In New York City restaurants roll out the red carpet and everyone (not just you) is on their best behavior. No matter what neighborhood or price range you're in, there's a place where all can enjoy fine food, fab décor, music of the gods and that particular New York style that makes every visit memorable.
RIALTO 265 Elizabeth St., New York, NY 10012 212-334-7900 Ample portions, and a nice dim setting is only a slice of the Rialto brunch. Every weekend you can find hoards of various downtown patrons enjoying a light breakfast or the infamously filling “Spaghetti Bolognese”. Brunch specials at $14.95 will have you ready for the start of your weekend day, and rest assured, the innovative Mediterranean/American cuisine may tempt you to becoming a regular. You can’t go wrong with the burgers, which include a vegetarian version, or a salad, or sandwich at this staple in “Little Italy”, New York.
Holiday Schedule: New Years Day-Open, Easter-Open, Thanksgiving-Closed, Christmas Eve-Closed, Christmas-Closed, New Years Eve-Open
Estimated price per person $8-$14
LOLA 15 Watts Soho NY (212) 675-6700 Open late and on Sundays. A brunch staple at any time of year, Lola is a Chelsea institution. Brunch is more than just eggs, including Lola's signature fried chicken, a catfish "po' boy" sandwich served with sweet potato fries and homemade tomato relish, and pork chops smothered in country gravy. With its twists on classic soul food and airy décor (the place has space) Lola would be a winner even without the main brunch attraction: Gospel. A roster of the City's best singers and musicians rock the house every Sunday. If you go there you will leave with both mind and spirit well fed.
Holiday Schedule: New Year's Day-Closed, Valentines Day-Open, Easter-Open, Thanksgiving-NA, Christmas Eve-Open, Christmas Day-Closed, New Years Eve-Open
Estimated cost per person for dinner: $35-40 Brunch is A la Carte and costs are similar to above
ARCHIVES NY Marriott Brooklyn 333 Adams Street (at Willoughby St.) (718) 222-6543 Open Sundays. Only a year old, brunch at this restaurant in the swanky new Brooklyn Marriott is one of the borough's most welcome additions and best-kept secrets. Now you don't need to make the trek into Manhattan for the ultimate hotel brunch. We're talking the spectacle you expect: eggs benedict lined up in rows in silver service, that guy in the chef's hat carving country ham and prime rib, piles of shrimp and other fresh sea food, mounds of fresh fruit and pastry to set back your diet for a month -- including the Archives signature bread pudding. If you're a Manhattanite, you'll find a more laid-back atmosphere, shorter lines and interesting people watching. Just remember that Brooklyn is still New York, so don't' forget your wallet.
Estimated cost per person for dinner: $25-$35 Brunch is $31.95 per person
Holiday Schedule: Holiday Schedule: New Year's Day-Open, Valentines Day-Open, Easter-Open, Thanksgiving-Open, Christmas Eve-Open, Christmas Day-Open, New Years Eve-Open
PENELOPE 159 Lexington Ave New York, NY 10016-8154 (212) 481-3800 Hours: (Mon-Sun) 8am-11pm.
Blink and you will miss this cozy neighborhood eatery. For Sunday brunch, I was not patient enough to wait in line; instead, I visited Penelope’s one week day morning and was pleasantly surprised. The inviting room plastered in pastel colors gives an immediate feeling of charm and hospitality. Shortly, the waiter filled my cup with strong, but not bitter, coffee. Pancakes or waffles were my dilemma; he recommended the latter. It arrived hot, tasty and crisp (my wish was granted), generously covered with fresh seasonal berries. Penelope's is known not only as a bar and a café, but also for its freshly baked goods. Immersing in the morning paper, a regular patron was indulging in a slice of pie. My still hot coffee, along with the mildly sweet delicious peach pie empowered me for the day. The brunch selection looked especially appetizing: spicy chicken meatball sandwich, mac & cheese with a breaded top or a curried chicken salad on a bed of green sprinkled with sweet curry dressing. No room left for a pastry? Take home their homemade cupcakes – a great choice for breakfast the next morning. Hearty and heartfull!
Estimated cost per person: $15-$25
Holiday schedule: call for info.
BUBBYS 120 Hudson Street (at N. Moore Street) (212) 219-0666 In the heart of trendy Tribeca is Bubby's; a monument to comfort food which attracts some of the neighborhood's most celebrated denizens. The most popular items are the ubiquitous heuvos rancheros (though Bubby's are something special) and eggs benedict. Other more inspired selections include trout scrambled eggs with a sour cream sauce and a mayonnaise-y rich tuna salad on buttered toast (try it!) Lines can be long even with reservations but the atmosphere is convivial (and kid friendly, if they're coming along.) Where else can you eat your eggs and see Robert De-Niro planning his next film? This is the kind of New York brunch you can dine out on for months.
Holiday Schedule: New Year's Day-Closed, Valentines Day-Open, Easter-Open, Thansgiving-Closed, Christmas Eve-Open, Christmas Day-Closed, New Years Eve-Open
Estimated cost per person for dinner: $20-$25 Brunch is A la Carte with costs similar to above.
TIME CAFÉ 380 Lafayette Street (at Great Jones Street) (212) 533-7000 (Also at 2330 Broadway at 85th Street, 212-579-5100) The Time Café is great for any out-of-towner's first visit -- the people, the attitude, the décor, (and the food) are all typical New York City fare, and if you don't like it, well look behind you at the line in front of the door. Time has gorgeous high ceilings, gorgeous, if vague service and a huge a-la-carte menu full of favorites-with-a-twist. Yes they have huevos rancheros and eggs benny with smoked salmon, but a better choice might be their Caesar salad prepared in the classic manner with whole leaf romaine and that essential touch of anchovy. Top it off with a decadent peanut butter chocolate mousse cake and you've just experienced good food, East Village style. Finally, Time offers the not to be sneezed at treat of al-fresco (tables on the sidewalk) dining: to make sure you and your visitors don't miss New York's full monty.
Holiday Schedule: New Year's Day-Open, Valentines Day-Open, Easter-Open, Thanksgiving-Closed, Christmas Eve-Open, Christmas Day-Closed, New Years Eve-Open
Estimated cost per person for dinner: $20-$25 Brunch is $16.50 Prix Fixe.
FLORENT 69 Gansevoort Street (between Greenwich and Harrison Streets) (212) 989-5779 Open Late, Late and Sundays, NO CREDIT CARDS What is hip? If you are still seeking the answer to that eternal question, hit the cash machine and visit Florent, arguably one of the hippest places in town. Artists and artistes of every persuasion from filmmakers to female impersonators call Florent home, celebrities, wannabe celebrities and the truckers from the meatpacking district mingle good-naturedly. On top of that, the French bistro food is more than all right, with a gigantic ala carte menu that includes McCann's Irish Oatmeal with raisins and nuts, Boudin (French Blood Sausage) and eggs, grilled eggplant and Louisiana crab cakes, as well as the usual rancheros, florentines and benedicts. Best yet the prices won't bite too deeply into your overdraft.
Holiday Schedule: New Year's Day-Open, Valentines Day-Open, Easter-Open, Thanksgiving-Closed, Christmas Eve-Open, Christmas Day-Closed, New Years Eve-Open
Estimated cost per person for dinner: $25-30 Brunch is A la Carte with costs similar to above.
JOE ALLEN 326 West 46th Street (between 8th and 9th Avenues) (212) 581-6464 Open Late and On Sundays Catching a Sunday matinee? Have brunch beforehand at Joe Allen, a Broadway Landmark and the number one Rosie O'Donnell sighting spot in all of New York. And that gives away the Joe Allen's secret -- relaxed, reliable, fun and as comfortable as an old pair of shoes. Classic American fusion fare served ala carte includes a Frittata with Leek, Zucchini, Asparagus, Potato, Basil and Roasted Pepper, Chicken Salad with White Beans, Collard Greens, Sun dried Tomatoes and Garlic and Smoked Salmon with Scrambled Eggs and Asparagus, in addition to the usual Eggs Benny and Omelets du jour. If reasonable (for the Theatre District) prices, and an atmosphere that makes you feel like a veteran of the Great White Way and maximum Rosie potential is your thing, then Joe Allen's is right up your alley.
Holiday Schedule: New Year's Day-Open, Valentines Day-Open, Easter-Open, Thanksgiving-Closed, Christmas Eve-Open, Christmas Day-Closed, New Years Eve-Open
Estimated cost per person for dinner: $30-$35 Brunch is A la Carte with costs similar to above.
CAFÉ DES ARTISTES 1 West 67th Street (between Columbus and Central Park West) (212) 877-3500 Open Late and On Sundays Always on the list of New Yorker's favorite restaurants, this gem across from Lincoln Center has it all -- lavish décor, spectacular classic French food (abandon the diet) and impeccable service. The huge ala carte brunch menu changes with the seasons and the availability of fresh ingredients, but try the hot Lyonnaise sausage en croute, served with warm potato salad as a comforting starter, or salmon four ways --poached, gravlax, smoked and tartare, for two. You might have the Café's signature Waldorf Salad as a main course, or go for the Roasted Free Range Chicken with forty cloves of garlic. More typical "bruncheon" entrees include Smoked Salmon Benedict and a Giant Buttermilk Pancake with both Blueberries and Strawberries. Café des Artistes is convenient for pre-theatre or opera, but get to the restaurant early, as it's an experience that's difficult to end. The Café des Artistes is also known as a New York institution for marriage proposals and other celebrations of romance.
Holiday Schedule: New Year's Day-Closed, Valentines Day-Open, Easter-Open, Thanksgiving-Open, Christmas Eve-Open, Christmas Day-Closed, New Years Eve-Open
Estimated cost per person for dinner: $50-$55 Brunch is A la Carte with costs similar to above.
For other great brunches to research on your own, don't forget any of New York's great hotel restaurants -- the Waldorf's Peacock Alley, The Plaza's Cub Room, Brooklyn's 12th Street Bar and Grill, Aquavit and Friend of a Farmer on the East Side and always reliable Odeon downtown.
This year café Gitane celebrated twelve years of successful business. Small inside, with additional tables outside, the place is packed mostly with locals. I sat at the petit counter, and then ordered tasty lemonade with fresh mint. Being so close gave me a better view of the young chef’s magic trick; a spectacular tower was made from a Moroccan couscous protruded by chunks of chicken, red peppers, raisins, and toasted pine nuts. It leaned, and a minute later the whole construction slowly spread on a plate, oozing its fragrance. This signature dish is a house favorite. Gitane is also known for its Sunday brunch. Get there earlier or you might have to queue. Les Petit Plats are another option for the less hungry; they include brie cheese with apples or spicy Moroccan olives and oranges. Amongst popular salads try yellow tuna ceviche, glass noodles, bean sprouts, and mango with soy, ginger, and sesame dressing. Craving for sweets? Chocolate cake with orange sugar is heavenly. Less expensive than Paris and just as good!
Estimated cost per person: $15-$25 Holiday schedule: call for info.
The Top List of Best Brunches - New York, NY