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