Date:
Sunday, June 11, 2017
Location:
Hornblower Cruises
353 West Street, New York, NY, 10014
11Jun
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31May
Winston’s is a neighborhood Whisky and Wine bar in Rockville Centre. The Service is friendly and welcoming. The atmosphere is cozy and rustic, accompanied with dim lighting and hardwood floors.
Winston’s serves brunch on Sundays only from 11:30 to 4:00 p.m. All brunch items include fresh-baked pastries and bread and choice of fresh seasonal fruit, Winston’s side salad or home fries. And, for only $8 more, you can get unlimited bloody mary’s, mimosa’s & screwdrivers.
The food is tasty, hearty and reasonably priced. The brunch cocktails are decent, not watered down and reasonably priced. Overall, Winston’s is a fun, relaxed and affordable brunch in the Rockville Centre area.
Winston’s Whiskey & Wine Bar (Rockville Centre)
Address: 14 South Park Ave, Rockville Centre, NY 11570
Cuisine: American, Wine Bar
Website Here
1May
Scrolling through Instagram over the weekend, I ran across some delicious looking malted Praline pancakes that I just had to try. I found out that the pancakes were from “Sunday in Brooklyn“, a popular, three-story American restaurant by Atera alum Jaime Young
Since the hipster brunch spot is popular on the weekends, there was well over a hour wait for me to grab a seat for brunch. Nevertheless, I patiently waited so that I could taste their famous pancakes.
Overall, the pancakes were really good, that is, if you like rich, dessert-like pancakes for brunch. The sweet and savory pancakes were of an ample portion, making them a perfect option for the table to share.
During my visit, I also tried the Charred Avocado Toast, made with Charred Avocado Toast, Wheatgrass, Preserved Tomatoes, Pickled Onion, Sprouts. This happens to be one of the most creative and delicious versions of avocado toast I’ve tried to date. This is also a “must try”
Other popular items on the brunch menu includes the egg and sausage sandwich, made with Egg & Sausage, Gochujang Aioli, Crispy Potato, Cheddar, Brioche; as well as the Smoked Salmon grain bowl, Grain Bowl, Toasted Barley, Spicy Vegetables, Kale, Egg, Avocado, Sambal,
Overall, this cute, hipster brunch spot in Williamsburg is definitely worth a try.
Sunday in Brooklyn
348 Wythe Avenue Brooklyn , NY 11211
Cuisine: American, Brunch
Must Try: Malted Pancakes
Website Here
21Apr
I’m actually ashamed to admit that it took me this long to check out BLVD Bistro in Harlem. I’ve heard so many great things about the restaurant, all of which I have now confirmed are true. In fact, I’m going to go out on a limb and say that BLVD may be one of the best brunch restaurants in Harlem.
What’s not to love about this cozy restaurant, which is tucked away on the ground floor of a Harlem brownstone on the historic Lenox Avenue.
The ambiance is fun & relaxed, the food is delicious & fresh and the service is spectacular. I especially appreciated the hostess offering us complimentary mimosas while we waited on our table. (These are the small gestures that keep customers coming back).
During my first visit to BLVD, my dining partner and I tried Shrimp and Grits, the Chicken Dinner (served with Collard Greens and Potato Salad) and a pitcher of mimosa.
Everything was delicious. The Shrimps were pleasantly large & tender and the cheesy grits/broth were flavorful. The Jalapeno gave the dish a little spicy kick.
The Collard Greens, made with smoked turkey, were well-seasoned and tasty, as was the Chicken, which was fried in a delicious crunchy batter.
Overall, I really enjoyed my first brunch at BLVD, I can’t wait to go back and try more.
Check out some pictures below.
BLVD Bistro (Harlem)
239 Lenox Avenue, New York, New York 10027
Cuisine: American, Southern
Website Here
17Apr
One of my favorite brunch combinations happens to be Chicken & Waffles. It is my theory that if a restaurant pays homage to this southern brunch favorite, then other deliciousness is sure to follow. Can you just smell the Mac & Cheese, Homemade Biscuits and Cheesy Grits? Scroll through to find the best Chicken & Waffles in NYC.
(Last Updated April 17, 2017)
11Apr
Last week, for a friend’s birthday, we decided to check out Angel of Harlem, a cute American restaurant with Latin and Caribbean influences, in Harlem. By word of mouth, I heard that the restaurant served a delicious and “lit” brunch, which after my experience last week, I can vouch, is accurate.
For starters, the food was fantastic, bursting with delicious flavors. All of the food had an appetizing presentation, especially the chicken and waffles, which everyone around us was ordering.
I ended up ordering the skirt steak, accompanied with eggs, sliced potatoes and this tasty spicy sauce. The steak was well-seasoned and was a good portion/quality for a brunch steak. My friend ordered the shrimp and grits, which were smothered in a delicious red based broth. This was also an excellent choice.
For an extra $20, you can opt for the bottomless brunch (i.e. Mimosas, Sangria or Rum Punch). My drink of choice was the rum punch, which was strong and delicious. Because the drink kept flowing, I felt like “I got my bang for my buck“.
As far as the crowd goes, it was a true black melting pot, a mixture of young professionals, singles, couples and a gay scene. The DJ kept us going! By 5 p.m. they had to lock the doors because the restaurant was at capacity.
Overall, this brunch was fantastic! The DJ was awesome, the ambiance and crowd was unpretentious/fun and the food was delicious. If you’re looking for a fun, local brunch party in Harlem, I recommend you try Angel of Harlem.
Check out some pictures below.
Angel of Harlem
Address: 2272 Frederick Douglass Boulevard, New York, NY, 10027
Cuisine: American, Caribbean
Website: Here
1Mar
If you will be in Astoria this weekend (or next), check out my updated guide to the best brunch spots in the Astoria, Queens. Trust me, you won’t be disappointed.
Enjoy!
-AR
28Feb
Yesterday, I was hanging out in Astoria and stopped at “Gastroteca” for a quick brunch bite at the bar. This rustic Italian restaurant, located on 34th Avenue, features a wide selection of modern Italian dishes and serves brunch daily! The restaurant also offers daily dinner specials and Happy Hour is served weekdays from 4 – 8pm.
While everything on the brunch menu looked delicious, and was decently priced, I ended up ordering the “Scampi & Grits” which was a large bowl of shrimp, sausage, tomato, peppers and polenta with two fried eggs, all served over grits. The combination was mouth-watering, savory and harmonious. Each ingredient was equally represented in the Scampi. The large chucks of sausage combined with the tender medium-sized shrimp and bite-sized pieces of sweet peppers was so good! The tomato-based broth, which brought the dish together, was flavorful and bursting with Italian flavor.
Of course, since I was being “fat”, in addition to the Scampi & Grits, I could not leave without trying the “Dusted Texas Toast”, which was three pieces of layered fried toast, stuffed with Nutella sprinkled with sugar. This combination was simply delicious. I especially enjoyed the flaky warm crust when dipped in the syrup. If you like sweet brunch items and/or Nutella, then the Dusted Texas Toast is a “must try” at Gastroteca.
Overall, Gastroteca was a fun and laid back brunch experience. Jeremy, the Bartender, was attentive, friendly and welcoming. He really set a perfect pace for my meal and I never felt rushed. The prices at Gastroteca were good and the portion sizes were above average for the price.
The rustic and quaint ambiance at Gastroteca makes it the perfect place for a trendy, Astoria brunch. Therefore, if you are in need of a new brunch destination in the area, then you should definitely check them out.
20Feb
Hash House A Go Go, which serves twisted farm food, is a restaurant that I hit up every time I’m in Chicago. Conveniently located in the Gold Coast neighborhood on State Street, the huge portion, fun atmosphere, beautiful presentation and good service will keep you coming back.
You’ve been warned, the food is on the “heavy” and “fattening” side but it’s worth it because everything is mouthwatering and delicious; making Hash House a Go Go a perfect cheat day meal. Overall, Hash House is a solid brunch option in Chicago. However, not to sound like a “New Yorker” but the only thing that could take this brunch “up a notch” would be a boozy brunch option.
Go for: Brunch
Must Try: Chicken and Waffles, Crab Cake Benedict
Check out some pictures from my last visit below:
Hash House A Go Go
Where: 1212 N State Street, Chicago, IL 60610
Cuisine: American, Brunch
Website Here
18Feb
Stanton Social is a collaboration by one of New York’s hottest teams of restaurant creators, celebrity Chef/Owner Chris Santos and Tao Group owner Rich Wolf. This chic and sexy, three-level restaurant on the Lower East Side is the perfect brunch spot to impress a date or your out-of-town friends. It’s one of the spots I took my best friend this summer while she was visiting NYC and where I held my birthday brunch this year.
For $25, you get a choice of 5 amazing cocktails, which are all fresh takes on the classic brunch cocktails. Check out a list of the delicious brunch cocktails below:
L.E.S. BLOODY MARY
Belvedere vodka, freshly juiced garden medley
BITTERSWEET MIMOSA
Moscato d’Asti, Campari, fresh OJ
STANTON SUNRISE
Solerno, blood orange juice, fresh lemon juice
POMEGRANATE-PEACH BELLINI
Pama liqueur, peach nectar
VIETNAMESE COFFEE
Finlandia, Kahlua, cold brew coffee, chocolate bitters
While all of the food at Stanton Social is amazing; below are the dishes I suggest you order during your next Brunch visit.
#1. You must try the French onion soup dumplings, which are one of Stanton Social’s best sellers. This unique dumpling dish is served in an escargot tray on skewers. The combination of the caramelized onions dumping fillings, topped with melted cheese and bread crumbs is definitely French Onion soup reincarnated.
#2. The pancakes are also a must try! My party tried the Oreo Cookie Pancakes as well as the Caramelized Banana Pancakes, which are made with candied pecans and served with vanilla brown butter and maple syrup. Both options were perfect and fluffy, with the Oreo Cookie Pancake being the sweeter option, requiring no syrup.
#3. Although our table was temped not to order the Social Mac & Cheese, we did anyways and boy we were happy we did! Made with housemade spicy Italian sausage & peppers, this dish is definitely a savory, cheesy addition to your brunch meal.
#4. The Crispy Hard Shell Fish Tacos are amazing! Made with creamy avocado and a spicy mango relish, these are a must try!
Overall, my dining partners and I absolutely loved our girls’ brunch at the Stanton Social. This is one of the few brunch restaurants where both the booze and the food were top-notch. In other words, this was a nice, mature boozy brunch option.
See pictures from my visits below:
Stanton Social (LES)
99 Stanton St., New York, NY
Cuisine: New American, Tapas
Brunch: Saturdays and Sundays from 11:30 a.m. until 4 p.m.
Brunch menu here
* This post was originally published on 9/13/16 and was last updated on 2/18/17.
