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A blog about one man's journey to find the perfect brunch in New York City.
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This is taking your coffee as seriously as it should be.
If you don’t know this chart inside and out, there is no way you are experiencing coffee the way you should be.
Also, if you’re in Paris ever, don’t order a cafe au lait when you really want un creme.
Back Forty
Restaurant Information:
190 Avenue BNew York, NY 10009-3600 (212) 388-1990
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Map:
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Service (15/20) or 75%
- Hostess(5/5 points)
I don’t think I’ve ever been so impressed by a hostess. My friend had arrived shortly before I had, but the instant I got there the hostess came up to us and then asked us if we’d like to sit at a table or stay at the bar. We were then instantly seated at a table near the window.
- Promptness(3/5 points)
We were served in an adequate time frame. Our main dishes came out just as our starters were being finished, but maybe a little early by a few minutes. I hurried a little through the last half of my donut, because of this, but soon those dishes were removed.
- Alertness(4/5 points)
There was a very alert and attentive wait staff. At one point the hostess actually started checking on people and their coffee then went back to her normal duties when needed. I don’t think my coffee ever got below halfway empty before it was refilled again.
- Friendliness(3/5 points)
I couldn’t really get a feel for the friendliness of the waiter, he was just kind of there then disappeared. He did seem a little hesitant to tell me what the jam was though, when I asked him. The hostess was super nice and I kind of wish she’d been our server.
Food and Drink (12/20) or 60%
- Price(2/5 points)
I felt like it was a little more expensive than it should have been, but not by much. The three dollar cup of coffee was what sealed this as being a two instead of a three.
- Quality of Food(3/5 points)
I wanted this to be better, I really did. When the biscuits came, they were tasty but complemented with butter that tasted off and a rubarb jelly that was almost flavorless. When the donuts came, they didn’t have the volume or sweetness that I would have wanted, a little brown sugar and flour could solve that easily though. Also, I wish the raspberry sauce had been served on the side as a dip instead of drizzled all over the donuts. I did love the hint of cinnamon flavor in them though and overall they were pretty good. I ordered the “Eggs Southern Style” which were good, but the gravy needed a little black pepper added for spice. They looked far better than they ended up tasting, which was disappointing. My friend ordered the shrimp and grits with side salad, which she was hesitant to do. I think she inhaled the shrimp and grits but lazily picked at the side salad.
- Quality of Beverage(3/5 points)
I only had water and coffee here. The coffee was good, but not impressive. They served us water in a bottle and then let us serve ourselves, which I have an issue with always. This almost was a two, but the creative coffee mugs made it a three. The wine and beer list was notable and unexpected, though I didn’t care to use it.
- Presentation(4/5 points)
Everything looked so good when it arrived at the table. I could hardly wait to take a bite. The problem with this was when I actually did take a bite.
Decor and Space (15/20) or 75%
- Cleanliness(4/5 points)
I was quite impressed with how clean the dishes were. The restaurant itself also looked quite clean. I doubt you could find a dust bunny in this place if you tried.
- Theme(2/5 points)
The entire time I was here I felt like there should be a plaque somewhere that said “Western Wall Theme by Ralph Lauren, available at Macy’s and other fine department stores.” Also, there was a hook for a picture to be hung on the wall exposed. To add to the confusion, they were blaring alt-rock from the 90s, which I love but it made discussion difficult.
- Adequate Seating(5/5 points)
Very spacious seating arrangement with plenty of room for the servers to come and go as they pleased. I think this actually helped the service ratings a bit.
- Location(4/5 points)
It’s located in the East Village and a short walk from the 1st Avenue L train. I think I gave this higher marks simply because it’s quiet enough and nice enough in the neighborhood that you don’t mind the walk.
Bonus(3/5 points)
One point for having home made donuts. One point for having home made biscuits. One point for having perfect consistency in the grits.
Overall score: 42/60, with bonus 45/60, or 75%
No.7
Restaurant Information:
7 Greene Ave Brooklyn, NY 11238(718) 522-6370
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Map:
Service (17/20) or 85%
- Hostess(4/5 points)
She didn’t seat me—I chose to sit right at the bar—but what she did do was deter two obviously crazy people from pestering the patrons. One of the crazy people was an approximately sixty year old woman that stood next to me looking at my meal asking “That looks nice, what is it?” Creepy, really creepy.
- Promptness(4/5 points)
It wasn’t a busy point of the day but the food did come incredibly fast. I think I was half way through my first cup of coffee when my food was delivered. Everything else was just as I would expect otherwise.
- Alertness(4/5 points)
Every time my beer, coffee, or water got to the half way mark I was asked if I wanted more. This was carried out for all of the patrons that I observed.
- Friendliness(5/5 points)
It was slow and every one I spoke with that worked there were quite friendly. I can easily see why people come back to this place again and again. This was bumped up to a 5 by the combination of the waitstaff and the hostess’ handling of the two clearly crazy people that walked in while I was there dining.
Food and Drink (16/20) or 80%
- Price(3/5 points)
I feel like I got exactly what I paid for here.
- Quality of Food(5/5 points)
I think the omelette might have been the best I’ve ever had. The eggs were fluffy. The ham was of the highest quality. The cheese was melted just right. The greens balanced it all out perfectly so it wasn’t too greasy as most omelettes tend to be.
- Quality of Beverage(4/5 points)
The coffee was excellent, but what bumped this up to a 4 was the beer I had. They keep mainly local micro-brews on tap and I got the chance to try a rye based beer which was surprisingly good, not too hoppy, but not too sweet either. It really complimented the omelette well.
- Presentation(4/5 points)
The omelette was presented on a lovely white modern dish with far more than enough space for you to move around your food as needed. The extra garnish and decoration to the omelette is what bumped this one up to a 4.
Decor and Space (16/20) or 80%
- Cleanliness(4/5 points)
Everything that was served to me was quite clean and I was particularly impressed with the shine on the dish my omelette was served. The bar itself was also quite clean.
- Theme(4/5 points)
It’s clearly got a very new restaurant feel but with hints of vintage that welcome you. It’s comfortable and inviting. I think the door signs, the sign behind the bar, and the high windows in the back room are what stand out in my mind the most.
- Adequate Seating(5/5 points)
The seating is divided into two main sections: a small room with a large bar and the much larger formal seating area in the back. I sat at the bar where most of the other patrons at that time were sitting, but there were far more than enough tables for people to sit in should they choose to do so. I don’t think any one could ever be cramped in a place like this.
- Location(3/5 points)
You can get to this restaurant from several trains with the closest probably being the C. I’d say it’s about the right distance from most of the stations but a bit of a walk from others.
Bonus(2/5 points)
One point was awarded for the fact that they make their own hot sauce in house, which is quite tasty, but not too hot. One point was also awarded because my cousin-in-law works there so I know it’s cool.
Overall score: 49/60, with bonus 51/60, or 85%
An introduction to the blog
Why did you start this blog?
In January of 2009, my favorite brunch location closed its doors forever; it was the unfortunate end of a twelve year run for the restaurant and a new beginning for me. I put off starting my journey to find the perfect brunch location and instead brunched at various places nearby where I lived. I soon grew tired and unimpressed. Now, with this blog, I start my quest. I live in a city obsessed with brunching and brunch culture, but I’ve yet to find a solid replacement for the restaurant I loved and lost.
Aren’t there other sites like yelp, city search, and zagat that do essentially what you are doing?
Well, yes and no. Most of those sites and others break their reviews in to fairly simple elements and don’t really delve into their reasoning for what the metrics they use are and why they were rated the way they are. Also, sites like yelp, though helpful at finding popular locations, can’t really be trusted for completely accurate data because one person that gives a place three stars could be another person’s two stars, and how different is a three versus three and a half star place? You don’t know because it’s just one giant popularity contest.
What qualifies me to review food? What separates me from other people?
I love food. No, let me say that again: I love food. As many of you know, there is a direct correlation between your sense of smell and your sense of taste. Before I was sixteen, my nose was completely nonfunctional. Imagine living sixteen years with one set of tastes then having a door to a whole new world of flavor open up for you. That’s exactly what happened to me. I’m hyper-sensitive to smell—Macy’s perfume department makes me sick—and with that comes a more sensitive palate. I don’t savor moments of flavor, I bask in them.
Will I let restaurants know I’m coming or alert them to the fact I’m reviewing them while I’m there?
No, absolutely not. I want my experience to mirror exactly what you would expect to get if you were to walk in right behind me. I feel that if you alert the restaurant or let them know you’re reviewing them while you’re there you run the risk of them trying to go out of their way to impress you and thus taint the experience.
What are my metrics?
Good question and here they are:
Service
- Hostess(5 points) (optional)
I realize not all locations have hostesses but they do play a part in your dining experience. They’re the first person you see at a restaurant and generally your first impression as well.
- Promptness(5 points)
Are my requests met in a timely manner? Does the waiter/waitress meet me shortly after I’m seated?
- Alertness(5 points)
Is the waiter/waitress checking up on her customers or does he/she seem to be unconcerned? Do my water and coffee get refilled when they start to get low?
- Friendliness(5 points)
How nice are the people that I interact with while in the restaurant?
Food and Drink
- Price(5 points)
Is the price fair? Do I feel like I’m getting enough for what I paid or are they overcharging?
- Quality of Food(5 points)
How does it taste? Have I had better? Could it be better? Is it cooked well enough? Is it cooked too much? If I specified cooking directions were they followed?
- Quality of Beverage(5 points)
Same idea as above, but for coffee, water, and other beverages.
- Presentation(5 points)
How does the food look when it arrives at the table? Is it all slopped onto a plate or is it arranged neatly and nicely?
Decor and Space
- Cleanliness(5 points)
Does all the flatware, dishware, napkins, and glassware look clean? Are there spots or food bits on anything?
- Theme(5 points)
Does is seem like there is a constant theme to the restaurant decor or is it a giant mess of things here and there?
- Adequate Seating(5 points)
Can I sit comfortably in my seat or am I jammed in like a sardine in a can? Does it look like they’re using their space well?
- Location(5 points)
Is it easy to get to or is it hard to find? Is it clearly marked? What trains do I take to get there and how far from the station is it?
Bonus(5 points)
Up to five points based on something that I find interesting or particularly rewarding that can’t really be accounted for in the other sections, i.e. they make their own hot sauce, or the guacamole was made in front of me, and so on and so forth.
All metrics are added together and averaged both in individual catagories and cumulative. Bonus points are added to the cumulative only.
What’s my ideal brunch?
The honest answer is that it varies from restaurant to restaurant. I like a balance between sweet, salty, and savory. I don’t believe that sour or bitter tastes have any place in a brunch, but that doesn’t mean I’m not open to trying something with said flavors. What do I mean by sweet, salty, and savory? Think pancakes, bacon, eggs with coffee and maybe juice or some other beverage. The problem with going too sweet is that you’ll get a carbohydrate crash. The problem with eating too much protein is that you end up feeling lethargic and heavy. The problem with going too salty is that you spend all your time drinking water to rehydrate yourself instead of eating. Like I said, I seek balance in the three.
Can you suggest locations to me?
Absolutely. Just leave me a comment telling me where you think I should visit and I’ll put it on my list of places to try.
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