Popover Cafe

Oh no! I’m sad that Popover’s is closed… I came here while visiting NYC to meet up with friends who were brunching, and the food was delicious – just the spot for Sunday brunch while recovering from Saturday night excess.
The menu had variety and was one of those menus where you’re curious about trying everything once. I think I had one of the sandwiches – I remember it being great, and I wish I’d ordered more (except I came in late and didn’t want to keep my group waiting as I gorged on more food). The place was crowded, as befitted a good NYC dining location on a Sunday morning.
If the rumors of a new location are true, I’ll have to find this new place when it reopens, when I revisit NYC. I’ll be back… if they’ll be back.

How I heard of this place: We needed a brunch spot. After some deliberation and research, Eamon found this popluar place.
Type of cuisine: «Popover Café is the singular creation of its originator, Carol Baer. One can dine to please the appetite, mood and pocketbook. Whether you crave a luxurious prime filet mignon dinner, an imaginative vegetarian entrée, or simply a goat cheese and spinach omelette or an overstuffed Mad Russian sandwich, on any given evening, Popover’s eclectic menu will entice you. Open daily, Popover Café serves breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as weekend and holiday brunch. A children’s menu is available and a light-​bites menu is offered in the late afternoon. We offer an International selection of wines and beers.» Carol Baer shares, «The food served is what I like to eat, not necessarily this years trend. I trust my taste, and my customers respond.»
Ambiance: «How can such a homey, inviting and unpretentious restaurant be a New York Institution? All it takes are customers, from near and far, who return over and over, for nearly twenty-​eight years to enjoy the innovative comfort food and to enjoy, of course, the famous cloud-​like popovers slathered with strawberry butter.» When asked what she was going for, the owner offers, «I aimed to create a warm, welcoming, comfortable atmosphere with appealing, fresh unpretentious food. A place to return to over and over, a place the regulars would consider their own.» We make our way through the ever-​present scaffolding and construction that gives New York its look, to the Mediterranean blue frame around the windowed entryway that is the Popover Café. The large, «A» grade for sanitary establishments is plainly in sight, next to the laminated five pages of menu options in the window. Curtains of red and gold paisley print are hung at waist-​height, against the windows. Inside, a small corridor leads to the back of the room, giving minimal space for those awaiting tables. Half-​walls create separations in space between the mini-​loft booth seating area next to the coffee supplies and the tables and chairs squeezed into the nooks and crannies adjacent the windows. A white-​painted brick wall at the far end of the establishment (to the right) offers more seating, where the light is brighter and the ceilings just as high. The clinking and clanging of dishes, the hustle and bustle of staff, the happy cries of patrons enjoying their fresh, warm popovers can be heard throughout the premises, as we place our orders.
What I ordered: It was hard to make a decision, with so many options on the menu. I narrowed it down to brunch items and went from there. In my party, we had one order of the Sauteed Mushrooms, Mozzarella & Rosemary Roasted Potatoes Omelette ($ 10.95), the Fontina, Roasted Red Pepper, Fresh Spinach & Sauteed Onion Omelette ($ 10.95), each served with a popover. From the griddle, we had one order for the Coconut-​Almond Crusted French Toast ($ 11.95) served with fresh, sliced bananas and maple syrup. I couldn’t decide between two, but when one dining companion ordered the French Flopover ($ 12.95) with brie, roasted pear, diced jambon de Paris & scallions, I went with my second choice (and the highly recommended dish by our server): the Eggs Popeye ($ 15.75), a split open popover filled with creamed spinach, Norwegian smoked salmon, two fried eggs over easy and a lemon-​hollandaise sauce. A basket of three additional popovers ($ 7.75) for the table came served with strawberry butter.
What I loved: My own dish. Yum! Creamy, rich, tangy and richly prepared.
Why I loved it: While it looks like grandma’s house, the simple, unpretentious space with friendly servers and great home-​cookin’ are worth a return visit.
Cost: Average ($ 10.95 — $ 15.75 per brunch entrée)

(Review from 2012, just found in my drafts)
I would’ve given this place a higher grade for the delicious food, but the management and service were pretty bad. Our server took a very long time to deliver our food and never refilled our waters or coffees. She dropped the bill off while we were still eating. The host soon stopped by to tell us that people were waiting and we needed to clear out, despite all having unfinished beverages.
If you are in such a hurry to turn tables, why not focus on delivering food quickly rather than pushing people out the door before they can enjoy their full meal?

I’m so sad this place closed, because I only got to eat here once. It was in a pretty big space conveniently located on Amsterdam. A little diner-​esque, but well-​lit and clean. If they do reopen, I hope it’s in an equally nice spot.
I came for a solo brunch on my day off and had the Eggs Popeye — three fried eggs, smoked salmon, creamed spinach, and hollandaise all on top of a popover. It was a ton of food; I had trouble finishing it. It was a complex mix of flavors, and everything was fresh and the popover was perfectly crispy. I thought the prices were a little steep — I think my dish was $ 16 – 17 — but appropriate given the large portion.
The service was good — not great, but my waiter was friendly and attentive. I also liked that, despite the large number of families with small children there when I went, it was relatively quiet and low-​key.
I’m hoping Popover Café reopens soon, with equally delicious food. It was the best place for popovers in the city.

So sad this spot has closed — though I look forward to the new location when they have it.
Popovers are amazing — but they also get points for having so many different brunch options beyond the usual. I’ve never had a dish here I didn’t like.
Coffee refills can occasionally be spotty, and you sometimes feel like the waiters and waitresses are overworked, but overall this was a quintessential UWS brunch staple. It will be missed!

Fine diner food, but nothing to make you come here instead of Barney Greengrass next door.
As for the popovers themselves… I am willing to believe these are the finest popovers to be had in the realm, but that doesn’t mean I want them again. They’re like giant profiterole puffs without any ice cream inside.
The borscht w/​beef & cabbage was swell, I should note, but tasted so much like a tomato soup, and was tomato red instead of beet red, that I suspected they might’ve gotten confused.
Service was exceptionally friendly.

I have been to the Popover Café several times. It is a cozy little upscale diner type restaurant with friendly service and excellent popovers.
Today I went with our school’s Young Writer’s Club who are learning from their advisor, another Unilocaler, how to write Unilocal reviews (though theirs will be in the school newspaper as they are not yet old enough to Unilocal). Because their club advisor will be including their comments in her review, I will not.
I have found their popovers to be consistently served warm, crispy on the outside and soft and buttery on the inside. Speaking of buttery, the strawberry butter that accompanies the popovers is delicious!
In previous visits I have tried their omelets which were average… but hey I come here for popovers! I did try their hot chocolate for the first time today and although pricey at almost $ 5 a mug, it was hot, chocolately, smooth and delicious with just the right amount of foam at the top of the cup.
Unfortunately the café is closing after the first week in January 2014. It is a shame that after all these years like so many other small, friendly local restaurants, their lease is up and I surmise the landlord is asking an unreasonable amount of rent. Thus the Popover Café will soon follow the Curry Mahal into history courtesy of Manhattan’s ridiculous rents!

3.5 stars, sorry to skew a little downward here. I do feel badly that Popover is losing its lease! Come first week of Jan. It seems as though it’s been a mainstay in NYC for a long time. The décor and vibe of the place does make you feel like it’s your old Grandmother’s diner. While the space is big (my gf and I didn’t have to wait but we were just two– larger parties seemingly had to wait), the place needs a serious update. Regardless, service is polite and gracious and as my friend I were catching up we weren’t shooed out pronto given the busy brunch time of 12:30−2ish.
Obviously, this café is famous for the popovers– which I take to be an American version of the croissant. But, not as a good. Rather, a bit dryer on the outside with minimal chewy goodness on the inside. The famous strawberry butter was spot on regarding flavor, but I wish it was more room temp instead of cold so that it could have been more easily spread. The popovers are massive though; with the exception of a sweet item, such as the pancakes or french toast– rest assured that you are getting it with every dish.
My gf and I both got omelets. I, the interesting combo of cranberry sauce, bacon, and cheddar. It looked a little bear all by its lonesome since the popover came out first, but it was solidly done. I really liked the mix of sweet, salty, tangy flavor. My friend went with the traditional goat cheese, spinach and mushroom omelet– also looked good. Portions here are large, and prices are a tad lower for UWS brunch prices at below $ 15 ish.
Can’t say if I would return but it looks like I won’t have the chance.

This was my second time here, and despite a few mishaps overall my experience was enjoyable. Although the hostess could have used a major attitude adjustment, the service was very good. They were good about keeping my water glass filled, and when there was a less than desirable item discovered in my food (plastic covering from the food), the hostess graciously removed the item from our bill. Aside from that, the food was very good. They had a very nice drink selection as well, and I like that a lot of the things they offer are ‘seasonal’.

Sometimes when life throws you lemons, you just need to eat a Popover. We both had a really tough week, lots of situations going on in both of our lives, and when that happens, you MUST schedule a mandatory brunch session with one of your besties. I heard about Popover and their famous duh, «popovers,» — so suffice to say, we ended up there.
There was a bit of a line, ESP since it was a Sunday afternoon, but we waited about 15 minutes. They don’t have rezzies. Perhaps they should use buzztable. Anyway, we sat down and immediately ordered the popovers. They were so yummy. It comes with this strawberry butter, which reminds me of the Neiman Marcus café in SF. Amazing!!! Seriously, I could have just eaten that and been happy.
But we decided to venture out and I ordered the turkey burger (it was alright), and she had the salmon burger (better). If I go there again it’ll be for the popovers, the rest of the food, I’ve had better. The service was a little wonky too. It took forever for us to receive our food. It’s a good thing, we had so much to talk about while we both patiently waited to eat.

Decent brunch place, but nothing out of the ordinary.
Stopped by with some relatives on a Saturday morning around 9:30 AM, and it wasn’t too busy, but it filled up by the time we left around 11. In spite of that, we were never rushed during our meal, which was nice.
The food was decent. I split two orders of the potato hash and the goat cheese and spinach omelette; the former was the better of the two, but both were just decent and nothing special. The popovers were interesting but smelled better than they actually tasted; the bread isn’t particularly great. It’s not that much of a novelty, and the rest of meal was pretty average. Nothing great, but nothing terrible.

When I see «gluten free menu» in the window I usually know, this ain’t the place for me. (A side note to all you gluten people – 99% of you don’t have selaic desease and theirfore don’t need gluten free food)
But this was a good alternative to yet another diner. A bit pricer, but the offerings were not the standard fare. I had a Creole Scramble, and truly enjoyed my breakfast.
They have a barista, so those who need fancy coffee will be pleased, and there is a kids menu.
The popover, served with most plates was intersting. Their version was like a giant, more crusty crosaunt. (And it was giant – maybe as a teaser to those who have diagnosed themselves gluten allergies.
Popover is right next to Barny Greengrass on Amsterdam.

Popovers were big and fluffy. Definitely get anything with popovers here.
As for brunch itself, omlets were mediocre.

The Upper West Side is littered with brunch places that are usually full to the brim and then some before noon. Once you decide that you’re willing to fight through the crowds, you must make the decision on which of these restaurants you’d like to fight your way through to have a decent omelet. Obviously you weigh price and consult Unilocal for the quality of the food.
Look no further than Popover Café. A cute and sweet almost diner-​like café complete with lovely servers. Yes, the prices are a little high, but then again, so are most brunch places in the area and the food is worth it. My boyfriend had an omelet with craisins, cheddar and bacon while I had the «flopover», like a thin pancake or a very thick crêpe with sautéed apples, pears & currants topped with cinnamon sugar and a side dollop of sour cream and strawberries. Both were fantastic. On a side note, my boyfriend raved at the freshly squeezed orange juice. A large was $ 6 — that’s on par with the price of a beer — but he insists it was amazing.
Oh, and we had a popover. You know, because we were at Popover Café. It was a different sort of texture; it was light and also a little eggy and served with a fruity butter. It was good, not great. I’m glad I tried it, but may not order it again.
So when someone brings up the idea of breakfast or lunch on the Upper West Side, Popover Café has my vote, with the balance of price and absolutely fantastic food. And the nice service is a lovely perk in the morning.

The food at the Popover Café is actually quite good, but it wasn’t as good as I was expecting it to be, so I was a little let-​down. The portions are massive, which makes up for the prices since I had two meals, but the popovers don’t really last well. They’re best eaten straight out of the oven.
I really enjoyed the popovers and strawberry butter. It’s a great combination, and that’s actually enough to bring me back again. The popovers themselves weren’t as delicate as I expected them to be, nor as flavorful. I suppose I thought they’d taste more buttery than they did.
Our waitress was great though. Super friendly and helpful, and she recommended my sandwich to me, which was tasty, just not all that special. I hiked all the way to the Upper West Side to try popovers, so I was expecting something stupendous.

I expected to be wowed by the popovers. I mean, the name of the place is Popover Café. They are good, but nothing life-​changing. They’re a good vehicle for strawberry butter, which, by the way, was just OK. Fred’s and Good Enough to Eat have much better strawberry butter — and they don’t serve it in little disposable plastic containers.
Had the Kobe corned beef hash with eggs over easy, which sounds delicious, but it was meh. Definitely lacked flavor. Tabasco, ketchup, salt, and pepper helped a little, but I was disappointed.
The Arnold Palmer was good though. Then again, it’s hard to mess up lemonade and iced tea.
Our server didn’t check on us once and gave us the bill without asking if we needed anything else.
In a nutshell, the popovers were OK, and the other food and service left a lot to be desired.

I love this place! I’ve been going here with my family and friends for as long as I can remember.
I would recommend against going here for sunday brunch, since there’s always a line around the block and they serve their brunch menu all week long anyways. Go for dinner (you can still order eggs if you want) and there will be a very short wait.
The menu is pretty massive, and I haven’t been disappointed with anything yet, so I won’t make too many specific recommendations. As everyone’s made clear, at the very least get a popover with strawberry butter. If you can’t decide between salad dressings, the lemon vinaigrette is awesome. «Flopovers» are thick crepes made with popover batter, and they are delicious as well. For a non-​alcoholic beverage, try the mulled cranberry-​apricot punch.
I always drag friends here when we can’t decide where else to go. They’ve got something for everyone.

So the premise of the place is that you basically get a popover with all the entrees. What is a popover you may ask? It’s basically a giant dough square, which is mostly hollow on the inside and crispy and flaky on the outside. The closest thing I would compare it to is a crispier and less doughy croissant. The popover is served with strawberry butter (so good!) but I would have preferred a little more dough and a little less air.
For my entrée I had the kobe corned beef hash with scrambled eggs. It came with some grapes and an orange slice haha. The waiter told me this was his favorite dish on the menu and I can see why! It was amazing, the meat was all I dreamed it would be, fatty, tender, and so flavorful. Possibly one of the best corned beef hashes I’ve ever had (and I’ve had a lot).
There was no wait at 11:15am on Saturday when I walked in, and the service is friendly. Great brunch spot to catch up with friends!

The service was attentive but a bit too attentive for my liking. I don’t like waiters that aggressively remove plates from the table.
Went here for dinner with my family. You get a lot of food for your money, but I didn’t quite care for the food. There was a lot of it, but it was of so-​so quality. I would’ve preferred much less food of much higher quality.
I had the blackened fish tacos. They were stuffed to the gills with cabbage and mayonnaise with a big piece of fish. I couldn’t tell what kind of fish, but I did note that my fish wasn’t blackened even slightly. It was spiced, but that’s not blackened.
The borsht was good, but again, not great.
The popovers were basically overgrown soup nuts. I didn’t find them tasty. They are essentially empty calories. Slap them with butter and you may have something with buttery goodness, but they’re huge, boring, and lots of calories.
My step father had the hamburger. At first I thought his choice was a bit crazy but it turned out to be the best thing ordered on the table. The meat was quite delicious and well-​cooked.
Overall, their «shtick» are the popovers which I don’t care for. You get a lot of food, which is OK, but I didn’t particularly care for it. I didn’t particularly care for the overly attentive waitstaff. I wouldn’t say this restaurant is «Eek, methinks not», but «Meh, I’ve had better» is a good description for this place (to me – I noticed that some people love this place).

One of the downsides to living in an NYC apartment is that space is a extremely valuable commodity. As a result, the number of «things that are used to make only one type of thing» I can have is limited. I already have a madeleine pan, a petit four pan, numerous cupcake tins, mini-​springform pans, and a recently-​acquired slow-​cooker. I just got rid of my juicer. So I really have no excuse to buy a popover pan.
That just means I’ll have to get my popover fix outside of the kitchen — and what better place than Popover Café?
Yes, it’s a whole café dedicated to popovers. While I popped in (OMG! Haha. Unintentional) for Sunday brunch, they are open every day for breakfast, lunch and dinner. After perusing the menu and ordering, I was greeted with… THE POPOVER.
For the uninitiated, the popover is an eggy, fluffy pastry that «pops over» its tin while baking, thus earning its name. Popover Café serves its namesake pastry with a healthy portion of strawberry butter (AND regular butter, yum). The result is light, buttery goodness.
To go with my popover, I ordered the «Carolina Dinah Special» — grilled French ham steak with red-​eye gravy, cheddar cheese grits, two eggs any style & a popover. I’m a sucker for cheddar grits, and these didn’t disappoint — salty, tangy and gooey. The ham was hearty and the red-​eye gravy was perfect for some enthusiastic egg-​dipping.
Eating buddy ordered the hash and eggs. I’ll freely admit — my experience with hash of the corned beef variety is limited to the run-​of-​the-​mill, small-​diced potato variety. And I like it. So it took me a few bites (of my buddy’s dish) to convince myself I liked this hash. But when I did, I was convinced. It was fatty, flavorful and nicely seasoned.
Popover Café has been an institution of the UWS for decades now, and a sample of its light, fluffy pastries will explain why. If you’re ever in the area, pop on in! (Sorry, couldn’t resist).
Go for the popovers, stay for the brunch.