Brunch in NYC

If you’re looking for brunch in NYC, here are my go-to recs. Sure there are other places, but these are my tried and true, and if you’ve been to NY with me, you’ve probably been to one!

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The Classic Brunch in NYC: Sarabeth’s Kitchen

Sarabeth’s Upper West Side

On my first trip to New York many moons ago, my sister took me to Sarabeth’s Kitchen at Amsterdam and 80th. Sarabeth’s has several other locations now, but this is the OG. It’s small, quaint, and a good place to spot celebrity locals. Make reservations through OpenTable or plan for a wait, especially on weekends.

If you have the time, hop on the Uptown 1 train and visit the Upper West Side for the day. The Museum of Natural History is a block away and is a must-do at least once in your life. If you’d rather eat and shop, head over to Broadway to Zabar’s, a gourmet emporium specializing in smoked fish, caviar, coffee, cheese, kitchen goods & housewares. After Zabar’s, hop back over to Columbus and head South. Be sure to stop by Levain Bakery and snag a cookie for later. You can work your way back to midtown either on Broadway or Columbus. There’s great boutique shopping all along the way.

Sarabeth’s Central Park South

If you don’t have the day to spend in the UWS or don’t want to trek so far out of the way, the Sarabeth’s at Central Park South is a great alternative. It’s much larger, but it’s more local for tourists, so the wait can be the same as the smaller one uptown.

If you’re not familiar with NYC restaurants, one note— you’re going to sit close to your neighbors (not just the neighbors you brought with you.) It can be a little noisy, so just be prepared. It’s all part of the experience. And it’s going to be pricey. It just is. Don’t dwell on it. Be judicious with your money. Spend it where it counts. And it counts at Sarabeth’s.

What to order

All Sarabeth’s locations serve all day long, but honestly, I’ve never eaten there except for brunch. That’s what you go there for. I’m sure their lunch and dinner menus are great, but there are other places I prefer for that.

My brunch order is always a battle between sweet and savory. My eyes ALWAYS want the sweet, but nine times out of ten I go with the savory. My savory of choice is usually the Classic Eggs Benedict. And Sarabeth’s has one of the best in NYC. Recently I ordered the Farmer’s Omelet (leeks, ham, potato, and gruyère) with hubs, and it was fabulous. Definitely now a contender for my favorite. (Does anyone else order based on their company? I tend to do Benedicts with the girls and omelets with the guys.) My sweet choice is between the Lemon Ricotta Pancakes ($26) and the Pumpkin Waffle ($26). I cook pancakes or waffles every Saturday morning at home, so while these look SO GOOD on the menu, I usually opt for the egg dish. The omelets come with a choice of bread, so I always get one of their fabulous pumpkin muffins (who needs boring old toast?!?). Oh, and they have a bomb cinnamon roll. My sweet friend Amanda Jane Cooper snagged one of those at brunch with my girls. We were drooling.

 

The Modern Brunch in NYC: The Harold

Location

The Harold is a new find for brunch in NYC that I stumbled on with my daughters a few years ago. We were on a jaunt from midtown to Battery Park (yes by foot). We decided to just find something new when we got hungry for brunch. Making our way South to Herald Square, we came upon a cute spot called The Harold. I’m a risk taker and we were starving, so we took a chance. And wow—I’m so glad we did! (Did I mention you should venture out while in NYC?—It pays off!).

The inside is comfortable and modern with dark masculine woods. It has a cafe-meets-pub feel. If the weather is good, try to snag an outside table. You’re in Herald Square which is beautiful in the spring and fall and great for people watching.

What to order

It’s same song second verse as far as what I order here—I’m determined to find the best eggs benedict in the world. And I may have found it. I do love Sarabeth’s, but The Harold’s version ($19) has taken the lead. Their champagne hollandaise and side of rosemary potatoes clinched the win. (I’ve never met a Rosemary I didn’t like.) My eldest daughter has a sweet tooth, so she opted for the Vanilla Bean French Toast ($18). I couldn’t resist a nibble. It was amazing.

Venture Out for Brunch in NYC

It’s my belief that you can’t go wrong in New York when it comes to food. Whether it’s high dining, street carts, local cafes or hole-in-the-wall eateries, I’m a fan of it all.

With two exceptions…

One—don’t go to a chain. Get that at home. I know some of you want to play it safe, but listen, you’re in New York! Live adventurously! Try something new. You won’t be disappointed.

Two—be careful about the touristy top 10’s. There’s a lot of places that were so good back in the day that they became iconic—and commercialized. There’s a certain bakery I loved 2o years ago but it’s just not that good now. They’re not hungry anymore—pun intended. Yes, you can measure some places by the line out the door. But some you can’t. If that line looks like tourists, go somewhere else. If it looks like locals, it’s worth the wait.

Have your own special place for brunch in NYC? Please share below! We’re always up for a new adventure!

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Images courtesy Sarabeth’s Kitchen, The Harold, and personal.