aurora

Nancy's Take:

Atmosphere: * * * *

While the indoor seating is pleasant enough, the enclosed outdoor seating, wrapped in vines and sunlight, is what makes Aurora such a lovely dining experience. I was facing the direction of the sun and had to wear sunglasses, but that didn't bother me. While we're all stuck in winter and dreaming of spring, it's nice to savor the feeling of eating outdoors, without enduring any scathing wind. Also, with the whole building wrapped in vines, it feels almost like momentarily escaping to a bistro in Italy. I was also pleasantly surprised at our ability to be seated right away, because getting a table at dinner is virtually impossible without a reservation.

Food: * * * 1/2

I ordered the Confit D'Anatra, which consisted of duck confit and bacon hash with poached eggs. The duck confit was a tad too dry but aside from that it was overall a tasty little plate of food. We were feeling feisty that day so we also ordered 2 desserts to split The Budino de Pane al Cacao was a rich chocolate bread pudding served warm, with a hazelnut gelato on the side. It was delicious, but the flavor was best when paired with the gelato on your spoon. The other dessert was Pannacotta al Caramello, which is essentially the Italian version of creme caramel or flan....and it had a nice light texture and smooth vanilla flavor.

Drinks: * * * *

I ordered their Bloody Mary, which is no real surprise per my typical brunch routine. It was spicy from horseradish and had a nice tangy finish. I was pleased with my choice.

Becca's Take:

Atmosphere: * * * *

It was a lovely winter's day with lots of sun and little wind, so we were eager to make the trek to Aurora, which is on the completely opposite side of Williamsburg as we are. To top it off, as Nancy said, eating outdoors on the heated patio, surrounded by beautiful shrubbery and growth, makes being at Aurora even better! My only qualm was when we first entered - they daytime manager seemed as though he was going to seat us, and then just disappeared! We stood around, slightly confused and looking like goofs, for just a few minutes until the hostess brought us to our table.

Food: * * * 1/2

I tried something somewhat daring for me, as the dish centered around mushrooms - one of the few veggies I truly loathe. It was part of La Frittato de Giorno, which is an open-faced omelette. It is almost like a round, thin quiche, but less greasy - which echoes the style of an omelette. It had goat cheese in it, as well, and the mushrooms were chopped finely enough that they didn't bother me...dare I say they even tasted ::gulp:: good. It was served with a small salad, which apparently didn't satisfy this woman's appetite because I was the pioneer of "Let's get dessert, Nancy." Our warm, chocolate bread pudding was VERY rich - almost too rich without the hazelnut gelato (which was out of this world good). The Pannacotta al Caramello was heavenly: it reminded me of the perfect blend of a homemade pudding and creme brulee. It was topped with homemade shortbread wedges, and of course, drizzled in caramel. We should've just ordered two of those and left the chocolate behind. (As you can see, we were so excited by our dessert choices we forgot to take a picture of them before digging in - please pardon the missing spoonfuls!)

Drinks: * * 1/2

I tried a variation of a mimosa, which used pomegranate instead of OJ. It was much more wine-like, almost like sangria, but it wasn't fun to drink. I was sad and missed my mimosa.

Stats:

Aurora

70 Grand St

Brooklyn, NY 11211

(718) 388-5100

le gamin

Nancy's Take:

Atmosphere: * * * *

From the outside, Le Gamin doesn't look like much. It's near Cookie Road, which is brightly painted and impossible to miss. Le Gamin you could probably miss unless you were seeking it out. Inside Le Gamin, they make great use of the space. The lacquered light wood bench that runs along the wall has hinges on the seat, which makes me think they also use it for storage. It gives the restaurant a nice modern look, which I liked. I also noticed a decent amount space between the tables. It wasn't crowded that day, so we got our pick of tables. Regardless I feel like we wouldn't have felt too cramped on a busy day. Our waitress was very friendly and happy to cater to our requests.

Food: * * * * *

We were little piggies that day. I couldn't commit to just one dish when there were so many that I wanted to try. Becca and I decided to split two meals - Oeuf Gamin (goat cheese potato hash brown on a bed of ratatouille and a poached egg); Omelette with caramelized onions, brie, and tomato concasse. Oeuf Gamin was delicieux...it was positively orgasmic in taste and the perfect portion. We picked the omelette ingredients ourselves based on being, well....things that we'd still love if they were spread on a chunk of sidewalk. In hindsight the ingredients were a little weird combined in an omelette. It was flavorful but a tad on the sweet side. The omelette was gargantuan, which is a blessing or a curse depending on the size of your stomach. It was too big for us because we ALSO ordered fries to split. The fries were the whole reason we discovered this place, after walking past it one day and gazing longingly at someone's fries from the window. That is, until we realized we were making people uncomfortable with our faces smushed on the glass.

But we didn't stop there. As full as we may have been, we couldn't resist the temptation of a french dessert. We ordered a sampling plate, which had teeny tart versions of some of their larger desserts, including creme brulee, chocolate mousse, and sponge cake. I know that if I go back for dinner one day, I will be ordering either the creme brulee or chocolate mousse. Becca was so excited that she had an entire photoshoot of the dessert before we ate it.

Drinks: * * * *

The liquor menu at Le Gamin is extensive, but I went traditional brunch style and had my Bloody Mary. I was impressed with the size of the glass and the amount of horseradish, but less than inspired by their lack of garnishes. Overall it was a good Bloody Mary, though.

Becca’s Take:

Atmosphere: * * * *

Le Gamin has a cozy atmosphere – it’s nothing fancy or kitschy, but nice and comfortable. There is plenty of seating, but I do think if they were very busy, it might be a little hectic getting in and out of your seat or the restaurant, itself. Luckily, that wasn’t the case! We were seated immediately, with our choice of almost any place in the house, and our waitress was very attentive and didn’t make fun of us for butchering how to pronounce “ouef.”

Food: * * * * *

Holy cow. THE FOOD. Le Gamin is seriously a treasure of a restaurant. If you and yours have not yet eaten there, you absolutely must. Because it’s a bit of a hike from my apartment, this winter weather will make it hard for me to get there as often as I’d like to, but come summer, I’m going to be fat and happy devouring crème brulee, and I really can’t wait to try what they have for dinner! As Nance mentioned in her comments about our brunch dishes, the omelette was seriously enormous. Its platter, alone, was intimidating. The items we threw in there were a little funky together – I’d never put brie in an egg dish again, but the ouef gamin was truly amazing. That potato pancake with goat cheese baked inside of it was a carby slice of heaven. And I’m not hugely into poached eggs, but even that tasted mighty fine. As for dessert, the mini-sized tasting of all of their after-brunch treats were magnificent! Nancy and I know when we need to stop eating so we don’t burst, but we couldn’t say no to this $4 combo. The chocolate mouse was in a dark chocolate cup, the crème brulee was simply perfect, the apple cake was flakey with fresh whipped cream, and the sponge cake was sticky, sweet and we dipped it in a caramely, honey sauce. Dreams do come true…

Drinks: * * * ½

I was excited to see all the drink options at Le Gamin, and would love to go back and try some signature cocktails, but brunch will always be brunch and for me that means mimosas. I downed two of them amidst all that food ! A bigger pig you might not find, nor a happier one :)

Stats:

Le Gamin

108 Franklin St

Brooklyn, NY 11222

enids

Nancy's Take:

Atmosphere: * * * * 1/2

Enids is a frequent haunt among my weekend bar hopping. However, due to the overcrowding and long wait for a table, I usually brunch elsewhere and come by later on for drinks. For that reason, I could only give it four and a half stars. On the upside of Enids' atmosphere is the always eclectic seasonal decor, not to mention my favorite paillette-covered camel on the wall. For the winter, the ceiling dangles beautiful paper snowflakes hanging from branches, and accented with white Christmas lights. It's really a magical place this time of year.

Food: * * *

I can't speak highly of every dish on the brunch menu, but there are a few really amazing ones that help compensate. I tend to order either the Hungry Bear or the Huevos Rancheros, because those are the tried and true best items on the menu. This particular day I went with the huevos, and I was not disappointed. It's done particularly well here, with a generous slathering of refried beans and a nice tomato sauce. Then, of course, I pour hot sauce all over it.

Drinks: * * * * *

So many tasty drinks at Enids. It's the main reason I'm there so often. Well...that, and their mac'n'cheese. If you're a Bloody Mary fan, this is the place for you. Enids uses their own spicy jalapeno vodka, and more garnishes than you thought were possible. The garnishes include a lemon, lime, celery stalk, cornichon, olive, and a caperberry. I can safely say it's my favorite Bloody Mary in NYC.

Becca’s Take:

Atmosphere: * * * *

I always enjoy dining and drinking at Enids – it’s really a homey place where both Nancy and I have become regulars – like the Cheers of Brooklyn. Nancy is right about the décor – it’s charming and gives you just another reason to want to go in there as opposed to its ugly neighbor, Matchless (probably my most loathed bar in Brooklyn). The people who work there are awesome, the mac’n’cheese is awesome, and God damn, the Frozen Harrisons are awesome.

Food: * * * *

Enids has a reputation for really stepping up their brunch game. When I first moved to Brooklyn, the brunch menu was always the same – I don’t even remember if they offered specials, as they do at dinner. Now, there are weekly specials that are always enticing. For instance, triple chocolate pancakes were a special the afternoon we brunched at Enids. Do you have any idea how hard it was to turn those down?! But I did it for the Veggie Hungry Bear – I’d do just about anything for the Veggie Hungry Bear. It’s honestly a vegetarian’s breakfast dream consisting of one vegan sausage patty in between a delicious, buttermilk biscuit, with a fried egg and covered in vegan breakfast gravy. It also comes with choice of a side (I always choose homefries because apparently I run solely on carbs), and then they threw a few random pickled veggies on the plate, as well. I don’t get the pickled stuff at Enids – it’s like they just pickle anything that’s leftover – but I ate the pickled carrots; they were okay.

Drinks: * * * *

I love mimosas at Enids. They are cheap, boozey and that’s really all I need.

Stats:

Enids

560 Manhattan Ave

Brooklyn, NY 11222

718.349.3859

ella cafe

Nancy's Take:

Atmosphere: * * * *

I feel like I should be going to Ella more often than I actually do. The food is delicious and the interior is cute. It's a coffee shop in front with a clean modern feel, and a small room of tables in the back with waitress service. One major plus with Ella is the large waiting area. This is a combination of people ordering on their own in the front for the coffee shop section, and people waiting to be seated at a table. There's a long wooden bench that accommodates a good number of people, plus a pretty decent amount of free space to stand. In contrast, the tables in the back room are crammed pretty close together. I think our waitress was taking care of the entire back room, and so we were fairly patient with her. She seemed a little overwhelmed.

Food: * * * * *

I ordered the organic spinach & kielbasa omelet with cheddar cheese, and it was ever-so-satisfying. It's a tough decision when you look at the menu, especially knowing that breakfast is served all day but the lunch items look just as tempting. I need to go back for their jalapeno fish tacos!

Drinks: * * * * *

We were biding our time before reviewing Ella. Until recently there was no alcohol served, and we get pretty cranky without our brunch booze. Now they have mimosas, and delicious ones at that. They came in a generously sized wine glass and I couldn't have been happier.

Becca’s Take:

Atmosphere: * * * *

I love Ella because it's cozy and cute without trying to be something that it's not - it's an organic kitchen with big helpings and hearty options. I love the outside dining patio at Ella in the summertime because it has just enough awning to cover your from the sun, but it still evokes all the fun of season. I've always had pleasant servers at Ella, but the one downside is that this place is always busy. I've never been there when it is quiet, and since they keep late-ish hours (till 10 p.m.), I've been there at all times of day. It's also kid friendly, which may be good for you but sucks for me. :(

Food: * * * * *

I am honestly wild about everything on the menu at Ella. There are plenty of vegetarian options, and I purposely over-ordered during this brunch just to be able to take some soup home. I had the three-cheese omelette, which is large, in charge and packed with cheese. They served it with fresh-cut fries because they were out of homefries, which was a bit of a bummer, and a small salad. I opted for the butternut squash soup as an additional side, and it was thick, creamy and full of flavor. I could live off that soup - and that omelette!

Drinks: * * * * *

Now that Ella serves a variety of wines and champagne drinks, I am one happy camper. The mimosa was a great size for the price ($7), and it was served in a large, round glass. The OJ was frothy, which made me assume it was fresh-squeezed, but I don't have any proof of that. I do have proof that it was delicious and gave me the perfect buzz to start my inevitably boozey day. :)

Stats:

Ella Cafe

177 Bedford Avenue

Brooklyn, NY 11211

(718) 218 - 8079

Breakfast served all day and night (specials until 11:30am weekdays)

Brunch menu weekends until 3pm

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