Happy Gillis Cafe & Hangout
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Most the time when I hear that a cool new cafe has opened, I am usually disappointed by the humdrum menu, boring décor, and same-old regurgitated ideas that I see again and again. Not so with Happy Gillis! Here is an inexpensive and comfortable cafe, with an exciting and different menu, and cool, hip atmosphere. The best part? The food is great! I am already planning my next visit.
Try the Pozole soup, Meatloaf sandwich, Coffee.
Try the Pozole soup, Meatloaf sandwich, Coffee.
Atmosphere
Hangout is the perfect word for Happy Gillis' cool and cozy vintage vibe. The combination of calming green walls and quaint art set against a bright orange retro couch and aqua blue chairs creates an eclectic yet comfortable environment that is hip, without trying too hard. The result is a place you feel immediately comfortable in, like Grandma's house, but cooler.
The dining room is small, with a shabby chic mish-mash of tables and chairs and, when the weather permits, there is outdoor bistro table seating. The service is counter-style, with a chalkboard menu that hangs on the back wall. Over the speakers, cool, soft music, like Reggae, plays at a perfect level.
The dining room is small, with a shabby chic mish-mash of tables and chairs and, when the weather permits, there is outdoor bistro table seating. The service is counter-style, with a chalkboard menu that hangs on the back wall. Over the speakers, cool, soft music, like Reggae, plays at a perfect level.
Service
Happy Gillis has counter service though they deliver the food to your table. We found the person behind the counter friendly and helpful and ready and willing to answer all of our questions, but then he got our order wrong... twice. Then he brought us a dirty plate. Anyone can have a bad day, so we would like to believe that this is not a regular event. Either way, he was nice and apologetic, though nothing was offered to compensate for his mistakes.
Food
Though the menu is simple, with mostly sandwiches, the choices are exciting and interesting. Going on a Sunday, we were a little more interested in brunch, so our first choice was Huevos con Frijoles ($7), fried eggs on corn tortillas, with black beans, cilantro, salsa, and queso fresco. The eggs were perfectly cooked and there was wonderful flavor in the tortillas and salsa, with a nice touch of heat. Unfortunately, the food itself was cold. It would have been 10x better if it were hot.
Our next dish was a beautiful bowl of Posole soup ($4), with nice chunks of shredded chicken, hominy, and chilies, in a spicy rich broth. For only $4 this was an excellent value!
A meatloaf sandwich on Farm to Market 8 grain bread ($8) was delicious, though part of it had way too much spicy mustard. Personally, I preferred it without. Still, the meatloaf itself was thick and moist and made an excellent sandwich, especially with such great bread. Similarly, a Turkey Club ($8) (though we had ordered a BLT) was very good, with slices of turkey, ham, and bacon, mayo, and a roasted tomato that made eating delicately an irritating challenge. Neither sandwich came with a side, but we were fine with that. If you like, gourmet potato chips are available by the bag.
A few of the menu items that also jumped out at me for my next visit are the Bahn Mi (a Vietnamese sandwich that is very popular in NYC) and Harissa Soup, among others.
Happy Gillis does not offer too many desserts, though the huge doorstop cookies looked good. I would love to see a great cake, or berry cobbler up there on the counter. That would certainly make me happy!
The coffee was superb!
Our next dish was a beautiful bowl of Posole soup ($4), with nice chunks of shredded chicken, hominy, and chilies, in a spicy rich broth. For only $4 this was an excellent value!
A meatloaf sandwich on Farm to Market 8 grain bread ($8) was delicious, though part of it had way too much spicy mustard. Personally, I preferred it without. Still, the meatloaf itself was thick and moist and made an excellent sandwich, especially with such great bread. Similarly, a Turkey Club ($8) (though we had ordered a BLT) was very good, with slices of turkey, ham, and bacon, mayo, and a roasted tomato that made eating delicately an irritating challenge. Neither sandwich came with a side, but we were fine with that. If you like, gourmet potato chips are available by the bag.
A few of the menu items that also jumped out at me for my next visit are the Bahn Mi (a Vietnamese sandwich that is very popular in NYC) and Harissa Soup, among others.
Happy Gillis does not offer too many desserts, though the huge doorstop cookies looked good. I would love to see a great cake, or berry cobbler up there on the counter. That would certainly make me happy!
The coffee was superb!
Cleanliness
Happy Gillis is in an old and imperfect building. Everything is clean, but don't expect new & shiny. The kitchen is open, so there are no surprises there. The bathrooms are fine, but maybe a little rough around the edges (and very pink!)
Pros
Exciting menu, great quality, nice portions, fun and eclectic décor, friendly service.
Cons
Our order was wrong twice, eggs were cold, roasted tomato impossible to eat, too few dessert options.
