Cafe Triskell

I stumbled upon this place on Unilocal looking for a brunch spot. This became one of my favorite spots in Astoria. Everything that I’ve tried from here is just outstanding. I cannot get enough of the Croque Madame. The French onion soup is on point. I tried my girlfriend’s house specialty homemade French toast which was incredible. Small place. Gets very busy but worth the wait.

This place is amazing.
Since our favorite French place got closed in nyc we had to find something to fulfill our taste buds needs, so since I am a proud Unilocaler I found this gem in Astoria.
From the outside it doesn’t look like much, especially because it can’t really seat more than about 20 people altogether, but it’s worth the wait and it’s worth the squeeze.
The food is AMAZING, we love everything that chef makes.
The crepes are to die for, the French toast is to die for, the croque Monsieur is amazing and they make some of the best Eggs Nordic I’ve ever tasted.
I also have to mention their lattes, because they are absolutely delicious. And that is coming from a non coffee drinker.
Definitely highly recommend this place, most likely you will be seeing is there when you go the only bad thing is that they don’t open on mornings on the weekdays until 5pm.

I’ve given this place a few tries. I like their crepes and coffee, but the portions are really small. They don’t allow substitutions, and they don’t offer sides of bacon, sausage, or salad, even though they have them on the menu with various dishes. Is it really that hard to offer a side of bacon? Every time I eat here I’m disappointed and frustrated and still slightly hungry. The waitresses are friendly but I don’t get the impression that the chef likes to accommodate his guests.

So we just moved back to NYC and had to hit up our favorite French place. Dude to the bad day I had, the only thing that could set it right is amazing French food with friends. We had French onion soup and 3 specials, I got a beef stew that was to die for and my girlfriend had the salon with mash potatoes that had a hint of truffle oil in them. Hmmm how I love truffle oil, I can’t wait to go back for brunch. To me this is a jewel with heavenly food.

my experience seems to be the opposite from most of the people here.
the waitress is pretty friendly
but the food, is just ok
food portion is TINY. if it’s exquisite/​delicate/​creative, I can understand there’s a point to be this way, but homestyle and tiny? I really don’t get it.
(feels like homestyle food trying to make fancy presentation)
Chicken & Lamb Bisteya, I can see why some people like it, the pastry/​dough is good, friable and crunchy, but the minced meat with herb/​spices is dry and the flavor is just straightforward. the frisée salad on top with vinaigrette sauce, so very basic and doesn’t do anything either.
Poached pear, homemade chocolate sauce, toasted almonds & whipped cream crêpe.
again, it’s so straightforward that I can achieve the same level myself at home. don’t like the homemade chocolate sauce at all (probably because I don’t like chocolate very much, even those famous chocolatiers e.g. Jean-​Paul Hévin in Paris doesn’t do much for me)
sorry to say that both of the crêpe places in soho (one french one japanese) are much better than this.

The food is undoubtedly not bad, but the attitude …*sigh*. Let’s begin.
Food: it is undeniable that the food here is phenomenal. I had the French Toast brunch and the other people in my party ordered the beautiful corned beef with potatoes. Everything tasted great, but for $ 20 a pop, it’s quite expensive. Our dessert, banana nutella crêpe, was tiny, but quite tasty. The coffee was normal — I expected something much better to complement my $ 20 meal.
Service: we walked in at around 11:07 a.m., and there was a Japanese-​American customer who was seated at a table waiting for her other guest. Inexplicably, we were told that we had to wait outside before we could be seated. 2 out of 3 were present, though! The place was also empty except for that woman. After we were seated, another woman came in and asked for a table for four, but nobody from her party had shown up yet. This customer was told to be seated at one of the outdoor tables to wait for the rest of her party. I have a feeling that the serve discriminated against me for being a larger male. Hey, fat people matter, too!
The server excelled in other areas, however — my coffee cup was constantly being refilled and I was never short on water.
Décor: small space, not much to see here.
«Cash only,» in addition to the issues described above, makes this café too pretentious for me.
I recommend Café Henri for a better experience.

My husband and I frequent this place at least once per month. We came in this morning to order our usual french toast which costs $ 11.00 with coffee or mimosa included… they raised the price to 20.00. Why? What warrants such a drastic increase in price? We left! Who pays 20.00 for french toast? Café Triskell you just lost a customer…

First impression: atrocious service. The middle aged female waiter was flat out rude, I should not have come in with an empty cup of coffee from elsewhere but calling my girlfriend and I children with sippy cups and pouring our coffee into their own glasses is simply shockingly rude service. The only thing more bothersome might be the marble-​sized fly buzzing around our table. I came very close to cancelling the order and walking out. I’ll just ignore the miserable waitress and Buzz (yes I named the fly).
Surprising development: I couldn’t ignore the fly. I asked the waitress if we could switch tables, but she ignored that part and tried to catch the fly. With her hand. She failed. Buzz will be dining with us.
We ordered the French onion soup, and the brioche French toast. The soup is good, would have been great if it was hot instead of Luke warm. The French toast was terrific. As good as it was I will not be coming back.
Summary:
Service: 0 stars
Food: 4 stars
Overall: 2 stars since I will never be able to bring myself back here after that atrocious service.

I agree with the others — the waiter at Café Triskell is not very nice, he seems annoyed whenever you ask questions. I have been to this place twice, the second time I went was because it had been a while and I expected the place to have improved — not so. The second time I went to Café Triskell it was practically empty, just me and some friends of the owner sitting at the stools by the kitchen, oh and the angry waiter.
1. Worst thing of all — ventilation — I had to wash my clothes when I left this place and you will too.
2. Service — the waiter handed me the menu with prices. This menu is just a peace of white copy paper inside of a plastic sleeve. To change the menu you go on a computer, fix the prices and just print, simple as that. However every price on their menu is wrong, steak and fries says $ 25 but the waiter tells you it’s $ 30. Every item except for the soup and crepes has the wrong price, wrong meaning you have to pay more, never will they tell you it’s cheaper. You would think they would correct the menu since there is nothing else to do there. After all, the place is not packed and it costs $.03 cents for a piece of paper.
3. Food is okay but very very expensive, especially the tough steak and overly fried fries.
My advice, make sure you double check the prices to every item you order and bring a fan to help with the ventilation. Other than that enjoy your French Meal.

Saw the pictures of food on Unilocal and was really looking forward to the taste.
The French onion soup is worth trying, but the cheese on top is a lil over cooked.
The beef hash is good, but I hope there could be some butter on the side.
The service, uh, that’s why I give a 3 star, you know it when you try it.

Got in right before the brunch rush.
Loved the French onion soup
Ordered the escargot
French toast
Chicken and Lamb Bisteya

5 stars for the Lemon & Sugar Crêpe, 2 stars for the service.
I’ve been here multiple times and the service has always been very unfriendly. The older waiter is not a pleasant person. I’m honestly scared to ask him a question because I think he would kick me out if I did.
But really, if you make a special request, the owner AND the waiter will both kick you out.
Also, every single time I visit this café, the owner has this scary stern look on his face. I mean would it hurt to crack a smile every once in a while? Sheesh.
The crepes are delicious but I’d rather not have to deal with their major attitudes.
Bye Felicia.

The French onion soup was a hit and the pear crêpe with chocolate sauce and almonds was delicious. Service was friendly, speedy (enough for a Saturday) and accommodating. I’m a fan! I shall return.
Tip: if you read enough reviews you shall learn they are a cash only business. Bring greenbacks!

Super cute French décor with some great artwork on the walls that you can apparently purchase!
Their quiche of the day comes as one long strip and it was fresh, warm, and delicious. Their croque monsieur is also a hit.
Nice neighborhood spot for those looking for a delectable weekend brunch.

Cute little joint in the neighborhood. We walked in for brunch on a sat Cus one of our friends really likes French food and decided to try this out with their great reviews. Food were real great and our waitresses were friendly and attentive. We had a great time here. We came hungry so for the 3 of us we got 5 dishes to share. I must rave about their beef hash. So fresh and not your typical one that u get anywhere else. All their crêpe dishes seems very well made too. Thin and crispy just the way it should be. We got a savory ham and cheese one + a banana Nutella and whipped cream one as our dessert. No disappointment at all!
So overall we got the following
French Onion soup –must get! Super yum
Croque Madame (the toast with butter and ham + cheese + egg) one of my fave French dish!
Main course we got
The savory ham and cheese crêpe (it was huge)
Some lamb and chicken wrap dish (cool presentation)
My fave the beef hash that came with greens. Yummmmmmy!
Only thing is. cash only guys! So come prepared

Oh, Café Triskell, where have you been all my life?
This is quickly become our favorite brunch spot in Astoria– cozy and homey with amazing French fare. It helps that we love the staff too.
The highlight for us is always the Skewered Brioche French Toast– homemade brioche lightly battered and cooked to perfection, dusted with sugar and served with berry compote, maple syrup, and a choice of Maplewood bacon or sausage. For $ 11 with a coffee or tea, this is easily one of our favorites. The brioche is crunchy on the outside but soft and fluffy on the inside. You can eat the whole dish without the sauces and still enjoy it just as much– the homemade brioche really does magic.
The Chicken & Lamb Bisteya is my second favorite– Shredded chicken & lamb with spices & almonds wrapped in phyllo dough, served with baby arugula salad. The dough is crispy but chewy, the perfect combination for the crust and the meat is very well spiced and delicious. As someone who doesn’t eat that much meat for breakfast/​lunch, this is one of my favorites even though it’s heavy on the meat. The serving size is perfect to just be satiated and not over-​eat.
The brunch drink selection is limited but very reasonable at $ 5.
The dessert crepes are exactly as I remember from France– paper thin and both crisp and chewy. The sweet filling was spread thin– exactly how we like it, as any more and it would have been overwhelming. The perfect light dessert to end any meal!

Came here for brunch today with a friend who lives in Astoria. Such a cozy place with kind and attentive servers and an authentic french feel. The owner is from a small town in France and is also the chef. We sat outside since it was a nice day.
We had the french toast and the quiche and both were fantastic. Highly recommend.

Bf and I were craving French, and Café Triskell was the perfect solution. This small restaurant definitely had a European feel and probably seats 20 people max. Luckily for us, there was no wait on a Saturday around 1:30PM! Prices were very fair, about $ 10 – 15 for an entrée. They could easily charge more, but I’m happy they don’t!
The famous French onion soup was a nice mix of sweet and salty. The cheese was nicely baked and tasted slightly burnt; I wished there was more. I’m not sure if this is the best French onion soup I’ve ever had, but it’s definitely one of the better ones.
Escargot was very tender yet had a nice bite. It was very flavorful, not overwhelmingly buttery, but some pieces were saltier than others.
The Croque Madame was a very simple ham, egg, and cheese sandwich but done perfectly. The bread could have been soggy with all the cheese, but it wasn’t.
And finally, the goat cheese vegetable crêpe was humongous and had so much delicious goat cheese! I love goat cheese. Yum.
I fell in love with this place after 1 visit, and I wish I lived closer so I can come here every week! Can’t wait to come back and try the rest of the menu.

Chez Philippe, les crepes sont meilleures qu’en Bretagne… used to spend my summer in Trebeurden on the Cote de Granit Rose et la quand tu fermes les yeux tu y es :)

After a wonderful morning sipping some delicious latte at Café 1 of a Kind, my adventure took me to the other end of Queens for some awesome brunch.
Café Triskell is located in Astoria on 36^th ave, a few blocks off Broadway. If you are coming over during the weekend, get ready for some crazy traffic, especially on Broadway.
Parking: Not too horrible, I was able to find a good amount of parking here Saturday afternoon on 36^th ave, if 36^th ave is packed, try the side streets like 33^th street.
Décor and Ambiance: First impression: walked in and was fascinated by the painting that’s hung on the wall– you know the one with a giant flying pig with a Chinese rice bowl on its back. I don’t know what to think of it but it makes me feel good and I giggled a bit! The restaurant is not very big (around 18 seats and 3 at the bar in front of the kitchen) BUT it is cozy homey and warm, perfect for the winter days!
To be quite honest, I don’t think I would ever find and walk into this place if it wasn’t for Unilocal.The entrance is small, you’ll probably walk by it and never realize that this place is a restaurant.
Our group of 6 came on a cold Saturday afternoon at around 1:30pm (yea, that’s our brunch hour ha!), we were greeted by a very friendly server that told us that the wait will be around 15 – 20 mins but feel free to stay warm inside, so nice of her to do that since it was cold that day.
We waited for like 10 minutes and got seated, our waitress was super nice and gave us some good suggestions. In the end we pretty much ordered 1 of each item from their brunch menu (except the Chicken & Lamb Bisteya) and of course their signature French onion soup with aged gruyère & swiss cheese.
All food were tasty but our favorites are:
FRENCH ONION SOUP WITH AGED GRUYERE & SWISS CHEESE– There’s a reason why this was voted best onion soup in NYC Daily News 2013, it was delicious especially on a cold cold day. The cheese was perfectly melted and the soup was flavorful yet NOT SALTY (which is rare because french onion soup tends to be extremely salty for some reason but not here), the onion of course were soft and mushy just the way I like it. Just be careful with your first few bites or else you’ll end up with a burnt tongue just like me. What a perfect way to start the meal! MUST TRY!
CROQUE MONSIEUR– Who knew ham egg and swiss could be so delicious and pretty to look at? Ham and cheese sandwich topped with sunny side up egg, so simple yet delicious, I almost pass out watching that egg yolk slowly drip down only to be absorbed by that soft toast. I’m going to take a wild guess that the egg is farm fresh because you can taste the difference. Eating this is like taking a flavor and texture adventure– you get chewy ham and swiss and then a light crunch from the toast all follow by the milky, creamy egg and yolk… OMG JUST DELICIOUS!!! EAT IT WHILE ITS HOT!!! MUST TRY!
SKEWERED BRIOCHE FRENCH TOAST– It is not a completed brunch without some french toast at the party. and the french toast definitely hit the spot here! I LOVE FRENCH TOAST MADE WITH BRIOCHE! People use all different types of bread (challah, sourdough, Hawaiian Sweet Bread) but to me, my favorite has to be from brioche, love how brioche soak up all the eggy goodness like a sponge. Our french toast took a little time to prepare but in the end, when we sank our mouth into it, it was all worth it. slight crunch on the outside and moist soft eggy inside… perfectly executed, what’s not to love about it? Don’t forget to add the berry compote– it’s money! MUST TRY!
Price: Good! Brunch items ranges from $ 10– $ 13 and include a choice of coffee, tea, or a soft drink. This is really a great deal consider the quality of food they serve!
Overall: LOVE CAFE TRISKELL– Their brunch menu is superb! their prices is great and their service is excellent! totally a hidden gem in the Astoria. I will surely return to try their lunch and dinner menu. Try to get there either early or later on in the day for their brunch to avoid the crowd (brunch ends at 5pm Saturday & Sunday) and bring an empty stomach as well as CASH! (CASH ONLY!!!)

Little French café in the middle of Little Brazil.
Before heading to the movies, a friend and I wanted to grab a quick bite. We were debating between crepes and arepas, but the outdoor seating at Café Triskell helped us make our decision.
The owners (I’m assuming) were so nice and charming, making sure we felt comfortable and giving recommendations on the menu. We opted to split the escargot and we each got our own crepes to split.
The escargot was a nice start to the meal. I’ve only had it a few times, but it’s never been a poor choice. Café Triskell’s wasn’t bad, but it was less buttery than I would’ve thought. It tasted like it was cooked in olive oil more so than butter. I did however appreciate the tomato and bacon chunks throughout. The starter bread that came out made for a good pairing. The coiled ones reminded me of a crustier, more buttery croissant.
Our crepes were unfortunately a little underwhelming. While ordering, we asked our server if they could be made a meal of, to which he confirmed. It was definitely a lot smaller than I expected when it came out. My cream of spinach and chicken crêpe, while tasty, was very deflated. My friend’s goat cheese and chicken was much more full-​looking. We split each others’ crepes, and we both agreed the goat cheese was definitely better. Size aside, the goat cheese provided a much creamier, full-​body flavor than the cream of spinach. Also, the chicken was much more pronounced and you could actually taste the meat you were eating. With the cream of spinach, it was all chopped and mixed together into a mush.
This is definitely a cute little café to drop in on. The food is hit or miss, but because it’s not unreasonably priced, it’s not a bad choice to try on a lazy Saturday afternoon.