I like brunch.

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 1st or 3rd 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%

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%

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%

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Themed by: Hunson