Breakfast place to open in former Garden Cafe

Brownstoner says that a breakfast place/coffee shop will be opening near the beginning of August where the Garden Cafe was. The new restaurant will be called "Milk Bar".

http://www.brownstoner.com/brownstoner/archives/2009/07/streetlevel_bre.php

One of the owners is Australian. Is it me or does it seem like the entire country of Australia has moved to NYC in the last 5 years (not that I'm complaining or anything as Aussie men tend to be better-looking and less neurotic than their NYC counterparts - ooh, that ought to get some comments!). ;-)

Hopefully the codpiece is optional at this milk bar.

Was it just my luck or did it seem to anyone else that Garden Cafe was never open? More breakfast spots do not strike me as a bad thing!

"milk bar" makes me think of a clockwork orange . . . not so much breakfast. why isn't there a late-night milk bar? they could specialize in white russians.

The Usual better step up it's culinary creations!

Hairless eggs would be a good start!

MeredithB wrote: The Usual better step up it's culinary creations!

Hairless eggs would be a good start!

I get the sense that this place is going to be competing more with Gamin.

I really hope this place competes with The Usual. The food there is terrible, some competition would be great. Although, I probably would not step foot back into the Usual unless I hear from a lot of people that the food has become incredibly delicious, which is a far cry from where its at now - barely edible.

I doubt le Gamin has anything to worry about, it seems like a different vibe.

The Usual can't even keep Usual hours.... I've eaten there a few times, but other times its closed at the weirdest times.

I still don't understand why...we don't have a green grocer? And why can't we have a R E A L diner. Diners were reasonable, you could sit and talk for hours, the food wasn't perfect but who cares.
Oh and ewwww about the hair at The Usual...they should have remained a dive, the food was better and the ambiance (garbage men, local yocals, neighbors in the know)!

And now that Ortine doesn't start serving breakfast until 11 (just coffee and pastries before) this will be an awesome addition to the early morning scene. Let's see: we have Gamin and The Usual on Vanderbilt, Purity and Cheryls on Underhill, and Toms on Washington. Am I forgetting anyone?

Carneviento!

I think Gamin has more space than the Garden Cafe spot.
They can't seat that many people in there.

Hatemail wrote: I think Gamin has more space than the Garden Cafe spot.
They can't seat that many people in there.

True. It looks like they're setting up some outdoor seating in front though, which could almost double their capacity when the weather is nice.

Don't forget Nick's on Vanderbilt.

Jack Krohn wrote: Don't forget Nick's on Vanderbilt.

True. That place isn't bad, but I've only had breakfast there once (early on a Sunday morning before anything else was open). I never think of it, and I'm not sure why.

embereye wrote: Was it just my luck or did it seem to anyone else that Garden Cafe was never open? More breakfast spots do not strike me as a bad thing!

It was a reservations only place and only for dinner 5 nights a week

Maybe this new place will motivate The Usual, although I doubt anything will stop the owners thre from dressing like they're going to the beach every day.

does the way the owners dress affect the way the food tastes?

if not, i couldn't care less.

Chekhovian wrote: Maybe this new place will motivate The Usual, although I doubt anything will stop the owners thre from dressing like they're going to the beach every day.

that's hardly the problem. if food and service improved i wouldn't care if the owners wore thongs. (ok, well maybe not thongs but you get the idea.)

looking forward to checking it out and having another breakfast option in the hood.

but what's with the antler-thingy hanging from the ceiling? some kind of faux rustic aussie light fixture?

wow. our hood is changing in the blink of an eye.... i remember when i moved here 3 years ago, it felt completely different and now the new places are springing up like dandelions!

...still wish met food would step up, and wish we could get a decent fish market.


also, when we say breakfast place? does this look more along the lines of Joyce, or will they have meals?

Carnivore wrote: Carneviento!

I only ever get breakfast to go here, so it's a bacon egg & cheese...and one of the best I've ever had. Almost $1 more than street carts in Manhattan but for perfect proportions of bacon, completely melted cheese (sounds obvious but the street carts don't always put the cheese on early enough) and a toasted roll...well worth it.

naugastyle wrote: [quote=Carnivore]Carneviento!

I only ever get breakfast to go here, so it's a bacon egg & cheese...and one of the best I've ever had. Almost $1 more than street carts in Manhattan but for perfect proportions of bacon, completely melted cheese (sounds obvious but the street carts don't always put the cheese on early enough) and a toasted roll...well worth it.
OMG.... that sounds delicious! Now I'm hungry.

With this and Cafe Regular North, coffee opens have vastly improved.

naugastyle wrote: [quote=Carnivore]Carneviento!

I only ever get breakfast to go here, so it's a bacon egg & cheese...and one of the best I've ever had. Almost $1 more than street carts in Manhattan but for perfect proportions of bacon, completely melted cheese (sounds obvious but the street carts don't always put the cheese on early enough) and a toasted roll...well worth it.

I like the "Spanish" breakfast there, with cassava and fried salami or fried cheese. They make a mean cafe con leche also.

danielle123 wrote: One of the owners is Australian. Is it me or does it seem like the entire country of Australia has moved to NYC in the last 5 years

1) US-Australian free trade agreement, including E-3/E-3D visa program, the only substantial undersubscribed pool of highly skilled foreign labor since saturated H1-B quotas were cut.
2) At any time, 5% of Australians live abroad. NY sure beats London as the traditional rite-of-passage.

milk bar says they're opening monday.

p.s. feeling guilty about disparaging the usual (above). had breakfast there yesterday -- all food was well prepared, coffee was fresh and the waitress was totally on top of things. hey, you never know.

milk bar says they're opening monday.

p.s. feeling guilty about disparaging the usual (above). had breakfast there yesterday -- all food was well prepared, coffee was fresh and the waitress was totally on top of things. hey, you never know.

I stopped by there today around 11:00 to check it out.
Pretty cool place, had a decent amount of customers.
Was really in the mood for breakfast so was a little disappointed by the menu. It's mostly fancy sandwiches with a side of salad for around $9. They do serve other stuff like coffee and baked goods.
It was kind of hot in there so I just left and went to Tom's instead.

my daughter had a croissant there yesterday morning and said it was stale (on its first morning in business?) and that Costco croissants are better.....