Kohzee Cafe open

pastoralia

6th Avenue and 7th street...walked by this morning and saw the shutters were up and open. First (and unprofessional) impression...not "Kohzee."

Something like Cafe du Nord (a quant bistro feel) would be better for this corner...but what the hell do I know? I didn't look very close.

snarkslope

Although it goes against my nature, I am going to forgive the hideous name of this place and give it a chance. Does anyone know if they have wifi?

zebra

Yeah, why that name when "Comfort Zone" is available again?

jeffrey

Oh, I dunno...

This, perhaps?

new2hood

Went today for an afterschool coffee and hot chocolate. The folks working there were really nice. Coffee was great, and hot chocolate was good (and not rediculously priced.)

Menu is more like a diner...my only observation is they should make a few tables/couches up front that are self service for people who just want coffee. They are also selling Jacques Torres chocolate, which is dangerous. While the basic pastries (cookies, scones, etc.) looked run of the mill, the cakes/eclairs/things of that ilk looked awesome.

It's actually a brilliant location for a coffee shop...they just need to balance the restaurant aspect w/the coffee one.

carmen

stopped in today for a cup of coffee to go (while holding my under 10lb dog and they didn't kick me out, win since that means I can get coffee before our morning walks!)

First impressions- the space is actually cute. I'm not a huge fan of tvs in any establishment but its homey and warm feeling. The coffee is good (just got normal drip) and not super expensive (a 16oz was $2 which I think is a bit less than your average coffee shop but more than a bodega or something.) I got a togo menu and the food is definitely more diner than the owner had originally told me he was shooting for a few months ago. Prices are a bit more than a place like donuts- a delux burger (fried, coleslaw, etc) is 6.50, 2eggs with sausage/homefries etc is 6.25, etc. They do seem to have some more "gourmet"ish stuff like frittatas, a hummus avocado sandwich for $6. I also don't understand why ALL diner menus have to include typos (like using the word "shrimps")

Overall I'm happy to have something like this on my corner- it'll be great to be able to grab a $4 burger or a grilled cheese and a cup of soup for under $10 less than 2 minutes from my front door. I hope they make it a bit more "upscale" in the future.

Also I was happy to see 4 tables filled when I went in- glad they have some business even on this rainy morning!

pastoralia

Stopped in for coffee with our six pound pooch in our arms...no complaints from the owners which means I'll be back.

Didn't get any food but it's basic diner fare. Reminds me of Purity Diner on 7th with the TV's and color scheme. The baked goods looked freakin' delicious if I was into that sort of thing. Very friendly staff. I'll be back but it's nothing that PS doesn't already have in terms of diner food. I wish them luck.

longtimesloper

Why do people seem disturbed that is is basic diner food? do we really need another gourmet type restaurant around? This place is not far from me and I am thrilled it is basic food because good basic food is hard to get around ehre. Park Slope Ale House stinks IMO

carmen

I wouldn't say "good basic food" is hard to get around here...donuts and purity are both within 5 minutes walk. I was hoping it was going to be more of a coffeeshop (baked goods, small breakfast warm plates, some nice salads maybe) than a diner, but its nice to know I can get soup somewhere fast for those inevitable cold winter-night cravings. Plus I like that its open till 11

pastoralia

Two blocks in any direction from Kohzee:
Daisy's
Donut Shop
Purity
That diner on 5th between 7/8th(?)

These all serve the same food. I have no problem with it either except if you want a business to succeed don't have four of the exact same things so close and that are on higher trafficked areas than 6th Street.

I love bacon, eggs and potatoes (why not hashbrowns PS diners...does it always have to be American Fries?) but I can find these options anywhere.

Imagine if someplace like a Dizzy's opened on 6th/6th. That would be different and a bigger draw.

I'm not against them succeeding I just think they had better differentiate themselves from their immediate competition....like by serving hashbrowns. I'd go there if they had hashbrowns. Fuck, I love hashbrowns.

longtimesloper

Carmen wrote: I wouldn't say "good basic food" is hard to get around here...donuts and purity are both within 5 minutes walk. I was hoping it was going to be more of a coffeeshop (baked goods, small breakfast warm plates, some nice salads maybe) than a diner, but its nice to know I can get soup somewhere fast for those inevitable cold winter-night cravings. Plus I like that its open till 11

I guess I don't consider that donut shop or Purity to be "good" basic food. I won't go near the donut shop, the last time I was in there and granted, this was years ago, there was company crawling all around the place and I vowed never to go back. As for Purity, I personally never cared for their food.

I am excited to try their coffee and pastires, sounds like their pastries are good.

I would love has browns too, can we find a place that serves hash browns?

bluecat

Went to Kohzee had a nice chickpea-avocado sandwich. The chef came out and asked how I liked it ('it was my invention'). The owner was very friendly asked for any thoughts I had on the cafe. He called it a soft-opening 'until we get the kinks worked out'. Honestly I didn't see any kinks. Good basic diner, food is less expensive than Purity. They obviously put some thought into the decor, good layout, solid construction, nothing cheap about it. And best of all, the windows all swing open - in the warmer months there will be tables and chairs outside. Count me as a fan, I'll bet this place will be packed for weekend brunch.

-blue

opossumqueen

I haven't tried it yet, but so far there always seem to be customers in there. Often several booths are taken and I've noticed folks with laptops hanging out a few times.

The dessert cabinet looks amazing. I plan to try it after holiday baking at home is over (if I can wait that long). Cheesecake and some other things like that are usually there.

There are some things I love on their menu (sweet potato fries, among others) and the location is great for me, so I hope they do well.

opossumqueen

Broke down and went in last night. I like the space and the chocolate truffle cake and pistachio canoli (sp?) we had were great. They also have ice cream (Hershey's) which will be nice when warm weather returns.

Also, they sell Jacques Torres chocolates and had lots of items that were good if you need last minute chocolate gifts, big or small.

opossumqueen

Update: they seem to have cheap daily specials ($2.25 soups, for example) and there's an ATM outside although I'm not sure if/what bank it's associated with, and they definitely have free wifi.

bluecat

$2.25 soup? That's amazing! I did go back for breakfast. It was a day I had very little time to spare. There was only one waitress working at first. She was haggard but friendly. It took a while to get my breakfast which was of great concern but I got out in time. Eventually a second waitress did show. I guess there are still a few kinks to knock out. I want to go back and try the cheap-o soup!

bluecat

Went back to Kohzee once again and this time -ugh-. There were only a handful of other patrons and our food took a very long time to come out. We asked for whole wheat bread, it came as rye. When we pointed out the Rye to our waitress she told us whole wheat was in storage and would take 15 minutes to get! On top of that the grits I ordered were too salty to eat. I complained to the owner and he showed concern (and took $5 off the bill). But this was NOT a good omen. Not at all...

pastoralia

Stopped by for lunch this weekend. We were the only two people in there at about 12:30. Ordered two sandwiches that took thirty minutes to arrive. The chicken club I had was disgusting. The chicken was tough and dry and instead of deli sliced chicken was a chicken breast cut into chunks. The bacon was turkey bacon. And the side of potato salad had zero taste (it was like it came out of a can).

We were seated side by side on the bench that looks across a table and out onto 6th Ave. As we were eating a group of five came in and the owner sat them straight across from us so we were all looking right into each other's faces. This was when the rest of the restaurant was empty with plenty of seats available.

It must be a family that runs the place but I'm sorry this is not going to work people. I have a feeling that many people (like myself) go there once and never return.

snarkslope

Sorry to hear these latest reviews. I haven't been, but the decor from outside reminds me of Gialetti's, on 8th Ave. near 17th St. That place was also promising but awful- totally inattentive staff, grocery store-type packaged food, ugly premises. Doesn't bode well. What a shame, with so many eager potential patrons.

canyontothesky

I went on Sunday around 2pm. We ordered a waffle with whipped cream, and a reuben sandwich with french fries. I didn't notice that the food took too long to come out, maybe 15 or 20 minutes, but my waffle was not hot when it arrived, probably because they were waiting on another component of our meal... but the maple syrup they had, with the waffle, was so delicious (I also had a side of turkey bacon which I didn't care for). My boyfriend ordered the reuben and I am not a meat sandwich fan, but I tried this, and it was one of the best sandwiches I've ever had. I'm not lying, it was soo good! The fries were yummy as well. I really don't have any complaints about this place, it's my new favorite diner and I will be back. The owner came over to talk to us for a minute, mentioned that in their first week they had a chef who was like the soup nazi in Seinfeld, and now they're working things out. The food isn't greasy, the waitstaff wasn't over attentive (but attentive!), the decor is fine, the food is great, no complaints here.

winstonsmith

Carmen wrote: stopped in today for a cup of coffee to go (while holding my under 10lb dog and they didn't kick me out, win since that means I can get coffee before our morning walks!)

Why would you risk having this brand new restaurant cited by the Board of Health?

carnivore

pastoralia wrote: Stopped by for lunch this weekend. We were the only two people in there at about 12:30. Ordered two sandwiches that took thirty minutes to arrive. The chicken club I had was disgusting. The chicken was tough and dry and instead of deli sliced chicken was a chicken breast cut into chunks. The bacon was turkey bacon.

Funny, but normally I would consider sliced fresh chicken breast a plus compared to deli meat. No one likes it dry though, and fake bacon should never be served unless specified as such in advance (never at all, in my opinion, but some people inexplicably like it).

pastoralia

Maybe if the chicken breast was sliced, and fresh, and not a tough piece of styrofoam it would have been good. But it was just about five uneven, dry chunks tossed in the middle of the sandwich leaving the edges chicken-free.

As I wrote above there is no need for this type of restaurant so close to so many of the same kinds of places. And if you can't even do food fresh and correct there's no way you're going to make it. It's a shame. The space had potential. It could have been like a corner bistro type place such as Cornelia Street Cafe or something. Instead it's a boring, uninspired diner blaring Sportscenter on the TV all day.

opossumqueen

They've been packed around mid-afternoon the last couple of days. Usually several folks with their laptops having a drink and snack. The outside area seems good for stroller parking (they may put tables out there in the summer) so I see a lot of parents there after dropping the little ones off at the nearby daycare and school.

I'd believe that they got rid of a chef--there was a cook who was a lunatic outside sometimes, ranting and raving. The owners are really nice trying hard so hope they do well since I like having good neighbors and a close to home food option. I also like that they are there and seem really aware of what's going on (looking out the windows and such) on this quiet spot long after dark--makes me feel a little safer and maybe they will keep the teenage trouble makers who used to hang out there away.

We've had a couple of good desserts, good sweet potato fries and burger there, but one really bad dessert.

I think some (maybe all) of their baked good come from Kabir's Bakery, fwiw. I've seen a delivery truck from there a few times.

pastoralia

They're looking out the window for customers.

blevine77

I've had pretty much nothing but great experiences dining there (4-5 times -- I live a block away). We haven't had any food issues -- just the typical new place working out the kinks problems, which I have patience for when they're nice and apologetic about them (order mix-up, delays, etc.). The owners and staff couldn't be more nice every time we've been there.

Didn't know about the chef being replaced. The old one seemed nice, but a little nutty, so I can see what the issue could have been there.

canyontothesky

Carnivore wrote: No one likes it dry though, and fake bacon should never be served unless specified as such in advance (never at all, in my opinion, but some people inexplicably like it).

It says on the menu turkey bacon. Or at least, there are parts that say turkey bacon (it comes with the waffles) and I did notice others that just said bacon. I don't know if they serve both because I would have preferred regular bacon.

opossumqueen

pastoralia wrote: They're looking out the window for customers.

Hahaha!

pastoralia

I've walked by on my way to work every morning this week and every day the place was empty. They must be hemorrhaging money.

jbrenner

Subject: get off the block.

I live 3 doors down from Kohzee Kafe. For months before they opened I was one of their BIGGEST supporters, so excited they were opening on the corner. I even wanted to work there P/T. Then BAMM they opened and it has been a disater ever since.

1. The vent to the restaurant in NOT on the roof of the building it is on the back of their builiding- so the entire blocks' stink of exhaust, and the fan is so bloody loud that it impossible to even be outside. When we have apprroached the owners they say " Oh, just come over and we will turn the fan off for you". WHAT move the fan to the roof- oh wait your landlord won't like that because he has renters with a deck!

2. The smell of the exhaust seeps into all of our homes. We have complained over and over again- and once again the owner says " Can I come over and smell your house?" NO fix it. The owner is ok, but his sleezy helper at night is aggressive and incredibly skeezy as he smokes his cigarettes and talks on the phone in front of the place all day long.

3. Ketchup. Needs to be refriderated. I walk my dog every night and every morning only to see that when they are closed they leave the ketchup on the tables at night. Please, for the sake of the few suckers out there who pay for the horid service- it needs to be refridarated.

4. What a shame, what a perfect corner. The amount of money they put into that place for flat screen TV's playing NY1 and booths only to serve diner food- what? Simple Ikea sofas, chairs, NO TV, to sleezy men on the corner at 11pm every night, and a little pandora music- kablam a park slope seller. Wrong neighborhood.

5. Health Department, Fire Department, and Enviormental Protection Services are all involved now.

opossumqueen

Um, ketchup doesn't have to be refrigerated. Lots of things we chill are fine left out, like butter. Or is it that you like it cold? I think it's pretty standard to leave ketchup out at all times in restaurants.

I live VERY close and walk by there many times day and night and actually have no clue about this exhaust you're talking about, and I'm usually the first to notice any kind of odors. If you are really upset about it why the hell won't you let him see (or smell) for himself?

I like that the hours they keep have run the riff-raff teen that lives behind there and his friends off. The previous business actually installed security cameras just b/c of that bunch.

I like the place overall and am happy to have such friendly (I've experienced nothing sleezy about them) neighbors. Others must like it too, because it's often got quite a crowd and they told me they do a lot of take-out and delivery business as well.