Where to Work: Le Gamin Cafe

For those that work at home, it's hard to always peck away in solitude. But where to go? 

Of course the quality of the latte is important. But so is free WiFi, availability of outlets and willingness of the staff to let you stay for hours.

This occasional column will give you the scoop. And we hope you'll give us yours in the comments.

In the past we've looked at  and . Today we’re taking a look at , the cozy café on Vanderbilt Avenue between Bergen and Dean streets, which is surprisingly welcoming to the laptop crowd. The café has consistently reliable WiFi and a strip of outlets at each end, accessible to a total of about four tables. The crowd is mixed. Most people are there for the food, but I often see other computer users there.

The food is excellent, and while pricier than a coffee shop, still pretty reasonable. Plus, it’s often fine to just have a $3.50 café au lait or a bowl of soup for $6 and type away. The varied offerings also include . 

Hot drinks range from $2.25 for tea to $4 for a cappuccino. Breakfast offerings range from $4 for a toasted baguette with butter and jam to oeuf Gamin, a poached egg on a goat cheese potato cake with ratatouille for $8.50 to French toast with fruit salad, home fries and ham for $12. 

For lunch ($8 to $12.75) there are a wide variety of savory crepes, salads () sandwiches and quiche.

For dinner, the café goes a little more upscale with candles on the tables and dinner menu that still includes lower-priced options such as the $10 croque-monsieur but also has entrees in the $15 to $20 range.

Owner Cathy Palm says that she sees the restaurant as a café and welcomes the laptop crowd day or night (Monday through Thursday) as long as it’s not too crowded.

"Some days you can stay here for 10 hours and order two meals,” she said. However, if the restaurant is full, you might be asked to move to a smaller table.

I work there often and generally find the restaurant fairly quiet on Mondays through Thursdays through at least 6 p.m. I haven’t been there at night, but the staff says that while some evenings do get busy, often there are plenty of tables. (If you have been there at night, let us know how it is in the comments.)

Fridays it’s pretty crowded. And don’t bother showing up with your laptop on weekend: it’s packed and the WiFi is not available.

It’s hard to think of a downside to working at this great neighborhood spot: the staff is friendly, the restaurant quiet, the WiFi reliable and the tables generally plentiful.

The food is a bit pricier than a coffee shop, but if you’re reluctant to get working on that dissertation or job application and need a bit of incentive, a crepe from Le Gamin might be just the thing.  

The Particulars: Le Gamin Cafe, 556 Vanderbilt Ave., bet. Bergen and Dean, 718-789-5171. Open daily 8 a.m. - 11 p.m.