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    Vanilla Gorilla Cafe

    4.4 (224 reviews)
    Open 7:00 am - 7:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

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    VANILLA GORILLA CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Trendy
    Moderate noise
    Dogs allowed

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    Hannah H.

    About a 1-1.5: Vanilla Gorilla Cafe is considered an artisan coffee shop - their menu offers hot and iced beverages, sandwiches, and bakery items. We came here before a show to get some caffeine fix: +a Mocha Choca Caramel Latte - the house's signature espresso with milk chocolate cocoa, caramel drizzle, and steamed milk layers +a Chai Latte - with oat milk +and, an Iced Peach Tea Unfortunately, the drinks were pretty terrible - the lattes tasted like steamed milk, but you couldn't taste anything else; the peach tea was one of the worst, as something was wrong with the green tea that was mixed in, or the water wasn't filtered correctly? The staff were very sweet and kind; they are able to replace/remake your drinks, but even our replacements were awful... There is a good number of seating, and it was a nice little quiet spot in the middle of Times Square/Theater District. Restrooms require a code. +awful drinks +friendly service

    Sara L.

    I woke up at 4:00am to catch a metro train, to an Amtrak train, to see my friend on his wedding day in NYC. Needless to say, caffeine was needed as soon as I got into the city. Vanilla Gorilla was on my way to our meeting spot so I ran in, and had my oat milk latte in had less than two minutes later. I wish I'd tried one of the hot honey lattes but I was too tired to think to deviate from my usual order. I appreciated their speed and the latte was smooth. 10/10 would return.

    Menu
    Kristyn S.

    Was in town for work.... Great spot! Clean, friendly and good coffee! Iced vanilla latte & iced americano were perfect! Breakfast sandwiches were good as well! Staff was friendly and quick!

    Rane S.

    Not a bad cafe, tons of space to study/work. They charge 3% extra for using a credit card, if I knew, I'd pay cash; I had cash on me. Service was not bad and order comes out fairly quick. A bit expensive, I got a small latte and a sandwich, was $19 bucks.

    Lauren S.

    Vanilla Gorilla Cafe in New York, NY (Hell's Kitchen). Have you heard of a "PASTRINO"? It's an amazing original creation found only at @vanillagorillacafe! A Hot and Buttery Flat Croissant is wrapped around your favorite ingredients making it a wonderful hand held snack! I tried the breakfast pastrino and it did not disappoint! Definitely don't miss out on the freshly baked goods and the speciality coffees here. Such a great place to hang while you enjoy their tasty treats! Insta: @thehungrysw PUMPKIN SPICE LATTE GORILLA MOCHA CHILLA BREAKFAST PASTRINO- Hot and Buttery Flat Croissant Wrapped Around Two Farm Fresh Scrambled Eggs, Savory Bacon, Tomato & Melted Aged White SMOKED SALMON SANDWICH- Smoked Salmon layered with Fresh Cucumbers, Pickled Onions and Capers on a Bed of Cream Cheese - Ciabatta or Multi Grain Bread. ALMOND CROISSANT- Layers of hot and buttery pastry dough filled with our decadent, homemade almond cream, topped with sliced almonds

    Breakfast Pastrino
    Jillian B.

    Stopped by for a delicious brunch before sightseeing in the area. We ordered a smoked salmon pastrino and the breakfast pastrino. Out of the two, the breakfast pastrino was my favorite, though I do wish it had a bit more egg/Bacon inside. I really enjoyed the wrap, which is slightly sweet and a bit flaky. Larger interior than most cafes with plenty of seating. Service was friendly as well and food came out fresh but quickly. Would recommend!

    Breakfast Pastrino
    Amy E.

    We were looking for a cafe or breakfast spot where we could get a good coffee and a freshly made breakfast sandwich. The breakfast oadtrino was great, unique and exactly what we were looking for. The coffee was great, too. The cafe was located conveniently near our hotel--the Hilton in Times Square. For about $40, we got coffee and breakfast for two. It's also a great place to sit and do work while enjoying breakfast or coffee!

    Jerry D.

    Small intimate space, the smell of coffee is in the air. The staff was super cool. I got me a nice strong espresso and a pumpkin spice latte. Both were very good!

    Reuben Pastrino
    Allen V.

    Came across this spot while looking for a quick bite before starting my day. Walked in to a clean and well decorated place. Arrived a little before 1pm on a Thursday and they were limited on seats so we opt for take out. Ordered the Reuben Pastrino and give it a 4.5/5 because I'm a saucy person and wish it had more sauce. Iced matcha 3.5/5 I had a hard time tasting the matcha flavor but still taste good Iced peach tea 4/5 strong peach flavor and yummy tea, wish I had added syrup for extra sweetness Overall a pretty decent spot if you're looking for something quick and easy.

    Butter Croissant
    Simone E.

    Was looking for breakfast while at work and stumbled across here. I ordered a Small Iced Vanilla Latte with oat milk and a Butter Croissant via Uber Eats. The total on Uber Eats was $17.93. When it arrived, the bag came neatly packaged with their logo on the front. There was no spillage inside (which I appreciate). The coffee itself wasn't my favorite. There wasn't enough of the vanilla flavoring and it wasn't as potent as I wanted it to be. Now the croissant, was just as described, buttery, not too flakey, and not hard at all. The portion wasn't disappointing as well. I finished it very quickly and I could honestly say I would've had another one! Overall, I feel like I personally won't order coffee here again, but I would look at their baked goods.

    Rachel E.

    I was in NYC for a day trip and wanted to grab a quick lunch on my way from the train station to the theater where I was catching a matinee. Vanilla Gorilla ended up being the perfect choice! I arrived around noon on a weekday and there was plenty of seating available. Service was quick and friendly. I ordered a Iced Hazel-Nut'n Honey Latte and Chicken Club Pastrino. The latte was very good, although the hazelnut and honey flavors were subtle. As someone with a major sweet tooth who likes their lattes on the sweetest end of the flavor spectrum, I might try one of their other flavors next time. The Pastrino was delicious and filling. The ingredients were fresh, and the croissant wrap had a light but chewy texture with a crispy outside. The flavor and texture were both excellent. I couldn't resist also getting a S'mores Cookie from the bakery case, and it was as delicious as it looked. Soft and chewy with a great S'mores flavor. Overall, the meal was a great value for the quality and portion size. The dining room was clean and comfortable, and they had free wi-fi. I'll be back again the next time I'm in the area!

    ganymede w.

    Thank you sooooooo much for exchanging me moneyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I guess I can add the service is so good to include that aspect Save my life in NY And the coffee is fantastic!

    Smoked Salmon Sandwich
    Melissa B.

    Loved this place when I was there! Their online menu has great pictures for everything and makes every item look really intriguing. They had a good amount of tables and seats and it wasn't busy on a Sunday morning which I was appreciative of. I ordered the smoked salmon sandwich and the iced vanilla latte. Loved the sandwich! It was delicious and I liked the ratio of fillings to bread. The iced vanilla latte was delish too and wasn't overly sweet but felt refreshing which is kinda surprising for a coffee drink! Their pastrinos, which I believe is their specialty item, looked really good but I was going for something a little lighter on the stomach at this time so I hope to try one of those in the future. Prices felt really fair especially considering the location of this cafe and the employee I interacted with was pleasant. I would happily come back.

    My cappuccino was creamy and I greatly appreciate the real ceramic cup and saucer.

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    11 months ago

    The breakfast was okay, the pastrino was too hard to chew, the service was ordinary, and the atmosphere was just okay.

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    Thank you Nina! So glad you enjoyed!!!

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    Vanilla Gorilla Cafe Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Vanilla Gorilla Cafe

    Does the homemade pesto have nuts?

    No nuts

    Are dogs allowed in just to place an order (not sit inside)?

    Yes, they do allowed dog in just to place an order.

    What brand of oat milk do they use?

    It's funny you are asking this because I asked the same question before. They used Pacific Barista Series.

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    All'Antico Vinaio

    All'Antico Vinaio

    4.2
    (123 reviews)
    1.1 mi
    $$

    I first found this place through TikTok, where people were hyping it up in Italy. I was pleasantly…read moresurprised to find out they had a location in New York City, so I obviously had to give it a try. There are a few locations, but I decided to visit this one because it was the most convenient for getting to and from home. I got there around 7:00 PM, which felt a little close to closing time since Google said they close at 9:00 PM, but it wasn't busy at all. In fact, I was only the third customer to place an order. I ordered the La Summer sandwich and added pesto. After sitting down and taking my first bite, I immediately understood the hype. Without a doubt, this is one of the best sandwiches I've had in a very long time. I'm not even a huge sandwich person when it comes to subs and deli meats, but everything tasted incredibly fresh. The ingredients paired together perfectly, and you could still taste each one individually. The only thing I'd change next time is the meat. I had no idea prosciutto was a type of ham, but honestly, it didn't even taste like ham to me. It was sliced paper-thin, slightly salty, and worked surprisingly well with everything else. Next time, though, I'll probably add salami just to see how it compares. Overall, this sandwich was a solid 10/10, and I will absolutely be back--whether it's to try a different sandwich or, if we're being honest, order the exact same one again with salami added. I will say it's on the expensive side, but that's New York City for you. Apparently, all of the ingredients are flown in from Italy. After tax and tip, I paid a whopping $28 for a single sandwich. That said, it was incredibly filling and definitely kept me satisfied. The workers were also really nice and accommodating, and the indoor seating was beautiful. The atmosphere felt like a fancy Italian café, complete with couches and artwork throughout the space. I wish I had taken pictures, but honestly, I was too busy enjoying what might be the best sandwich I've had in years.

    This is such a great spot for a quick Sammie that is big enough for two. Don't let this place…read moreintimidate you. The menu inside breaks down all of the sandwhiches, you roll up to the deli counter when they say next, spill out your order (add/remove stuff to your order) and you're done. The most overwhelming thing is deciphering the Italian sandwhich menu. I hit up the Italian Hot. Pretty decent! I added sun dried tomatoes...but it would have been just as good without it. Be PREPARED this Sammie has some chili honey liquid /oil sauce they put on it and it's tasty but it's a lot. The staff are friendly - just focused on getting your order and getting it to you so you can enjoy. The wall is pretty interested they have made their own decor out of door panel fixtures.

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    All'Antico Vinaio
    La District
    La District
    LA DISTRICT sandwich

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    LA DISTRICT sandwich
    All'Antico Vinaio

    All'Antico Vinaio

    4.4
    (617 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$
    Casual dining
    Kid friendly

    THE BIG: Located in the Theater district of Manhattan. Pretty unassuming and then you find the door…read moreand get transported to and Italian deli. Small space inside but you don't need much space to make bussin sandwiches. Walking or public transportation is preferred. THE BLACK AND WHITE: I came here after a long day doing booth duty at a summit and was starving from not eating the entire day. Fortunatley the place was pretty quiet since it was 2pm and I got my orders in. For sandwiches, I ended up getting the Favolosa and the Italiana. The favolosa had a delicious artichoke cream and salami that was a banger. The italiana had all your great italian cured meats as well as a truffle cream sauce that made the umami bomb even more umami. So good! THE FINAL BAMBOO: The two sandwiches were around $45, a little pricier on the sandwich side but man are they delicious. I'll definitely be back when I'm in NYC.

    Someone order a Hot Italian? Here I am…read more The legendary Florentine sandwich shop achieved global fame by earning some of the highest praise in food journalism for its massive, fresh-baked schiacciata sandwiches. Google their name and "best" and get hundreds of hits, but the majors who crowned them "best sandwich" title include Saveur Magazine, the big one touted by the family; Eater NY, ranking La Paradiso the most elite Italian sandwich outside of Italy; Las Vegas Weekly, who crowned them "Home of the world's best sandwiches"; TripAdvisor, for whom the Italian original is the most reviewed eatery with a near perfect rating; and The Infatuation NYC guides who promise the execution of the crispy, airy schiacciata bread completely justifies the hype. All 17 options looked amazing, so I spoke to a regular in line, telling her I couldn't decide between "La Paradiso", the most praised (even though she informed me "mortadella is just bolonie" or the Hot Italian, which was more my style. So, I did what any gluttonous American would do and I got both. And a Diet Coke, of course. La Paradiso has thinly sliced bolonie for a savory base, with creamy shredded stacciatella cheese, with sweet but earthy pistachio cream, and a sprinkle of toasted pistachio for texture (that I didn't detect). It was good, but I will likely fuggedaboutit. The Hot Italian had thin, lean turkey, spicy and smoky spreadable Calabrian pork sausage, a balancing provolone, calabrian chili honey, and peppery arugula (that they claim adds crunch that I didn't detect). Were they life-changing? No. But I rank Paradiso a 8.8 and Hot Italian a 10. And because everyone is hard-working and everything is so freshly prepared and cut, it's a class act. They should seriously make a sign that says, "Can't decide? Get two!" and then give me free sandwiches on my yearly trips for the idea.

    Photos
    Interior
    Interior
    La Schiacciata di Manolo
    La Schiacciata di Manolo
    The New Yorker

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    The New Yorker
    Joe's Home of Soup Dumplings

    Joe's Home of Soup Dumplings

    4.5
    (886 reviews)
    0.7 mi
    $$

    I've been to this place many times over the years, and I've always really liked it. I went back…read morerecently, and I was surprised to see the prices had gone way up. I know it's in a very busy area with a lot of tourists, so I won't really dock them on that. I got the Shanghai spring rolls and the pork soup dumplings, and both were very good. The soup dumplings were actually quite large, but the spring rolls are pretty small. Came out to over 20 bucks, which is reasonable but more than it was. A stirfry noodle dish is like $25 now! On that note, it's really nice inside and fun to sit at the "bar" and watch them make the dumplings. A great option if you're in the area and have a craving!

    More than just serving soup dumplings as the restaurant name implies, Joe's is a pretty casual…read moreChinese restaurant in Midtown. It's a pretty solid lunch spot for during work and this just happened to be a few blocks from my office. I thought this spot would look like a hole-in-the-wall spot, but the space is actually decent with a full dining area. They do have a lunch menu, which is in the last page of the menu. Why they hid it all the way in the back, I have my assumptions and suspicions. I had to get an order of soup dumplings here so I got the Crab Soup Dumplings ($15). The skin is a bit thicker than other spots, but that means the skin ain't going to break on you easily. And do be careful how you bite into it, as the first one I bit into, the soup splattered all over my shirt and pants. Overall tasted great. Soup dumplings was not going to fill me up along, so I got something off of their lunch menu and settled upon Orange Chicken w Brown Rice ($18.50). Chicken was white meat, which is battered and deep fried. It says it was spicy, but it really wasn't. Comes with a vegetable spring roll and a choice of rice, which makes this a pretty decent lunch deal for $20. Menu prices are cash prices. If you pay with a credit card, they will slap a 2% processing fee. Overall, service was pretty decent as well. Would come back again for lunch.

    Photos
    Joe's Home of Soup Dumplings
    Young Chow Fried Rice
    Young Chow Fried Rice
    Hong Kong Hot and Sour Soup

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    Hong Kong Hot and Sour Soup
    ALIDORO

    ALIDORO

    3.6
    (54 reviews)
    0.6 mi

    I came here for lunch on a weekend. The location itself is in the underground 30 Rock/Rockefeller…read moreCenter area. It doesn't have much seating in the location itself, but there is communal seating outside (still indoors). The food came out quickly, and I really liked that they had a basket showing the different types of bread you could choose for your sandwich. The sandwich itself is a bit pricey, but it is large. It's tasty! It all seems very fresh, and it's a good sandwich.

    We had arrived in NYC for fall break and dumped out bags at the hotel before heading out to find a…read morequick lunch and explore the city. I have three big guys with me and sometimes quick lunches need to be more filling than fast food options, so we chose Alidoro's under Rockefeller Plaza. We could walk to it form the hotel and it was in the middle off all we wanted to show the boys on their first day (first time) in the city. We all chose different sandwiches and they were ready pretty fast. Since the shop itself is not huge, we landed a small space at the window bar with two stools and some standing room. After being in a car and on a flight and in another car all morning, we weren't mad about the standing part. We were all able to share and sample each sandwich, and honestly, we were not disappointed. We were all full and happy when we weren't finished, so what more could we want for a relatively quick NYC meal? Being under the plaza, the restrooms were outside the shop but very close by so we were able to wash hands and such before journeying out into the wild. I would definitely stop back by again on another trip! The guys and I all gave Alidoro's two thumbs up - so 8 thumbs total, if you're counting.

    Photos
    Il Sole
    Il Sole
    Giorgio
    Giorgio
    ALIDORO

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    Vanilla Gorilla Cafe - cafes - Updated July 2026

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