Colina Cuervo

Colina Cuervo (Spanish for "Raven Hill") is a Latin-American cafe on Nostrand Avenue that pairs serious specialty coffee with arguably the best breakfast food in Brooklyn — cheese-and-guava empanadas, crispy eggplant sandwiches, sourdough toast with poached eggs, and a rotating menu of Latin American-inflected breakfast plates that have made the place a destination far beyond Crown Heights. The Infatuation has highlighted it specifically for the food. The coffee program runs on Counter Culture Coffee — one of the most respected third-wave roasters in the country — with espresso pulled tight, milk drinks executed cleanly, and reliable pour-overs. The space is bright, casual, and warm, with backyard seating in warmer months that becomes prime weekend brunch real estate. Cash is now phased out, lines move briskly, and the staff are notably friendly. A near-perfect neighborhood cafe in a neighborhood that has plenty of competition.