Cafe K (18 ave)

***This is a rating for the branch of Cafe K on 18Th Ave. This rating does not reflect the other two locations.

Cafe K, named for its first location on Ave. K in Brooklyn,NY is known for its dairy cuisine, primarily its pasta and fish dishes. having been to all three of their restaurants, (the other being in Midtown Manhattan) I prefer the one on 18 Ave.

First thing to note when entering Cafe K is that the decor is very pretty, if you go there in the evening you will find dim lighting, soft music and candles at every table giving the place a romantic ambiance. However, the restaurant is small and they try to accommodate a lot of patrons and therefore the tables are all very close together (this is not where I would go if I wanted to have a private chat with someone). Due to the large number of restaurant goers all speaking at the same time it is often difficult to hear the person you are sitting with. When the restaurant is not as busy, this of course is not a problem.

Secondly, one should have an idea what they would like to eat before stepping into the restaurant because there are no menus! There is a chalkboard on the wall stating various dishes, however, it is difficult to understand if you don't know for instance what a puttanesca sauce is. (I was once having dinner with someone who asked for a pasta puttanesca with cream sauce and was quite embarrassed when the waitress had to explain to him that a puttanesca is a form of tomato sauce with chunks of veggies.- had there been a menu that stated what pasta puttanesca is this could have been avoided). similarly, when ordering mozzarella sticks, one would assume they are getting deep fried, breaded, string cheese (or whatever is in mozzarella sticks) but if you order Mozzarella sticks in Cafe K you will get a mashed veggie and a bit of cheese deep fried - not really the same thing, and since there is no menu there is no way of knowing that.

Service is another area in which Cafe k is sorely lacking. Due to their lack of man power both in the kitchen and in the front of the house, expect to wait over 45 minutes for your main course. Also once a waiter actually comes to your table (which could take 15-20 minutes) make sure to ask for everything you need (though they will probably not remember some of it) because getting a waitress to return to your table can be a long and excruciating process. They are also known for mixing up tables and dishes, so before you dig in make sure its what you ordered

The good part of Cafe K is that there is a pasta and fish special everyday. As a rule I always order one of these, though most of their menu is lacking variety, their specials are usually well thought out and well prepared. The fish is always fresh (except in their cooked sushi rolls where I have a feeling they use the previous days leftovers - they are not spoiled but do have a more potent fish smell). The pasta noodles are not homemade, however, that are cooked nicely to al dente.

All in all Cafe K is a nice place to go for some coffee, a salad or a bite to eat. Their salads are fresh and they have an assortment of various coffees and other beverages. As far as their sushi, the raw ones seem to be fresh however, the cooked varieties seem to have inferior quality fish. The main courses are tasty though unoriginal- except for their specials which change daily.

Cafe K is a nice place to eat and I am a frequent patron. My advice is to get the special- whatever it is that day and BON APETITE

Final note: they do not accept credit cards so make sure to have cash or your checkbook on you!

Rating : 2 1/2 stars