ELK Cafe

This place is such a rip off… very expensive for what you get. Around the corner at the Fox and the Crêpe, I get an almond milk latte for 3.27. It is double that at Elk and not as good.
They also have been renting out the backyard for kids parties with loud music, so it is actually a nuisance to the neighborhood.

We stopped here twice within the same day. Early in the morning, we wanted to have breakfast but since they only have bagel, croissant type of things, we went elsewhere but since we liked the atmosphere, came back later. It is located on the south side of the Prospect Park.
The building itself is so cute. There is about 6 – 7 table, a fire place, yes a fire place! So keep in mind for winter. Andddd a garden at the back with a kid tent full of toys ! :) So families with children, perfect for you. We got a table in the garden and ordered milkshakes. They were okay. We felt home sitting there for a long time, watching kids play around.
Bathroom is clean. Across the bathroom, there is a shelf with different kind of jam jars for sale. Have a look.

Love the place very cute!!! The garden space in the back is big and they have outdoor indoor areas– I saw a lot of parents with kids so it’s great for kids too I guess.
The service was horrible!!! I ordered a Iced Chai Latte with an extra shot but Instead of Iced I got hot and when I corrected the barista I got a nasty look– I know what I ordered. Plus at the same time the customer is always right.
The other drink that I ordered was a sot– it was totally burnt and over done.
Not likely to come back based on the nasty attitude.

I love Elk, it is cozy and friendly, plus they have the most delicious hot chocolate !

I generally really like Elk, especially the nice garden space in the back, but like other reviews have mentioned, some of the people that work there are not very pleasant. Recently, seeing that they closed at 6:00 PM, we headed over there about an hour before that. When we tried to order a latte, the person behind the counter took great delight in smugly informing us that the espresso machine was closed. It was way before their closing time… if you’re a coffee shop, maybe keep the espresso machine open until you close? It’s not like a restaurant closing their espresso machine after brunch; the entire point of Elk is to serve coffees! And she was SO rude when she turned us away.
The women had also cleaned up all of the baked goods already, and it seemed like she was getting ready to put them away. She clearly just wanted to go home early, but it was extremely inappropriate behavior. If her manager had been there, I’m sure she would have been instructed to stay open until 6:00PM. We were about to spend over $ 20, so it’s even more shocking to me that the employee thought it was okay to just close up shop an hour early.
This was just one terrible experience with the employees at Elk, but in general, it has a lot less of neighborhood feel than other spots in Windsor Terrace. However, there are some really great employees here as well, and like I mentioned, I love the garden space, and I think the coffee is great!

Wonderful, cozy place with great coffee and lattes. The outdoor area is so great with the weather is nice. I will definitely be going back!

They removed my last review because I named 2 places that are better/​less expensive than elk very close by. Yes, it is possible to have Unilocal reviews removed
So here we go again…
I paid $ 10 for a plain croissant and a really bad mocha latte
I got my kids the pop tart things that cost like $ 5 and they were dry and had no filling.
They regularly run out of basic stuff. Their prepackaged salad things are gross.
The people that work there are rude, spoiled teenagers and the occasional smug Aussie gentleman. They take FOREVER to do anything!
The clientele are almost as portentous as the owners and if it wasn’t for the free kids stuff in the back, nobody would go there that I know in Windsor Terrace and that is a fact.
PEACE

It’s a welcoming place, however the prices are high plus the lattes we got were pretty bitter.

Great neighborhood spot! This is a good place to settle in and get some work done or to catch up with a friend.
Went here for the first time on a Sunday afternoon, from 3 – 5:30 pm. The indoor seating area was smaller than I expected-​a few round tables that are a little big for the space and some counter seating with stools by the window. I was still able to get a table even with it being fairly busy. I didn’t go out to the back, but it seemed like they had plenty of additional covered seating back there with heat laps. (I think this may have been a «kids area,» as many families with kids were going back there.)
Along with regular Stumptown coffee others have mentioned here, they also have decaf espresso and Harney & Sons teas, which is great. They sell a small selection of Harney & Sons teas, Stumptown coffee, a few snacks (yogurt, upscale instant oatmeal, etc.), granola, jam, and beer and Crispin cider in the back.
One final note: After reading all the «kid friendly» reviews, I was afraid I would be the only person there without a family in tow. While most of the customers who came through when I were there did have young children, many did not. From my one experience, there was a good mix of people in terms of age (kids of different ages and adults mid-​20s through 60s-​ish) and single people alone or with friends vs people with their families.

so far, so good. ELK just informed me that closing hour is now 6pm.
Sorry, I can never get there so early ((

really cute place with real coffee– stump town coffee (my FAVORITE!!). I had the ice mocha and it was perfect. There’s indoor seating as well as outdoor backyard seating. It’s quiet and quaint place. I heard there’s a children’s event there, but I must have missed it because it was pretty quiet. But there is a ton of space in the back for kids to play in if you’re a parent on a play date.
There’s also nice space inside for you to study and enjoy a sandwich if you’re looking for some downtime to do work on your laptop. Did I mention… I heard there’s wifi. But I wasn’t there long enough to explore how great the connection was or whether you need a password or anything.
Will definitely come back to check it out.

Great food, great atmosphere and décor, love the backyard and that this great location became a much friendlier spot to grab a drink than the juice peddler was. Bonus: great classes in the outdoor space as well. Kari the owner is always going above and beyond with what she does for her locations– ie, bringing community together with great food, drink, and classes/​entertainment. Also, the food and drinks are always to my liking and the staff is always receptive to anything I need or have questions about. Check it out if you haven’t yet.

I come here way too much. As a parent, it’s great because of the huge entry and kid-​friendly backyard and play area. But it’s also great when I come here by myself on my way to work for coffee and a pastry (the fancy pop tarts are really good).
The place is always clean and organized. The staff are friendly and helpful. It’s a great location right next to the park across the street from the playground.
I just wish they had more of what they already have!
Sometimes they close earlier than what is posted on the website and door, so if you’re planning on coming here around closing time, call ahead to make sure that they’re still open.

Love this café, and i will tell you why:
1.Great coffee and iced teas!
2.Awesome food selection
3.Very friendly and helpful staff
4.And of course location and huge backyard.
Good spot just to come and get a cup of coffee to go or to bring and spend time with your family and friends.

Location across from Vanderbilt playground can’t be beat. Coffee and treats are all fantastic. The fireplace is cozy in the colder months and the backyard with play shed is brilliant. A great place to let your little one play while you have a coffee chat with a friend. Or get your coffee and treats to go before hitting the swings.
I really appreciate what these guys do to give kids and their parents a needed oasis in a city that is far too often not very kid friendly. Thank you and keep at it!

Let’s all stop bitching about Elk’s «bad service» and start celebrating the fact that we have a place that serves great coffee and sandwiches amid the culinary desert that is our neighborhood. I have no doubt that things will get dicey once the Prospect Ave/​Vanderbilt/​Reeve area becomes a clone of the North Slope, but for now, Windsor Terrace should sit back, enjoy a cold brew and some of the tastiest sandwiches this side of Prospect Park. The idea to team up with Brancaccio’s was a masterstroke, and while Stumptown’s a bit overrated, it delivers the requisite kick you need.
As a parent, I’m thankful for Elk’s backyard space. The place never made sense to me as the Juice Pedlar — and frankly I’m glad that place has left the building, as the whole bike rental/​juice bar thing was a blinkered concept from the start. But Elk takes its cues from its sister joint, Lark on Church Ave., and as such it’s better equipped to handle the family influx from the neighborhood. The backyard shed, once home to a bunch of bikes and bike supplies, is now a little house filled with toys. There’s enough room for kids to run around, letting the grownups eat (mostly) in peace — though I apologize to the couple that was distracted by my son and his friend chasing each other around their table this afternoon.
Finally, Kari, two quick notes about the service and the prices. #1. $ 4 is steep for a cold brew. Please consider allowing customers that have shelled out the $ 4 to get a refill for somewhat less, instead of charging the full amount each time. #2. This afternoon, my barista was kind enough to comp me a second cup of hot coffee after we got into a conversation about music. He didn’t have to do it, but he did, and to me, any barista who programs Pandora’s «Big Star» station is worth his weight in coffee beans. Hang on to that kid.

We stopped here this morning after our early morning walk in the park. The café is tastefully decorated and the backyard is very pretty (see my photos). Likewise the servers were friendly.
Our Stumptown coffee was rich, bold and full of taste and the chocolate and almond filled croissant that we split was almost too rich! Had the price for two small coffees and a croissant been a little less ($ 9+), I’d have 5-​starred this café!

Cute café located on the edge of Prospect Park.
I got an iced americano that was excellent. They have great pastries, such as the blueberry pop-​tarts – yum! The owner was extremely nice and easy to talk to!
I loved the outdoor seating and found it to be a great place to bring kids, if you have them, since some of the outdoor spaced looked to be very kid-​oriented/​friendly.
Great spot!

Comfortable chairs, great coffee, great pastries, and great customer service!
Also, the backyard is lovely! I love coming here to do work.

Gem of a spot. Cozy atmosphere with an actual working fireplace. So looking forward to the warmer months for access to the backyard!
An array of coffees to chose from as well as pastries and desserts. My vegan chocolate chip cookie with sea salt was being dunked in my robust coffee. OOOOOhhhhhh yay!
Simple selection of sandwiches. I had the roasted eggplant and mozzarella. It certainly satisfied… fresh and tasty.