Fifth Avenue Cafe

Yikes.
If I was the manager of the adjoining Westin, I’d be ashamed to have to offer this to my guests as the «in hotel» breakfast and lunch spot.
I suppose if you are in a hurry and need a quick cup of so-​so coffee and/​or a day-​old pastry … this place might do the trick.
Nice concept with a cute interior and modern, clean layout… but as an eatery, it leaves a lot to be desired. Food quality is average at best, despite a nice menu with good options, preparation is haphazard, prices are disproportionate to quality, and the counter staff just seem generally befuddled (they all seem to be nice, however). Nobody here seems to know what they’re doing.
Skip it and try one of many other nearby options.

It’s a cute café. I only had a latte, which was better than Starbucks and was well priced.

You know, every time I go somewhere other then Belle Epicurean, I find myself wishing I had gone to Belle Epicurean. I’m staying out of that place though, number one because I already have more check ins than everyone else (and I live 2000 miles away) and number two because I can’t afford to buy all new pants.
So, Fifth Avenue Café was the spot of a new breakfast this morning. It’s got an odd vibe — very large store, but not a lot going on inside. I had a raspberry cream cheese croissant, which wasn’t so much a croissant as a flaky hot pocket type deal, although it was cold. Would have been way better warmed up. It did have good fruit flavor, with seeds (I love crunching seeds) and nice cream cheese. My Americano was pretty normal — not the best I’ve ever had, but it was fine. The price was right too, at just about $ 4.50 for the pastry and the coffee.
I guess, all in all, I would go back? Yeah, maybe. But there are so many better breakfast options… and there are better breakfast options — so I’m going to keep shopping around.

I asked for the vegetarian soup and got beef soup. I ate a spoonful and found what looked like meat when I went to take the next bite. I said, «Nah… stop freaking out… it’s just textured vegetable protein…» but I took it back up and asked and yup, it was beef. It REALLY grossed me out. We were going to eat breakfast here in the morning but that made decide not to take chances.
I got the correct soup and it was good. The counter people were friendly. Of course, everything is overpriced because it’s in a hotel. The same soda I bought my daughter for $ 3.50 here was only $ 1.50 across the street at Bartell’s.

I thought it was a bit ridiculous that people were raving about a chicken caesar salad, but I decided to give it a try (since the food in One Union Square where I work is so horrendous) and it’s actually really good. It’s basically the dressing – it has this savory-​sweetness to it that probably disqualifies it as a bonafide caesar salad, but is still really tasty. My complaints: 1) too expensive and 2) I want a bigger thing of dressing.

Went here for lunch today and had the always reliable «Chicken Caesar Salad» that is pre-​made. I’ve been a fan of this place for years, prices have risen over time, but I always find myself coming back to get the salad above — or — the combo soup/​sandwich/​cookie deal. May top fave is the: Trim & Tasty Sandwich with the Chicken Dumpling soup. The soup never fails! — I can’t find anything like it in other downtown lunch spots. Totally hits the spot if you are sick and are craving chicken soup! Andy the owner is always courteous and service is fast.

i’m with charleen on the chicken salad… YUM!
this is a few doors down from work so it is so convenient when i need a quick fix fast! the chicken salad sandwich is to die for and always tastes fresh no matter what day of the week or what time of day i get it.
the young ladies that work there are always in happy spirits and make the experience (even thought it’s a quick one) great!
if you’re shopping at the gap, urban outfitters, anthropologie, diesel, or banana republic and are feeling the urge for some food and/​or drink, you wanna stop here!

I just had to comment on the 5^th Avenue Café chicken salad. It is THE BEST. I could eat if for lunch five days a week. The sandwiches are good but a bit overpriced for what you get. Throw in a bag of chips, perhaps? but the chicken salad… whoa. It’s so good that I’m trying to recreate it in my own kitchen. Check it out.

The Fifth Avenue Café is as straight-​forward as it sounds: it’s on Fifth Avenue and it serves café food. It’s GOOD café food, though, so don’t knock it.
This place has the standards — italian, ham & cheese, chicken or tuna salad — as well as soups, pre-​packaged salads, and some vegetarian options. They also have croussaints, bagels, and sweets, but the bagels sell out quickly, so don’t set your heart on one like I did (today at 10am).
I like how traditional and obvious this place is: no snooty counter-​help, no mile-​long list of ingredients, no extra cost for some faux-​complicated food.
Fifth Avenue Café is the place to go if you’re looking to move away from the complicated (yet delicious) establishments in the area. They’re no Specialty’s, but they WILL make you a sandwich that looks homemade, tastes better, and isn’t rediculously priced.