I was invited to visit Vanilla Gorilla, and I did not pay for food and drinks myself. However, all opinions and experiences shared in this post are my own and reflect my honest impressions.
Vanilla Gorilla is known for good coffee and Pastrinos, which are croissant wraps that come with different fillings. I had the breakfast Pastrino with scrambled eggs, bacon, tomato, and melted aged white cheddar. Tasty, and very filling, so I’m glad I brought Steve so we could share.
The staff were really nice and they weren’t afraid to provide their own suggestions and recommendations. We weren’t sure whether or not to try the almond croissant. I prefer almond croissants with a lot of filling so if they’re dry inside, it’s really disappointing. I was therefore hesitant to order the almond croissant at Vanilla Gorilla, but the staff convinced me, and I’m happy that they did. So much filling! Honestly, probably among the top 3 of the almond croissants I’ve ever had. The Zucchini bread was good, but not very memorable, and I probably wouldn’t order that one again (I would get the almond croissant!).
I had the Hazelnut & Honey latte, which was a bit to the sweet side, so if you don’t like your coffee drink too sweet, you should tell the staff in advance. Steve had a cappuccino which had a lot of milk and tasted more like a latte. Coffee-wise, I would rank Vanilla Gorilla somewhere above Starbucks but below some of my specialty coffee shops. I really liked the Pastrino and the almond croissant, so overall, Vanilla Gorilla is definitely a decent choice if you’re in the neighborhood, looking for a nice cafe.
Vanilla Gorilla, 525 8th Ave, New York, NY 10018
