Green Cafe

This place is LITERALLY downstairs from my office, and I’m swearing off spending any money or sending anyone here.
First offense: they sell rice, but only as a weighed part of their buffet. So you’ll end up dropping 5 – 8 dollars for a serving of rice.
2^nd offense: their iced coffee maker needs a serious cleaning. The ice coffee always tastes off; like I’m drinking coffee scum.
3^rd offense: this is partially my fault, but going in there at 1:15 pm means there’s a crazy long line. I was looking to purchase a bottle of soy sauce, but was deterred by the line. I grab 3 packets of the soy sauce and walked out. One of the coworkers decided to chase me out the store and into my office building… for 3 packets of soy sauce. I offered to pay him for it, but he snatched it out of my hands and stormed off.
Really?
They are literally still in business because they are convenient.

Don’t ever get the sushi here. It could be the worst I have ever had. Now I don’t expect amazing when I purchase the premade rolls at the sushi counter but this tasted absolutely horrible.
They do have flavored ice coffee which I enjoy just heads up about the sushi

Anyone know why they closed and if they plan to reopen?

It’s my go to when I want a cheap and satisfying meal. They have a full salad bar with fresh fruit and yogurt. Their hot meals can sometimes have surprises like corn beef and cabbage, shrimp dishes, platanos. They’re stocked with chips and snacks, wraps and sandwiches to order. Their variety is enormous, so you’ll find something to eat. If you go after 4pm, you can get a free drink and 3 cookies to go with your meal if it’s ten bucks. The cookies are really yummy.

This restaurant makes pretty decent sandwiches and has a huge salad and hot food bar which seems to be pretty good as long as you get there during a busy time. Otherwise, I wouldn’t necessarily trust the quality of the food and how long it might be sitting out for. There’s a large array of other items like cookies and other nosh to choose from as well.

you know, when i go into green i have a premonition that even though they have a million choices for lunch, i’m still going to walk out with nothing… my story goes a lil sum-​in’ like dis…
*walk-​in to a nicely lit a little overwhelming amount of food (buffet style, crazy choices of salads, knicknacks, etc (and who the hell even says knicknacks anymore?)
*everyone that works there looks like they’re on crack shouting orders and don’t really make any sense (i once saw a guy with a deli apron outside directing traffic – don’t know what that was about)
*if you want your lunch to be under $ 10 fuggedaboutit… a pound of food is $ 9 (buffet) and sammiches are 8 or so… plus drinks – unless you want to drink air… or condensed water from the air conditioners (and i’ve done it before – doesn’t taste very delicious)
*walk out (go to maoz)

There are plenty of food choices here for the discerning luncher. Yeah, the same choices as any other deli, but if it’s the closest place, consider yourself a winner!
My sandwich, which involved cajun chicken, was acceptable lunchfare. The price was right and the number of free add-​ons was good. The food was made quickly and there was a variety of «sides» (read: chips and stuff) to fill out my meal. Tears for the salad bar which is tucked away in the other side of the place and hidden out of sight, though.
They have a huge flat screen blaring CNN for those that can’t get enough news during lunch. I dunno, I prefer not to hear about the violent crimes plaguing our society during lunch. Save that shit for dinner, yo.
They actually came around and served people their food — I’m guessing warm dishes only so you don’t have to stand around waiting, because my cold sammich was ready like SNAP.
Didn’t see a bathroom. Tears. I guess lunch only and you’re on your own for later?

The most important thing that this places offers is convenience. I work near here and there is nothing better than going to the same place everyday and still have so many options of things to buy.
Don’t buy their salmon, it’s dry and gross. But do get their white fish with some green veggies. Their pancakes are really good. Their break fast is a pretty good deal. I love to get their salmon avocado roll as well.
They recently raised their prices a bit though…

I really wanted to like this place. I really did… unfortunately that didnt happen. This review is mostly regarding the buffet.
First I would mention the positive things, because there are definitely some.
The service is very quick and efficient, the first time I came there the line seemed to be somewhat long and I thought it would take some time, but it didn’t.
Also, they have a lot of choices, from a buffet which also includes fruits and cottage cheese, to many sandwiches, it seems like there’s an option for anyone, even the really picky ones.
I came there for the buffet, because I love my food to be warm and somewhat seem homemade and I also love to have choices. There is a good amount of things to choose from including a salad bar, however I must say I wanted there to be more, because I have had much more before.
And now to the worst part for me. The buffet is $ 8 per pound. The first time I came there i took a good amount of food but i was hoping it would run me a max of $ 10 but oooh was I wrong when I was rung $ 15 and there was nothing I could to about it.
I came here a second time, thinking that I just took too much food the first time around. i took much less and although this was at 4 pm, the price was still the same per pound and it ended up being a little over $ 11. What was worse, is that I wasnt even completely full after finishing eating it.
I was thinking of giving it a third try, because sometimes third time is the charm, but I just decided that Im just going to rely on a cheap favorite of mine from now on, being subway.

I love this place. The employees are warm and gregarious, the selection (sandwiches, pastries, snacks) broad and fresh.
For $ 3.25 they made a warm, crispy sandwich for me that wasn’t even on the menu. What’s more, they remember you when you return and make the effort to cheer you up while you wait in line to make payment.
Worth the visit — especially if you’re staying next door at the Helmsley, whose food is overpriced and far less satisfying.

Stopped in here for a quick lunch today. I had a wonderful turkey and brie sandwich on a baguette with honey mustard, tomato, and greens. They’ll even heat it up for you if you ask (I didn’t, but only because I was running late). The other sandwiches and paninis looked enticing as well.
The salad bar was getting a lot of action during my visit — wide variety of options there, but I didn’t linger on it, so I can’t speak to it too in depth.
What I can speak to is the price — this place is, in my opinion, a bit on the expensive side. I spent a bit over $ 10 on my sandwich (which was, to its credit, of decent size) and an apple tea (another kudos to this place: they have a great drink selection). Ouch on the wallet, but the food was fresh and good, so I guess at least I got what I paid for: delicious, fresh food.

their by the pound salad bar has so much good stuff and it gets cheaper as the day gets late. some stuff does dry out a bit but 95% of it is still fresh enough to enjoy for a discount! and it’s really damn tasty.
you know how usually you get a little of some mystery salad that looks good but you’re not sure it’s going to be good? that didn’t happen here. it was good.

i’ve been raving about this place to everyone!
all this time i thought this place was called the «greenmarket» silly me. that’s the Union Square Greenmarket, not «Green Café»! anyway… i’m literally steps away from this establishment– so i walk by it all the time. i used to think this place was like every other deli around– but i was corrected! located conveniently next to the W hotel & CVS– and across from Haru.
fine smells would waft in the air. do i smell chicken teriyaki? red snapper? mango & halibut? oh my… goodness! then instantaneously– you smell key lime, cheesecakes, scones, parfaits, and other delectable sweetness from fruits. what is this place!!! it’s sure NOT a typical deli, i’ll tell you that.
from fresh sushi (or pre-​packaged), salad bar, fresh juices & teas, fruit bowls, pastries, breads, snacks, candy, and a boastful buffet (by the pound $ 5.99, after dark… ½ price!). it’s not a buffet with a few pieces of steak or fried shrimp or something. this stuff is very well prepared and thought-​out. they cater to the dozens. veggie lovers, seafood lovers, meat lovers, chinese food lovers, italian, curries, and another salad section. fresh, wonderfully displayed, and smelling… this has become my new lunch hot-​spot. plus, i could just get a little bit of everything and end up paying like $ 3.35. to have a piece of every fish??? i think that’s a great deal. i bring it to work and wrap it all up in a tortilla wrap. soooooo delicious.
my favorites are the Cajun Salmon, Mango Halibut, Teriyaki Salmon and the Shrimp Ball (it melts in your mouth!).