Brunch in New York

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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. Read the rest of this entry »

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Riverview is a not-so-convenient but ultimately rewarding brunch destination. And the name is a little misleading, if not patently untrue: You can in fact see the East River, but there is nothing particularly appealing about the partially obstructed, ground-level view of an unflattering stretch of the waterway and the midtown skyline beyond it. The ‘Land that Time Forgot’ atmosphere evokes a sad hotel bar in Costa Mesa circa 1985; complete with neon backlighting in the bar; stale smooth jazz from the speakers; and a preoccupation with crab cakes, avocado, and asparagus on the menu. Read the rest of this entry »

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Coco Chanel famously said that the opposite of luxury is not poverty, but rather vulgarity.  She might have deemed Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s restaurant Perry Street the very summit of luxuriousness.

The fumed oak tables, amuse-l’oeil patterned carpeting, comforting white leather banquettes, graciously cantilevered lamps and black resin bar with matching leather stools are artfully poised within the U-shaped space, all custom-conceived by Thomas Juul-Hansen, an erstwhile associate of the Pritzger Prize-winning architect Richard Meier, who designed the glass tower above the restaurant.  A sheer mesh over the floor-to-ceiling windows softens incoming sunlight without in the least impeding views of the shimmering Hudson River. Read the rest of this entry »

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If you did not try them here, you don’t know really the Eggs Rothko ! You have to come in this hip Williamsburg’s spot close to Bedford Avenue to order this dish :  an easy-cooked egg in a slice of Amy’s brioche and topped with Grafton cheddar. Served with broiled tomatoes and a side of meat (the best bacon we had in town !) or seasonal vegetables, it’s just fantastic and so cheap ($9). Maybe one of the best dishes we ordered in New York. Moreover, the rest of the menu is pretty varied ; the food always amazing.

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We quickly forget about the hustle and bustle of the street on entering this oasis, perched atop the roof of the Hotel Chantelle. We are welcomed by a few notes of jazz and the smile of the charming waitress who leads us to our table. The roof is packed as it is a beautiful day. Bloody Mary or Mimosa, the choice is a tricky one. We choose one of each! The menu is simple, typical of the Lower East Side: 4 starters and pancakes in the guise of a main course. Read the rest of this entry »

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The Lodge is one of the best spots in Williamsburg to ogle hungover hipsters in their bloodshot, flannel, unshaven Sunday best. Catering to hard-drinking late risers, brunch is served until 5 pm on Saturdays and Sundays and includes 2-for-1 Bloody Marys.

If you arrive before noon, expect to have the place almost completely to yourself. Otherwise, expect very slow, inattentive service – the staff is more interested in socializing amongst themselves than catering to your every whim. Read the rest of this entry »

Photo credit Black Book

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Bistro Bagatelle is moving to another location! Discover now the Brasserie Beaumarchais!

If you’re single, rich and European in NYC and didn’t score on Friday or Saturday night, fear not. Brunch at Bistro Bagatelle is basically an after-after hours party; except that most of the folks dining here on an early weekend afternoon look as though they got a good night’s sleep and went to the gym that morning. Easily one of the most expensive brunches in the city, Bistro Bagatelle wants you to show up with a big appetite for cocktails and socializing – both will be indulged. Read the rest of this entry »

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City Bakery’s incredible and extremely rich hot chocolate with marshmallows is so delicious as to be alarming: a masterpiece; one of the best in the city.

Come for the cocoa, and stay for the food and ambience during brunch time. This huge bi-level loft-urban canteen hits every mark: knockout eclectic cold buffet/salad bar, great hot food bar with terrific macaroni & cheese or chicken wings, and last but not least, the dangerous dessert bar : grab yourself a delicious chocolate chip cookie or the caramelized “pain-perdu” while they’re hot…  Read the rest of this entry »

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Finding an upscale, friendly place to brunch just behind Port Authority doesn’t seem like an easy thing to do. There aren’t a lot of attractions in this area, but it’s worth the trip to to discover 44 1/2, a bright and modern restaurant where you can also have a seat at the bar or in the nice Japanese garden on a sunny day. Read the rest of this entry »

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Just a few meters from the noisy St Mark’s Place, welcome to a cosy place to brunch in a sumptuous garden. One of the most beautiful in the city ! On a sunny day, impossible to resist to a table in this perfectly arranged patio with paving stones, a little fountain, abounding vegetation on wall and above you. It’s gorgeous and lovely.

Inside, it’s not bad either. When you penetrate in the main dining room, you also understand why the restaurant is called The Cloister Cafe. Its stained glass windows procure a real sensation of peace… You don’t have other options : you just fall in love with the place. Read the rest of this entry »

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5 Ninth is a three-storey rustic restaurant with dishes that have been inspired by Mediterranean and American cuisine. Their weekend brunch menu includes Bellinis, Roasted Beets with Candied Walnuts and a Buttermilk Dressing, Mixed Greens with a Sherry Vinaigrette, Fried Calamari, Hanger Steak & Eggs, Spanish Tortillas, Bocadillo, Chicken Liver Crostinis, and Short Rib Benedicts.

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Bistro Lamazou is a lovely place to have brunch on the weekend. Their cuisine and Moroccan and Mediterranean inspired and they offer diners a prie fixe brunch menu as well as an a la carte menu. Dishes include Ensaladilla Verde, Endive Salad, Moroccan Chicken Pastilla, Grilled Marinated Baby Calamari, Mediterranean Omelet, and Mussels Mariniere.

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High up on the 35th floor of the Mandarin Oriental is the delectable restaurant called Asiate. The three-course, $54 prie fixe brunch menu features Tuna Tataki, Peking Duck Steam Bun, Macadamia Nut Waffles, Pan Seared Halibut, Butternut Squash Risotto, and Ginger Snap and Rum-Eggnog Parfait.

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St. Regis Hotel is home to Astor Court, a casually elegant restaurant that offers an excellent Sunday brunch. The menu includes Belgian Waffles, Scrambled Eggs Tartine, Smoke Scottish Salmon and Mini Bagel, Roasted Pennsylvanian Chicken, Handmade Ravioli filled with pumpkin puree, fresh juices and smoothies, and Pomegranate Cosmos.

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