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