I like brunch.

Restaurant Information:

349 East 13th Street 

New York, NY 10003 
Get Directions  

(212) 533-6212

theredheadnyc.com

Service 16/20 or 80%

• Hostess/Host(3/5 points)

  The host was quite welcoming and sat us immediately after we arrived. There was a party in the restaurant before us so there were only a few minutes we needed to wait before everything was ready, an understandable reason.

• Promptness(4/5 points)

  Our food came out rather quickly as did our drinks. The waiter was very good at taking care of all our needs. What kept him from getting a perfect score on this was a bit of dawdling towards the end when it came to our check.

• Alertness(4/5 points)

  The waiter was absolutely on point at all times. The meal flowed perfectly, effortlessly. When the appetizer was done, he waited until we were ready and removed it. When both of us were eating and one finished earlier, he waited until we were both done. The only discount comes due to letting my coffee cup go empty for too long in one part of the meal.

• Friendliness(5/5 points)

  I don’t think it’s possible to meet a friendlier waitstaff. The bartender was kind, the host was too, and our waiter felt like someone I’d known for a year by the time my meal was done. I really think the ownership here knows what they’re doing and clearly know how to hire an excellent staff.

Food and Drink 17/20 or 85%

• Price(4/5 points)

  The price here is what you would expect, but what you get is far more than the price. I expect the owner could raise the prices a dollar or two and I’d still feel like I was getting an excellent deal.

• Quality of Food(5/5 points)

  Getting a perfect score on food is no mistake. The dishes were innovative, delectable, and savory down to the last bite. I started with the veal grillades and grits that was served with a savory tomato sauce, mixed vegetables. The dish itself was perfectly executed but what made it stand out was the fact that the grits had been so finely ground that the consistency was somewhere between risotto and mashed potatoes. My friend ordered the Newport steak which was ordered rare AND served rare, not medium as so many restaurants do. I followed the veal up with the strawberry and rhubarb pancakes; their web menu has this listed as cinnamon graham pancakes, but I believe they change it regularly. The pancakes were some of the best I’ve ever had and highly recommend you try them yourself. We finished our meal with the daily doughnut, a vanilla nut blend rolled in cinnamon sugar. I could easily see starting with the doughnut and moving on from there, but I think finishing with it is really the way to go.

• Quality of Beverage(3/5 points)

  I really wanted the drinks to get a higher grade than this, but you can’t be perfect at everything. The coffee was good, not great. The water was served in a medium glass. The coffee was served in a regular sized coffee mug so having the larger water glass helped; I wish more restaurants would realize this.

• Presentation(5/5 points)

  I literally had a moment of pause before starting in on both my appetizer and main course. I’ve had this happen before for one or the other, but never both. You can tell this restaurant is being run by chefs that really do care not only about how their product tastes but also how it looks. I left the place wishing I didn’t have to do so.

Decor and Space 15/20 or 75%

• Cleanliness(3/5 points)

  The restaurant was as clean as would be expected. Dishes, flatware, etc. were just as one would hope.

• Theme(3/5 points)

  I don’t feel like they’ve really figured out if they are a restaurant with a bar, or the other way around. A lot of it says bar to me, especially the red velvet booths, but could easily go the other way with proper lighting, or a little touch of color here and there. It’s clear to me that this place has just started to get its footing and it’s doing a far better job than others. I look forward to seeing how it evolves.

• Adequate Seating(5/5 points)

  This place has a TON of seating and it’s all arranged to optimize the travel for the waiters. The kitchen in in the middle of the restaurant so it works well for the waiters to have shorter trips. I couldn’t be more impressed with the seating arrangement if they tried.

• Location(4/5 points)

  It’s about a block or two block away from the 1^st or 3^rd avenue subway stops depending on which route you take. The only problem I really see with its location is that it’s around the corner so there’s a chance you wouldn’t even see it; this is compounded by the construction scaffolding that is currently up on the corner.

Bonus(5 points)

2 points for giving a free drink out as a promotion on FourSquare.

Total Score 48/60, with bonus 50/60 or 83.33%