I like brunch.

Fanny

Restaurant Information:

425 Graham Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11211-1414 
Get Directions 

(718) 389-2060  * approximate times

fannyfood.com

Map:


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Service 8/15 or 53.33%

  • Hostess(N/A) 
  • Promptness(3/5 points)
My friend was waiting for me at the bar when I got there so I just joined her.  We were given menus and asked our orders right after I sat down at the bar.  As for the food delivery, it took about what I would expect.
  • Alertness(2/5 points)
I had to ask for more coffee twice and the woman was behind the bar not more than three feet from me.  Also, my glass of water stood empty for quite a long time.  The woman was clearly in a rush to do a lot of things behind the bar, but that isn’t much of an excuse.
  • Friendliness(3/5 points)
I really had a hard time grading this one; the people were kind of invisible personality-wise.  I couldn’t really judge one way or another so I just gave them a three.


Food and Drink 14/20 or 70%

  • Price(4/5 points)
You are definitely getting a lot of bang for you buck at this place.  They also have a thirteen dollar brunch special, but I ended up ordering ala carte.  My friend went with the special and we ended up with about the same bill.
  • Quality of Food(4/5 points)
They might have the best home fries I’ve ever tasted: not too oily, seasoned perfectly with rosemary and a blend of spices.  I had the ratatouille and baked eggs, which was cooked to perfection.  The times I’ve had ratatouille before this, it has either turned out too watery or has the consistency of a thick soup.  They didn’t fall victim to these though and I was pleasantly surprised.  The french fries were also quite good, but as my friend said, the fish sandwich might as well have been from McDonald’s.
  • Quality of Beverage(3/5 points)
The coffee here is well worth what you pay for it.  It’s bold, not too acidic, and very flavorful.  I had two cups because I liked the first so much.  The bloody mary, from what I was told, was the worst my friend had ever had.  After watching it being made, I don’t doubt it; it contained pretty much the lowest quality of all the ingredients needed.  Sure, it looked like a bloody mary, but I can’t imagine drinking one.
  • Presentation(3/5 points)
My ratatouille was served in its own dish with the home fries on a side dish.  My friend’s fish sandwich was served on one large white plate with the fries.  I wasn’t really impressed by the presentation; it was just kind of there.

Decor and Space 13/20 or 65%

  • Cleanliness(3/5 points)
The place was fairly clean.  All the dishes, flatware, etc. looked fine to me.  The place looked like it was cleaned regularly and it was definitely a fairly new restaurant, or at least had that feel to it.
  • Theme(3/5 points)
I can’t say it really had a theme too it, but the color scheme and other elements made you feel like it was a minimalist’s design job.  It needs more to really wow people.  Right now it really feels like it could be some one’s white walled, sparsely decorated, ground floor studio apartment.
  • Adequate Seating(4/5 points)
There is plenty of seating in this place in the front and at the bar.  Then there is a whole back room with about the same amount of space as the front.  They did an excellent job of seating this place.
  • Location(3/5 points)
It’s a few short blocks from the Graham L stop so you can enjoy a walk after your brunch.  It’s fairly easy to spot, but I almost walked into the wrong place the first time.  It’s far enough away from the station that I don’t think people have really discovered this place yet.

Bonus(5 points)

one point for having a really amazing bathroom.

one point for being able to walk in at 2pm and get served immediately.

Total score 35/55, with bonus 37/55, or 67.27%

Harefield Road

Restaurant Information:

769 Metropolitan Avenue

 Brooklyn, NY 11211-3701
Get Directions

(718) 388-6870

Service 11/20 or 55%

  • Hostess(3/5 points)

The hostess was just what one would expect.  She knew how long we were going to have to wait and who was in front of us.  She cordially invited us to pour our own cups of coffee while we waited.

  • Promptness(2/5 points)

This place was PACKED when we got there.  Though our waitress was quick to take our order, it might have been a half hour before we got our food.   I asked twice to have my coffee refilled before it was.  After the check came, I think we had to wait another fifteen to twenty minutes before the waitress came back to pick it up; word to the wise: pay cash and just leave.

  • Alertness(2/5 points)

This place is sprawling, add to that a very confused waitress, and you get less than great service.  There basically is a triangle the wait staff circles from the tables to the bar to the kitchen.  The fact that they were a victim of the water bottle problem only added to the lack of efficiency.

  • Friendliness(4/5 points)

The people here are really, really nice.  I think this place would become my favorite bar to sit and drink if I lived closer to it.  I’ve been here several times and you get that this is a family run place with all the hardships that come with it.  They have a few kinks to work out, but they’ll get there. 


Food and Drink 13/20 or 65%

  • Price(4/5 points)

I’m still amazed at how much food I got for so little money.  Everything was honestly priced or far cheaper than I would have expected.  If you’re in Williamsburg and strapped for cash, go here.

  • Quality of Food(3/5 points)

The food itself wasn’t all that impressive, but the quantities definitely were.  The first time I visited, I got the French toast and I wasn’t impressed.  The second time I visited, I got the huevos rancheros, which is a much better option.  My guests both times haven’t really said much about their food so take that for what it’s worth.

  • Quality of Beverage(4/5 points)

The coffee is so so at best and I’m not a fan of the fact I had to serve myself the first cup.  The orange juice was freshly squeezed and quite tasty.  Also, they have amazing Irish tea here, so if you’re a tea person, go for it.  As mentioned before, they suffer from the water bottle problem which annoys me to no end.

  • Presentation(2/5 points)

Presentation is not their forte, at all.  Really you get what you order with little effort put into making it look fun to eat.  Then again, you really can’t beat the price so I guess you get what you pay for here.

Decor and Space 13/20 or 65%

  • Cleanliness(3/5 points)

Nothing really remarkable to note about the cleanliness of this place.  Everything is as you would expect.

  • Theme(3/5 points)

It’s an Irish bar with a kitchen.  Everything screams Irish bar in the place.  Wood is everywhere.  I think even the owner is from Ireland.  Early in the morning, this place is more like a traditional pub, but as the day tarries on it turns more into a bar and hipster hangover joint.

  • Adequate Seating(4/5 points)

There is a ton of seats in this place.  My only complaint really is that the long bar splits the seating area awkwardly.  If it’s packed, take a seat at the bar.  If you can get a table, take it.  Also, some of the chairs are folding chairs, which makes sitting at the table uncomfortable.

  • Location(3/5 points)

The location is okay.  The only downside to this location really is that the sign is blocked by several others so you may not see it initially.  I think it is a nice hidden gem of Williamsburg.

Bonus(2/5 points)

Two points for outdoor seating.

Total score 37/60, with bonus 39/60, or 65%

Shopsins

Restaurant Information:

120 Essex Street New York, NY 10002
Get Directions

(212) 924-5160

shopsins.com

Map:


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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%

Egg

Restaurant Information:

135 N 5th St # A

Brooklyn, NY 11211-3214

(718) 302-5151

pigandegg.com

Map:
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Service 13/20 or 65%

  • Hostess(4/5 points)
I was impressed by her, I really was.  She was friendly, you knew where you stood in line, and she gave an accurate time estimate for our wait.  She also was very respectful when she asked us if it would be okay for us to split a table with another group of two.
  • Promptness(2/5 points)
Do not come here expecting to get seated right away because it’s just not going to happen.  We were told a forty five minute wait and that’s exactly what it was.  We headed around the corner to a bar for a beer and chit chat before coming back to the restaurant; I suggest you do the same.  The wait for our food was short, but chasing down a waiter to pay the bill was a bit trickier.  They took our dishes right at the perfect moment when both my friend and I had finished our meals.
  • Alertness(3/5 points)
I’d say they were about average when identifying our needs.  I do, however, feel that a lot of their responsibility was shirked off to us due to The Water Bottle Problem compounded by the individual French presses our coffee came in when served.  I couldn’t give them a higher rating because of those issues.
  • Friendliness(4/5 points)
Every one we interacted with were quite friendly.  You got the feeling that the people that worked there really cared about making their little restaurant thrive.  Other waiters and staff were happy to stop by and help out when we needed so it felt like we had more than one waiter.


Food and Drink 15/20 or 75%

  • Price(4/5 points)
Considering the high quality of all the food products put into our meals, I want to say this was definitely a deal, especially when compared with some of the other places I’ve reviewed.  I’ll probably go back here and try something else when I get the time.
  • Quality of Food(4/5 points)
The biscuits and gravy were perfect.  They had just the right amount of spice, came out steaming hot, and the biscuits sopped up enough of the gravy for you to not really need a spoon.  The cheese grits I had were as close to the right consistency as you can get with out being there; I don’t know if it was the way the grits were cooked or the cheese that made them a bit too mushy for my taste but I devoured them any way.  My friend’s eggs and bacon were over cooked, which is a bit ironic if you think about it.  Overall the quality of food was very good, but not good enough for five points.
  • Quality of Beverage(4/5 points)
The coffee was exceptionally good, but not amazing.  My friend said her juice was really good as well; I’m sure it was fresh squeezed from their farm or at least with organic oranges.  I also should note that they suffer from The Water Bottle Problem AND your coffee is served in individual French presses.  This meant no refills on coffee and I don’t even think I was asked if I wanted more when I finished my mini-carafe; it was large enough for about one and a half cups of coffee, not nearly enough for me.  Also the French press annoyed me for the same reasons The Water Problem annoyed me.
  • Presentation(3/5 points)
Nothing really impressive here in the presentation.  You got what you ordered and it was arranged in a decent manner on your dish.  Plenty of room on your dish to move things around, so no worries there.

Decor and Space 11/20 or 55%

  • Cleanliness(2/5 points)
I found crumbs on my cheese grits dish.  They either came from the toast of my friend or from somewhere else; I don’t want to know, but minus one point.
  • Theme(3/5 points)
I’m probably being generous giving this a three but everything was very simple and that’s what they were going for in their theme.  There were fresh flowers in a vase on the table.  Also, there was a brochure about their farm and crayons to color on the paper table cloth if you wished to do so.
  • Adequate Seating(2/5 points)
We split a four top table with two girls that had to be the most vapid people I’ve run into in a while—one of  them didn’t know what the word lexicon meant and the other couldn’t explain it.  This place is popular and packed.  I also think it is a converted garage which doesn’t help.  They really probably need a bigger place for the number of people that get packed into here.
  • Location(4/5 points)
A short walk from the L at Bedford and you’re there.  Also, it’s a block off Bedford Avenue so it’s far enough from the foot traffic and cars that it’s not annoying to be there.


Bonus(3/5 points)

One point for having home made biscuits. One point for having cheese grits on the menu.  One point for growing their own materials and using free range chickens.

Total score 39/60, with bonus 42/60 or 70%

Bar Breton

Restaurant Information:

254 5th Ave

New York, NY 10001

(212) 213-4999

chefpiano.com

Map:
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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%

Northeast Kingdom

Restaurant Information:

18 Wyckoff AveBrooklyn, NY 11237-2635
Get Directions

(718) 386-3864

- north-eastkingdom.com

Map:
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Service (6/15) or 40%

  • Hostess(N/A)

There was no hostess that I saw.

  • Promptness(2/5 points)

The bartender/waiter took my order but after that he couldn’t be bothered to follow up with anything.

  • Alertness(1/5 points)

On my seventh attempt to flag the bartender/waiter that was not more than two feet away from me, he finally noticed that I wanted something besides my initial order.  I almost threw my fork at him.  Also, this place gives you a giant bottle of water, which I is major pet peeve of mine.

  • Friendliness(3/5 points)
The people were just about as friendly as you’d expect.


Food and Drink (10/20) or 50%

  • Price(3/5 points)

I’d say the prices were fair for what you got.  That being said…

  • Quality of Food(2/5 points)

My french toast was crunchy?!?! CRUNCHY!! @#%$#.  The only thing that stopped this from getting a one point rating was the bacon; the bacon was fantastic and close to the best I’ve ever had.

  • Quality of Beverage(2/5 points)

The water came in a bottle that was filled with tap water and a very small glass.  The coffee was so bad I thought that I had just gotten a bad cup the first time, but no, it was just bad.

  • Presentation(3/5 points)
The french toast looked nice until I cut into it.  Everything else was just kind of slapdashed.  I get the feeling that not a lot of effort is put into anything at this restaurant.

Decor and Space (11/20) or 55%

  • Cleanliness(3/5 points)

Everything looked as clean as you’d expect.

  • Theme(2/5 points)

The theme really threw me: 90% of the restaurant is a campy hunting lodge theme, but tasteful enough not to offend the hipster locals, and the 10% that makes up the wall to the kitchen looks like a bad attempt at Mondrian art.

  • Adequate Seating(3/5 points)
The seats were placed not too close to each other but not too far either.  I saw a waiter squeeze through behind people a few times, but that’s not out of the ordinary.
  • Location(3/5 points)

It’s a short walk from the L stop, so not too bad.  It’s a bit of a trek out this way, especially if the L isn’t running and you have to take a shuttle bus from Lorimer, which will be continuing until August.


Bonus(5 points)

No bonus points could be awarded.

Overall score: 27/55 or 49%

Back Forty

Restaurant Information:

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

backfortynyc.com

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%

Life Cafe 983

Restaurant Information:

983 Flushing AveBrooklyn, NY 11206-4792 (718) 386-1133
Get Directions

lifecafe.com

Map:
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Service (11/15) or 73%

  • Hostess(N/A) (optional)

If there was a hostess, I didn’t see her.

  • Promptness(4/5 points)
The menu was in my hand before I even got a chance to sit down at the bar and my meal was infront of me before I finished half a cup of my coffee.  There was absolutely no wait for seating.
  • Alertness(4/5 points)
My coffee and water stayed filled up constantly.  When I ran out of cream more was brought to me with out me asking for it.  The bartender/waitress even balanced out making several drinks in addition to the regular duties.  She was like a hawk.
  • Friendliness(3/5 points)
I would say there was just about as much friendliness as I would expect, no more, no less.


Food and Drink (15/20) or 75%

  • Price(5/5 points)
I don’t think it’s possible for you to get more for your money than at a place like this.  My waffles, two eggs, and bacon were 9$.
  • Quality of Food(4/5 points)
The waffle was amazing.  The bacon was a little flimsy and not as tasty as I would have hoped.  The eggs were, well, eggs.  The home made biscuit was delicious and even better with the apple butter from the waffle.
  • Quality of Beverage(3/5 points)
The coffee was okay, kind of middle of the road coffee, nothing special.  I didn’t have any alcoholic beverages here, but I’m curious about the cajun bloody mary.
  • Presentation(3/5 points)
The waffle, eggs, and bacon were all crammed on to one plate that really didn’t afford you much room to work with while cutting your food.  The biscuit came on a small saucer .  Everything was fairly generic.

Decor and Space (12/20) or 60%

  • Cleanliness(3/5 points)
All the flatware, glassware, and dishware were about as clean as you would expect, nothing extravigant, but nothing gross either.
  • Theme(4/5 points)
It’s a laid back place, but the art work changes frequently as artist present and sell their works.  I like it though, as it really works as a venue for any artist, or anything for that matter.  The restaurant is a place of comfort and their take-a-book/leave-a-book policy means you’ll never be bored while you wait, if you have to wait.
  • Adequate Seating(3/5 points)
There’s plenty of room at the bar to sit, but some of the tables are a bit squished together.  Also, there is one random table in the back that I’m sure is there just as an obstical to the waiters/waitresses and to make people coming out of the bathroom feel awkward.
  • Location(2/5 points)
It’s on Flushing Avenue, but a bit of a walk from the Morgan stop on the L train.  It really kind of sneaks up on you when you’re walking toward it.


Bonus(3/5 points)

One point for having apple butter.  One point for remembering that I like biscuits. One point for having a trivia question that wins you free food or drinks.

Overall score: 38/55, with bonus 41/55, or 74.5%

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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Themed by: Hunson