09 February 2006

New Kosher Cafe Opens At Columbia Hillel

It's been a week since Cafe Nana has been open on the second floor of the Kraft Center, the building of the Columbia Hillel. It's worth a look-see. For us, it's really great, because it's only four floors down from our beis midrash (study hall). The food aims to be middle eastern and I have found the food to be good. While it's nothing out-of-this-world, it is fairly tasty and rather fine. The pricing is good for a cafe. However, what really makes it cool is the ambiance - the decorating of the place is neat, along with Israeli music playing and/or Israel television, as well. While I don't think I can afford to eat there every day as I have been this week, I definitely recommend checking it out. While I might go there from time to time, I don't plan on heading there every day due to my previously expressed budgetary concerns.

5 comments:

Esther Kustanowitz said...

Very interesting to know about.

But does that Cafe Nana link seem to refer to Blogger, or is it just me?

Hinda said...

David Lavon is engaged, or so says onlysimchas. Sigh...it's okay. He has my approval.

Hi, Drew.

Drew Kaplan said...

Est,
Sorry about that link - it's fixed now.

Hinda,
Which date is he posted under? That's great. And hi, Hinda.

Anonymous said...

Well that's good b/c Columbia definetely needs more kosher options that aren't located in the basement of Barnard. A kosher cafe/restaurant somewhere between 110-120 would in my personal opinion CLEAN UP! I still don't understand why it hasn't happened yet.

I strongly hope, (and I say from my own personal experiences eating at the kosher kitchen at Barnard) that they're not as horrible to those who "don't look the part" of being kosher as they are in the kosher kitchen. My first 4 weeks of college eating in the kosher kitchen turned me off of the Jewish community at CU for the next 4 years and if we're honest, largely in my life as a whole. Drew I'm sure it's not a problem you encounter with your kippah and all I'm sure, but one that I experienced on a daily basis. Of course, they probably assume one is a Jew by virtue of being in the Kraft Center.

Anyways, sorry for the unintentionally angry post - everytime I think back to how nasty everyone was to me I get really upset. Hope you have a good weekend.

Anonymous said...

Anon -

Funny how you had some nasty experiences at Columbia Hillel. You're far from the only one.

However, it seems that the purpose of this cafe (and a stated goal of the new administration) is to make the Hillel a more welcoming place for less obviously kosher folk.