New York's Best Morning-After Brunch 2008

A hidden French find where wine carafes and irresistible crepes draw a fun crowd.

Reviews:

• “Disorganized, rude service”
• “Badly Managed Serving Meatloaf for Burgers”
• “Wonderful customer service; great food”
• “great if you love noisy restaurants”
• “Highly recommended!”

Tips: Sample more than 40 wines from Paradou’s exclusive French list by ordering a quarter liter (two small glasses) or half liter (three glasses). The luscious Sancerre and rustic red Faugeres are outstanding.

Paradou or email Paradou

A blend of Jewish and Latin cuisines in a bright and endearingly trendy LES space.

Reviews:

• “Favorite restaurant in NYC”
• “Monday Night $1.00 Oysters and half price drinks.”
• “Horrible Experience!!!”
• “Absolutely Loved It!!!!”
• “excellent service and best mimosas in town!”

Tips: The hearty $16 brunch on Saturdays and Sundays includes three bloody marys, mimosas or screwdrivers.

Essex

Recycled subway tiles, antiqued mirrors, sexy downtowners and all the usual bistro favorites … It all amounts to yet another instant classic from Keith McNally.

Reviews:

• “Still trendy after so many years”
• “Good brunch, service questionable”
• “Great Customer Service, Great Food”
• “Delicious Downtown Bistro”
• “I’ll have the steak frites with a side of booty please”

Tips: Wines are split into cheap, decent and good. Prices top off at $8 a glass, $19 a carafe. At brunch, cucumber and mint freshen up the Pimm’s Cup; the bloody mary is spicy and just right.

Schiller’s Liquor Bar

Antiqued brasserie has a style that gets better with age.

Reviews:

• “highly disappointed…”
• “balthazar”
• “Consistently Excellent”
• “Tourist spot”
• “Trendy & Casual Bistro”

Tips: To avoid the nighttime crush, check out the late-afternoon lunch menu served weekdays from 3pm to 5pm.

Balthazar

Modern spot serves traditional diner fare in a welcoming and relaxed setting downtown.

Reviews:

• “It crawled across our table!!!”
• “Diner food. Nuff said. "
• “WTF?!?!”
• “Avoid! Better diners two blocks north or south!”

Moonstruck Diner or email Moonstruck Diner

Mood lighting and glamorous servers keep the focus on the crowd at this see-and-be-seen mecca.

Reviews:

• “nicey nice”
• “coffee shop regular”
• “The Truth About Coffee Shop”
• “WORST SERVING EXPERIENCE I HAVE EVER HAD”
• “a pleasant lunch at the bar”

Coffee Shop

Affordable, updated American fare in a stylishly simple Soho locale.

Reviews:

• “Jane is one classy broad”
• “Horrible Service”
• “I AM SHOCKED”
• “Great hamburger – good service and good atmosphere "
• “Love Them”

Tips: Though the restaurant is a decidedly popular dinner destination, the brunch crowd tends to gravitate toward Jane on weekends.

Jane

A gastropub with Old-World character and worthy fare.

Reviews:

• “A Wonderful Contrast Between The Senses”
• “Great burger”
• “Now THAT’S a burger!”
• “Crowded but Divine”
• “Hype, for people who dont know better”

Tips: Several fine beers are available on tap. Go straight to the classics, like Wolaver’s IPA or Old Speckled Hen. There’s a wine list too, with a small but careful selection of mostly American bottles. Glasses range from $9 to $15.

The Spotted Pig

Once an abandoned railcar diner, now a sparkling joint for pork chops, grits and cocktails.

Reviews:

• “My favorite place!”
• “The food is great——-but”
• “Nice food, service is hit-or-miss…”
• “Good food, lame service.”
• “Best brunch in Williamsburg, maybe even NYC!! Great wait staff.”

Tips: If you’re coming with a group larger than four, reserve a table in the sizeable back room.

Relish

“Top Chef” winner Harold Dieterle rises to the ultimate challenge by opening an impressive New American restaurant.

Reviews:

• “Great restaurant!”
• “Great brunch”
• “High-quality food and service without the high drama”
• “awesome meal”
• “delicious food, excellent service”

Tips: The 9 Jones cocktail ($10) is a summery blend of ginger, lime, mint and vodka; the wine list includes a small selection of half bottles.

Perilla