Cafe Paradiso

Benjamin Maddy

LOVE Cafe Paradiso! If you’re looking for a cozy, intimate spot with a welcoming atmosphere and delicious Mediterranean-inspired cuisine, Café Paradiso in NYC is the place to be. Nestled in the heart of the city, this quaint café offers a perfect blend of flavors, warm service, and a relaxed vibe that makes it ideal for both casual lunches and more special moments. Ambiance: As soon as you step inside, the modern yet rustic décor immediately sets the tone. Light pours in through large windows, and the soft hum of chatter adds to the comforting vibe. The interior has a stylish European café feel, with wood accents and artful touches that give the space a vibrant yet peaceful feel. Food: The menu at Café Paradiso offers a variety of Mediterranean-inspired dishes with fresh, high-quality ingredients. For lunch, I highly recommend flatbreads, or one of the amazing soups, sandwiches or salads! If you’re in the mood for something lighter, the Hummus and Pita Plate is a delicious choice, offering creamy hummus with freshly baked pita and a side of marinated olives. The balance of flavors in each dish is impressive, with just the right amount of seasoning that enhances the natural ingredients. Drinks: Café Paradiso offers a solid selection of wines and craft cocktails. I tried their Mediterranean Mule, a refreshing twist on the classic, with flavors of cucumber, mint, and a splash of citrus. It paired wonderfully with the meal, but for non-drinkers, the Fresh Lemonade is a bright, invigorating option. Service: The staff at Café Paradiso is attentive and friendly, providing excellent service without being intrusive. They take time to explain the menu and are quick to offer recommendations.

Amanda

It’s definitely a must if you’re around Lincoln Center at breakfast, lunch or dinner time. Had a great experience there. The ambience is so nice and cozy, they have a great decoration too. The staff is very welcoming and friendly. And the food is amazing! I asked for a recommendation on what to eat that was gluten free and I can say that they have not disappointed. The eggplant Parmesan was so good and satisfying. My favorite was the Quinoa Salad with Salmon. I loved it! Definitely one of my favorite places to eat now!

Aleksandr Skuratov

Nice place to have a lunch with friends. Italian food is awesome. Great Lincoln center around a corner.

Lucas Zuehl

an warmly-lit room full of eclectic people across from juilliard… what more could you ask for?? i treated myself to the chicken parmesan. it was the CORRECT! size for the price, with a generous heaping of spaghetti on the side. the waiter also brought a beautiful bowl full of grated parmesan upon my request, which i utilized tastefully

Christina DiStefano

Omg this brownie (lol). It has the perfect texture with a soft center. My oak milk latte is delicious too! Wanted to take a little snack break in a cafe setting that I could actually relax and get some work done too. It’s a cozy kind of place that welcomes you to sit down and enjoy yourself versus a loud chain coffee shop. If you’re looking for a little hideaway, this is a perfect spot. PS I also had the chicken salad sandwich. It had grapes mixed in which was a delicious alternative to raisins—it was fresh and tasty! Just found out the Coffee is Brooklyn Roast. Soooo good!

Garrison Pease

Menu with sandwiches, pizza, pasta, salads, and more. And reasonable prices with good service. We’ll be back!

James Hartley

Went here recently and was very impressed. Great food— the meatball parm was my favorite— excellent service, really nice atmosphere— great aesthetic, fairly quiet. Could definitely see myself coming back here regularly.

Omg their noodle kugel was special. That had to be someone's grandma's recipe. Tomato soup was delicious too. Would have liked a slightly bigger portion.

Simple fresh food with quick, friendly service in a great location to catch a film or play (our server Erica was a highlight of our experience!). Definitely will be coming again soon

A perfect place for a meal and conversation! Gabriela made our evening warm and welcoming, the pesto ravioli was delicious, and the ambience ensured another visit. Can’t wait to come back before another movie!

Stumbled upon this spot as I was casually strolling through the neighborhood. Was instantly met with respect and kindness, and I was seated rather rapidly which was nice; prior to the rush precisely. I Opted for a window seat that faced the Julliard school, and had a lovely glass of wine, and enjoyed my Meatball Parm sandwich Accompany with a salad. Food was tasty & comforting. Definitely recommend. :)

Gabriela was an amazing server! She was quick, attentive to our needs, and very kind and generous. The food was great; the service even better. We will be back!

gabriella was an amazing server, 10/10. she was so sweet, consistent and made the best conversation with us! she was patient and delivered the best advice of what to get from the menu. we’re from out of town and she definitely provided outstanding service making us feel at home and gave us a unforgettable experience! definitely will be coming back just to visit her!!

Whether you’re on the go or looking to relax, this spot is perfect for both. Conveniently located in the heart of Lincoln Center, it offers great customer service and a welcoming atmosphere. I even got to know two of the friendliest employees, Luz and Yvonne their smiles and personalities truly set the vibe. This place has quickly become my daily go-to.

Ellen Levitt

Omg their noodle kugel was special. That had to be someone's grandma's recipe. Tomato soup was delicious too. Would have liked a slightly bigger portion.

Roy Cedillo

I had such a wonderful experience at Café Paradiso! Between Ben’s warm hospitality and Robert’s top-notch service, Café Paradiso truly shines. Great food is important, but it’s the outstanding people who make the experience unforgettable — and Robert and Ben made this visit exceptional. Highly recommend!

Luis Sanchez

Had an amazing experience at Café Paradiso! Ben greeted us with such warmth at the door, and Robert provided outstanding service throughout our meal — attentive, friendly, and professional. They truly made the evening special!

Food and coffee were pretty good. No complaints but the atmosphere is definitely the selling point. Great for a casual lunch!

It’s a nice quick bite to eat before or after a show but the food just average

Jordan Harman

Food and coffee were pretty good. No complaints but the atmosphere is definitely the selling point. Great for a casual lunch!

Adamo Stivala

It’s a nice quick bite to eat before or after a show but the food just average

John Kim

A bit overpriced in my opinion, though the tomato soup was delicious, and the sandwich was pretty minimal

The vibe was nice and relaxed at this restaurant, and the atmosphere was quite cozy. However, the food fell short of expectations. The pasta sauce was quite watery and the pizza lacked flavor. However, the service team were friendly and efficient. Good place to enjoy a coffee and a small bite.

The food is very good and good quality the Cashier was very nice and friendly , I was disappointed with the baked ziti with meatballs my son ordered it and so surprised to they put one tiny dry meatball but I have say it was good and I had the eggplant Parmagan and the golden beet salad. We also ordered meatballs, that was good. I would would go for breakfast or lunch. If you have son's that big eaters, this is not for them , one thing they really need to teach the Waitres be more pleasant and smile ! I usually like to leave a tip but ,if the service is not good, they don't deserve it.

FT

The vibe was nice and relaxed at this restaurant, and the atmosphere was quite cozy. However, the food fell short of expectations. The pasta sauce was quite watery and the pizza lacked flavor. However, the service team were friendly and efficient. Good place to enjoy a coffee and a small bite.

Evelyn Larios

The food is very good and good quality the Cashier was very nice and friendly , I was disappointed with the baked ziti with meatballs my son ordered it and so surprised to they put one tiny dry meatball but I have say it was good and I had the eggplant Parmagan and the golden beet salad. We also ordered meatballs, that was good. I would would go for breakfast or lunch. If you have son's that big eaters, this is not for them , one thing they really need to teach the Waitres be more pleasant and smile ! I usually like to leave a tip but ,if the service is not good, they don't deserve it.

Kristen (Gypsy Monkey)

Ate here for lunch during New York Film Fest and sat at the bar in the window . Soup & Sandwich were good & came out quickly . Half a sandwich was very minimal portion . The service could have been a little better too - otherwise perfect place to grab a bite before or after a movie or show . They also have a walk up coffee /snack/ window .

Dina Carlson

LOOK AT PHOTS. Completely raw chicken. I think it would be hard to believe Without pictures. I do not understand how this happens. I ordered the chicken Parm. I had a few bites and it was cold but I was in a rush so decided not to send it back and kept eating. Then it started to taste bad so I took off the cheese thinking it was that. It still tasted bad so I lifted the breading. Stephanie from guest services contacted me and offered me a $300 gift card (which had zero dollars on it from the first try of using it). I would never eat meat there again but I was going to just have bakery items and drinks, only because I am frequently in the area. $300 doesn't even begin to make up for the experience of eating raw chicken and the risk of salmonella poisoning which thankfully I did not get. I did however have a horrible bellyache. Daniel, the manager, is extremely arrogant. When he gave me the gift card he said that things like this happen and it needs to be put behind us. Things like this do not and should never happen. Hair in the food, undercooked steak or cold food occasionally happens but completely raw chicken does not happen. I will update this later to see if they actually give me a valid gift card as their way of apologizing. Be very careful when consuming meats at this restaurant. I miss Indie very much

Easily the worst dining experience in a while. Pre-show dining. Reservation for 5 at 5.45 - After standing unattended for over 5 minutes we were told the table wasn't ready. We were finally seated at 6pm at a table that had been EMPTY the entire time. Service from there on was just unfriendly. We ordered quickly, when our 5th person had not joined the chair was taken away by a waiter. Our 5th person joined and sat on the bench, did not have time to order a full meal before the show, but was told she had to because "this is a table for 5" - WITHOUT 5 seats though at this point. We had ordered meals and drinks for everyone else, so it's not like we were skimping in any ways. When we paid we got death stares from the waiter. Needless to say, I will not be back under any circumstance. The only redeeming quality of this place, is that the very average food comes out quickly. I cannot imagine another reason for this place to be in business, but the fact that dining options around are thin.

Caroline Hofmann

Easily the worst dining experience in a while. Pre-show dining. Reservation for 5 at 5.45 - After standing unattended for over 5 minutes we were told the table wasn't ready. We were finally seated at 6pm at a table that had been EMPTY the entire time. Service from there on was just unfriendly. We ordered quickly, when our 5th person had not joined the chair was taken away by a waiter. Our 5th person joined and sat on the bench, did not have time to order a full meal before the show, but was told she had to because "this is a table for 5" - WITHOUT 5 seats though at this point. We had ordered meals and drinks for everyone else, so it's not like we were skimping in any ways. When we paid we got death stares from the waiter. Needless to say, I will not be back under any circumstance. The only redeeming quality of this place, is that the very average food comes out quickly. I cannot imagine another reason for this place to be in business, but the fact that dining options around are thin.