I like brunch.

June 22, 2010 1 note

Poco

Restaurant Information:

33 Ave B
New York, NY 10009

(212) 228-4461

http://www.poconyc.com/

Service 6/20 or 30%

Hostess(3/5 points)

I think the hostess was the last competent person I interacted with at that restaurant.

Promptness(1/5 points)

We were seated probably twenty minutes after our reservations. Our orders were taken shortly thereafter. We ordered a starter and that came out in a reasonable amount of time. Our dishes were served much later, and when we were served three of the four dishes came out together, then there was a ten minute wait for the fourth. I even saw one woman try to chase her waitress down to pay the bill and leave. Simply unacceptable.

Alertness(0/5 points)

These people are fucking clueless; I never thought I’d give a zero, but they really worked for it. I ordered sangria as my drink of choice and I was served a mimosa. When I corrected the waitress, she just said “Oh.” Then I specifically ordered the sangria for the second drink, again I was served a mimosa. I also ordered coffee twice and was never served it until some one else at the table asked a third time; it was served with no spoon so I was forced to use my knife. The last straw came when I tried to order bacon as a side dish: I was given the “just one minute” gesture, by not one but two waiters. I gave up after that.

Friendliness(2/5 points)

The hostess was nice. The waitress we had faked nice, but obviously didn’t care. I kind of wish I hadn’t tipped her.

Food and Drink 9/20 or 45%

Price(2/5 points)

The meal was prefixed at $22, which was about ten dollars higher than it should have been. The appetizer was $12. I feel like I got scammed, I really do.

Quality of Food(2/5 points)

We started with the lobster mac and cheese; it was bland, but creamy. It really needed a hint of paprika or some kind of seasoning. I ordered the poco pancakes: chocolate chip pancakes with a dulce leche drizzle, light on the drizzle. I sampled the home fries off my friend’s plate and they tasted like over cooked potatoes, nothing more. The salmon benedict just tasted gross. I couldn’t even eat a second bite of it. My friend left it half eaten, as she faced the same problem.

Quality of Beverage(2/5 points)

The coffee was undrinkable. The mimosas tasted like they were made with the worst quality ingredients and I doubt it was even orange juice that was used. The drinks that come with the meal are served in half mason jars, which are kind of pointless.

Presentation(3/5 points)

There wasn’t anything really special about the presentation, just middle of the road.

Decor and Space 11/20 or 55%

Cleanliness(3/5 points)

Everything was about as clean as you would expect. Nothing really stood out here.

Theme(4/5 points)

It’s a Spanish restaurant and bar. It should stick to that. I loved the turquoise painted air conditioner. The walls were colored vivaciously and I loved that they opened up the windows and doors so you could feel outside even if you weren’t.

Adequate Seating(2/5 points)

They simply don’t have enough seating. Also, the table we sat at had ridiculously high stool chairs. I’m 6’5” and my feet were dangling, not touching the ground. The women I was with had to basically climb into their seats. I’m not sure if this is the greatest idea considering the amount of booze people are focused on drinking here.

Location(2/5 points)

Unless you live in the neighborhood, you’re going to have quite the hike getting to this place. It’s probably a better idea to save yourself the hassle and go somewhere else.

Bonus(5 points)

1 point for taking reservations

Total Score 26/60, with bonus 27/60 or 45%

brunch

manhattan

overall 40%

decor 50%

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.

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%

Great Jones

Restaurant Information:

54 Great Jones Street

New York, NY 10012-1115
Get Directions

(212) 674-9304

greatjones.com

Service 13/20 or 65%

Hostess(5/5 points)

The hostess was quick to take my name and our party. She gave us an accurate estimate of when the table would be available. We were then invited to have a drink at the bar, which we did. What pushed her up higher was that when our table was ready and our party wasn’t complete, she told me, “you better just sit there or some one else will try to take your table.” This is exactly what should be done, not turn people away until their party is complete, as most NYC restaurants do.

Promptness(2/5 points)

This place was packed and from what I could tell there were only two waitresses. They need at least three for a weekend brunch shift. Otherwise, I think two would be sufficient. Great Jones would have normally earned a three for this, but it was very obvious that the woman working the bar didn’t know what she was doing and that only compounded the problem further.

Alertness(3/5 points)

This place really is stretched thin. They need at least a bus boy, a drink runner, or another hostess badly. I think our waitress did a great job, but the bartender was just horrible so this evens out at a three.

Friendliness(3/5 points)

The people are friendly but not overly so. It’s about what you would expect, nothing really special.

Food and Drink (12/20) or 60%

Price(3/5 points)

I’d say the food is priced perfectly for what you get, but the drinks are overpriced here.

Quality of Food(3/5 points)

Everything on the menu sounds delicious, looks delicious, but the taste kind of lets you down compeltely. The pancakes were top notch and I highly advise you to go that route. I had the smothered biscuits with sausage gravy and eggs that were just as bland as could be. The did have grits—I love love love grits—but they were really overcooked.

Quality of Beverage(4/5 points)

The coffee is okay, their selection of beers is small, but they have a full bar. I would also like to add that I was horrified by pours on my draft beers. I watched her pour, dump half of it because of foam, repour and still end up with far more foam than any one ever should have. My roommate seemed to really like her lemonade-vodka drink. I really hope she’s a part owner and doesn’t mind wasting money or she quickly gets replaced.

Presentation(2/5 points)

So disappointing. So so disappointing. Everything was just slapped on the plate. The food itself looked delicious, but just so sloppy. I was less than impressed.

Decor and Space 12/20 or 60%

Cleanliness(3/5 points)

The place looked about as clean as you would expect. I really don’t remember anything remarkable.

Theme(1/5 points)

This place is the broadway show of brunch theme-wise. Everything is bright and there are nicknacks scattered about the place alluding to a theme but not really committing to it. I kind of hate places that do this because it feels so forced. I can’t really get on board with your Lousiana/New Orleans/South theme when 1) I’ve been to all those places and this is a tacky interpretation of them 2) the entire staff looks like hipsters 3) the mediocre friendliness compounds the problem. I would love to overhaul the décor of this place; it’s really almost insulting.

Adequate Seating(4/5 points)

This place actually does a really good job of fitting enough seats in the small space with out making things uncomfortable. I think they might be able to put a stool or two more at the bar, but that’s just me being picky.

Location(4/5 points)

It’s a short distance from the subway, but NOHO guarantees some excellent eye candy for patrons. An example, two women from Agent Provocateur walked in dressed in the best stockings I think I’ve ever seen and sat down at the bar two seats away from a woman I could swear was Farrah Fausset. I wish they would knock down the walls in front and put much larger windows in for the people watching alone.

Bonus(5 points)

Minus One Point for the three fingers of foam on my first beer; that’s the perfect way to not impress a patron.

Overall Score 37/60 with bonus 36/60 or 60%

May 9, 2010

Fanellie’s

Restaurant Information:

94 Prince Street

New York, NY 10012-3219
Get Directions

(212) 226-9412

Service 13/15 or 86.67%

Hostess(N/A)

There was one but really we blew right past her as we were seated, so I can’t really give her a grade. I would imagine they are quite good here though.

Promptness(4/5 points)

I stood by the bar while I waited for my friend to join me. After only a minute or two, I was asked if I wanted a table or a drink. When my friend arrived we were immediately seated in the back room. Our orders were taken shortly there after and the food arrived before I even had time to think about it. Our plates were cleared shortly after we finished and the bill came right then.

Alertness(4/5 points)

Our waitress was on point. My cup of coffee was never empty, nor was my water. If I have to stop you from refilling my beverage, it means you’re doing your job correctly.

Friendliness(5/5 points)

The people that work here are amazing. I was thanked by the bartender, waitress, and hostess as I left. What made this a five though was a waitress quickly diffused a pair of children having a temper tantrum at the table next to me to which the parents had given up hope. Your dining experience can be ruined by the people around you; they know that here and it shows.

Food and Drink 13/20 or 65%

Price(3/5 points)

The pricing here is average, but the portions are large. Also, this is more of a lunch and dinner place with a few brunch items, so I think they priced it according to that. I really would like if they had a brunch menu, but I think that would both attract the wrong kind of crowd and go against their essence, old bar in a great location with zero pretension.

Quality of Food(4/5 points)

The French toast is not only the best I’ve had, but was so bountiful that I couldn’t finish it. My friend had a buffalo burger which I didn’t know you could get in NYC. I tried her French fries and was quite impressed. The home fries were good but by no means anything special.

Quality of Beverage(3/5 points)

The coffee was so so. Their selection of beer is impressive and this really is a place I’d love to become a regular of the bar. I have a very good feeling that the keeps know how to pour a great drink.

Presentation(3/5 points)

There really wasn’t anything special about presentation. The French toast was presented on a plate of its own, which it deserved and I liked. The sides all had their own dishes which made them more manageable. The fries were served with the burger as normal.

Decor and Space 17/20 or 85%

Cleanliness(3/5 points)

This place was about as clean as you would expect. I’m sure it could use a little dusting, but the dishes, etc. all were clean as could be. On second thought, the dust is where it should be. Cleaning the place might take away from the ambiance.

Theme(5/5 points)

Established in 1890 with the liquor licenses posted on the walls to prove it. The pictures on the walls are mostly black and white, only adding to the old New York feel. The ceilings are black tile which brings the lighting down a bit. This place just oozes welcome.

Adequate Seating(4/5 points)

They spaced this perfectly. Also, there is a back room with even more seating and larger tables if you have more than four people. The downside here is that my chair was actually a folding chair and didn’t feel right height-wise.

Location(5/5 points)

You couldn’t get a better location if you tried. It’s dead in the middle of SoHo and only a block from the train station. Enjoy watching people out the window as they shop and you wait for your table or sit at the bar. I must have passed the place a hundred times and never noticed it.

Bonus(5 points)

One point for easily being the oldest place I’ve visited.

One point for the bravado to post your liquor licenses from 1890 to present on the wall. It’s the kind of bad ass statement that says “I’ve been here, I’m going to be here, don’t even try to change me; I’m the real thing.”

Overall 43/55 with bonus 45/55 or 81.81%

Priorities + Convenience + Big Bag of Broke.

I find this both hilarious and poignant; she forgot we we’re expensing the drinks.

Penelope

Restaurant Information:

159 Lexington Avenue

New York, NY 10016-8154
Get Directions

(212) 481-3800

penelopenyc.com

Service 8/20 or 40%

Hostess(2/5 points)

There were two hostesses: one completely worthless, the other very helpful. The worthless one was the first one I interacted with and she told me that the wait time was going to be a hour and a half! I had her put my name down and went back out side to wait for my friend. I entered maybe fifteen minutes later and was told I could be seated immediately. Turn out, they hadn’t been maintaining their list very well.

Promptness(2/5 points)

We were asked almost immediately after sitting what we wanted to eat. Our food and drinks came in a timely manner. However, the waitress did forget to bring the side of bacon that was ordered.

Alertness(1/5 points)

This place is a mad house. They need either more waiters or more people working on refilling drinks. I think I got my water refilled once with out asking. Coffee I had to ask for another one.

Friendliness(3/5 points)

Every one we interacted with seemed fairly friendly. I wouldn’t say anything would push me to think otherwise in either direction.

Food and Drink 14/20 or 70%

Price(4/5 points)

This was going to get a normal 3/5, because their brunch pre-fix meal is about what I would expect. Then I remembered I ordered a side of bacon and what I got was a mini-mountain of bacon for $4.75.

Quality of Food(4/5 points)

We had the pumpkin waffles and the Nutella French toast with a side of bacon. The pumpkin waffles were like an autumn explosion in your mouth. The strawberries were probably some of the best I’ve ever had. I think the Nutella French toast didn’t wow me at first, then I realized they had put the Nutella IN the bread. I think the food here is definitely worth visiting again, but hopefully I forget about all the other negatives or get there early enough to enjoy the meal more.

Quality of Beverage(2/5 points)

The coffee tasted pretty bad. The OJ was fresh but served in a mini glass. I really think they should work on their coffee. The other beverages they served though looked quite tasty so this could be an issue of bad on the basics, but good on the extravagant.

Presentation(4/5 points)

The food was carefully positioned on each plate and decorated accordingly. Even the fruits were nicely arranged. The apple slices arranged on the waffles was a delightful touch.

Decor and Space 9/20 or 45%

Cleanliness(3/5 points)

Everything was about as clean as I would expect.

Theme(2/5 points)

I don’t think there really is a theme to this place. It just looked kind of blah to me. To add to the madness, it was loud. I have very good hearing and I couldn’t hear the person sitting across from me. If they worked on the acoustics of the place, it might be a more enjoyable meal. Honestly, I couldn’t wait to get out of here and on to the NYC streets where I could understand the conversation I was having.

Adequate Seating(2/5 points)

There are far too many tables and not enough space to handle it. We had to slide our table over several times to let people out of their spots.

Location(2/5 points)

It’s a few block from the 6 line, but this area is basically dead. You’re not going to really want to look out the windows to see anything but buildings. Additionally, the type of people that visit here looked to be mainly couples in their 40s wearing gym clothes, or groups of single girls trying to out dress each other but put no effort into hiding their hangovers.

Bonus(5 points)

None.

Total Score 31/60, or 51.67%

Arlo & Esme

Restaurant Information:

42 E 1st St

New York, NY 10003-9345

(212) 777-5617

http://arloandesme.com/

Map:

View Larger Map

Service (10/15) or 67%

Hostess(N/A)

There really isn’t a hostess, nor are you really designated a waiter or waitress. They just kind of hover between working behind the bar and waiting on you.

Promptness(3/5 points)

They were very good at getting us seated—there was no one there—and at getting our drinks back to us. However, our food took a while to get there so they end up settles in the middle. I really think the people working there were more interested in the guys they were dating or what happened last night or, well you get the drift.

Alertness(5/5 points)

They filled up my coffee and water like there was no tomorrow. I really was surprised at how good they were at it.

Friendliness(2/5 points)

I wanted to give this a one because the waitresses/bartenders were talking about how a regular comes in, just hangs out/reads/eats/drinks, and they find it creepy. There is no place in service for talking bad about your regulars while you’re on the job and in ear shot of other customers. Besides that, they were pretty friendly; I just couldn’t get over that initial bad impression though.

Food and Drink (14/20) or 70%

Price(5/5 points)

This place is cheap, really cheap. The two of us ate brunch for $30 including tip. There is a trade off to all of this though.

Quality of Food(2/5 points)

The food was decent. I had the French toast with caramelized bananas on top which was tasty, but didn’t really do much more than what was stated. My guest had the eggs scramble with chorizo, which was the better call of the two. I kind of felt mislead when I looked at the menu: there were seven items including the soup du jour of melon squash and a special of chicken carbonara. It’s a half-ass attempt at brunch more than anything else.

Quality of Beverage(4/5 points)

The coffee was really good. I’d come back here for coffee. The orange juice was so so. I think this is a place really more focused on being a bar than anything else and it shows.

Presentation(3/5 points)

I liked that they served both dishes on completely different plates, but past that there really was no extra effort.

Decor and Space (10/20) or 50%

Cleanliness(2/5 points)

There were giant clumps of dust on the shelves lining the walls used to light the wall. The dishes, etc. were all clean as I would expect. They really didn’t help themselves by sticking to a very white themed room.

Theme(3/5 points)

It’s a basic drink, coffee bar kind of place. This would have gotten a much higher rating but when i went downstairs to the bathroom, I felt like I’d walked into a date rapist’s grotto. The brunch is only served upstairs, but the stark contrast made me think twice about ever meeting someone here at night. Also, the upstairs has some photography that decorates the wall nicely; it gave me something to look at while I waited.

Adequate Seating(3/5 points)

This place was DEAD at 1pm on Saturday. The tables were massively spaced out and they could easily fit one or two more tables in there.

Location(2/5 points)

I would rate this higher, as it is really easy to get to from the 2nd avenue stop, but you have to pass Prune and Joe Doe before you get to this place. I can see it being a great place to bring a drink date, but other than that there are better brunch places in the area.

Bonus(5 points)

None.

Total score 34/55, or 62%

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

Bar Breton

Restaurant Information:

254 5th Ave

New York, NY 10001

(212) 213-4999

chefpiano.com

Map:
View Larger Map

Service 11/20 or 55%

Hostess(3/5 points)

The hostess was friendly and promptly sat me at a two person table. Her service was what I would expect but nothing more.

Promptness(3/5 points)

The food didn’t take too long to get to us nor did we wait forever to order. Everything was about average timing wise. Alertness was more of an issue, though.

Alertness(2/5 points)

The waiter was fairly cognizant of our need for water, which I appreciated, but other than that he was kind of oblivious. We asked for more milk for our coffee twice and it never got refilled. Also, we asked for more coffee and each of us got only half a cup. The next time I asked for coffee I got three fourths of a cup.

Friendliness(3/5 points)

The people there seemed to have good intentions just did a poor job of much of anything else. I don’t really see them as going out of their way for any customer in the near future as our service was barely acceptable when the restaurant wasn’t that busy.

Food and Drink 9/20 or 45%

Price(1/5 points)

I was going to give this a two, but then I remembered I was charged six dollars for the bacon that was advertised as being five dollars. Coffee was three dollars and worth maybe one. My “french toast” was ridiculously priced at twelve dollars. I left this place feeling like I was ripped off completely.

Quality of Food(2/5 points)

At no time during a brunching experience should I ever think, “I should have just paid five dollars at Dunkin Donuts,” but I did. My “french toast”—I’m using quotes because no part of it tasted/resembled french toast—really tasted like a icing filled donut. Also, there was really only one square of it. My bacon was slim, crumbly, and otherwise unremarkable. It’s truly sad when the best part of my dish was the fruit that garnished it. On the other hand, my friend’s Madison galette was a surprising mixture of flavors; I’d order one of their galettes if you find yourself stuck here in the future. Although I found it odd that a dessert menu was offered, the Nutella crepe was fairly tasty.

Quality of Beverage(2/5 points)

The coffee was kind of bad, which I’d normally just write off as having a bad cup. But then I had another cup and got coffee grounds at the bottom of my cup. Gross. It really wasn’t that good.

Presentation(4/5 points)

Everything did look quite wonderful when it was presented to us. However, I think only the Nutella crepe lived up to expectations; the rest was a total wash. Each piece of our meal was presented on an adequately sized dish, some more decorated than others.

Decor and Space 11/20 or 55%

Cleanliness(3/5 points)

All the tables, flatware, dishware, and glassware look as clean as I would expect, nothing out of the ordinary in either direction.

Theme(3/5 points)

I can’t really say this place had a theme. Maybe it was a wine bar, maybe it was a restaurant; I couldn’t tell. I liked the use of color but not the bench seating. It really felt like they had two totally different interior designers come in to work on the place: one for the walls and ceilings, etc. and the other for the tables and chairs.

Adequate Seating(2/5 points)

I’m 6’5” and my friend is 5’8” yet our knees kept bumping into one another at the incredibly uncomfortable booth we were seated in for our meal. I think they probably could have lost a table or two and easily made the seating far more enjoyable. By the end of the meal both of us had just swung our legs out to the aisle and leaned back against the wall as we talked.

Location(3/5 points)

It’s a very short walk from the subway in a very odd part of Manhattan. The neighborhood makes me feel like Chinatown tried to open a second section of town on 28th street, but made it even shadier.

Bonus(5 points)

No bonus points could be awarded.

Total score 31/60 or 51.67%