Kerbside pickup
Yes
Library Caf in Farmingdale
Categories
Location on the map
Farmingdale, Suffolk County, New York, US
Service options
Delivery
Yes
Takeaway
Yes
Dine-in
Yes
Health and safety
Staff required to disinfect surfaces between visits
Yes
Highlights
Great beer selection
Yes
Great cocktails
Yes
Great dessert
Yes
Great wine list
Yes
Live music
Yes
Popular for
Lunch
Yes
Dinner
Yes
Solo dining
Yes
Accessibility
Wheelchair-accessible car park
Yes
Wheelchair-accessible entrance
Yes
Wheelchair-accessible seating
Yes
Wheelchair-accessible toilet
Yes
Offerings
Alcohol
Yes
Beer
Yes
Cocktails
Yes
Coffee
Yes
Comfort food
Yes
Happy-hour drinks
Yes
Happy-hour food
Yes
Kids' menu
Yes
Late-night food
Yes
Quick bite
Yes
Small plates
Yes
Spirits
Yes
Vegetarian options
Yes
Wine
Yes
Dining options
Lunch
Yes
Dinner
Yes
Catering
Yes
Dessert
Yes
Amenities
Bar on site
Yes
Good for kids
Yes
High chairs
Yes
Toilets
Yes
Atmosphere
Casual
Yes
Cosy
Yes
Historic
Yes
Crowd
Family friendly
Yes
Groups
Yes
Tourists
Yes
University students
Yes
Planning
Dinner reservations recommended
Yes
Accepts reservations
Yes
Payments
Credit cards
Yes
Phone: +1 516-752-7678
Site: http://thelibrarycafe.com/
Site: http://thelibrarycafe.com/
Opening hours
- Monday:12–10:30PM
- Tuesday:12–10:30PM
- Wednesday:12–10:30PM
- Thursday:12–10:30PM
- Friday:12–11:30PM
- Saturday:11:30AM–11:30PM
- Sunday:11:30AM–10:30PM
Comments (199)
I rarely leave a review. Took my mother here for Sunday Brunch...it was very busy and a mistake was made where the kitchen did not get my order resulting in us waiting almost an hour for our food to get to the table. The manager and staff apologized sincerely and compensated the whole meal. I even insisted that they charge me something so that I could leave a big tip but they refused. I wish I had cash to leave a generous tip for the staff. They made mistakes at the start, but corrected everything and went out of their way and made sure I enjoyed my experience there. This was the 2nd time I have been there for brunch with my mother and I guarantee I will be back for a 3rd. Please thank the manager for being extremely professional and courteous, he had a slight (I think Irish) accent. The food was great!
Mixed bag. Place itself is cool, huge windows, tall ceilings, great looking bar dominates the room. Soft pretzel app was soft and the cheese dip was devine. Drinks are great, including the martinis they are known for. Service is decent.For the bad. Insanely loud. Like cant hear across the booth loud. When will restaurants understand we dont need our eardrums humming when we leave the joint. Kitchen was very slow, but Saturday, 7pm we can chalk that up to being busy. The food was...meh. Our burgers were soggy, mine was medium rare not the medium I ordered. The waffle fries side is miniscule. The side salad just sad. The chicken sandwich was 80% breading. The chicken nachos app was downright horrible. Pathetic amount of toppings, maybe an ounce of chicken total. Glad we had the cheese from the pretzel to dip our chips in bc we ran out pretty quick on the app itself.Just an overall meh grade, and for the prices (above avg bar food prices), not worth a second glance besides a pit stop for pre game drinks.
Beautiful indoor Bar/Restaurant with a Real small boat inside and a bar that looks like the old libraries. Food is delicious and fair prices. Service is great. Perfect place for brunch.
Great vibe and a very cool setting for a casual afternoon or evening. Aesthetically enjoyable with a fantastic bar and awesome decor like a real boat hanging from the ceiling.Our waitress Lauren was excellent. She was knowledgeable, patient with all of our questions, professional and super friendly.It was an afternoon of cocktails and appetizers for us. My favorite was the Toni Morrison Jazz Martini, although I tried several others. This consisted of Crop Cucumber Vodka, St. Germaine, Fresh Lemon, Muddled Cucumber and Club Soda.As for the appetizers, I really enjoyed the Mini Ruben Sandwiches. They were really good!We loved this place and cant wait to go back!!
Theres this really cool restaurant inside of an old library!Wait, what?No, really! The food is great!^^^Literally me every time I recommend this fantastic place.
A nice looking Bar with seats on the main floor and upstairs. We stood for 5 minutes before a server told us that shed be right back to help us, She never came back. Manager sat us, after I had to find him another 7 minutes later. Mind you, it was not crowded and no one in front of us. Another couple even walked in, waited, then left. Our bench had crumbs on it, took so long for someone to come, my wife cleaned it herself. Sunday brunch menu had a lot of food and a complimentary Mamosa. My Eggs Benedict had a hard boiled egg instead of a true Poached Egg (Picture Posted). No Canadian Bacon either. French Toast was very hard to cut, a sign of sitting under a heat lamp. Mamosa should be served in a Champagne Flute, not a Wine Glass. Pastrami Ruben was Good. Korean soft tacos were a bit too sweet, but good. Fish and Chips was the star. I recommend the Triple Threat Dessert. Our server was Good. My wife said that The Ladies Bathroom Stall did not lock, it was covered with a semi clear tape. The wall lamp at my booth was very dusty (Picture Posted). Im giving this place a generous 2 Stars...Thank you to the owner for responding. We will give you establishment another try.ESJ
Cool place. Great service. Delicious local seasonal brews. Wicked good food!Ironically, there are only a few books on the shelves. Most of the books must be checked out of this library.
The Library Cafe is a fun and happy place. Easy to find, it is prominently located on the corner of Conklin and Main Street in Farmingdale. The decor includes a daysailer and lovely architectural embellishments. The bar has ample seating and is fully stocked. There is also a room upstairs for a more intimate party. The menu offers lots of comfort food. We began with crispy wings served in a skillet. These were accompanied by creamy homemade blue cheese on the side. A repeat appetizer for our next visit! Next was their decadent Short Rib Chili topped with mounds of melted Cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses and chopped onions; this came with plenty of nachos. And last was the tasty Pastruben. A combination of pastrami and corned beef between toasted rye and topped with cheese and sauerkraut. Indeed this combo was the trifecta of comfort food!!! The staff is friendly and attentive, making visiting here a win, win!
A place that looks as wonderful outside as it does inside the food was delicious the drinks were awesome will be going back there again.
Love this place. Been coming here for years. The food and service is always exceptional!
Nice place with very good food, plenty of drinks and a good variety of beers 🍻, the staff was friendly and helpful
Burger was a bit burnt on the outside but cooked to order on the inside. Everything else was great. Moved from the table to the bar and had fantastic bar service. How wings were delicious.
Great spot with a fun atmosphere. Great variety of drinks. Feels very comfortable and music is always good. Library cafe has become a regular for us.
My sister came home from Fort Lee Virginia for just a few hours yesterday and I wanted to treat her to a nice brunch for Veterans day since she had to go back (she is in the Army), we decided on the 📚☕Library Cafe and we absolutely loved it, we sat by the bar due to the waiting time for a table and the bartenders were super friendly and nice. The service was excellent, the food and drinks absolutely delicious, I recommend this place for anyone looking for a 🥓brunch place on a sunday, a place where to watch the game🏈 or just a cozy place to enjoy a good meal🍛. I will definitely go back in the future. Great staff, pleasant atmosphere, fast and friendly service and delicious food🍝 and drinks🥂 (love the fact that they have drinks based on novels), HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!!
Had a party for my mother in laws retirement here. Decent place, but the food was pretty sub par. Chicken marsala too dry, vegetables average. Drink I got was a dirty vodka martini, neat & shaken. The drink was very good. Wait staff was also not super friendly or nice. All in all average at best.
Great bar NOT A WIME PLACEbut food good bartender bartenderare fun and a nice place to chillBeer good!!Drinks great great greatAnd like I saidFood was above fineFun place for people of most agesGo give it a shot been there for a while for a reasonAll good out side of wine
Food was really good and the drinks were nice & strong! I liked the decor and atmosphere of the restaurant as well.
Neat locatation in a converted library with the book ladder and all. The inside is inviting and the staff very friendly. Great menu options but went with a salad, generously sized and tasted good. I would return!
Ive eaten there before and as usual, the food was delicious, our waiter, Brandon was amazing and the atmosphere was lovely. Who could ask for anything more!
Went to book a bridal shower. Reasonably priced, good menu with options and great customer service. Thrilled!
Stopped in for lunch and had the fish tacos. Pretty good. Really nice bar and good staff. Another good spot in Farmingdale deffinate recommend.
Great place ! Nice energy . Big bar and the stafff is very accommodating . Gluten free options
Dinner with a good friend to round out the weekend. Excellent service and food was great quality.
Had brunch this past Sunday. The atmosphere was charming, the server Caroline was very courteous and attentive. Tge meal was delicious and plentiful. You have a choice of eating inside or outside. The price was very reasonable. The entire street is filled with small shops and a variety of restaurants with both indoor or outdoor setting.It was very quaint to walk around this area.Would definitely come back again and recommend this cafe to my family and friends.
Went for Fathers Day brunch. Literally one of the worst meals and experience Ive ever had. Food was inedible, dried out garbage. They charged $30 per person for what I posted a picture of below. They were understaffed so the waitresses were never around. This was terrible. Dont go.
Brandon is amazing! Burger cooked to perfection. Old fashioned cocktail was divine! We will be back soon!!
Amazing visit with Santa kids loved it. Great apple pancakes, eggs benedict and full breakfast plate. Mimosas too for the adults! Pasteries and service were great!
The Library Cafe is not only a place to get very good food, it also has an excellent ambiance. The servers are cheerful and add to make the dining experience very pleasant. The bar has the great place to meet for drinks appeal. Ill be back.J. Brown
Outstanding service & food !I want to thank the Library Cafe for accommodating a group of 25 people last minute after a funeral service. The food was delicious and Dave the waiter was incredible and always had a smile on his face.You made our tribute lunch a wonderful celebration for life on such short notice. Thank you again and thank you so much Dave !!!
Went there with family after burial had a little wait time. But service was good
The wait staff was very nice but the food was poor. The worst French onion soup ever! Appetizer, Ruben was served on burnt bread. it is a shame that they went as far as trying to hide the burnt bun. Mac and cheese was greasy. Our supposedly medium rare burgers were dry and burnt. Fries were good but how can you do fries wrong. nice looking place though.
We enjoyed our food and were glad to see gluten free options
I went there tonight for my bachelorette party. I really enjoyed myself. My friends didnt tell me where we were going and I was so pleased with everything. We took photos in front of the restaurant and we ended up meeting the owner. He took a group photo for us and we chatted. We told him it was my bachelorette and he gave us a round of shots. He also sat us. We really enjoyed how involved he is with his restaurant. The waitress we had was prefect too. Showed up exactly when we wanted her. The food was really good. The owner also did a shout out for me bc he had live music. I really enjoyed myself. We are planning on going back again we had such a good time. If you are a desert lover like I am. Make sure you get their desert!
First time at Library Cafe and it didnt disappoint. Food was great and our server was wonderful. Highly recommend
Great Food, Delightful & Pleasant Service. All around, great place to go day and night. 😎
This place has gone SO downhill. Tried to give it a chance 3x and all 3 the food was inedible. Onion soup has no flavor, it’s a can of campbells at best. The “pretzel trio” was greasy microwaved pretzel sticks with make-you-sick microwaved dips for $12. STAY AWAY - shame on you Lessings.
Food was okay, menu had some unique items, and there were plenty of drink options. Overall the decor was the best part but its food was like your average pop up restaurant.
Not sure if you altered the California BLT but it was so disappointing from the last couple of times I have ordered it. No real avocado slices? It was dripping in avocado aioli sauce which was way too much. Sloppy. Not much of a sandwich and appeared to be cheap. We have been long time customers of the LC so this was really bad considering. Mike the manager is phenomenal and our server (name escapes us at the moment!) was above and beyond exceptional. Hopefully, this survey is connected to the server as he and Mike deserve absolute recognition!
I may need to give this restaurant a 2nd chance. Wasnt crazy about the meal and appetizer at all 😔but my server was reasonable. I enjoyed my drinks at the bar, 1 cocktail 1 IPA. Very cool interior 😎
Have been going here for 15 years. Awesome everytime. Also the spot where Id had my 1st date with my wife!
Nachos were dry and not the greatest. They were edible but not worth getting again. The cocktail was small but good. Waffle fries amazing as always and crispy chx wrap with blue cheese, Buffalo Sauce instead of the ranch was an amazing revision to their chicken bacon avocado wrap!!!
My new favorite eatery spot on Main Street. The waitstaff is so kind and friendly, and the facilities are very clean and Covid compliant. The food is absolutely DELICIOUS!! Ingredients are great quality and fresh, the kitchen definitely knows what they’re doing!!
Parking is Challenging, but the food and service was very good! Waitress was pleasant. Ill go back..
The ambiance is wonderful. The staff is respectful. The manager/owner is friendly. The service was great. The beer was cold. However, we distinctly missed that this in a burger joint. I ordered French Onion soup. It was just passable. Not bad per se, just super middle of the road. Not overflowing with cheese, not robust in flavor, not perfectly melted, but had all of the elements. My field ordered a chopped salad and about a quarter of the way in she said, this doesnt seem right... and then realized there were no tomatoes. Checking the menu, it doesnt mention tomatoes so, there wouldnt be any, but she just thought it didnt feel right. Ordered waffle fries which were fine. Soooo, if you go, read what they are good at before you get there. Burgers and Martinis (apparently). Stay within the lanes and hopefully it will go well. Good luck. BTW, did I mention they are trying really hard? They are. And it is nice ambiance.
Always wanted to go there, when I finally did I wasnt disappointed. Food was great, atmosphere and staff are friendly.
Very friendly staff, food was very good , my wife decided to have are daughters bridal shower here and they went above and beyond for her special occasion.
Nice Atmosphere, Great Cocktails...But Horrible food! Not sure if they cut corners to save money but the appetizers were cold and poor quality. My group was excited to try the food and we were all in disappointment, maybe the chef really doesn’t care about quality. Not worth the money. Unsatisfied 😡
Food was bland and not properly seasoned. So many other good choices now, but we used to come here all the time. They still manage to do a pretty good business though.
Came here for drinks. Great music, friendly bartenders
This restaurant offers great cocktails and top notch services. Their food is amazing and served in plenty. The employees are very knowledgeable, professionals, and offers unbeatable services all through. Their charges are very fair and dont have to break your bank. They also have specials on weekends.
I hosted my bridal shower here and had such a great experience. The staff were so friendly and helpful and the food was delicious! It was the perfect place for a smaller gathering (we had ~25 people) and we loved the included drinks. Would definitely recommend this place for events!
Got seated quickly got our apps quickly got out drinks in and out in an hour at 10 o clock at night quick kind service would recommend for a nice sit down spot.
Always our go to place. My boyfriend knows the guys that run the place, they always take a moment to chat. Burgers are great, hot wings delicious, never had a bad meal! Shout out to the chef who delivers “very crispy” bacon to my boyfriend everytime🤗
Excellent place we was doing deliveries it was hot humid outside service was excellent so was the lemonade drinks good looking unfortunately ive been here before long while ago nice place definitely will come back for the drinks 💯💯
Always good food. Reasonable prices. I miss hanging out at the bar. What might be the best part about this place is the staff. Very personable, warm friendly, genuine, etc....
The restaurants atmosphere is great and very spacious. The drinks are all named after authors and their books, which for me is pretty dope. The cost of food is ranges from about $8-$28. Drinks are a little pricey but are decent sizes. Overall the service is good and I would come back again.
We had a private event over the weekend. It was in the upstairs area which was nice and quaint and out of the way. The food was good and the service was excellent! 1 server/bartender for 30 plus person buffet and she did an excellent job. I definitely recommend this place.
Good food and service. Great atmosphere. My usual complaint for restaurants today is noise. We went for lunch, no one else in the place, but the music is concert loud. Turn it down! To their credit, they did. Thanks!Check it out though, they have a great location. As a child, I used this building when it really was a library. Menu is awesome and the service excellent.
Great tasting food and atmosphere is really cool. Been here a few times for the nice scene and recently Went here for a Father’s Day lunch and we all left full and satisfied. Martinis could have been a bit stronger(too sweet) but overall a great experience! Will be coming back of course.
Good cocktails but food was just ok. Our calamari appetizer was cold when it came out but our server was quick to bring us a new hot one and the manager came by several times to apologize and make sure everything else was good. The Chipotle BBQ chicken sandwich was a bit bland but the burger was very good, juicy and perfectly cooked. Good, laid back vibe, cool decor and not too loud to have a conversation. Overall a nice place.
I ordered the Buddha bowl, I added chicken to it. The price for the bowl was so expensive. The food is overpriced. I would never pay 20 dollars for a bowl. For the high cost of the bowl I would it expect it to be amazing and it wasn’t. The service is horrible. I went there today with friends the place wasn’t busy our waitress didn’t check up on us once. She disappeared for several minutes. My boyfriend had to go and find her to ask her for the check. She was hanging out by the bar mingling. I will never go there again.
Such a beautiful bar. Great for a date night or catching up with a friend. Food was casual and good for just that not a fine dining meal but nice for casual comfort food.
Library Cafe had great food and a great atmosphere. We started at the bar for a drink then made our way over to our table. The bartender was quick to get our orders and drinks came out quickly. The server made sure we had plenty of time to look at the menu before we ordered. She was very attentive and didnt make us feel rushed. The Thai Calamari was a very tasty appetizer along with the jumbo pretzel. I got the Chefs Burger cooked to a madium temperature. It was very delicious and cooked perfectly.
Staff is really nice but the food is terrible. It had been a couple of years since my last visit and it just seems like this place has gone downhill. Really disappointed. Not even the drinks were good.
First time there. Very cute looking place. Food was very good and our server was super nice and accommodating! It was packed! But thankfully we didn’t have to wait long at all.
This is such an amazing place. The food and service is outstanding. The servers deserve to be praised, they are non-stop and they make sure that everyone has a great experience. Hard workers! And much appreciated by all of us. Beautiful bar, spotless!
It was a very lovely dining experience. The server had excellent timing and was quite kind. The food itself was delectable. I had the brownie for two as dessert. Very delicious but be prepare for a dessert for three!
Celebrated two friends birthdays here, a month apart. On another occasion, I met several old schoolmates here for an informal class reunion.I enjoyed the ambiance immensely. The food and drinks were good, too. (Sorry no photos at the time).When I attended Main St Elementary School in the 1960s, this was the public library we would visit to read reference books. This building still looks the same: that is, great!
This was the first place I visited in Farmindale, Long Island. What an incredible place! The bar is impressive and there are a ton of beers on draft.The staff was extremely friendly and the menu has a wide variety. The food is way above average and I will definitely be back if Im ever in the area!
Good food, great drinks.
Library Cafe is a great place. The food is very good and you cant beat the prices. The happy hour drink specials are great too. Brunch is good . Whether you like something sweet or savory, there are options.
This brunch was horrible, all the food was luke warm when served. It looked and tasted as if it had been cooked the day before. Notifyed the manager and he gave our party of 10 a 50% discount. Gave it 2 stars only because our server was very attentive and courteous.
I sent my friends to this place with my warmest recommendations. I visit this restaurant often. I get very good feedback from my friends. The the food there is appetizing and the stuff is generous and cooperative. Whenever we eat in this place we pass a pleasing evening. warmly recommended.
Tonight was my first time going to this place for a retirement party..and it did not disappoint. The atmosphere was upbeat, the decor was lovely and the service was great. I cant forget to mention the best part.....DINER. We did a buffet style with Penne Alavodka, flank steak and mushrooms, chicken bruschetta and salad. Lots and lots of flavor. Everything was done so tastefully. It was about 30 of us enjoying tasty drinks .... good food and great company. What a lovely way to spend a Friday night.The Traveling New Yorker
The food was decent. Basic bar food with some slight elevation. My husband had the cheesteak and it was more onions than steak. I had a burger and it was pretty good. Its very very noisy though and we practically had to yell across the table at each other because the music was so loud.
Ive always known about this place but rarely went. I ate here twice over the weekend with 2 different meals and wow! Great food, good drinks, and you get the right amount of food for the price. Im sorry I didnt start dinning here earlier.
This was my first visit after the boat show....to say it was excellent is an understatement really enjoyed are food from a simple burger ..which was outstanding to Korean tacos we really enjoyed our lunch!! It is a bit loud but food was worth the noise level...P.S. we have been back twice since the 6th of April 2019!!
Went for a birthday dinner, both burgers were burned (ordered medium rare, received charred well done) both kids chicken tenders were also burned (blackened in some areas). Max and cheese was greasy and like a butter soup. Overall, food was inedible for most of my party. The waitress and bussing staff was very professional and the restaurant was clean, which were the only good qualities. The hostess was not dressed professionally. She was very casual and not in uniform or professional attire.
I was soo excited to try this place after passing it one day. As a lover of books and drinks, it seemed like a dream come true! My husband, sister-in-law and I went before seeing a movie. The music was very loud- we could hardly hear each other and were all in a booth together. We each ordered a burger, and then waited over forty minutes. If we kept waiting for our food we would have missed our movie. We told our waitress that we had to go. She brought the manager over who said that our food would come out soon if we could just wait, and when we explained that we couldnt stay he said if we had told him we had movie tickets he would have gotten out food out sooner. I should not have to give a reason to receive my food in a timely fashion. Very disappointed.
This place used to be great. Ive been here several times, and unfortunately each time was a bit less wonderful than the last. Its not bad by any means, but its not what it once was. My favorite thing here is their Buffalo Chicken sandwich. My least favorite thing is their brunch. Definitely stay away from their brunch. Its really not great. Their lunch/dinner menu is much better. Aside from th3 buffalo chicken sandwich, they have some great salads and appetizers. Decently stocked bar, but as a beer guy, I wish they had more taps. Ill be going back soon, so Ill update this review should anything change.
Had a few drinks and appetizers at the bar, everything was fresh and tasty. The bar was spotless and the bartender Dave from Ireland couldnt have been more welcoming. You could see he took great pride in keeping the place a clean as possible. Great experience.
Great place for lunch with a very interesting decor with high ceilings. We were there for lunch, and the food and service were both great. They have a very interesting bar and seems to take top shelf drinks literally - they actually have to climb a ladder to get the liquor.
Large drink selection, really good vegan options, delicious food all around and fair to generous portion sizes. When I went, sunday evening, it wasnt too crowded, but I hear it can get busy. I picked a good time!
Beautiful! Loved this experience. Great, helpful and accommodating staff with a gorgeous location. The meal was delicious and a very covid safe experience. I will definitely be back.
Our waiter was fantastic. The drinks and food were great. Just dont get stuck at the booth near the wait stand when the heat is on. It was super hot.
Great food, great service. We had a large last minute event and they acommadated our group perfectly in the upstairs room. Cute place.
Went there tonight for an office party. This was my first time there. And also my last. There was only one waitress for a group of aboutbour 35 people. She did her best considering. Service was slow and food was not good. I asked for well done steak it came out like rubber. My first salad came out with no dressing. Another person wanted a med steak it came our rare. It went back to the kitchen and came back rare again. Food was also a little cold. Plenty if other places to eat locally. Dont waste your time or money.
On a Thursday evening, we were told we could not sit at the open tables unless all members of our party would order an entree. The excellent irish gentleman behind the bar provided fantastic service at the bar and moved us to a table when our food was ready.
Usually when I come here the service and food is pretty good. The last time I went the waitress forgot about our table for 45 minutes on a extremely slow afternoon. Then when the check came back she had split the check unevenly over 2 credit cards and took the $20 (that was supposed to be added to the total bill) as her tip. Thats the last time Im eating there. The only good thing about it is its decor and the location.
Vibe: Upscale casualDecor: refurbished public library with a two level space. The bar is 2 stories high and backed with a gigantic mirror that really brightens up the space.Food: Excellent pub grub thats a step above.Drinks: Rotating selection of local craft beers, along with nicely done cocktails. We didnt try any wine.Good for: Happy hour, date night, girls night
I went there over the summer with a friend. I got their Cobb salad, which was DELICIOUS! It wasnt too crowded, and our waitress was attentive. Definitely recommend, and will definitely return!
Good food in a nice elegant setting right in the middle of Farmingdale. It is really spacious inside, but I kind of wish that it had a library with books and more of a book theme. I went for an appetizer with friends and the service was excellent and though we werent eating much, they didnt rush us out like many other establishments. It was a nice place to chat with friends and hang out in a relaxed atmosphere. Will definitely consider visiting again when Im in the area.
Nice place for brunch. Food was good. Service was excellent. Prices are reasonable for the portion you receive.
We had our wedding reception here, on the second floor. The manager was very accommodating. The food is good, but not great. For the price, u cant beat it. It has a great atmosphere. Maximum seating up there is 40 ppl
Fantastic food and amazing service. Ask for David at the bar, he’s the best!
I only come back here to have a drink with friends in a quieter atmosphere than the other Farmingdale bars offer. The service is generally inattentive and dismissive of the late night crowds, and Ive never been impressed by the food (though it has all been very okay).
Quality diner food in a fairly fancy venue. Just a bit overpriced for what you get. The aesthetic is really nice, it looks like a library that was converted into a restaurant.Why isnt 5 out of 5 from me? The past times I have gone, Ive stood in the doorway waiting for someone to seat me, and when nobody did, I just sat myself (I had figured it was just that type of place, which is obviously no big deal.) But then I found myself overlooked by the staff and it took a long time to get a menu. This might sound nitpicky but it made me feel really weird - honestly Im still not sure how the seating situation works here.
Been here twice and will come back when I want to have drinks. The environment and staff are great and attentive. Not to mention the food is legit. Only thing, it does get packed and a reservation is a must if you want a table or be prepared to wait
Its a bar with food. Ok for a small party. Small portions, so best to have a snack before getting anything off the menu. 4/15/19I called and left my name and number 4/22/19. Waiting for call back.I had to take a star off because my call has not been returned. Originally rated as 2 stars.Call still not returned. 5/3/2019 Can I rate as 0 stars?No call 5/9/2019 - done - zero stars
Nice cafe and bar spot in Farmingdale---very nice and long bar for drinks and food, as well as table seating. Place is bright and clean. The small appetizers we had were good and the bartender was helpful.
Such a great place! Cute for date night but not in a romantic way that you feel weird just going with friends. And the food was AMAZING, including some great vegetarian options too!
Came here twice. First time, food was good and about what you would expect, if not better. Second time, waitress threw the menus at us after we sat down and didnt bother to greet us. It was the rudest thing. We promptly left.
My boyfriend and I were there last weekend Dec 22nd. There was a 30 minute wait, and then I realized how was the hostess going to find us in the crowd when our table was ready. We went over to ask, then she came to get us. I ordered a chicken quesadilla, and my boyfriend got the steak sandwich. Every other chicken quesadilla I ever ate had every thing inside it, instead on top of it. It wasnt what I expected, and the quesadilla was basically sitting in grease/oil. The steak sandwich was 2 small square pieces of steak with a mountain of onions on it. So many onions that he took most of them off. The waitress came over and asked how everything was. I told her I couldnt eat it, and I didnt want anything else. Then the male manager came over asking if I wanted anything else? I replied no thanks. My boyfriend at that point was disappointed, his dinner was aweful to, but tried to eat it cause he was starving. As the dishes were being cleared, the manager was very condescending and rude. Maybe it was a bad night in the kitchen, but we wont be back.
Very disappointing experience with this bar. I recently turned 21 in June and went with my friend who turned 21 in August the bouncer lets her in and then barely looks at my ID and says its not me. He didnt ask me any questions just said you cant come in its not you. I was instantly angered at how rude he was and the fact that I had 15+ cards (credit cards, school ID cards, INSURANCE CARDS) and he still said it wasnt me. I have never known anyone who was actually 21 and told their id wasnt them. He was extremely rude and wrong. We got the manager to come outside and he was extremely rude and said it was the bouncers decision. Well I will never be spending a penny there and neither will any of my friends who wanted to check out a new town and new bar because the bar in our town recently burned down. We all will never be returning to farmingdale again and I will make sure to tell everyone of this horrible experience.
Thought it was ok..my wife enjoyed her steak but my chicken sandwich was total weak sauce. One tiny piece of chicken on a large piece of bread. Was my wife’s bday and they brought her a piece of cheese cake that was stale and then charged us for it. I was in a party of 12 , you figured they’d take care of us.
We walked in here on a Wednesday night around 630pm. The hostess said to me and my boyfriend “the waitresses are overwhelmed, we are seating one by one now, it’s going to be 25-30 min wait”I worked in the food service industry as a waitress , I know that means, go find some where else to eat. So we went down a few doors where they seated us right away.
We have tried eating here a few times and they always have a 30 or more minute wait. No bar restaurant is worth a 30 minute wait.
Library cafe is a refurbished old old Libray. Most times my friend and I will stop in for lunch and cocktail ( very generous with the alcohol) food is American...done very well, large selection. I WOULDNT STEER U WRONG 🐃Barbara D
6.7.21 update. First visit since covid. Still the same nice place. The Happy Hour has been discontinued.
Two days ago was the first time we visited this restaurant. But It is obviously not the last. We had a good time with the efficient service, with the finest dishes and fine drinks and with the decent charge. We will absolutely visit there soon.
This week was the second time I tried to attempt this restaurant and it was the second time I walked out because there apparently is no hostess or as it seemed any staff at all. Maybe this is a seat yourself type place but I stood there for about 10 minutes since I was waiting for friends anyway and not one person approached me to ask if I would like a table. Ive heard good things about the food but Im not willing to give this place a third chance. There are plenty of great restaurants in LI with far superior service I would rather give my money to.
I really enjoyed their dishes. I always get great customer service here. The place is well kept and the workers are always very welcoming. Highly recommended.
The food was good and well prepared. My only complaint is that they recently changed the menu and several of my favorites are no longer available. My son really wanted the shrimp poboy again but its gone. Otherwise everything else from the atmosphere to the very friendly staff was excellent!
The food is constantly fresh and delightful, staff members gives awesome customer service. I really like the cleanliness and character. I highly recommend this spot.
Cute pub set in old city library. Drinks had literary themed names. Prices affordable. Fun atmosphere. Live music. Lively crowd. Friendly staff.
Abbreviated menus should be done already, but food was good, wives Cobb Salad was at par. Service was good and friendly.
We had a very good late lunch at The Library. The place is a very cool representation of the old library. Nicely arranged shelves of liquors where the books would be with the old library rolling ladder.Spring rolls as an appetizer were a meal in themselves. We followed with a Cobb salad, which was huge which we couldnt finish and was well prepared and tasty. I also had a Southside burger with bacon and a flavorful garlic herb dressing cooked just as requested. Unfortunately, they were out of cauliflower because Im pretty sure that I would have really liked the roasted cauliflower side but settled for a side salad, which was fine.Price was good and we will definitely return for launch or dinner.
I walked into this place on Sunday for brunch. First able the manager approach us asking if we need help. I though! We are in a restaurant. Of course! We are hungry. I waited for 10 mint. To be seated, Mean while they had empty tables. I got a bad vibe and I decide to leave. Learn to take care of your customers please
Great service at the bar.
Love this place. Wide variety of beer, martinis, mixed drinks. The menu is also varied, love the Ahi tuna tacos and Buddha bowl. Staff is super nice and attentive.
Classic upscale bar & restaurant. Food & adult beverages a little pricey in my humble opinion...for what you actually receive in quality and taste. Kind and well appointed professional staff. Packed on weekends. Parking on street sometimes takes extra time.
Great service! Staff is super friendly, food is great band drinks are on point as well. Atmosphere is super chill and a great place to hang out!
Drinks are solid and reasonably priced. The decor is nice and the crowd is mixed. Food was good, not phenomenal, but good. Would recommend to friends and would go again.
Great area, space, and drinks. The food sometimes doesn’t come out right but the staff really helps to make things right from start to finish. Worth a date night or happy hour stop.
My girlfriend was curious about a drink, bar management /owner (not sure) explained the drink and before we knew it WITH OUR DRINKS ON THE BAR the man served my lady that drink. ON THE HOUSE! Thats how you make a bar. On the strength of that gesture we WILL come back again. Overall bartenders were on point too.
Pleasant decor. Unusual bar wall that takes advantage of the buildings prior use as (you guessed it) a library. French dip quite passable. Slow but attentive service at the busy time we visited; we think this was more of a kitchen problem than a service problem.
The staff was very friendly and accommodating for our holiday party.
Food Is Always very good especially nice place to sit down and have a drink and a bite after work. staff is always polite and accommodating. Weekends can be very busy with very little room to stand near the bar making it sometimes difficult to get a drink.
My girlfriend and I went here for the first time. And was pleasantly surprised. Good comfort food. I had the pork chops and they tasty. Also have a variety of good sides to choose from.
If your not white please dont go to this bar. I was treated unfairly because a white lady claimed I stole her chair and I was considered ghetto which I did not. We were kicked out .We spent well over 200 dollars in the place eating and drinking to be treated like this. Your staff needs be re-trained !
Great place to go even during social distancing. Food was great, atmosphere was friendly. I would recommend the brunch!
Normally Ive had great experiences here, but most of our table ordered the burrito bowl and were very disappointed for the price. It tasted okay, but portions were very small considering the inexpensive ingredients. Id suggest trying something else.
Group lunch handled well. Good food.
Went for brunch. Nice place,decorated well. They serve platters of breakfast foods. Delicious. Next I wont be the driver so I can go for the $15 unlimited bloody Marys!
A great place for appetizers, I recommend the spinach artichoke dip. Ask about deals on their bottles of wine. Food is also good and decently priced, chef specials are fair value.
Food is very delicious and nice atmosphere. Great for the family.
I visit this spot a lot since I work right next to it. I like how their service is always good and they keep the place well kept at all times. Rates are reasonable and they serve large portions.
Was introduced to this place during a bar crawl. Im not sure if it actually was a library previously but the look of it now does make me think it could have been. And, in this case, that us a good thing. Ate there once; better than average bar food.
I feel that the food there is alright, but wh was t people would really go there for is the aesthetic and atmosphere of a pub made from the shell of an old library. I feel like the food can be improved upon with such an atmosphere as an old library.
The food is regularly well prepared and flavorful, employees gives great customer service. I love how neat it is and ambience. Keep up the good work.
We love this place food is great and the people are sooooo friendly.
Bar and ambiance is good. Food not so much. Don’t order the beef tacos, reheated beef and old coleslaw.And where was that live music on Thursday?
So delish! Had a chicken ranch wrap and Sangria! Excellent service and so good! I will definitely be back!
Good place with nice drink selection and decent food, but the bar sometimes has the stale beer smell (not always). I come here about 2-3 times a month and it is always there, which is why I took off two stars.
Love the place but they need to seriously clean their beer tap lines more often!!! Copper tasting beer is not fun! Stop being cheap and clean your lines more often!
Good location. Not too many seats to sit and eat, but a good selection of food and drinks. It was pretty busy for lunch on a weekend and the staff was very friendly.
We absolutely love the decor of this place, the staff was friendly and the drinks were fairly priced.
Unless u eat at 5 tables are taken up with hour wait times. Ok bar food, excellent martini, good beer choices, nice staff but way too long of a wait for the size of the check. Get more tables
Love it here. Been going for years. Very friendly staff and wonderful, delicious food!
This place never disappoints. Beer selection is very good, and the food is great. Casual pub, with better than pub food. Nice selection of appetizers, and the roast beef dip is off the hook.
Food was ok but the service was awful. Our waitress took our order, and then decided to have a debate or something with the other servers over the entire course of our time there. We had to ask a bus boy for our check because every server was just hanging out and talking by the register in the back.
Great service, extremely friendly and accommodating. Food was good, on par with many long island restaurants.
Went with my b/f and his friends on Aug. 18th. Pretty cool place! I like the decor of everything! My fav. part was seesing the different handles on the beer taps! 😎
What a pleasant surprise. My wife and I randomly chose the Library Cafe. Warm and friendly service. Good food and excellent prices. Great place for a date.
My new favorite brunch place. Good pricing and great food! The mimosa was delicious and I loved the eggs benedict.
Great place great service great food
Got there after happy hour, drinks are a little expensive. But the food coming out of the kitchen looked real taste.Im going back for dinner soon.
Welcome all you Food Hounds out there... its Brim again bringing you another Food Hound: Tidbit, this time from The Library Cafe. First and foremost - the cool factor for this specific location, is that it was literally the Village Library up until they converted it into an eatery about eleven years ago. That being said, the pure uniqueness of this Farmingdale hot-spot is second to none that we have personally seen thus far in terms of ambiance alone. Thirty-foot ceilings offer a feeling of wide open space offering any seat in the house a dynamite view! The bar was astounding taking up an entire length and height of the wall with rows of various liquors including a VERY interesting bottle of King Louis a 75 year old cognac that goes for $165 a shot! In a nutshell, this place is a standout on a small strip full of bars and eateries that specializes in Martinis, Wines, Beer and most importantly... fine foods! Etan Wish and I could not wait to dig in and give it a shot.We started off with a variety of different goodies that they call appetizers... The Sicilian Wings weve never seen before. They had a delightfully mellow flavor and offered a light touch of cheese via the mozzarella with drizzled garlic and oil to taste. The Chipotle BBQ wings were tangy with a hint of spice. Neither wings were crispy; however they were certainly NOT mushy and had a simple yet delicious taste, no overwhelming saucing needed. The Tuna Tataki can best be described as a refreshing taste with a bite! Seared Tuna with a helping of an avocado puree and a jalapeno served on a crispy-crunchy wonton crisp. In accordance with St. Pattys Month, we decided to dine on some Mini-Reubens that we doused with a killer Grain Mustard on a toasted cocktail rye (which was a nice touch), covered in kraut with a hint of the Swiss. Our last starter was the best of all... Southwestern Chicken Spring Rolls! The Spring Roll was an awesome blend of corn, black beans and Cheddar with a fantastic spicy seasoned chicken tucked away in an Asian style egg-roll shell.On to the Entrees!!! The Chicken Bruschetta was off the hook! A large portion of TWO crisped pan fried cutlets (pan fried makes a HUGE difference in retaining the flavors), intertwined with asiago cheese, tomato basil, kalamata olive bruschetta and laid over a colorful generous bed of Arugula Salad then drizzled with aged balsamic. Ladies and Gentlemen, I declared this the WIN for the day! To my surprise, Etan argued with me that his choice for the WIN was the Killer Mac & Cheese! It was hard to agree to make it another TIE; but Ive got to tell you... a four cheese sauce with SMOKED BACON, BBQ PULLED PORK (D-lish), topped with butter and bread crumb crust and corkscrew pasta really made it a tough call. Ok... a TIE WIN for these two game changers! Lastly, we were presented with a nicely sized Marinated Skirt Steak with crispy fried onions covering a heaping load of mashed potatoes. I asked for it well-done; but knowing how delicate skirties can be, I should have went medium-well to avoid being too well-done for my personal taste... my fault on that one folks. The steak held a lightly seasoned flavor that worked very well when scooped up with the mashed and onions.OMG... the specialty desserts were mind-blowing! Cinnamon Buns made fresh from scratch were warm, gooey and had a fantastic doughy texture! Followed up with a Molten Chocolate Lava Cake with a UBER-THICK fudgie ganache flowing like Wonkas wading rivers from the center of a delicious and moist chocolate cake. WINNING! At last, I felt as though I took a ride to Tasty Town and this next baby was the Mayor... a slam-tastic Banana Chocolate Empanada with toasted pecans! Toasted pecans were a nice addition to this dessert. The shell was light and crispy reminiscent of old school Hostess Apple Pies, except fresh, warm and delicious! Day or night, youve gotta drop by.
Great wraps and sandwiches, great atmósfera and decent staff.
Good drinks, great wings, a popular hotspot. Its usually busy after 6pm. A good singles joint. It is hard to find a seat at the bar during lust hours.
Tried this place already with my friend and I am obsessed since then. I loved the fantastic mood and delicious food and beverages. Highly recommended.
Great service, a lovely atmosphere 🌟
I really like the library. Service is always terrific, great get selection, good good and amazing desserts. Try the cinnamon bun!
Food & service were great. Beautiful bar as well.
Very loud bar but the food was great.
Great place mike the manager is great
Not really my type of place. Too crowded, the bar area is narrow/small. Its a bit pricy and I feel as if the service is slow and a at times, rude. They have quickdraw, but most of the time you end up missing the game bc they stop and talk to eachother.
Every time I go to this place for drinks at night I regret it. The layout is awful, no space by the bar and everytime you or someone walks by you have to squeeze against the wall. Gets overcrowded with not that big a crowd
Was here for the New Years Eve celebration with friends. I have celiac and cannot eat gluten. They went above and beyond to make sure that I had a safe meal to eat.
Great food when theres not many people. Great mix drinks and seasonals. pretty good atmosphere with american music. Staffs are friendly. great for a first date.
The place offers a large variety of fresh food. I enjoy eating here. Employees are always welcoming, prices are reasonable and the place is always neat.
Had a Birthday Party here. Chris our waiter was awesome! A very nice place to enjoy with family and friends!
One of Lessing groups restaurants, it is a wonderful atmosphere for after work drinks with co-workers casual first date, or for simple walk in quick off the street dining. They have a delicious selection of beers and wines as well as simple old classic style bar food, some classic classics and some new spins on classics, its a wonderful place for a roast beef sandwich with aju, specialty tacos, assorted pub appetizers like wings, buffalo empanadas, loaded tots, as well as other delightful snacks. If you are looking for a heavy entree those are available, specialty ones like Mac and cheese or steak entree and others as well, I personally had the roast beef sandwich amazing bread and aju as well as quality roast beef. If your pallet is looking for a good read there is no place else to go but the Library Cafe
Amazing... Had this girl Lauren best server I had in years.... The whole crew was nice
Love the decor. The bar is very nice bartender Steve was great. Fish taco was my favorite. I plan to return.
Love the bartenders Vinny and John! Thursdays are fun with Rob the Guitar Guy.Drinks are always delicious, and the bartenders are knowledgeable and creative
Food was good overall when my girlfriend and I went. Service wasnt top notch, but I wasnt expecting anything fancy. Food was quite good and selection was fair. Recommended.
Beautiful historic landmark turned restaurant, the food is very good and the staff is on point. Great spot for date night or just to grab a pint.
The burgers were incredible. Very nice and resourceful staff. Its also very calm and comfortable!
Creative menu. Nice selection & delicious. Servers are friendly. Amazing bar makes you want to sit and have a drink.
Grew up in Farmingdale but moved out of NY close to 30 years ago. The café is located in my childhood library and brings back happy memories. Food and service was good too
I always have great food when I go there with my friends. I especially enjoy the tap beers. A great local place to meet old and new friends.
Came here on a Sunday for Brunch. Served family style on platters brought to our table. Everything was delicious but served cold!
Awesome decor obviously, but also great drinks, delicious food, and really nice staff!
Great bar atmosphere, menu, and prices.
This is an absolutely clean place. The food is phenomenal and the staff is friendly. I highly recommend this place!
Food and staff was amazing.
Food is delicious and atmosphere is great. Wonderful place to go to... will definitely go again.
The table was wet and dripping. We had to move to the bar. But the food was good and so was the drinks.
Total reviews rating 4.3
199 Reviews for Library Caf 2023:
Review №1
2022-04-11I had my baby shower here today and it was incredible! The food and the service was great. The staff couldn’t have been more helpful, they are all so nice. The pricing is very reasonable. This is the perfect place to host a small party. We had about about 30 people and although the room isn’t huge it didn’t feel cramped. Highly recommend!
Review №2
2022-03-07This place is just phenomenal!We had my baby’s first birthday here and I was surprised with the quality of the food and the service.Annie was absolutely amazing and made sure that we had everything we needed and more.I highly recommend this restaurant to everyone, and I hope you get to be served by the incredible Annie!Thanks again for the amazing service.
Review №3
2022-05-31Interesting place it is literally a library complete with a ladder on wheels and a sailboat over the entrance. The cocktails are awesome and a decent wine selection. Separate party space on the mezzanine. Sunday boozy brunch is good. Food is excellent and presented well. Avacado and Bacon in Eggs Benedict who knew!
Review №4
2022-03-30I so badly wish I could give Library Cafe 5 stars because I rave to my friends and family about how delicious the Buddha Bowl is and how delightful the Huckleberry Fin cocktail is!However, I have to say I’m a little disappointed with the service the last time I came. My girlfriends and I came for my friends birthday on a Saturday at 3pm. It was crowded, so we asked to be added to the list for a table. 2 girls that worked there said “We put you in the system”, without taking our name or number. I thought that was strange so I asked, “Are you sure you don’t need our name or number to add us to the system?” And she said “no we got it you’re in the system don’t worry!” So we shrugged it off and went to the bar for a full hour and a half waiting politely to be called for our table. The restaurant started clearing out and we saw many tables available so we ended up asking not once, but two times to two different service if they had an update regarding our table. Finally, the last person we reached, a VERY kind and sweet female manager it seemed? Told us that she had no record of a group of 4 girls waiting in the system at all, so she immediately seated us- thank you.Food and drinks were great but my friends said they wouldn’t go back because of how we were forgotten about, which is a shame, because I really love Library and Post Office Cafe.The staff kept looking over a little embarrassed like they completely comprehended this error. Maybe they should have threw in something to make up for this service, but they didn’t. :/ My friend was a little dissatisfied with her birthday lunch, I’m let down myself because I’m the one who suggested this place :(.Instagram: @andiamoadventure
Review №5
2021-12-07I had a really fantastic experience! Went here during an odd hour and sat at the bar. Jessica was phenomenal. We chatted a bunch! Very attentive and kind. The food was amazing and the ambiance was great. If I am ever back in town, I will be back! I had the French onion soup, smokehouse burger (which was cooked perfectly,) and got the roasted Brussels sprouts (omg yum) and took home the peanut butter explosion for dessert. Try it all.
Review №6
2022-05-02We had an awesome wedding shower at the Library Cafe for about 25 ppl. The food was very good, the service staff was always helpful and very nice (Jessica was our main server), the pricing was reasonable. The room size was just right, not too big nor too small. We liked that the party room was separate from the main part of the restaurant. It was not easy to find a nice venue for a small party and we are so happy we found the Library Cafe. Lastly, we must mention the cake - it was pretty and delightful.Mike - thank you for making it so easy to make the arrangements, including all the final details.Jessica - thank you for all your help and for being a pleasure to deal with.
Review №7
2022-04-14I selected this restaurant for a girls night out based on the concept (who doesn’t love books and libraries?) and it’s cocktail selection which Ali’s crafted by famous literary titles. The concept is great, the service is too. The food is average. The negatives are the space: booth tables are cramped for a party of 4. Bar seating is limited so there’s always a crowd. If I come back, it’s for drinks and appetizers only. Otherwise good place to try at least once if you’re in the area.
Review №8
2022-03-18My husband and I love going here for lunch dates. The food is great with so many options. The vibe/aesthetic is really cool. We always have a great experience! You have to try the for chedda bout it burger
Review №9
2022-03-24This place was awesome. Took my girlfriend here for Valentines Day last month and this is for sure a spot that will become a regular of ours. Great food helpful staff. Come down here for dinner with a loved one it is great!!
Review №10
2022-02-07The BEST experience, kindest waitress- Thai wings and mini Rubin sandwiches were to die for! :) amazing music (Kygo)… great environment. We will definitely be back.