Cafe SFA
“Although I've previously been here and enjoy the service and food, I'm glad that my cousin also enjoyed her first NYC brunch!”
“Nice views and ambiance and a great break from wedding dress shopping!”
“If you would like a seat directly in front of a window or with a specific view I would recommend calling ahead to make a reservation.”
Cafe SFA
Takes Reservations: Yes
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
Good for Kids: Yes
Good for Groups: Yes
Happy Hour: Yes
Outdoor Seating: Yes
Waiter Service: Yes
Caters: Yes
Price range.
$$ Price range $11-30
8 reviews
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3.5 stars.
But I still keep coming back, because I can't find a decent lunch option for when I'm in the area. And no, Sarabeth's and Chipotle cannot be the only viable dining options that won't break the bank and aren't crowded with financiers.
On the 8th floor of Saks, along with the department store's shoe collection, is Cafe SFA.
Take the right-most express elevator straight to the top floor, and walk straight pass the Louboutins, Manolos, and Diors.
Eric will greet you with a sweet smile and insist that some of the more coveted window seats are 'reserved'. No, they are not reserved.
The window seats look out to Rockefeller Center, but you won't be able to see much of the foot traffic, just a view of the security bars, 620 Loft and Terrace where Landry Fields married his model wife, and St. Paul's.
The décor is underwhelming for a Saks Fifth Avenue establishment, with over worn chairs and a Art Deco-reminiscent chandelier in the middle of the restaurant. It's definitely not what I imagined the cafe to look like, but like I said, I keep returning because it's a easy lunch option for me when I am in the neighborhood.
The best part of my meals at Cafe SFA are their bread baskets, that are jam-packed with raisin bread, crackers, pretzel-croissants, and croissants.
The meals usually a little on the lackluster side of things. I've tried their crab cake, lamb burger, turkey and avocado sandwich, lamb and pine nut meatballs, and lobster roll. And needless to say, it did the trick- I was full, but nothing really blew my mind.
The crab cake seemed to have been delivered frozen from an out-of-state vendor, and served fried.
The lamb meatballs were dry, unfortunately, and was served with a tzaziki sauce, which I am not too fond of.
The turkey sandwich, too, was dry and hard to eat without a big glass of water.
The lamb burger was decent, not as good as Kaia Wine Bar's lamb burger, but not as dry and choppy as the meatballs.
The lobster roll was buttery, and is served either hot or cold.
One more thing- the waiters refuse to wait on tables that aren't theirs.
And twice, my waiter went missing, and it took the staff about 10-15 minutes to locate my waiter when all I wanted was my check.
I've been to cafe SFA before and I really enjoyed it both times. Although it's pricey, it's not bad at all. I like the location, 7th floor behind the women's shoes in Saks Fifth Avenue, and I enjoy it because it's not as crowded as other places in 5th ave. It's also pretty decent food and yes, it's pricey, but honestly everything is pricey on 5th. This time, I got the lobster club sandwich and it was pretty delicious. My sister got the turkey club salad and she enjoyed it. My mom got the lobster salad and my dad got the risotto with shrimp. We all enjoyed our dishes and ended up spliting a dessert. It was pretty sweet, but so delicious!
Our waiter was very attentive and despite his area being pretty full, we got our dishes really quickly. He didn't make us feel rushed at all.
All in all probably one of my favorite places to eat on 5th ave!
Awesome view – i love it because you can see the entire Rockefeller center right in front of you. It's also a great place to take a break from all the shopping and walking
For many years I worked right across the street from SFA. I'd pop in for shopping (great makeup counters and shoe department), and would often meet girlfriends at Cafe SFA for a quick bite (I think that's what I always ordered was actually called — the quick bite — or something like that). And that's just what it was, a satisfying, quick bite to eat: Sandwich, side salad and cup of soup. I always thought it was the perfect amount of food for lunch and always tasty (and fast when you have to head back to the office). I also liked the iced tea very much.
Sure there are so many other great places to eat in NYC, but Rockefeller Plaza is a huge tourist attraction so for the area and being that it's Saks and with the view of either Rock Plaza or St. Pat's it's not a bad choice for lunch.
Great views and phenomenal food. Also, shoegasm on the 8th floor before you actually walk into the cafe. Great service, solid food. A little pricy, but it's inside Saks, of course. I ordered the free range chicken with seasonal vegetables and a side of bacon Candide brussels sprouts. It was delicious!
Swanky place to eat on Saks' 8th floor. Had a great view of Fifth Avenue as a friend and I grabbed a late lunch/early supper after some vigorous shopping.
The staff are super friendly, not pushy or seem too forced and made us feel welcomed. The place looks nice and isn't loud, thank goodness, which makes it a great place to sit and have a decent conversation.
The food was OK. Once seated we were given a basket which contained crackers, a croissant, a roll, and some sort of bread with raisins in it. Tried each one (minus the raisin one) and the butter was salted to perfection! I ordered the Bacon Jam Grilled Cheese and the Crab and Corn Chowder. The grilled cheese contained havarti and gruyère cheese which were yum, but the sweetness of the bacon jam was what threw me off. The chowder wasn't bad though, it contained bits of potatoes which fit in well. I also ordered the cranberry lemonade which was deliciously sweet!
Overall, I give this place a 3.5 as the food could be better for the price.
Had 3 lunches there – BEST SALMON I have ever had! I actually order it 2xs I just had to have it again 🙂
Cheese platter view pretty and unique in its presentation!
Planned my holiday company party there – PERFECTION!
The staff was easy to work with and accommodating. Alex – she is the best person to work with for big events!
Food was divine – presentation spectacular
Wait service were clean, polite, and smiled!
A++
PS – use the express elevator inside SAKS to get to the correct floor!
Swanky spot tucked behind women's shoes on 7. Pricey, as salads are in the $20 range, and entrees are in the high $20s. I tried the Saks cobb salad for $22. The cherry tomatoes, haricots vert and avocado were fresh and tasty. The diced chicken was dry. There is also a $19 soup and half sandwich option. Tables are configured in a way that you actually have a fair bit of privacy. The menu offers a variety of appealing options and this is a comfortable spot to rest your feet in between uptown shopping.