Mocha Cafe, a casual new spot in East Harlem, is in soft open mode this week, fine-tuning a menu that includes coffee, smoothies, pressed sandwiches and more. (The official address is 203 East 121st Street, but the entrance is on Third Avenue.)
What's really notable, however, is the ice cream station in the back, where dessert fiends will find made-from-scratch scoops from yellow-truck phenom Van Leeuwen.
Owner Hammad Ali purposefully sought out small-batch manufacturers like Van Leeuwen as well as Toby's Estate for its coffee, realizing the neighborhood lacked places that offer these popular Brooklyn brands.
He also hopes to entice customers with a range of healthy offerings, from fruit smoothies to salads like the Mediterranean Bowl, with chicken, falafel, tomatoes, cucumbers and hummus.
Those who prefer to stick with ice cream can choose from flavors including chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, cookies and cream, Sicilian pistachio, and mint chip.
Although they might change, current hours are from 6am to 10pm–perfect for grabbing an iced coffee on the way to work and a sweet treat during a summer evening stroll.
