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

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

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
Open Mon-Thu 12pm-12am; Fri 12pm-1am; Sat 10:30am-1am; Sun 10:30am-11:30pm

Lokal

Nancy's Take:

Atmosphere: * * *
From the outside, Lokal looks like it could be some kind of a cheesy tiki hut place intended for tourists and frat guys. Inside the restaurant, it's actually quite tasteful. The walls are decorated with Turkish ceramic tiles and there are tables to accommodate all sizes of parties. There's also a nice outdoor section in front with awnings to protect from the sun and elements.

Food: * * *
I ordered the Huevos Rancheros and a side of bacon. The huevos were served simply, with black beans and soft tortillas, with a little touch of salsa and guacamole on top. I had the eggs sunny-side up and overall I thought it was a nice dish. The bacon, however, wasn't crispy enough for my taste.

Drinks: * * * * 1/2
$4 for a mimosa, bloody mary, or bellini and you've sold me! Their bellinis are especially tasty and admittedly I drank four of them. At that price, you can really just plan to hang out for the rest of the day. The drink service at our table was a little slow, but sitting at the bar takes care of that issue.

Becca’s Take:

Atmosphere: * * * ½
Even though Lokal is sometimes referred to as the ugly stepchild of Five Leaves, I think it still has a somewhat charming, ethnic vibe to it that sets it apart from the above association. There’s never a wait, you can eat outside or in, and the bar service is pretty tremendous. Lokal is also home to a really neat basement bathroom, and I love me some comfortable, pretty and private lavs.

Food: * * * ½
I stepped slightly out of the box this weekend and started my brunch with a tomato pesto soup, which was absolutely lovely. It was some of the best tomato soup I’ve ever had – and the light touch of pesto was truly perfect. I could’ve eaten bowls upon bowls of that stuff. I then opted for the White Spinach Omelette, which had waaaaaay too much spinach in it; I think even Popeye would agree that it was a gagging amount. The eggs were cooked well, though, and the cheese nice and melty. So after weeding out some of the heavy greens, I was much happier with my meal.

Drinks:* * * * *
Lokal gets five stars for drinks. Not only are they delicious, but they are dirt cheap! $4 mimosa, bellini or bloody mary? Who among us wouldn’t indulge?

Stats:

Lokal Mediterranean Bistro
905 Lorimer Street
Brooklyn, NY 11222
(718) 384-6777
Open Mon-Thu,Sun 10am-11pm; Fri-Sat 10am-12am
www.lokalbistro.com

Rabbithole

Nancy's Take:

Atmosphere: * * * *

The restaurant is divided into four sections: A seating area in front, a bar in the center, and

more tables at the very back leading out to the garden. We were seated in what I believed to be

the most perfect table of the whole restaurant - indoors but overlooking the garden (with the doors open). For one thing, we were far enough away from the screaming baby in the front that we could enjoy our food in peace. For another thing, we caught the nice breeze from outside

without getting too hot in the sun. Plus a nice view!

Food: * * * * *

I can't say enough good things about the food. I ordered their Eggs Benedict, because it was made with bacon. The taste was unexpected but delicious. Mustard seeds are mixed into the side salad as well as the hollandaise sauce. I've never seen this in a hollandaise before but it had a nice flavor. Add that to the eggs and maple-flavored bacon on top of a homemade biscuit, and

you've got a tasty little brunch!

Drinks: * * *

Bloody Mary - Maybe I'm just spoiled by the places that include drinks with brunch, but ordering a second round started to get pricey.

Taste: good but not memorable
Size: Tall glass

Garnishes: Lemon and celery.

Becca's Take:

Atmosphere: * * *

Rabbithole is a quaint little place with your typical Brooklyn bistro look. But the first thing I noticed when I walked in last Sunday was an obnoxious, crying baby. I asked the very flustered host specifically to be seated away from the baby, which he did. When we got to our seat, we were actually really happy because we were half inside and half outside, so it wasn't too warm and we were in plenty of shade.

Food: * * * *

I almost ordered the half-baked eggs, and then the waitress warned me what the dish was actually like, and I opted for the goat cheese, roasted tomato and red onion omelette, which was made perfectly. When it came out, it almost looked fake - that's how perfect. The homefries were delish and I ordered a side biscuit because I just can't help myself. It really was the perfect amount of brunch - yum!

Drinks: * * 1/2

I wasn't impressed with The Gardner cocktail I ordered for my first round, so I went with a mimosa for round two. I got a nice buzz, but they weren't outstanding.

Stats:
Rabbithole
352 Bedford Avenue (bet S3rd/S4th St)
(718) 782-0910
Brunch available every day 8am-5pm
www.rabbitholebakery.com

The Bedford

Nancy's Take:

Atmosphere: * * * *

At first I thought The Bedford didn't seem like the most creative name for a new restaurant. Then again...it almost sounds like a place from a film noir, where you half-expect Humphrey Bogart to come strolling in. Come to think of it, it kind of looks like that too! The building inside and out is not what you'd expect to see on Bedford Avenue. The front facade is white stucco and adorned with potted window plants - very reminiscent of Los Angeles (or even Morocco?). Indoors is fairly dark, and mostly reliant on natural sunlight. The waitress and bartender welcomed us, and we were seated immediately. Take advantage of this aspect quickly, before the word gets out and this place fills up for brunch!

Food: * * * * *

I had the omelette special, with chorizo, feta and heirloom tomatoes. For those not already aware, I put hot sauce on everything possible. I was pretty sure the chef himself brought our food out in person, and I didn't want to offend him by asking for hot sauce to slather all over it. This is the kind of restaurant where you get the impression the chef really takes pride in the artistry of his food pairings. The chorizo and tomatoes created such a nice flavor on their own that I immediately abandoned all notion of hot sauce. In fact, I started dipping our fresh cut fries from our shared basket, into the leftover juices on my plate.

Drinks: * * * * 1/2

There are a wide variety of specialty cocktails to choose from, as well as a comprehensive wine list, and the traditional brunch drinks. The only downside is that having more than one can get a bit pricey, but they are all delicious. I've sampled several of their specialty cocktails previously, but I went traditional for brunch.

Bloody Mary

Taste: Good stuff....I definitely approve.

Size: Tall glass

Garnishes: two olives on a toothpick and a lemon.

Becca’s Take

Atmosphere: * * * *

The Bedford has an antiquated, industrial feel to it, which kind of reminded me of a British schoolhouse from…I don’t know…the early 1900’s? I totally dug the low maintenance vibe of the place, and also was impressed to watch the lone bartender make every drink meticulously and that the chef was happy to bring us the food he prepared with his own hands. It’s always a good sign when the people working at a restaurant care so deeply about what they do for their guests.

Food: * * * * *

This place gets five stars for food in my book. I have never…in all my days…had scrambled eggs cooked as lovely as they were at The Bedford. And keep in mind – I didn’t drink the night before ::gasp!:: so this wasn’t a hangover talking. My eggs were scrambled perfectly with red onions, cheddar cheese and chives all on top of charred sourdough bread. They gave me deep-fried breakfast potato slivers and a tomato on the side, but I only had eyes for our side of fresh cut fries with paprika aioli – which were killer! The aioli was out of control good. I may have mentioned to Nancy that I wouldn’t mind “eating the rest of it with a spoon”…or something like that.

Drinks: * * * ½

I had a delicious champagne bevie adorned with a black cherry called a Baldini. It was fizzy and tasted great, but at $10 a pop, I couldn’t get a buzz on at The Bedford. BOO-HOO.

The Bedford

110 Bedford Avenue (bet 10th St/11th St)

Brooklyn, NY 11211

(718) 302-1002

Hours: Mon-Sun 8 am - 4 am

harefield road

Nancy's Take:

Atmosphere: * * * * 1/2

I love the atmosphere at Harefield. It's got the welcoming feel of a friendly neighborhood pub, with rustic wooden tables and benches. They also have outdoor seating in the back, with umbrellas to help shade from the sun. The owner himself

works the brunch hour, helping to seat people and greeting everyone. I've been coming there for so many years that the owner often asks where I've been if I haven't stopped by in awhile. The service is friendly and the food comes fast.

The wait for a table may be 25-30 minutes tops during the busiest time of day. This means they're great with turning tables fast, but it also means you may not

get offered that second drink you wanted. I say ask for it anyway, even if the check is on the table. I've never been turned down - even if it's reluctant.

Food: * * * * *

I am a creature of habit when it comes to Harefield. I always order the Harefield Eggs, which are eggs benedict with smoked salmon, served with breakfast potato

es and fresh fruit. I figure, if I've found something I love that much, why bother ordering anything else? My friends order a variety of other items from the menu and have raved about them afterward. Great food that shows up fast, what more could you ask for?

Drinks: * * * *

Bloody Mary - 1st included with meal

Taste: yummm....this is my second favorite Bloody Mary in all of Brooklyn.

Size: Tall slim glass

Garnishes: 2 olives, allspice-lined rim

Becca’s Take:

Atmosphere: * * * *

Harefield has become a place for me that is all about comfort. No matter when I go, I always feel like I belong there. There’s a great bar to plant at in the evenings, the back and outdoor areas are great for socializing during the day, while the front is choice for Metropolitan Avenue people watching, day or night.

Food: * * * *

Harefield is one of my favorite brunches because it is all-inclusive and delicious. I am never upset with my omelette – the eggs are cooked juuuuust right every time. I’ve also had the cheese and onion pannini in the evenings, which sounds a little funky, but it was actually some of the best bar-side snacking I’ve had in W’burg. And it's no secret that I am a fan of the carbohydrate, and Harefield’s potatoes are seasoned and crispy in a way that helps me wash away even the gnarliest of hangovers.

Drinks: * * * *

You can always count on Harefield for a stand-up mimosa. It’s classic, simple, tasty and, above all, alcoholic. Harefield also has a great tap beer selection, which I’ve dabbled with on more than one occasion.

Stats:

Harefield Road

769 Metropolitan Ave

Brooklyn, NY 11211

(718) 388-6870

Brunch Saturday and Sunday, 11am - 4pm

Menu item + Coffee or Tea + Bloody Mary or Mimosa for $12

Blackbird Parlour

Nancy's Take:

Atmosphere: * * 1/2

Since we were given free reign over table choices, our first instinct was straight to the back to be a little secluded. Unfortunately the back tables were dark and abysmal, so we opted for front and center. The center tables were tightly squeezed together, which would be my biggest complaint about the atmosphere. I felt like the couples on either side of us were going to join in our conversation. Becca tried to cross her legs and accidentally kicked the guy next to us. Then he and his girlfriend switched tables. Sheesh, she said she was sorry! Maybe he just didn't like our conversation topics....

Food: * * *

If you are a breakfast food kind of brunch-eater like me, you will be a little bummed about the lack of options. I was, admittedly, eyeballing the Grilled cheese sandwich (with truffle oil, fontina & manouri cheese) and the Rustic macaroni & cheese (with sundried tomato and caramelized onion).
Being a breakfast brunch girl, I ended up ordering an egg frittata wrap, with the option to add bacon inside and a sundried tomato chutney. When our food came, mine had home fries and bacon on the side, while Becca's did not. We scratched our heads for a second and I could see the sad look in Becca's eyes. A nearby server noticed our concern and asked to help. Apparently, you have to specify that you want the sides, and it costs extra. This added confusion, because I HADN'T actually specified. Regardless, the server immediately brought some potatoes for Becca. Once we got the check, we noticed Becca's potatoes were charged but I was only charged for the wrap. Go figure! Sounds like a big mix-up in the kitchen. I will say that the wrap, potatoes, and bacon were all delicious.

Drinks: * * * * *

2-for-1 Mimosas
Taste: tasty and strong. I was pleased that they didn't water down the drinks for the 2-for-1 special. And the deal applies every time, so we went for a second round!
Size: Champagne flute.
Garnishes: none

Becca’s Take:

Atmosphere: * * *

I like the look of Blackbird because it’s kitschy and old-timey. All the chairs are funky and mis-matched, and the entire back wall is a large bookcase filled with old classics that all have brilliant 60’s/70’s-era cover designs. The tables are a little tight, but hell, this is New York. Our waitress was really sweet – probably an aspiring actress – and passed no judgment of the 8 mimosas that eventually made it to our small table for 2.

Food * * *

As Nancy explained, the breakfast menu is very limited. Honestly, if it weren’t for the chalkboard sign outside the door reading “2 For 1 Mimosas,” which stopped me dead in my tracks, we would not have even thought to brunch here. (We were on our way to Egg – stay tuned!) I was disappointed that I didn’t have many options, and, too, was thinking about getting some baked mac’n’cheese instead of a breakfast item, but refused to break the chain. I got the vegetarian egg frittata wrap, also with sundried tomato chutney, and it was heavenly - eggs puffy and cheese melted on the inside, wrap crisp and flavorful on the outside. The portion looks so small on the plate, but it was surprisingly filling. And that chutney has a bold flavor, so weak palates beware!

Drinks: * * * * *

Make ‘em strong and keep ‘em coming. Just the way I like it.

Stats:

Blackbird Parlour
197 Bedford Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11211-2903
(718) 599-2707
Breakfast - Served all day.
Open Weekdays 8am-2am; Weekends 10am-3am
www.blackbirdbrooklyn.com

Lovin' Cup Cafe

Nancy's take:

Atmosphere: * * 1/2

I thought the overall decor and appearance of the restaurant was acceptable....raw wooden booths and a substantially long bar. Not particularly memorable, but decent surroundings. My biggest issue was the lack of A/C (if there was any at all, it needed to be cranked up). It was a hot summer day and Becca and I were about to suffer a heatstroke. I immediately ordered and chugged 4 glasses of iced water, which was the only thing that saved me. Meanwhile, I used my arm to wipe the dripping sweat from my forehead during our entire brunch. We started with one waiter and ended up ordering food from our hostess, which was a little weird. I guess our original waiter had too many tables. The staff was very nice to us, and happy to keep refilling our water.

Food: * * * 1/2
I haven't eaten here since it was called "Anytime," but I was excited to see tater tots still on the menu! I ordered the Egg & cheese sandwich, on toasted sourdough with a side of tater tots. The sandwich was good enough, but not the best egg sandwich I've ever had (see Five Leaves review). My favorite part was still the tots....which I completely devoured.

Drinks: * * 1/2
(bottomless) Bloody MaryTaste: I liked the taste but disappointed in the delay of being able to drink it. I'd suggest they start chilling their Bloody Mary mix in advance. I had to wait for the ice to cool it each time - otherwise it tasted like soup...blechh!! NOT refreshing.
Size: Tall glass - great size, especially since they're unlimited! I managed to drink two of them before being too full.
Garnishes: Lemon and a lime.

Becca’s Take:

Atmosphere: * * *
I think Lovin’ Cup has a good thing going in the looks department. It’s easy, carefree and the bar is really nice. My absolute favorite part of this entire brunch was the ongoing Pixies soundtrack that played almost the whole time we were there. It was perfect brunch music. We were seated in a wooden booth, which at first I thought would lead to splinter city, but it actually was more comfortable in the crazy heat than the metal or plastic chairs I've been seated in lately.

Food: * * ½
I ordered the Sweet Jane Scramble, which has onions, broccoli and peppers and, supposedly, sharp cheddar. I think they left the cheese out of my scramble, which is COMPLETELY uncool. Not to mention, I make better eggs with my eyes half-closed in my own kitchen. It came with tots, which was the best part of my meal, and sourdough bread that was a bit stale. And though the tots were delicious, they wreaked havoc on me later, and I ended up pretty ill for the remainder of the day. Too much grease!

Drinks: * * *
Since I don’t do Bloody Marys, I was left with no other choice but to drink bottomless pints of Lovin’ Cup’s house draft. It was a pretty standard light beer - nothing wrong with it - but I certainly missed my standard mimosa. I had two pints and decided that was enough. I don’t know how I feel about beer with brunch. I mean, I love beer all the time, yes, but like I said, I just really wanted my OJ and champers. I’m a big spoiled baby, I guess.

Stats:
Lovin' Cup Cafe
93 N 6th St (Btwn Wythe Ave & Berry St)
Brooklyn NY 11211
(718) 302-1180
http://www.myspace.com/thelovincupcafe
Saturday & Sunday 11:30am To 5pm
$15 Drunk Brunch* Pre Fixe: Any Brunch Entrée Served With Coffee And Choice Of bottomless Bloody Mary Or House Draft