Rating: 
Lallisse is a sleepy little Mediterranean restaurant in Murray Hill – although it is only a couple of doors down from the always overstuffed Penelope Café, when we were there on a recent Saturday, it was nearly empty. Perhaps the New York brunch crowd doesn’t think of Mediterranean food as an optimal choice for the first meal of the day. But the menu selection at Lallisse really does have something for every palate and appetite. The beautifully arranged plates offer fresh, clean flavors and healthy but not overwhelming portions.
The service, on the other hand, leaves a lot to be desired: We had to constantly remind our server of earlier requests that had gone unfulfilled, and nearly got a parking ticket as the meter threatened to run out while we were desperately trying to settle up. (Of course, parking meters are not a typical concern when brunching in Manhattan, but still.)
Although we can confidently recommend some of the main courses – Caprese, Eggs Benedict, or the Crepes Wrap – we really think Lallisse is best experienced by taking advantage of the Mediterranean Breakfast selection, even if it is only one plate shared by the table.
The breakfast includes coffee or tea, and either 3 ($12) or 5 ($18) among the following: Hard Boiled Egg, (a delicious) Hummus Dip, Eggplant Dip, Roasted Red Pepper, Tomato and Cucumber, Marinated Olives, Aged Kasar Cheese (strange but wonderful), along with some sweet selections like fresh fruit, Greek yogurt, and crowd-pleasing Nutella. The portions are not huge, so if you order the Mediterranean breakfast as your meal, we suggest getting a selection of five.
Unfortunately, Lallisse is beer and wine only; which is a shame, since a Bloody Mary would perfectly compliment many of their dishes. But the champagne cocktails are perfectly tasty and lovely to look at. If you happen to be in the area and have some time to kill, but don’t want to waste half the day waiting for a table at Penelope, Lallisse is a perfectly good option.
Brunch at Lallisse Mediterrenean Wine & Food
161 Lexington Avenue (corner of 30th st)
New York, NY 10016
Hours : Sa-Su 11am-4pm
