Ciao For Now

Thanks to an online coupon I got which offers $40 charge for $20, I brought my cousin and my boyfriend to this brunch hot spot in East Village. It was a gloomy and rainy day. We walked in to this small but welcoming restaurant/bakery and were happy we made it here. After browsing through the menu and sampled some of their delicious baked goods, we were seated after 20 minutes of wait. But God it is worth it. We ordered the Gypsy Toast, Huevos Verdes, and Italian Job Omelet. They were kind of slow and I am guessing they don't really have a lot of kitchen staff. However, I really enjoy the atmosphere and the food itself just made me forget about the wait! They use only fresh organic ingredients here but they don't charge premium prices for that, which I find it rare and surprising. My fluffy French Toast uses challah bread so it is very soft and fluffy. My cousin's omelet was amazing too. The egg was cooked just right and there was plenty of green pepper, chicken sausage and cheese inside. Last but not the least, my boyfriend's huevos verdes was unique and delicious. It is served with green salsa, sour cream and guacamole, the Mexican twist of omelet. It was a great brunch we had and I am so glad I found a great spot just couple blocks away. Who says Organic has to be pricey? You can find amazing organic brunch right at Ciao for Now! more

No outlets or wireless. Was near empty when I went and I won't be back. Guess they don't want to be sociable. more

The Ginger Snaps (perfectly crunchy on the outside yet nice and soft towards the center), Raspberry Bars (fruity and buttery at the same time), very refreshing Strawberry Lemonade and Very Veggie Soup (you feel energized after eating one delicious bowl)are a few musts! Their recession special comes with a main dish, salad and mini dessert for a mere 8 bucks!! I could go on and I will. Their Fresh Mozzarella Sandwiches (grilled to perfection), Beet Salad, Tofu Salad (delicious dressing), Maple Pecan Sticky Buns (gooey goodness), Mini Cupcakes (just enough sweetness and perfectly bite sized) and Not a Frittata (kind of like a hand held omelet/crust less Quiche)are all so delicious I wish there were more than three meals in a day. I'm feel so lucky that I work nearby. Go and try it. You'll be happy you did. Pros: friendly staff more

Thank you for opening on Ave A! I can get those great soups in 3 min's instead of 10! I'll still come to 12th St. on the weekend though, because your brunch is awesome, and I miss the employee's. Next time I will have the Huevos. I reccomend the french toast, I had almonds or some kind of unique flavor, I just remember it was tasty. Pros: beautiful cafe, great employee's, everything I have tried I've loved. Cons: Crowded sometimes more

Cute coffee shop with great sticky buns and coffee! I wouldn't hesitate to eat other treats and food here... more

i found this cozy place through a friend who's husband works nearby. if it hadn't been for her i would've never found this cute, cozy & homey place! i love their salads!~ you won't regret your choice on any of their food! Pros: great food, cozy atmosphere, reasonable price Cons: not too many tables more

I've tried and tried - neighborhood after neighborhood, block by block - to find a better bakery, to find a better place for breakfast -- and have failed miserably. Simply no other place in Manhattan (and perhaps the world) offers such a delicious array of variations on traditional breakfast pastries. The coffee (from some organic beanery in the Catskill's) is great, and the people who work there light up your morning every day. This tiny place is full of love, light, great music, incredible smells, and many neighborhood regulars. You have to try for yourself -- if you're like me, you'll make a serious consideration about moving to the area, just to have your mornings start off in such a perfect way. See you there! Pros: extremely fresh pastr, fabulous vibe, great music and staff Cons: weak WiFi signal more

Iced coffee or hot coffee, Ciao for Now has a really nice blend w/o any bitter aftertaste. Sometimes they ask if you want your iced coffee sweetened w/maple syrup. A plus. The cuteness factor merely enhancs the coffee due to the colorful straws and great desserts. Pros: quirky workers, books and magazines, laid back more