I like brunch.

June 11, 2010

Prune

Restaurant Information:

54 East 1st Street

New York, NY 10003-9313
Get Directions

(212) 677-6221

prunerestaurant.com

Service* 7/15 or 46.67%

Hostess(5 points) (N/A)

Promptness(3/5 points)

I was seated and given a menu almost as soon as possible. The food was served shortly there after and with out much ado.

Alertness(2/5 points)

I don’t think this waitress cared at all about her job. The place was dead as could be with maybe five tables for her to look over in the entire restaurant. She spent more time talking with the bartender about some guy she just started dating than with all of her customers combined. She didn’t even attempt to refill my water or coffee. Personally, I hope the relationship works out, because her job isn’t.

Friendliness(2/5 points)

I think the waitress could have been friendly, but her indifference soured the experience. The chefs looked like they really enjoyed what they were doing and would have been open to talking if they had the time. I think the bartender definitely gets points here.

Food and Drink 15/20 or 75%

Price(3/5 points)

For the quality of drink and the excellent presentation you got what you paid for here. Otherwise, I felt like I got ripped off completely and there was more style than substance for what I got.

Quality of Food(3/5 points)

The food itself was quite tasty. I had their version of traditional New Orleans meal, Eggs Sardou. The confectioners sugar slipped into the hot sauce gently and mixed well for an excellent addition to the dish flavor-wise. It all went downhill from there. There are a few unspoken rules of brunch and serving poached eggs with bread is one of them; unfortunately, the chef was unaware of this rule. After my eggs had been popped and the artichoke hearts, eaten, the plate turned into a pool of yoke, sweet hot sauce, and little else. It was served with three small fries—honestly, they were there primarily for decorative purposes. The normal way this dish is served is over creamed spinach, but their version left that out completely. If they had included the creamed spinach and provided a proper spoon, this dish would have been executed much better.

Quality of Beverage(4/5 points)

The coffee was good, not great. However, it was served with individual sugar cubes, both raw and refined. Cream was on the side in a small pitcher, per usual. The water was served in a tiny glass.

Presentation(5/5 points)

Everything really did look quite delicious. I don’t think it would be possible for them to have done a better job on presentation. It’s so disappointing that the rest didn’t fare as well.

Decor and Space 14/20 or 70%

Cleanliness(4/5 points)

Everything was quite clean. I was impressed by the spotlessness of the tables and counter tops. All of my dishes looked brand new, save my flatware.

Theme(3/5 points)

I don’t think this place knows what it wants to be. Half of it screams Parisian cafe, half of it mumbles old Americana. I particularly love the bench on the side wall and the use of mirrors near the ceilings. I would kill for that bench.

Adequate Seating(4/5 points)

I want to give this place a higher rating for their use of seating. The layout is superb, but the size of this place is just too small. It needs to move to a much larger space desperately.

Location(3/5 points)

I thought about giving this a higher score because of it’s incredible closeness to the subway stop at second avenue. Then, I remembered Joe Doe was right across the street, does a far better job with everything Prune claims to do, isn’t pretentious, and actually likes their customers. Just go to Joe Doe, you’ll have a better time.

Bonus(5 points)

One point for serving a ginger treat with the check.

Total Score 36/55 with bonus 37/55 or 67.27%

*The caveat to this is that I visited on a Tuesday afternoon. Trying to get into this place on a weekend is a nightmare and should be avoided completely.

bad service

brunch

decor 70%

food 70%

The Redhead

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%

Joe Doe

Restaurant Information:

45 East 1st Street New York, NY 10003-9320
Get Directions

(212) 780-0262

chefjoedoe.com

Map:
View Larger Map

Service 11/15 or 73.33%

Hostess(N/A)

There isn’t one and there wouldn’t be room for one.

Promptness(4/5 points)

After arriving, we were seated immediately and handed menus. We were then asked what we would like to drink and when our waiter returned with our drinks a few moments later, our orders were taken. Before I knew it, our food was served. This would have gotten a five, but I had to ask for a refill on my coffee and water twice.

Alertness(3/5 points)

I would say the alertness was about what I expect. I think my waiter was a little out of sorts that day or was just having a bit of trouble with the table next to us that wanted to split the bill in some ungodly manner.

Friendliness(4/5 points)

I’ve been to this place twice now and the first time I would say it scored a five and the second time a three. The owner/chef was beyond kind when we talked to him. This score is really a four leaning hard to a five.

Food and Drink 19/20 or 95%

Price(4/5 points)

I think the prices are really fair here and you get some great food for what you pay for when you dine here. The downside is that this is clearly a place that is run by a chef that has to charge you slightly more than you would at some other place that’s very corporate and doesn’t care half as much about their ingredients.

Quality of Food(5/5 points)

You are not going to find better quality of food anywhere. More creative, possibly, larger portions, maybe, but not higher quality. Every meal is served with fresh biscuits and butter. I had an egg chorizo scramble with avocado and various vegetables. The menu has a few standard dishes, but for the most part it changes regularly as the chef sees fit. Also, there will be meats and cheese of the day on special. I’d also offer the caveat that if you don’t know what something is, ask. There are some applications of meats that you wouldn’t normally eat or be offered for brunch, but it’s good to know what you’re getting into before you start the adventure.

Quality of Beverage(5/5 points)

I had to cut myself off after the third cup of coffee—it’s that good. Water was served as it should be and the glasses were neither too big, nor too small. They also have a selection of microbrew beers on tap that just make me drool looking at the list. I haven’t sampled any of the alcoholic beverages, but I’m sure they don’t disappoint.

Presentation(5/5 points)

I think I saw at least three different types of plates for different dishes. When my order came, I looked at it and thought to myself, “this is how every meal should be served.” We taste with our eyes first, then our nose, then our mouth; I was half way through the meal before the plate even was placed on the table.

Decor and Space 15/20 or 75%

Cleanliness(5/5 points)

This place is spotless. I’d be amazed if I found a dust bunny anywhere.

Theme(5/5 points)

This might be my new brunch location. The interior is almost all wood. What isn’t wood, is used for cooking or making drinks, or there for decorative purposes to make you feel more at home. If I could put a bed in the corner and my clothes in a closet, I would live at this place.

Adequate Seating(2/5 points)

It’s just such a small space. The place is wonderful when it isn’t packed, but when it’s packed, everyone is in everyone’s way. I do think they did a great job with the lay out of the seats though. The space becomes more of an issue in the winter when people take off and put on their coats.

Location(3/5 points)

The score would have been higher, as it’s a short walk from the 2nd Avenue subway stop, but on your way to this gem, you pass Prune and several other places where all kinds of brunch chaos is waiting outside. Let them be foolish and tarry on to your destination.

Bonus(3/5 points)

One point for using specialty foods of local farms.

One point for using ambitious ingredients.

One point for a menu that changes regularly.

Total score 45/55, with bonus 48/55 or 87.27%

ambitious ingredients

Le Barricou

Restaurant Information:

533 Grand St Brooklyn, NY 11211
Get Directions

(718) 782-7372

lebarricouny.com

Map:

View Map

Service 12/15 or 80%

Hostess(N/A)

If there was one, I blew right past her on my way to meet my friends.

Promptness(4/5 points)

I was given a menu right as I sat down and the waitress was ready to take my order after just moments. Before I knew it, my brunch was sitting right in front of me.

Alertness(4/5 points)

We had a party of twelve people and I was amazed at how well our one waitress took care of all the drinks and food. When we all had finished our meals she was there with a bus boy ready to clear the table and let us enjoy our company.

Friendliness(4/5 points)

I really like the waitress and the other people we interacted with there were friendly as could be. These people clearly enjoy their job and you’ll get that when you visit.

Food and Drink 12/20 or 60%

Price(3/5 points)

I would say it was fairly priced for what I got. Nothing really to push me higher or lower though.

Quality of Food(3/5 points)

I got the ham omelet and it was pretty good, but I felt like it needed something more to compliment it. One of my friends swears this is the best eggs benedict she’s ever had. I think the portions were just smaller than what I needed that day.

Quality of Beverage(2/5 points)

The coffee was horrible and the water was served in absolutely tiny glasses. I think this is another reason I didn’t feel like the food was enough; I need more water and coffee! I will say that another friend said that the bloody mary is the best she’s ever had, but I don’t much care for the drink.

Presentation(4/5 points)

I was impressed. Everything was arranged neatly and extra touches were made to let you know they didn’t just throw your food on a plate and send it out to the table.

Decor and Space 15/20 or 75%

Cleanliness(3/5 points)

It was as clean as I would expect, nothing more, nothing less.

Theme(5/5 points)

I loved the decor and seating in this place. I really felt like I had just walked into a cafe in Paris. Part of me really wants to go back here one night and hang out at their bar.

Adequate Seating(4/5 points)

I thought this place was okay seating wise, until I realized they have a huge back room for larger parties. We had twelve people at our table and they had no problem accommodating us. I dare you to try to get twelve people seated at any other brunch restaurant; it just won’t happen.

Location(3/5 points)

The location isn’t great, but it isn’t horrible either. It’s just a few block from the Lorimer L stop, and you can take a lovely stroll down Grand Street after you eat while your food digests. I probably would have rated this higher, but the shock from inside(lovely as can be) to outside(dollar stores and miscreants) of this place is what keeps it right in the middle.

Bonus(5 points)

No bonus was awarded.

Total score 39/55 or 71%

Shopsins

Restaurant Information:

120 Essex Street New York, NY 10002
Get Directions

(212) 924-5160

shopsins.com

Map:

View Larger Map

Service 11/15 or 73%, alternatively 8/15 or 53.33%

Hostess(N/A)

There was no hostess

Promptness(4/5)

Once we were seated, we were immediately given menus and asked if we wanted anything to drink. This place is all about going fast, fast, fast. They don’t waste time doing anything.

Alertness(3/5)

I think the service was exactly what I expected. Because of their promptness, they suffer a little in the alertness. I think with what they have they manage very well.

Friendliness(1/5 or 4/5 points)*

I’ve given them two different scores here and let me explain why. If you’re from New York and you’re used to hearing people say “fuck you” to each other while they work and enjoy a good spat, this place is great. If you’re the kind of person that would be offended by this, you’ll likely leave horrified. Also, you should know that they will kick you out of their restaurant and they dictate when the last person gets served. This is their restaurant and you get to eat there.

Food and Drink 16/20 or 75%

Price(4/5 points)

You get a ton of food for a very solid price. After looking at the menu you might think the prices are high, but when you see the portions you’ll understand that they are more than justified.

Quality of Food(5/5)

The food here melts in your mouth. On top of that, they are highly creative with their food creations. I had never heard of macaroni and cheese pancake before visiting this place, now I want to order it everywhere. S’mores pancake? Yeah, they have that too. I just can’t explain how many different short order combinations the owner put on the menu.

Quality of Beverage(3/5 points)

I’d say the coffee is the definite weak point of the experience. I would easily pay more money for them to buy better coffee and I think it would launch them as close to brunch food perfection as they could get.

Presentation(4/5 points)

They vary their presentation but everything comes out on adequate plates, or in some cases pans. It really is hard to enjoy the presentation when all you really want to do is eat everything.

Decor and Space 16/20 or 75%

Cleanliness(3/5 points)

The restaurant is as clean as I would expect. They make sure to wipe down each table before another customer sits, which definitely helps because some of the dishes get messy.

Theme(5/5 points)

It’s family owned, short order dining at it’s finest. You feel like you’re eating in the pantry and the Mets gear lets you know you are definitely in New York.

Adequate Seating(2/5 points)

There just needs to be more seating for this place. There is always a line to sit and they could likely fill a place twice their size.

Location(4/5 points)

It’s literally right next to the subway stop. The only thing that stopped this from getting a perfect score was the fact that it’s inside the Essex Market and if you don’t know it’s at the south side then you’re going to spend some time finding it. It’s also right by the Williamsburg bridge if you want to take a nice walk back to Brooklyn.

Bonus(3/5 points)

One point for creativity in naming the dishes.

One point for conflict resolution skills between feuding siblings.

One point for sticking to his guns and being the guy he always is.

Total score 43/55, with bonus 46/55 or 83%

Roebling Tea House

Restaurant Information:

143 Roebling St
Brooklyn, NY 11211-3365
(718) 963-0760
Get directions

Map:
View Larger Map

Service 10/20 or 50%

Hostess(1/5 points)

I was baffled at how bad this hostess actually was. She would wait for people to come in and put their name on a list then walk away completely. She’d then return and tell them their wait time. Once she thought she had a table for you she would then wander off again to figure out which table to place you. I really think she had no concept of how to do her job.

Promptness(2/5 points)

Once we were seated we were instantly approached by our waitress. We were left to ponder the menus for mere moments before she was back asking for our order. My friend scrambled to order something she had no idea what it was.

Alertness(4/5 points)

I will say our drinks were refilled with out a heart beat being missed and I wouldn’t have noticed her if it weren’t for the giant bottle of water plopped down on our table.

Friendliness(3/5 points)

I want to say they were friendly, but really I think everyone that works in the waitstaff was just trying to act friendly but really trying to appear like they just don’t care.

Food and Drink 8/20 or 40%

Price(1/5 points)

This place was so ridiculously overpriced for what you got that I was kind of insulted. I felt like my meal probably could have cost 3-4$ less than it did as could have my friends.

Quality of Food(3/5 points)

My chicken fried steak was delicious but the steak definitely wasn’t cooked all the way through and I could have done with a bit more of the gravy. My friend’s dish was basically glorified mixed vegetables with scrambled eggs and bland as bland can be.

Quality of Beverage(2/5 points)

My friend said the coffee was nothing to write home about but they did have an extensive listing of teas. I stuck to water which was served to us in an used wine or champagne bottle. I was completely unsurprised that the waitress plopped a bottle down on our table, but it seemed like a pain to her to do it in the first place. This is exactly why I hate The Water Bottle Problem, it turns the simple task of serving water into something that annoys you.

Presentation(2/5 points)

If they put effort into the presentation, it wasn’t on the two dishes we ordered. Everything just looked kind of slapdash.

Decor and Space 15/20 or 75%

Cleanliness(3/5 points)

The plates, glasses, and flatware looked about as clean as I would expect, but nothing remarkable.

Theme(5/5 points)

I LOVE LOVE LOVE the decor. This place would be amazing if the waitstaff, price, and food selection didn’t blow. Personally, I really want to take my camera and do a photo shoot in the restaurant. The wood tables and patterned wall paper comfort you and the lighting from the large windows make everything feel much warmer. I didn’t get a chance to sit outside as it was raining, but that option is available if you want it.

Adequate Seating(4/5 points)

This I had a hard time grading, I’m not going to lie. I think this place is actually perfectly designed seating wise, but because of the hostess’ incompetence interjects an unnecessary delay which in turn creates the illusion that there is inadequate seating when really she could split a four top in to two two tops or the other way around and be fine. I don’t think though she had the capacity to figure that out on her own though and thus the place looked far more packed than it should.

Location(3/5 points)

The restaurant is just a short walk from the Bedford L stop or a bit further of a walk from the Lorimer L stop. The wide open sidewalks make for a pleasant post brunch stroll. The restaurant is just far enough away from the hipsters that you don’t run into a ton of them, but enough of them gather at the restaurant for it to be annoying and that comes with the Williamsburg location.

Bonus(5 points)

If I could give negative bonus points, I would.

Overall score 33/60 or 55%

the water bottle problem

June 30, 2009

Back Forty

Restaurant Information:

190 Avenue BNew York, NY 10009-3600 (212) 388-1990
Get Directions

backfortynyc.com

Map:
View Larger Map

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%