New Yorkers tend to look at breakfast differently depending on the day of the week. During the week they may want a bagel with cream cheese and coffee, or a typical American diner breakfast of bacon and eggs, while on weekends their tastes widen to brunch and even Chinese dim sum. Here are a few suggestions for finding the best breakfast spots in the city.
On the West Side in the 50‘s, the Carnegie Delicatessen is a perfect choice for a typical deli breakfast. It is considered one of the best Jewish style delis in the city. Find a table and peruse the menu. You can have freshly made bagels with cream cheese and Lox (smoked salmon), omelettes, and smoked fish. If you are the kind of person that eats anything for breakfast, this is your chance to try their mile-high Pastrami Sandwich, which they are famous for. And if you feel like a pastry and coffee, don’t miss a slice of New York style cheesecake. This is a great choice any time of the week.
Bubby’s Pie Company is a family friendly neighborhood restaurant in Tribeca that serves a great breakfast and brunch on the weekends. It is cozy and cute and sort of feels like a place you might find in Vermont rather than in New York City. Pick up a newspaper from the wall mounts when you enter to read as you wait for your table. Some of the best dishes to try are their banana walnut pancakes with real maple syrup, Huevos Rancheros, or the sour cream pancakes. Portions are huge and satisfying.
Le Pain Quotedien are all over New York City. This Belgian import serves European style breakfast. Go there for awesome breads, open face sandwiches, cafe au lait, and exquisite bakery items. Many of the breakfast items listed are organic and locally sourced.
Norma’s sounds like it should be overly fancy because it is located in Le Parker Meridien hotel, and yes it is expensive, but it serves amazing gourmet food. Try their Chocolate Decadence French Toast, Duck Hash, or the Foie Gras Brioche French Toast for an over the top brunch treat.
On the Upper East Side, EJ’s Luncheonette is a favorite with families and young couples. Designed to reflect a vintage American diner, it serves typical “American” breakfasts like omelettes, bacon and eggs, hash, waffles, French toast, eggs benedict, poached eggs, and a nice multi-grain bread for toast. Crowded. Popular. Sometimes lines to get in.
Sarabeth’s is located both on the East Side and West Side of Manhattan. Long a favorite as a weekend treat, devotees flock there for their light as air ricotta pancakes made with a hint of lemon, salmon eggs benedict, and other decadent and utterly scrumptious choices. If you go, take home a jar of Sarabeth’s homemade jam.
Want to have some Chinese dim sum for brunch? Take a cab ride down to Chinatown to Oriental Garden on Elizabeth Street. Plan for dim sum to take a couple of hours, including the time you will wait in line to get in. But it is fun and it is the weekend after all!
About our Guest Author: Esther is a financial writer and blogger. She writes constantly about savings, mortgages and umbrella companies, but also loves to write about travel and exploring the world’s best cities.