Two dinners and brunch

[lglazer]

Hey There Chowhounders! I would so much appreciate your help!

I'm visiting my old hometown after many years in San Francisco. I just got married and my husband and I are taking a long weekend in NYC. I REALLY want to get our dining experience perfect. Below is the list I came up with, trying to pick two dinner spots and 2 brunch spots. For dinner we are pork fiends and at brunch we are egg and bread people.

Food is THE most important to us but atmosphere is just as important for this trip. SF is totally food focused so we are really excited to be somewhere with all that awesome NY energy that I miss so much! (not clubby, a crazy loud, just a cool interior with a good lively buzz). I'd be open to other suggestions but I worked pretty hard on this list and think that our weekend is probably contained somewhere within!:

DINNER
10 Downing
Alias
Apiary
Babbo
Freemans
Joseph Leonard
Locanda Verde
Mas (Farmhouse)
Minetta Tavern
Peasant
Public
Sorella
The Harrison
The Standard Grill

BRUNCH
Back Forty
Blue Ribbon Bakery
Bread
City Bakery
Clinton Street Baking Company
Jane
Kitchenette
ABC Kitchen

Thank you so much and happy to return the favor for anyone heading west!

Leslie

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Babbo
110 Waverly Pl, New York, NY 10011

Blue Hill
75 Washington Place, New York, NY 10011

Minetta Tavern
113 MacDougal St, New York, NY 10012

City Bakery
3 W 18th St, New York, NY 10011

Back Forty
190 Avenue B, New York, NY 10009

Blue Ribbon Bakery
33 Bedford St, New York, NY 10014

Mas (Farmhouse)
39 Downing St, New York, NY 10014

10 Downing
10 Downing Street, New York, NY 10014

Sorella
95 Allen St, New York, NY 10002

Locanda Verde
377 Greenwich St, New York, NY 10013

Standard Grill
848 Washington Street, New York, NY 10014

Joseph Leonard
170 Waverly Pl, New York, NY 10014

ABC Kitchen
35 E 18th St, New York, NY 10003

[sheio]

You won't go wrong with Back Forty or Blue Ribbon Bakery for brunch, but I have to say I really enjoyed my 3 brunches at ABC Kitchen. I'd recommend the toasts, the roasted carrot avocado salad, the mushroom parm egg pizza, the arctic char, the french toast, and the salted caramel ice cream sundae. The restaurant is beautifully decorated and popular/buzzy but not loud, and it was just nominated for a James Beard Award in the Best New Restaurant category. I love your three dinner picks, too. Enjoy your trip!

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Back Forty
190 Avenue B, New York, NY 10009

Blue Ribbon Bakery
33 Bedford St, New York, NY 10014

ABC Kitchen
35 E 18th St, New York, NY 10003

[lglazer]

Thanks sheio! I forgot to actually mention that ABC Kitchen is on there too. We're squeezing it in on the way to the airport :-)

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ABC Kitchen
35 E 18th St, New York, NY 10003

[saltysnack]

I second Back Forty for brunch - solid menu, great atmosphere and nice staff. I think Freeman's is over-rated, but the novelty of dining in that back alley may be worth it for you. If you're looking for a more unique menu I would also consider Prune for brunch, although you can't make a reservation.

For dinners I would do Babbo and Minetta. Maybe Public if you want a more polished, SoHo scene.

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Babbo
110 Waverly Pl, New York, NY 10011

Back Forty
190 Avenue B, New York, NY 10009

[lglazer]

Thanks to all for your great responses!! We actually squeezed in a few more plans, three dinners and two brunches:
Dinners - Gentleman Farmer, Minetta Tavern, Locanda Verde
Brunch - Back Forty and Blue Ribbon

I am super excited and really thankful for your input!

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Minetta Tavern
113 MacDougal St, New York, NY 10012

Back Forty
190 Avenue B, New York, NY 10009

Locanda Verde
377 Greenwich St, New York, NY 10013

Gentleman Farmer
40 Rivington St, New York, NY 10002

[kathryn]

I believe Locanda Verde starts taking reservations 30 days in advance, not sure what time.

Be aware that Minetta Tavern only gives early and very late reservations for non-VIPs. I've found it much easier to get in for brunch.

I think Minetta Tavern and Locanda Verde are two of the best brunches in town, and I like both better than Blue Ribbon Bakery. The egg dishes at LV especially. But BRB is fun, too. Get the Blue Benedict if you go, and bone marrow to share.

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Minetta Tavern
113 MacDougal St, New York, NY 10012

Locanda Verde
377 Greenwich St, New York, NY 10013

[prdct]

From your list, assuming you can get reservations, I would do dinners at Babbo and Minetta and brunch at Blue Ribbon. All three are excellent.

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Babbo
110 Waverly Pl, New York, NY 10011

[_emilie_]

Clinton St is a madhouse for brunch, and really not worth it -- all hype. For dinner its ok. However I have had nice brunches at both Kitchenette and Back Forty, both of which also have nicer ambiance. If you go to Kitchenette, get yourself some pie/cake to go. I also love brunch at Northern Spy and Antibes - not on your list, just putting them out there. If you show up at Back Forty and can't get a table, Northern Spy is just around the block.

From your dinner choices, absolutely Babbo. I also enjoy Peasant, Public and Sorella, but Babbo blows them away. Alias is not worth your time. Nothing special.

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Babbo
110 Waverly Pl, New York, NY 10011

Back Forty
190 Avenue B, New York, NY 10009

Sorella
95 Allen St, New York, NY 10002

[gutsofsteel]

If you are pork fiends you must go to Maialino for dinner and get the maialino....it's the best pork dish in the city nowadays. And it's a terrific restaurant.

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Maialino
2 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10010

[kathryn]

Or go for brunch and get the porchetta sandwich with fried egg on top! So good.