A local gem! Food and cocktails were fantastic, and the staff are incredibly friendly.
Food was AMAZING!!!! Cant wait to go back and try more from the menu. The chef/co-owner was so great. Atmosphere and Staff were awesome. Drinks were okay.
Amazing spot! The food was delicious (hush puppies and fried crab claws were highlights). Our waitress was delightful. The drinks were great. Loved the whole experience!
Every dish I had was delicious. But ribs were truly life changing. They are 100% fall off the bone. Never had anything like it, battered and deep fried on the outside. Must try
We absolutely loved this place. Every single dish we had was a home run, but the ribs were especially unique and delicious. The ambiance was perfect and the staff was incredibly kind. Don't miss out on this place!
This spot was SO good and I’m grateful we stumbled upon it last night. We got the oysters, crab cakes, and fried chicken and every single dish was amazing (the chicken and crab cakes were cooked and crisped to perfection). The staff (we sat at the bar) were down to earth, knowledgeable, and created a really fun ambiance at the restaurant. We didn’t get cocktails but heard they were also really good. Highly recommended!!
We had a fabulous meal at Cafe Camellia. This place does southern food right! If you have never tried southern fare, you must check this place out. If you know about southern food, you will not be disappointed. It’s as good as it gets.
Get the Delmonico steak! All of thier small plates also rock, like the collard greens! Great ambiance and service as well 👏
Delicious, refined, yet authentic - and totally unpretentious - Southern cuisine that feels perfectly at home in East Williamsburg. Don’t miss the Crispy Half Chicken, or Banana Pudding Tart. Really everything is pretty perfect here. Just make a reservation. On the New York Times list of the 50 restaurants across the entire United States that they’re excited about in 2023.
came under NYTs article recommendation. the place is quite lowkey and the food was not too greasy / heavy which i really enjoyed. it’s a good place to try out southern food for sure! flavor wise there were pickled elements in all 3 dishes we tried and the fried tomato and the crispy chicken share the same sauce. chicken has a good / consistent texture but at the end of the day it’s just chicken. the fried tomatoes were very interesting; never had such format for tomatoes before; the rice and red bean was perfect as i couldn’t have imagined to have so many nuanced flavors in a fried rice!
Decided to pop into this place because of the Southern fare and was not disappointed. The food was particularly excellent especially the crab cake. We shared the ribs, crab cake, catfish and both had a couple cocktails. Everything came together and was incredible! The ribs were a strongly seasoned and while it was really good just be mindful of that.
Southern food done right!I love the menu and their cocktail drinks!We recommend the country fried ribs they were very tender, the rib cap was delicious as well, they got the doneness right. (medium rare)This restaurant definitely has amazing food! The only thing is the atmosphere they have an indoor and the outdoor. In the evening i think it tends to get too loud to the point where we can’t hold a proper conversation. Other than that, i’d try again for a better overall experience.
This restaurant was INCREDIBLE. I was initially impressed by the menu, the take on southern food and saw it was new so I wanted to try it out. It did not disappoint. The hushpuppies and fried pickled tomatoes were cooked perfectly. The ribs were the highlight, I've never had fried ribs that fall off the bone! We got the bass fish was perfectly cooked with a yummy sauce and the okra as a side. Salad was fresh, which paired well with the heavier fried food. Oh and the key lime pie is a must. Cool spot and vibe, great service. 10/10
A local gem! Food and cocktails were fantastic, and the staff are incredibly friendly.
Food was AMAZING!!!! Cant wait to go back and try more from the menu. The chef/co-owner was so great. Atmosphere and Staff were awesome. Drinks were okay.
Amazing spot! The food was delicious (hush puppies and fried crab claws were highlights). Our waitress was delightful. The drinks were great. Loved the whole experience!
Every dish I had was delicious. But ribs were truly life changing. They are 100% fall off the bone. Never had anything like it, battered and deep fried on the outside. Must try
We absolutely loved this place. Every single dish we had was a home run, but the ribs were especially unique and delicious. The ambiance was perfect and the staff was incredibly kind. Don't miss out on this place!
This spot was SO good and I’m grateful we stumbled upon it last night. We got the oysters, crab cakes, and fried chicken and every single dish was amazing (the chicken and crab cakes were cooked and crisped to perfection). The staff (we sat at the bar) were down to earth, knowledgeable, and created a really fun ambiance at the restaurant. We didn’t get cocktails but heard they were also really good. Highly recommended!!
We had a fabulous meal at Cafe Camellia. This place does southern food right! If you have never tried southern fare, you must check this place out. If you know about southern food, you will not be disappointed. It’s as good as it gets.
Get the Delmonico steak! All of thier small plates also rock, like the collard greens! Great ambiance and service as well 👏
Delicious, refined, yet authentic - and totally unpretentious - Southern cuisine that feels perfectly at home in East Williamsburg. Don’t miss the Crispy Half Chicken, or Banana Pudding Tart. Really everything is pretty perfect here. Just make a reservation. On the New York Times list of the 50 restaurants across the entire United States that they’re excited about in 2023.
came under NYTs article recommendation. the place is quite lowkey and the food was not too greasy / heavy which i really enjoyed. it’s a good place to try out southern food for sure! flavor wise there were pickled elements in all 3 dishes we tried and the fried tomato and the crispy chicken share the same sauce. chicken has a good / consistent texture but at the end of the day it’s just chicken. the fried tomatoes were very interesting; never had such format for tomatoes before; the rice and red bean was perfect as i couldn’t have imagined to have so many nuanced flavors in a fried rice!
Decided to pop into this place because of the Southern fare and was not disappointed. The food was particularly excellent especially the crab cake. We shared the ribs, crab cake, catfish and both had a couple cocktails. Everything came together and was incredible! The ribs were a strongly seasoned and while it was really good just be mindful of that.
Southern food done right!I love the menu and their cocktail drinks!We recommend the country fried ribs they were very tender, the rib cap was delicious as well, they got the doneness right. (medium rare)This restaurant definitely has amazing food! The only thing is the atmosphere they have an indoor and the outdoor. In the evening i think it tends to get too loud to the point where we can’t hold a proper conversation. Other than that, i’d try again for a better overall experience.
This restaurant was INCREDIBLE. I was initially impressed by the menu, the take on southern food and saw it was new so I wanted to try it out. It did not disappoint. The hushpuppies and fried pickled tomatoes were cooked perfectly. The ribs were the highlight, I've never had fried ribs that fall off the bone! We got the bass fish was perfectly cooked with a yummy sauce and the okra as a side. Salad was fresh, which paired well with the heavier fried food. Oh and the key lime pie is a must. Cool spot and vibe, great service. 10/10
Hours
Mon - Sat
5pm - 12pm
Happy Hour 5-7pm 🍸🍷🍺
Kitchen closes at 10pm
Late night snacks 10-12pm
Events
Join us at Café Camellia, located in the heart of Williamsburg, Brooklyn, where we're ready to host your unforgettable events, whether it's an intimate family feast, a lively cocktail soirée, or an exclusive restaurant takeover. Savor delectable bites and cocktails in our bustling Graham Avenue view, indulge in a romantic candlelit dinner in our rear dining haven, or soak up the sun with a glass of wine in our charming garden. We're here to make your moments shine. Our restaurant thrives on community, and we take pride in uniting you and your loved ones to honor life's milestones. Let's raise a toast to your celebrations at Café Camellia!
Press
Click here to view all press stories
About Café Camellia
Café Camellia, located in the heart of Williamsburg, Brooklyn, brings the vibrant spirit of the Gulf Coast to your plate, with a menu rooted in Southern traditions and New York's finest locally sourced ingredients. From crispy fried green tomatoes to savory prawn and grits, our dishes are a flavorful journey through Gulf Coast cuisine (without a hint of the Bay, we promise). Raise a glass to our diverse wine and cocktails, savor a sweet tea, and don't forget the grand finale – our irresistible Key Lime Pie. Join us for a jubilant feast that'll transport you straight to the Gulf Coast!
Taylor G.2024-04-30Delicious food, friendly staff, great drinks (alcoholic and NA alike) and fun ambience. Highly recommend! Shoutout to Ashley who took extra special care of us!
Griffin T.2024-04-25I had my birthday dinner here with a large party and it could not have gone better. The staff was extremely nice and accommodating + the food was absolutely amazing. My birthday was in February but I think about the hush puppies once a week. Highly recommend.
Alan S.2024-04-04The best meal I had in NOLA on my last trip was not anywhere in the French Quarter or even in up-and-coming areas like Bywater, but rather at an understated restaurant called Mondo in the suburban Lakeview district. My experience at Cafe Camellia reminded me of that meal - while they made the Times 100 list last year, they're located on one of the most dull retail strips in all of Williamsburg, and the decor is nothing to write home about. But they serve bold Gulf Coast flavors, and the butter pecan toddy is a superb drink. The best bites of the evening were the hush puppies, served with a rich remoulade, and the fried maitake, which had a nice balance of acidity. I would probably skip the brussel sprouts next time - they were served in papery fragments that made the dish a bit hard to enjoy.
Glenn C.2024-03-29As per most of my other recent reviews, I went to this Southern spot several months back. We went here after they had unexpectedly gone on the best new restaurants list having barely heard about the restaurant otherwise. The lighting was nice here and the staff was friendly giving good recommendations. They have ample space as well. The spot has a fun creative cocktail menu which are reasonably priced with some drinks having rather humorous names. I went with the A Complex Cocktail For Bitter People for $15 which is their take on a Negroni with roots of ruin gin, saffron liqueur, and vermouth di torino bianco which was excellent. The cocktail had a nice presentation with the vivid off yellow and the flower and it had a nice balance of bitterness, citrus, and herbal flavors. This was excellent though not on the current drink menu. They also had the opposite named A Bitter Cocktail For Complex People which was their take on a Manhattan along with plenty of other choices. As per usual for food, we split a lot of dishes. For smaller plates, my favorite was the Country Fried Baby Back Ribs for $16 with dill & vinegar and jezebel sauce. This sauce in question contains fruit jelly and combined with the dill and vinegar; it was a nice mix of sour and sweet with very tender ribs which weren't too heavily fried. Excellent. Also tasty was the Hush Puppies for $10 with jalapeno, cheddar, popcorn, and remoulade. They were lighter than expected with a little kick and the popcorn was fun for presentation. I think the remoulade should be on this side and not presented on top but I guess it's more artful that way. OK was the Crab Cake for $24 listed as corn flake crusted with whole grain mustard, radish, and herb salad. It was a bit pricey and the flavors didn't pop as much as the other appetizers. The mustard was a fun spin but perhaps don't order this as this is probably one of the only overpriced things on the menu outside of perhaps the steak. We ordered two main dishes; the Roasted Rib Cap and the Crispy 1/2 Chicken which were both fine. The former for $42 with bourbon worcestershire caramel consisted of a very tender steak though maybe a bit small. The sauce indeed had some sweetness but there was a bit of salt on the steak so it was pretty well balanced. The latter dish for $26 with`bama white sauce and herbs was solid. Tender fried chicken with a fun presentation. No real major complaints though I am not exactly sure if it is half a chicken (probably is though.) The restaurant is also known for it's desserts so we got both to share which are both $12. Of the two, my preference was the Key Lime Tart with toasted coconut and candied lime zest. I haven't had many good key lime tarts in the city and this was excellent as it wasn't too sour or sweet. The candied lime zest on top as well as the coconut just added extra pizzazz. I almost found the latter Banana Pudding Tart with caramel and vanilla wafers to be a bit worse. It was well presented as per the other dessert and it was plenty rich but it was perhaps a bit too sweet with the amount of caramel they put on top. This is a fun spin on Southern food which isn't exactly a cuisine you find commonly enhanced. The desserts and appetizers were definitely better than the entrees but the entrees weren't too shabby either. Upper 3/low 4.
JP P.2024-03-26This is a great spot! The food was on point. The service was good and they had a great Pilsner on tap! The greens, the fried green tomato, and the chicken were all hittin! Perfect place for a relaxing dinner with friends, work or a date. The key lime pie is a showstopper!
Tony R.2024-02-21All the dishes we tried were terrific: the oysters, Artichoke, Black Gass Gnocchi which was delicious (you could taste the potatoes) even the Chicory insalata was good. On the desert since the Passion Fruit Chiboust was exceptional. Service was excellent and was the setting. We spent $309 plus tip including an $80 of wine. There is a nice bar called Portrait in the back. Reservations are recommended.
Cathy L.2024-02-16Came here for ValDay dinner and can't wait to return. First, loved that it wasn't a prix fixe menu for Valentines Day. Double Props for that. The two of us shared the fried green tomatoes, brussel sprouts, ripped potatoes, crispy chicken and the pork. Everything was delicious. The brussels are not to be missed! My boyfriend loved the chicken. We couldn't stop picking at the ripped potatoes. The drinks were also so good. Out two favorites were the scarf weather and green tease. The green tease tastes like Arizona Green Tea! For dessert, we shared the banana pudding tart. Less banana than we expected but the crust was so tasty! Dinner was so good, I can't wait to return!
Jesse D.2024-01-05The amazing reviews are for good reason at Cafe Camillia because everything was great. I'm very surprised this place isn't packed! Started with a cocktail called A Bubbly Gin Citrus You Get It. I usually don't like anything with bitters but the grapefruit and lime really worked here. We started with some oysters that could have been shucked a little better but tasted pretty good. We then had the fried crab claws, fried green tomatoes and collard greens. Collard greens were so good with a lot of smoked pork and the dish was somehow not heavy and might I even say, refreshing. The fried crab claws were just super creative and fun to eat. The fry somewhat took over the crab taste but honestly these are fantastic. They sadly were out of the fried fish so we got the shrimp and grits which was very tasty as well. Tons of shrimp, a large prawn but the sauce was the star. We also got the fried chicken. I don't like ordering chicken when I'm out and especially not chicken breast. The breast was so juicy, amazingly cooked and there was a drumstick and some other piece that had the perfect fry. They could have put a small side with the fried chicken, just looked lonely. Ended with the banana pudding tart, also great! 5 stars and 100% coming back!
