Salon de Café

Cute Quaint. Friendly.
A nice quiet place to enjoy a cup of coffee, tap away in from of your laptop, and listen to 60’s & 70’s music. All great points in my book.
Only a block away from the Museum of Moving Image in Astoria. The exterior can be deceiving to the untrained eye. Just a flat wall, a large curtained window, and a glass door, but inside you can’t help but be put at ease.
Service:
~Is very friendly. The women there seems to know all her regular customer, and they always greet her with the same joy she greets them. She is very welcoming, and we even chatted a bit about our arrivals to NY and what brought us here.
Seating:
~Has always been easy for me. I go during the weekdays before noon, and have found fellow laptop/​WIFIers around. It’s never come to a point where there isn’t a seat for someone who needs one.
Taste:
~Maybe it’s me, but I can’t find a «go-​to» good cup of coffee here. I really want to because I like going there so much! I got an iced latte and it was too watery. A Chai latte, that lack spice, and was milky. I even did a regular coffee but it seem to lack the bold flavor I’m use to. This was my reason for four and not five.
~The Turkey Sandwich; turkey, Gorgonzola, apple, Dijon mustard ($ 9), was good. Light and tasty. The bread crust was harder then I expected it to be and rather dusty (lots of flour on the top), but once I got through that, it was delightful. It wasn’t dry, like I feel some turkey sandwiches can be.
Random things I notice:
~Apparently EVERYONE goes there for the «free» WIFI… except me I guess. Yes, they were having problems that day I went, but I was told by the nice women before I had ordered.
Lucky me, I had the place to myself, as I go there to do writing, and enjoy a distraction free environment. I will continue to go there and do my best to find my drink of choice. When I find it, I’ll let you know:)

I went to the inaugural brunch at Salon de Café, it was really good! I had the stewed tomatoes with chickpeas and sausage. It was perfectly cooked and well-​proportioned. The tomatoes were nicely seasoned, the chickpeas were fresh, and the sausages were a nice compliment, I didn’t mean to each as much of them as I eventually did. From the sideboard accompanying the dishes as well as their presentation, you could tell the owners took pride in their menu. The wine list was reasonable and robust for a place if its size. Though it took slightly longer than expected for my meal to be served, you could tell that each dish is made fresh to order, The menu slants more European than a traditional American brunch, and while a side of roasted potatoes would have been nice, it felt really healthy (except for the sausage) and satisfied all afternoon. It seems like they only have an oven to cook with, without a grill or a fryer, their offerings are restricted and likely to be less greasy.
For those who loved the coffee shop, It seems that is long gone, the counter and coffee paraphernalia are long gone, replaced by dining tables. That said, the other two couples there while I was there were on laptops and I was on my tablet. it still seems like the kind of place where you could linger alone for a couple of hours over a late breakfast.
I’m often wary of recently-​opened owner-​operated restaurants, as the service can be over-​weening and uncomfortable-​applicant friendly, but the balance was perfect. Though the café was mostly empty, the waitress was attentive but not intrusive.
One note, especially if the owners are reading, the café was dead-​silent. I felt like everyone could hear every time my fork touched the skillet, and a couple having a conversation were at a whisper to avoid being heard by everyone. It would have been great to put on some classical or jazz, if only to drown out the waitress’ footsteps.
In the hour+ I was there, at least three groups walked in and walked out. I feel sorry for them, because it was a really delicious brunch. I really hope Salon de Café makes a go of it, and I’m looking forward to seeing what they offer for «diner»!

I went here for a quiet place to get some work done like many of the reviews had said. However, upon arrival on a beautiful Saturday afternoon, the place was empty and had more of a small restaurant vibe than a coffee shop. I said I just wanted to work on my computer and asked if there was Wi-​Fi and was told no.
I didn’t stay, so I can’t comment on the quality of the food or coffee. Looks like it could be a cute place for brunch or a quick snack… but definitely not the place to get work done anymore. Needless to say I was disappointed.

Came here on a Friday morning to meet a colleague at 10:15am. It’s a small spot and there was only one other couple there so there was plenty of room. Stayed an hour and ordered a vanilla latte which was about $ 4 I believe. We tried to order bagels but they said that the kitchen does not open until 11am. They had a chocolate croissant on the side wrapped in saran wrap so I took that to munch on. $ 2.75 I believe. They give you the coffee in a mug and put the croissant on a small plate. I liked that there wasn’t much foot traffic and I could speak in peace.
I plan on coming back next week with my colleague and our laptops to work on a project. Love that I found this spot!

I’ve been coming to Salon de Coffee since the first day they opened and have always thoroughly enjoyed the strong coffee, European teas, yummy pastries, kind service, and peaceful ambiance. Since today is the launch of their brunch menu, I just had to check it out! I ordered the sausage, egg, and tomato dish and was totally impressed. The dish sounded so simple, but what arrived what a personal sized skillet loaded with goodies. A hearty tomato stew lined the bottom of the pan with a layer of perfectly cooked sunny side up eggs, two beautiful red sausages, chickpeas, and fresh basil on top. The flavors were complex and rich. I was stuffed by the time I finished but I could not let a single bite go to waste.
I am kicking myself now for not taking a picture but it looked too good to wait!
Salon de Coffee just keeps evolving and impressing me more and more with every transition. I can’t wait to try the other brunch options!

This local little café is adorable. The chai latte I had was better than any I’ve tasted at Starbucks.
When the pastry selection looked sparse, the woman I assume to be the owner assured us more were on their way. When they arrived, she didn’t know what one of them was, so I tried that one. It turned out to be a delightful blueberry Danish.
The music was just loud enough to enjoy without it imposing upon your conversation. A great spot for a morning chat with a friend over some delightful drinks.

Just how I like my coffee shops.
It’s really charming inside. Little lights on the windows, off white curtains, wooden tables and benches. Not super spacious but a lot of seating since they utilize the space well. The day I came here, it was really quiet with a few people writing, on their laptops, or doing work. Free wifi if you ask for the pw, and there are a lot of outlets along the wall and a bathroom behind the curtain in the back.
The music was perfect. Usually I use my earphones and listen to my own music but they were playing classics like Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong, so it was actually conducive for working OR chatting, making the coffee shop experience enjoyable.
The (what seemed like) owner was really nice but intimidating. When giving me my change back, a dollar went into the foam of my latte and he immediately made me a new one without a word. So nice!
Prices are too steep for me to keep coming back, but the latte was good ($ 3.50). This is standard though, if not generous for NY. Other drinks went up to $ 4+.
Love it, wish it was a bit closer to me.

Ok, I’ve been to this place for a caffeinated beverage about half a dozen times. That’s fair enough to write my first review of it.
And there’s not much to say. The first few times, when they had just opened, the baristas weren’t very experienced. Their speed and poor steaming skills made that obvious. So Salon de Coffee and I took a little break. We had some space, and I came back when I felt they had matured.
After that I was pleasantly surprised. (I’m suddenly reminded of the lyrics to «Hey Jealousy»). The woman who made my cappuccino on my last visit did a solid job. (Not the same barista in the early days). She was also super friendly and nice conversation as she whipped up my drink.
I have yet to spend much time here and sit down so I can’t comment on the food, the owner or the wi-​fi. But, with a little luck and a few more good experiences, I hope to up this review another star.

I’m not from Astoria, but I’ve been here about three times when I go for Yoga Agora. I’ve been pretty happy with the experience. Salon de Coffee is super chill and I love the music selection. When you go in, it is either sparsely populated and quiet OR full of people working on laptops and still quiet! A very good place to get work done– I think people have gotten on that bandwagon, which is either a great asset or a drawback depending on what you look for in your coffee shop. Since that’s generally why I GO to a coffee shop (though it’s disappointing for me and I’m sure the owners in its own way to be in a room full of people staring at screens), I appreciate it.
So when it comes to what they actually serve… I like the coffee, though it may be a little strong. And I like the assortment of pastries though it’s small. One time I had an incredibly moist, delicious berry muffin with powdered sugar there. I was sad they didn’t have anything vegan, though the owner told me he’d had but they didn’t sell.
Like I wrote, the vibe is low-​key, and I’ve had different experiences with different people behind the counter. They have been friendly if not slightly space-​cadet-​y. The owner seems really nice and people definitely like him as he is always conversing with patrons. It seems like a place you could easily become «a regular.»

Finally a real coffee shop, the owner is extremely friendly and knowledgeable about his products. they also offer free wifi and are not in a rush to kick you out

Both my partner and I have been here many times after our first visit (since moving to the area) and I figured we should follow up. I often pop in to grab coffee in the morning and my partner swings by to do work.
Fantastic coffee, great service and the perfect café-​ambience. It’s both a place to sit and do work (free wifi!) and a great place to bring a friend to catch up over a cup of amazing coffee. I’m still loving it and I’m so glad to have it nearby!

Brilliant! There can never be enough coffee spots in the neighborhood. Or I’m just a nerdy English teacher. Probably the latter. The blues music is a plus. Finally a place where I don’t have to wear my headphones. Great old world décor. The staff seems very friendly. And the crowd here is pretty quiet. Definitely a place to come to get your read on!

My new favorite go-​to coffee shop thanks to the superstrong espresso served up, the charming owners, and the eclectic playlist (blues, jazz, Sinatra and Peggy Lee, etc.). The atmosphere is relaxed and unpretentious, which makes for a welcome contrast to the self-​satisfied vibe at Queens Kickshaw.
The lack of a fifth star isn’t due to the place so much as a few of the clientele who seem to think it’s okay to conduct long Skype sessions or cell-​phone calls in a café. It isn’t, folks – if the call is going to last for more than a couple of minutes, take it outside.

I’m so glad this place is here! The neighborhood was really lacking in a good simple coffee shop. There’s Queens Kickshaw of course, but that place is really more of a restaurant and bar, and I always feel like I’m interrupting the staff’s private ‘We’re way cooler than the rest of Astoria’-party when I go there.
The pros about Salon de Coffee:
Solid Coffee
Very nice atmosphere
Great music
Very reasonable prices
Now, the things I’d like to see them work on:
*CLEAN THE BATHROOM– Seriously, it’s been dirty every time I’ve visited. The whole place just looks grimy and in need of a deep clean. The sink in particular needs a date with some Ajax, if you can’t get the grime off, it’s time to invest in a new sink. I know this is a small point of contention, but it’s important. I’m much kore likely to stick around for a 2^nd or 3^rd coffee if I know that I won’t be skeeved out when I go to use the bathroom.
*If I’m staying, don’t serve me coffee in a paper cup. It’s wasteful and doesn’t match the vibe of the place. You don’t want to be a generic Starbucks, right?
*Offer more of a variety of baked goods.
Overall, it’s an awesome little spot to take a little break from your day, enjoy a nice coffee, and listen to some great music. I will be visiting often!

This place is really cute and the prices are pretty great. The service was good. The muffins look tasty. The iced coffee was actually some of the best I’ve had in Astoria. It’s a nice spot to visit if you’re in the neighborhood.
I had a paper to finish, but I couldn’t get the wifi to work. I didn’t stay as long as I had planned. I will definitely add this to my list of Astoria coffee spots.

Excellent neighborhood coffee shop with the trappings of a Brooklyn/​Village shop but without the pretension of fancier places. The coffee was quality and the prices were about what you’d expect (though iced coffee is inflated as at many other places). Free WiFi and there was only one person here taking advantage of it. Heaven! Good luck to them, and I will be a repeat customer.

This is a really great spot for an avenue with very little store fronts. I’m loving it!
The iced coffee was good, and the spot was super chill. There were a few people hanging out and having a cup of coffee to themselves and I sat and chatted for a while. The staff seemed a little bored, but I guess there isn’t a whole lot of foot traffic on 34^th ave.
I’m looking forward to this being a true neighborhood spot. And I know that if the shop continues to sever it up right the immediate community, including myself, would love to support a really local coffee shop.
Good luck, and I hope to come by again!

A cozy little coffee spot with very reasonable prices, with down-​to-​earth owners.
I’ve enjoyed both their hot coffee and iced black coffee. The owners take the time to make sure they get the coffee right, always double checking on whether you want the milk steamed.
I was here recently when they were having some issues with the wifi cutting in and out. They told the customers they were working on switching wifi providers, then gave out their own wifi connection and password.
I’ve seen this space go through several lives, from a travel agency to a small bodega. I hope this one sticks around. A far more pleasant alternative to Starbucks a block away.

We’re all aware of the lack of good coffee shops in this neighborhood. And worse, the most convenient ones are chains. If I don’t brew my own on days that I am most lazy and anything more that 8 blocks away is just out of question. I go to Dunkin Donuts. It’s a sad life. This is Astoria, we are food spoiled. But not coffee spoiled? It just makes no sense. That was then now Salon de Coffee is a short couple of blocks away.
I walked past Salon de Coffee a few times while it was in construction, it already looked promising then. So when it was finally open we were so excited!
They brew a pretty solid brew. Definitely one of the better brews in Astoria. The owners are very attentive and are ready to give this neighborhood the best. Mention a brew you like and discuss it with them. Maybe they’ll get it. The guy seems to be a passionate foodie. I know I went in and made it clear that I want Dough doughnuts. And I don’t mean any pressure but I was told Salon de Coffee will get those amazing goodies.
The décor is pretty cute. They have mismatched chairs and marble table tops. Nice touches that should be standard. A few people have commented on the music which I find really ridiculous. Honestly, just ask one of the staff members to change to music to suit your preference and they will do it. Good music is relative but in this coffee shop the customer is the boss.
Salon de Coffee is like a gift to the rapidly changing neighborhood that is Astoria. Take your computer, get coffee and a pastry and chat with their friendly staff.
Free Wifi and good coffee = win.

This coffee shop just opened in the last two weeks. I brought my own mug and had a cappuccino, which was very good. They’ve used the small space well — it’s nicely laid out and decorated. They play some soft background music, quiet enough not to disturb conversations or distract me from the work I brought. A good spot to sit and have a coffee, read, or get some work done (they have wifi). They have pastries too, and they’ll be offering more food as they get going.