NYCGuide

Great Brunch Spots You Can Actually Get Into

Where to eat brunch when you don’t want to wait.
Great Brunch Spots You Can Actually Get Into image

photo credit: Noah Devereaux

Walk across Central Park South on a Saturday morning, and you will find two things. One, the smell of horse sh*t. Two, a line of probably 50 people waiting to get into Sarabeth’s for the pleasure of eating $20 worth of eggs benedict.

But it’s not just tourists led astray by lazy hotel concierges – you’ll find insane brunch lines every weekend all over the city. Just walk by Clinton Street Baking Company on the Lower East Side or Egg in Wiliamsburg. Yes, those pancakes and those shrimp and grits are good, but so was your sense of dignity at one point.

No judgment if you want to stand in line, but for the times when you want a good meal during the day on a weekend without having to huddle on the sidewalk for an hour, here are some great restaurants to turn to. Being crystal ball-less, we can’t promise you’ll get seated right away, but we can say the waits will likely not be memorably long.

THE SPOTS

Italian

NOHO

$$$$Perfect For:Big GroupsBrunchDinner with the ParentsFirst/Early in the Game DatesVegetarians
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Let’s say you stayed out late, then woke up at noon and remembered you were supposed to get brunch with a person that you used to live with in college. Just go to Vic’s. The Noho location is easy to get to, the food is solid, and the atmosphere is just a little more upscale than Westville. The food is Italian, which means pizza, pasta, eggs, and ricotta pancakes, and the dining room is nice and big, so feel free to bring a group.


Rabbithole is a homey spot on Bedford Ave, and it’s just far enough from the L train that it doesn’t get swamped with people looking to get brunch in the borough they’ve come to know through the works of Biggie Smalls and Lena Dunham. The space is quaint and kind of old-timey, with some antique-looking tables and exposed brick walls, and there’s a great backyard where you can eat in the summertime. As for the food, it’s pretty no-nonsense. Potatoes, eggs, French toast - you know the deal. Come with a friend you haven’t seen in awhile, and eat in the garden out back.


photo credit: Noah Devereaux

When you need to meet someone downtown, but your head hurts and you don’t want to be surrounded by tourists or bachelorette gatherings, try Epistrophy. You won’t have to wait forever for a table, and it’s mostly just a nice little Nolita cafe where you can hang out, talk to someone, and eat a vaguely healthy brunch thing like zucchini fritters with an egg.


photo credit: Noah Deveraux

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If Lafayette weren’t so big, it would be a lot harder to get into. Fortunately, it’s about the size of your average Cheesecake Factory, and there’s a lot of outdoor seating. Think of it as a less touristy version of Balthazar. It’s good spot for something a little more grown-up, although you could probably have a few mimosas and shout in your friend’s face and not get kicked out. The food is French stuff like scrambled eggs in puff pastry and a croque madame, and, while it’s on the pricier side, the high ceilings, big booths, and laid-back atmosphere mostly make up for this.


photo credit: Noah Devereaux

Lighthouse continues to be one of our go-to spots for brunch and dinner in Williamsburg. It’s casual and relatively affordable, the space is roomy and comfortable, and you can be as healthy as you please. If you want to stop by at brunch and eat a burger, great. Or if you want a “Big Salad” or some shakshuka, you can have that as well.


Veselka has been around for over 50 years, so it’s safe to say that it’s no longer “hot.” It’s also safe to say it’s an NYC staple, and exactly the sort of diner you want in your neighborhood. It’s open 24-hours, they serve breakfast all day, and the dining room is light-filled and spacious. We like it as a late-night option, but it works just as well at brunch when you can roll in and get latkes or an omelet. In addition to your typical diner stuff, there are also a bunch of Ukrainian specialties like stuffed cabbage and goulash.


Need a good restaurant plan last-minute? Bar Primi is an old reliable. It’s a comfortable, upscale-but-not-fancy space, and there’s plenty of sidewalk seating when it’s nice out. They also serve some great brunch specials like breakfast spaghetti and pomodoro baked eggs.


A low-key Middle Eastern option on a quiet block of Macdougal that seems to go overlooked. Chill out over some shakshuka when the rest of packed weekend Soho is giving you a panic attack.


Al Di La serves some of the best pasta in New York, but few people seem to know it’s open for lunch. Many of the best pastas are available, as are some Italian brunch specials. Get on it.


A British gastropub on the Upper East Side that’s a great choice for brunch when you don’t want to deal with brunch people. You might have to deal with some Premiere League soccer fans, but they’re quite nice. Unless you’re a fan of a rival team. Then you’re f*cked.


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Suggested Reading

Lafayette image

Lafayette

Balthazar, you had a good 16-year run, but it’s time to step aside. Lafayette is now the quintessential French bistro of bustling downtown NYC.

Epistrophy Cafe image

A simple Italian cafe that works in tons of situations, Epistrophy is one of our Nolita go-tos.

Artopolis Bakery image

Artopolis Bakery is a coffee shop in Astoria that specializes in Greek pastries and dark roast coffee.

Bar Bruno exterior with red outdoor sidewalk seating, black awnings, and string lights

Bar Bruno is a Mexican-American cafe in Carroll Gardens where you can drink three frozen margaritas at brunch.

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