Minetta Tavern/ Locanda Verde or Maialino for Vegetarian Brunch

[chadradchad]

Hello All!

Going to be in town this weekend and was wondering which would be best for a group with a vegetarian who loves pancakes/french toast.

I currently have reservations at Minetta. Is it too meaty?!

Was thinking about Locnada or Mailalino.

Thanks!

[DavyTheFatBoy]

This vegetarian would choose Locanda Verde. But still don't expect a huge number of choices. Carmellini likes his meat.

[chadradchad]

We went with Minetta Tavern and it was a hit for everyone! The meat eaters and vegetarians rejoiced. Started off empty, but PACKED when we left.

[kathryn]

It depends if you want:
a) pancakes and french toast + a bunch of other vegetarian options
b) pancakes or french toast, and don't care about other vegetarian options

I love Minetta Tavern's brunch, their French Toast is very good. No pancakes though. They do have other vegetarian items on the menu, like two salads, oatmeal, fruit, and three egg dishes without meat.

The pastry basket at Locanda Verde is excellent, as is the sheep's milk ricotta with burnt orange toast. Stay away from the frittata, it's kind of boring. The pancakes are good BUT you have to LOVE lemon curd. It is a very lemon-y dish. French toast is good, not my favorite in town, and you have to really like almonds (or at least not hate them). So it depends if the vegetarian is picky or not as none of their pancakes, waffles, or french toast are of the "standard" variety.

They also have polenta waffles (haven't tried yet), and I think the vegetarian could also order the Wood-Fired Uova Al Forno with corona beans, mozzarella and black tuscan kale, which is good. My favorite egg dish, though, has meat: Uovo Modenese with cotechino hash, spinach and tomato hollandaise.

I don't think Maialino is what you want: they serve a ton of pastries, and pancakes, but no French Toast.

Another good option would be Union Square Cafe. They have excellent huckleberry pancakes. I also liked but did not love the brioche French Toast with apples on it, but it was still a good dish, I just happen to think Minetta's is better. Great service, pleasant atmosphere, and you can linger for a while.

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Minetta Tavern
113 MacDougal St, New York, NY 10012

Union Square Cafe
21 East 16th St., New York, NY 10003

Locanda Verde
377 Greenwich St, New York, NY 10013

[chadradchad]

Oh you Chowhounds! You always make it so difficult. I think I may just stay with my reservations to Minetta. The French Toast sounds amazing!
Are the pastries good at Minetta?

[kathryn]

The pastries at Minetta are from Balthazar Bakery. Their croissant is only OK. I love their fruit foccacia, the cannele, and the chocolate brioche loaf.

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Balthazar
80 Spring St, New York, NY 10012

[sam1]

i love minetta but brunch is overpriced and not really a good example of their food offerings...its a meat palace.

locanda verde is your best bet...their baker is excellent. the baked goods for brunch are excellent.

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Minetta Tavern
113 MacDougal St, New York, NY 10012

Locanda Verde
377 Greenwich St, New York, NY 10013

[chadradchad]

sounds great! thanks. Yeah I was shocked by how much $$ everything was at Minetta!

[chadradchad]

Only super early reservations. Is it hard to walk in?

[kathryn]

Locanda Verde is usually pretty busy, so I wouldn't try to walk in with a group.

[kathryn]

Brunch AND dinner are both expensive at Minetta.