Our Favorite NY Spots to Brunch Right Now
With leisurely summer evenings and extended vacations behind us, everyone is, once again, working for the weekend. So what better way to kick off a Saturday or Sunday in New York than with a seriously scrumptious and (preferably boozy) brunch? And these following restaurants are going above and beyond boring Eggs Benedict and hum-drum French Toast, with their late morning/early afternoon offerings, like Andrew Carmellini’s new pasta joint, Bar Primi, in the East Village, and Salvation Taco’s Egg Burritos and Pumpkin Tres Leches courtesy of April Bloomfield.
Russ & Daughters Café
100 years after their family first opened New York’s most seminal, Lower East Side appetizing shop, fourth generation owners, Niki Russ Federman and Josh Russ Tupper, decided to bring their beloved, Jewish food into the 21st century. This adjunct, seriously stylish café serves modern interpretations of smoked fish classics, such as The Shtetl; an open-faced sandwich of smoked sable, goat cream cheese and tomatoes, as well as Babka French Toast with sour cream and berries, and even a Caviar selection for high-rollers, delivered with blini, crème fraiche and other accoutrements.
Read MoreHamilton’s Soda Fountain and Luncheonette
Situated in a historic building in leafy Greenwich Village, this two-month-old eatery pays homage to 1940’s-era diners and ice cream parlors. Order Chocolate Phosphates, Cherry Lime Rickeys, Vanilla Egg Creams, Ginger Fizzes, Ruby Smash Lactates and Pineapple Puffs (flavored soda water with whipped cream) from a vintage, 20th-century fountain, and retro breakfast favorites, such as Western Omelets, Lox, Egg and Onion Sandwiches, Fresh Fruit and Cottage Cheese, or a short stack of Pancakes, dotted with chocolate chips.
Read MoreBar Primi
Andrew Carmellini’s newest, pasta-centric project is more than just a great dinner spot; Bar Primi also offers an excellent, affordable lunch and brunch. And yes, you can even order noodles during the early morning hours… try the Breakfast Spaghetti, topped with kale, pancetta and a poached egg, the Campanelle, dotted with Jersey corn and maitake mushrooms, or the Spinach Cavatelli, blanketed with veal bianco and nutty Piave cheese.
Read MoreSalvation Taco
For a fun, Mexican-inspired brunch, look no further than April Bloomfield’s Salvation Taco, located inside of the Pod 39 Hotel. Start with snacks, such as freshly fried tortilla chipos and fresh Tomatillo Salsa, followed by Mushroom and Egg Burritos, Moroccan Lamb Tacos, or Brisket Barbacoa Tortas, accompanied by flavorful Margaritas, Sangrias, or Palomitas — vodka and grapefruit soda with vanilla salt and lime. You can even order your brunch to-go, and enjoy that Spiced Pumpkin Tres Leches with whipped rum crema while cuddled up in the comfort of your very own bed.
Read MoreMaharlika
Serving contemporary Filipino cuisine, this East Village favorite offers an especially unique brunch menu. Think a shareable platter of Pampangan-Style Sizzling Sisig; hand-chopped pork belly, cheek, ears and snout cooked three ways, Fried Chicken deposited on a Purple Yam Waffle, and laked with compound anchovy-bagoong butter and caramelized macapuno syrup, Tang or Coconut Water instead of juice or coffee, and highly authentic (not to mention slithery) side dishes, such as fresh-from-the-can Spam.
Read MoreFung Tu
Co-owned by Nom Wah Tea Parlor’s Wilson Tang, and chef Jonathan Wu of Per Se, Fung Tu serves decidedly modern interpretations of old school Chinese food. And they recently started offering Sunday brunch, with creative cocktails such as the “Bing Bing,” cold brewed iced coffee, Luxardo maraschino-infused absinthe and coffee liqueur, and inventive dishes, like Masa Scallion Pancakes (served with cilantro salad, toasted cashews, pressed tofu and smoked chicken) and China-quiles – crunchy yucca chips smothered in Sichuan pork sauce on top of Chinese steamed eggs.
Read MoreMeadowsweet
Back in his old Dressler digs in Williamsburg (he helped earn the former, fine-dining spot one of Brooklyn’s first Michelin stars), Polo Dobkin is now serving seasonally-inflected, Mediterranean-styled fare at Meadowsweet. An appealing brunch menu includes confectioners sugar-dusted Doughnuts, Three-Egg Omelets with piquillo peppers and chorizo, Pain Perdu with Stumptown coffee ice cream, and $6 cups of “Brunch Punch,” served in elegant, crystal glasses.
Read MoreLittleneck Outpost
This Greenpoint spin-off of Littleneck’s popular, Gowanus seafood shack specializes in casual, all-day fare, such as Mini Breakfast Sandwiches with gin-cured Arctic Char, crème fraiche and dill oil, Arugula Quinoa with soft eggs and boquerones, and of course, a perfect, Maine-style Lobster Roll, lightly dabbed with mayo and served with a handful of house-brined pickles.
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