Category Archives: Great Food

Brunch at Hotel Chantelle

Posted on May 18, 2012 | 2 Comments

Get ready for the best new brunch to hit the Lower East Side this summer. Once you recover from a night out at Hotel Chantelle, come back for an incredible outdoor brunch.

Starting with the ambiance you will be immediately brought back to the old New York City feel.  From the street lights, table settings and incredible jazz band Dandy Wellington, your brunch festivities only just begin…


Review:
Thanks to Hotel Chantelle’s PR agency BWR PR, the brunch bunch of the summer received a special invite to come and try the new brunch menu at Chantelle.  Although the service started a bit slow with a little wait for water and cocktail orders, the service quickly picked up.

South of Delancy

The specialty South of Delancey cocktail includes:

  • Kettle One Citron
  • Sweet Tea odka
  • Peach Schnapps
  • Lime Juice

The crepe brunch menu was unreal.  Although it was difficult to choose which crepe, we opted for 2:

Saumon Fume

  • Smoked Salmon, asparagus, fresh dill, lemon creme fraiche
  • A perfect blend of creamy and salty

Champignons Sauvages

  • Wild mushrooms, baby spinach, Applewood smoked bacon, goat cheese
  • This dish had more mushrooms and bacon than anticipated.  Definitely filling and delicious

During our meal we met the chef Jeff Kreisel and he served us the Maine Lobster salad.  This delicious salad was perfect as an appetizer to share with the table:

Maine Lobster

  • Vanilla infused cauliflower puree, fava beans, radish opal basil, ruby grapefruit vinaigrette

Of course, we had to try the remaining 3 out of 4 brunch cocktails:

  • Mimosa:  they were in the old school glasses, a great touch
  • Bloody Mary:  tasted freshly made, with the perfect amount of horse radish: but still tasted like it was missing something
  • Mint Julep:  I’m not a Mint Julep fan, but it was tolerable ;)

Last Call:
We will definitely come back to brunch here this summer.  The food was fresh, the drinks were delicious and the ambiance was perfect.  The staff will learn to accommodate the busy brunchers from the get-go.  We’re looking forward to trying the rest of the crepes on our next visit.

Brunch Review:
5 out of 5 mimosas

The Information:
Hotel Chantelle
92 Ludlow Street (and Delancy)
New York, NY 10002
(212) 254 – 9100

DISCLAIMER:  This was a partially compensated brunch – but all reviews, posts and opinions are that of Mimosa Maven with no influence from the venue.

And in case you are looking, the brunch menu is here:

And there’s me in the reflection ;0)

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Posted in Bloody mary, brunch, Brunch Drinks, favorite brunch, Fun, Great Food, live music, Lower East Side, mimosa, NYC Brunch, Outdoor brunch

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Brunch at Phillip Marie in the West Village

Posted on January 20, 2012 | Leave a comment

After reading rave reviews of Phillip Marie we knew we had to try this brunch.  The West Village charm is incredible, and the food is even more.  Upon arrival there was already a line out the door – good thing we had a reservation.  However, similar to most hot-spots, we needed the full party in order to sit.

wall decor - ain't that the truth

Review:
After we finally sat down we were immediately served with brunch cocktails – mimosas all around served with a  splash of vodka.  (Yes, champagne, OJ and vodka)!  Of course, I started with a bloody mary – it was not the best.  So I quickly switched to the mimosa cocktail. These were serious mimosas for the serious bruncher..

  • a perfect fruity starter

Crab cake Benedict

  • 2 Crab Cakes Topped with Poached Eggs & Hollandaise and Skillet Potatoes 
  • The crab cake and eggs benedict was “perfect”

Traditional Egg Benedict

  • Traditional and perfect!  Served with 3 eggs and skillet potatoes

Buttermilk Pancakes

  • Topped with Fresh Whipped Cream & Strawberries
  • Pancakes were tasty with homemade cream (no syrup needed)

Frittatta was runny and delicious - the potatoes were incredible!

  • Unfortunately, this frittata is no longer on the menu

But no worries, we enjoyed our meal before having all of our refills of the strong mimosa cocktail.  Next thing we knew, we ended up having a major Sunday Funday throughout the West Village!

Last Call:
This is hands down one of the best brunch experiences thus far.  The food was overall fantastic, the price was fair,  the service was incredible and most of the all, the laid back yet preppy atmosphere was perfect for a summer-time brunch.  I’m looking to head back this winter!

Brunch Review:  5 out of 5 mimosas

The Information
Phillip Marie
569 Hudson Street
New York, NY 10014
(at 11th ave)
212-242-6200

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Posted in AYCD, Bloody mary, brunch, favorite brunch, Great Food, Great Service, Greenwich Village, mimosa, NYC Brunch, West Village

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Brunch at Diablo Royale West Village

Posted on December 12, 2011 | 2 Comments

Thank the devil for Diablo Royale West Village!  We’ve been here twice but this review is for the first time experience…

Review:
Without a reservation three of us walked into Diablo and sat immediately with incredible cinnamon chips that tasted similar to Stacy’s Chips.  Since we were in the West Village on a Sunday for brunch there were several large and

Bloody Mary Bar at Diablo Royale

loud parties around us which seemed to cause our server some anxiety:  he was alright but clearly the only person working the floor.

While we waited to order the food we also immediately opted for the $25 unlimited drink special with our meal and went right to the Bloody Mary Bar (or Maria for those who chose Tequila instead of vodka) and created our own concoctions.  This is an immediate plus for the maven! (Note:  This was not an option in the Fall and perhaps is only available in Spring/Summer).

Grilled Steak and Eggs

  • Grilled steak with tomatoes, onions & pico de gallo served with two fried eggs
  • Delicious and tender steak
  • The home fries and chipotle sauce was perfectly marinated and the perfect mix of peppers and onions

Chillequiles

  • Tomatillo & tortilla chip casserole with eggs over easy, chihuahua cheese & your choice of chicken, carnitas, or vegetables
  • So savory and delicious – like nachos for breakfast

Of course, after all the food we couldn’t help but want to try all of the cocktails at the venue, since we also have enjoyed a happy hour or late night bar stop at Diablo.  The drinks were sinful:

The Ricky house specialty cocktail

  • Dos Equis and frozen margarita mix – a devilish duo

Mimosa, Bloody Maria and Sangria

Although the service was great and the food was incredible.. since we were only a party of 3 the server asked that we move from our table to the bar because people were waiting. We understand the need to turn over tables.. but we had not been seated for the 1.5 hours noted on the menu and the two other large parties had been there before us.. and they did not have any food in front of them for nearly 20 minutes.  We were a little tiffed when asked to move and close our tab…

Last Call
Hands down the best Mexican brunch in NYC – but we recommend coming with a large party as you may get a bit better service.  The Bloody Mary Bar in the warmer months is a plus as well.  We have already been here twice and still receive the same less than mediocre service, but the ambiance, food and decor even it out.

Brunch Review: 4.75 out of 5 mimosas
The Information:
Diablo Royale West
189 W 10th St
New York, NY 10014
(between Bleeker & W 4th St)

East Village Location:
167 Avenue A
New York, NY 10009
(between 1oth & 11th St)

www.diabloroyale.com

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Posted in All you can drink, AYCD, Bloody mary, brunch, favorite brunch, Great Food, Greenwich Village, Mexican Brunch, mimosa, NYC Brunch, West Village

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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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Brunch at Pappardella in Upper West Side (UWS)

Posted on July 29, 2011 | 2 Comments

Thanks to DailyCandy Deals for brunch at Papardella.. but I probably could have lived without it.

We made 2 PM reservations and thought nothing of it as most brunch lasts through 3 PM.  To our surprise, no brunch menus were put on the table as their brunch ends at 2 PM.  Of course, this was not communicated on their website or on the brunch deal from DailyCandy, so luckily they obliged.

Review:

Although the staff gave us brunch, we all pre-paid for a 3 course meal.  Unfortunately, we only received 2 courses because they were out of the first course after brunch and would not prepare it again.  Great..

First, we settled for cold bread with no butter or olive oil.. of course we grabbed some from another table:

Then, we began ordering our unlimited brunch cocktails, but were not allowed to order a new cocktail until our current drink was complete.. Okay, fine.  So we tried their many drinks..

Bloody and mimosa

Breakfast Margarita and White Sangria

Unfortunately, the DailyCandy deal did not include the entire brunch menu, we were limited to about 4 dishes.  The food came out quickly and was overall a delicious meal:

Eggs Benedict

  • Served with toasted brioche, poached eggs, prosciutto di parma, hollandaise, roasted potatoes & field greens

Spaghetti Frittata

  • Served  with zucchini, sun-dried tomato, peas, mozzarella egg & parsley.  They may have overdid it with the spaghetti.. but this was a delicious and different dish!

Farmers Omelet

  • Served with tomato, baby spinach, ricotta , roasted potatoes & field greens.  Could have used a little less cheese..

During our meal, our waitress even left and went on break.  Strange.  When she came back, we received our third course of biscotti.  Delish!

Biscotti at Pappardella

The crew after several cocktails and 3 hours at Papardella:

Last Call:  The food was great.. the service was not.  The drinks were weak.. but the girls had a blast!  Overall, I can’t imagine travelling to the Upper West Side for another brunch here.  Perhaps their vegan menu is great.. and their dinner looked delish.  But no more brunch here for me.

The Information
Pappardella
316 Columbus Ave. #1
New York, NY 10023
(212) 595-7996

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Posted in AYCD, brunch, Fun, Great Food, Italian Brunch, Manhattan, mimosa, NYC Brunch, Poor Service, Upper West Side

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Brunch at Riverpark Cafe on the East River NYC

Posted on July 3, 2011 | Leave a comment

Hidden away, right on the East River is a quiet and elegant restaurant,

Riverpark Cafe.  On our search for an intimate and delicious brunch location for our 3-year anniversary, the boyfriend and I were not looking for a party brunch, or all-inclusive drinks for this brunch.  We were on the search for an elegant, intimate and unique location.  And there it was..

We’ve heard this Tom Collicchio restaurant has a great dinner as well, but we were looking for a special, quiet and a bit more elegant brunch – so , thanks to BrunchCritic for their suggestion!

Review: 

Riverpark Cafe - DOA

It was completely DOA (dead on arrival) – but again, gorgeous. When we realized there was a patio we immediately opted for outside seating.  That is where we saw at least 1 other couple.  Unfortunately, it was a bit cool and windy and the heat lamps didn’t work.  The view of the highway.. errr.. River was alright:  noisier than expected, but didn’t hinder on our experience.

View from Riverpark Cafe in Murray Hill/Beekman area

After reviewing the incredible menuwe ordered one of their unique Mimosas.  This Mimosa was different because it was more than just Champagne and OJ.. it included sparkling wine, cognac and more.

Finally we decided what to order and opted for an app and two entrees.. and it was all unbelievable, flavorful and perfectly cooked:

Yummy Mimosa. (And my arm creeping into the photo) :)

Grilled Bread and Avocado App with olive oil and sea salt

  • This Grilled Bread and Avocado Appetizer was truly AMAZING. The avocado spread was like butta. A new FAVORITE among brunch appetizers.
Vegetarian Croque de Madame: Asparagus, fried egg, bechamel and gruyere.
  • The Vegetarian Croque de Madame removed the typical ham component and opted for asparagus.  It was perfectly cheesy, but the bread was a bit tough to cut through.

Fried Chicken Biscuit Sliders: Cheddar, Honey and Pickles

  • These tiny sliders had a whole lot of flavor!  The honey dipping sauce and picked vegetables on the side was perfectly palate pleasing.

Last Call:

If the dinner menu tastes half as good as the brunch menu I will definitely come back, and, I would definitely come back for brunch. I was torn between all of the apps and am glad we opted for the Avocado dish, but I must come back to try the rest! The prices were extremely fair and every brunch cocktail was unique. Who knows, maybe I’ll even set out for the beirgarten area as well now that the weather is much more forgiving these days.

Brunch Review:  4 out of 5 mimosas

The Information:
450 E 29th street
New York, NY 10016
212-729-9790
www.riverparkcafenyc.com

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Posted in AYCD, brunch, favorite brunch, Great Food, mimosa, Murray Hill, NYC Brunch