Cafe 53 Menu

Breads

Flatbreads and rings from Turkish, Middle Eastern, Afghan and South Asian baking.

• LavashVegetarian · VeganThin, soft flatbread baked in large sheets, flexible enough for wraps and good for tearing at the table.
• SimitVegetarian · VeganTurkish sesame-crusted bread ring dipped in grape molasses before baking, crunchy outside and soft inside, a breakfast staple with tea.
• Turkish Pide BreadVegetarianOval, dimpled flatbread brushed with egg and sprinkled with sesame and nigella seeds, soft and airy for tearing.
• Ramazan PidesiVegetarian · SeasonalRound, lattice-patterned pide baked fresh during Ramadan, eaten warm at iftar alongside soups and dips.
• NaanVegetarianLeavened flatbread baked against the wall of a tandoor, blistered and chewy, plain or brushed with garlic butter.
• Afghan Naan (Noni Afghani)Vegetarian · VeganLong, oval flatbread with grooved lines, sprinkled with nigella and sesame, crisp at the edges and tender in the middle.

Savory Pies & Börek

Filled pastries with halal meat or cheese, baked or fried to order.

• Sucuklu PideSavoryBoat-shaped pide topped with slices of spicy halal beef sucuk and melted cheese, baked in a hot stone oven.
• Chicken PattiesSavoryPakistani bakery-style puff pastry squares filled with shredded halal chicken in a mildly spiced white or masala sauce, flaky and buttery.
• Beef SamosaSavoryCrisp triangular pastry filled with spiced halal ground beef, peas and onion, fried until bubbled and golden.
• Cheese & Spinach BörekVegetarian · SavoryLayers of yufka pastry baked with feta and spinach, crisp on top and tender inside, sliced into squares.
• Kıymalı BörekSavoryRolled börek filled with seasoned halal ground beef and onion, coiled and baked until flaky and golden.
• LahmacunSavoryThin, crisp Turkish flatbread spread with minced halal lamb or beef, tomato, pepper and herbs, eaten rolled with parsley and lemon.
• Kaşarlı PideVegetarian · SavoryBoat-shaped flatbread filled with melted kaşar cheese and finished with butter, sometimes topped with an egg.

Baklava & Syrup Sweets

Phyllo and shredded-pastry desserts soaked in syrup, sold by weight.

• Walnut BaklavaVegetarian · Contains nutsDiamond-cut baklava filled with chopped walnuts and cinnamon, with a crackling top and syrup-soaked base.
• ŞöbiyetVegetarian · Contains nutsTriangular phyllo pastry filled with a soft semolina cream and crushed pistachios, baked until crisp and then drenched in syrup.
• KünefeVegetarian · Contains nutsShredded kadayıf pastry baked around unsalted stretchy cheese, served hot with syrup and crushed pistachios.
• TulumbaVegetarianRidged fried dough fingers soaked in lemony syrup, crisp shell giving way to a soft, syrupy inside.
• Kadayıf RollsVegetarian · Contains nutsFine shredded pastry strands wrapped tightly around chopped walnuts or pistachios, baked golden and crunchy, then soaked in sugar syrup.
• Pistachio BaklavaVegetarian · Contains nutsGaziantep-style baklava with thin phyllo sheets layered around bright green pistachios, soaked in light syrup until crisp and juicy.

Cookies & Biscuits

Cookies for tea time, Eid visits and gift boxes.

• Nan KhataiVegetarian · Contains nutsSouth Asian bakery shortbread with semolina and cardamom, crumbly, fragrant and topped with a pistachio sliver.
• Zeera BiscuitsVegetarianCrisp Pakistani tea biscuits flecked with roasted cumin seeds, buttery and lightly sweet with a gently savory finish that suits chai.
• Ay ÇöreğiVegetarian · Contains nutsCrescent-shaped Turkish pastry roll of soft yeasted dough filled with walnuts, cinnamon, raisins and tahini, lightly sweet and tender.
• Ma'amoulVegetarian · Contains nutsMolded semolina cookies filled with dates, walnuts or pistachios, a fixture of Eid gift boxes.
• KurabiyeVegetarianTender Turkish butter cookies piped into rosettes or rings, sometimes sandwiched with jam or dipped in chocolate.
• Acıbadem KurabiyesiVegetarian · Contains nutsChewy Turkish almond cookies with a crackled top, made from ground almonds, sugar and egg white.

Cakes & Puddings

Celebration cakes and creamy desserts, typically prepared without alcohol-based flavorings or pork-derived gelatin.

• Tres Leches CakeVegetarianLight sponge soaked in three milks and topped with whipped cream, a popular choice at many halal bakeries in the US.
• Rasmalai CakeVegetarian · Contains nutsSponge layers soaked in saffron-cardamom milk, filled with whipped cream and pieces of rasmalai, finished with pistachios.
• Pistachio Cream CakeVegetarian · Contains nutsLayered sponge cake with pistachio cream frosting and chopped nuts, pale green and lightly sweet.
• SütlaçVegetarianBaked Turkish rice pudding served in clay dishes, with a browned, caramelized surface over a cool, creamy, vanilla-scented base.
• RevaniVegetarianSemolina sponge cake soaked in lemon syrup, golden and moist, sometimes topped with coconut or pistachio.
• Gulab JamunVegetarianFried milk-dough dumplings soaked in rose-cardamom syrup until spongy throughout, served warm or at room temperature at South Asian celebrations.

Sandwiches

Lunch sandwiches built on breads from the bakery's own ovens.

• Tuna meltSavoryTuna salad and melted Swiss griddled on sourdough until the bread is golden and the cheese starts to bubble.
• Grilled vegetable paniniVegetarian · Contains nutsPressed focaccia filled with roasted zucchini, peppers, eggplant, pesto and provolone; crisp, smoky and herby.
• Turkey avocado on sourdoughSavory · Popular pickRoasted turkey, avocado, tomato, greens and herb mayo on toasted country sourdough; a fresh, filling lunch staple.
• Chicken salad croissantSavoryHouse chicken salad with celery, grapes and herbs piled into a flaky croissant with crisp leaf lettuce.
• Caprese ciabattaVegetarianFresh mozzarella, ripe tomato and basil with balsamic glaze and olive oil on a chewy ciabatta roll.
• Ham & brie baguetteSavoryThin-sliced ham, creamy brie and butter on a crusty baguette in the style of a Parisian café jambon-beurre.
• Roast beef & cheddarSavoryRare roast beef, sharp white cheddar, arugula and horseradish cream on toasted rye; peppery and rich.

Drinks

• Caffè latteVegetarianEspresso with plenty of steamed milk and a thin microfoam layer; mellow and creamy, often finished with latte art and offered with oat or almond milk.
• Flat whiteVegetarianA smaller, stronger cousin of the latte: a double ristretto under silky, barely-foamed milk for a dense texture and pronounced coffee flavor.
• MochaVegetarianEspresso, chocolate sauce, and steamed milk, sometimes crowned with whipped cream; a dessert-leaning drink balancing cocoa richness with coffee bite.
• Cold brewVeganCoarse grounds steeped in cold water for twelve hours or more, yielding a smooth, low-acid concentrate served over ice with chocolatey undertones.
• Iced vanilla latteVegetarianChilled espresso and cold milk shaken or poured over ice with vanilla syrup; a sweet, refreshing staple of bakery counters in warm months.
• CappuccinoVegetarianEqual-ish parts espresso, steamed milk, and airy foam cap, giving a drier, stronger-tasting drink than a latte with a velvety top layer.