I would be remiss if I didn’t write about Cafe Riviera in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. It is a great Polish pastry shop on Manhattan Ave. Ela and I make it a point to stop there whenever we are in Greenpoint. The ambiance is great and has a European flair to it. There are 8 to 10 small tables against the wall where you can sit to have a coffee and pastry. My favorite is the one right by the front window where I can watch people on Manhattan Ave. I usually end up waiting for Ela there while she is off shopping.
The coffee is very good. I usually take my coffee black without sugar, but they add steamed milk to their regular coffee. Add a little brown sugar and you got a great concoction. I guess you can get the same at Starbucks, but certainly not for a dollar. Also, don’t like the coffee at Starbucks as it is too strong
The pastries are delectable. I don’t think we have had a bad one yet. It looks like you can pre-order cakes and other items as we saw people collecting specialty cakes.
The line to order can be long, but moves pretty quickly. Sometimes the line is empty and a moment latter can be ten deep. Finding a table can be a challenge as people like me can monopolize one for an hour or more.
In my opinion Café Riviera is the jewel of Greenpoint. It is almost worth making a special trip to visit.
The only U.S. place that I have been to similar was La Renaissance in Larchmont, NY, which has closed. There is one in Scarsdale, NY, but I haven’t been there.
The contact information for Café Riviera is:
830 Manhattan Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11222
(718) 383-8450
