Fanelli Cafe

I have been here a few times, for overpriced, small glasses of wine, in the crowded, underheated interior, and some decent lunches. They don't cook a Croque Monsieur properly, and the fries are hit and miss. But after my last visit, I will never go back. After waiting close to an hour during the workday for a salmon sandwich, it was uncooked--raw in the middle, not safe to eat. And this was not the first time that I had been there and someone at the table was served undercooked meat (in that case, a beyond rare burger). The waitress was barely apologetic, though they did take it off my check. Even the fries were inedible--overcooked. I just wasted an hour of my life--don't waste your time or money. Cons: Didn't get to eat more

Went here late at night on 1/13/09 and sat in back room by the kitchen. It was cold and snowing that night and I took off my gloves and put them on the table where they remained throughout my meal. I left without taking them and didn't realize they were gone until I started down the street. When I went back to my table less than 5 minutes later my gloves were gone...and out table hadn't even been cleared yet. When I inquired with the waitress and hostess they were incredibly rude to me. I am convinced one of the employees took my gloves as there was nobody else in this back room as it was after 1 am. I asked the waitress to ask the kitchen staff if they'd seen the gloves and she reluctantly went back there for about a nano-second to "ask around". She and the hostess were annoyingly rude to me when I asked to speak to the manager as somebody had to have the gloves. They said there was no manager and I could call tomorrow (keep in mind the gloves were on this table only 5 minutes ago and it was snowing outside). Pay your employees better wages so they don't take your customer's belongings. THE FOOD WAS JUST OKAY. Pros: Open late at night Cons: Rude staff more

Well folks, here we have a real New York legend. Fanelli's has been around since SOHO was inhabited by artists -- not the ultra-rich or the kitsch. To go to Fanelli's is to go expecting an experience as well as good, decent food. Do not go with an attitude or looking for haute cuisine. Firstly, the staff is replete with a good, solid sense of neighborhood and customer service. The matire'd is excellent and even in the throes of a large crowd, she is in control and treats everyone equally. She is a pleasure to deal with. The food is good. As the previous reviewer mentioned, the sandwiches, salads, brunch menu, hamburgers, basic pasta and deserts are well made and can stand up to any menu that another, higher-priced restaurant can offer. First of all, the 2VillageGirls love their vodka so we focussed on the drinks first. We had vodka, seltzer with a splash of cranberry juice. Perfectly mixed drink. We then shared the pumpkin raviolli in alfredo sauce and a vegetarian dish of squash filled with cheese and vegetables. I found that the pumpkin was robust and nicely seasoned. It stood up to the sauce. There was too much alfredo sauce, however, but it was good and you could taste the various ingredients which was a a very nice touch to the pumpkin in the ravioli. The squash dish was great. Nicely cooked and flavored. The deserts were also quite good: chocolate moose, although a bit cold at first, was substantial and sensuous. We also had a fruit tart that was fresh and very good. Both were served with whipped cream. This is another one of those local places where you want to establish a relationship with the history by going on off-hours. It gets very crowded (for its size) on the weekends. All-in-all, a great experience and a great meal. more

I've been here dozens of times, but I don't recall ever ordering anything besides a burger. So I can't speak on the other menu items, but the burgers are decent and so are the fries. This place feels more like a bar that serves food (as opposed to feeling like a regular restaurant), so don't expect haute cuisine and you probably won't be disappointed. It's casual, friendly, and inexpensive -- one of the few such places in SoHo. So many bars play really loud music, making it impossible to talk to your companions. Not Fanelli's -- you can actually chat with your friends! The waitresses are always friendly and competent as well. Pros: good burgers, inexpensive, friendly waitresses Cons: gets crowded more

the bar is nice, food is not. eat burger and sandwiches, dont eat the chicken or the pasta. its awful. Pros: great bar Cons: dont eat dinner here.only bar food more

This is one of our 3 favorite bars in New York. The big crowds and cramped spaces prevents it from reaching the number one spot. But still, it's a great place. A friendly crowd, nice-looking waitresses, (including the goddess, Ellen), and an old New York atmosphere makes this a relaxing and fun place despite the apparent madhouse. It's also one of the few places you can get Taddy Porter.. a great beer that's a bit sweeter than Guinness, but just as satisfying. --Drink Club is a roving group of NYC drinkers. Pros: beer selection, food, atmosphere, Cons: too cramped more

This is an old time bar/restaurant in Soho similar to the White Horse Tavern in the West Village or Walker's in Tribeca. The food is good and reasonably priced as is the beer ($4.50 for a bottle of Coors Light), however the service that we received from bartender left something to be desired. He was more interested in carrying on a conversation with his chums that it took a while to get his attention. There's nothing wrong with taking care of your regulars, however if you're trying to attract new clientele, that's not the way to go about it. The decor is pretty plain with the exception of numerous boxing photos on the wall. No music at all, there is 1 tv so the volume noise depends on the number of people in the place and their conversations. It seemed to attract a mid 30's crowd with a 1 or 2 eccentrics hanging by themselves reminiscing about Lakewood. The bathrooms are in average condition. If you're looking for a quick meal, it's not bad however you're probably better off getting service from the waitress and not at the bar. Pros: Food Cons: Service more

Good place to go if you want a good quick bite and convenient if seeing a movie at Angelika. The grilled chicken salad was delicious. It seems like the last "real" old-timers hangout in SoHo - very refreshing to see that people still enjoy old New York charm. Ambiance is relaxed and not trendy - sound of laughter can carry and be a pain if you are trying to have a conversation (bars shouldn't be super quiet anyway but that's the only negative). Overall a great bar to keep in your mind when in SoHo after work or when you just want to get away from the trendy crowd. Pros: relaxed, comfortable, good food Cons: noisy more

this is the real deal, a fun place to hang don't expect A line service it can be crowded and rushed and very loud but you are enjoying a bit of old New York history in the process, great to share a cute little bite nice pastas, and cute little pizzas for two to share over a beer or a glass of wine...the crowd is also friendly there and it is a nice place to rendez-vous.... Pros: the historic feel, the yummy fare, good for a quick pop Cons: parking, can be uber loud, tables too small more

Just because something's old and has been around a long time doesn't necessarily make it good. Fanelli's got a great location - an easy draw for the artists still in SoHo, the models and hipsters and the folks who chase after them and the tourists - which is what it's got going for it. You're not going to go there for the cuisine, it's a social scene. Service is brusque, food is ok, surroundings are dark and old. Can be extremely crowded during happy hour and weekends Pros: Convenient Cons: Crowded, Service is shakey, Dark more

Truly great burgers have long been a mainstay in this the quintissential neighborhood pub. Unpretentious. A tribute to NYC, and that despite the change in the neighborhood. Bring a book, have a beer and a burger, and revel in a New York tradition. The service has never been equal to the establishment. Pros: Burgers, Beer, No pretentions Cons: Service more

Fanelli's has consistently delivered--their burger is unarguably the best in the entire city. Unbelievable! Amazing pesto sauce, crab cakes to dies for, etc. The prices are extremely reasonable. This place is such a legend and NY staple. I saw Claire Danes eating there awhile ago. It has a lot of appeal and although nothing fancy, it has it's own charm. Unpretentious and straight to the point! It's the second oldest restaurant in NYC, and you can see why it has lasted all this time. Can be quite busy. Pros: FOOD, Prices, NYC Legend Cons: crowded more

I limit the amount of red meat I eat. Fanelli's is the only place that I will eat a rare burger. The burgers are not patties and come as you order them. With a side of blue cheese and fries you will be in 7th heaven. My friends rave about the turkey and buffalo burgers served here also. And, the prices are all below $8.00! Pros: separate non-smoking, great casual place, good cheap drinks Cons: wait sometimes needed more

it's a nice room, (at least the front part is), but don't expect any charm from the staff. The fact that you are a paying customer doesn't seem to matter to these people. Service is inattentive, staff treat you like YOU are the problem, and are not particularly friendly. - it's a bit of a tourist trap for SoHo shoppers and tourists who confuse 'old' with 'real New York'. if you want 'real', try one of the places in the East Village or Alphabet City. staff seem to appreciate your business over there. Pros: Nice Room, good location Cons: staff, rude waitresses, Surly bar staff more

It's amazing this old-time place still exists in mall-ified Soho. Great place to get a beer and a cheap bite to eat when you need a break from all the stores and tourist madness. Always packed and smoky. more