rises out here in new york city.
sitting in the shade, the temperature is immaculate, like cupertino. the sweat is just enough so you’re moist, not wet.
the smell of flowers is overpowered by the baked feta. a european tourist walks right up to it and gawks. passerbys ogle. the smell surely carries. the baked feta is salty, pops of capers, the lasting taste of olives, the lost sweetness of the tomato and of course, the feta, which overwhelmingly, yet perfectly, coats your mouth.
«that looks good…» a passerby walking her dog comments.
trophy food is the highest form of you.
i take a sip of the apertif, a campari, which smells of liquorice and tastes of cherry cough syrups. the wind caresses me lightly. the sun breaks the clouds and shines softly, bringing brightness to the afternoon.
theres little sound down here in soho. just the idle humming of cars, distant chatter on phones and the intimate conversations of others enjoying the spring afternoon over an avocado toast, chicken kebab or coffee.

Des plats variés, délicieux, parfumés et subtils. Dans les 15 $ chaque, c’est vraiment peu cher pour des plats d’une telle qualité. La serveuse était adorable et même la musique était parfaite, un must pour un bon repas abordable !

Es un lugar lindisimo con su comida deliciosa los platos son súper grandes las chicas q atienden lindas y simpáticas

Yup, this place rocks. Came here this past Wednesday night with a friend and we waited about 10 minutes to get a seat outside because NY was going through one of its heat waves randomly. It was so lovely sitting outside and we got a bottle of wine for $ 30 only (the Malbec I believe.)
We split a few things – avocado toast, hearts of palm salad, and the veggie burger (they’ll cut it in half for you if you just ask.) My personal favorite was the hearts of palm salad with the organic chicken. All the veggies/​fruit they used was super fresh but I’m also going through a big hearts of palm craze at the moment. There’s also a good amount of chicken that comes with it too and this dish overall makes for a healthy entrée for one person. Avocado toast is perfectly flavored and the veggie burger is great– the patty is homemade and is definitely filling.
After tip and tax, our bill came out to $ 90. I think this is a steal since it includes a bottle of wine as well. Happy buzzed Wednesday to me! :)

Brunch with style! and great if you want to impress a date!
Café Gitane serves as one of my top breakfast/​brunch locations given its conveniently located on my block. I’m a huge fan of their cappuccinos — plus they serve you a tiny chocolate with each cup. Some items on the menu seem a little pricey, for example the avocado toast (for $ 7.25), which happens to be delicious and the perfect mix of spices/​oil and avocado. While other items seem like a steal, for example the baked eggs and salmon (for $ 10), although recently the dish has tasted slightly bland to me, like it’s in need of hot sauce or additional spices (probably a sign that I’ve ordered it too much).
Remember: CASH ONLY.
I have yet to try their late night menu or check out their dinner options but am hoping to get a chance soon!

Came here with a couple of pals at around 2 on a Sunday — it was full, of course, which we should have expected, given the NYC brunch crowd. Luckily it wasn’t super cold out so we decided to settle down at a table outside after waiting there for a little while. We ordered mint tea to stay warm — it was delicious. My friend’s couscous with chicken was the clear winner of the afternoon. I ordered the eggplant which was also delicious, and my other friend enjoyed the meatballs (I don’t eat beef so I did not partake). Our server was a very nice gal, prompt and overall great at her job. Would definitely come back at a non-​peak hour to try everything on the menu.
PS It’s cash only.

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.

Delicious Moroccan dishes, they also have some healthy selections such as the avocado toast, also pretty good. I also enjoyed their baked eggs. Great customer service, cute environment with outdoor seating!

Went here for breakfast and the avocado toast was amazing. but I’m giving three stars because the service was semi rude and unfriendly. Also this is cash only. Good thing I had cash with me otherwise that would’ve been nice to know before eating.

Good place to grab a meal. I had the Prosciutto on baguette toast which was good. The bread was crisp and the prosciutto was good too.
It reminded me of a European café, in a good way.
The restaurant is a hole in the wall and very cozy.
Cash only.

Inconspicuously tucked among the fashionable boutiques on Mott Street, this French/​North African restaurant is adaptable for any meal or occasion. It’s open the same hours every day. Isn’t consistency nice? Café Gitane serves its full menu from breakfast to midnight which comes in handy when you want all-​day breakfast. But McDonald’s this place is not. The specialty here is the Moroccan couscous. There’s so much that goes into it that I prefer the dish without the sausage or chicken add-​ons. And while you can order it for breakfast at 9am, I overheard the waitstaff scoffing at the idea during some late night small talk. The baguette egg sandwich never disappoints and the avocado toast (an overrated dish to begin with), while small in portion, is irresistibly flavorful.
Really, there’s not too much to complain. Cash only? Use Venmo. Long wait times? Welcome to New York. Indifferent service? Gitane means gypsy in French.

So sweet this place is and like a quick trip to Marrakesh for sure. Make time to slow down and be adventurous in ordering because only in Morocco have I ever seen some of these options as the overlay of cultures mixes in French influences of North African eats.
Cash only and fills fast on weekends so plan accordingly.

This place only accepts cash.
The waitress seemed like she was in a bad mood. She was really rude to us.
Hot Chocolate– I was looking forward to this because of the signature paw print design. Although it looked adorable, it was extremely bland and bitter. ($ 4)
Moroccan Couscous– This dish contained potatoes, eggplant, red peppers, pine nuts, raisins, hummus, and Merguez sausages. One would assume that the use of all those ingredients would create a flavorful dish, but it was dull and had an unsettling taste. ($ 17)

Terrible experience.
Our server seemed like she was in a bad mood. She was really rude to us throughout our whole visit.
Hot Chocolate– I was looking forward to this because of the signature paw print design. Although it looked adorable, it was extremely bland and bitter. ($ 4)
Moroccan Couscous– This dish contained potatoes, eggplant, red peppers, pine nuts, raisins, hummus, and Merguez sausages. One would assume that the use of all those ingredients would create a flavorful dish, but it was dull and had an unsettling taste. ($ 17)
This place only accepts cash.

This is the second time for us here. The food is generously proportioned and very flavorful. We had the bruschetta for an appetizer which was a meal in itself. We shared the pasta dish and couscous. Thanks to Lindsay for making us feel right at home. You’re awesome!!!

Outré son lot de petites boutiques branchées et de galleries d’art, SoHo regorge de cafés et de restos sympas… On peut donc rapidement né plus savoir où donner de la tête lorsqu’arrive la pause déjeuner…
Si vous en avez un peu marre des burgers (déjà ?) ou des tacos, le Café Gitane est une bonne option. Atmosphère bohème, déco colorée, vieille caisse enregistreuse, ça commence bien…
La proposition culinaire varie entre oriental, new american et français, et satisfera tant ceux qui ont envie d’exotisme et de légèreté (salades, couscous, tartines…) que ceux qui ont envie de se remplir le ventre avec un plat réconfortant comme un bon hachis parmetier (si si je vous jure !). C’est toujours bon et non, on né se retrouve pas en France en poussant la porte mais on est bien à NY, dans un de ces établissements qui allient coolitude nonchalante et mariage des influences.
S’il vous reste de la place après votre agréable lunch, Little Cupcakes est quasi en face… just saying…

Located in the fashionable district of Soho, Café Gitane offers a large variety of Instragram-​worthy food. Their avocado toasts are legendary, but I prefer those dishes with Middle Eastern-​flavours. Gitane is a good mix between American, French and Arabic — which turns out to be pretty great.
I find their avocado toast pretty boring and not worth the hype — however the price at $ 7 is pretty valuable though.
My favorite item on the menu is — without doubt — the Moroccan couscous. A tower of warm couscous filled with aubergines, potatoes, and topped with hummus. This is great.
Ok, so the place itself is nice — but small. It adds to the coziness yet provide limited kitchen space. Waiters are friendly, but the atmosphere seems a little stressed.
I like Café Gitane at Mott St, but I do prefer the one located inside The Jane Hotel. With that said, I will return for that magic couscous anytime.

A SOHO institution for the cultural literati. Come for the exquisite focaccia with aioli.
Proper coffee and a couscous that reminds you why the French do food better than most.

This is my favorite café in New York. Tucked into a small recess in Nolita is a little piece of French-​Moroccan heaven. I’m surprised it’s taken me so long to write about the place when I’m here so often in my east coast travels and it’s the first place I take friends new to the area. Mind you, this is a popular spot for New Yorkers so expect a wait if you want to sit and eat. If you’re willing to visit after the lunch rush, it’s a sweet spot for a drink and a light meal.
I usually make my own avocado toast at home so I’m usually eating what else is offered, like the chicken satay, couscous, or orange blossom waffles. What you really want to visit Gitane for are the drinks. The watermelon and cucumber juices are perfect for summer if the New York heat is getting to you. My favorite, after years of patronage, will always be their café mochas. Sweet and simple, with a cocoa powder paw print stenciled on top.
I’ve brought some of my favorite people to Gitane because it’s the perfect spot for an intimate conversation with some of the best food in New York. Bring cash, go after the rush, and you’ll have the best little rest in the city that never sleeps. I can’t wait for my next visit.

Came here at noon on a Friday, had to wait about 10 minutes to be seated for a party of three. The host was super attentive — kept us updated on the ETA, which we appreciated.
Food:
1. Chicken Satay: liked it enough, it came with a side of rice and some veggies. Cooked well but was a bit spicier than expected.
2. Salmon pot pie: would recommend. It’s a delicious savory pie crust with spinach and salmon filling. I think there was a good chunk of salmon that was cooked well. Spinach could be cut up a little more, it was hard to separate the spinach into bite sizes in my mind (i had to use a knife to cut the spinach??). Rosemary was a great touch. One downside was there was sauce on the edges of the plate that i had to wipe myself.
3. Baked Eggs + side of merguez sausages: overall the dish was good; the sausages were amazing. The egg could have been more runny though.
Interior: small french place with cheap looking tables and chairs. I think they do need to do a thorough cleaning of the entire place sometime.
Come here for the food, not décor/​atmosphere.

This place is always packed, and I can definitely see why. In all honesty, the Avocado Toast that everyone raves about was just mediocre. I know I’m going to get a lot of heat for writing this, but I feel like I can make this at home and not pay a ridiculous price for a piece of toast.
I’m giving this place four stars for several reasons: an excellent server (I sat solo at the counter both times I visited), and the fast service. The food was worth 3 stars (I ordered the baked eggs with Avocado my first time and a chicken sandwich my second visit). Décor is cute, typical cute spot to have brunch.

Perhaps I didn’t order the appropriate food item in my Orange-​Blossom Waffle Brunch choice to fully appreciate this French Café. I found everything to be average, perhaps even mediocre. I was given tea with milk on the side, but no offer for lemon or honey. As a weekend morning stop, it’s probably much better to simply order a latte or cappuccino and pastry, but in my attempt to create a breakfast out of it, the waffle lacked any hints of orange-​blossom, though I did appreciate the fresh fruit and real maple syrup. The service was sufficient, but not splendid and perhaps it was the awkward flirting between employees that created a weird environment in the room, like watching a bad romantic comedy. I may give it another try for a proper pastry and coffee — but my first experience left me a bit disappointed.

Great place for Moroccan food. This people thought the menu very well. Creative dishes, out of the box plates and everything is delicious, specially their ceviche, the lentil and kale salad and the hummus cous cous.
Light dishes so you get satisfied but not overwhelmed. T
he décor is just perfect. I love how they set their restaurants (the one in the west village is even better). I really like when you feel you are not eating in New York. Cozy place.

Avocado toast is hard to find in NYC, and every blog and website listed Café Gitante as one of the places. So, my boyfriend and I went. We make avocado toast ALL THE TIME and have been for 5+ years. Let me tell you this.
The avocado toast here was nothing special. It was drowning in olive oil, quite literally. DO NOT GO HERE, do yourself a favor. They get enough business, but you can save yourself a lot of money by just making avo toast at home.
Not to mention, the music was blasting so loudly I could barely hear. And we ended up being here for almost 1.5 hours because no one was waiting on us, although there was barely anyone else in the restaurant. Thanks Café Gitante… but that’s the last time for me.

I recently came to Café Gitane for brunch. It’s been on my brunch to do list for awhile. And I was awake at 9:30 am which in the East Village is equivalent of 5am. Nobody is around and places are not even open. Café Gitane is normally packed and now I know why. I have no qualms about brunching by myself except I always need a counter. I do feel goofy at a table for one. But I always love a counter even if I go with 2 other people. I like that extra attention you get and the refills of coffee are always spot on. Unfortunately at Café Gitane there is no refills of coffee. But they make a mean Americano and they gave me the soy milk in the cutest little pitcher. I also a stack of tiny little Bonne Maman jam jars. Bonne Maman is my favorite. I knew I had to order the $ 5 side of toast.
I like splurging on my eats. hence my Unilocal status. This girl likes to eat and talk about it. The waiter suggested the 7 grain toast and it was the perfect suggestion for me. I loved it. And I was thinking about avocado toast but Little Collins has ruined me for other people’s avocado toast. So I went with the baked eggs. When you sit at the counter you also get to see all the food being made and spot what the popular dishes are. Baked eggs were coming out left and right. I went with the basil and tomato baked eggs. I was a little worried about it since, I like my yolk to run. I chatted it up with the chefs while my food was being made. Not to brag but «Yo hablo espanol». My baked eggs were the epitome of simplicity done right. There were no flavors competing but a harmonious breakfast bites. And I got to dip my toast right into the runny yolks. It made me happy to have a brunch to do list.
Towards the end of my meal, I started to panic. I was like… wait a minute. is this place CASH ONLY. And when I asked for my tab it was indeed. I was thinking to myself that I was going to have wash some dishes but the waiter was so sweet and trusting he told me the ATM was just over a block. I must have an honest face. I took out cash and gladly paid the man. I will definitely be returning.
And you get a little square of Le Belge chocolate with your coffee. Incredible!

Please believe me when I say the best thing to order here is the Moroccan couscous, preferably with Merguez sausage. Avo toast is amazing, but you can make it at home. I’ve also tasted the salmon pot pie, roasted chicken sandwich, and baked eggs in my handful of times dining here, but the couscous is by far the tastiest. And I don’t even like couscous.
Loaded with red peppers, potatoes, raisins, toasted pine nuts, and eggplant — all topped with a dollop of hummus — there is a lot going on but all the flavors work perfectly together and the super generous portion size means you can have it again for lunch tomorrow! Which is what I’m doing today. Yum!
Interior is tiny, super cute, makes you want to plan an impromptu trip to Marrakech. Came on a Saturday around 1pm and only waited about 10 minutes for two people.

Was extremely disappointed by the baked eggs that everyone seems to rave about. Two of us ordered the baked eggs with basil, tomato sauce, and cream with side of Merguez sausages and one of us got the baked eggs with smoked salmon.
The eggs were over cooked and lacked flavor. I was expecting a runny egg because thats how baked eggs always turned out at other brunch cafés. We could cleanly cut through ours like a pizza, really not the consistency you want.
The salad with endives, oranges, and avocados was so much more satisfying. It has a kick of flavor from the lemon juice and chili. The comfort and décor made up for the overall unfulfilling food experience. Will consider coming back to try the avocado toast and orange blossom waffle.

On Mott Street in Old St. Patrick’s Basilica’s window sits a little piece of International New York. the cramped quarters and the cute young waitresses keep the place hopping. Café Americana at its best, a nd a light breakfast of baked eggs, salmon, a few potatoes and capers with small pieces of sourdough bread make for a fun, light breakfast. I cannot wait to go back. NOLITA/​SOHO is one of my fave NYC neighborhoods! Even saw a few Hoyas there giving me a shout out! Hoya Saxa! Believe me the coffee is first rate!

Super café de quartier, d’évidence la cantine des gens de Soho. On peut déjeuner dehors, une cuisine simple mais bien faite, avec une touché orientale. La tartine d’avocat (un must apparemment) est bonne, mais né vaut pas la «Smoked Trout Salad» avec un verre de thé à la menthe glacée! Bref, une adresse à retenir pour un déjeuner dans le quartier.

4 étoiles car je n’ai goûté que le chocolat mais j’ai hâte de découvrir le reste de la carte.
Ce Gitane m’avait l’air plus posé et authentique que celui au Jane Hotel (je crois?), n’hésitez pas à aller en terrasse vous apprécierez davantage l’ambiance new-​yorkaise.
Le chocolat chaud, en plus d’être bon, est très beau !

Holy, holy, holy moly. Besides being one of the gosh darn cutest restaurants I have been to in New York, Café Gitane seriously delivers with incredibly intricate flavors with each and every dish. Several of my party ordered the moroccan couscous, and despite its massive portioning, we were wiping our plates to get every last bite. All other plates looked delicious; go, and order everything on the menu. That’s what I’ll be doing the next time I’m in NYC.
This place was BUSY for dinner, even on a weeknight, so I highly recommend making reservations (and then having all of your party show up on time for said reservations).

Eine unserer Lieblingslocations in New York City ist das «Café Gitane» in der Mott Street, Ecke Prince in SoHo. (Achtung: der Name ist irreführend, denn natürlich ist Rauchen verboten!)
Der Laden ist winzig klein und hat noch winzigere Tischchen und Stühlchen, bei denen man sich fragt, wie die Gedecke dort Platz finden. But somehow it goes! Ein paar wenige Plätze gibt es sogar auf dem schmalen Gehweg vor’m Haus, aber natürlich nur im Sommer.
Für optische Vergrößerung des kleinen Lokals sorgen die wandüberspannenden Spiegelflächen, auf denen die Angebote des Tages aufgepinselt sind.
Gerne sitzen wir an der Bar, erlaubt sie doch Teilnahme am regen Küchengeschehen dahinter. Es ist unheimlich beeindruckend, wie auf der winzigen Fläche hinterm Tresen ein perfekt eingespieltes Team in blau-​weiß-​gestreiften Kitteln den Betrieb am Laufen hält und mit rasend flinken, routinierten Handgriffen für frischen Orangensaft, Cappuccino oder Tramezzini sorgt, um ganz nebenbei noch den Geschirrspüler zu bestücken. Die Kaffee-​Maschine zischt und pfeift in einem Fort, die jungen Servicemädchen sind fröhlich und professionell drauf und natürlich rank und schlank — kein Wunder, bei den vielen Wegen.
Es geht betriebsam zu, aber nicht hektisch und es ist ein bisschen wie in France, wo das Geplauder der Gäste gerne von den gekachelten Wänden widerhalt und die caféduftgeschwängerte Luft erfüllt ist von den knappen Kommandos, die sich die Kellner zurufen. Dieses Feeling wird verstärkt durch das Angebot auf der Karte: très francais mit café, croissants, jus d’orange…
Kleinigkeiten wie Salat sind für ca. 7 $ zu haben, Cappuccino für 3,50, ein ganzes Marmeladenfrühstück für ca. 10 $.
Wein und Bier sind dagegen, wie so oft in den Staaten, unangenehm teuer, aber muss ja auch nicht, oder?
Ein sehr inspirierender Stopp auf einem ohnehin schon schönen Walk durch New Yorks Kopfsteinpflasterstraßen.

Just Love it
Special bravo for the couscous & the avocado toast

Bei meinem Spaziergang durch Nolita, Soho und Noho hier ein kleines Päuschen eingelegt. Es ist einer dieser Anti-​Starbucks-​Coffee-​Shops in New York, die man als Europäer sehr schnell zu schätzen lernt. Hier gibt es echten Espresso und Cappucino. Letztendlich ist es nichts Besonderes, ein Café, dass man in Paris oder Madrid an jeder Ecke erwarten würde. In New York dennoch ein Kleinod. Es duftete lecker nach den Snacks, die an mir vorbeigetragen wurden. Man scheint hier auch sehr gut essen zu können.
Das Publikum kommt aus der auf Understatement bedachten Künstlerszene, wobei man hier schon durchaus von der eher besser betuchten Riege sprechen kann.
Netter Laden in netter Neighbourhood!

Algunos lo definen como un bistró marroquí, pero yo creo que es más bien un restaurante que tiene una carta con personalidad propia. Encontrarás platos de todo tipo: pastas, ensaladas con mezclas extrañas pero buenísimas, postres tradicionales e innovadores…
Muy recomendable la «baked pasta», las ensaladas y de postre probé el «Warm Chocolate Cake with orange sugar and whipped cream, también muy rico.»
El sitio es encantador, con luz tenue y ambiente joven, totalmente alejado de las zonas turísticas. El local no es muy grande y por eso la cocina está totalmente a la vista. Es impresionante la rapidez de los dos cocineros.

Ich war vor längerer Zeit mal dort, und es hat mir sehr gut gefallen. Ideal als Pausenstop vom Shoppen. Das Publikum ist herrlich gemischt von Studenten, über Einzelgänger mit Zeitung/​Laptop bis zu verliebten Pärchen.

Un petit coin de France au coeur de New York, histoire de retrouver ses racines le temps d’une soirée! La cuisine est simple, la déco rétro, on s’y sent comme chez soi et ça fait du bien.

nettes café in nolita… guter cappucino