<img src="http://images.nymag.com/listings/restaurant/2cafeorlin.jpg" alt="Cafe Orlin Exterior" />

My visit to Cafe Orlin was the first visit I had made to a restaurant with a group of friends based SOLELY on a mate's reccommendation. A few doors away from Cafe Mogador, (who boasts IMO, the best falafel's in NYC), and across the street from Paprika (good authentic Italian fare), I was curious as to what Orlin would bring. My friend who frequents Orlin interestingly had only been there for brunch...

The decor and service of Orlin was actually quite nice. It had a laid back French vibe, and I easily chatted with the bartender whilst waiting for my friends.

The layout was great for groups or intimate couples, divided into three sections, one is elevated and behind glass providing a voyeurs view of the rest of the punters and yet a private space for one-to-one chatter; whereas the main room was spacious and populated with Vienna Cafe Chairs and tables that easily could be linked together. The vibe was decidedly NYC and downtown trendy-casual.

The food was served quite quickly but its quality was nowhere near on par with those of its neighbours. The french fries were extremely thin and more like crunchy potato chips than potatoes kissed in hot oil. While the portions were a nice size, it seemed as though the quantity was substituting for quality. I ordered the falafels in a pita pocket stuffed with sauerkraut and salad. The sauerkraut was a bit of a gamble, a cultural fusion in a handy meal and unfortunately the fusion didn't quite..fuse.

Sloppy Sauerkraut made it messy to treat this as a 'hand' food and provided a very strange taste to mix with falafels. Other dishes also proved to be a strange mix or a little cold, when they should have been warm.

All in all, I would love to try this place for Brunch in the summer - its nice outdoor space looks great for people watching and outdoor coffee drinkin or for drinks in the evening before meeting friends. If you want to visit hit up <a href="http://nymag.com/listings/restaurant/cafe-orlin/">Cafe Orlin</a> at 41 Saint Marks Place between 1st and 2nd ave.