Monika’s Cafe Bar

Great Astoria spot! I had beef quesadilla and it was exactly what I needed. A nice mid-​sized appetizer and just enough to hold me over for the day. They have free wifi, which makes it a great place to do some work as well.

Better known as Café Bar to Astoria locals…
What a cute spot! I came here for an early dinner on a Thursday (around 5:30pm) and there were a few tables with people. We sat inside, unfortunately, but that’s because we had to do work and needed Wifi and no glare from the sun. The nice part is, all the doors are open so you still get an outdoor vibe even if you’re inside. Plus, trees are a part of the interior décor.
We shared the guacamole appetizer and it was fine. For my entrée I got the earth bowl and added tempeh. Though they originally forgot to put the tempeh on, the waiter was very quick to bring me a side order of it. Now, I’m not one to leave food behind, but the portion was so huge I had no choice but to leave some quinoa behind. Sad Jackie couldn’t join the clean plate club. However, the bowl was absolutely delicious. It was fresh and packed with superfoods. Café Bar is one of those hidden healthyish food places with unhealthy options, but everything is great quality so you still feel like you’re sticking to your diet.
The service is good, the prices are normal, AND you can sit outside. Excellent.

I like the atmosphere very trendy & relaxed. The food is awesome! The first time I went I wasn’t blown away. But the second time I came I had their fish tacos and that blew me away they are amazing! Thanks to chef Ayme, he’s the best thing that happened to this place!

Yum!!! I had Brunch here a few weeks ago and it was delicious. From sausage, to potatoes to halumi cheese! I will definitely return. The bloody marry was pretty tasty as well. I will be back. The service was superb as well!

I absolutely love this place. It’s probably my favorite neighborhood restaurant, even though I’ve only been here twice, which is probably just an indication that I should come more often. Both of my meals here were absolutely wonderful — from food, to service, to atmosphere, I can’t think of anything that could have made either experience better.
During my first dining experience several months ago, I ordered what used to be called the «vegan plate,» which was essentially a vegetable dish with several sides and dips. I remember having seared brussels sprouts, quinoa pilaf, and a delicious red pepper dip, among other things. The dish was fairly priced for its enormous size, and I was very pleased with the dedicated vegan entrée on the menu.
I dined here yesterday evening for dinner and noticed that Monika’s has since redesigned their menu. It is more or less the same, with some old offerings gone and replaced with newer, better sounding ones. For example, the earth bowl that I ordered seems to have replaced the previously-​titled «vegan plate.» This bowl is an improved iteration of meal for veggie lovers, replete with a base of gluten free grains (quinoa and buckwheat), shredded carrots and cabbage, roasted sweet potatoes, perfectly spiced roasted chickpeas, avocado, and a medley of sauteed vegetables (spinach, zucchini, pepper, mushrooms) — topped off with tahini sauce. I added a side order of maple seared tempeh to my bowl after noticing it on the sides menu. This dish is positively enormous (enough to feed 2, or to promise leftovers), and unbelievably delicious. I was so impressed with the flavor of the sweet potatoes and chickpeas in particular, and the overall value. For $ 16, this is a lot of food, and it’s well prepared, healthful, and nourishing.
My mom ordered the veggie burger on a tapioca bun, with added goat cheese, and she was very pleased with her meal as well. I think the veggie burger is also new, and I look forward to returning to eat that myself in the near future! Beyond these offerings, there are a number of small plates/​sides, tacos, salads, and even desserts that are suitable for vegans/​vegetarians. These options are somewhat limited in Astoria, so I very much appreciate Monika’s for catering to people with various dietary restrictions. That being said, one note: I don’t think there is a single vegan option on the brunch menu! I wonder if the chefs could put one together; I’d totally be by all the time if there was.
Bonus: the drinks here are pretty amazing, and also on the cheap side. They have cocktails in the $ 10 range, which is sort of unheard of by New York City standards. Their seasonal cocktail menu shifts regularly, and these offerings deliver on both inventiveness and flavor. Last night I had a vodka-​based drink with triple sec, pear juice, cucumber, and basil. It was a perfect spring/​summer drink.
Delicious food and drinks aside, the service here is great. Our server brought my mom a flower for Mother’s Day last night, which was so sweet and sums up our experience with the wait staff. Numerous employees, beyond just our dedicated server, came by to make sure we were enjoying our meal, somehow managing to do so without being at all intrusive.

Very nice set up and vegan selections. The staff was attentive and friendly. Outdoor seating in the warmer weather is just lovely.

Having been a regular at Monika’s for years now I finally realized I should’ve written a review long ago. Well, here it is! Their new menu, most especially the Earth Bowl, will turn any carnivore into a vegetarian in a minute. I highly recommend it! During brunch hours you can get a poached egg on top. You also must try the vegan dessert selections. That’s right, I said vegan! Simply outstanding. Staff and management are very professional and friendly and the atmosphere is very cozy, day or night. Don’t wait! Go there now!

Great food, amazing drinks, fantastic ambiance, and friendly service!
We love the fish tacos, halliumi spinach fritters and of course the very berry mojito!

I don’t write too many reviews on Unilocal,but Café Bar NEEDS me to acknowledge their service. I went here for brunch this past Sunday with a couple friends and the service was perfect. The manager asked us how everything was during our meal, our coffee cups and water glasses were always full, and the food was perfection. I left asking myself why I have t made this such a regular spot?

The best fish tacos u can have !!!
Great staff great atmosphere.
I always end up coming back here.

Love the ambiance and atmosphere! Service is a bit slow which can get annoying if your really hungry or I’m a rush. Food is usually really good which is why I like coming here but today my salmon tastes a little fishy which I’m not happy with. But I’ll still eat it because I don’t like to waste food. Oh and they allow you to bring your dog to sit outside :) that’s the best!

Amazing ambiance, great atmosphere. Our bartender George had great attention to detail and kept us Satisfied

This is an alright brunch spot. I had the English breakfast with a bellini, Earl Grey tea, and a Hot Buttered Rum. My meal was good and reasonably priced, with the exception of my tea which was an absurd $ 3.67! Sorry, but that is a crazy amount for a single cup of tea.
Additionally, our waiter wasn’t very attentive to our table and every time we needed something we had to flag him down. When our meals came out, there wasn’t even utensils on the table.
Overall, it’s a cute little place and the food is decent, but between the service and price for tea, I can’t see me coming back here any time soon.

Café Bar is the gift to Astoria/​LIC that keeps on giving. The locals know it as Monica’s after the elusive owner rumored to be depicted in the seductively posed and birthday suit clad stained glass art-​piece that once adorned the rear wall of the bar. The official name is Café Bar but however you know this eclectic gem of a spot, there’s little debate as to the quality and taste of their awesome recipes.
I’m not a vegetarian, I eat vegetarians. But my absolute favorite menu item from Café Bar is the vegetarian dish. It comes with an excellent quinoa component and my favorite spiced mushrooms. The side dips rule too.
Staff is generally friendly and efficient. My only gripe is that the cook keeps screwing-​up the temperature on my burgers: I order medium rare and I typically receive medium-​well. They always offer to change it it and I never take them up on it. I just wish that they get it right the first time.
PS ½ price bottle of wine on Mondays and Tuesdays!

Love, love, LOVE this place! Perfect neighborhood café for a relaxing dinner or happy hour. The staff is welcoming, and the atmosphere is so relaxed, I never feel rushed to pay my tab and get out so they can turn the table. Everyone on the patio kind of hangs out and talks to other tables — great crowd. And very dog friendly outside too!
I highly recommend the kale salad with butternut squash, feta cheese, apples, and a pomegranate vinaigrette. The rancheros are also authentic and tasty if you stop by for brunch. If you just want a snack you can order a single taco or quesadilla for a couple bucks — the steak tacos are great. Happy hour in the afternoon, and different drink specials every night. Great local spot.

What an eclectic looking place! Monika’s is a cute café/​bar with an interesting variety of dinner and brunch options with a Mediterranean influence. I came here for brunch which is served from 10am-​5pm (long right?) Each entrée comes with a free Mimosa, Bloody Mary or Bellini which is nice. Pay a bit extra, you can get all boozied up as much as you’d like for 1 hour.
I ended up ordering the Cypriot Breakfast which was good. The plate consists of Fried Eggs, Greek Sausage, Grilled Halloumi, Olives, Tomatoes and Homefries. I ordered my eggs poached and unfortunately they were overcooked but since the place was very busy, I ate them anyway. Even though the eggs were a bit of a disappointment, the sausage and grilled halloumi were a nice touch and the star of the meal. Its makes for a different take on breakfast sausage and sides. My free Bellini was okay although a bit watered down.
Overall, my brunch was good. I think there were a few errors cooking-​wise, but I would come back for another visit for their dinner options.
Also! I don’t know if this is a big factor… but you can bring your dog to brunch. Outside area of course.

The brunch is great.
Really loved The brunch I had here. I ordered the Mediterranean breakfast which came with sausage eggs, potatoes and mimosas. For an additional $ 10 you can pay to get unlimited mimosas for two hours. The place is really cool artwork and the ambience is also really cool it makes you feel like you are in someone’s eclectic living room. I would definitely recommend this place for brunch drinks and all around good time.

I’ve enjoyed Café Bar for years. I used to live and work in the area and we got take out from here for lunch quite regularly. I’m a fan of the fish tacos especially, although it has been a couple years since I’ve had the chance to indulge.
Most recently I visited Café Bar for brunch. They have some great options for meals that come with a choice of cocktail. Their Bloody Mary, although quite small, packs a punch. It has good flavor, plenty of spice, and just enough booze.
I decided to get the English, which features two poached eggs atop English muffin halves, home fries made with mushrooms and green beans, baked beans, grilled tomato, and bacon. Overall, I really enjoyed the dish. It’s kind of all over the place, but hits a lot of flavors I enjoy. The freshness of the tomato is great, along with the delicious beans, and nicely flavored potatoes. There was a HUGE pile of bacon which I didn’t finish, but no worries. My only real complaint is that my poached eggs were completely solid. No runny yolk. Not even a drop.
I didn’t complain or send it back. I didn’t want to make my fellow diners wait for my food since we were on a schedule. Overall I still enjoyed the dish but really missed that runny yolk.
Although I love the fish tacos, and overall have had decent experiences at Café Bar (and will continue to return because there’s rarely a wait, there’s great outdoor seating, and it’s super close to my friends’ apartment), it’s not my absolute favorite by any means. The menu is ethnically diverse yet pretty limited. You don’t have tons of choices.
Overall, I think Café Bar is a good option if you’re in the area, but I don’t think it’s the BEST option.

As a writer living off 34^th avenue who is always looking for a chill spot to write at, I genuinely appreciate this place. Especially in the summer, when the outdoor tables are set up on this uncharacteristically quiet block in Astoria. Their brunch menu is varied and fantastic. The eggs Benedict salad is literally the only salad I’ve ever ordered purposefully, even when I’m not «trying to be good.»
Not to mention, while this place does get busy, it’s never so jam packed that i feel bad taking up a whole table to myself. Free wifi further sweetens the deal.
If you’re looking for a laid back outdoor brunch spot, I highly recommend. You won’t be disappointed.

Love the atmosphere here. Very relaxed and laid-​back.
I had the Tsoureki French Toast with Blueberry Compote and thought it was very good. Also had their sweet potato fries and couldn’t stop eating them.
Perfect restaurant for a weekend brunch.

The French have a great expression:
Comme Ci, Comme Ça.