brunchkill

Location: 92 Calyer St, at Franklin, Greenpoint

Menu: http://www.calyerbrooklyn.com/brunch-2/

Brunch Hours: Sat & Sun, 11a-3p

My Rating: 

Long Story Short: Since this place is a sister restaurant to Anella, I would have to say run, don’t walk.  The food is creative and amazing.  Can get a little pricey if you let it, because you’ll want to literally try everything, but if you can control yourself… more power to you.  Oh and the bloody was amazing and garnished with cornichons. yum.

Long Story Long: 

I was super-psyched about this place for the one week in between an AMAZING dinner here with Monster and P-nasty et al and our scheduled brunch here last saturday.  Sadly, M & P had to bail, but luckily I had my long walk into Greenpoint (and some gaga) to help me deal with my lame passive-aggressiveness and change my attitude.  By the time I arrived at my destination, I was in a much more pleasant state of mind to meet my brunch companion – let’s call him Muse (mostly because the direct result of his urging/discipline/commitment to a monthly brunch date in 2012 is what served as my inspiration to start this blog up again…).

In any case, as a result of my dinner, I knew this to be a small-plates-sharing-type place.  And I am NOT good at sharing, especially during brunch.  Ask my siblings. Read the rest of this entry »

Location: 465 Court St @ Luquer, Carroll Gardens

Menu: http://www.frankspm.com/menumorning.html

Brunch Hours: Sat & Sun, 7am (wtf)– 3pm

My Rating:

Long Story Short: This place won me over almost instantly.  I love the vibe here, the bloody was excellent (but $11!!!)  and the food was wonderful – not as heavy or intense as the name may imply.  And though it was quite far from home, it was definitely worth the trip.  On the G.  That says something.  Food is not too pricey but cocktails… jeez.

Long Story Long:

What brought us here on this day – BFFF, Monster and I – was an article somewhere which claims this as one of the best sandwiches in the city.  After my experience at Good I was, needless to say, skeptical.  That fucking sandwich was AMAZING.

In any case, Monster loves this place and has wanted to take us here for ages.  This is odd considering he is a vegetarian but whatever.  The first thing I noted on the menu was “brunch punch”… intriguing.  Read the rest of this entry »

Location: 70 Grand St @ Wythe, Williamsburg

Menu: http://www.auroraristorante.com/menus.html#

Brunch Hours: Sat & Sun, 11am – 4pm, cash only

My Rating: 

Long Story Short: Nice menu, interesting cocktail menu ($7 for a regular bloody, $12 for XL), pretty garden out back.  There is a prix fixe for $15 which includes a bloody, mimosa or bellini and coffee (XL bloody not included).  Service was slow, especially at the bar – get it together, Aurora.

Long Story Long:

So, it had been several weeks since I had had brunch with BFFF for one reason or another (aka she started to run qualifying races for the NY Marathon on the weekends.  I am very proud of her for this, but at the same time it’s really starting to fuck with my weekend plans).  We were really excited to try this place as we had stumbled upon it on a walk one blustery winter afternoon, saw the amazing garden, and made a mental note to hold off on coming back until the weather was better.

We waited and waited for the right weekend, taunted by visions of just exactly how “XL” an “XL” bloody mary could be.  Finally, last Saturday, we were both free, the sun was shining and it was warm enough to eat outdoors – it was happening. Read the rest of this entry »

Location: 204 Grand St @ Bedford Ave, Williamsburg

Menu: http://baciny.com/frame_brunch.php

Brunch Hours: Sat & Sun, 12pm – 4pm

My Rating: 

Long Story Short: Majority of entrees under $10, lots of fun sounding omelettes and frittatas, also, this sounds ridiculous: Focaccia con nutella – Two layers of pizza bread with nutella. Yum!  All that and $5 bloodys.

Long Story Long:

Halloween is my absolute favorite holiday though I haven’t actually worn a costume in many, many years.  In my mind, there is much too much pressure to be clever – but I admire those who take the time and effort to go through all that.  Of course, I always get shit about this; i.e., “How can you love Halloween but not dress up, blah blah blah” -  so this year I let myself be persuaded to consider participating in a group costume of some sort if we could have brunch first to discuss.  I met my BFFF and our long-lost brunch buddy, The Filmmaker.  Oddly enough, he was the one pushing for the costume when, generally, I can count on him to be as much of a non-joiner as I am.  This will not do, I thought, and started scheming.  Step one, I chose a place with Italian food – Baci & Abbracci.  We got there around 2pm and there was literally no one else there – awesome to have the place to ourselves, but I generally shy away from empty restaurants.  It just seems like a bad sign.  My BFFF however, was starving (as usual) and flat-out refused to go elsewhere when food was so nearby.  Plus, she reasoned, we probably wouldn’t have to wait that long for service.  Good point…. Read the rest of this entry »

Location: 905 Lorimer St @ Bedford Ave, Williamsburg

Menu: http://lokalbistro.com/brunchmenu.htm

Brunch Hours: Sat & Sun, 11am – 4pm

My Rating: 

Long Story Short: $11.50 prix fixe includes coffee or tea & OJ.  Points for $4 bloodys, bellinis & mimosas.  Pretty standard, reliable – nothing earth-shattering, but overall a pleasant experience.

Long Story Long:

After a couple weekends of traveling, it was nice to be back in the hood, and whatever – I only realized the adorably appropriate name of this weekend’s location just now, so shut it.  In any case, this weekend also marked the return of another favorite part of the brunch experience… a Lost Saturday with my BFFF!  Yeah, yeah – we were pretty “lost” in the Hamptons together the weekend before, but somehow an LS just isn’t the same if we aren’t within stumbling distance of our respective abodes… Read the rest of this entry »

Location: 533 Grand St between Lorimer St & Union Ave, Williamsburg

Menu: http://www.lebarricouny.com/

Brunch Hours: Sat & Sun, 11am – 4pm

My Rating: 

Long Story Short: Tasty, ample entrees under $10. Great bloodys for $7, mimosas for $5, interesting signature cocktails.

Long Story Long:

For some reason, what always strikes me about Barricou is that it feels like it needs a backyard.  Instead, it has a lovely back room with couches and a gorgeous fireplace.  Great for the winter, not so much in the spring/summer with only a couple tables in the front window overlooking… Grand St.  But still, the food is really, really good and reasonably priced.  Fries are decent (though I remember then being better a couple months ago. Not sure what happened there), and the bloodys are fantastic.   Read the rest of this entry »

Location: 318 Grand St @ Havemeyer, Williamsburg

Menu: http://www.lodgenyc.com

Brunch Hours: Sat & Sun, 11:30am – 4pm

My Rating: 

Long Story Short: 2-for-1 HUGE bloody marys or mimosas for $7.  Plates $12 or under. Nice.

Long Story Long:

I would love to be impartial… but nothing… NOTHING beats 2 for 1 bloodys.  NOTHING.  That being said, they are lovely, complete with some luscious olives to tide you over while you wait to be served (just sayin’).   Read the rest of this entry »