Brunch 2011?

[dhenry18]

I am trying to decide on a great brunch place for a Saturday. I know there was a great discussion about this last year, and I was wondering if anyone had any new or different thoughts. I am looking for some place that takes reservations so I know we don't have to wait forever like at Sarabeth, Blue Ribbon Bakery, Clinton St. Bakery, or Prune. There is a strong chance we may go to Miailino for dinner so that eliminates there for brunch (unless we go elsewhere for dinner). I am looking for somewhere with good bloody marys, and a nice mix of breakfast and lunch stuff. Any thoughts? THANKS!

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

[LeahBaila]

...adding ilili

[citykid426]

Cafe D'Alsace also takes reservations and they make amazing eggs petatou, no joke. They also have a good mix of lunch items if you're in the mood. If you go before 1:00 you should not have a problem getting in for brunch.

[sgordon]

Second Cookshop, as well as their sister restaurant Hundred Acres. Both have fantastic brunches. Also second Locanda Verde & Minetta.

I'll add:
JoeDoe - very meat-heavy menu if that's to your liking. The duck hash is especially fantastic.
Public - lots of Asian accents while still being very brunch-y (tea-smoked salmon with yuzu hollandaise, etc) & the venison burger w/ cassava fries is great.
Schiller's Liquor Bar - my choice for classic brunch stuff. Their take on Croque Madame is for my money the best in town, even if it's a bit untraditional (sort of a CM crossed with a Welsh Rarebit) - prices are very reasonable, too.
River Cafe (Brooklyn) - a little off the beaten path if you're sticking to Manhattan, but they do a very good (if a little pricey at $55) brunch prix fixe. But if you get a window table, the view of Southern Manhattan across the water is magical. It's a "fine dining" brunch though (Lobster omelets, Wagyu tartare with Cognac gelee, etc) - so it might be for more of a special occasion.

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Schiller's Liquor Bar
131 Rivington St, New York, NY 10002

Public
210 Elizabeth Street, New York, NY 10012

Hundred Acres
38 MacDougal St., New York, NY 10012

JoeDoe
45 East 1st Street, New York, NY 10003

[loratliff]

I don't think Public takes reservations, but the two dishes you've mentioned are fantastic.

[sgordon]

True, I forgot about that - but that said, out of the half-dozen+ times I've been there for brunch I don't think I've ever had to wait. It's a decent sized room.

[loratliff]

Depends on what time you get there. We try to get there right around 11:45 a.m.—that way, even if there's a 15-30 minute wait, you get seated just in time to get your first brunch cocktail. ;)

If you don't care about the booze, it seems unlikely that there will ever be a wait from 11 a.m. to noon, since the room does take awhile to fill up.

[sgordon]

I've found that's the secret to going to Prune, too - go well before noon when they can't "officially" make bloody marys, the crowds are always much lighter since the BMs are such a big part of the appeal. Then just order a virgin one... and bring a flask.

[six dower]

Great idea!

[LeahBaila]

The Stanton Social does a good job w/ brunch and definitely has something on the menu for everyone.

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Stanton Social
99 Stanton Street, New York, NY 10002

[citykid426]

Yes I think they are similar but I liked the atmosphere at LV more because it's not inside a hotel and you can eat at the bar. It just seemed more easy going and the crowd was younger/hipper.

[Riverman500]

Locanda Verde is part of the Greenwich Hotel. But yes, younger and hipper than Maialino (where you can also eat at the bar).

http://www.thegreenwichhotel.com/rest...

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Locanda Verde
377 Greenwich St, New York, NY 10013

Maialino
2 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10010

[kathryn]

Minetta Tavern.

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Minetta Tavern
113 MacDougal St, New York, NY 10012

[dhenry18]

Kathryn, from past posts on this subject, you seem to be the brunch guru. I know you are high on Minetta Tavern. What are your thoughts on Schillers or even Balthazar? Schillers seems to have a broader menu, which might be nice for my wife who, for all intents and purposes, is a pescatarian

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Minetta Tavern
113 MacDougal St, New York, NY 10012

[kathryn]

I'd say Balthazar over Schiller's, but neither are as interesting.

[dhenry18]

Thank you for your feedback.

[dhenry18]

Thank you for the suggestion. We went to Minetta Tavern and it was great. Panier was great. Latkes with smoked salmon, poached eggs, and hollandaise. BL burger worth every penny. Great bloody marys. Thanks for the suggestion

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Minetta Tavern
113 MacDougal St, New York, NY 10012

[citykid426]

I just went to Locanda Verde in Tribeca a week ago and they had some amazing egg dishes.

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Locanda Verde
377 Greenwich St, New York, NY 10013

[dhenry18]

I think LV is a lot like Maialino, no?

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Maialino
2 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10010

[uniqueusername]

I'm a big fan of Cookshop for brunch. They take reservations. It is slightly leaning more on the breakfast side of things, but they also have a selection of burgers, fish, salads etc. Menu is on their website. Added bonus is that its perfectly located for a post-brunch High Line stroll.

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Cookshop
156 10th Avenue, New York, NY 10011