181 Cabrini
“Why have I lived near Washington Heights all my life and never thought of passing Fort Washington Ave!?”
“We've come in at least once a week since moving to the area and were treated like regulars from day one.”
“181 is slightly more pricey than other places nearby (which means it's "normal" for those of you from other 'hoods in Manhattan!).”
181 Cabrini
Takes Reservations: Yes
Delivery: Yes
Take-out: Yes
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
Good for Kids: Yes
Good for Groups: Yes
Outdoor Seating: Yes
Has TV: Yes
Waiter Service: Yes
Caters: Yes
Price range.
$$ Price range $11-30
8 reviews
Rate and write a review Cancel reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Nice quaint artsy brunch getaway of the heights. $13 brunch with drinks included. Mimosa and bloody mary were great. The frittata was a huge portion and was really good add well as the eggs benedict. Recommend for a cure Saturday brunch Heights getaway.
I came here for a brunch on Saturday morning. We were seated right away and there was absolutely no wait. The bar area was a little busy but it was only because there was a soccer game on TV.
Once we sat at the table we were given the complementary muffins along with the strawberry butter. The muffins were very fresh and soft and the butter was amazing also. I could easily make that my meal they were so good.
The brunch menu had lots of choices all of which came with coffee or tea and a Bloody Mary or mimosa.
For my meal I ordered the double cured Lox with eggs Benedict on an English muffin. I almost ordered the huevos rancheros instead but decided to go with the Benedict.
Food came out quick and was excellent.
Service was excellent also. Our waitress was constantly available and checking up on us to see if we needed anything.
I'll definitely be back here.
I'd rather give this place a 3.5, but as it stands, it is closer to an "A-OK". I've been twice for breakfast and once for dinner. The food is too expensive for dinner, in my opinion. However, its a nice spot to grab a casual breakfast and some good coffee. I wish they had a pancakes/waffle option though, because the french toast is not great.
Generally speaking, it's just okay, but given the lack of spots in Washington Heights, I'm glad its here.
Food is great! The sliders are small but tasty (3 come with order). The sangria is alright. I wish it included more fresh fruit and less ice, but it was refreshing nonetheless. They have happy hour daily from 5pm-8pm which includes $5 margaritas, sangria, mixed drinks, $3-$4 beers and more. This is DAILY (including weekends!). I love the location. The neighborhood is gorgeous with up-close views of the GW bridge.
However, the interior of this place needs some updating and remodeling. The vibe was dreary and not lively at all. Something just felt awkward both times I came here. The music was barely audible by the bar section. I'll come back for a drink but I find that Le Chéile across the street has a better much livelier atmosphere.
FYI, they have TVs for you sports fans.
181 Cabrini is actually a sister establishment to Buddha Beer Bar (yelp.com/biz/buddha-beer…) where you will find a strikingly similar menu for a slightly cheaper price. The main difference between the two is that BBB is a little bit more friendly toward non-regulars than 181.
In full disclosure, I was invited here by a friend who happened to work here. It was cool to see that everyone knew his name and vice-versa (how cliquey). What wasn't cool was the awkward stares from the other folks by the bar. "I wonder who that guy is…?" "I don't think he's from around here." Wow, kids, if I wanted to be judged, I would've gone down to a drag queen bar.
Fortunately, this attitude changed a bit when they realized I knew someone – yes, now I was vetted! The drinks were okay. The food was…. better at BBB. The service was more miss than hit. If it were not for my friend, I don't know when we would've received our order of sliders and fries. (He had to fetch them fro the kitchen himself). I was so hungry that the fries tasted amazing. The sliders were… okay; Nothing too noteworthy. The bar staff (of two) was so overwhelmed that there was no way they could be expected to take care of the 40+ people constantly trying to get their attention.
Moving on.
Four stars because I wasn't absolutely blown away, but I really did like this place. I keep forgetting that life & great establishments also exist north of my Heights apartment, & I'm glad I ventured up here for brunch with a friend!
A bright, inviting space & for a Saturday at 11, it was pretty quiet – no waiting for a table. The hostess & server were very nice & also pretty attentive. I ordered a bellini because "duh," but if I remember correctly, there aren't any mimosa or other drink specials for lunch. But, at $4 a glass, you can't get too bent out of shape over that.
I also thought that the biscuits & jelly they brought out were phenomenal?! I don't know anyone else who might get excited over the bread basket. I try to contain myself, but deep down, this carboholic appreciates a good muffin.
I ordered the Eggs Zanny Omelette: pesto, tomatoes, & cheddar. Yum, yum, YUM. My friend ordered the french toast, which she also seemed to enjoy.
I will definitely be back, and I look forward to exploring this area a bit more. Thanks, 181 Cabrini!
A local neighborhood favorite of mine, I've been here quite a bit and my last experience was great as usual.
Kimberly served us and hit a home-run, as usual. She recommended the Kimchi tacos and they were spot on! Everyone in my party loved their food as well.
The manager came over at some point to ask how we were doing, amazing, almost a forgotten art in this city of horrible service. His name was Peter and after finding out my lady and I were recently engaged, he sent over two proseccos on him!
Overall a great spot. Prefer the bar area but dining is nice, as well. Do stop by!
A nice little brunch spot in Washington Heights. Came here for Sunday brunch and here's my take:
Service – Waitress was really nice, and always made sure my water was full (never made its way down past the halfway mark).
Bread – Free bread! I never expect much out of the free bread basket, but it was surprisingly good. It was fresh, warm, and came with flavored cream cheese.
Cuban Sandwich – Blew me out of the water! I've never been impressed by a Cuban sandwich before, but I loved this one. Great texture and flavors. When I took my first bite, the harmony of the garlic spread, thinly sliced pickles, and melted cheese oozing over the pulled pork and ham had me sold. I think I downed it in like 3 minutes.
Bagel w/ Double Cured Lox – Wish the salmon was fresher, and I don't think I'm a big fan of capers.
Overall, great find in Washington Heights!