Ballfields Cafe
“I had their Kale burger which was very tasty, just wish they had whole grain bread as opposed to only white.”
“I enjoy this cafe a few times a week when it's open during the Spring/Summer/Fall months.”
“The food options are affordable and varied from fish tacos to burgers.”
Ballfields Cafe
Take-out: Yes
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Bike Parking: Yes
Good for Kids: Yes
Good for Groups: Yes
Outdoor Seating: Yes
Waiter Service: Yes
Price range.
$$ Price range $11-30
3 reviews
Rate and write a review Cancel reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Really nice little cafe hidden behind the ball fields on the west side of the park. All outdoor seating and perfect for a nice spring day.
I didn't eat, but my friends got some bacon egg sandwiches that looked and smelled great.
They have beer, even at 10am…I have a problem. Great place to grab a drink in the park.
**April Underdog Challenge Day 28**
I ate paper today.
No, it's not part of a bizarre foods bucket list. Nor is it a metaphor for digesting a compelling article in the Financial Times.
I literally ate paper with my cheeseburger and it was not at all intentional.
On a beautiful spring ahead day, we strolled through Central Park and began feeling a bit peckish. Why, what's that by the ballfields, it's…
Ballfields Cafe!
And the initial impressions were positive based on the friendly host/waiter. You could either sit outdoors or take your snack to go. Opting to lunch al fresco, the warm sun felt positively energizing as I perused the menu.
Burgers (beef, turkey, garden) and dogs (knockwurst too) make up the bulk of it, with chilli con carne and a tuna salad sandwich as the healthier choices. Wine and sodas are available, along with free self serve water. (Which I observed a non-paying guest help herself too while yakking on her phone and holding her offspring by the hand.)
It was a cheeseburger kind of day so for $8 + 0.75 (cheese fee), I anxiously awaited the beef.
A few minutes later, the basket arrives with the standard accoutrements: lettuce, tomato and onion on the side, waiting for assembly, and a sizzling burger waiting for eating.
One bite into the burger and I was thinking this isn't too bad for a glorified outdoor concession stand. Until I realized that the cheese included a little extra bulk in the form of paper.
I suppose what happened is that the paper that is between slices of cheese somehow made it onto the grill. A breakdown in quality assurance occurred as no one on the line noticed, no screening, screaming Gordon Ramsay to yell out 'There's paper!".
So I, the customer, had to discover the by now fusion of cheese and paper. I snapped a photo, removed the cheese paper and mentioned the matter to the waiter.
He seemed a bit frazzled and offered an explanation about how the burgers are not the usual kind and that they're bigger than the bun. Yes…but does that really explain the cheese paper?
Anyway, eater beware: unless you are seeking out paper with your food, look before you eat.
I almost don't want to write a review because I don't want it to become so well-known that its charm of being a hidden gem in Central Park disappears.
For those who don't know, this could look like just another annex/shack in the park, which has quite a few of them. But it's actually a café with a good beer/cider/wine list and delicious, quick comfort food.
The only have seating outside, surrounding the shack. You can order to-go at the counter or sit down for a full service. It was a nice spring Saturday afternoon so the seats were mostly taken. Still, we were able to get a corner table and get helped to a really speedy service.
I ordered the bratwurst with sauerkraut, which was on their daily specials list, and it came with a bag of Lay's potato chips. I also got the tomato basil soup and the UFO Belgian white.
My boyfriend ordered the turkey burger with cheese, which also came with potato chips, and lobster bisque with a Smith's Forge cider.
I couldn't believe how quick the service was. But the best part of this is that you are sitting in the middle of Central Park with amazing views of the skyline far away and the greenery sprawling before your eyes.