I like brunch.

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.

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%

Arlo & Esme

Restaurant Information:

42 E 1st St

New York, NY 10003-9345

(212) 777-5617

http://arloandesme.com/

Map:

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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%

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