Brunch at Lilla Cafe

****UPDATE - Lilla Cafe has Closed. 6/3/15****


More Brunch! There are a ton of new places all of a sudden, and I want to check them all out! Last weekend I went to Lilla Cafe (126 Union St., between Hicks St. and Columbia St., 718-855-5700) with a friend and had a really lovely experience. We sat in the backyard, next to a pretty little garden and at one point, the chef came out to cut some fresh herbs! They got lots of points for that! We ordered coffee and juice and relaxed in the breeze.

We started out with the Panzanella Salad, with chunks of bread, cucumber, tomato, roasted red pepper, calamata olives, red onions and capers in a balsamic dressing. It was delicious, with the Mediterranean flavors mingling, the briny capers bursting through and the bread making it dense and substantial. Quite good.



I went with the Egg Sandwich on Foccacia, with cheese and bacon and a small side salad. This was also really good. The bread wasn't too "bread-y" but rather nicely herbed and toasted. The portions were well balanced and made for a satisfying dish.



My friend ordered the Huevos Rancheros with refried beans and spicy tomatoes. She said it was fairly spicy and very tasty, although it could have used a little sprig of something green, or perhaps some avocado for some color. The eggs were well poached too, no runny whites at all. In addition to the beans was a side of cheesy grits. Always a plus!



All in all it was a great experience. Our server was attentive but not intrusive and the menu had a number of enticing options. The menu changes every eight weeks or so, and I'm eager to go back and try their dinner. I hope they make it - that spot has had such bad luck!

Brunch at Broken English

I went with some friends recently to Broken English, (68 Bergen St., between Smith & Court Streets, 718-488-3906), one of the newest spots to open up in Cobble Hill, and got a chance to check out their brunch menu. It's a pretty big space, with tables on the sidewalk as well (they need some kind of barrier to separate diners from pedestrians), with mis-matched chairs, exposed brick, and lots of black. We were all a bit disappointed with the offerings, as only three items on the menu were very Brunch-y/Breakfast-y. The service was a bit jumbled too, as it took a few requests for the waiter to bring us milk for our coffee.

I got the Eggs Benedicts (sic) with Prosciutto on Country Bread. The meat was good - slightly thick, well cured and fairly salty. There was only one slice of bread though, and that was chewy and tough to cut with the knife. The eggs were nicely poached and the Hollandiase sauce was good. However, I wasn't a fan of the potatoes, (there was some confusion since the menu listed hash browns, baked hash browns and home fries, but I think all three were the same thing), as they weren't crispy enough.



I shared the eggs and an order of French Toast with my husband. The French Toast was OK, kinda what you might make at home. Thin slices of bread (and only two pieces at that), eggy and fried, with a smattering of fruit on top. Kinda lame.



The only other breakfast-y Brunch item was an Eggs Any Style dish. None of us got that so I can't say how it is, but all in all we were kinda disappointed. Not outraged or anything, but not impressed. I think their dinner menu is better; I walked by one night and saw a delicious-looking chicken dish, so I'll try them again, but not for Brunch. At least for a while.

Brunch at Brooklyn Label

It seems like Brooklyn Label (180 Franklin St., at the corner of Java St., 718-389-2806) has gone through a lot in the last few years. From solid neighborhood spot to mediocrity and back again to reliably excellent Brunch food. I went recently with a friend to see if all the rumors were true. I'm happy to report that it came through on all the hype. The menu was enormous, which made it difficult to choose. So many options - Ricotta Pancakes with fruit, Granola & Yoghurt, various Southwest-inspired egg dishes. Phew.

I settled on the Borderline Benedict - two poached eggs on top of chorizo, cushioned by blue-corn bread muffins. The blue-corn bread was slightly sweet and provided a nice contrast to the spicy meat and creamy, salty Hollandaise sauce. There was a large, quarter-sized piece of eggshell in my eggs that I unfortunately bit into, but it's a testament to the tastiness of the overall dish that I got over that shock and went on to finish my meal. The egg-whites were a touch runny too, but that blue-corn bread...Mmmmmm. There was also a slab of hash brown/potato pancake on the side, but that was neither here nor there.



My friend ordered the Cornmeal Waffle topped with poached eggs and gravy. It's a bland looking meal, all beige and yellow, but it was quite tasty. The waffle was very thick, but a nice change from the regular batter waffles. It was not any less filling though, and half-way through becomes a bit overwhelming. Perhaps it would have been better to share and compliment with a side of fruit.



Brooklyn Label proudly serves Stumptown Coffee, as well as a lovely assortment of juices & teas (Passionfruit Mango Iced Tea, Watermelon Juice), and has tables outside on the sunny sidewalk. A nice and solid neighborhood joint that's worth the trip from other parts of Brooklyn.

Brunch at The Brooklyn Public House

Brooklyn Public House (247 DeKalb Ave., between Vanderbilt & Clermont, 347-227-8976) is an Irish pub, complete with Van Morrison on the stereo, wallpaper in cream & burgundy and Irish flags scattered about. There's exposed brick, hanging flower pots, and red leather booths that add to the homey and cozy quality of the space. The Sunday papers are available for patrons to peruse while dining, and there's seating in the bar area or in a separate room in the rear. On this visit, my friend and I sat in the window and enjoyed the sunshine in what felt like our own private nook.

I was tempted by the Pumpkin Pancakes and found them to be quite good. They were fluffy and moist, with a subtle pumpkin flavor that did not overwhelm. I thought the few lettuce leaves on the side an afterthought, and wished instead I'd had some slices of apples or a few berries. The maple syrup seemed real though, but that minor change would improve the situation greatly.



I also got a side of bacon with my pancakes. The strips were meaty and nicely cooked, but I found them to be a bit bland. Something more smoky or spicy would have been tastier and would have provided a nice counterpoint to the sweet pancakes.



My friend chose to get the Crabcake Eggs Benedict with Roasted Red Pepper Sauce. (Look at her awesome multi-colored sweater in the background!). This dish does not look appetizing to me. The red pepper sauce looks too neon and weird. The crabcakes were good though - dense, moist and flavorful, as were the potatoes - nice and crisp, although they needed some more seasoning. Again, the three limp leaves of lettuce was forgettable. Either don't give me any, or give me a handful and some balsamic and call it a side salad.



It was a decent Brunch, and I'm interested to see what they do for dinner, but I'm not about to rush back there. Anybody been and want to let me know how it was? It might just be a better bet for beers - they've got 20+ on tap and maybe twice that in bottles.

Brunch at The Farm on Adderly

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I had dinner at The Farm on Adderley (1108 Cortelyou Road, between Rugby & Argyle Roads, 718-287-3101) back in the early fall and loved it, so I was excited to see what their Brunch was all about. I went with a friend to celebrate her birthday, and ended up bumping into other friends waiting for a table at the bar. It's a central spot in the neighborhood, and crazy-crowded during those prime Brunch times! We got a cozy table for two at the front in the window, so it was bright and semi-private, as there were only two tables up there - it's the rear of the restaurant that has the majority of tables. We settled in and placed our orders.

I picked the Poached Eggs & Grits with cheddar grits and sauteed escarole. I was pretty disappointed with this dish. The eggs were so undercooked, there was raw egg-white pooling in the grits. I hate that! The grits were nice and cheesy and the escarole flavorful and tender, but the eggs just made everything yucky. They started out looking good though.



I also got a side of bacon which was OK. It was a bit greasy, which overwhelmed the meat's
flavor.



My friend ordered well though. She got the Sausage & Eggs with one housemade breakfast sausage, scrambled eggs, home fries and salad. The sausage were excellent - succulent, savory with herbs and substantial. The home fries were OK - I prefer mine crispier, but the onions were a good addition and the eggs were nicely done.



She also got an order of the Chocolate Brioche with Sea Salt & Butter which was a bit on the dry side. I liked the juxtaposition of the sweet chocolate and the salt though, and the thick slices made it easy to share.



All in all it was a nice brunch. Next time I'll make sure to ask for my poached eggs to be well-done or something. The food is made with quality ingredients and it's fairly priced at $7 - $9 per entree.

Brunch at Press 195

Everything aligned over the weekend and resulted in a delicious Brunch in a backyard garden with the sun shining. Yay! I'm keeping my fingers crossed that we'll finally have some real Spring! So, yeah, Press 195 (195 5th Avenue, between Union St. & Berkeley Pl., 718-857-1950) has the cutest garden area out back that has a whole bunch of tables, including one really big picnic table that could seat 8. We headed straight back there, plopped ourselves in the sun and surveyed the menu. Holy Panini! There are a million to choose from (OK, 40 hot panini to choose from, and a handful of cold pressed, lightly toasted sandwiches). I went with the #31 - Turkey, crispy bacon, Monterey Jack, tomato, chipotle mayonnaise and guacamole. Mmmmm! It was perfectly spicy, so flavorful, so crispy and crunchy. The slices of cucumber were a little underwhelming - more vinegar & peppercorns please! But that panini...delish!



The boyfriend got #21 - Turkey & Fontina cheese with a cranberry and roasted pear chutney. This was good too, but so sweet in comparison to my savory & spicy pick. It was hard to really pay it proper attention. Great idea with the chutney though, right? And really, anything with melted cheese is going to be good.



The waitstaff were all friendly and competent, and we saw some salads being delivered to nearby tables that were HUGE. Definitely interested in going back and trying one of them. So, now that the warm weather is coming, head over to Press 195 to hang out in the backyard and eat some delicious panini. They even have dessert panini with nutella and banana! P.S. Hi Gina!

Mexican Brunch at Papacitos

I love Greenpoint. I especially love walking around and exploring, which is what I got to do last weekend during the wonderful Spring-like weather, and along the way I developed a hankering for Mexican. Luckily, there are a number of options along Manhattan Avenue, and we ended up at Papacitos (999 Manhattan Ave., between Green & Huron, 718-349-7292), a fun, loud, colorful spot that offers "Mexican street food in Brooklyn".

We started out with some Chips & Guac (naturally). The chips were greasy, and some weren't cooked all the way, but I liked how thick they were, and super crunchy. The guacamole was SPICY!!! It was chunky too, with red onions, green peppers and lots of Jalapeño. Whoo! It was good though; I kept going back for more.



My boyfriend ordered the The Papa Benny with Poached Eggs, Picadas Stuffed “ Mesca cake” with Black Bean, Chorizo, Chipotle Hollandaise & Avocado Pico De Gallo from the Brunch menu. The eggs were perrrrr-fectly poached! Not a runny bit in sight. The Mesca cake was delicious, the chorizo provided a touch of spice and the sauces were strong and flavorful. Yum! And look at that gorgeous presentation of all that color in the orange bowl on top of the blue plate.



I decided to get two tacos, one with Tilapia and one with Carne Asada. The tilapia was tender and flaky and so tasty with a little fresh-squeezed lime juice. The carne asada was served in plentiful cubes, flavorful and not at all tough. Both were topped with a dollop of sour cream, chunks of tomatoes and a sprinkle of cilantro and served in two, small corn tortillas.



I liked Papacitos, although their new stereo system was not working properly (so I was told) and the bass was pumping so loudly I developed a headache during our meal. Hopefully they'll figure that out soon, I'm really curious about their dinners. Anyone been?

Brunch at Provini

I met up with a friend in Park Slope recently for Brunch, but the place I wanted to try turned out to be just a bar, so we went wandering around and lucky for us, found Provini (1302 8th Avenue, at the corner of 13th St., 718-369-2154). From the folks behind Bar Tano and Bar Toto, comes another cozy pressed-tin ceiling, wood bar eatery serving satisfyingly hearty & solid dishes. Light pours in through the front windows, and a large leather banquet lines one wall set up with tables for two.

I had a hard time choosing between an egg dish or a panini, but settled on the Black Forest Ham & Gruyere Panini with side salad. It was delicious. A substantial amount of ham was layered with cheese and grilled to perfection on delightfully crusty bread. The salad provided a nice, clean balance.



My friend ordered the Mushroom & Gruyere Fritatta which she described as "excellent" with "perfectly balanced tastes". Slices of the same crusty bread as in my panini were served alongside.



I also had a cappucino which was really good. The meal was priced very reasonably, our server was attentive and friendly and the space quietly elegant. I'm glad to know Park Slope is starting to get better dining options!

Brunch at Five Leaves

I've said it many times, Brunch may very well be my most favorite meal of the day/week. So many ways to have both savory & sweet flavors. Coffee is usually involved. Also eggs. And so, we made our way to Five Leaves (18 Bedford Ave., at the corner of Lorimer & Nassau, 718-383-5345) for their breakfast fare (having really enjoyed dinner there about a year ago). The amiable host greeted us warmly and seated us at the bar to wait for a table to become available.



We sat and sipped our delicious (and expertly made) lattes while listening to the first album by The Cure.



My boyfriend and I split two dishes, like we usually do, to maximize the taste experience, and to achieve a good balance of the savory and sweet flavors. I started with my half of the Fresh Sage Scrambled Organic Egg Sandwich served on a Panino Roll with Aged Cheddar Cheese. It was terrific. The sage was subtle yet strong, with flavorful eggs, a light & flaky panino roll and strong cheese.



We also split an order of the Ricotta Pancakes served with Honeycomb Butter, Blueberries, Strawberries, Sliced Banana and 100% real Maple Syrup. These were incredibly light, not very sweet, a bit tangy with a face made out of fruit and rich honeyed butter. They were perfectly browned and altogether wonderful.



I love this place. The food is wonderful, the details are attended to and the atmosphere is cozy and comfortable.

Brunch at Provence en Boite

Yuck. The meal I had at Provence en Boite (263 Smith St., at the corner of Degraw St., 718-797-0707) was one of The Most Disappointing. Ever. I had heard bad things, but decided to give it a try, and they are one of only a few spots open in the Carroll Gardens/Cobble Hill area before 11am. Never again! We started out with lattes. One was lukewarm, one was cold. How do you make a cold latte??? We asked them to make another, and that came back warm, but both were tasteless, watery, $5 cups of yuck that neither of us finished.



I ordered an Omelette with Goat Cheese and Spinach. It was a huge portion, with a strange bright orange liquid oozing out of the seams. It was overcooked, and the proportions were off. Each bite did not contain equal amounts of each ingredient; there wasn't enough spinach, and the potatoes on the side were mushy and tasteless as well.



My boyfriend got the Country Breakfast, two poached eggs on country bread and a side of the same mushy potatoes. The eggs came on the smallest slice of bread you've ever seen. The eggs were decently poached, but the hollandaise sauce tasted like it came out of a can, and the proportions with the eggs and that bread were awful.



So, boo. The waiter was friendly enough, but the owner was screeching at everyone and trying to control everything behind the counter, in a very unproductive, inefficient way. I've decided to never eat here again - too much money for not very good food. MAYBE I'll stop in for a croissant because they do make those well.

Brunch at Sheep Station

A long, meandering walk led us to Sheep Station (149 4th Avenue, corner of Douglass St., (718) 857-4337) one recent afternoon, so we popped in for a late brunch and enjoyed the quiet empty before dinner, and soaked up the long shadows of the afternoon sun. It's a corner spot, so there are windows everywhere - on either side of the bar and along the front, with small wooden tables lined up opposite the bar, and a room in back to accommodate overflow during busy times. We ordered a couple of beers and settled in.

I ordered the BLT, made with thick-cut bacon & garlic mayo on toasted whole wheat bread. A nice little side salad accompanied the sandwich. The bacon was a bit too crispy, but still flavorful, and the garlic mayo brought everything together in a wonderful way. I loved it!



My boyfriend ordered the Meat Pie with mashed potatoes, minted peas and gravy. The slight minty flavor of the peas was surprisingly nice, the mashed potatoes were excellent and the flaky crust of the pie made a perfect container for the tender pieces of meat and veggies loaded up inside.



I really like Sheep Station - a nice, neighborhood joint with good food and a wide selection of beers and cocktails. I'll definitely be back to try the dinner menu.

Brunch at Buttermilk Channel #4

After a late Saturday night, I wasn't about to fool around with a new brunch spot. I needed to know I was going to eat well and have a good experience. So I headed over to Buttermilk Channel (524 Court St. at Huntington St., 718-852-8490). It's just so good, I knew it would perk me up. After a short wait, two seats opened at the bar which we snagged fast. It didn't take long to figure out what I wanted either - the Eggs Huntington, a short stack of pancakes and a side of homemade breakfast sausages. We got some coffee, a latte for me and regular for him, and our complimentary mimosas and watched the hustle and bustle from our cozy perch.

The Eggs Huntington are named for the cross street at which Buttermilk Channel is located. Poached eggs (perfectly done, btw) on top of a flaky & moist buttermilk biscuit and country ham, topped with fine hollandaise sauce and served with a small side salad. It's absolutely wonderful.



The Buttermilk Pancakes are also perfect. They're light, fluffy and slightly moist and served with real maple syrup & fresh sweet cream butter. I find them divine, with just a hint of powdered sugar sprinkled on top.



The Breakfast Sausages are no joke, either. They keep changing slightly from visit to visit, these were made with dried pear and were spicier than I've had them. They're also juicy and tender and taste amazing when some of the maple syrup gets too close!



If you haven't been here, you need to. They're Brunch menu is one of the best around. The wait staff is also pleasant, friendly and helpful and the space is bright and cheery, just what you want on a Sunday morning (they don't serve Brunch on Saturdays).

Brunch at River Barrel

I read about River Barrel (160 Franklin Ave. at Kent St., 718-389-8881) on Greenpointers when it first opened about a year ago and have had it on my list ever since. I finally made it over there recently for Brunch. It's in a great corner space with huge windows that drench the place in sunlight during Brunch. There's a cool chandelier in the center of the ceiling made up of what looks like water glasses, nice exposed brick walls and a tin ceiling that should be a nicer shade (copper or reddish instead of matte brown). Scanning the comments about the place, I saw a lot of complaints about the service, however our server was quite attentive & friendly, and the food came out in good time. The music was fun too - sort of an 80's mix, but with songs rarely heard (Billy Ocean & Bonnie Raitt anyone?).



I chose the River Barrel Sardou, poached eggs on an English Muffin with shaved artichokes and creamed spinach. It looks kind of intense, but was marvelous with the flavors of the artichokes and the sweet spinach mingling. The eggs were expertly poached and runny. The side of potatoes was ok - I prefer mine crispier.



My boyfriend got the Eggs Benedict with Smoked Salmon. The salmon was very smoky tasting which kind of overpowered the dish. The Hollandaise Sauce was good though - often where this dish goes wrong.



We also got a side of the Applewood Smoked Bacon - three thick strips of meat nicely done.



I liked River Barrel a lot, and would like to go back for dinner and drinks sometime. It seems like it'd be a cozy spot in the evening.

Brunch at Building on Bond

Walking around on a recent sunny Sunday, I found myself at Building on Bond with a bit of an appetite. The late afternoon sun poured in through the windows and while it was busy, there were a few empty tables scattered throughout the two rooms. The tall tables and stools accomodated a party of four with a stroller and at the two-tops near the windows single diners sat with their computers or books. I ordered a Veggie Burger, made with lentils, sunflower seeds and carrots. It was a substantial patty, moist and chock full of yummy ingredients, served on a soft but not mediocre bun.



I also got an order of the homemade chips, which were thicker than most, lightly salted and tasty. Not as awesome as I'd hoped, but a nice change from fries.



The service is friendly and attentive and the space lovely to sit in. Great for a simple meal on a quiet day.

Brunch at The People's Republic of Brooklyn

** Austria Wine Month started a few weeks ago and continues until November 22. Restaurants in Brooklyn and Manhattan will be offering special prix fixe menus, pairings and select rare Austrian wines by the glass. Boozy NYC has the complete list.**

Some technical difficulties have delayed today's post. Thank you for being patient!

Intrigued by the menu hung in the window, I ventured with some friends to The People's Republic of Brooklyn (247 Smith St., between Douglass and Degraw, 718-522-6100, in the former Sapodilla space) the other morning to check it out. As we walked in, we were told we were the second group of "victims" for brunch that day. Har har! It was a gorgeous morning and there was no way I was staying in the dark dining room, so we were escorted out back to the sun-drenched yard. We ordered coffee and orange juice. When the coffee arrived sans juice, I was told the juice would be a little bit longer. "Oh", I wondered, "Is it fresh squeezed"? "Um, it's going to be a little longer" was the mysterious reply. Weird. I was getting nervous about what the food would be like.

I was soon reassured. My friend ordered the Fritatta with Spinach & Mushrooms and an Eggplant Remoulade on top. It was quite tasty, with the contrasting flavors of the creamy eggs and the tangy remoulade.



My boyfriend and I split a savory dish and a sweet dish. I started with an order of three-eggs, over-easy, with bacon and potatoes. The eggs arrived sunny-side up, but were cooked well, with no runny whites. The potatoes were well-spiced with herbs and peppers mixed in, making them more wet than crispy, but the portion was small. We also were only given one slice of bacon. It was thick-cut, but it would've been nice to get two slices.



For our sweet dish, we chose the Banana & Chocolate Chip Pancakes. These were perfect. Just the right amount of chips were added for a touch of chocolate, along with slices of banana. They were fluffy and a good size as well. A few berries on the side added a refreshing burst of juice and clean sweetness.



The place was empty when we arrived at 11am, just as they opened, but it was packed by the time we left. There was also live music inside at that point; a woman on the Cajon and a guy on Guitar, playing a lively Samba. They've only been open a few weeks, and still have a few kinks to work out, but all in all it was a nice meal. Especially with that backyard!