Monthly Archives: October 2011

Brunch at Docks in Murray Hill

Posted on October 23, 2011 | Leave a comment

After hearing great reviews about this oyster bar we noticed there was a great brunch deal at Dock’s Oyster Bar: $23 bottomless brunch cocktails and entrée.  I was beyond thrilled to try this Murray hill brunch.

Review:
The ambiance was outrageous.  There was a live jazz band, beautiful bar and lovely cloth table clothes and well-dressed servers.  We arrived just before noon, but once the clock stroke 12 it quickly began to fill up with an older crowd.

Biscuits and Muffins

We were immediately served with a basket of muffins and biscuits.  They were so perfectly moist and sweet that whenever we were down to just one the servers refilled our basket!

The menu looked

Bloody Mary and Mimosa

decent, but what really excited us what the variety of deals (versus the smaller

variety of food). The brunch options here include:

  • $17 for an entrée and choice of mimosa, bloody mary or juice
  • $20 for an entrée and choice of 2 mimosas, bloody mary’s or juice
  • $23 unlimited brunch cocktails with your entrée!

Eggs Benedict

  • The eggs benedict was average – nothing special at all
  • The bennie included poached eggs, Hollandaise sauce with choice of:
    Canadian bacon or Irish smoked salmon.  We had the bacon.

Cajun Omelette

  • Cajun Omelette came with pepper, onion, Andouille and crawfish

Huevos Rancheros

  • Even though these huevos rancheros came with fried eggs, corn tortilla, black beans and tomato chili sauce it still needed extra hot sauce just to add some flavor.  It was fairly bland and definitely not recommended.

Scrambled Eggs, Smoked Salmon Carmelized Onions

  • You can’t really go wrong with this meal, especially at a seafood type restaurant… but the potatoes were a downer.  They were bland and a waste of space on the plate.

Last Call:
We were surprisingly underwhelmed by the food – everything was bland and needed extra salt, pepper or hot sauce.  Perhaps we came on an “off day” because we’ve always heard positive reviews.  Next time, we’ll come for the clambake instead.

Brunch Review: 2 out of 5 mimosas
The Information:
Docks Oyster Bar
633 3rd Avenue (@ 40th St)
New York, NY 10017
212-986-8080
www.docksosterbar.com

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Posted in AYCD, Bloody mary, brunch, live music, Manhattan, mimosa, Murray Hill, NYC Brunch

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Brunch at Braai in Hell’s Kitchen

Posted on October 19, 2011 | Leave a comment

Pomegranate Mimosas

We can’t remember how we found this place.. we’re just glad we did. A girlfriend and I decided to catch up during mid-summer and stumbled upon this restaurant hidden on 51st Street between 8th and 9th Avenues.   This South African restaurant, Braai really had it all:

  • Filled dining room and patio/outside seating (but not overly crowded)
  • Hot wait staff
  • Strong cocktails (mimosas.. aka champagne with a hint of pomegranate.. yes pomegranate and just a hint)
  • Great food
  • Great prices
  • Great menu

Pastries, butter and Jam

Review:
The server greeted us immediately with our cocktails, jam, butter and delicious pastries.  They were so sweet and moist there was no need for butter…  Like most of the food it was a smaller serving size with enormous taste.  The greatest thing of all was the deal:  about $8-15 for your entrée and $12 all you can drink mimosas, or $12 buy one get one  Peri-Peri Mary (South African style Bloody Mary).

Side of "Slap"

  • The side of fries were great.  Served with ketchup and a dill sauce, it was a great non-greasy spin on the typically greasy side.
Safari Style Breakfast Sandwich

Safari Style Breakfast Sandwich

  • Fried egg, sautéed spinach, feta and onions on a toasted English muffin.  Good thing I love sautéed spinach, otherwise I may have thought it was overdone :)

Ostrich Benedict

  • Yes, Ostrich Benedict.  Eggs Benedict with Ostrich – it was definitely interesting and the meat was a bit more chewy than a burger, but overall it was nice to say we tried it.  We will likely not order this one again but worth a try if you like to experiment with different foods and meats.

Last Call:  This food and service was outrageous.  The menu is phenomenal.  It took us a while to figure out what to order.  So there is only one solution, must try this brunch again!  Especially if the cocktails stay strong and the service stays great.

Brunch Review: 4 out of 5 mimosas

The Information:
329 W 51st Street
New York, New York
212 315 3315
http://www.braainyc.com/

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Posted in AYCD, brunch, favorite brunch, Great Food, Great Service, Hell's Kitchen, Inexpensive, mimosa, NYC Brunch, South African

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