Ballfields Cafe

The service is bad. I just bought a coffee and no smile, no nothing. They gave it to me and I burnt my mouth horribly! I told them what happened and it was as if I wasn’t there. They just said quite rude «what do you need», and I ask for cold milk. They didn’t care at all.

My doggy and I adore this place. I love being able to bring my dog with me and enjoy a glass of wine in this picturesque setting. I enjoy this café a few times a week when it’s open during the Spring/​Summer/​Fall months. I’ve read comments that this place is expensive, but I don’t find their prices expensive at all. This is Central Park in NYC after all! They have a decent menu for being a café and the staff are friendly and treat my dog like a little princess (which she loves!). I highly recommend this spot early evening perhaps for a pre or post dinner drink.

You know what? It is what it is! Hard to find … But once you get there and that beer touches you lips … It’s worth it ! Really chill spot with old school lawn furniture … Like the white plastic seats and tables. The beer is awesome so is the the sangria … Take a break from city Noise and chill to the next episode … It could run u a few good bucks but it’s worth the time out you get … Don’t flake on this place when in Central Park ! 5 stars from me !

Don’t know the rent on this place but it’s very expensive for a caffe. You are looking at prices you would pay at an airport caffe in Heathrow .
My Brooklyn lager can is $ 8
My fish tacos & the chicken sandwich was super fresh. It seems like all greens were cut to order rather than pre cut or pre made .
Service; is a caffe and they try the best they can so don’t expect much. If you are picky and must have service than tavern in the green is for you.

Good service, good food, decent prices, great location. Dont hesitate to stop by while takong a walk in the park. Great kale burger for you vegeterains.

This is a hidden gem in Central Park. It’s at the south side of the park, directly north of a couple of baseball fields and a big playground. It wasn’t crowded and they have plastic lawn chairs for seating.
I had their Kale burger which was very tasty, just wish they had whole grain bread as opposed to only white. We had a pitcher of an imperial IPA and the whole experience was very pleasant. The stuff is super nice and accommodating. My only problem which is more of a personal thing, is I couldn’t find anything for my gluten free son to eat which is very common in restaurants in general, and even more so in places like this with a limited menu.

I live this place, relaxed and reliable… Can be crowded in weekends but nice place and worth a little wait. Good was unexpectedly good

Amazing place to have breakfast or lunch in Central Park. I am a regular customer for years and I never been disappointed. Great summer menu and the staff is very friendly. Definitely my favorite place for lunch in the park. Closed in winter. Keep going guys… Great job.

Great spot tucked away in Central Park but the outdoor furniture is the same at my grandmas house. Friendly staff and this location is also cool if u were out walking ur dog… They’re pet friendly! The sangria was a tad too strong but who complains about a drink being too strong? Now time to watch the sunset and see if I can get lucky ;-)

What a lucky find and gorgeous setting! Especially the back room enclosed in glass. If it’s warm, wonderful outside patios. Food was good and a nice wine and beer selection.

There is a field of balls in front of this café. I could not get one ’cause some Mexican dude got upset when I tried. Then I got hit in the head by some young hippies playing ultimate.
My iced coffee had more milk than a lactating Heidi Klum, and I didn’t get food since it’s mad expensive. I particularly enjoyed the view of the park as the thunderstorm scattered all the tourists with large bewbz.
Oh, and this place in the middle middle of Central Park. Nice.

How disappointing. Decided to have a weekend kickoff lunch there but their kids menu is limited to hot dogs and burgers which he won’t eat. So we picked up some pizza for him. That turned their greeting from «hello» to a grumbly you can’t have outside food here.” Pointing out their limited options only made him more brusque. So we decided to order take out from the window where the two guys there wer even more snarky. Meanwhile, the servers waiting tables kept pushing over us. 100% unpleasant and mediocre food, to boot.
So if you want to enjoy some food by the Hecksher ball fields, bring in your own picnic. The service and food will be more enjoyable. Not to mention less expensive.

It amazes me this has not been discovered by the midtown hordes — let’s keep it that way.
Though my best experiences here have been sipping pumpkin ale whilst watching the fall foliage, Ballfields is a stellar three-​season go-​to for a casual bite or a brew with a view. It comes through in the clutch as there is usually no wait, and the food is quite decent yet modestly priced. On offering are dogs, cheesesteaks, salads, craft brews — crowd-​pleasers I can get behind.
Patronizing this establishment also supports NYC Parks, so you are not only urbane and sophisticated for coming here, but you are also doing our fair city a solid (*round of applause*).
I can’t wait until the polar vortex ends and this opens up for spring…

Just walked along and wanted something warm. Got a tea and the pretzels with cheese. The cheese was a little weird but my friend got the chile… and that was delicious! Just a simple outdoors café thats great to people watch (:

While strolling through the Park a full day ahead of Hurricane Sandy, we happened upon this «open-​in-​late-​October» oasis. Brunch was a tasty quesadilla and equally terrific fish tacos. The beer menu was surprisingly extensive. The guy we interacted with was very personable (and may well own the joint — we couldn’t tell). The place is very dog-​friendly, as expected.
Big thumbs up!

Amazing location. We stumbled across it whilst walking through the park, tucked
away this café had an amazing vibe, the service was a little slow but all the tables were full so that could e the reason. It was ok priced. I ate the raspberry salad which was light and refreshing.

Really nice little café hidden behind the ball fields on the west side of the park. All outdoor seating and perfect for a nice spring day.
I didn’t eat, but my friends got some bacon egg sandwiches that looked and smelled great.
They have beer, even at 10am… I have a problem. Great place to grab a drink in the park.
**April Underdog Challenge Day 28**

Oh, the ecstasy of that first warm day of Spring in the City. Out of work early, wandering through Central Park, a slight pang of hunger rumbling through my stomach, I came upon Ballfields Café. Who knew?
I ordered a hot dog with chips and a Pork Slap Ale. I ate slowly as the sun sagged in the cloudless sky. Flowers abloom all around me. Wind sifting through the trees. This is what every day should be.
Minus 1 star for no bathroom. I almost wet myself running to one elsewhere in the park. But don’t worry. I made it.

I ate paper today.
No, it’s not part of a bizarre foods bucket list. Nor is it a metaphor for digesting a compelling article in the Financial Times.
I literally ate paper with my cheeseburger and it was not at all intentional.
On a beautiful spring ahead day, we strolled through Central Park and began feeling a bit peckish. Why, what’s that by the ballfields, it’s…
Ballfields Café!
And the initial impressions were positive based on the friendly host/​waiter. You could either sit outdoors or take your snack to go. Opting to lunch al fresco, the warm sun felt positively energizing as I perused the menu.
Burgers (beef, turkey, garden) and dogs (knockwurst too) make up the bulk of it, with chilli con carne and a tuna salad sandwich as the healthier choices. Wine and sodas are available, along with free self serve water. (Which I observed a non-​paying guest help herself too while yakking on her phone and holding her offspring by the hand.)
It was a cheeseburger kind of day so for $ 8 + 0.75 (cheese fee), I anxiously awaited the beef.
A few minutes later, the basket arrives with the standard accoutrements: lettuce, tomato and onion on the side, waiting for assembly, and a sizzling burger waiting for eating.
One bite into the burger and I was thinking this isn’t too bad for a glorified outdoor concession stand. Until I realized that the cheese included a little extra bulk in the form of paper.
I suppose what happened is that the paper that is between slices of cheese somehow made it onto the grill. A breakdown in quality assurance occurred as no one on the line noticed, no screening, screaming Gordon Ramsay to yell out ‘There’s paper!”.
So I, the customer, had to discover the by now fusion of cheese and paper. I snapped a photo, removed the cheese paper and mentioned the matter to the waiter.
He seemed a bit frazzled and offered an explanation about how the burgers are not the usual kind and that they’re bigger than the bun. Yes… but does that really explain the cheese paper?
Anyway, eater beware: unless you are seeking out paper with your food, look before you eat.

This place is adorable.
It’s located in the middle of Central Park tucked behind the baseball fields (near the merry-​go-​round) in a hobbit-​esque cottage. They only have outdoor seating, so mind the weather. They have umbrellas if it gets too hot and there is a shaded section.
I spent a lazy summer afternoon splitting buckets of 6 Corona cans for $ 25 and enjoyed watching the baseball games going on with a few friends. I also had an amazing afternoon date here relaxing with a bottle of wine. It feels like an escape from New York which is an unusual find. The food options are affordable and varied from fish tacos to burgers.
One negative — they don’t have a bathroom. If necessary, there is one at the Tavern on the Green up the road. (There may be a closer one, but I didn’t ask the staff)
Definitely a favorite spot in the City, I’ll be back as much as the weather permits!