http://thegreydog.com/
Yelp Review for Chelsea, Yelp Review for Union Square
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| from wikimedia commons: "A Waterloo" by Cassius Marcellus Coolidge |
Oh this place is so much more than a coffeehouse! Plus they love dogs hence all the paraphernalia and pictures you'll find all over the place.
So when my friend Susana was in town some months ago, I suggested this as a place to meet up and have dinner and coffee. Little did I know, that my typical vagueness about which location to meet up at, nearly thwarted my plans! Thank heavens they are all in somewhat walking distance. Well, okay maybe 20-30 minutes within each other, but in Manhattan that's do-able if you're motivated enough and refuse to hop back on the subway or catch a cab.
This is a coffeehouse, with an extensive food and dessert menu. As well as some good brews and wine especially if you are lucky enough to catch the happy hour. It is loud and quite intimate, but even considering Susana's laryngitis, I could still hear her just fine. The Chelsea location we were at was much bigger than the Union Square one, but more on that in a second. You order your food and drink up front, find a table and then the food will be brought to you in a timely manner. I had the turkey burger and fries, a huge meal portion. So good, but I was so stuffed I couldn't dare try one of their yummy looking desserts (brownies!). The coffee was also well made. It had such a local neighborhood feel about this place, that I wish I lived closer to it so I could drop by like once a week. By the looks of the diners I think most people do!
At Union Square, it is much smaller and a bit louder, but tolerable to me, likely not so much with the boyfriend. Either way, we were shopping all day and were ready to collapse. Could not get a table right away, but the host guy kept up a constant vigilance until we were seated maybe 10 minutes later. That was nice. I again had the turkey burger, it is just so good. And a beer. Hooray. I had no room for dessert again, but I did want to bring something home. But bad girl, I knew Crumbs was down the street, and cupcakes I must have. I do need to return and try their sandwiches which did look quite intriguing!
Loud ≠ Intimate
ReplyDeleteSimple math.
And I get to be the Great Dane with the pipe. He's me cause he's awesome. Course it looks like he just lost a lot of kibble on the River, but that's okay. I do that too.
What do you mean loud does not equal intimate? People weren't excessive, the space just makes one listen unintentionally to one another. To me, smaller equals more cozy and if it's noisy that is just the breaks. I still enjoyed it, what can I say?
ReplyDeleteWell, hold on. You're equivocating "Cozy" and "Intimate." They're not the same. Something can be cozy while still being loud and crowded. In fact, that's why it's such a joke in real estate ads to call a home "cozy."
ReplyDeleteIntimate on the other hand implies (at least to me) a level of comfort and privacy, at-homeness, etc. So a place can be big and still maintain the feeling of intimate. A place cannot be so loud that one has to struggle to keep up a conversation and still be intimate.
I was just noting that fact in my comment, since you specifically said it was "loud and intimate." That doesn't mean I didn't like the place. I just don't agree that it was intimate.
But anyway... Which doggie are you?
Just admit it, you're an old man before your time :)
ReplyDeleteI am the second dog from the left (bulldog?). That is my shocked expression when I lose an awesome hand.
Hmmm I though I published this comment already, but maybe blogger is acting funny.
ReplyDeleteYou sir, are an old man. I'll fetch you your cane shortly.
And I am the dog 2nd to the left. That's how I look after my great hand gets beat!