There is something special about weekend brunch in New York.  The top brunch spots, places like Prune and Little Owl, are perennially packed with eager eaters.  This past summer saw the advent of the somewhat disgusting “super” brunch at places like the now-closed Merkato 55, which aimed to replicate a Meatpacking night out over the noble meal of brunch. 

I have always been a huge brunch fan, though M, disliking most morning-time foods in general, detests it.  For me, there is nothing better than the blissful amalgam of hearty breakfast food and a few choice pints or cocktails.  Within the past few months two places stick out as good brunch spots, though for different reasons.

First up is Max Brenner, the “Chocolate by the Bald Man” restaurant just south of Union Square.  When someone suggested Max Brenner for a working brunch meeting of sorts, I was confused.  I knew Max Brenner as a place to grab chocolate in various guises, not as a good brunch spot.  Since I don’t even really like chocolate (blasphemy, I know), I was not looking forward to the meal at all.

I was pleasantly surprised by my meal.  The menu was relatively long and varied, with a section for egg dishes, sweet breakfast items, and more “lunch-ish” fare like sandwiches.  I ordered the “Hang-Over Omelet” (though I was not hungover) – a three egg omelet with bacon, cheddar, onion, and red pepper.  As with all of the egg dishes, this came with home fries and a biscuit on the side.

The omelet was great and appropriately seasoned; the bacon was well cooked and remained crispy in its egg blanket; and the cheddar had spilled out of the omelet and crisped up at the ends which was delicious.  The home fries were also tasty – crispy and well-salted, though they could have used a bit more spice.  The biscuit was a little hard for my liking, but came with an amazingly creamy salty butter on the side which saved it.  It also came with a little bowl of melted milk chocolate which I passed on to one of the girls at the table.

All in all, a very satisfying meal, and reasonably priced at $13.25.  The restaurant is a big space and was busy the entire time, though we did not have to wait at all when we got there (at 1:30pm).  Two gripes – they don’t have any beer on tap, which is unacceptable; and their only hot sauce is Tabasco.  Although I like my spice, plenty of people aside from me like hot sauce with their eggs, and keeping a bottle of something good should not be difficult.

Those issues aside, Max Brenner was a surprisingly good brunch spot in a great location just off Union Square.

-P

dpetc Breakfast, Reviews