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Home > Restaurants > Caffe Falai

Caffe Falai

Critic's Pick Critics' Pick

265 Lafayette St., New York, NY 10012
nr. Prince St.  See Map | Subway Directions Hopstop Popup
212-274-8615 Send to Phone

  • Price Range: $$$

    Key to Prices and ratings

    Upscale
    • Almost Perfect
    • Exceptional
    • Generally Excellent
    • Very Good
    • Good
    Cheap Eats
    • Best in Category
    • Excellent
    • Delicious
    • Very Good
    • Noteworthy
    • Very Expensive
    • Expensive
    • Moderate
    • Cheap
  • Reader Rating:

    9.0 out of 10

      |  

    7 Reviews | Write a Review

  • Cuisine: Dessert / Ice Cream Shop, Italian, Soup & Sandwich
Photo by Gavin Thomas

Official Website

falainyc.com

Hours

Mon-Fri, 7am-11pm; Sat-Sun, 8am-11pm

Nearby Subway Stops

N, R, W at Prince St.; 6 at Spring St.

Prices

$15-$25

Payment Methods

MasterCard, Visa

Special Features

  • Breakfast
  • Brunch - Daily
  • Dine at the Bar
  • Great Desserts
  • Lunch
  • Notable Chef
  • Open Kitchens / Watch the Chef
  • Take-Out

Alcohol

  • Beer and Wine Only

Reservations

Accepted/Not Necessary

Profile

Former Le Cirque pastry chef Iacopo Falai—also behind Clinton Street’s Falai and Falai Panetteria—continues on his savory streak with this Italian café that highlights fresh-baked breads. The teeny space preserves the chef’s sleek style: all-white walls and tables, a glossy tiled floor, and a row of sparkling chandeliers divide the dining area from the bustling open kitchen. With little room to maneuver, cooks press panini made with signature foccacia and bake egg cocottes throughout the day. Assembled antipasti from mozzarella-and-tomato salad to baby octopus tossed with white beans supplement the evening menu, along with simple homemade pastas like almond flour pappardelle speckled with mushrooms and cauliflower. For dessert, renditions of fluffy tiramisu and flourless dark chocolate cake are classically stellar, and Falai’s own creation, the Spring Dome, balances a light, nutty pistachio cake with creamy layers of citrus and raspberry filling.

Recommended Dishes

Baked eggs with spinach, $13

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9.0 "Highly Recommended"
Average Reader Rating
on a Scale of 10
Write Your Own Review
85% Would you go back?
85% Would you take a date?
42% Would you take kids?
71% Would you go on business?
85% Would you go on a special occasion?
Food: 9.1
Service: 8.9
Décor: 9.6
Value: 8.7

Great Sevice, Food, Ambiance

oenophilist from 11374 | Posted on 9/1/09

Overall Rating: 10 (Highly Recommended)
Food: 10
Service: 10
Décor: 10
Value: 10

Enrico the manager is a peach, and friendly is not the word for their staff's service. The white classic interior will make you feel like you just died and went straight to heaven (on a sunny day no less ! ), and the food will verify that you are there. The prices are reasonable, and the artful food combinations are worthy of a much more expensive setting, but you are still eating 'on the cheap' (for New York that is). I highly recommend this gem of a restaurant / cafee to anyone who likes modern continental / Italian cuisine as much as I do, you won't be disappointed!

very nice

tomjester23 from 10023 | Posted on 7/13/09

Overall Rating: 10 (Highly Recommended)
Food: 10
Service: 10
Décor: 10
Value: 10

Had the lunch there, great value for such food

Read All 7 Reviews >>

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