A lot of good theme recommendations were sent along to me - some of which I have already lined up for the coming weeks. One theme that I realized should garner a lot of favorites is always the city brunch. Honestly, when you aren't in the city, you simply call this "breakfast". But of course, in Manhattan, "brunch" is larger (and more expensive) when you're really just getting breakfast. I'm not a regular bruncher. Why?... because I'm straight and brunches tend to lean more towards the female persuasion.
BUT, the only good thing I've realized about brunch is the ALCOHOL (caps needed). Most places will have your standard breakfast options - eggs in assorted preparations (benedict, omelette, over-easy, milky, etc.), batter in assorted preparations (waffles, crepes, pancakes, etc.) and your occasional blueberry muffin lightly toasted with a side of margarine. But they will then incentivize you with an alcoholic beverage, or three beverages and even unlimited quantities of booze. In the JDizzle Theory of Alcohol Proportion to Food, the scientific ratio of booze:food should be at least 3:1. I've conducted many studies and found this to be the case... and by studies I mean I've drank and eaten a lot. One drink doesn't do anything to you if you're eating a sizable breakfast and unlimited drinking, although delightful, impairs the taste of the food and just leaves you (and your palate) drunk.
Based on this proven (and published) theory, there is one brunch place that i've been to several times that stands out from everything else. The Essex Restaurant & Bar, a go-to place of mine for years is easily the best brunch I have ever had. The food is based on the influences of the area it resides in (as well as it's history); traditional jewish and latin-american flavors. It's a very interesting and weird fusion of cuisines but definitely works. When you arrive at the corner of Essex and Rivington in the Lower Eastside, you come across what looks like an abandoned warehouse with red bricks surrounding the exterior; probably with 5-10 people waiting outside. You wouldn't know you're there except for the flag waiving the restaurant's name far above. It will probably be very congested once you enter but don't let this discourage you. Inside you have a nice-sized bar to your right, white tennis balls stuck on the white brick wall to your left and split-level seating both above you and in front of you.
BUT, the only good thing I've realized about brunch is the ALCOHOL (caps needed). Most places will have your standard breakfast options - eggs in assorted preparations (benedict, omelette, over-easy, milky, etc.), batter in assorted preparations (waffles, crepes, pancakes, etc.) and your occasional blueberry muffin lightly toasted with a side of margarine. But they will then incentivize you with an alcoholic beverage, or three beverages and even unlimited quantities of booze. In the JDizzle Theory of Alcohol Proportion to Food, the scientific ratio of booze:food should be at least 3:1. I've conducted many studies and found this to be the case... and by studies I mean I've drank and eaten a lot. One drink doesn't do anything to you if you're eating a sizable breakfast and unlimited drinking, although delightful, impairs the taste of the food and just leaves you (and your palate) drunk.
Based on this proven (and published) theory, there is one brunch place that i've been to several times that stands out from everything else. The Essex Restaurant & Bar, a go-to place of mine for years is easily the best brunch I have ever had. The food is based on the influences of the area it resides in (as well as it's history); traditional jewish and latin-american flavors. It's a very interesting and weird fusion of cuisines but definitely works. When you arrive at the corner of Essex and Rivington in the Lower Eastside, you come across what looks like an abandoned warehouse with red bricks surrounding the exterior; probably with 5-10 people waiting outside. You wouldn't know you're there except for the flag waiving the restaurant's name far above. It will probably be very congested once you enter but don't let this discourage you. Inside you have a nice-sized bar to your right, white tennis balls stuck on the white brick wall to your left and split-level seating both above you and in front of you.
 |
| View from the second level inside Essex Restaurant & Bar |
Once seated, there will be no time wasted before you have the choice of a mimosa, bloody mary or screwdriver - pick the screwdriver. They are sizable and NOT watered-down; oh and you get THREE of these puppies.
There are many options to choose from for the food portion of your semi-drunken mid-day visit. A few of my prior choices include the LES Matzo Brei with homemade apple sauce & chicken apple sausage and the crispy potato pancakes with sautéed apples, honey cream sauce and spinach-shiitake-black bean hash. But, the old-reliable on their menu of difficult decisions is the Mexican Matzo Brei. It is unlike anything I've had and I consistently salivate over it (even right now). Scrambled eggs are gently mixed together with tortilla crisps, fresh monterey jack cheese, avocado, black beans & pico de gallo. The portion is not small. What I call "the dessert" is served right after you order your food, it's the onion roll. I dare you to have just one.
As has become standard, some additional notes on Essex Restaurant & Bar:
- Reservations need to be made at least a week in advance (Opentable Preferred)
- Due to NYC Blue Laws (don't get me started), you cannot consume alcohol before Noon on Sundays so they serve complimentary non-alcoholic beverages starting at 11am
- Brunch is Cash Only
- Although they limit your drink consumption to three drinks, if you are nice to your waiter/waitress they will "forget" how many you had and keep pouring
So, My Favorite Brunch in the city is:
Dish: Mexican Matzo Brei
Place: Essex Restaurant & Bar
Address: 120 Essex Street (corner of Rivington) New York, NY 10002
Website: http://www.essexnyc.com/
There are many options to choose from for the food portion of your semi-drunken mid-day visit. A few of my prior choices include the LES Matzo Brei with homemade apple sauce & chicken apple sausage and the crispy potato pancakes with sautéed apples, honey cream sauce and spinach-shiitake-black bean hash. But, the old-reliable on their menu of difficult decisions is the Mexican Matzo Brei. It is unlike anything I've had and I consistently salivate over it (even right now). Scrambled eggs are gently mixed together with tortilla crisps, fresh monterey jack cheese, avocado, black beans & pico de gallo. The portion is not small. What I call "the dessert" is served right after you order your food, it's the onion roll. I dare you to have just one.
As has become standard, some additional notes on Essex Restaurant & Bar:
- Reservations need to be made at least a week in advance (Opentable Preferred)
- Due to NYC Blue Laws (don't get me started), you cannot consume alcohol before Noon on Sundays so they serve complimentary non-alcoholic beverages starting at 11am
- Brunch is Cash Only
- Although they limit your drink consumption to three drinks, if you are nice to your waiter/waitress they will "forget" how many you had and keep pouring
So, My Favorite Brunch in the city is:
Dish: Mexican Matzo Brei
Place: Essex Restaurant & Bar
Address: 120 Essex Street (corner of Rivington) New York, NY 10002
Website: http://www.essexnyc.com/
My favorite brunch places as of September 2010 are:
ReplyDeleteThe Spotted Pig, Greenwich Street at W. 11th Street. Recommend getting there at 11:00 or by 11:45. It is so good that the throng will arrive starting around 11:45 a.m.
Frankie's 17, 17 Clinton Street at East Houston Street. Wonderful for both brunch, lunch and dinner. Get the fennel salad!
The Standard Hotel, Washington Street at W. 13th Street, has great brunches, breakfast, lunch and dinner. And given the look of the price, both food and cocktails are actually cheaper than some of its neighboring restaurants.
Restaurant 202 in Chelsea Market Place. Wonderful organic food, "English" cuisine. Fish Tacos so good one can write a song about them.
Las Ramblas, West 4th Street at Jones Street. Great brunches how from 1-5 Sat.-Sunday. Spanish feel to brunch. Also serves fantastic tapas.
MORANDI on 7th Avenue and Waverly Place. Wonderful Italian themed brunch foods (but has standard egg dishes as well now). Great for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
CAFE CLUNY: great for brunch, lunch and dinner. Americana-themed food, very well prepared, West 12th at W. 4th Street.
And TEA AND SYMPATHY on Greenwich Avenue for great brunch as well as English Afternoon Tea. Considered a Village landmark now.
Ooops-a typo! I meant to say re: The Standard Hotel,
ReplyDeleteAnd given the look of the PLACE, not price.......always been grateful The Standard Hotel keeps it pricing level even-keeled and even less than other Meat Packing District restaurants and bars.