Saturday Brunch, NYC, Soho, Not too dear?

April 6, 2006 10:00 AM

Saturday Brunch, NYC, Soho, Not too dear?

Two years ago, I used to live on MacDougal & Houston ... just around the corner from the Angelika. Now I'm shacked up with the boyfriend in Long Island. Coming in this Saturday for a long leisurely brunch with a friend in that neighborhood and gasp! My favorite restaurant "Le Gamin" died! Before I suffer another anxiety attack, any suggestions? Need a reasonably priced, place to hang out, get brunch, maybe a latte or bloody mary ...? I can't really leave it up to the friend because she's a bit hopeless with this kind of stuff. I want to be around the Angelika because we're likely to go to a movie afterwards...

posted by eatdonuts to food & drink (28 comments total)

Sorry, obviously noho and area will work too... just a good vibe place. thanks!
posted by eatdonuts at 10:08 AM on April 6, 2006

I'm a fan of the Pink Pony on Ludlow. Nice vibe. Your standard fare of pancakes, omelettes etc.
posted by vacapinta at 10:10 AM on April 6, 2006

Jane Restaurant is good.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 10:15 AM on April 6, 2006 [1 favorite has favorites]

Also, there might be some ideas in my NYC brunch thread.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 10:15 AM on April 6, 2006 [1 favorite has favorites]

Brunch at the Cafe Colonial always works. Corner of Houston and Elizabeth. But you knew that right?
posted by R. Mutt at 10:17 AM on April 6, 2006

Public, on Elizabeth between Prince and Spring.

Barmarché, on the corner of Elizabeth and Spring.

Five Points, on Great Jones between Lafayette and the Bowery.
posted by nicwolff at 10:26 AM on April 6, 2006

Ditto on Public -- great cheese plate of local NYS cheeses.

My coworker swears by Essex, at the corner of Essex and Rivington (a bit further from the area you're looking).

And I have to admit I was disapointed the one time I brunched at Cafe Colonial.
posted by jrb223 at 10:38 AM on April 6, 2006

Agreed, Cafe Colonial has always been a bit too much hooplah in my opinion... but definitely thank you for the suggestion R. Mutt!

Does Barmarche have brunch? It looks like they don't.

It's a bit of a trek, but anyone eat at "Flea Market Cafe" near Avenue A?
posted by eatdonuts at 10:44 AM on April 6, 2006

Barmarché does have brunch. I'd also recommend Porcupine, on Prince Street.
posted by hsoltz at 11:07 AM on April 6, 2006

Unfortunately, Burrito Bar on Church is no more -- that was a whole-day affair. Yaffa on St. Mark's is good...
posted by AJaffe at 11:17 AM on April 6, 2006

Life Cafe on 10th and B. Brunch includes a bloody mary or screwdriver, and there are vegetarian and vegan options if you have anyone in your group who isn't a meat eater. Of course, that's a bit of a hike from the Angelika, but you can walk off the calories and the booze. :)
posted by bedhead at 11:18 AM on April 6, 2006

Noho Star has a nice brunch. You could also take a look at this (non-AskMe) thread.
posted by staggernation at 11:19 AM on April 6, 2006

Elephant and Castle, for sure. Not fancy, not chi-chi, but damn damn good. Get something with eggs and the french toast with apples to share. Reviews are good - it's indeed warm and cozy and the bathroom isn't the nicest, but damn good food.
posted by fionab at 11:42 AM on April 6, 2006

Grange Hall or Treehouse, imo.

...but it's been years, and they're both rather Westerly.
posted by ImJustRick at 12:14 PM on April 6, 2006

Flea Market Cafe is AWESOME. It's my favorite brunch spot in NYC (though I've only sampled in the 10s of the myriad possibilities). Drinks are good, prices are reasonable ($9 for breakfast including small juice and coffee), and the vibe is mellow. It's a trek, but I'd say it's worth it. The eternal question though is eggs benedict (savory) versus french toast (sweet). But they're both first rate at Flea Market. Since you're bringing friends, you'll be able to sample both.
posted by zpousman at 12:15 PM on April 6, 2006

Unfortunately, Burrito Bar on Church is no more -- that was a whole-day affair.

Uh, yeah. That came with like five margaritas included didn't it? I would run into people stumbling around at 9pm after that one.
posted by StickyCarpet at 12:51 PM on April 6, 2006

Grange Hall closed. There's another restaurant in the space that looks lousy to me.

Nothing to offer in terms of suggestions, but I'd like to see more for weekends when I'm too lazy to cook.
posted by lackutrol at 1:51 PM on April 6, 2006

Grrr. I'm still angry about the rude service at Flea Market Cafe.

But the food is good.

I ♥ Essex.
posted by skryche at 2:02 PM on April 6, 2006

cafe havana on i think prince & elizabeth, or near there, is lovely & not pricey, but it is kinda small/crowded. best grilled corn anywhere, tho', and great huevos rancheros on fresh tortillas.
posted by mdn at 4:07 PM on April 6, 2006

Maybe Shopsin's on Carmine and Bleeker? Huge, gigantic menu. I don't think you can get a Bloody Mary, though you could get a beer.
posted by hooray at 7:04 PM on April 6, 2006

It's Café Habana-with-a-B, if you're Citysearching it. However, it's pestilentially crowded on weekends - I go solo on weekdays and even then often have to wait for a seat at the bar. But I'll meet mdn there anytime!

If you're considering going as far as Essex, Clinton St. Baking Company is just a couple blocks farther and although there's a long line for weekend brunch is really quite fantastic. And Falai Panetteria, also on Clinton, has good buzz and is open at that hour.

Porcupine is closed - replaced with something called Jacques which I haven't tried.

Barmarché indeed does a beautiful brunch. Great-looking friendly place.
posted by nicwolff at 7:14 PM on April 6, 2006

Shopsin's is moving to Brooklyn but I'm not sure when.
posted by nicwolff at 7:16 PM on April 6, 2006

My husband and I enjoyed brunch at The French Roast, open 24 hours, on the corner of 11th St. & 6th Ave in the West Village, about a mile or so north of the Angelika.
posted by cajo at 7:22 PM on April 6, 2006

Right you are, StickyCarpet...
posted by AJaffe at 8:22 PM on April 6, 2006

9th Street Market has a stellar brunch. There's usually a long wait, but it's soooooo worth it.
posted by discokitty at 8:23 PM on April 6, 2006

I know it's said habana, but I somehow processed that to be the pronunciation of the v... duly noted. and I had heard clinton st closed, tho' I see the site is still up - ?weird. it is literally like a 2 hr wait sometimes, though.
posted by mdn at 7:18 AM on April 7, 2006

Le Gamin reopened on fifth street, right off Avenue B, and it's still good.
posted by A_Dollar_Three_Eighty at 7:50 AM on April 7, 2006

Well seems that Citysearch finds it for either spelling, aren't they clever? So never mind me.
posted by nicwolff at 8:23 AM on April 7, 2006