Café Colonial
276 Elizabeth St., New York, NY
A reliable place for a low key brunch, lunch, or dinner in Nolita, visit this little South American cafe for its eclectic crowd, cultural flavors, and communal feel. Although the tables are scrunched together and a bit uneven (assorted chairs and space at a minimum), it works. On weekday mornings, patrons sit solo with their paper and cup of coffee. On weekends, the place is packed with downtown brunchers and usually comes with a short and painless wait. 45 minute long jam-up at Habana? This is your backup plan. My one complaint, as usual, is that the menu is about $5 more expensive than it should be.
Food Rundown:
Pao de Queijo
I have friends who routinely pick up a dozen of these to go on a weekly basis. They’re addictive. Brazilian cheese rolls with a perfectly baked crisp outside and a doughy, cheesy inside. These are required eating at Colonial.
Omelet
There was a time when I lived on Mulberry & Houston that my favorite hangover medicine was the ‘build your own’ omelet from Colonial. Three nice and fluffy eggs that offer up just the right sized portion so you aren’t overly stuffed or left hungry. Their omelets come with toast and your choice of fruit salad or home fries. Their Brazilian omelet with onions, black beans, salsa, and sour cream is a good option as well.
Oriental Chicken Salad
A nice sized salad served with grilled chicken, romaine lettuce, scallions, and carrots in a sesame dressing. I’m picky about my salads, being kind of snob when it comes to the details of such heavenly creations, and assure you that this is a damn good chicken salad. I know … what kind of dude is that into salads? I’ve got problems. My only gripe is that the chicken is sometimes a little too burnt on the outside.
Steak Salad
Staying on one of my favorite subjects, if you serve a steak salad topped with a mixture of sweet potato and regular fries, you, the restaurant, are awesome. Accompanying the fries are large chunks of sliced, seared sirloin steak with arugula and cherry tomatoes in a soy vinaigrette. Good stuff.
Pan Roasted Filet of Tilapia
Topped with mango papaya salsa and served with mashed potatoes and spinach. This is a good, light fish option. The potatoes are great.
Brazilian Black Beans & Rice
Served with sauteed vegetables and grilled heart of palm, this vegetarian dish is a solid pick even for a seasoned meat eater looking for a lighter/healthier choice.
Beef Colombo with Salad
This beef stew is cooked in ten different spices, and served with rice and avocado salad. Ten spices sound like a lot, but it works, making this dish one of the tastiest on the menu. The beef is super tender, falling apart as you dig into it, and the rice and avocado balance out the spices.
