Cecilia

New favorite restaurant. Food is insanely good. Vibes are even better. I want to keep going back just so I can try everything on the menu. 10/10 recommend the stuffed squid and ratatouille. Also has best burger in NYC. You gotta split the split - the banana split.

Had a terrible experience here. When we first arrived, the seating is so tight the staff expects you to squeeze in between two tables that is barely 2 inches apart. I understand it’s nyc and we are used to tight seating but eating shoulder to shoulder with strangers to the point your arms are touching is not a pleasant experience. And diners should not have to physically move heavy tables multiple times to try to get in and out of their seat. At least one table can be taken out so diners don’t feel like the spit from the people next to them is flying into their food. Second, we came as a group of all POC and felt the all-white staff was very brash. Clearly they are new or there are serious communication issues. Multiple things were forgotten and one of the female staff members was extremely unpleasant. Her face looked as if she would rather be anywhere but there. This is disappointing as I feel in the last few years the East Village is catering more and more to a certain demographic and this is not my first unpleasant experience recently in the neighborhood. Lastly, the food is extremely overpriced for the quality. Certain dishes were bland and cold, even the fries could’ve been better at the McDonald’s a few blocks down.

I went because I used to go to Yaffa Cafe in the 80s. (Cecelia is in that old space.) I was surprised to find it recaptures the vibe of that time perfectly. A wide variety of interesting people, comfortably chatting and laughing and enjoying great food. I can vouch for the burger and the risotto and the hot fudge sundae. Oh and the calamari. And the fries! But the "scene" is just so right, the staff is cool as can be, but also so nice and either actually happy to work there or excellent at pretending. The owner even strolled through glad handing with each of the tables and making people laugh. My friends and I felt like we were in the old East Village, the one we so adored and milked for all it was worth. Cecelia is time travel with great food in a perfect space. Thank you.

The hash browns are perhaps the best I’ve ever had. Creative and tasty. Also good beer selection. Enjoyed the chicken sandwich but the “Cajun gravy” was red(?) and a little bland so I’m doubting it’s authenticity 😅. A couple tweaks need to be made so it doesn’t feel like it’s a fleece like a tomato on the egg sandwich, larger portions on the sides. or just smaller plates!! Service was incredibly friendly and welcoming, would definitely try again :)

Love this spot, great vibe and excellent service! Highly recommend the chickpea fries, the grilled squid, and the chicken. Great drink menu too.

Great brunch and service! We love it here

Came with my pops for father's day and it was perfect. We were lookin for a diner experience so went with the classic eggs with bacon, home fries and toast, but the eggs and bacon both had character with some really nice seasoning, bacon cooked just how I like it (not crispy and not raw). Was not no basic eggs and bacon. I took notes. To drink, daddy-o had coffee and I had blood orange juice. Totally hit the spot. I wanna come back with my girlfriend cause the aesthetic was hella romantic. Nice decor and art. Would come after we see a movie or view some art to digest the art with some good food. Reasonable pricing I'd say. Service was lovely and accommodating. Easy 5 stars. I'll be back!

stopped in at 1:45 PM for a 7:30 PM dinner reservation for 3 later that Saturday evening. The pitcher of Nomadica Orange was flavorful. I seldom eat out in the East Village. The vibrant neighborhood of St. Marks Pl, + a excellent selection of classic cheeseburgers and Sea Bass made for a memorable evening meal with friends. Topping off with a Tres Leches Cake in an iridescent creamy sauce. Shout/out to the tireless hard working hosts, servers & kitchen staff 💪🏻🌹

Situated on St. Marks Pl, Cecilia is tucked in a lively part of the city. Came here on a weekend evening and got seated right away, as we were the only table. Throughout the night, 2 more parties arrived, so the restaurant had plenty of space. After ordering, we waited ~20 minutes for the food to arrive. After ordering the Swordfish and Ratatouille, we saw the chef eating in back while cooking our meals. The ratatouille came with bread which was burnt and scratched our throats with the brunt taste. The ratatouille and swordfish dishes were also very oily & salty. The waitress was friendly, and they attached a postcard to the check which was neat.

Cute new spot in St. Marks! We came for weekend brunch and there were tables set up on the closed street. Food was pretty good, with a perfectly crispy chicken sandwich and house made tater tots. We'll be back for dinner and check out their back patio!

Incredible atmosphere here. Super nice staff and just an overall warm environment. Will definitely be back!

LOVE this new spot on St. Marks Pl. Amazing vibes- I always stop by when I am in the EV! Yum!!!!! And don't miss the brunch is SO DELICIOUS!

The setting is warm and welcoming and the staff is friendly. Unfortunately, the food is sub-par. We had to send back the green salad because it was so oversalted. The leeks vinaigrette was a mushy mess. The hake (at $38) was basic and passable. The final verdict: Nice place to have a drink before having dinner elsewhere.