One must do meal in NYC
So, i'm going to manhattan in december for a thursday-sunday. I am hoping to be able to get friday lunch at momofuku ko, although if that doesn't work out, are there lunches that are of comparable magnitude? I love the idea of a ridiculous, 18 course, 3.5 hour lunch. So far all the places i have checked, like eleven madison, tabla, etc. pare down their offerings for lunch. Now on to brunch. I have been to Jane, Penelope, and Spotted Pig for recent brunches. loved jane's benedicts, loved spotted pig's burger, loved penelope's quaintness. i obviously have no problem waiting in line, so combining the three places, is there one must-have brunch in the city with perfect cocktails, great food, and awesome atmosphere? now any other recs for small neighborhoody places for dinners? thanks!
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8 Comments:
This isn't quite what you wanted but your post got me thinking...I'm based on the west coast but my company HQ is on Broadway across from Madison Sq. Park, I dream about a shake from the Shake Shack and a slice of Sicilian from Bravo pizza...nothing like it in So Cal
uselesscamper at 8:40PM on 10/27/08
Per Se serves its regular tasting menu at lunch. That's probably your best bet since you'll be here for a long weekend, and many places don't offer weekend lunch service. A 5-6 course tasting menu, even if pared back from dinner, also includes amuses and palate cleansers, and petit fours, so I wouldn't discount the extravagance. Although not much is on par with Momofuku Ko at lunch.
Best cocktails for brunch? Most places don't have a liquor license, so I assume you mean a bloody mary or mimosa? Best bloody is at Devin Tavern, they squeeze their tomato juice fresh, and also grate fresh horseradish. For a more nouveau, quirky take on blood marys, try Prune. They have a long list of variations and give you a small beer chaser. For great brunch food and great brunch atmosphere, I'm not sure what you are looking for.
kathryn at 9:12PM on 10/27/08
> Most places don't have a liquor license, so I assume you mean a bloody mary or mimosa
By which I meant, "Some places don't have a liquor license, surprisingly. What are you looking for in a brunch cocktail? I assume you mean a bloody mary or mimosa."
kathryn at 9:16PM on 10/27/08
A good bloody is always welcome, but i was thinking something a little more inspired with infused liquors. Jane, for instance, had a great cocktail with sauvignon blanc, gin, fresh thyme, tarragon, and lime juice. per se is definitely a great suggestion to look into, thanks for that. in terms of brunch atmosphere, something comfy, not too chic, and big portions. basically, the perfect place to nurse a hangover with a little hair of the dog. I am recently out of college after all.
countanders at 12:15AM on 10/28/08
Egg in Williamsburg (N 5th between Bedford and Berry) has really terrific food but the service isn't great...but they're always packed despite this, which is a testament to how excellent their brunches are. Unfortunately, no cocktails at Egg. And it's a bit of a cliché at this point, but Clinton St. Baking Co. on the LES does do one of the city's best brunches (and there are always long lines).
producestories at 8:50AM on 10/28/08
I love cocktails but not usually first thing in the morning but I'm guessing places with more creative cocktails might have more lunch-ish fare on the menu.
For some more interesting options, and great food, Clinton Street Baking Company is a great choice (menu is on menupages.com).
Devin Tavern, as I mentioned previously, has some nice non-bloody mary choices:
http://www.devintavern.com/menus/brunch
Cookshop also has an interesting list:
http://www.cookshopny.com/200_menus/205_wine_glass_cocktail.htm
Jane's sister restaurants, The Neptune Room, and The Smith, may also be worth a look (also on menupages.com). The Smith has a long cocktail list with a handful of classics appearing.
kathryn at 10:09AM on 10/28/08
Cookshop is a great brunch. They have my favorite huevos rancheros in the city, and their baked french toast is something I crave(they have it on saturdays only). It's got a lovely sunny and modern atmosphere that's very pleasant. It's my consistent favorite at the moment. You should get a reservation.
Public is also very good. They have great food, very cool decor, and a solid drink list: http://www.public-nyc.com/drinks_lp.html It's also best if you have a res.
Freeman's is also a great brunch spot. Very solid food (they have my favorite artichoke dip ever) and great fun/freaky hunting lodge-esque decor, and they have an excellent drink list: http://www.menupages.com/restaurantdetails.asp?areaid=0&restaurantid=6015&neighborhoodid=0&cuisineid=0 You can't make a reservation, so you'll have to wait if you don't go early enough.
empath at 8:36AM on 10/31/08
Checkout the updated Freemans brunch cocktail list here:
http://nymag.com/daily/food/2008/10/michael_citarella_unveils_his.html
kathryn at 2:18PM on 10/31/08