NYC Brunch
Let's face it. Everyone loves brunch, and anyone who doesn't can safely be deemed soulless. In a city like New York where the options are endless and the crowds all too willing to wait, finding a brunch spot that has both quality food yet no line is almost an impossible task. It becomes a game of weighing pros and cons. Yes, the place makes a mean eggs benedict and good cup of joe, but is it really worth that one hour wait? Here's the trick: take advantage of free weekdays. Most famous brunch spots will serve brunch even on weekdays, either all day or up until the late afternoon. Taking advantage of my week off, I decided to check out two popular brunch spots in lower Manhattan that I've been reading so much about: Jack's Wife Freda and Cafe Orlin.
Jack's Wife Freda:
I've been gawking over photos of Jack's Wife Freda's green shakshuka for over a year now. It's one of those photogenic dishes, with its vibrant color and adorable plating, that is just asking to be instagrammed. A fan of traditional tomato-based shakshuka, I've tried going to the Lafayette street location before but was discouraged by the long lines. To ensure the lowest probability of waiting, not only did I choose to go on a cloudy Tuesday, I also picked the new, less crowded Carmine street location. At 11:30 in the morning, the restaurant was practically empty and we were seated immediately. Part of any brunch experience is the atmosphere and Jack's Wife Freda definitely exuded a cute, bistro vibe with its round stone tables, black and white tiled floor, and orb-shaped light fixtures.
However, when it came to the food, I couldn't help but feel a bit disappointed. There was no doubt that the green shakshuka was a sight to behold, but photos have failed to properly depict the true size of the dish. The portion was meager: a small dish of two baked eggs, a shallow layer of green sauce on top, and two thin slices of challah toast on the side. I could have finished the dish in five minutes, but I painfully forced myself to eat at a glacial pace, because no brunch should last less than an hour.
The yolks of the eggs were nice and runny, but eggs are one of those simple luxuries that are hard to mess up. Although the sauce would have been considered a decent salsa verde, it lacked the punch and aroma of traditional shakshuka sauce, which is made with tomatoes, chili peppers, onions, and cumin. I've always loved challah bread for its slight sweetness and soft texture, but the dish needed a heartier toast that could soak up the sauce without softening. Overall, the eggs, the sauce, and the toast worked well together, but for $12, I was expecting either larger portions or something more exciting.
I did have the chance to try a bite of my friend's Madame Freda, which was probably the better of the two choices. A pressed sandwich with duck prosciutto, cheddar béchamel, gruyere, and a sunny-side up egg, the Madame Freda had an interesting savoriness, probably from the use of the duck prosciutto. Although this dish also felt small for its price of $15, it at least came with a tiny side salad.
For dessert we split the malva pudding, a spongy custard made of apricot jam, served warm with cream sauce and whipped cream. The bottom of the pudding was the best part. The rich cream sauce seeped into the custard and contrasted perfectly with the caramelization of the exterior. Even though the top of the pudding was a tad dry , it was no problem a dab of whipped cream couldn't fix.
Cafe Orlin:
A quaint brunch destination at the edge of Saint Marks Place, Cafe Orlin serves both American classics as well as middle eastern favorites such as Tunisian eggs, hummus with tabouli, and labne cheese topped with zaatar. They're famous for their pumpkin pancakes, which are apparently sweet even without syrup, but honestly, everything on the menu looked like it would be a hit. If you pick an entree from their brunch featured items, you also get complementary fresh orange juice and coffee or tea for a total of $16.
I decided to go with something I've never tried before: the malawach, a piece of Yemenite fried dough topped with two eggs any style, olives, tomato sauce, and green salad. For $13.50, it was a relatively good deal because the fried dough was the size of the entire plate. Crispy on the edges, yet chewy on the inside, the slightly sweet dough went perfectly with the light tomato sauce. It's even better when you break the fried egg and sop up all the yolky goodness.
They also have a beautiful outdoor seating area that's perfect for warmer days. Sitting under the shade of the trees, you can leisurely chat, eat, and people watch.
Parting Thoughts:
What were the lessons I learned from these two experiences? Number one: brunch tastes even better when there is no wait. Number two: don't raise your expectations too high, especially if the place has raving reviews. Number three: the cost of the ingredients will never add up to the price you pay, but with good company on a good day, the experience is worth it.
Jack's Wife Freda:
I've been gawking over photos of Jack's Wife Freda's green shakshuka for over a year now. It's one of those photogenic dishes, with its vibrant color and adorable plating, that is just asking to be instagrammed. A fan of traditional tomato-based shakshuka, I've tried going to the Lafayette street location before but was discouraged by the long lines. To ensure the lowest probability of waiting, not only did I choose to go on a cloudy Tuesday, I also picked the new, less crowded Carmine street location. At 11:30 in the morning, the restaurant was practically empty and we were seated immediately. Part of any brunch experience is the atmosphere and Jack's Wife Freda definitely exuded a cute, bistro vibe with its round stone tables, black and white tiled floor, and orb-shaped light fixtures.
However, when it came to the food, I couldn't help but feel a bit disappointed. There was no doubt that the green shakshuka was a sight to behold, but photos have failed to properly depict the true size of the dish. The portion was meager: a small dish of two baked eggs, a shallow layer of green sauce on top, and two thin slices of challah toast on the side. I could have finished the dish in five minutes, but I painfully forced myself to eat at a glacial pace, because no brunch should last less than an hour.
The yolks of the eggs were nice and runny, but eggs are one of those simple luxuries that are hard to mess up. Although the sauce would have been considered a decent salsa verde, it lacked the punch and aroma of traditional shakshuka sauce, which is made with tomatoes, chili peppers, onions, and cumin. I've always loved challah bread for its slight sweetness and soft texture, but the dish needed a heartier toast that could soak up the sauce without softening. Overall, the eggs, the sauce, and the toast worked well together, but for $12, I was expecting either larger portions or something more exciting.
A quaint brunch destination at the edge of Saint Marks Place, Cafe Orlin serves both American classics as well as middle eastern favorites such as Tunisian eggs, hummus with tabouli, and labne cheese topped with zaatar. They're famous for their pumpkin pancakes, which are apparently sweet even without syrup, but honestly, everything on the menu looked like it would be a hit. If you pick an entree from their brunch featured items, you also get complementary fresh orange juice and coffee or tea for a total of $16.
I decided to go with something I've never tried before: the malawach, a piece of Yemenite fried dough topped with two eggs any style, olives, tomato sauce, and green salad. For $13.50, it was a relatively good deal because the fried dough was the size of the entire plate. Crispy on the edges, yet chewy on the inside, the slightly sweet dough went perfectly with the light tomato sauce. It's even better when you break the fried egg and sop up all the yolky goodness.
They also have a beautiful outdoor seating area that's perfect for warmer days. Sitting under the shade of the trees, you can leisurely chat, eat, and people watch.
Parting Thoughts:
What were the lessons I learned from these two experiences? Number one: brunch tastes even better when there is no wait. Number two: don't raise your expectations too high, especially if the place has raving reviews. Number three: the cost of the ingredients will never add up to the price you pay, but with good company on a good day, the experience is worth it.
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