Cafe Catmandoo — Restaurant in New York

I’ve been coming to this café since it first opened, and it used to feel like home. But today, I was really disappointed by how strict the laptop policy has become.

The last time I visited in June, I was asked to move because the café needed four seats for other customers. It was packed, and they told me laptop use was only allowed at a one-seater, which wasn’t ideal. I was just trying to study for my exams, but because a few people were waiting, I was essentially pushed out.

Now, the policy is even stricter. There is a one-hour limit unless you keep ordering, and no laptops at all after 4 p.m., which has been in place for a while. It just doesn’t make sense. Cafés aren’t just for dining; they should be welcoming spaces for students and remote workers. I paid for my food and space like everyone else, so I shouldn’t have to leave just because others are waiting. A café should accommodate all customers, not just prioritize quick turnover.

On top of that, the prices have shot up to Manhattan levels, making it even less appealing. It’s really sad to see how much this place has changed.

For fellow students looking for a study-friendly spot, this isn’t it anymore. It’s more of a social hangout or even a full-on restaurant now, so yeah if you wanna come get food with your friends or chill playing bored games, I’d say it’s only worth that and the drinks + momo.

EDIT:

I appreciate the polite response, but this is not really about balance or creating a welcoming space. It feels more like maximizing turnover, even if that means pushing out the very people who helped make the café what it is today. Students and remote workers were a big part of your original crowd, and now we are treated as if we are unwelcome unless we buy food every hour.

By definition, a café is “a small, casual restaurant where coffee and light refreshments are served” (Oxford Languages). Merriam-Webster also defines it as “a usually small and informal establishment serving various refreshments such as coffee.” Cafés have historically been known as third places, not home and not work, where people gather to read, study, or spend time. The essence of a café is that you can linger. Once strict restaurant-style policies are enforced, it is no longer functioning as a café in the traditional sense.

High-quality ingredients do not make up for Manhattan-level prices when the overall experience is no longer appealing. If I wanted a quick in-and-out dining spot, I could find many other options. What made your café special was the community feel, where people could stay, connect, and feel comfortable. That part has been lost.

So thank you for acknowledging that it may not be the best fit for long study sessions anymore. That is exactly the issue. It is no longer the café we supported from the start. It has become a restaurant with coffee, not a community space.

I will be spending my time and money in places that still value loyal customers rather than politely...

4.5 stars. A friend of my alerted me of this new Himalayan café that just opened last week. Their menu has the usual coffee offerings (latte, cappuccino, etc.) but also offers wine and beer. They also have some limited food options which is what I was most curious about. When I visited this past weekend, I honestly was slightly disappointed at first to see that their menu didn’t have many Himalayan food options listed. In fact, the only item that was Himalayan, that I saw, were Momos (Beef, Pork and Veggies). Nevertheless, I was excited to try them out.

The Momos are made to order and was told it would take about 15-20 minutes to make so I decided to order that on my next visit when I had more time. Instead, I ended up ordering an Avocado Toast ($10) and an Egg Salad Toast ($10). Both were quite good and had a slightly different flavor from your usual avocado or egg salad toast. The spices used (I tasted coriander, cumin, and cardamom) gave it more of a kick which I really enjoyed. It was both familiar and different at the same time if that makes sense.

I was also very impressed by how hospitable and warm the staff were. The owner, Sonam, personally came by and chatted with me. He also gave me complimentary Masala tea (their own special blend) to drink while I waited for my order.

I’m so glad they opened, and I think they are a great addition to this block of restaurants and to this neighborhood in general. I hope more people supports them.

Tip: wifi password is...

Lemme start by saying, this place is ran by the right people. I loved the vibe here. Servers were very attentive. The food is just great. Drinks are also great. This place is cool spot for breakfast/lunch dates.

We reached around 12 noon on a Monday morning and about half of the cafe was empty. We sat down right after we got in. We were offered menu and explained right away about first page being food menu and the rest was drinks…

We started with mango passion refresher and Maple Matcha latte. They both were great. 😊 we then ordered special brunch which I would give about 3/5 but everything else was 5/5. The slow cooked spiced potatoes were very oily. I wish it was dry fries or similar to mustange aalu.

We absolutely loved house complete breakfast. It was mixed of bread toasted in ghee, egg of your choice, avocado, strawberry, blueberry, and green salad; it felt very refreshing and healthy. We then ordered Himalayan momo which was really good, their momo sauce was really good too.

Would definitely recommend this place for anyone. This place is near by subway station, I ma not sure how’s the parking situation...