Brick Cafe

If you are willing to try anything once, then this is the place for you. \r \r My five year old cousin had a birthday party at McDonald's, you know, the fast food restaurant. Where for dessert, a carvel ice cream cake was brought in and served. However, the Brick Cafe did not honor a patron's dessert request to serve a cake brought in from a local bakery. The manager could not even offer a fee where they would charge us to actually serve our own cake. As a matter of fact, they didn't allow us to use one of their knives to just cut the cake, and needless to say, we weren't offered plates either. \r \r Waiter service was short and not up to par for a non-busy Monday night in August. For instance, we had to wait long periods of time to get our water refilled as opposed to not having to ask at all. No one asked us to order appetizers until we were there for more than 20 minutes. We were a party of 13, waiting for the celebrant to arrive, and no one asked if our group had a special occasion like a birthday (which was the case with us). \r \r The food was acceptable and decent, but the service made this place --which is in a local, relaxed neightborhood in Queens-- act as if it was serving Soho/Meatpacking District/celebrity stuckups. Pros: Easy to find Cons: Everything else; waiter never bothered to introduce himself more

I live near Brick Cafe and was really looking forward to trying dinner there after having a fantastic brunch a few months ago. The dinner menu itself sounded amazing. Unfortunately, the food simply did not deliver. The descriptions and ingredients are far more promising that the finished product. The mussels in white wine were bland and badly needed salt to make up for the lack of interesting flavors. The black linguine with seafood was a generous portion but contained tiny shrimp that almost appeared canned and more tasteless mussels. The clams were quite good. The biggest dissappointement by far was the halibut special. It was a rather dried out portion of fish that was slathered in an uneventful tomato sauce which tasted almost identical to that which was on my linguine. When the bill came I was shocked to see that the special was more than almost anything else on the menu including the lamb chops. Our waitress had been all too eager to recommend it. Halibut is not a particularly expensive fish and I left feeling ripped off.\r I may return for brunch, but I will not waste my money or time on another dinner here. Pros: Nice atmosphere Cons: mediocre food more

Great food...good service once you got seated....hostess was a little rude...But I definitely enjoyed my experience. Good place for a date or to just hang out with friends. more

In early March 2007, after searching on citysearch, we came across Brick, which we had been to a few times before. We needed to make a quick decision. It was Saturday night and we wanted to celebrate my husbands birthday of a few days prior. Also, we had just returned to the city early from an out of town trip. We chose Brick so that we did not need a reservation but were surprised to be turned away at the door precisely for that reason by a rude and pretentious hostess. But first we waited for about 20 minutes. Then they sent us to the back by the bar, and finally told us it would be an hour before we could be seated. There was no room at the bar, and it wasn't even a holiday or anything! This was inconvenient and quite irritating. But it actually turned out for the best. We ended up going to an Italian restaurant several blocks away which had this lovely romantic ambiance and a live musician softly singing ballads with his keyboard, stuff like Sting, Billy Joel and even Frank Sinantra. I wish I had picked up a card. It's only a few blocks away from where we live, so we will definitely be returning. Maybe, I'll post it in a follow up. And better yet, we could actually hear each other, avoiding the blaring music, and the loud fad seeking, under 24 & obviously intoxicated, wannabe crowd, which made Brick seem more like a desperate weekend pick-up joint. If that's what you're looking for, Saturday night at Brick will be a haven for you. Just be sure to make the reservation first. In all fairness, I believe this is exclusively the weekend crowd, as I've been there in the past during the week and for Sunday afternoon when it was much more pleasant and the food was very good. Yet never again will we go on a Friday or Saturday evening. Yuck, what a nightmare! Arrgh!!! Pros: During the week & Sunday afternoon: Good food and pleasant ambiance Cons: Not without a reservation on the weekends, which are a nightmare anyway, with blaring music and loud, pretentious, intoxicated, under 24 pick-up crowd. more

I don't even know where to start. I have lived in Astoria for two years and just tried Brick. We arrived about 6:30 p.m. on a Saturday and from the moment we were seated (promptly) to the moment we walked out the door, everything was perfect. \r \r The decor is, as others have mentioned, very cozy and romantic. We had our choice of tables and elected not to sit along the bar of two-person tables in the back and instead chose a seat by the window, which probably made a difference because we didn't feel so crowded.\r \r The food was excellent (I ordered from the extensive list of specials, BF ordered from the menu). BF is very picky about wines and asked for a recommendation from the waiter, who suggested a $26 bottle of pinot noir (second-cheapest one the list) that was absolutely fantastic. BF was impressed that we weren't steered toward a pricier wine. That was just the beginning of an evening of wonderful service from this waiter.\r \r The dinner was good (BF said his steak frites was among the best he's had in NYC), but I have to say that the white chocolate mousse cake we ordered for dessert was unbelievable!!! Rich and creamy, unlike anything I've ever had. Wow. Worth every calorie. The coffee was (very) strong and robust. \r \r We were extremely impressed with Brick and will definitely be back. Pros: Excellent food, wine and coffee; GREAT desserts; great service Cons: Can get crowded, loud more

I come out here from the city at least once a week to dine with friends. The service is always great and the food always delicious. Cute, cozy and an excellant wine list.\r Recommended more

I love the atmosphere. The brunch is good, but I really like their dinner menu. The staff is very helpful and they have a good wine list. more

I've been to Brick several times recently. I agree with previous reviewers about having a few less tables and lowering the volume of the music but overall I really like this restaurant. I especially like the bread and fresh tapenade that's put on the table almost as soon as you sit down. The service is good but low-key. You actually have to ask for the check rather than having it slammed on the table as soon as they clear your plates which I consider a bonus. I always feel like I can sit back and enjoy the end of my drink instead of having to rush off. The evening food is consistently good (haven't had brunch here in a few years) and they have a good wine list. It's definitely a great neighborhood spot. Pros: Salads, wine list, bread and tapenade Cons: Loud music, tables are a bit too close more

It's a cute place for brunch, if you like a kind of fake American country/psuedo Euro atmosphere. E.i., distressed paint trim. The brunch food is decent; not spectacular. The omelets, are a bit overcooked. The eggs should be a little softer and not crispy around the edges. The ricotta sun dried tomato one is fairly good, but I have to agree with other reviewers on the salt. I almost never add salt to food, but it must be added to their omelets, lest they taste like paste. The french toast is disappointing. The menu states that it comes with 'fruit flavored syrup,' but mine came with un-fresh strawberrys (once frozen, with sugar) & whipped cream. I'd prefer something more simple and less frilly than that. The brunch menu is not nearly diverse enough. The typical brunch side dish of fried potatos is boring. Would be better to have a salad or fruit option, if it were an option. The service is good usually, but variable. It's not overly friendly or pushy, which is fine for me. I would prefer to see table clothes on the tables so that I wouldn't have to put my coffee spoon on the table, which doesn't look all that clean. There are deep grooves in the tables, aesthetic, but they have an accumulation of food particles (not mine). One of my biggest problems with Brick is crowding and the noise. The seating for couples is often very close along the side wall. (Those of us with a butt, and mine's not big, have difficulty squeezing through when the tables are all full). They could take out 1 table & it would be better. Intimate conversations on the weekend are tough. There was quite a noisy crowd in there and so we just ate and left. They could seat some people in the back to disperse it, but I guess they want to keep everyone packed together. I'd suggest going to Brick during off-times if you want to talk with someone. Prices are okay. Maybe a bit higher than a diner, but you're getting more service and slightly better food. (I think). Pros: once of the few brunch options in the neighborhood Cons: noisy sometimes, limited menu, dirty tables more

First off, let's get this out of the way -- the food isn't all that great, at least for the price. That said, everything else was wonderful, all that I could have hoped for and more. The decor, the ambience, the crowd, and definitely the staff and service. Overall, it was the best dining experience I have had in recent memory. It was also a wonderfully romantic restaurant. A terrific restaurant for a dinner date. Pros: Service, ambience Cons: Food (ok but not great) more

This is by far my favorite place to eat in Astoria. It can be romantic or just a casual time with friends. I found my favorite wine while eating here which I have yet to find in any store. I totally recommend you try this when going to this wonderful restaurant. The wine is called Terra Del Sol. My favorite is the ravioli's there. Enjoy Bon Appetite! more

Dinner was fantastic! Decent wine list. Great Service. Tons of specials and a diverse menu. I'd been wanting to go to Brick for a long time, and it was totally worth it. It was a bit on the pricey side, but delicious. The Black and White Mousse cake dessert special is still calling my name!! Pros: Great Service and a Great Meal Cons: A bit expensive... more

Every time I go to Brick whether it's for dinner or just for drinks I always have a good time! The service is great, and no matter what I order from the menu it's always delicious. If you want a place you can just go and chill, this is it. Pros: food, music, service Cons: a little bit on the expensive side more

I've been here for dinner twice, the place has a great setting and ambiance. It's a good restaurant to go for a date. The food is pretty good, despite the above - average prices. They serve a little dish of olive pate once your seated - which I think is great. The service puts a damper on an otherwise enjoyable experience. The last time I took my girlfriend there, we saw our busboy more than we saw our waitress, even though it didn't appear to be very busy. She came to the table three times... to give us menus, take our order and give us the check. Needless to say, she didn't make us feel very welcome. Pros: Nice date place, good wines, outdoor seating Cons: Waitstaff was lacking manners and service skills more

I was really excited when I found this place shortly after moving to Astoria because it seemed like it would be a touch of Manhattan in dull Queens. The atmosphere is cute and cozy, with outdoor seating. Ambience-wise, it's a good place for a romantic evening or a quiet dinner with a friend. But I was underwhelmed with the dinner I had there once, and the 2 brunches Ive had since confirmed that the food is just not great. Their french toast is nothing specialslightly better than a dolled up version of Aunt Jemima. An omelet I had was ok, but the bacon was simply disgustingit was fatty, scary looking, and tasted just awful. The prices are not good either (e.g., $4 for a small glass of orange juice!) Service is ok, albeit not terribly warm. Overall, Id say try 718 on Ditmars instead--now that is a phenomenal place. Pros: Ambiance, Outdoor seating Cons: At best mediocre food, Expensive more

We stumbled onto this place after we moved to Astoria. My husband and I go there on 'date' nights and even my teenage stepdaughters love the place. The food is above par and the ambience is so cozy. The bar next door gets hoppin, too. This is probably one of the only places to get a true brunch in Astoria. This is the perfect place to go with friends or on a date, especially if you want to stay close to home or show off your neighborhood. more

Food was bad for the price (risotto was very bad). Service was horrible. Also it was very crowded and noisy for the atmosphere. Maybe in times when it's not crowded it is romantic. more

I live in Astoria. Restraurants in Astoria tend to serve average food in great price. This place serves average food, tiny portion, in high price. I understood that I paid for the deco. Pros: great ambience Cons: small portion more

I had a horrible experience with my shrimp salad, they charged me a fortune for a plate of greens and ONLY 3 small shrimps. I'll never go back! more

We love this place. Food and service are always great. Nice ambiance. However prices are a bit much for Queens and the menu has not been changed in the past 3 years. Pros: friendly, good food Cons: pricey, same menu for years more