Effy’s Café has served Manhattan with delicious meatless Mediterranean food, scratch-made and prepared fresh daily, since opening in 2002. Each café is kosher certified under IKC supervision, and being meatless means no chicken, beef, or other meat — though fish and dairy dishes are part of the menu. Every Effy’s location provides a cozy spot to stop for all-day breakfast and brunch and any bite in between. Today, the Effy’s family includes two neighborhood cafés and Effy’s Café & Patisserie on Columbus Avenue, which offers a slightly different daytime experience. With three locations across the Upper West Side and Upper East Side, it is the familiar neighborhood café NYC diners keep returning to.
Effy’s Café is owned by Shlomo “Effy” Alkoby, who moved from Israel to the United States when he was 17. Named after Effy himself, the café has served Manhattan since 2002, giving it a history of nearly 24 years in New York City. Over more than two decades, Effy’s has expanded into three neighborhood cafés while remaining rooted in the meatless Mediterranean food and welcoming service on which it was built.
The name has always made the business personal. Effy’s is an owner-led café shaped by Alkoby’s background and his connection to New York. Rather than following passing trends, the café established its identity through familiar kosher dishes and an easygoing neighborhood atmosphere.
The W 96th Street café became a longstanding Upper West Side breakfast and lunch spot. When it reopened after a temporary closure in 2020, regular guests welcomed it back with open arms. The strength of that community connection was visible again in 2024, when local residents supported the café after its storefront was vandalized. These moments form part of a history built through repeat visits and trust earned over time.
Since 2002, Effy’s Café has brought the bright flavors of the Mediterranean to the UWS and UES. The menu moves from breakfast favorites like shakshuka to falafel, wraps, and salads for later in the day. Effy’s has stayed grounded in the kosher dishes that the community has come to love. Our menu offers something for everyone!
Today, Effy’s has three locations in Manhattan: two on the Upper West Side and one on the Upper East Side. The W 96th Street and York Avenue cafés offer the fuller all-day Effy’s experience and remain open into the evening. Columbus Avenue is home to Effy’s Café & Patisserie, a daytime location with more emphasis on coffee and pastries alongside lighter Mediterranean meals. Each café keeps the same welcoming atmosphere with reliable, delicious food to enjoy whether you’re picking up an order or settling in over an all-day meal.
Effy’s is a kosher-certified café with a Mediterranean menu that is made from scratch each day. Our guests can expect our kitchens are meatless, where fish and dairy dishes are served, and the latest certification information is available for diners who are looking for it.
Effy’s is proudly meatless with no chicken, beef, or other meat on the menu. The kitchen serves fish and offers a broad choice of vegan dishes, while vegetarian guests have plenty to choose from. The heart of the menu is still unmistakably Mediterranean, from hummus and labneh to other flavorful plates.
Every Effy’s Café is kosher certified under IKC supervision, giving guests looking for a kosher dairy café in NYC a clear starting point before they sit down or place an order. For the most current certification information, including seasonal details, please check with your preferred location.
At Effy’s, meals are scratch-made and prepared fresh daily, from breakfast plates to the dips and sides that complete a Mediterranean table. It is the sort of care that makes a quick delivery order easy, or a sit-down meal cozy and satisfying.
Wherever you are on either side of Central Park, there is an Effy’s nearby.
Find Effy’s on W 96th St, close to the 96th Street subway and within easy reach of Central Park. This UWS café is a reliable stop for a casual meal at any time of day. As one of the brand’s longstanding neighborhood locations, it is suited to breakfast, brunch, lunch, or an evening visit. Explore our Upper West Side location for details.
Our Columbus Ave location is Effy’s Café & Patisserie, a daytime café with a different character from the W 96th Street and York Avenue locations. Its patisserie format places more emphasis on coffee, espresso, fresh pastries, and lighter food. It closes earlier, making it a natural stop before or after time in nearby Central Park.
On York Ave, Effy’s serves the UES close to Carl Schurz Park and the East River. Stop by for brunch or a meal when you have time to stay. Like the W 96th Street café, this location remains open into the evening. Visit our Upper East Side location for information.
Yes. Every Effy’s location is kosher-certified under IKC supervision. As certification documents can be renewed or updated, contact your preferred café for the latest information before visiting.
Yes, the menu at Effy’s is meatless, with no chicken, beef, or other meat. The café, however, does serve fish.
Effy’s has cafés at 104 W 96th St and 552 Columbus Ave on the Upper West Side, plus 1688 York Ave on the Upper East Side.
Yes. Use the Order Now menu to choose the location closest to you for pickup or delivery. Explore our full menu to see all of your options.
Yes. Effy’s offers brunch all day, with breakfast favorites available alongside its wider café menu. Availability can vary, so check with your nearest location if you have a particular dish in mind.
For an upcoming event or a larger group order, contact the café closest to you with the date and guest count. The team can confirm what is available and help you plan an order that works for the occasion.
Check out our FAQs or contact our team to find out more!
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