Edgar’s Cafe

Nice décor. Poor lighting. Staff was timely though quiet. The dessert we had looked amazing but were quite dry. It might have been the time of day or the fact that it was a Sunday, but it was less than stellar. I will return to try some of their desserts another time with hopefully better results.

I will miss the décor here and its proximity to the job.

lovely place, very rustic european charm. great cozy coffee shop to catch up with old friends. have a first date, or just sit and read in the corner on a cold night. *cash only! the chairs are these cast iron courtyard chairs, marble glossed tables, the high ceiling almost looks like it’s wallpaper is fading, and the various furniture (the random dresser in the bathroom) all have that distressed/​stripped look. this place has a lot of character that is different from many places in nyc. it’s almost as if you stepped back in time. and the edgar allan poe theme gives it even more mysterious charm.
the coffee was very bold and rich. i had the viennese and the tiramisu which was pretty good. although the viennese was a bit too sweet for me to fully enjoy he tiramisu. it’s very spacious and the noise level is a calm one… just little bits of conversation floating around the softly lit room… ahh, i luv places like these!

Why?
WHY?
This was fav dessert place in the UWS. Hands down.
Much less crowded and pretentious than Café’ Lalo, with the same quality (if not more) of desserts. I loved the atmosphere and the relaxed vibe. The service was friendly and never rushed.
Also, a great date place.
Very sad you guys closed.

I’ve been to Edgar’s many times in the past few months. I really want to love this place but in the end, it’s really just average.
The atmosphere is great. It remind me of countless cafes I saw in my trips to Europe and it’s different from most places in the UWS, in that it has a bit of character and authenticity to it. The service is pretty good too.
They have a menu full of things like sandwiches, soups, snacks, etc. They also have a great selection of cakes and pastries. Step up to the display case and let the drooling commence.
Now, on the not so good side, their coffee is consistently a let down… and it’s really expensive to boot. During my last visit, I got a double espresso and they charged me $ 6 which was a lot since I seemed to be drinking liquefied truck tires. Also, any time I get a meal here, breakfast, sandwich, what have you, I am always let down by the quality. Not that it’s terrible, it’s just mediocre and uninspiring.
Finally, the cash only policy really is a pain in the ass. It’s mind boggling that places don’t take credit cards in this day and age for whatever reason. Get it in gear guys.

Cash only establishment.
I came here on a Saturday evening with my hubby for an after dinner dessert. It was a cute spot that was very quiet and dimly lit. I ordered the tiramisu and it was absolutely delightful. It was sweet, creamy and light! Just delicious!!! My husband had the cognac pumpkin cheesecake and he said that was good as well, but it was a very small slice.
We paid $ 16 for 2 desserts and a cappuccino, so I guess it could be a little pricey, but I think that it’s worth it. It would be a great date spot!

The reviewer below me says this place gets 5 stars because of its apple pie, well I also give it 5 STARS because of its TIRAMISU. lol.
I absolutely adore this place. Have been here a few times for the past 3 years since I knew about it, with different people. Their dessert is the best, especially tiramisu, they make it with enough alcohol and it’s perfectly done. Their pizza is kinda cute too.
I had great tiramisu at different places (Tiramisu is my No.1 favorite dessert, so I order it a lot), and still have to say that Edgar’s probably carries the BEST one.
The only thing is. parking is limited. Last time we couldn’t find parking on the street around late dinner time and had to get take-​out. I’d like to eat in because the atmosphere is great too. Mid-​day or early afternoon is better for parking.

This is a cute little café that makes me feel like I’m in Old World Europe. The two waitresses who served us just happened to have some sort of European accent as well. And like Europe 100 years ago, it is a cash only establishment.
But the reason why this establishment gets the the holy grail FIVE STARS on Unilocal is its APPLE PIE. I forget the exact name on the menu, but its description talks about its 200 year old recipe or something like that… imagine that, 200 years of perfection. i’ve never had an apple quite like it, and i’ve had my share of apple pies from the freezer aisle of my local grocery store. We got the apple pie with vanilla ice cream– best decision of the day.
I also got a cup of expresso. i’ve had pure expresso about 2 other times in my life, so i can’ t really comment on how unique it really was. but it tasted like expresso. they presented my expresso with thinly sliced lemons. gotta give credit for little details like that.
and no blaring music= you win forever. come with a friend or s.o. and enjoy the ambiance and the conversation.

If you want stale cake then run don’t walk to Edgar’s café. The black forest cake was hard as a rock they obliged and gave us another choice. Sadly enough the chocolate raspberry cake was dry and fairly stale, as well. Of course the waitress tried to convince us that she tried it and this is how they were supposed to taste. Well, needless to say, won’t be going back to a place where they like to eat and serve stale cake. Message to owner, you’re a dessert place first and foremost take pride in your product!

A great place to stop by with friends and catchup. I primarly think of Edgar’s as a coffee and desert establishment. However, they also serve breakfast, salads and an assortment of sandwiches.
But the main reason that I return is the fact that you are able to hold a conversation here without having to scream over loud music or other patrons. Being more of a laid back type person I enjoy sitting in a relaxing space with friends and enjoy some good conversation and food. Edgar’s meets all these criteria.
Just make sure you have cash in your wallet, because they do not accept credit cards and their prices are not cheap.

I had heard good things about the tiramisu at Edgar’s Café. So I dropped by to try it. It was quite good. I typically tend to be disappointed with tiramisu at most places, because I don’t like a lot of marscapone in it. I prefer more lady fingers in the ratio. Edgar’s tirmasu meets my exacting standards by not going crazy with the marscapone.
Beware though, they’re cash only.

Edgar’s,
I still love you for somehow remaining quiet enough for me to read my book in peace or to converse with a friend without screaming over clatter and chatter, but please, pretty please, could you bring back the chocolate peanut butter mousse «bomb» and make it a mainstay? The cake with a similar name is just not the same. Also, I miss the days of unlimited coffee refills and do not enjoy the big production involved in bringing a whole new cup and saucer for each additional cup ordered.
Sincerely,
long-​time fan

Edgar’s cognac pumpkin cheesecake just got a shout-​out on «How I Met Your Mother», causing me endless amounts of happiness.

A rustic café with high ceilings and minimal décor. The menu is extensive — though a bit pricey. It’s possible to eat cheaply, including the hearty soup and snack sandwiches (though I don’t know what the size is). Our waitress was nice; I also appreciated that she knew my friend and I were in a deep conversation and didn’t come by for a while.
I would recommend getting a soup — it’s big. Bread is also served. The tea was $ 3.75 for two small cups.
Quiet opera plays in the background, which is great for the ambiance.
Next time I am definitely getting cake. Their selection sounds amazing.

We came here after dinner at Kefi. There was plenty of space but we had to convince the server we needed to adjoin another table. They are particular about the tables, so give them space to do their thing.
The décor seems quirky, but the lighting is romantic. I was not impressed though… it’s hard to mess up tea. My friends did not complain about their coffee drinks. Some of the water glasses had particles on the bottom. The berry tart I had tasted very frozen/​not fresh. A friend’s German chocolate cake was extremely stale. She sent it back. A friend’s volcano cake tasted fine. But, really, if you’re a café that showcases cakes and such, shouldn’t you make sure they are fresh?

I’ve come here several times, once with fellow Unilocaler Kathleen C. and 14 other people. The good thing was they were able to seat us. The atmosphere is cute and the waitstaff is pleasant.
I order the tiramisu and only the tiramisu here. The first time I came, I ordered it and fell in love with it. And even Kathleen would agree that the tiramisu is worth coming back here for. As for the other desserts, may be not so much. 3.5 stars.

What pain… such high expectations I had for you Sir Poe. My heart aches.
Poor service, like miserable vultures gazing into your soul, assessing the size of the tip you will leave and awaiting your departure even before your arrival. The taste of mediocrity from the first sip of our espressos and the sight of dark stains on our menus left us with no hope for you. We left not angry nor spiteful… only disenchanted and heartbroken wishing you had entranced us as you had casted your spells with others. Farewell Sir Poe, Adieu.

Oh, Edgar’s I had such high hopes for you and you dashed almost all of them. Went there last night with a friend to grab some dessert. Was seated almost immediately, but we got put in the darkest possible corner in the whole establishment. I mean, we couldn’t read our menus. It was so ridiculous that we had to pull out my Ipod touch with its handy dandy flashlight function so as to see anything.
Seeing a group leave, we immediately took their table in a much better lit area of the café. The server came and took our order pretty quickly and the desserts came out immediately afterwards, which was pretty nice. However, the water took about 1000 years to come out. Roughly. I mean, we were done with the dessert and sitting there for like 10 minutes before our waitress poured two glasses of water for us. And this is after I asked her about 3 times to do it. I mean, she looked like she was severely overworked and covering more tables than she could handle, but really?
And the last straw was the quality of the desserts. I got some raspberry dark chocolate cake which sounded delicious on paper, but ultimately was just really dry and tasted like it had been sitting out for several hours and was getting stale. My friends sorbet was better, but nothing really mindblowing. Both were totally not worth the 5.75 each that we paid for them.
So all in all, the experience was pretty disappointing, and I probably won’t ever be back.

«Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary…»
The great, but troubled genius, Edgar Allan Poe, inventor of the modern mystery, who composed such pieces of literature as the ‘Cask of Amontillado’, ‘The Tell Tale Heart’, ‘The Raven’ — once resided at the location of this Café. The artwork is a bit of an homage to the man, but it isn’t really horrifying, or scary at all — this place is extremely pleasant.
Very good coffee, the cappuccino is easily among the best. The baked goods are always delicious and fresh. My real only qualm is portion size, the price of cake, $ 5.75/slice (for a very thin slice), is a bit much. Not that I expect an entire cake for just under 6 dollars, but when on a date, its nice to be able to share a piece of cake. A slice that goes in about 4 or 5 bites, as delicious as it is — becomes a nonevent.
Otherwise, the atmosphere is wonderful. Great place to eat, think, talk, laugh — and generally have a good time. I would NOT recommend it for reading or studying as the lighting is dim, and dreary.
«Quoth the raven, ‘Nevermore’»

It doesn’t get much better for a book nerd such as myself to frequent a delicious little shop like Edgar’s on Edgar Allan Poe Street. How perfect would it have been if I was actually reading Poe, let’s say «The Raven,» the first time I stumbled across this place?
«Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December…» when I last visited. I did not stumble upon Edgar’s 3 years ago, but rather I was lead feverishly to it by my friend who had recently moved to Manhattan. «You’ll love this place,» he said. «Bring a book and we’ll have coffee.» Under the street, through the tunnels, up the block we ventured.
Some might say it’s a bit cheesy, but I love how the inside is painted to look like some old European home turned café. Heavy marble tables are saddled by wrought iron chairs; twinkle lights add some atmosphere. Hot drinks like tea and apple cider are served in personal silver tea pots, very old world as well.
Now I don’t know if Poe himself liked cheesecake, but I certainly do. The chocolate mousse cheesecake called my name, and it was the BEST dessert I’ve had in a long time. As I sat reading my novel (no poetry, I’m afraid… sorry Edgar), I enjoyed my tea and cheesecake, as well as the company of a friend.
The best way to spend an evening in Manhattan, I’d say.
I cannot attest to the other kinds of food at Edgar’s, as I’ve always visited late at night and for dessert and tea only. Next time I just may tote my Complete Poe along; I’ll have enough reading material to last me all day, so that I might sample the menu in it’s entirety while I read.