I've always been attracted to faux-North African restaurants...
Written: Apr 20 '01
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Pros: good, healthy food. great scene.
Cons: tad tiny. smoking may not be for some.
The Bottom Line: It's a semi-scene, but it's still a great place to get some light, "European" grub.
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| gentlementle's Full Review: Cafe Gitane |
...but this relationship may become un-wholesome.
Welcome to Cafe Gitane. A scene in most respects: perfectly coiffed, bourgeois girls, complete with Prada sandals, sitting across a tony table from a tall, thin lad with long, oily locks and a "vintage" Metallica t-shirt that's held together with a combination of bobby pins and hairpins. And, of course, they're sipping some foreign aperitif, waiting to share their focaccia with greek salad because they spend way too much on cigarettes and clothing.
That may be typical but it's a goooood place, let me tell ya.
Cafe Gitane is still boho enough that i can still pull off that classification. Trendily located near NoLita between a boutique and a bodega (I think), Cafe Gitane pops out at you with it's windows, cute benches, and blue awning. Inside, there's a bar/kitchen that takes up half the space and a bunch of cozily spaced tables, perfect for getting intimate with strangers' elbows. (Oh what fun!) Despite the cramped quarters though this place packs a punch in the ambiance department. With subtle mood lighting and Francophile maps strewn around the walls, you feel oddly at home and comfortable, smoking your Galoises or some other pretentious eurotrash ciggie.
And in terms of food, you won't be disappointed. The food can be classified as "light fare": like brie and green apple plates, couscous with chicken and hummous, and a variety of soups, panini-type sandwiches and little appetizers. Imagine tapas but bigger portions and not Spanish. My favorite, which I get every time I happen to go there, is the coucous. It comes in a "tower," as if someone had smushed the couscous into a bar shaker and then turned it upside down. The couscous is topped off with the creamiest daubs of hummous you've ever had. "Petaling" the couscous tower are baguette slices sprinkled with a delicious, tart green sauce. It's heaven, I have to say.
And then top it all off with one of their excellently made espresso drinks. They don't have normal coffee there so coffee lovers beware (although you can order an americano but who'd want to do that). Their cappuccinos are to die for by the way. I think they've gone to frothing school because the foam on top is oh-so-light. And the drink comes with a little apres-diner chocolate wrapped in a dog's paw design. The perfect way to top off a decently priced meal (it'll be hard to go over 14 bucks unless you order wine) at a crowded but charming atmosphere.
I recommend going here at once if you haven't already. And then you'll know what it means to have a love affair with this place.
Recommended:
Yes
Vegetarian Friendly: Yes
Best Suited For: Trendy Crowd
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Epinions.com ID:
gentlementle
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Location: nyc, ny
Reviews written: 41
Trusted by: 22 members
About Me:
shaken and stirred.
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