Brunch in New York

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There’s no more famous place, perhaps, to brunch in all of New York than at Keith McNally’s Balthazar. Or at least there wasn’t when this place first opened to much fanfare in 1997. The stars started coming… and then they stopped, lured away by other McNally ventures and a ton of newer, hipper places. That hasn’t stopped Soho locals or tourists from scoping the place out, though. McNally fell all over himself doing up the French brasserie thing here: tiled floors, reddish banquettes and chairs, wine bottles stacked high behind the bar; a bit of lit glass paneling (in a stained-glass effect) adorning the thick columns; heavy leanings toward French food…heck, the waitresses are even by turns gorgeous, ditzy, and snooty. Read the rest of this entry »

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The atmosphere at the SoHo based 508 Restaurant & Bar is informal yet still chic and the dining style is casual. Their Sunday brunch menu includes Lobster Benedict, Eggs Norwegian, French Toast with Berries and Mascarpone, Ham and Swiss Cheese on Ciabatta, Egg Sandwich, and a 3 Egg Omelet with additional ingredients diners can choose to include.

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Sanctuary T is a slightly misleading name for a restaurant with the sound and energy found in this bustling Soho teahouse during weekend brunch. The concept aims to combine a serene, removed setting with the full-service experience New Yorkers have come to expect.  This works during the week with thinner crowds, when you can really appreciate the restaurant’s clean yet warm design. But on weekends, it is difficult to distinguish Sanctuary T from any other overcrowded Soho bistro. Read the rest of this entry »

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Onieal’s is a quaint brunch spot located in the historic SoHo neighborhood. Due to its fame from appearances on the television series, “Sex and the City“, it is a frequent stop for fans on sightseeing tours. Onieal’s is especially accommodating by making its brunch menu available both daily and weekends. Brunch items include “eggs your own way,” eggs Benedict, pancakes, sides of crispy bacon or home fries, Panini, sandwiches and salads. Read the rest of this entry »

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Felix has been a mainstay of high-impact New York City brunching for well over a decade. The French bistro with a devoted European-leaning crowd can get a little chaotic on the weekends, but at this point all but the truly green New Yorkers know what to expect. The primary draw at Felix is the upbeat, cosmopolitan vibe and the open-air setting – not necessarily the food, and definitely not the service.  Read the rest of this entry »

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É boa pra caramba! Sounds of Brazil, aka SOB’s, has been a leading New York City supper-club venue for world music since 1982.  Tito Puente, Marc Anthony, Celia Cruz and Seu Jorge have all appeared in this little corner of the tropics in SoHo.  The Bossa Nova brunch on Sundays is a much-loved tradition.  Bandleader Nanny Assis and his musical guests regularly evoke the dreamy, steamy, multi-hued artistic worlds along Brazil’s gorgeous coastline.

Fruit-kissed sangria is an ideal accompaniment to Bossa Nova sounds – and happily, the $24.99 prix fixe brunch features a bottomless pitcher.  Various sangrias are poured, including white sangria, which, when good and cold, is as palate-pleasing as the more widely-known and appreciated red sangria. Read the rest of this entry »