Manhattan Inn

Nancy's Take:

Atmosphere: * * * * 1/2

I was in great admiration of the way Manhattan Inn transformed their interior into something from another era. One would not expect this coming off the street from Manhattan Avenue. There is a cozy sort of lodge appearance evoked by the dark wood. Meanwhile, the old timey piano player and quirky wall art make you think, "Hey, this is a classy joint." While our waiter suffered from mind fog and mixed up part of the order, it was quickly remedied. He was extremely apologetic for the long wait on our food as well. I wouldn't have cared as much if I hadnt been starving from the moment I got there.

Food: * * * *

I veered from my usual brunch choices and went with their bagel plate served with cream cheese, tomatoes, capers, and red onion. The bagel was especially good which I think added to my enjoyment of the toppings. In addition, I felt compelled to order the kielbasa as a side because it's such a dominant theme in their menu. I figured it must be something special if they're using it in so many dishes, and I was right.

Drinks: * * *

The Bloody Mary was good but also kind of forgettable. I know this because I don't remember anything about it except that I had no complaints.

Becca’s Take:

Atmosphere: * * * * *

Manhattan Inn gets five stars in my book for atmosphere. Though the ultimate seat would be in the room with the piano player, every seat in the house is charming. The main dining room is kept separate from the bar, and the piano player is staged under a large skylight. The natural sunlight entering that room, as well as all the chairs to all the tables being old, wooden theatre-style row seats, makes dining a true joy. For immediate seating, we opted to sit at a table for two by the bar. It was still lovely, as the bar is classic and all the wait staff are friendly.

Food: * * * *

I ordered the omelette with caramelized onions, cheddar cheese and tomatillo sauce. This omelette traditionally has chorizo in it, but I, of course, got it without meat. The picture is a horrible representation of the gloriousness of this omelette. It was superb! The caramelized onions were to die for, there was just enough cheese in it to offer a lovely flavor without being overbearing, and the eggs were cooked just how I like them. The only downside to my meal was that I asked for hashbrowns as my side, and they were out. I had to eat a baguette with jam, instead…tragedy.

Drinks: * * * *

I’m giving the Manhattan Inn an extra star in the drink department for appearance alone. Mimosas are typically the same everywhere you go, and the Inn’s mimosa tasted just fine. It was served in a wide-set, stemmed glass, as oppose to a flute, and it was really fun to drink! It was like a fishbowl of champagne.

Stats:

Manhattan Inn

632 Manhattan Avenue

NY 11222

(718) 383-0885

Mon-Fri 6 pm - 10 pm

Sat-Sun 11 pm - 3 pm

oak wine bar

Nancy's Take:

Atmosphere: * * * *

Like the name evokes, Oak is a cozy and inviting place to dine. In spite of its small flaws (such as the lack of place to wait for a table), it's a great place to bring dates, friends, and even your parents. I know because I've taken all of the aforementioned people there. The staff is humble, friendly, and eager to please.

Food: * * * * *

I like trying different takes on the eggs benedict, and this is a great place to find one. They offer the Florentine, Benedict, and Norwegian styles served on a potato cake instead of an English muffin. I opted for the Eggs Norwegian since I'm a sucker for smoked salmon. The potato cake as a vessel for poached eggs and salmon....se magnifique.

Drinks: * * * *

I drank their Sake Bloody Mary, and it was a tasty little number. Maybe it's just the flavor of the sake that makes their Bloody Mary different, but I picked up on a taste almost like pickle juice. It added a nice tangy flavor, and left me a happy camper.

Becca’s Take:

Atmosphere: * * * *

I’ve never been inside Oak, but walk past it nearly every day. Its big, green awning isn’t very inviting, and almost makes the restaurant look a little cheesy, but once you step inside, the atmosphere is sophisticated, warm and captivating. Our waiter was also very quick, attentive and friendly – he was simply a pleasure!

Food: * * * *

Unfortunately, for the fellow veggies and me, almost every item on the menu has meat in it. Though I’m sure you could get nearly whatever you want without meat, I opted for a build-your-own omelette. I chose roasted tomatoes, light spinach and gruyere cheese. They also included grilled, red onions, which were a welcome surprise for me, but it wasn’t mentioned as included on the menu, so be aware if you have an allergy or strong distaste for onions.

Drinks: * * * ½

I love my mimosas - and there wasn’t anything wrong with Oak’s. Simple, cold and smooth – yum.

Stats:

Oak Wine Bar & Café

361 Graham Ave.

Brooklyn, NY 11211

Open 7 Days

Brunch 11am - 4pm

Dinner 5pm - 11pm

Bliss

Nancy's take:

Atmosphere: * * * 1/2
Bliss may be small, but it's a cozy kind of small. The tables and bar counter surround an exposed kitchen, which makes you feel slightly more intimate with the food you're ordering. The last time I went to Bliss, they had just begun to paint a multi-colored wall mural. Now the walls are finished and really brighten up Bliss's somewhat dark interior. Like many places in Brooklyn and NYC, there is not much standing room if you have to wait for a table. Luckily, we were able to sit immediately. The people who came in after us were not as fortunate.

Food: * * * 1/2
I ordered the tofu scramble with homefries and whole wheat toast. This is one of my favorite things on their menu. It's like eating breakfast and Indian food at the same time. The curry spices give it just the right amount of hearty flavor, while still having that egg-like texture that qualifies it (to me) as a breakfast item. The homefries on the side were flavorful and a nice compliment to the scramble.

Drinks: * 1/2
There's no alcohol at Bliss, and I consider the mimosa or Bloody Mary to be an essential element of brunch. However, I drank their organic coffee with soy milk and it was a good cup of coffee. If you have a hankering for breakfast booze, I suggest dining here first, then hopping next door to Blackbird Parlour for 2-for-1 mimosas. Or do what Becca and I did, and drink $4 mimosas and bellinis at Lokal afterward.

Becca’s Take:

Atmosphere: * * * ½
I, like Nancy, love love love the multi-colored mural wall. It is definitely Bliss’ signature. The layout of the restaurant is great because it’s cute and quiet for a sit-down meal, or it’s easy to take away your food. The service is always prompt, and it’s wonderful to be among fellow veggers!

Food: * * 1/2
I have never had Bliss for breakfast, but am a huge fan of their baked tofu – it could be the best prepared tofu I’ve ever had. I thought the menu options for breakfast looked interesting, but nothing really grabbed me, as their lunch menu does. I basically went with the least vegan thing on the menu, which is the opposite of why I wanted to try Bliss for breakfast in the first place! Oi vey. I went with the Bagel Delight, with “real” eggs and cheese, as they call it. It had a slice of tomato and three, thick-cut slices of tempah bacon. The bacon was a little much for me – I could only eat one slice – but the eggs were cooked nicely and the bagel was supremely fresh. Oh, and those homefries were kick ass - so YUMMY.

Drinks: *
Outta beer? Outta here! I was happy to include Bliss in our blog because I really do love their food, but a girl needs a damn drink with her brunch! 2-for-1 mimosas apparently picked up in popularity at Blackbird, located right next door to Bliss, so it was hard to even just sit at the bar there, but it is a good idea if you need some booze after your breakfast.

Stats:

Bliss
191 Bedford Ave
(between 6th St & 7th St)
Brooklyn, NY 11211
(718) 599-2547
HOURS: Mon-Fri: 8:30am-11pm Sat-Sun: 9:30am-11pm

egg

Nancy's Take:

Atmosphere: * * * 1/2

One of the reasons it's taken us so long to review Egg is due to the large crowds it draws on weekends. We rendered it virtually impossible to get in. Luckily we both had a Monday off and there was no wait for a table. Even still, for a Monday at 11:30 it was a crowded place. The decor inside was fairly simple but definitely had the feel of a quaint country eatery. Plus, there were crayons on the table so I drew a monkey on the butcher's paper while we waited for the bill.

Food: * * * *

I give thumbs up to the food at Egg for several reasons. The restaurant specializes in providing organic and homemade ingredients, much of which comes from their own farm in Oak Hill, NY. I also happen to think their plate presentation is especially appealing. I ordered the Eggs Rothko, which were soft eggs over homemade brioche and Grafton cheddar. The main dish was delicious, as were the cute little tastes of things on the side, such as the broiled tomatoes served on a little circle of brioche. I also had a side of homemade pork sausage, which was just the perfect addition to round out the meal.

Drinks: * * * *

French press coffee for one and a mimosa? Yes please. The glass size for the mimosa was especially generous for the price.

Becca’s Take:

Atmosphere: * * * *

I love being inside Egg. It is very simply designed and actually quite plain, but I love being inside there because it smells like Mom’s kitchen. It’s homey, quiet and I’m a fan of any place that lets you draw on the tablecloth.

Food: * * *

The food at Egg, as Nancy said, is wonderful because it’s organic, grass-fed and homegrown. Everything is elegantly presented, but I have to say, I don’t like soft-cooked eggs. I ordered the Grafton cheddar omelette, which were soft-cooked eggs with a bit of Grafton cheese. It came with broiled tomatoes, which were especially delicious but a little freaky looking. They also put a hashbrown on the side and it was way too much batter and not enough potato. Last but not least, I ordered a buttermilk biscuit, since I will never quite finish my quest for the perfect biscuit. It was crumbly on top, which I love, but it was a bit dry. I was slightly disappointed. Boo.

Drinks: * * * * ½

Where Egg frustrates me on a food level, their mimosas are killer! They are served in large glasses and with fresh-squeezed OJ – all for $7! Considering some joints try to charge you $10 for a mimosa with fresh-squeezed OJ, this was a pleasant surprise.

Stats:

Egg

135 North 5th Street, Brooklyn New York 11211

(718) 302 5151

Monday — Wednesday: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Thursday: 7 a.m. — 10 p.m.

Friday: 7 a.m. — 11 p.m.

Saturday: 9 a.m. — 11 p.m.

Sunday: 9 a.m. — 9 p.m.

www.pigandegg.com

Elote

Nancy's Take:

Atmosphere: * *
In the summer, Elote has a nice backyard, but in the cold weather, you have to surrender to the "newly-renovated" interior. We sat in shoddy wooden fold-up chairs surrounded by badly painted green/red color-block walls. Exposed wires and unfinished outlets made me think perhaps they rushed the renovations. There was also a random creepy rocking chair in a corner, which seemed to serve no real purpose. I could only assume the skull wreath covered in melted wax and skeletons hanging around were leftover decorations from Halloween. If it's meant as permanent decor, it should be seriously reconsidered. It reads more "I got this from a metalhead's yard sale" than "Day of the Dead."

Food: * * * *
I ordered the Chilaquiles con Chorizo, which I pictured being served in little crispy taquito rolls. Instead it was like "breakfast nachos" - egg, chorizo, jack cheese, and adobo sauce mixed with tortilla chips. I was a little thrown at first and then I thought...."Wow, this is such a great idea!" I'm pretty sure you can make any mexican dish into a breakfast entree by adding eggs, and it will taste amazing. It was a little difficult to eat because it was messy, but then again....so are nachos.

Drinks: * * * *
At Elote there are a lot of drink options to choose from, most of which contain Tequila. When I saw that both a Bloody Maria AND a Bloody Mary were offered, I had to ask the waitress what the difference is between them. Here is the difference for future reference:
- Bloody Mary = made with vodka
- Bloody Maria = made with tequila
I decided to go with the traditional Bloody Mary. I made the right choice because I noticed they used special house-made pepper vodka, which always makes me happy.

Becca’s Take:

Atmosphere: *
I had not been back to Elote since they “renovated” their interior, and I have to say, I miss the way it used to be! The bar is now set back and looks a little smaller, and it was all to make room for more indoor seating, which isn’t a bad thing, but I think the job was not well thought out. As Nancy said, the paint job, decorations and overall ambiance was really lacking. Luckily, come spring, we’ll be able to enjoy strong drinks and great food outside on the patio – Elote does have one of the finest outdoor eating areas in Williamsburg.

Food: * * * ½
It’s hard to do Mexican breakfast without chorizo. I almost always have to order my dish “sans Chorizo, no meat, please.” Elote was no exception, but it was also no problem. I opted for the Tacos De Desayuno, which were scrambled eggs with jack cheese, potatoes, green and red peppers, all wrapped up in a grilled flour tortilla. It came with a small mound of iceberg lettuce topped with fresh pico de gallo. I wish my tacos were swimming in the pico, it was so good! And the only reason the tacos, themselves, weren’t top-notch, was because there wasn’t much cheese in them! ay dios mio:(

Drinks: *
I heard the last words you ever want to hear when ordering your drink at brunch: “We’re actually out of champagne.” If I wasn’t starving and on the quest to continually try new brunch spots, I would’ve marched out of there like the fiery gringette that I am. But I kept my cool and ordered a Salty Dog (without salt), which was fresh grapefruit juice and vodka. It was strong and quite yummy, but we didn’t stay for another round as all I wanted was a damn mimosa!

Stats:

Elote
366 Union Avenue
NY 11211
(718) 599-2655
Open Mon-Thu 4pm-11pm; Fri 4pm-2am; Sat 11am-2am; Sun 11am-10pm
Sat & Sunday Brunch $11, includes first drink and coffee

Stone Park Cafe

Nancy's take:

Atmosphere: * * *

This is a popular brunch spot for Park Slopers. I know because it was recommended to me by lots of people, and also because there was going to be a long wait to get a table. To be honest, the bar looked cozy but most of the restaurant looked pretty cramped for space. Luckily for us, it was the kind of November day where sunshine made the outdoors bearable. We chose to sit on their side patio, which had no wait time. With the sun on my face, I even peeled a jacket layer off while I sipped my coffee. The waiter was quick to get our drink orders, and he even played into our banter a little. Thanks for humoring us, we know we're a little quirky.

Food: * * * *

Let it be known that we really earned our brunch that day. Our adventure began with Becca confusing the G train direction, which then left us no choice but to jog through the runners of the ING marathon to catch the correct train. Then we wandered around Park Slope rather aimlessly, because we got off the subway nowhere near the restaurant. But I can say with much satisfaction that it was worth all the detours. I ordered the Chef omelet (roasted garlic, spinach, house-made sausage, and cheddar) which came with a side of potatoes. I thought both the omelet and potatoes were delicious. Plus, they had my favorite hot sauce - Cholula.

Drinks: * * * * 1/2

I ordered a mimosa to start, and switched to a bellini for my second drink. Their bellini was truly a notch above the rest, but it comes with a $9 price tag. White peach puree, peach schnapps, and Gruet....I've got to remember that combination if I ever try to make my own.

Becca's Take:

Atmosphere: * * * *

Stone Park Cafe is adorable inside and out - and because Nancy and I were starving, we took the immediate seat outside on the patio. It faced a park and the sun was shining - really a lovely November day. I was happy we chose to sit outside because while we were briefly waiting indoors, it seemed a little noisy (just because it was so busy), and after the odyssey we took getting there, i just wanted to sip my drinks and munch my brunch in peace.

Food: * * * *

The menu had a lot to offer, but sadly, Stone Park Cafe only earns four stars from me as they could not deliver a side order of a buttermilk biscuit to me. Our waiter said they were almost out of biscuits and had to save the remaining ones for the biscuits and gravy entree. This not only left me sad and biscuit-less, but if they practically sold out of them, that leads me to believe they are de-lish. Woe is me. Luckily, I opted for the Spicy Omelette, which had sauteed mushrooms, fresh pico de gallo and pepperjack cheese. It was awesome - and I don't even like mushrooms! The pico was really wonderful - I bet they make it on-site. The eggs were cooked to perfection, and the homefries were crispy with just the right spicy kick. Yum.

Drinks: * * *

I stuck with mimosas, and much like Nancy, wasn't pleased that they cost $9 a pop. I still drank two of them...and seriously had to restrain myself from getting a third. Yum again.

Stats:

Stone Park Cafe

324 5th Avenue

NY 11215-2420

(718) 369-0082

Open Mon-Thu 5:30pm-10pm; Fri 5:30pm-11pm; Sat 10am-3pm, 5:30pm-11pm; Sun 10am-3pm, 5:30pm-10pm

http://www.stoneparkcafe.com

Mrs. Kim's

Nancy's take:

Atmosphere: * * * *

Tucked away on Franklin Street in Greenpoint, Mrs. Kim's is an undiscovered little gem. Its mostly wooden interior reminded me of sipping hot cocoa at a cozy ski lodge. The chairs were Shaker-esque, like climbing into Grandma's rocking chair on the porch. Nice big windows let a lot of sunlight into the room.There were plenty of tables open at brunch hour, though our waitress was a tad on the bitchy side.

Food: * * * *

I nearly missed the fact that Mrs. Kim's is actually a Korean restaurant. The brunch items were traditional American and French fare, with some pork buns, kimchi, and bibimbop thrown into the mix. Whatever they're doing,it's fine with me if they keep it up. Becca and I split two dishes between us. We had their omelette made with spinach, chive, scallion, and ricotta. Not only was the omelette tasty, but the home fries it came with were amazing. But it didn't stop there. We also split the pumpkin belgian waffles, which were their special. It was all so delicious and satisfying. Had either of us been less full, we would've also ordered the steamed tofu buns.

Drinks: * * * * *

Having had some less-than-thrilling experiences with Bloody Marys lately, I almost shied away from ordering it this time. Then I caught a glimpse of one at the bar. I'm glad I ordered it, because it has now climbed up my ranks among the best Bloody Marys in Brooklyn. It was thick but also plenty alcoholic (I like thicker mix vs. watered-down). Best of all, it was loaded with horseradish and Sriracha (which I watched the bartender pour in).

Size: Tall drinking glass (also a bonus)

Garnishes: lemon, lime, giant celery stalk and a pickle slice

Becca’s Take:

Atmosphere: * *

I adore Franklin Street in Greenpoint, and I always mean to frequent it more than I do. I really think the only thing the atmosphere of Mrs. Kim's does for me is that is resides in a corner spot along Fraknlin. It is a spacious place with a lot of great light, as Nancy mentioned, but the strange, giant, Grandma chairs didn’t mesh well with the semi-modern bar or the tiniest bit of Asian flair they were clinging to. Nevertheless, looks aren’t everything when you’re brunching.

Food: * * * *

Mrs. Kim’s does an excellent job of making sure every customer is happy. There is literally something for everyone. Because everything sounded so good on the menu, Nancy and I opted to share plates for the first time EVER. We were wise to do so! It was the perfect portion of each. The pumpkin waffles were to die for, and they came alongside fresh fruit, whipped cream and powdered sugar. The omelette was a little dry, but still delicious with all the fixins to be found inside, while the breakfast potatoes were some of the best I’ve had yet! I wish I had had room for the tofu steamed buns, but I guess this means I’ll just have to go back.

Drinks: * * ½

I opted for a mimosa, even though I thought $8 was a bit steep. It came in a large, stemmed glass, and was made with fresh-squeezed juice (why it was $8, I’m assuming). It was a little, as I like to say, “too orange.” The lighter your mimosa, the more champagne – I like pale yellow mimosas, and this one, though tasty, was not.

Stats:

Mrs. Kim's

160 Franklin St.

Brooklyn, NY 11222

(718) 389-8881

Open Weekdays 11am-11pm; Weekends 10am-1am

www.mrskimsnyc.com

Fada

Nancy's Take:

Atmosphere: * * * 1/2

It was surprisingly hot for a mid-October day, so I got us a table indoors. I did take note, however, that the back garden looked very inviting. The front windows were open to let in the breeze and it was the perfect indoor climate. Since there weren't many guests at the time, I was ::GASP:: actually allowed to sit down before the rest of my party arrived (this is uncommon in NYC). The inside of the restaurant reads mostly of brown wood and no specific decor stood out in my mind. I thought it had a nice charm, nonetheless.

Food: * * *

When Becca and her friend, Theresa, arrived, we all ordered our drinks and looked over the menu. There were a lot of lunch-type options as well as breakfast food, so it seemed like enough to please anyone's palette. I think were all a little frustrated, however, with the waitress' inability to clearly describe any of the items on the menu when we asked questions. We all ended up just taking the plunge and ordering things whether we understood them or not. I had the Eggs Fada, which were poached eggs served in a casserole dish of baked tomatoes, eggplant, and goat cheese. Honestly I pictured the tomatoes being more like fresh cut tomatoes, and instead, it was more like a pasta sauce. Although the restaurant is French, I felt like i was eating a rich, Italian dinner for breakfast. It was good, but a little too "hearty" for my taste when it comes to brunch.

Drinks: * * *

Bloody Mary

Taste: good but a little watery

Garnishes: lemon, cornichon, and about 5 olives

Size: round stemmed glass

Becca’s Take:

Atmosphere: * * *

I like the feel of Fada for no particular reason other than it's simple, easy, considerably spacious for tight, Brooklyn eateries, and it has an interesting, antiquied feel about it. It's not fancy or over the top, but it's not boring - good middle ground for brunch, lunch or dinner. Like Nancy, this waitress annoyed me. A lot of the items on the menu are either written out in French or are prepared in a French style, which may not be known to everyone - like moi. Every question I asked her, she couldn't really answer, so it was a guessing game mixed with process of elimination as to what sounded the least intimidating or the most vegetarian.

Food: * * * 1/2

I've eaten at Fada for dinner before, and it was lovely. Brunch was just as nice. I started with a tartine, which is a toasted baguette with jam and butter. In my never-ending quest to find the perfect biscuit, I initally thought a tartine may have been some kind of French biscuit. After a daunting explanation from our waitress, I ordered it basically because I was confused and hungry - but it worked out because I enjoyed it very much. For my main meal I had their quiche special, which was made with brocolli, endives and goat cheese. It was tasty, no doubt, but a little slimey. I prefer my quiches a little more well done, with less oil seeping out of the nooks and crannies.

Drinks: * * *

Mimosas, and plenty of them. They are pretty cheap, and I was feeling boozy, so I had about three of them.

What Theresa Ate:

Theresa started her brunch with an Irish coffee that looked as good as she said it tasted. It was adorned with whipped cream and a cherry - so sweet.

I know Theresa quite well, and she doesn't usually fancy eggs. She went for the special omelette, which had asparagus, mushrooms and muenster cheese. She gave it her very own seal of approval! The omelette came with breakfast potatoes - which Theresa deemed not as delicious as mine, but still a damn fine homefry - and a salad. Theresa opted for fresh fruit to start, and nibbled a bit on my tartine.

Stats:

Fada

530 Driggs Ave, at N. 8th St

Brooklyn, NY 11211

Brunch: Fri., 10 a.m.—4 p.m.; Sat.—Sun., 10 a.m.—5 p.m.

Cafe Colette

Nancy's Take:

Atmosphere: * * * * 1/2

I love how the interior of Cafe Colette has been decorated. It's like French-bistro-meets-fifties-diner. What caught my attention the most was the gorgeous color of the back wall, painted in a distressed style with robins egg blue and hints of light aqua peeking through. There's a checkerboard floor and a diner-style bar as the focal point of the room. There are also lots of tables outdoors wrapped around the side of the cafe. The staff were all so friendly, and happy to answer our many questions about the menu.

Food: * * * * 1/2

I ordered the Chorizo and raja scramble. I found out that "raja" refers to the way that the green peppers are cooked before being put in the scramble, so that they have an extra smokey flavor to them. Whatever they did to it, they should keep doing! I don't even like green peppers that much and yet I loved this scramble. The side of potatoes were cooked with scallions and whole garlic cloves. I ended up spreading the garlic cloves onto my multi-grain toast.

Drinks: * * *

Bloody Mary

Taste: I had high hopes for this one with all its garnishes, but it was slightly watered down and not spicy enough for me.

Size: tall fancy glass with a stem

Garnishes: pickle, celery, lemon, green olive, and a salted rim. I gave it an extra star for the garnishes alone.

Becca’s Take:

Atmosphere: * * * *

Café Colette is a great place with a lot of a charm but still a lot of space. I was surprised at the amount of both indoor and outdoor seating. Being the kitschy girl that I am, I convinced Nancy to sit at the bar. Only in certain environments do I enjoy eating my food at the bar, and this was one of those places. It was a clean, cool counter with comfy swivel seats and a very knowledgeable bartender/waiter.

Food: * * * * ½

This food was really close to perfect. I opted for two eggs, any style, and got them scrambled with gruyere cheese. It was absolutely delicious, but I felt like my helping of eggs was a little small. Maybe I’m just a pig, but I could’ve eaten another order, easily. I opted for French fries instead of breakfast potatoes – and actually got them this time! – and I had a side of the multi-grain toast, which was hearty, had a hint of sweetness and was possibly the best toast I’d ever had.

Drinks: * * *

My mimosa was standard as could be. Nothing to complain about – except the price tag ($9 – it keeps getting higher! I guess Café Colette prrroobbbaablllyy doesn’t use Andre) – but it tasted smooth and sweet.

Stats:

Cafe Colette

79 Berry Street

(between N. 10th & N. 9th streets)

Brooklyn, NY 11211

http://www.cafe-colette.com

Juliette

Nancy's Take:

Atmosphere: * * * *
I was excited to see it was a beautiful sunny day - perfect for brunch on the outside terrace of Juliette. From the street you can see people sitting up there, and they always seem to be having such a good time. There is a separate hostess for the terrace as opposed to the main level, so we hopped straight upstairs and sipped on mimosas at the bar while we waited. It wasn't more than 10 minutes before we were shown to our table - a nicely shaded area that we already had our eyes on. Okay, so the view from THAT side of the terrace is not gorgeous - it overlooked a trash-cluttered aluminum roof. However, I still think the overall ambiance of the terrace was adorable.

Food: * * *
I couldn't resist ordering the house-cured Scottish salmon benedict with lemon-caper hollandaise and red bliss home fries. The first thing I noticed on my plate was that the home fries were NOT red bliss potatoes. They also didn't taste like anything special. The eggs benedict was good, but I honestly expected a little more excitement from the lemon-caper hollandaise. There were small bits of capers ground into the sauce, and more than anything it had a flavor of pickle juice. Hey, I'm not complaining about pickle juice....I just wanted to be a little more impressed with the dish than I actually was.
The waitress was extremely apologetic as she had forgotten to put our order in. I said "Honey, just keep our drinks coming and we'll be fine." She gave us free beer to compensate for the error, and the food actually came out very quickly regardless.

Drinks: * * * 1/2
Apparently I've been spoiled by all the drink deals we've found lately. The mimosas were average-priced at around $8, but it felt expensive to me after drinking those $4 ones at Lokal last week. I steered clear of the Bloody Marys here because I saw one brought to another table and it looked less than thrilling. I thought the mimosas were tasty, but they're also pretty hard to mess up.

Becca’s Take:

Atmosphere: * * * *
I like the atmosphere of Juliette because it is prime for people watching. And not just the kind of street-level people watching, but couple's quarrel from their very own kitchen window people watching. (I just creeped MYSELF out!) But, in my defense, it’s impossible not to notice the people who live in the building beside Juliette, because when you’re dining on the roof, you’re basically dining with them. It was an interesting spot, and I’d love to hang out there are night. They had a lot of posters for their nightlife scene – it’s a must before it gets too cold to be a rooftopper.

Food: * * 1/2
I, like Nancy, was expecting something really special from the food at Juliette, and was let down. My omelette seemed so exciting on paper because it boasts of truffled goat cheese – which, by the way, was the high point of this omelette. The asparagus was also a seller for me, but it was so finely chopped, it was barely worthwhile, and even tasted a bit sour. The eggs were cooked in fluffy, French style, and I asked for French fries instead of breakfast taters and got the taters.
Wah-wah :(

Drinks: * * *
I love strong mimosas and free Stella, but not at $8 bucks a pop and the latter will never happen again.

Stats:

Juliette
135 n. 5th st
Brooklyn, NY 11211
(718) 388-9222
www.juliettewilliamsburg.com
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