Tbili NYC made a good first impression for a simple reason: it felt welcoming. During my visit to the Georgian café on Lorimer Street, the cozy room and a delicious slice of cake made an ordinary stop feel like somewhere I would want to return. There is plenty more on the menu to explore, but that combination of hospitality and something sweet was enough to put this Williamsburg newcomer on my radar.
The café opened on October 4, according to Edible Brooklyn, bringing Georgian breads, pastries and café cooking to 442 Lorimer Street. Its early photographs show a room of wooden tables, assorted chairs and framed artwork, with space for both a quiet coffee and a game of chess. That lived-in character fits the warmth I felt in person.
Coffee and a game of chess inside the café. Photo: Tbili NYC / @tbili_nyc, used with permission.
A slice worth coming back for
The cake, made by Natia Parulava, was the highlight of my visit. Natia is from Georgia, and her baking gave me a delicious introduction to the café. Tbili offers an assortment of pastries and baked goods, making it easy to stop in for something sweet even when a full meal is not on the agenda.
What stayed with me was how naturally the cake and the setting came together. I felt comfortable and welcome, and left with a reason to come back. Next time, I would like to explore more of the Georgian dishes on the menu.
Cake made by Natia Parulava, photographed during my visit. Photo: Brunch God.
Georgian breads and a reason to stay for lunch
Beyond the cake I tried, Tbili’s own menu posts offer a useful introduction to its Georgian cooking. The café has shown Adjarian khachapuri: the boat-shaped cheese bread with an egg and butter at its center. It is a substantial-looking alternative to a pastry-and-coffee stop, and an approachable starting point for anyone new to Georgian food. I did not try it on this visit, but it is on my list for the next one.
Adjarian khachapuri from Tbili’s menu. Photo: Tbili NYC / @tbili_nyc, used with permission.
There is also ajapsandali, which Tbili describes in its own post as roasted eggplant served cool with shoti bread. The bread is an important part of the appeal: something to eat alongside the vegetables rather than a generic side added to fill the plate. Greenpointers’ opening coverage also lists chikhirtma, a Georgian chicken soup, alongside sandwiches and pastries. Together, those offerings give the café room to work as a breakfast stop or a more leisurely lunch.
Ajapsandali with shoti bread, one of the café’s vegetable options. Photo: Tbili NYC / @tbili_nyc, used with permission.
Coffee, tea and an unhurried stop
Tbili’s Instagram shows sand coffee among its drinks, as well as a house tea paired with cheese bread. Those are worth asking about when you arrive, particularly if you would like your order to go beyond the familiar café routine.
Tbili’s tea and cheese bread pairing. Photo: Tbili NYC / @tbili_nyc, used with permission.
The café also presents itself as somewhere to bring a laptop, with a window-side coffee-and-cake setup in its photographs. I came to enjoy the space and dessert, and the welcoming atmosphere gave me a reason to linger. Still, the invitation to settle in helps explain its appeal: this is a neighborhood café with Georgian food at its heart, and more than one way to spend a little time there.
A window-side coffee setup shared by the café. Photo: Tbili NYC / @tbili_nyc, used with permission.
Visit Tbili NYC: 442 Lorimer Street, Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The café currently lists hours of 7am–5pm on @tbili_nyc; check its latest posts for menu availability and updates before making a special trip. For more places to build a day around, explore our NYC dining and food coverage.
By Garvey Alexander, based on my visit, with additional menu and opening research. Café photographs are reproduced with the owner’s permission.