Emma's Torch

I cannot say enough good things about Emma’s Torch — they helped me pull off a surprise proposal at their Carroll Gardens café, and it was absolute perfection from start to finish. From the moment I reached out with my proposal idea, the team jumped in with thoughtfulness, excitement, and an incredible level of coordination. Every single detail was handled with care — from the timing of the surprise to the layout of the space, to the way they helped make the whole place feel intimate, cozy, and full of love. And the food? INCREDIBLE. Every guest — and we had a lot of tough critics in the group — said it was hands-down the best event they’ve ever attended. The menu was thoughtfully crafted to compliment mine and my partners taste, it was creative, flavorful, and beautifully presented. The warm, welcoming energy of the space only added to the magic. Having the Carroll Gardens café all to ourselves made the night feel deeply personal and special. It wasn’t just a venue — it felt like Emma’s Torch was celebrating alongside us. I’m so grateful for their hospitality, their heart, and their commitment to creating meaningful experiences. If you're looking for a space to host an event that people will talk about for years to come, I highly recommend ET!

Delicious fried chicken sandwich, pulled pork sandwich and "kaboulleh"! Staff is wonderful and the outdoor space is perfect.

We arrived at 8:45pm and with the restaurant closing around 9pm the staff at Emma's Torch could not have been more accommodating. We were yold that the menu was totally new but for me as a 1st time customer...... The three of us ordered seven starters and two mains which was than enough, accompanied with a glass or two of the Cava. Portion sizes are sufficient for each of us to appreciate the delicacy and sumptuousness of each dish, although the standout was the Roasted Mushroom Tartine. Unfortunately I won't be around to come for the next graduation event when without doubt it will be food heaven.

I like this place it’s right near my school so if I feel hungry, I could just go to Emma’s torch. I went there for my graduation lunch, with my grandparents and my parents and I had a blast. Highly recommend this place. Thank you to the staff who work there and the chefs who make the food! I couldn’t do it without you.

Great food, awesome staff, relaxing indoor atmosphere, right prices. What else could you wish for?

If you’ve ever walked past this place and thought “admirable mission, but is the food any good” - yeah, it’s fantastic.

Cannot say enough good things about Emma’s Torch! Nice outdoor dining area and cute, inviting indoor seating. The food and drinks are competitively priced and delicious. Some of the best pancakes I’ve had in NYC! Staff are friendly and efficient. Come here if you can!

Great food, service and space. Will definitely be back!

+2

Everything I tried was so tasty and the staff very nice. I especially liked the lamb meatballs and the black-eyes pea hummus.

Southern inspired brunch and exceeded expectations. The chief definitely put thoughts into the dishes, as ingredients perfectly balanced each other out and played each roles well. If you like southern fried chicken, try their crispy chicken sandwich and ask for their hot sauce. (Be careful that A little of the sauce goes a long way.). Also the Apple cinnamon pancake is a must too. Highly recommend!

Great restaurant and such a great story behind it. The staff are attentive and know their menu items. We weren't that familiar with the dishes & our server was able to guide us through the entire menu. Easy to get to as well from the subway. less than 2 blocks from the subway station entrance. We'll definitely be going back next time we're in NYC.

Amazing mission Delicious food Friendly staff Nice ambiance Great value!

The quality of the food was excellent - it was very fresh and flavorful and inventive. I loved the fresh tarragon in the salad! The cheesy dessert was incredible - sadly, I couldn't stop eating it! The service was excellent as well. Just a warm, happy vibe all around! And for an incredible cause.

Great little spot, concise menu. Had the wrap + bacon. The bacon was such a great flavor addition! Love their purpose, too.

Emma’s Torch is one of my absolute favorite places in the neighborhood. I have eaten here a bunch and always look for a reason to support this folks here. The food and service are always 10/10. They are a pillar of the community and I always leave feeling happy and satisfied, whether it’s something from their grab and go, a pastry and an iced tea, or one of their made-to-order items. I most recently had their breakfast wrap and it was delicious, but I also really love their omelette sandwich. Their cinnamon rolls also knock it out of the park. If you happen to be in the neighborhood, don’t miss this spot. They also have a lovely patio! Their team went out of their way to set up a table for us today - so incredibly kind!

Know this organization from having their yum coffee at Grand Army Plaza library. Went to their Smith Street location brookyn. Had the Hawaij mocha [spiced cocoa w/ expresso and milk]. Not my usual. Usually just a coffee girl like a hot Americano. Simple LOL. But liked this cocoa was nice flavor real cocoa. Can not go wrong with expresso and hot milk. Plus had a Cinnabon. Cream on it real cream if ya know what I mean. Lol

For the first time I was visiting Carroll Gardens and Cobble Hill so I was very happy to find a restaurant that serves breakfast until 3pm. This restaurant was so charming and cozy! I came to the register and ordered from the menu and I got to choose my table and they brought my food to me. I ordered an Iced homemade Chai Latte. It was very delicious! It was ready in a minute the moment I sat down. Then I ordered the Sausage, Egg, and Cheese on a homemade biscuit. To say it was amazing is an understatement. It was delightful to have a homemade breakfast sandwich. The staff is very friendly. This restaurant has so many offerings that I know I will be coming back in the future to try them out. This was a charming restaurant. I highly recommend it.

Wandered in after the breakfast spot I was planning to go to didnt work out. Completely serendipitous bc this was one of the best breakfasts I’ve had in NYC! Adored the biscuit with raspberry preserves and the peach melba pancake. Crispy outside and soft and fluffy inside. Everything tasted so fresh and high quality. I also felt that the portion of the pancake was perfect. I’m so excited to have found a new fave breakfast spot in BK.

Came here for brunch on a Sunday, no wait and fast service! Order at the counter and find a table, there was plenty of seating in the cute outdoor courtyard. A nice vibe and attentive staff. They don’t accept tips as they are a nonprofit, so coming here is a great way to support their mission. The food is excellent, and one of the top restaurants in the neighborhood. I had the French toast that comes with a sweet blackberry compote so you don’t need syrup. And I tried the red pepper feta and egg sandwich which had a nice flavor. There are healthy options for vegetarians, and I can’t wait to try more dishes!

The pancake and fried chicken sandwiches were BEYOND good. Can’t wait to go back. It’s so hard to find reasonably priced and exciting brunch food- this is my new spot.

If you have the opportunity to sit outside on the patio, do it! My wife and I had a great dinner, quiet, good vibes. The pita and hummus was our favorite dish but also really enjoyed the wings and bread pudding desert. Love the cause and the mission. We will be back for more!

Absolutely love Emma’s Torch! Their mission is wonderful and their food and service are top notch! I will go out on a limb and say their pancakes are the best in NYC. Perfectly cooked topped with delicious blueberries and the best whipped cream! Their prices also can’t be beat — $10 for the pancake and $4.50 for an oat latte without charging extra for ice or oat milk. Can’t recommend this place enough!

We were looking for a cafe with a nice ambiance and walked into Emma's torch. I loved that tea and coffee were served in real cups (not paper plastic) Avocado toast was very nice, but I wish we could use non plastic cutlery. Team was very friendly.. overall great place 👍

A posh, cozy restaurant done well, with purpose. Every bite was a perfect experience, a moment of time suspended in eternal flavors. Prior to this meal, my best meal ever had been in 2006. Now the best meal of my life was this evening at Emma's Torch. Thank you to every person, energy, and element that brought this meal to me. The service was great. Very organized and perfect delivery. I am a new kind of spoiled because this experience set a new bar for dining quality. Several hours later, I still feel good. I gained energy from that meal. I left the restaurant full, and now I feel more alive. Fresh food made with fire, love, and magic. Simple menu with no wrong choices. We split three appetizers and a dessert. Had our own mains and drinks. Every bite was rewarding. Lastly, they have spa quality hand wash and lotion in the restroom. 💆‍♀️ 10/10 ❤️‍🔥🥦🧀🍖🍲🍰💜🙏

Emma’s Torch is all times favorite. Originally I chose them because it’s a non profit providing education for refugees but as a restaurant they are really good at cooking. Avocado toast or salmon tartine, baked goods, pancakes and grab and go items – everything is delicious. Most of the times cooks bring the food and the warmth, the smile and the excitement on their faces are truly a highlight of a visit. The only thing is that recently they started using only disposable dishes and cutlery even for to stay orders. Though biodegradable still there is nothing better for the planet like actual dishes and of course the feeling of eating from a paper dish is different. I hope this can be changed. Best of luck, favorite cafe in Carrol Gardens.

Got the restaurant week special which is only like $2-3 less so don't let that discourage you from ordering because this place is great. The squash soup was personally not my thing but I still found it very palatable. It reminded me of thai curry in it's thickness and I hold no particular fancy over thick soups. The flavor was very pleasent however. The chicken sandwich is among the best I've ever had. There was so much flavor packed in with the slaw and sauce and the chicken was perfectly done with the crispy exterior and moist interior. The same could go with the cookie they, very crispy but also very melt in your mouth. The perfect cookie blend

CHAI LOVERS: the chai is amazing and it’s under $5. What a great place with a great mission! Indoor/outdoor seating, light an airy feel, great service :)

Great mission & great food. We had the pancake with strawberries and cream, the crispy chicken sandwich, and the bacon and eggs. The bacon was no joke, an inch thick and very rich. The salad served with the sandwich was very refreshing and tasty. The pancake was crispy and sweet! The restaurant is very cute and bright, and the tables are spaced far enough away from each other that you feel like you have space to relax. The portions are small compared to a chain restaurant, but the prices are super reasonable for Brooklyn.

If you're in this neighborhood and haven't eaten breakfast yet, do not skip this place! They have a shockingly good sausage egg and cheese biscuit sandwich. What pushes this place into 5 star range is the food + the mission. Seeing your hard earned go to real people is worth supporting this place!

Imani

Wandered in after the breakfast spot I was planning to go to didnt work out. Completely serendipitous bc this was one of the best breakfasts I’ve had in NYC! Adored the biscuit with raspberry preserves and the peach melba pancake. Crispy outside and soft and fluffy inside. Everything tasted so fresh and high quality. I also felt that the portion of the pancake was perfect. I’m so excited to have found a new fave breakfast spot in BK.

Kashan

Know this organization from having their yum coffee at Grand Army Plaza library. Went to their Smith Street location brookyn. Had the Hawaij mocha [spiced cocoa w/ expresso and milk]. Not my usual. Usually just a coffee girl like a hot Americano. Simple LOL. But liked this cocoa was nice flavor real cocoa. Can not go wrong with expresso and hot milk. Plus had a Cinnabon. Cream on it real cream if ya know what I mean. Lol

ally atchison

Came here for brunch on a Sunday, no wait and fast service! Order at the counter and find a table, there was plenty of seating in the cute outdoor courtyard. A nice vibe and attentive staff. They don’t accept tips as they are a nonprofit, so coming here is a great way to support their mission. The food is excellent, and one of the top restaurants in the neighborhood. I had the French toast that comes with a sweet blackberry compote so you don’t need syrup. And I tried the red pepper feta and egg sandwich which had a nice flavor. There are healthy options for vegetarians, and I can’t wait to try more dishes!

Anna

The pancake and fried chicken sandwiches were BEYOND good. Can’t wait to go back. It’s so hard to find reasonably priced and exciting brunch food- this is my new spot.

April Ingenito

Emma’s Torch is one of my absolute favorite places in the neighborhood. I have eaten here a bunch and always look for a reason to support this folks here. The food and service are always 10/10. They are a pillar of the community and I always leave feeling happy and satisfied, whether it’s something from their grab and go, a pastry and an iced tea, or one of their made-to-order items. I most recently had their breakfast wrap and it was delicious, but I also really love their omelette sandwich. Their cinnamon rolls also knock it out of the park. If you happen to be in the neighborhood, don’t miss this spot. They also have a lovely patio! Their team went out of their way to set up a table for us today - so incredibly kind!

Tamiko Ramirez

For the first time I was visiting Carroll Gardens and Cobble Hill so I was very happy to find a restaurant that serves breakfast until 3pm. This restaurant was so charming and cozy! I came to the register and ordered from the menu and I got to choose my table and they brought my food to me. I ordered an Iced homemade Chai Latte. It was very delicious! It was ready in a minute the moment I sat down. Then I ordered the Sausage, Egg, and Cheese on a homemade biscuit. To say it was amazing is an understatement. It was delightful to have a homemade breakfast sandwich. The staff is very friendly. This restaurant has so many offerings that I know I will be coming back in the future to try them out. This was a charming restaurant. I highly recommend it.

Lauren Wright

CHAI LOVERS: the chai is amazing and it’s under $5. What a great place with a great mission! Indoor/outdoor seating, light an airy feel, great service :)

Renee Reilly

If you have the opportunity to sit outside on the patio, do it! My wife and I had a great dinner, quiet, good vibes. The pita and hummus was our favorite dish but also really enjoyed the wings and bread pudding desert. Love the cause and the mission. We will be back for more!

Caroline

Absolutely love Emma’s Torch! Their mission is wonderful and their food and service are top notch! I will go out on a limb and say their pancakes are the best in NYC. Perfectly cooked topped with delicious blueberries and the best whipped cream! Their prices also can’t be beat — $10 for the pancake and $4.50 for an oat latte without charging extra for ice or oat milk. Can’t recommend this place enough!

Vlad Voloshin

We were looking for a cafe with a nice ambiance and walked into Emma's torch. I loved that tea and coffee were served in real cups (not paper plastic) Avocado toast was very nice, but I wish we could use non plastic cutlery. Team was very friendly.. overall great place 👍

Lucretia Robison

A posh, cozy restaurant done well, with purpose. Every bite was a perfect experience, a moment of time suspended in eternal flavors. Prior to this meal, my best meal ever had been in 2006. Now the best meal of my life was this evening at Emma's Torch. Thank you to every person, energy, and element that brought this meal to me. The service was great. Very organized and perfect delivery. I am a new kind of spoiled because this experience set a new bar for dining quality. Several hours later, I still feel good. I gained energy from that meal. I left the restaurant full, and now I feel more alive. Fresh food made with fire, love, and magic. Simple menu with no wrong choices. We split three appetizers and a dessert. Had our own mains and drinks. Every bite was rewarding. Lastly, they have spa quality hand wash and lotion in the restroom. 💆‍♀️ 10/10 ❤️‍🔥🥦🧀🍖🍲🍰💜🙏

Lilia Vero

Emma’s Torch is all times favorite. Originally I chose them because it’s a non profit providing education for refugees but as a restaurant they are really good at cooking. Avocado toast or salmon tartine, baked goods, pancakes and grab and go items – everything is delicious. Most of the times cooks bring the food and the warmth, the smile and the excitement on their faces are truly a highlight of a visit. The only thing is that recently they started using only disposable dishes and cutlery even for to stay orders. Though biodegradable still there is nothing better for the planet like actual dishes and of course the feeling of eating from a paper dish is different. I hope this can be changed. Best of luck, favorite cafe in Carrol Gardens.

Dennis

Got the restaurant week special which is only like $2-3 less so don't let that discourage you from ordering because this place is great. The squash soup was personally not my thing but I still found it very palatable. It reminded me of thai curry in it's thickness and I hold no particular fancy over thick soups. The flavor was very pleasent however. The chicken sandwich is among the best I've ever had. There was so much flavor packed in with the slaw and sauce and the chicken was perfectly done with the crispy exterior and moist interior. The same could go with the cookie they, very crispy but also very melt in your mouth. The perfect cookie blend

Alexandra Zieminski

Great mission & great food. We had the pancake with strawberries and cream, the crispy chicken sandwich, and the bacon and eggs. The bacon was no joke, an inch thick and very rich. The salad served with the sandwich was very refreshing and tasty. The pancake was crispy and sweet! The restaurant is very cute and bright, and the tables are spaced far enough away from each other that you feel like you have space to relax. The portions are small compared to a chain restaurant, but the prices are super reasonable for Brooklyn.

Isada Norflet

If you're in this neighborhood and haven't eaten breakfast yet, do not skip this place! They have a shockingly good sausage egg and cheese biscuit sandwich. What pushes this place into 5 star range is the food + the mission. Seeing your hard earned go to real people is worth supporting this place!

Sasha Dorje

Quiet little café with fantastic seating options and an amazing mission. Almost invisible on Smith Street. Excellent coffee and fresh baked goods. Please stop by.

Everyone here is so great, keeps me coming back. They’re very considerate of my dietary restrictions. Food is well made with good ingredients. Seasonal menu rotation always has good vegetarian / vegan options.

Wonderful and friendly staff. Great food and drinks. Nice atmosphere. Best cafe in the neighborhood!

Anna Schupack

The sweetest staff, had a delicious breakfast burrito and cold brew. About $13 total so a little pricey but really good and has a good mission of empowering refugees through culinary education. Good vibes and good food ☕🌯💕

Went for brunch and tried a wide variety of the menu! Excellent biscuits, super thick in-house cut bacon, shakshuka was a bit watery, but the hash was fantastic! Love the mission of the spot and reasonably priced. The staff were all pleasant and attentive and would love to check it out again for dinner soon!

the atmosphere is great, outdoor seating is picturesque. the food wasn't to our liking, the avocado on toast's bread was stale, the eggs was cold, and avo mash lacked seasoning. but all aside the employees were friendly, so it might be they were having a bad day?

Yasemin Sahin

the atmosphere is great, outdoor seating is picturesque. the food wasn't to our liking, the avocado on toast's bread was stale, the eggs was cold, and avo mash lacked seasoning. but all aside the employees were friendly, so it might be they were having a bad day?

Lovely people and a really cute space. I didn't personally enjoy the food, though. The biscuit egg sandwich just kind of fell apart and the cheese wasn't melted hardly at all. Egg was soft and tasty, though. We also got the fries, which weren't crispy and were over-seasoned. I ended up throwing most of it away.

We came for dinner in the garden. Very pleasant. Service was good and attentive. Portions were very small. Wine was barely a quarter of a glass. Fried chicken was good, but basically two small pieces, not even a full breast. Tomato & cocunut curry was tasty, but watery with very few vegetables. Appreciate their mission, but didn't feel we got our money's worth.

Above average restaurant although it didn’t meet my expectations. Several items in the drink menu were not available, the chairs are not really comfortable - you could find them at a pizzeria around the corner - and the entree selection is limited. I ordered the lamb and was really disappointed. It was somewhat dry, the side was composed of a ratatouille and a prune advertised on the menu and the quantity was extremely limited, to the point where the waitress agreed and requested a side of rice for us. Overall, nothing was horrible which is why I’m giving it 3 stars out of 5.

Some dishes are hits, others big misses. Everything is slightly overpriced for the value, but there's a humanitarian cause attached to the business. The black eyed peas hummus and the salmon on bread were delicious. The pita was too small for the hummus serving. The shakshuka had an unexpected layer of rice at the bottom and a large one at that, cheapening the dish substantially and also changing its flavor in an unwelcome manner.

Javier Kohen

Some dishes are hits, others big misses. Everything is slightly overpriced for the value, but there's a humanitarian cause attached to the business. The black eyed peas hummus and the salmon on bread were delicious. The pita was too small for the hummus serving. The shakshuka had an unexpected layer of rice at the bottom and a large one at that, cheapening the dish substantially and also changing its flavor in an unwelcome manner.

Great idea, good service, bad food. We chose to go to this restaurant for their mission and exciting Sunday brunch. The menu turned out only exciting on paper, sadly. I ordered the baked eggs with summer vegetables (the website says fall menu?) The eggs arrived in a small skillet, disappointingly overcooked to death, and topped with what tasted like bottled salsa and a cold, limp, tart lettuce salad. Cold, lettuce, and salad do not do well on hot eggs. My guest ordered the southern breakfast. Woof. He didn't have much to say about the sausage or cheese eggs (?) The grits looked and tasted like they had been unpacked and reconstituted. The biscuit was good. Redeeming features: the friendly service, good coffee, and delicious cocktails. A wide-eyed troupe of kitchen staff staring through the service window led to us hurrying through the meal, leaving without saying anything, and saving our thoughts for an online review.

We usually come here to support their efforts, but had a horrible and hostile event there with their GM. We arrived in the cafe and it was packed. No one was really eating and there are inconsiderate diners there on their laptops. We ordered our food and told the manager we’re looking to sit down indoors as it is a cold winter morning. They made our drinks and food quickly and expected us to stand and eat. As I told the GM, we would prefer to take our food once a table opens up, and at that point she became passive aggressive with us, saying we are refusing our food. We said to her that we’re awaiting a table, it sucks that our food will be cold but I can’t be standing in a tiny cafe eating. She then passively aggressively said “we’ll just throw out the food and eat the cost then, if you’re refusing food”. We felt unsafe as the GM there created an extremely hostile environment for us. Don’t think we’ll be returning to this establishment, nor will we be recommending this place ever again.

As a loyal customer of Emma’s Torch Café, I’m increasingly disappointed by my recent experiences. I’ve always supported their mission of empowering refugees, but lately, I’ve encountered multiple issues. On several occasions, I’ve arrived to find the café closed unexpectedly or the kitchen shutting early without any prior notice, which wastes my time and undermines the trust I placed in them. It’s disheartening to see them hold events or close early without informing loyal customers, making me feel that my time and trust are not valued. Additionally, today I was served spoiled eggs, and when the manager finally arrived, she refunded me without explanation and left abruptly, leaving me to thank her for understanding. This lack of communication and respect is unacceptable. Because of these repeated issues, I will not be returning. I sincerely hope they take this feedback to heart and improve their service and communication in the future.

Business Work

As a loyal customer of Emma’s Torch Café, I’m increasingly disappointed by my recent experiences. I’ve always supported their mission of empowering refugees, but lately, I’ve encountered multiple issues. On several occasions, I’ve arrived to find the café closed unexpectedly or the kitchen shutting early without any prior notice, which wastes my time and undermines the trust I placed in them. It’s disheartening to see them hold events or close early without informing loyal customers, making me feel that my time and trust are not valued. Additionally, today I was served spoiled eggs, and when the manager finally arrived, she refunded me without explanation and left abruptly, leaving me to thank her for understanding. This lack of communication and respect is unacceptable. Because of these repeated issues, I will not be returning. I sincerely hope they take this feedback to heart and improve their service and communication in the future.