May 4, 2009 |
Ask Gael
Brunch Near the 77th Street Greenmarket
As a Dovetail fan I’m guessing brunch will be stylish and delicious. Photo: Steven Richter
Dear Gael,
Thank you for your recommendations for where to take that Brit of mine after the Radio City Rockettes in December – we opted for Bobby Flays and he loved it. And now he is returning for a weekend in May. We are going to the 77th Street Greenmarket on Sunday behind the Museum of Natural History and need a recommendation for where to go for brunch – with good eggs benedict! Either in Murray Hill or up on the West Side.
BTW – things are going well!
Dear Joan,
Nothing like a good dinner for advancing romance. And brunch for celebrating it.
Just across the street from the 77th Street flea and greenmarket is chef John Fraser's fabulous three star Dovetail with a three course $28 brunch from 11:30 till 2 pm. I’m not a bruncher but I am sure his crab Benedict with spicy hollandaise will be as elegant and delicious as his triumphs at diner. You’ll also see spanish tortilla and soft scrambled eggs with gravlax. Book now. Dovetail is no secret. 103 West 77h, two doors west of Columbus. 212 362 3800.
Chef Ed Brown designed the new brunch at Eighty One. Photo: Steven Richter
Ed Brown, one of my favorite chefs, has a two course $28 brunch at his new Eighty One (now closed) that includes “Ed's Benedict” -- farm eggs with coppa, swiss chard and hollandaise. Brunch cocktails are $6, I find sitting a deux at the bar here to be especially sexy. 45 West 81st between Columbus and Central Park West. 212 873 8181.
Isabella's with its popular side walk cafe is Steve Hansen's long time a la carte brunch stand by -- at 359 Columbus across the street from the market. They do Benedict four ways -- traditional, crab benedict with spinach, smoked salmon benedict with buttermilk biscuit and dill hollandaise and filet mignon benedict with asparagus and au poivre hollandaise. 212 724 2100
Nice Matin on the corner of 79th and Amsterdam is another popular fixture of the neighborhood with a sidewalk cafe. Last time I ate there I was pleased with my lunch. 212 873 6423
Terrance Brennan's French brasserie Artisanal with an emphasis on cheese at 2 Park Avenue (enter on 32nd Street) is the only place I know well enough to suggest near Murray Hill. 212 725 8585
Hope it’s a perfect spring day.
Break an egg,
Gael