Emma's Torch

I really believe that they only get sales because they are the only option here at the library besides the food carts outside which are over priced. The team is young that works the counter. Once they schedule too many people to work the shifts, the service isnt any good. They should limit 1-2 people so there is less yapping and more focus .

I love that the library has a cafe, primarily because there is not much else around! The coffee is good. The wraps are pre-made and then refrigerated. I don’t like that it isn’t at room temperature but it is good and best of all, cheap. Definitely recommend spending a day at the library reading, writing or studying and then having lunch at the cafe.

Great coffee and amazing mission. The employees are refugees being taught culinary skills. Shame that Eric Adams has shuttered our libraries on Sundays and is robbing the community of a place to sit and enjoy ourselves.

DO NOT Support them or any of their locations I went to the male employee with my crying 5 month old asking if I may get a cup of hot water to warm up her bottle. He said NO, it's 25 cents. I explained I dont think i have cash on me, my baby is really hungry n cranky and he still said NO With baby bags, baby books, and a crying baby I didn't even know where to start to look for 25 cents in all my bags. I couldn't believe how inconsiderate this company could be! It is 100 degrees outside & to have to walk to look for another place nearby grand army so I can get hot waste for my baby was just horrible. A MONEY HUNGRY COMPANY with no compassion smh

Cute little coffee shop to sit with laptop or chat or people watch. Closes at 5pm on Saturday and was bummed about that. Chai latte was good!

great coffee and pastries

Very friendly staff, good prices, and supports a good cause.

Lovely spot inside the main branch of the BPL with nice people working there!

A great place to have coffee at the library. It's a little loud to study but definitely worth it if you want to eat.

I'm a little surprised by the negative review for this business. Perhaps things are running smoother since, but I will say that the staff are the absolute sweetest and work quickly. I usually come for a drink or a quick bite and I've never had to wait for more than 5 min for my order to be completed. The lines move quickly and I've never been 1) skipped in line 2) treated with contempt 3) been served a chewy, stale bagel. Obviously no shade to the negative review (all experiences are valid) but I hope it doesn't deter people from visiting this little outpost at the Central BPL. PS- Their hawaij hot chocolate ($4) is my absolute favorite! I love the cumin and black pepper in it; sounds unorthodox but the savory spices just make the chocolate stand out more. Get it with oat milk at no extra charge and thank me later. I've already purchased their hot cocoa mix ($9) twice-- I think they'll make really great stocking stuffers or inexpensive gifts for the holiday season. Plus, you'll be supporting a great cause! Emma's Torch is a non-profit that provides culinary training and job placement services to refugees, asylees, and survivors of human trafficking. They have a great restaurant in Carroll Gardens where their students run the kitchen too. Highly recommend!

Such a perfect addition to the bustling Central Library offering a simple but adequate and yummy menu in just the right spot in the library's lobby. A kind young woman waited on me and was very friendly and helpful. I wasn't going to order anything at all until I saw the blueberry latte special, and was so glad I tried it! Delightful and refreshing :)

This is the new cafe at Central Library in Grand Army. It used to be run by Four and Twenty Blackbirds but now it has changed over to this. They have breakfast pastries to bagels to sandwiches. They have coffee and soft drinks. It is the only place in the library to serve food. I got the grilled cheese and a piece of chocolate pie. Both were pretty good but definitely very greasy. They have decaf coffee only in hot form so no iced decaf coffee unless you just want the hot coffee poured over ice. You first order and pay and when your order is ready, they call out your name to pick up. There are lots of tables and chairs right in front of the cafe so easy to find seating. Overall, a convenient place to pick up breakfast.

This review is for the Emma's Torch that is inside the Brooklyn Public Library at grand Army Plaza. The concept is great (helping refugees) but without good food and service, a concept is not enough. The menu is limited at this location and the food is just OK, although overpriced for the quantity and quality, The reason for the low score here is the service. There is often a line, which is not a problem. But the servers behind the counter will allow anyone to cut the line - to interrupt with a question or a quick request for something or even make a quick purchase while someone who has been waiting on line is made to wait. They should serve the customers in the order in which they've been waiting. Service also takes way too long for things that should be quick like a coffee or a toasted bagel. When they first opened their bagels were very good (real New York bagels) and fresh but now they are lower quality and way too chewy (not fresh, even if you are purchasing it in the morning). And you pay top dollar and then have to put your own cream cheese on yourself, and they don't give you enough cream cheese for the entire bagel. Cheap. After the second time a server allowed someone to cut in front of me I decided not to return. It's just disrespectful and good concept or not, I am not giving my money to an establishment that treats me with contempt. If I have to go to the library I will pick up something on the way at a bodega or whatever. tl;dr: I gave them a try but the very poor service (and food that is not that good) drove me away. Would not recommend.