Village Cafe

Azerbaijani restaurant · Sheepshead Bay

Village Cafe

Azerbaijani restaurant · Sheepshead Bay

2

1968 Coney Island Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11223

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Village Cafe by null
Village Cafe by null
Village Cafe by null
Village Cafe by null
Village Cafe by null
Village Cafe by null
Village Cafe by null
Village Cafe by null
Village Cafe by null
Village Cafe by null
Village Cafe by null
Village Cafe by null
Village Cafe by null
Village Cafe by null
Village Cafe by null
Village Cafe by null
Village Cafe by null
Village Cafe by null
Village Cafe by null
Village Cafe by null
Village Cafe by null
Village Cafe by null
Village Cafe by null
Village Cafe by null
Village Cafe by null
Village Cafe by null
Village Cafe by null
Village Cafe by null
Village Cafe by null
Village Cafe by null
Village Cafe by null
Village Cafe by null
Village Cafe by null
Village Cafe by null
Village Cafe by null
Village Cafe by null
Village Cafe by null
Village Cafe by null
Village Cafe by null
Village Cafe by null
Village Cafe by null
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Highlights

Authentic Azerbaijani cuisine featuring kebabs, kutaby, and guru hingal  

Featured in Eater
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1968 Coney Island Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11223 Get directions

villagecafeny.com
@village_cafe_coneyisland

$30–50 · Menu

Reserve

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1968 Coney Island Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11223 Get directions

+1 718 975 3373
villagecafeny.com
@village_cafe_coneyisland

$30–50 · Menu

Reserve

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Aug 8, 2025

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@eater

3 Fun Places To Try This Weekend - Eater NY

"If you’re looking for something you can only find in New York, ride the Q train south and hop off right before the end of the line. That’s where you’ll find Village Cafe, one of the 100 best restaurants in the city right now. The Azerbaijani restaurant looks a bit like a tiny home: It sits at the back of a parking lot next to a liquor store run by the same owners. The premises may be small but the plates of grilled meat are huge. The must orders: lulya kebabs, made with chicken or lamb, and the guru hingal, a pasta dish covered in crunchy, fried lamb." - Eater Staff

https://ny.eater.com/2024/6/14/24177484/fun-places-to-try-this-weekend-june-14
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@eater

Village Cafe in Midwood Gets Two Stars from Times Critic - Eater NY

"In a two-star review, Wells commends several of the restaurant’s dishes from the qutab; a flatbread stuffed with minced chicken, lamb, or greens; to the kufta-bozbash soup, a lamb broth containing chickpeas and a single lamb-rice meatball. The outpost serves oversized food platters seemingly “intended to feed an actual village.” Must-eats include crimped dumplings filled with chicken or lamb, which come boiled or fried, and the guru hingal, a noodle dish served in a sauce of onions and crispy, fried ground lamb that has to be ordered the day before." - Carla Vianna

https://ny.eater.com/2018/10/2/17928576/village-cafe-azerbaijani-midwood-nyt-restaurant-review-pete-wells
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Steph W

Google
Ambiance (4/5): The restaurant is located a little farther from the street, almost inside a parking lot, within a small homey dining lodge. I felt like I was inside someone’s home and felt welcomed and comfortable. Not loud and well lit. Service (5/5): We came at an off hour during the weekend around 1:30pm there was still around 6 parties dining in. The staff provided good recommendations and good service. When asked for water without any lemon slices, they provided bottled water at no extra cost! Food: (4/5) – rated New York Times top 100 Best Restaurants in New York City in 2025 Every dish came with a small cup of sour cream / Tzatziki based sauce that went with every dish. This was a must and this was mastered very well. Kutaby with chicken and lamb (4/5) – we ordered one each but the lamb was far superior than the chicken. Guru Hingal (4/5) – served in a warmed bowl with a lid in a bed of soft pasta and minced lamb. The pasta reminded me of chow fun (Chinese rice flat noodles) and then some seasoned minced lamb. While overall there were flavors in there, it was still lacked flavors and required to be drowned in the Tzatziki sauces or perhaps a order of table hot sauce. Finally we got the Lamb Lulya Kebab (5/5): this was by far the best dish of the meal! The meat was so wonderfully seasoned throughout, juicy, and complemented well with the rice, onions, and tomato based dip. The wraps themselves were way too small to enjoy using hands so we definitely reconstructed on our plates and attempts with our hands.

Mehri Gulamova

Google
We had an amazing experience at Village Cafe, enjoying authentic Azerbaijani cuisine that truly took us back home. The service was fantastic - friendly, attentive, and welcoming. We tried dushbara, kutab, chicken shish kebab, and eggplant salad, and everything was incredibly delicious! The flavors were rich and authentic, just like homemade Azerbaijani food. The only downside was the rice that came with the kebab—it was a bit dry and could have been better with saffron and maybe different type of rice. Other than that, everything was fantastic, and we’ll definitely be coming back for more! Highly recommend this spot for anyone craving traditional Azerbaijani flavors :)

Sam Eldin

Google
First time to try this place, beautiful setting, great atmosphere, and delicious food. They offer everything from Shish-Kebab to soup and dessert! The Azerbaijani cuisine there is unique and tasteful. The lamb dishes especially the fried lamb liver are flavorful, I tried it, but it wasn’t as advertised in their photos in terms of portions and looks, That’s why I dropped the rating one star. But the Turkish bread is a must-try. The staff is friendly, and the service is prompt. Also, Get the black tea pot, it’s worth every drop of it.. Definitely, this place in general worth a visit!

Ryan_ BTW

Google
We were originally planning to go to another cafe, but they weren’t able to accommodate us at the time we wanted, so we decided to try the Village Cafe. Upon entering, we were warmly greeted by the staff and led to the table. We ordered Delight salad, tongue salad, Greek salad, kutabs, and herring for appetizers. All the food was incredibly fresh and delicious and the service is warm and so friendly, we felt very welcomed throughout the entire experience. For the main course, I went with the Turkish liver got appetizer as I was so stuffed from the appetizers we shared and we ordered another Delight salad to share. The salad is amazing, such a perfect balance of fried eggplants, feta, walnuts, herbs and spices. For dessert, we ordered tea with 2 jams and some pastries. Our bill for 6 very stuffed people was $405 with gratuity which is extremely reasonable for the quantity and quality of food we had. Upon exiting, we met the owner who spoke to us and when I told him that my friends play trivia game there every other week, he opened the other room to show me where the game takes place and wow, this was a nice large room suitable for events. It was spacious, high ceilings, air conditioned, so not only will I come back to eat here again, but next time I throw an event, I shall consider it as well.

OG

Google
Been going forever. Food is less flavorful last 2 times and I ended up being kind of pushed into buying a VERY EXPENSIVE ($90 special) meal for just me and my husband. Was good but not worth the money. On top of which communicating was rushed and ended up with additional sides we didn't need. Sadly not sure I'm still a fan.

Alex T

Google
Village Cafe is a true treasure for Azerbaijani cuisine lovers. From the moment you walk in, the warm decor and rich aromas transport you straight to the Caucasus. The menu is packed with authentic Azerbaijani dishes that are both flavorful and beautifully presented. Dishes like kebabs showcase the region's bold spices and traditional flavors. The service is friendly and attentive, making it an ideal spot for both casual diners and those wanting a taste of Azerbaijan’s culinary heritage.

Michael Yacubov

Google
Delicious and authentic Azerbaijani cuisine in a unique space. The chicken lulya kebab and kutaby are so good!!!

Maia Gnolidze

Google
A wonderful cafe with a great atmosphere. A very cozy place with attentive staff, delicious food. The service is top-notch, fast, polite, with a smile! I would especially like to mention the work of our waiter Artyom, who is incredibly professional, attentive and friendly! Such employees are the real pride of the institution! I recommend this cafe to all lovers of delicious food 10 out of 10!👌
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Ingrid H.

Yelp
The interior is cute and they have a parking lot in the front. The servers were warm and eager to answer any questions I had about an unfamiliar menu. I ordered the Journey to Baku salad, the Turkish bread, and the Guru Khingal. The salad needed a pinch of salt, but there was a shaker on the table and with that addition, it was a decent refreshing appetizer. It's sort of a spread so I would recommend ordering some bread to eat with it. The bread came out steaming hot and smelling amazing. It was soft and fluffy on the inside and delicious. I took the extra home and ate it all immediately when I got there. Delicious bread. The Guru Khingal is honestly one of the best things I've ever eaten in New York City. I wasn't sure exactly what to expect, as I have never eaten this type of food before. The tender, handcut pasta seems to be layered with flavorful lamb fat like the most decadent possible buttered noodles and the ground lamb topping is rich and perfectly seasoned. The yogurt sauce gives the dish balance. It's a fairly large portion that could easily be shared between two. I highly recommend this spot, the glowing reviews are not exaggerating at all. I often like to try new and unusual restaurants, and sometimes I enjoy them mostly for the novelty. That was not the case at Village Cafe. My meal here was delicious and I am eager to return, even with the 75 minute commute from north Brooklyn.
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Steph W.

Yelp
Ambiance (4/5): The restaurant is located a little farther from the street, almost inside a parking lot, within a small homey dining lodge. I felt like I was inside someone's home and felt welcomed and comfortable. Not loud and well lit. Service (5/5): We came at an off hour during the weekend around 1:30pm there was still around 6 parties dining in. The staff provided good recommendations and good service. When asked for water without any lemon slices, they provided bottled water at no extra cost! Food: (4/5) - rated New York Times top 100 Best Restaurants in New York City in 2025 Every dish came with a small cup of sour cream / Tzatziki based sauce that went with every dish. This was a must and this was mastered very well. Kutaby with chicken and lamb (4/5) - we ordered one each but the lamb was far superior than the chicken. Guru Hingal (4/5) - served in a warmed bowl with a lid in a bed of soft pasta and minced lamb. The pasta reminded me of chow fun (Chinese rice flat noodles) and then some seasoned minced lamb. While overall there were flavors in there, it was still lacked flavors and required to be drowned in the Tzatziki sauces or perhaps a order of table hot sauce. Finally we got the Lamb Lulya Kebab (5/5): this was by far the best dish of the meal! The meat was so wonderfully seasoned throughout, juicy, and complemented well with the rice, onions, and tomato based dip. The wraps themselves were way too small to enjoy using hands so we definitely reconstructed on our plates and attempts with our hands.
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Hailey W.

Yelp
I went here a couple months ago with some friends to try a new cuisine. The interior is nice and homey, though the low light made it hard to see. The food was delicious. The lamb pasta was top tier, though it needed some salt and pepper. The chicken and rice was a classic, and tasted delicious. I would definitely come here again, especially for the lamb pasta (apologies if that is not the exact name of the dish). Waiter was very helpful and explained/answered any questions we had.
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Larissa B.

Yelp
You'll feel like you were transported to another country. This area of Brooklyn is a Mecca of Eastern European foods, from Georgian to Moldovan to even Azerbaijani, like Village Cafe. Walking in felt like we were in a local restaurant in Azerbaijan, with a large table of men eating endless platters of food and drinking and laughing. Featured on the NYT 100, I ventured out to try this restaurant, lured in by the steaming bowl of borscht I saw on a video. It was perfect for this cold, winter night. We got a bowl of borscht each, which was filling and warming, a kutaby (lamb was better than the greens one), a lamb lulya (think kofta) which was so flavorful, a little salty, but it was balanced by that incredible sauce with it and rice, as well as a baklava. I wouldn't get the baklava again, but they had a fun selection of traditional desserts. It's BYOB with a liquor store conveniently located next door featuring wines from Georgia, Ukraine, Moldova, etc. a whole kosher section and the usual suspects.
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Belle L.

Yelp
Pick Up Order Review: We didn't sit down and got pick up and our order consisted of the kebabs (not sure which meat we got), their phaklava and another almond tasting dessert, the village salad, borsch soup and there was another dish we ordered but I completely forgot what it was. Overall, the flavors and the way the meats were cooked were delicious! Even with the pickup the food was still fresh and tasty. Highly recommend getting the borsch soup as well as the village salad. It was super refreshing and didn't feel heavy at all. I plan on coming back to sit down and eat since the outside of it is so cute!

Gary G.

Yelp
The food was good but the service was horrible. Very rude and obnoxious. Totally padded our order and got extremely nasty when we questioned it. THEY LOST US AS CUSTOMERS NEVER GOING BACK THERE AGAIN

Dan Q.

Yelp
I made a reservation for this location on Mother's Day for myself, my partner, and our mothers. As we arrived, we noticed half of the restaurant was empty. I informed one of the hosts, a man in his thirties, about my reservation and was told to wait another five minutes. After this unexplained wait, we were led to a table in the far corner. As we walked, the floor became noticeably sticky. Upon reaching the table, my partner's mother, my mother, and I took our seats--until I quickly realized my seat was wet with some sort of liquid, which soaked through my shorts. My partner didn't sit down at all, as her seat was also covered in this liquid. I notified another man, whom I believe was also a host, likely in his fifties. He grabbed the nearest handkerchief and wiped my seat down. My mother pointed out that the floor beneath us was wet as well and politely asked if it could be cleaned. His response was: "So get up!" We found this unnecessarily rude and abrupt, especially since we were calm and simply trying to resolve the issue. He returned with a mop, quickly mopped the floor in under five seconds, and walked away without saying another word. Because of this host's poor attitude, the sticky floor, the unknown (and likely alcoholic) liquid on the seats, and the lack of any apology for the unclean floor and seats, or a reason for the initial wait despite a half-empty dining room, we decided to leave. We felt the experience was off to such a troubling start that it would only get worse. I don't often leave reviews for restaurants I haven't fully dined in, but the entire atmosphere--from staff demeanor to cleanliness--came off as dismissive and self-important. We won't be returning.

Irochka D.

Yelp
Do not be discouraged by what looks like a trailer in the back of a liquor store parking lot. Better say "Open, Sesame!" to enter into this miracle of tantalizing Caucasus cuisine, known for its expert use of fresh herbs and unique spices to enhance premium quality meats and vegetables. Add to that a warm and homey service, a casual, yet welcoming interior and gentle prices, and you will understand why this place made it to 100 Best NYC restaurants in the New York times list compiled by legendary Pete Wells. This was my first time here because I was a bit wary of the exterior and did not realize this was a facade, an unassuming way of saying "We are not pretentious, but if you are a foodie, you will know." We started off with a few appetizers: Delight salad, tongue salad, herring with potatoes, okroshka soup, Greek salad. The Delight salad was a standout. The eggplants, fried to the point of certain sweetness and balanced by tangy feta, freshly chopped herbs and walnuts, a drop of chili oil as a chef's kiss to make it just a tad spicy. For the mains, we had sturgeon kebab, lyulya kebab, and liver, all amazing, perfectly seasoned. For dessert, I had the gata, which is a pastry made with cheese dough, my son enjoyed the baklava, and others enjoyed jams. Throughout the entire meal, the service was on point, friendly and professional, we felt right at home. When we came out, the owner was outside and although it was our first time meeting him, he struck a conversation with us right away, welcoming us and we told him how much we enjoyed everything. I made stellar food at home, to the point where going out to eat just to eat serves no purpose anymore as each year, there are fewer and fewer places we really enjoy. I am glad to say that Village Cafe has now been added to the small roster of places that we loved, are dreaming about and will be coming back to.
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Glenn C.

Yelp
Side notes: Oops. Added photos but not the review. Place should be under Modern European as there's no broad category for Azeri/similar spots but they denied my suggestion. Would recommend the kabobs/shashlik. The kutab/qutab is also quite good. Any who: As is similar at Baku Palace and some other related places, there are two different experiences you can have at this spot and I have had both. The former is with a group who speaks Russian or Azeri (as this place is well Azeri/Azerbaijani) and the latter is with others. The former is more party platters and is quite popular among the people from the Caucuses. For an Azeri classic, look no further than the qutab/kutab. Available either with mixed minced herbs or stuffed with lamb (or less traditional chicken,) these mini pancakes are outstanding. The various kabobs (the Lulya/Lula/Lül in particular is outstanding as is the Sturgeon and Chahalach [aka mini lamb chops]) are excellent. The Chicken Kabob is alright as they are much more of a lamb specialist. The Potatoes With Mushrooms, a classic in many similar countries, is also very good here. The Mother-In-Laws Chicken is a cheesy delight and would make a rich main dish. The Plov here is also quite good. The Turkish Style Liver is pretty good here as well. For salads, the Journey to Baku is their take on the common eggplant salad found in various Turkic areas. It's quite good. Also recommended is the Veal Tongue Salad; their version of Salad "Tashkent." The Achichuk is solid as well as is the Avocado Salad. Of the salads, I wouldn't recommend the Greek Salad with Basturma. Too little of said meat and just generic. The desserts here are fine with a pretty solid Napoleon (Russian version not French) with a copious amount of filo and buttercream.
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Michelle C.

Yelp
I saw Emily Fedner on IG naming the Village Cafe's guru hingal as the best dish she ate in 2022 so I was very curious to try them out. The restaurant is a little hidden and actually inside the parking lot of a liquor store on a somewhat busy stretch of Coney Island Ave. Parking is free and available inside the lot though there is also street parking available. I came early on a Sunday evening around 4:30 and there were already several tables of guests. Our server was really kind and patient and walked us through some recommendations for us, as it was our first time trying Azeri food. We ordered the Baku Salad ($15) to start which had grilled and chopped eggplant and tomatoes with bell peppers and cilantro. It had a nice smoky flavor but it also tasted like something I could get from NetCost. Nothing too special. We also received some fresh, fluffy Turkish bread ($5) that we were told were complimentary but I noticed they charged us for it at the end. Oops. But I didn't mind because I love Turkish pide and these were warm to the touch. We also noticed nearly every single table had a plate of kutaby so we had two orders of the lamb version ($3 each). They are kind of like flatbread with a crispy edge except these kutabi(s?) were filled with minced lamb so juicy I was surprised the bread wasn't soaked through. They were so fragrant but in a way in which the gaminess wasn't too strong. Seriously blew all other kutaby I had eaten before out of the water. For our entrées, we decided to do as the Romans do and order the lamb lulya (most tables had these and the kutabi), the chicken kebab and mother in law's chicken at our waiter's recommendation, and of course the guru hingal. The lamb lulya kebab ($12.50) came in three precious, delicious patties all wrapped in lavash. The outside was seared and biting into the soft sausage shaped patty unleashed a river of juice. Absolutely phenomenal! The chicken kebab was also excellent and nicely seasoned. I think their grilled dishes are really great and they must be performing some kind of sorcery to create the perfect juicy grilled meats. The mother in law's chicken ($18) was baked but very crispy and smothered in mozzarella cheese and mushrooms and served with a smear of mashed potatoes. I think out of all the dishes we tried, this would probably be the option I would recommend to someone who is not too adventurous or prefers some kind of familiarity as it did give me chicken parm vibes. This is not to say it wasn't good because it was delicious and decadent and very very cheesy. And finally, the dish that drew me here in the first place: the guru hingal. It's essentially a plate of thin, handmade sheets of pappardelle-like pasta with grilled minced lamb and onion, served with a herby, garlicky yogurt sauce. The lamb flavor is amplified because it's cooked with its own fat but the yogurt sauce drizzled atop simultaneously cuts through the heaviness with its sharp garlic notes but accentuates the richness with the cream. It's the most lovely dichotomous dish and I can see why it's one of their popular menu offerings. I would suggest to eat this quickly as the pasta can congeal once cold.
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Ada W.

Yelp
Came by again with family on a Saturday morning 1130am. Place wasn't busy at all and spacious. Tried several things here family style and the highlight this time was the GURU HINGAL. Its minced lamb meat with tail fat and onions and handmade dough. Reminded me of wonton skins with ground lamb meat piled on top. It was flavorful and delicious. Comes with yogurt sauce which gave a nice contrast to the heavy meat. The lamb did not taste gamey at all. Highly recommend this dish. We tried the chicken shish which was quite tender but not something I would rave about. Lamb lulya kebab was still pretty flavorful and good. Mother in laws chicken was a bit overcooked this time so I didnt enjoy it. The mushroom and potatoes was pretty good. Family enjoyed the food and would like to come back again.
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Sandra S.

Yelp
I am so grateful my cousin took us and the entire family here to eat. I have never had Azerbaijan foods before and I can tell you it was truly amazing! The waiter was very helpful and gave us excellent food recommendations. They were all delicious! I felt the love when I was eating the foods. I highly recommend this place. It is truly a hidden gem. We ordered to share: 1) Journey to Baku (Eggplant salad), 2) Creamy Mushroom Soup, 3) Borscht Soup, 4) Lamb Kutaby, 5) Chicken + Lamb Lulya Kebab w/ Pilaf, 6) Shaker Bura cookie. Journey to Baku (eggplant salad appetizer) - this was very delicious! The eggplants were super tender + marinated so well. It tasted like glazed balsamic eggplant. Creamy mushroom soup - WOW! I highly recommend this. One of the best creamy mushroom soup I had in awhile in NYC. Super flavorful and creamy! Borscht Soup - WOW! I also highly recommend this! This borscht has beef in it, so it is not vegetarian friendly. Super flavorful (esp after putting a few spoons of sour cream in it). Loved it very much! Lamb Kutaby - It was delicious but a bit oily. It was some sort of flatbread w/ lamb filling. If you close your eyes, it tasted like a lamb manti (dumpling). Chicken + Lamb Lulya Kebab w/ Pilaf - The chicken kebab was so tender + juicy + well seasoned. The lamb kebab was also delicious and well seasoned (not too gamey). The pilaf w/ onions was good (to mellow out the flavors of the chicken + lamb). There was some dipping sauce + I was not a big fan of it. Shaker Bura cookie - This cookie was interesting. It tasted like a butter cookie. It was nice to try, but I would not reorder this again. P.S - that bread was holy! It was so damn soft and delicious (by itself & w/ butter). The bread paired so well w/ the soups + the eggplant salad. Friendly and helpful staff + very comfortable seating. Love the decor - feels homely. I will be returning soon again!
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Emily A.

Yelp
They are still AMAZING! Re-visited a year later and the food is still great. I tired the shepherd salad, beef, chicken and liver kebab, meat kutab and the fries. A must visit if you are in the area!
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Joseph T.

Yelp
Cozy Eastern European restaurant tucked away in the parking lot of a liquor store. Interior was a lot of wood giving it a cabin like feeling. We came early on a Friday night and were seated immediately; however, it looked like they were setting up a lot of tables for bigger groups, so I think we would have had a harder time getting seated later at night. We started with the tomato salad which included onions, jalapeños, scallions, dill, Anna generous amounts of oil. Nicely seasoned and delicious. Next we had the veal tongue which was served with horseradish, onions, olives, and dill. Tongue was great too. Next up was the fried potatoes with mushrooms. Super savory. Mix of very crispy potatoes with some greasier ones at the bottom. Another delicious dish. For the main course we shared chicken kebabs and lamb lulya kebab. Both were generously seasoned and came with some savory rice. Meats were very juicy too. Dishes came out incredibly quickly. Staff was very attentive. There was one gender neutral restroom.
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Patricia N.

Yelp
I've had this place bookmarked for a while and wanted to try with friends. We walked in at 7 on Saturday and were seated right away. They did get busy after we sat down and ordered food. Our waiter was nice and suggested a couple of dishes for us to try and was patient with us since it was our first time here. I'm giving it a 3 star because the dishes come out 1 at a time but they did apologized for the delays because they were busy. The large kebab plate which had all the kebabs we had ordered came last which is fine, i understand when a place is busy. The reason for the 3 star is because the chicken kebab was still raw... I called the first waiter and told him & showed him it's still raw and he just took it away and didn't say anything. I'm not sure if he didn't understand English so that's fine. But he brought it back out and everything was thrown to a smaller plate with new chicken skewers... So I don't know how to feel about this experience. Also fyi I like lamb but my friends aren't big fans of lamb and they thought the chicken lulya & kutaby with chicken was gamey. I assume they used the same ground chicken for lulya as the kutaby. I personally likes it.

Barbara H.

Yelp
Food and service everything was excellent try mother in law chicken really good Ambiance is nice
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Kenny H.

Yelp
The food was delicious - it was only our second time eating Azerbaijani cuisine and our waiter took such good care introducing us to the menu. We loved the kutaby, and the grilled meat platter gave us a chance to try a fantastic array of meats. Dessert was delicious too!
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Orna S.

Yelp
We had a nice late lunch today. Found this place looking for a location with high ratings, not too far from our house. It was perfect! Nice rustic dining area, big open room The food was wonderful! We had 2 soups. The borscht was great! The piti was a very flavorful broth with some meat and potato. It was light and good. We shared a village delight salad, which was grilled eggplant, feta and walnuts. Delish!!! We tried 2 kebabs, both very nice. Lamb ribs and lamb lulya, which was ground lamb. Really well cooked. The kiata dessert was a simple cake, a tasty end to a surprisingly good lunch. Well be back!
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Nataliya K.

Yelp
We stopped by on Sat night , luckily they had a table for two . The food was good , my chicken kebab was juicy , my bf has ordered beef and it was over cooked . The service was attentive and pretty fast . And it's BYOB. We will be back to try other dishes but not beef kebab
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Jenny N.

Yelp
Came here for husband birthday earlier this week and he loved it. The staff was attentive and my husband said he loved their humor and jokes. I didn't understand it as they were speaking in Russian. Ambiance was cozy and nice as usual and they had high chair for my daughter which was a plus. Food this time around was okay thou. Could had been better for the price. Spent about $74 including tips.

Wayne B.

Yelp
Fun, exotic Azerbaijani restaurant. Lamb stuffed flatbreads, eggplant appetizer, noodles w lamb were all beyond excellent.

Mrb M.

Yelp
I haven't visit this place over a year and here's why: FOOD is always good here - complements to the chef - however, this is not the only reason why I go to restaurants (I can eat at home just as well) but SERVICE and AMBIENCE are, and both are extremely "basic" in this place, which looks like a big barn... Prices, however, increased at least 50% or more, changing this place from affordable to unreasonably expensive, in fact, I suggest that Yelp update their menu posted on its site, here's why; Potatoes w/mushrooms stated as $10 are $15 now Smoked Eel salad $18 now $22, in fact, there are no more single digit priced salads Soup Kharcho $6 now $12 Buglama $12 now $22 Chalakhach $22 now $28 Grilled Sturgeon $22 now $28 etc. etc. all across the board, so BEWARE!! So, most likely I won't come back and will find a better place to spend my money.

Afa S.

Yelp
We just came from dinner there. We had lamb kebab (too much fat and chewy), beef kebab (chewy) and lule kebab (bland), dumpling soup (salty) and ordered kutab to go. See picture of burned kutab. Overpriced and not worth it, and it out of the way. I do not recommend and won't go back.
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Angel T.

Yelp
First time visiting this place, food and service is good. Our waiter was patient. Will visit next time.
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mary m.

Yelp
Had dinner here with a couple of friends and it was soo good. Great service, atmosphere and their food was outstanding! Honestly i forgot and probably don't even know what we ordered since we just pointed at pictures on Yelp/google. Chicken was crispy and juicy, the beef kebabs were big and juicy, perfectly grilled. The lamb sausage (I think?) with the wrap, so juicy and tender, fat just dripping down. At first we wanted to order an extra entree but our server was honest and said it will be too much for the table (he was right!). We saw a lot of ppl ordering tea at the end of their dinner and we followed along. The tea with sugar cubes was a hit and a great ending to our stuffed belly. Overall - prices are very good and food was excellent!

Julian S.

Yelp
Fabulous food. We had never had Azerbaijani cooking before -- a cross between Turkish and Georgian. No booze, but a nice liquor store right next door. We came in a Monday night, the place was empty, so we got immediate attention. Don't know how service would be with a full house, but the staff is very nice. We had them recommend their favorite dishes, and we went with their suggestions, which may explain why it was so good. Stick to their advice and you won't go wrong.
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Beril E.

Yelp
Living close to here, whenever I feel like eating Russian food, I have the advantage of coming here. This is a family style restaurant, so it isn't unusual to see parties of 12 dining out, ordering a bunch of salads and kebabs to go around the whole table. With wooden decor, the village style atmosphere of the restaurant clashes with the many large screen TVs on the walls displaying Russian music videos. But hey, interestingly enough, that's the Russian way. The food is consistent and the menu never changes. The kebabs are a must here. They're inexpensive compared to the kebabs in nearby restaurants and just as good. I prefer the chicken kebab over the beef or lamb, but you can pick your choice of protein out of their long list. Last time I was here, I also tried the baby eggplant on a skewer, which didn't particularly taste like anything special (it could have used some seasoning), but I found it refreshing to have vegetables on the skewers section of the menu. Appetizers: -Soups: Get a soup here. They're all delicious. We shared Kharcho, a Georgian soup with meat and rice, and the server was kind enough to bring it in two bowls, almost making us wonder whether he gave us two portions instead of one. We were happy campers. -Kutaby: I love their Kutaby, which I usually try to get with chicken or lamb whenever I come here. The meat is well seasoned and the dough is light and thin. -Dolmas: 10 grape leaves filled with ground beef and rice. This is another appetizer that you can share in a big group. Being Turkish, I've had my fair share of some amazing dolmas, and these don't even come close to those standards, but for $14, 10 dolmas that taste good are a steal. A couple other main dishes that I really enjoy here: -Kotleti miracle of village: lamb or chicken cutlet served with mashed potatoes (almost everything comes with a side of mashed potatoes here). A light entrée for those who like meat cutlets. -Mother-in-law's chicken: baked chicken served with lots and lots of mozarella cheese, mushrooms, garlic, and of course, it comes with, you guessed right, mashed potatoes! This is a delicious but heavy dish, so be prepared to share. -Beef Stroganoff: As with all other Russian restaurants you would have been to, this one also serves Beef Stroganoff, a staple of Russian cuisine. The Stroganoff here is a large portion served with juicy sauce and enough mashed potatoes to last you for days. If you save room for dessert (good luck!), they have some delicious options, which the servers will be more than happy to show you.
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Jenny G.

Yelp
This restaurant reminds me of a trailhouse hidden in the deep deep woods easily missed. Hidden gem! Very cabin like ambiance with a low ceiling as conversations easily echoed in the air loudly. Service was very pleasant and helpful yet not being pushy and annoying. Here's our dinner: Veal tongue salad- very good with great amount of tongue and big portion. Wish the dressing was not just mayo. And there were great amount of mayo. Lamb kutaby- simple piece of flat bread. Bit greasy from the lambbut very tasty. Kufta bozbash- meatball soup- very flavorful with their herbs and salty. A toothpaste like herb I wasn't fond of. Meatball was very moist in texture. Chicken and lamb lulya kebabs - so moist and juicy. So flavorful. Our favorites. Chicken kebabs- very moist and tender. We enjoyed our first experience with Baku food. The best kebabs we've had. Definitely going back to try their other dishes and more of their kebabs. So good and unforgettable.
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Torhovytska E.

Yelp
Terrible food! Inattentive waiters. The kharcho soup is absolutely delicious. To order chicken cutlets brought lamb. Unflavored mashed potatoes. The food is very tasteless. Disordered. No apologies
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Alisher I.

Yelp
Very friendly staff, delicious food , very reasonable prices and clean !!! Good restaurant! Highly recommended!!!
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jeff w.

Yelp
This is a review for a simple takeout order, midday on a Saturday. I'm reluctant to give 5 stars, but not sure what else to do. The staff made it clear I was welcome to get takeout and I ordered their borscht soup and took their recommendation for some sort of lamb kabab with rice. It was simple, straight forward and quite delicious. These folks have it down.
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Yuri M.

Yelp
Good food and decent service. The place is inside a parking lot and easily seen from the main road.

N B.

Yelp
This was great. So glad we came. I have never been in this neighborhood before but it's very safe. The food was so delicious. I received this place it's worth the hike. We had a lots of dishes and they were all good. The lulya was outstanding.
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Helen C.

Yelp
I really appreciate the sweet waitress that helped us feel welcomed and looked after the whole way through. Don't know her name but you can't miss her glowing smile, she's the only staff member that IS smiling. Anyway, onto the food. The veal tongue salad was good, which is like cole slaw plus matchstick size veal tongue bits. Turkish bread was warm and soft. The special lamb kebab of the day was a tad dry and tough. Djiz-biz was..oily as oil can get. I was hoping to see larger chunks of the sheep heart, liver, kidney, and testicles. Yeah, you read right, testicles. There were diced potatoes too but there were just way too much oil and everything was just swimming in it. I am sure this hearty plate would be a great choice for lunch but we had it during dinner and we cannot finish it. I would return to sample the other items on the menu but I gotta make sure I go in famished and in the day!
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Julia P.

Yelp
This unassuming spot is tucked back from the street on Coney Island Ave. There's street parking out front, and the restaurant has a warm rustic vibe. My girlfriend and I went here on New Year's Day after reading Pete Wells' 2 star review in The NYT. We took his recommendations and ordered the following: Bread ($1.75): Crusty yet chewy, everything that good bread should be. A must order but kind of ridiculous that they charge for this. Kutaby ($2.50 each): Tried one with greens and lamb. Served with yogurt sauce. The lamb is a must order and one of the better things we ate. Journey To Baku salad ($11): Could hardy taste the eggplant. Tasted very similar to pico de gallo. Didn't merit the price tag. Pass on this. Chicken Kebab ($6.50): Did not come on spit and was served with rice, red onion and a Heinz 57 style sauce. The chicken thigh meat wasn't very moist either. Pass on this. Guru Hingal ($12$): Buttery noodles with minced lamb. This was the standout dish. Similar to a beef stroganoff (which is also on the menu) but not creamy at all. A must order. Baklava ($3): Just ok. Not as flaky as I would have liked. Take it or leave it. I guess three out of six ain't bad. If the restaurant were closer, we'd try it again and stick to the more traditional Azerbaijan dishes which seemed to be best here.
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Leanna T.

Yelp
DA DA DA!! (YES, YES, YES!!) Walk in to mini Ukraine ! From decorations, to food choices, you were just saved a trip to Ukraine ! You MUST try fried ravioli! A masterpiece some would call it ! Our recommendations that stay true and true are : avocado salad, eel and Kani salad, fried ravioli, and the lamb ribs ! Trust me, do it! GOOOO! Ps: the only reason I deducted one star is because it's very crowded and loud.
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Val K.

Yelp
Good kebab. Great kutabs. Nice salads. Vnutri kak stolovaya. Easy parking .....................................
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Ingrid S.

Yelp
First of all, there's an amazing liquor store with a huge selection right next door to the Village Cafe and this Eastern European Utopian Oasis I speak of boasts a delightful rule of being byob. I've never had Azerbaijan food before. Maybe food that's fairly similar. But I can't wait until my next visit because I feel like I've been missing out on a hidden gem in life. Our group last friday night happened to be mostly comprised of Eastern Europeans and Russians so we went to town on purchasing bottles of vodka. The vodka with the polar bears on it (Balinoff) was quite delightful. I wasn't aware we were drinking this stuff without any mixers. Good god. If you do anything here, let your more informed friends order everything off of the menu. Don't worry, it's incredibly affordable and reasonably priced. Seriously let them order everything. Tossing aside the pickled salads, do yourself a favor and order the dolmas. They look in photos like stuffed grape leaves (which I guess essentially they are) but they are stuffed with the most fragrant minced lamb meat. The spices smell like grandma has been laboring over the stove for hours. Definitely also get the Kutaby with lamb. The spinach vegetarian one was alright and tasted better with sour cream. But again, that ground up lamb is inside what resembles like a thin pita bread pocket. Salad delight (okay, I did enjoy a salad here) - Eggplant, feta cheese, and walnuts, drizzled with a sweet and sour sauce is amazing. Potatoes and mushrooms, rice with a tomato vinagery sauce also were on the side. The main highlight is of course their meat skewers. The best I tried was definitely the chicken. But you can't go wrong with really anything. The beef and lamb lulya were great as well. You don't need any sauce for any of this stuff. This is probably some of the most well prepared grilled meat I've had in I can't even think clearly and write coherent sentences because the food was so good. Last but not least there was a dish, I can't remember the name, but it had like baby lamb shanks simmered with a kind of chutney date sauce. Epic. Freaking glorious. The staff was also super friendly and incredibly jovial. Literally everyone here is pounding away at wine, vodka, whiskey, beer and eating meat. It's a beautiful site to see and worth coming out to Gravesend.
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Yael D.

Yelp
From the instant I set foot in this spot, I felt transported to a quaint, joyous village far, far away. Now that joyous bit was no doubt fueled by the BYO vodka I spied on a number tables. But Village Cafe, indeed: Anyway, Eggplant Salad was like a chunky baba ganouj, sans tahini. It had a lovely smokiness, but wish it had been served at room temperature, rather than cold. Greek Salad, boasted some gorgeous tomatoes. Too bad the kitchen used canned ripe olives instead of kalamatas.:( Ground Lamb Luyla Kabob reminded me of Turkish Adana, but each meat disk was wrapped in what looked very much like a piece of flour tortilla. Lamb Ribs were mostly fat and bone so wasn't a huge fan. Chicken Kabab was tender and juicy, though. Ka-Bob-Ing for Information. What you need to know: Lamb here was unabashedly rich and fatty. It also straddled the line, almost crossing over into so gamey it tasted like the mutton Jerry hid in his napkin on Seinfeld territory. But not quite. I liked the shamelessly lamby flavor but know it's a polarizing taste so am letting y'all know. We also ordered Kutaby, aka savory stuffed pancakes. Full-flavored Lamb was my favorite, with Chicken tasting downright meek in comparison. The Greens-Filled Kutaby was interesting and in fact, hubby asked our server exactly what it consisted of since we couldn't pinpoint the flavor. "The kitchen combines all the greens we have, like spinach, lettuce, mint, and cilantro, " he explained. For dessert, we tried Mutaki, which is sort of like nut-filled rugelach. Our server told us it was good for people who don't like sweet desserts, but this was downright bland. I think this pastry is traditionally supposed to include cardamom, but alas I tasted none, or much of anything else, in this rendition. Service here was so charming that instead of getting p.o.'ed when our two requests for an ice bucket for our BYO white wine went unfulfilled, we shrugged it off and rigged a hack using our water pitcher instead. It was just so hard to get annoyed with such otherwise warm and attentive service. I love a restaurant that makes me think about what I'm eating. In a good way, mind you. And this one got me all curious about Baku cuisine. Alas, am not sure if we ordered right since overall, I came away feeling like Taci's Beyti across the street does Kabobs and Salad better. I'd like to return here, though, to explore other menu items like Chicken Tabaka and the dumplings I saw going by to other tables. Word to the wise: This place was PACKED on a Saturday night. We got the last available table but had to vacate it within an hour for another party because we showed up on the fly, without reservations. Learn from our mistake, people.
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Dinah A.

Yelp
Our all time favorite! Food is amazing and service is always great! We have ordered food here for so many events and always pleased. Would definitely recommend.

Zhanara S.

Yelp
everything is not fresh. Dirty tables. We ordered kharcho soup and cutlets village ... the potatoes with mushrooms were too salty. I do not recommend ... you can get poisoned.
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Alex N.

Yelp
Good service, food is amazingly delicious, everything is so fresh. The only thing why I deduct 1 star is that on the phone they told me that they open untill 11, but in fact that day only untill 10pm. Overall I liked that place and will be back.
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Leonard G.

Yelp
Not much to really say .... except that the shishkabob's here were the best out of everywhere else. All of the other food was also good but the shishkabob's definitely stole the show.
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Ceren A.

Yelp
It came as no surprise that the cafe got bigger within 2 years that it should be called a restaurant already. They do the things right and consequently, they make money and expand the business. Last time I went there was back in summer 2014 and I was not a Yelp user then. I would already give the 5 stars. This is an Azerbaijan cuisine which is pretty close to Turkish taste so we are kind of home :) We ordered a village and a greek salad last night both were pretty good. Potatoes with mushrooms is a must to try. Kutaby with meat is so good too. For main course any shish kebab is good but the best one is the chicken. It is juicy and flavourful. Side rice is not perfect but okay. Service and the employees have such a positive attitude and they do not lose their smiling faces no matter how crowded it is. They had a table for 30+ people right next to us and everyone seemed happy there too. There is a conference room which I assume is a kind of party room for 15 people so you can arrange private occasions there. Liquor store next door is open as late as the restaurant so if you ran our of alcohol, they are there for you. Prices are way reasonable considering the delicious food you eat. $88.74 for 5 people. We all were full. They were kind enough to bring the birthday cake to table by singing happy birthday for my bf. Good job Village !
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Alina S.

Yelp
Great food, great service, super friendly waiters and very relaxing atmosphere. Came yesterday with my boyfriend and friends right after work and had a great time. They decorated Village cafe so nicely with beautiful taste, it was impressive for such a small place. Now about the food... it was absolutely delicious from salads, cold and hot appetizers to main corse and desert. My favorite salad Eggplant salad which is their own recipe salad with grilled eggplant, walnuts, prune and sour cream. The flavor of all this Ingredients was something special. Loved every bite of it. My favorite Hot appetizer was Spinach ( pirogy) triangles. Spinach was so fresh and full of flavor inside of very well done thin dough My favorite main course was Lamb shish kebab, it came in paper thin dough wrapping it. Pretty juicy and full of flavor. And the last was my favorite dessert Napoleon it was home made. Just enough cream was evenly spread through every layer of cake and it melted in my mouth with every yummy bite.
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Ro J.

Yelp
I followed yelp recommendation The service 5 stars The decor 4, 4.5 The price, well I would say About 3.7, 4. shishkebab $7 - $12 not include the side ( side $5 $10) I got harcho sup $6 (not bad at all) but not the best I would rate the sup 3.5 out of 5 Lamb meet kutab west of money ( rate 1 out 5) I would not recommend it at all If yelp would allows to Rate the place 3.5, other wise don't want to ruined their reputation
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Leyla A.

Yelp
This is a GO TO place if you want to try a real authentic Azerbaijani home made food! I am Azerbaijani and it is not easy to impress me, but this place is amazing! It's all of the great Azerbaijani food for reasonable price. I was very pleased by the food, service and the restaurant ambiance. It felt like home :)
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Heather M.

Yelp
This is a little piece of heaven. It is so worth calling ahead to get the Red Caviar with Crepes, and the Guru Hingal. Give them a call a few days before you want to go, and they'll reserve you some of this goodness. Red Caviar is large fish eggs (smoked?), with crepes and sour cream. Reminiscent of bagel and lox. Amazing. Guru Hingal is some sort of ethereal ground meat and homemade noodle dish. Seriously amazing. My favorite thing is the Dushbara, the dumpling soup. Tiny little meat filled dumplings in a rich meat broth. I could eat unlimited bowls of this. So good. The Kutaby are a must. Order a bunch of those right away while they get your vodka on ice and bring you fruit juice and glasses. Those little bread and meat/veg/chicken concoctions are a great way to start the meal. The eggplant salad is also a do not miss, sopped up with the Turkish bread. All the shish-kebabs are great, the quail was surprisingly good. I've never had a bite here that I didn't like. If you visit this restaurant, make sure to stop by the liquor store on the way in. Not only because this place is BYOB, but also because it is a magical place full of wondrous alcohol related things. One time they were giving out oysters and shots of vodka. I lived to tell. I'm lucky to live somewhat near this place, but if I ever moved away, I would definitely make trips to come visit this sublime slice of Azerbaijan in Brooklyn. 10 stars!
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Evelyn V.

Yelp
First time I come to Village Cafe , I have to say good Food, meat was tender and very tasty. The bread was fresh. Loved the Salad Ppl were very attentive to us.And we bought our bottle of wine right in front there's a liquor store.loved the idea. Will recommend to friends and family. ;)