recs for a decadent brunch while dining solo

[prima]

A friend of mine is visiting NYC, and wondered where she might brunch solo. I'm a little out of the loop, and wouldn't want to send her to a restaurant that wants 2 people dining at its 2-tops.

Which good brunch spots offer seats at a bar and/or are solo-friendly?

[michelleats]

Think she'd like The Dutch? The food is interesting and good, though perhaps not as astoundingly good as some reviews might lead you to think. There's a lot of bar seating. And for better or worse, it's still very, very trendy.

[prima]

Thanks, michelleats. I'll pass the suggestion along to her. ;-)

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The Dutch
131 Sullivan St, New York, NY 10012

[plf515]

Any particular neighborhood? Cuisine? Day of week? Time?

Lots of places that will welcome a solo diner on a weekday at (say) 10 or 11 will not be so welcoming on Sunday.

If it's a weekday, then on the upper west side there's Good Enough to Eat for "normal" brunch food (excellent bacon!) or Barney Greengrass for a more unusual experience (smoked fish etc.) Both places are mobbed on weekends.

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Barney Greengrass
541 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10024

Good Enough to Eat
483 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10024

[prima]

It would be for a Sunday brunch.

My friend is staying near the Theater District. I had let her know that leaving the neighbourhood will probably increase her odds of finding better brunch food. Open to any neighbouhoods.

I noticed DB Moderne would be a theater district option.

Interestingly, I had mentioned Barney Greengrass to her last night before I posted. She could always grab a bagel with nova & a shmear to go, and head to Central Park if it's a nice day ;-) But I've also been there (dine-in) on a Sunday with a friend, and would feel a little awkward brunching solo in that crowded room.

Re: type of cuisine- I guess mostly continental or American. She's relatively conservative.

Didn't know the bacon was especially good at Good Enough to Eat! I've only had brunch a handful of times in my last few visits, and Good Enough to Eat was one of the places I went with some friends living on the UWS. Some other brunches I tried on other visits include Cafe Frida and Noho Star.

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Barney Greengrass
541 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10024

Good Enough to Eat
483 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10024

DB Bistro Moderne
55 West 44th Street, New York, NY 10036

Noho Star
330 Lafayette St, New York, NY 10012

Cafe Frida
368 Columbus Avenue, New York, NY 10024

Cafe Frida
768 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10025

[mahler5]

Telepan

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Telepan
72 W. 69th Street, New York, NY 10023

[prima]

thanks, mahler5!

[kathryn]

You can have a great, decadent, nice brunch at the bar of:
The Breslin
Locanda Verde
Minetta Tavern

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Minetta Tavern
113 MacDougal St, New York, NY 10012

Locanda Verde
377 Greenwich St, New York, NY 10013

The Breslin
20 W 29th St, New York, NY 10001

[prima]

Thanks, kathryn. I didn't realize those restaurants served brunch at their respective bars. Looks like I'll also be using this thread as a brunch plan for my next trip. ;-)

Do those 3 restaurants keep the bar for walk-ins, or do they take reservations for the bar?

[kathryn]

I believe it is only walk-ins/first come, first served.

I believe you can also dine at the bar for brunch at Maialino. The Breslin, Locanda Verde, and Maialino also all serve weekday breakfast in addition to weekend brunch, whereas Minetta Tavern only does weekend brunch. Hope this helps!

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Minetta Tavern
113 MacDougal St, New York, NY 10012

Locanda Verde
377 Greenwich St, New York, NY 10013

The Breslin
20 W 29th St, New York, NY 10001

Maialino
2 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10010

[prima]

Thanks, kathryn.

I meant to try Maialino's breakfast on my last visit, but it hasn't happened yet. I was aware of Mailino & Breslin's breakfasts, and their locations in hotels, but I didn't realize Locanda Verde was open for weekday breakfasts.

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Locanda Verde
377 Greenwich St, New York, NY 10013

Maialino
2 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10010

[RGR]

We rarely eat breakfast out, but we've done it a couple of times at Maialino (it's just a few blocks from our apartment). Delicious way to start the day. Love the quiet atmosphere in the a.m. The antithesis of the bustle during lunch and dinner.

Photos of breakfast at Maialino: http://www.flickr.com/photos/11863391@N03/sets/72157626121435799/

http://thewizardofroz.wordpress.com

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Maialino
2 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10010

[prima]

Thanks RGR- I hope it works out to try Maialino's breakfast next visit. Thanks for including the link to your photos.

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Maialino
2 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10010

[kathryn]

If you want decadent though, go for the Breslin and their fried peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Add a side of bacon if you really want to up the ante. And eat it with a slice of bacon tucked inside.

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The Breslin
20 W 29th St, New York, NY 10001

[uwsister]

LOL - that's exactly what I did! Actually I stole a strip of bacon from my husband's English Breakfast plate. It is indeed decadent.

[thegforceny]

Now I understand why the two of you are probably my favorite Manhattan Board posters, uws and k!

[prima]

Will keep that in mind, kathryn & uwsister ;-) I used to love pb & bacon on fresh bread, or pb & banana & bacon sandwiches- haven't tried a deep-fried pb & j & bacon before.

[sgordon]

As a solo diner, Prune's legendary brunch is a more manageable option than it is as a 2+ top - often you can cut significantly ahead in what looks like an unreasonably long line.

Many (self included) consider Public to have one of the best brunches in town. It's more adventurous than most - i.e. tea-smoked salmon with yuzu hollandaise, blood pudding(!) waffles with foie gras butter, etc. Delicious and fun.

I find Momofuku Ssam Bar & Momofuku Noodle Bar both good for dining solo. And they wouldn't be very crowded, since more people tend to go for brunch-y things than lunch-y things on the weekends. If she's down with the downtown hipster vibe, it could be a good spot - certainly the food is spot-on.

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Momofuku Ssam Bar
207 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10003

Momofuku Noodle Bar
171 1st Ave, New York, NY 10003

Public
210 Elizabeth Street, New York, NY 10012

Prune
54 E 1st St, New York, NY 10003

[prima]

Thanks for mentioning Prune, Public, Ssam Bar & Noodle Bar.

Prune's menu looks like something my friend would like.

Looks like Public, Ssam Bar & Noodle Bar might be more to my liking than my friend's, but good to add them to my list. And nice to know Prune might even be more manageable for a solo customer.

[RGR]

When we do brunch, we prefer not to have breakfast-type stuff like eggs, pancakes, French toast, etc. Rather, we always opt for lunch food. Along those lines, my recommendation would be the Bar Room at the Modern. Superb cuisine and a very welcoming place for a solo diner. There is bar dining as well as seats at tables in the bar/lounge and dining areas. Conveniently located to where your friend is staying.

Bar Room at the Modern photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/11863391@N03/sets/72157627136466638/

http://thewizardofroz.wordpress.com

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The Modern
9 West 53rd Street, New York, NY 10019

[prima]

Thanks RGR. I will pass along the rec of the Bar Room for a Sunday lunch. Funny enough, I had mentioned the Bar Room was a neat place to get a drink & some small plates close enough to the Theatre District. Happy to discover I was on a similar wavelength to some of the Chowhounds who have helped so much on my previous visits to NYC. ;-)

[fm1963]

Bar Boloud has a very nice brunch.

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Bar Boulud
1900 Broadway, New York, NY 10023

[kathryn]

IMO their charcuterie is great but I found the more breakfasty items lacking.

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Bar Boulud
1900 Broadway, New York, NY 10023

[prima]

thanks for the Bar Boulud rec, fm1963....looks like the kind of brunch menu that will appeal to my friend.

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Bar Boulud
1900 Broadway, New York, NY 10023

[JKII]

Surprised no one has mentioned Artisanal (2 Park Ave at 32nd) which has both bar seating and solo-friendly seating in the main diningroom. Superior brunch menu, fabulous cheeses, some unusual French-bistro type entrees. N.B. you can't get a drink (with alcohol) before noon in New York City so if you want to start with champagne or a cocktail like a bloody mary, plan accordingly.

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Artisanal
2 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10016

[prima]

Thanks for all your suggestions. My friend ended up loving the Breslin.

I'm keeping the rest of your suggestions for my next visit to NYC. ;-)

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The Breslin
20 W 29th St, New York, NY 10001