Cafe Gitane

All I can really say is wow. This experience honestly changed me. The spicy meatballs were mouthwatering with the hearty meat sauce, but the couscous blew me away! My friends warned me about how good it was and it exceeded expectations. I'm not even sure what was in it, but I can say that the flavors and textures that each element brought to the dish were everything I wanted for lunch. The beautiful green olive oil underneath was super high quality and had to be scooped up with every bite. The little toasts were the perfect soakers for it. Careful with the harissa because that ish is shpiiiiicy, and a little goes a long way. I can't wait to visit New York again because of Cafe Gitane.

4 stars for the charming room and wait staff
3 stars for food overall
0 stars for the ceviche

I've been here for brunch three times. Each time it was a hot day and I wanted a light meal, not anything with meat or eggs.

- On the first two occasions I ordered avocado toast. Like I said, I wasn't looking for anything complicated. It was fresh and flavorful. Did the job.

- On the third time (and definitely the last time for me), the situation was basically the same. Hot day, looking for something light on the stomach. I was literally about to order the avocado toast again when I noticed ceviche on the menu. It was tuna. Never my first choice due to being so overfished. But I really wasn't in the mood for Avocado Toast again. I was imagining ceviche with a light miso wasabi dressing served over a bed of seasoned sushi rice and watercress (that's how I would have made an Asian inspired ceviche - just saying...). I looked closer at the item description and it mentioned cold celophane noodles. I thought that could work - I wasn't being picky.

- The food comes out. There's four of us. Friends 1 & 2, "It was okay". Friend 3 ordered the meatballs. They're served in a clay tagine, I guess for presentation and effect. The waitress removed the lid in dramatic fashion. Inside were three or four meatballs comically small for the size of the tagine. At this point I'm feeling a little embarrassed for recommending this place.

- My ceviche is served. At first I thought they got the order wrong. I though it was soup. I barely had a few bites before setting it aside. It was in fact the worst dish I've ever ordered. Anywhere.

But if you want the recipe:

1. Grab one clump of cold cellophane noodles and throw into a bowl.

2. Grab one handful of ceviche chunks (any unsustainable fish variety will do); throw them in the bowl.

3. Pour half a bottle of Kikkoman high sodium soy sauce over everything.

4. Serve to your worst enemy. (After all, Revenge is a dish best served...)

Absolutely charming cafe/restaurant in Vinegar Hill that has couscous ($16) to die for. Infused with spices like turmeric and cumin interspersed with eggplant and other veggies. It came topped with hummus and a garnish of pesto. For ambiance, you have glimpses of the water on the left and cobblestone street scenery all around.

Daughter got the baked pasta ($16) which she promptly inhaled.

Amazing personable service and mellow atmosphere. Would definitely return - if anything come for the pseudo French vibes.

This place is very interesting... I fell in love with the interior and the overall vibes this place gives and everyone is either eating inside on a windy morning or sitting on the chairs outside when it's a warm sunny afternoon. I kept passing by this place and everyone always comes here and super excited to try this place as it gives an escape from the corporate feel that dumbo gives!

Disclaimer: they serve la colombe and personally not a big fan of this company so I just did not order coffee. Instead had the Moroccan tea which was literally amazing and the highlight of my experience.

I tried the baked eggs with tomato and my party had the salmon with "pomegranate glaze"
At first, this meal we had wasn't as satisfying as My standards for eggs are pretty high (jacks wife Freda for example is great) and I've never had baked eggs in my life and even though I asked for soft I guess it will never actually be real soft because it's been baked in an oven. I actually just rather get normal eggs with tomato instead. My party did not like the salmon at all since it was so bland and did not have any flavor and in particular not "pomegranate glazed" if anyone was wondering what it was about on the menu. I think the waitress/host got excited when I said baked and she said "baked pasta?" Because I think that's actually a good item on the menu. The baked eggs said "baguette" on the menu and I was hoping for a large piece of bread but I only got three thin little mediocre baguette slices. I really wish they put 3 little slices of bread instead of baguette on the menu so it could prep me for whatever I am about to receive.

Every single table had the Moroccan Cous cous on it and a whole Korean family came in and ordered it for the entire table- French people were inside with plates of cous cous and at this point I felt bizarre I did not order this cous cous that everyone had. I had to come back.

I came back and had some wine this time and the wine was a little funky- not gonna lie but we were promised "somewhat sparkling" rose but the rose was not sparkling at all. The Boudreaux was a pretty crazy tasting wine but was not bad and my cab sauv was ok. Maybe I should've stick to the Stella Artois or a melon martini (maybe next time because I watch them squeeze it fresh)

I have tried the Moroccan cous cous and it was super good and I would recommend it since the flavors were amazing and this is the first time I actually like egg plant. I never order an eggplant dish but man this one tasted really good and I had no idea the eggplant was even there. The smoked trout salad was also much more satisfying as the flavors were a lot better than the salmon we received the last time.

On final note, I don't know why I have such an obsession with this place. Is it the blue espresso machine? Is it because of vinegar hill? I don't know but I can't seem to stop trying their items. The staff was very nice and let me use the laptop here and even tried to look for outlets. The food isn't amazing besides for the cous cous so I don't really know what rating to really give it because I have had a unsatisfactory experience here with their other stuff. Maybe I'll go for the baked pasta and put an extra star. I would just say please just check it out yourself to figure out what to give it. It seems like there are some really amazing gems on the menu and some a complete waste of money.

Lovely little gem in Vinegar Hill, Brooklyn.
Their focaccia bread with cheese and their special aioli (might not be listed the menu, but it usually comes with the salads) is seriously AMAZING. Chef in the back really knows his stuff.

Just had an outstanding lunch at Cafe Gitane. The food was good but the staff was the true gem - efficient, friendly, and working so hard in 100 degree heat. They were so attentive and welcoming, couldn't have had a better experience.

Outdoor Saturday dinner for two.

There was no wait and each party was spread out in a safe distance.

I ordered the Moroccan couscous with merguez sausage, which was delicious and my friend got the baked pasta, and left nothing behind. The Bordeaux was also a great complement to dinner.

Service was friendly and good! A little out of my way but if I find myself back again, I would want to try their brunch. Hoping this business survives the pandemic as it seems like a lovely neighborhood gem.

Food was great but service was bad. Sat down and after nearly seven minutes I had to call a waitress over for water and to order. A carafe of water was just dropped on table and not even poured. Appetizer and meal came out at the same time. The waitress never checked in. For time of the check, the waitress never even showed me check and just swiped card. Very gen Z / lack of understanding of what service means. All other tables were lacking water and had to ask for items- very little attention to detail.

The first time I went here before the pandemic, the girl who brought me along with her to try this place - we were just getting started. Needless to say, covid hit not only NY - but the world, and returning here after, was a little slice of the "old world." Though this cafe/restaurant is far from me, it is a short jaunt for the girl I went with. Remember we shared the morroccan couscous with hummus and organic chicken, and the veggie burger. Both were five star, go for the food.


There's also a record player when you walk in to the left. With a fantastic collection of albums.

Relatively good food, reasonably priced, and very comfortable place. I really liked the very European decoration. We had the spicy meatballs in tomato sauce (very good) with white rice (tasteless) and the hummus and tzatziki with pita (not very good, barely any hummus and lots of spicy tzatziki on top, so it was very disappointing). I would recommend if you want a nice place to hang out with friends, but I would not recommend for foodies