Tiny, cozy cafe with a subtle Euro-vibe for a cup of coffee, a crepe, and some conversation. Â I wouldn't say the food or coffee here are out of this world (nor super cheap), but it's definitely a nice place for an intimate chat. Â I'd rather pay a little more for that than pay less to be in a loud, obnoxious place. Â The tables really are tiny but the decor is good and they've always been welcoming when I've visited. Â I'd probably add a screen or divider next to the bathroom as it opens up right to a table in the main area. Â They have a music room downstairs but I haven't been yet.
Review Source:I live close to this cafe. Â it is a tiny cafe with a charming dark vintage-y sexy european feel. It has the nicest decor in the area. Â the tables are tiny (I estimate 20" diameter) and they fit about 8 tables in this tiny place so you feel squashed in. Â I have only been there a couple of times, but the service has been slow. Â It is kind of expensive -- $10 for a baked potato !!
they have live music at night. Â maybe they want to be a drinking cabaret type place so that is why the tables are so small.
They have wi-fi !!! Â but the table is so small, it's hard to fit your lap top and your plate on it.
cash only. Â so annoying. Â I would have ordered more, but I didnt have enough cash on me.
I've passed by this place many times but have never went in. Â I thought it was a wine bar and not being an avid drinker, I never ventured in. Â Luckily some friends in the neighborhood recommended Cafe Marlene and we decided to stop by last Saturday. Â I wish we had come a lot sooner.
This is another hidden gem in the neighborhood. Â
The cafe's main floor is small but not in a bad way. Â It gives it a very cozy and warm feeling especially with the French music playing in the background, while the smell of crepe's and coffee fill the room.
We got a savory crepe and also a panini. Â It was the Marlene Panini and it was quite good, nothing overly fancy, but great taste - I especially enjoyed the truffle oil. Â We also enjoyed the savory crepe and kept talking about how good the actual crepe was, with the ingredients not being overpowering and losing the taste of the crepe.
We aren't coffee drinkers so we don't have that refined palate, but we do know good coffee when we're drinking it. Â This was great coffee!
Cafe Marlene has a very laid back atmosphere where you'd enjoy just sitting there sipping on your cup(s) of coffee for hours. Â It's easy to lose track of time there, as we did. Â People watching out of the window while listening to the French songs that I could not understand but I did appreciate.
We finished off with a sweet crepe from the owner, Anna (or Ana?), and it was delicious! Â At first glance, you'd expect a very sweet chocolate sauce but it was a very light chocolate sauce but extremely tasty! Â It went perfectly with the rest of the crepe.
They have an open mic night on Sundays that take place in the larger basement area. Â I think we're going to definitely stop by on Sundays to see the talent.
Others here have mentioned that there is another cafe around the corner, that there is - Aubergine Café.  That used to be our go to place for a snack as they also have great menu items and drinks, but I think Cafe Marlene is now our default place for coffee and a nice snack/sandwich. Â
We will definitely return and become regulars here. Â Highly recommended. Â
Just a few things to note as I was having some conversations with the owner: if a customer is not happy with their meal/drink, it should be brought up to the owner/manager and told so that if there was a mistake or it just wasn't good something could have been done to correct it, instead of making pretend everything is great at the cafe, then complaining about it on Yelp later.
**** Lastly ... there are 50 reviews that have been filtered for this cafe ... not sure why or how Yelp does it but something needs to be done to correct it. Â Small businesses like this might depend on sites like Yelp to help drive traffic. Â When there are 50 reviews that are mostly 4+ stars from what looks like legitimate users and they are all hidden from those looking for a cafe, there is definitely something wrong ****
I really really wanted to love this place. The decor is charming and they even have a little portable heater to make it extra toasty in the winter. But it's just a touch too pricey considering what you get. My fiancee and I stopped in for an afternoon treat and each ordered coffee and a chocolate, banana, almond crepe to share. There was a drizzle of chocolate on the crepe...definitely more of a garnish than main ingredient. It was tasty but I couldn't help the after taste of disappointment.
I'd like to give it another chance so maybe will stop in to try a panini for lunch.
The food was tasty but overall, I was not impressed. Â The space is not convenient for eating with friends. Â You could probably only enjoy this cafe if you came solo. Â The chairs are tiny. Â The tables are tiny. Â I think it's uncomfortable, even for 2. Â Not knowing this, fitting my 3 friends and I in that tiny space was...frustrating.
The waiter was not attentive, and we waited a long time for our food. Â I feel like the prices should be $2 cheaper. Â While everything I tried was ... good, nothing was outstanding enough to bring me back to this cramped cafe.
Not entirely impressed. It's a cute little spot but was left disappointed by a couple of things. The biggest thing that sticks out from my experience is that nothing was hot, not the latte or the cappuccino or either of the dessert crepes we ordered. Had high hopes for this place but I think I'll just stick with Aubergine.
Review Source:I mean, isn't Sunnyside itself like one big Cafe Marlene? Aren't those brown apartment complexes, with those bifurcating walkways lit by old style lamp posts, Cafe Marlene? And aren't those huge oak trees Cafe Marlene? Cafe Marlene didn't fall upon Sunnyside. No, it was here the whole time. Just because Northern Boulevard is close by doesn't preclude, doesn't negate, doesn't deny Cafe Marlene of Cafe Marlene.
This place is too small. That's the only problem. It's not endearingly small, but forbiddingly so. The downstairs space is a nice place to see a poetry reading or a music act, but to come here with a pre-sex, post-first-date lover on a Friday evening when it might be moderately crowded? Eh. Good luck finding space.
Crepes aren't crap. Coffee is coffee. Half the staff is snooty 'French'; the other half is gawky 'Brooklyn.' It works. This place works. Its best aspect is that it's for and in Queens, and thus isn't stained with 1) too many people, 2) hipsters/irony, 3) the indignities of profiteering.
C'est bon.
This spot is a block from me and the proprietor has always been very nice and hospitable.
I've had bellinis, coffees and crepes here. I'm not crazy about the tight space. The chairs are also not on the same level as the bench, so it does become a bit awkward when sitting there with someone else and having a conversation. However, I've been fortunate enough to come in and get good service there, so four stars for effort. Definitely will come back here and try more bunch menus.
Meh. I was not impressed with this place & I'm super bummed that we went here over the natural tofu place.
1. No AC so the place was Stifling Hot on a muggy evening.
2. The lady behind the crepe grill/bar could not be bothered to take our order until she finished her personal conversation with a neighbor.
3. The menu sports a lovely .jpg of Marlene Deitrich yet it's very hard to read the text over it.
4. The crepes are pretty bland: waxy cheese, boring extras, sweet crepe flour used for dinner crepes.
5. Spendy! $10 for a crepe. Taking into account the ingredients used, it's a bit much.
This "restaurant" crams too many tiny tables together. I went on a Sunday afternoon and had to sit inches away from strangers while attempting to whisper my conversation to my companion. They had a window seat but kept turning couples away because it was for "four people only." So basically we all had to sit on top of each other in the event that a party greater than 2 would come in. The crepes were good but would not go back due to horrible seating arrangement and inflexibility.
Review Source:Sunnyside may not possess the luster or allure of Astoria, where bars and restaurants are all out in the open for all to see. But in this underrated (and often under appreciated) hood, some of the best gems n Queens are beyond the colorful trenches of Queens Blvd. Cafe Marlene is one of those places, a tiny European cafe that has remained a local resource to Woodside and Sunnyside, and a great place to enjoy one of the finest crepes in the area.
From the outside, Cafe Marlene is an unassuming, quaint business that doesn't seem to get a lot of attention in this no man's land portion of the hood. The cafe is surrounded by apartment complexes, which in some ways makes it very difficult to find / notice.
The place is incredibly small but has a nice vibe to it. Slow French jams away in the background, quiet ambiance  while the tiny tables make for quite the romantic rendezvous. This is one of those places where it's the perfect spot to drink coffee during the day time and wine during the night.
There isn't a lot to choose from their super simple menu, just jacked potatoes, paninis, and crepes. The crepes ($9) are well made - thin skin with a smooth texture, hearty yet light, refreshing and tasty. They offer up to three fillings and while I like to play around with my combos, my favorite crepe is composed of  brie, spinach, smoked salmon. Trust me when I say it's delicious.
The owner is pretty nice and cool enough to show me their basement, an entirely renovated space that could fit maybe 5x as many people and furniture. It's complete with a stage and mics, and lounge chairs everywhere. As it turns out, there is often live music and acts held here. Who knew?
I hope Cafe Marlene gets more traffic coming their way. It's just one of those local businesses that folks ought to know about before it goes away on its own. Best way to enjoy this spot is to do like the French: Â Order a crepe, listen to jazz, sip some wine, and watch the world slowly go by.
I think this is a cute addition to the neighborhood. Â I wish we had more places to go in Sunnyside with similar charm and ambience. Â I do wish they would buy better espresso/coffee/iced/coffee, and learn some proper foaming techniques for lattes and cappuccinos. I really love that creamy foam and the flavor of Stumptown or Blue Bottle, etc. Great coffee would really entice me to go more often. Eggs would be great too, but the owner said eggs are not her thing:( Overall the place has potential and I hope it just gets better.
The food, what they have that is, is good. The crepes are yummytown, and the sandwiches are fresh and tasty and big enough to share. A lot of the businesses in the area are really trying but due to lack of funding or creativity they just don't offer the full ambience you would find in brooklyn or the city. Â You can take the girl out of Queens but its nearly impossible to find a place in Queens without a trace of tacky taste. I hope they continue the remodeling of the space, so it really feels like an Old Hollywood/Parisian Cafe/Speak. That plus great coffee would really give us Queenslanders something to brag about to the snooty snobs over the bridge.
Sunnyside, you continue to surprise me.... This little cafe is in the cut on 49th street  - in fact, i have passed it numerous times, and never really thought about it.
The cafe is on the first floor, very classic and reminiscent of a european cafe (i think thats what she is going for) - perhaps the way it is decorated, the music that plays on the speakers (or the eastern european patron)... They have a selection a sandwiches, paninis, crepes (savory or sweet), coffees, espressos, and the one thing i really liked BEER - just like europe/latin america. Â The menu is quite extensive - but it took me a while to figure out what it said because of the strange font.
To eat - I had a crepe with prosciutto, cheese (i forgot what the lady called it but it tasted like swiss) and spinach($10/ 3 choices of ingredients), and a cafe americano.. The food was very good. Â
I really thought this was a cool spot - i like that it's small and i was glad it wasn't crowded when  i went.  They have a second room downstairs that i was told is used as a venue for live music... Interesting, i might have to check it out sometime.
The quaint Cafe Marlene has much more than just coffee - they have a full menu of food, and the real highlight is crepes. Both savory and sweet, these crepes are the real deal - much better than what you get at a street fair, or even at many other New York creperies. Read more about my experience at Cafe Marlene on <a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fsunnysidefood.com&s=10412aea70034281b3c59f906dc6a0be8bc9ee8dbd91c784e526335a673230da" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://sunnysidefood.com</a> : <a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fsunnysidefood.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F11%2F20%2Fcafe-marlene%2F&s=f0cde41d117f1327ca6f98ab949e4c4f156e423df2475593abc8e5567006fc51" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://sunnysidefood.wor…</a>
Review Source:It's not to close to the subway, but within walking distance. Cafe Marlene is a hidden in what seemingly looks like the residential part of Sunnyside. But I have to say that this is a really cute cozy cafe. I don't often drink coffee, but their mocha is pretty good (good = sweet).
- Their savory crepes are delicious. A definite must try for anyone visiting and not full yet.
- Creme brulee looks more like a trifle. I wonder why it's called a creme brulee.
- Bathroom is cute. Nothing is behind that curtain. I checked. Twice.
My introduction to Cafe Marlene was through a small book group. We met here once, and then the group was disbanded. Now I am with another book group, and I wanted to return with the group. Unfortunately, when I called to make sure the space wasn't rented out for the evening we were meeting the person who answered the phone tried to rent the space out to me. When I explained we were a book group just looking to get a cup of coffee, maybe a bite to eat while we discussed a book, and wanted to make sure Cafe Marlene was a good choice for the day and time we were meeting, I was told there would be a two drink minimum.
I'm perfectly comfortable asking everyone in the group to at least buy a drink from the businesses we patronize for our discussions, but I'm not comfortable with a business - especially a cafe of all businesses, which conjures up images of people lingering over a cup of coffee with a book - dictating a two drink minimum is required for a book group to be welcome in the establishment. It's shortsighted, as most members have more than one beverage, and quite a few usually have a bite to eat during our discussion.
I'm disappointed the cafe turned out to be unwelcoming to book groups. We'll patronize other establishments.
Really happy with this place. Partly because it is so rare to find something so relaxing and European in Queens (and really, anywhere in the city). Â It's so cozy and sweet - the crepes are the perfect consistency - smooth and delicate. Â The background music is lovely and creates just the right type of mood. This is a great place to come and introspect - bring your laptop, or even better, a journal - and write. Â I just learned they also have open mic on Sundays, so I'm looking forward to that. Overall, just a lovely place to find
Review Source:I wandered in late (after 8:30pm) on a Tuesday night after reading these Yelp reviews about a "new" spot in the area. I checked out the menu and was temped by the idea of a glass of wine and a delicious sandwich (hey, I'm easy to please sometimes), so passed on dinner somewhere in LIC for this cafe.
The cafe itself is narrow and small; there are perhaps 4 little round tables lining one wall, and an espresso bar on the other side of a very small walkway. It's very...well, it's what you would expect if you were walking into a cafe that had a Parisian-ish theme.
The BF already ordered a glass of wine while waiting for me to find this place (note: it's on a side street, durrr) and warned me via BBM that "oh and they are only serving crepes." But of course, I didn't see the warning until I had already sat down and gleefully told him how excited I was to eat a smoked salmon, ricotta, dill pesto and tomato sandwich -- I was actually really bummed. Did they run out of bread? Is their toaster down for the count? Who knows, except that I wasn't getting a piece of meat between two slices of bread anytime soon.
I settled for a crepe with brie and smoked salmon, with a side of their house salad. Almost the same, but not quite. The crepe itself was pretty tasty. I don't like crepes because they're normally too fluffy and lack any sort of substance, but these have a great substantial texture that isn't too thick or eggy or buttery. Only downside is that my brie still had the rinds on them; maybe I really am picky, but seriously...who eats the rinds with their brie? Our wine was solid for $6 (some bottle from Spain), the salmon was pretty moist (always a challenged when cooking smoked salmon, I feel like), but our salad dressing of olive oil and balsamic vinaigrette was just a touch too heavy on the oil side.
Overall, the place is a-OK. Maybe if I was in the area I'd come back and re-visit to experience the rest of the menu, but certainly not a place I'd go out of my way to go to.
Breath of fresh air - Love the Parisian decor!! tin roofs, engravings on the walls, french decor all over! Pricier coffee than Aubergine, but the ambience is well worth it! Hope more upscale cafes and restaurants like this opt for Sunnyside/Woodside as their home!
Crepe batter is delicious. Sweet crepe w/sugar & butter was perfect. But the Savory crepe w/mushrooms & spinach - undercooked vegetables. I don't mind eating raw veggies but expected it to be cooked a bit more in a crepe.
Was really looking forward to having a nice desert here for a long time as I had a friend who raved about it, and wound up going on the Sunday night before Valentines Day. On their website they list various entertainments each night. I called ahead and double checked that the open mic night wouldn't start until 9, so I made sure I arrived just after 8 as I figured an hour was long enough before the show started (Sorry, been to too many horrible open mic nights to want to stick around).
However, when I tried to order a latte (as you would try to do in a cafe) I was told they would not be using the machine that night because of the Open Mic Night. I asked "You mean the Open Mic that isn't starting for an hour?" and the response I got was "Yes, that one". I then tried to order a regular decaf coffee, and was told they didn't have any of that. We were then told that she wasn't sure what deserts they had, but we could order and she'd check for us.
The deserts we did manage to order were pretty good, but tiramisu doesn't taste the same with a glass of water as it does with coffee. Some of the other stuff that came for other tables looked really good as well. There was a table of women a few glasses of wine deep loudly gossiping about work stuff, which isn't pleasant in such a tiny place, but that's not their fault.
I might try to go back and try the crepes, but isn't such a priority since they seem to shut down for the events down stairs - and there seems to be something every night. Maybe an early afternoon trip would be better....
I never thought the words "let's try that new French place down the street" would ever spill from my McDonalds-loving mouth. It's not that I lack a refined palate, but when I'm groggy, bleary-eyed, and looking for breakfast, I skip the swanky coffee shops and settle for comfortable diners. Two eggs, scrambled, hold the judgment.
But enough about me. Cafe Marlene, open only two weeks now, has already earned five stars.
The cafe serves paninis, salads, sweet and savory crepes, and desserts, with a full coffee bar and wine list. My boyfriend had a savory crepe with brie, ham, and mushroom (patrons select three fillings) and I had the chestnut cream crepe. I also had a mocha, which, by comparison, was tastier than nearby Aubergine's.
The Hollywood Golden Age decor is cute, but not kitschy. The seating is deceptively tight, suggesting that only muffins and scones are served here. Nope--there's a full kitchen behind the coffee bar, and you can watch as the owner-slash-cook-slash-waitress-slash-wonderwoman carefully crafts your crepes. But unlike most sit-down service restaurants, patrons are encouraged to stay a while and take advantage of the WiFi. There's also downstairs seating, where the cafe hosts local performers, book clubs, and screens independent and foreign films.
I've been looking for a cozy brunch nook in my area, and Cafe Marlene certainly fits the bill. I'm looking forward to seeing this place take off--as long as I can still get a seat on Saturday mornings.
The 5 best restaurants in the 2015 Denver Restaurant Week
3,611 Views | Category: Denver
The complete list of 2015 Denver Restaurant Week businesses
1,972 Views | Category: Denver
The tourists' guide to Portillos: 5 must have dishes
3,318 Views | Category: Chicago
Pho = Pronounced "fuh" not "foe" for pho-king sake
2,915 Views | Category: Denver
Indulgery selected to exhibit at Collision Conference
2,987 Views | Category: Press Releases
Not Logged In
BUSINESSES
Local Businesses
Near Me
My Favorites
SOCIAL
Blog & News
MY ACCOUNT
Login
Register
Contact Us
Add Your Business
