Before you have a chance to say it, yes, it’s been quite a long time since I’ve written. Shame on me. 2010 really ended up being a very busy year and unfortunately The Coffee Crawl had to take a back seat for some time. But, it’s finally back! I apologize coffee crawlers, and I sincerely promise to make it up to you.
Now that I’m back, I decided to kick start the Crawl with a new location and new scenery: Sunnyside, Queens. I’ve been out here quite a lot recently and find that I thoroughly enjoy it. I took the time to explore the area and found a cute little place at 49-22 Skillman Avenue called Aubergine Cafe. From the exterior it promised to be a very cozy and inviting atmosphere, and it did not let me down. Showing up at the height of brunch, I was a little worried that there would be no seats available but I was able to snatch up a stool at the bar near the espres
so machines. This obviously made me happy.
A waitress came over to greet me and welcomed me, quickly recognizing that I had never been to Aubergine Cafe before. That told me 2 things right away: that the service here was going to be very friendly and outstanding and also that it was a great place, obviously since there were returning clientele. She and I chatted for a bit about the area, she recommended a few things on the menu to me and even pointed out a few of the nightly specials that they had. One that really caught my eye was the “Wine Down,” Monday – Friday 5pm-8pm, which allows the customers to enjoy any bottle of wine for only $15. I will definitely be coming back in for this special after a hard day at the office!
Now on to the really important part: the food. First, let me start off by saying that I wasn’t aware that Aubergine Cafe would be a full-service restaurant. I was hoping that it was like a standard run-of-the-mill coffee shop that I would be able to order a coffee and a treat from the barista, carry my purchases to a table and sit down to quietly take in my surroundings and enjoy my snacks. However, I was surprised to find that it was all table service. I was a tad put off by this at first, but due to the friendliness of the waitress and our conversation, I thoroughly enjoyed myself. Anyway, on with the story. The menu was impressive featuring everything from breakfast to brunch and lunch to dinner. There were even…yippee…desserts! However this time, you will all be surprised that I 
decided on ordering the chili. It was about lunch time and I was starving. The chili sounded amazing too: all-beef chili, surrounded by freshly baked tortilla chips, smothered in freshly grated cheddar cheese. Yes please. Enough said! It was served to me in a piping hot crock pot with the cheddar cheese perfectly melted (and a little crusty – yum) right on top. I dove right in and didn’t take a second look back.
The coffee was actually one of my favorites that I have come across on The Crawl so far: Irving Place Coffee!! You’ll remember that I tried there establishment out in one of my first posts, and even discovered a second location right by my apartment on 7th Avenue and 13th Street. Needless to say, the coffee was fantastic. I ordered it iced to compliment the chili. It was the perfect ending to a delicious Coffee Crawl.
So check out Aubergine Cafe soon if you’re ever in Sunnyside, Queens – you will not be disappointed!
