Brunching at Joseph Leonard
Waking up late on the weekends is one of the great pleasures of weekends. I feel like that's the whole reason they invented weekends. Another benefit to waking up late is that you eat later... and that's crucial because if you want to eat brunch in NYC, your best bet is either super early or late. This way you always beat the rush and don't have to spend your time waiting. Seriously, some buster is standing at twelve noon waiting over an hour for a table, while I'm at home fastidiously grooming myself (note: that's a lie, I don't know how to groom myself.) So when Steph and I walked up to Joseph Leonard around two o'clock in the afternoon, it was a perfect time to stroll in and get a table without a wait. It was like heaven smiled down on us. Brunching in NY without a wait!
My eyes darted immediately towards the egg sandwich. Because it was just $12. If you add bacon, and I did, then it becomes $14. It's on the edge of being a good deal. I think the good deal mark is going to be around $13 dollars. Let's consider that it's a nice warm croissant with some eggs and bacon. Calorically speaking, this was a heavyweight. Some might call it a gut-bomb, but my gut has grown a lot since starting this food blog. The breakfast sandwich plate also comes with a side of carrots. Like the best tasting carrots I've had in a while. Recently on No Reservations I heard Ripert and Bourdain say that vegetables taste better in Europe. That may be the case, but these carrots would give carrots anywhere else a run for their money.
Steph had the saucisson a l'ail (sausage with garlic). It's a breakfast plate with eggs, hash browns and some French sausage. The sausage was really good and something that Steph was excited about because it's a French delicacy that's not often found in NY. The hash browns were also a nice touch since it was nice and crisp on the outside. For $13, the dish sat right on the cusp of being a good deal. And since you can't really find saucisson a l'ail in New York, I would say it's a fine deal indeed.
I know brunching in New York is something that a lot of people avoid. Sometimes all you're getting is pancake from a box, or overpriced waffles or overpriced omelets. But this ain't the south and we don't have a Waffle House in the West Village. I guess the price point for value could be set at a different point. Maybe $12 or even $11. But I just don't see prices like that in the city for brunch food. It's sad that New York is expensive like that, but even brunch in Park Slope is expensive. So since it's hard to win on price, at least try to eat well and avoid the wait if you can.
Joseph Leonard
170 Waverly Place.
New York, NY 10014
646-429-8383
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@JJR,
Oh, you just kind of described exactly what my girlfriend and I had at Rose Water a while back. It was pancakes and it had grapes and walnuts on top too. Guess it's the same toppings for all their pancakes. And I had the roast pork sandwich. It was filling but in the end it became about paying $12 for a sandwich and $2 for the drink. It's alright, but the food is only average I think
Danny
September 30, 2010 1:33 pm
I had brunch last weekend at Rosewater in Park Slope. Got an outdoor table for 2 with no waiting about 10:30 (they open at 10). They have a deal where it's $14 for a brunch plate and a basic beverage (coffee, tea, or OJ). I thought my pear and raisin crepes were a big scanty, and the stuff on the plate with them was sort of silly (apple slices? Whole walnuts? Concord Grape Gastrique?), but some of the other meals that went by looked like a better value. They have a pulled pork sandwich for brunch...intriguing.
JJR
September 29, 2010 5:32 pm
Ahem. A *bit* scanty.
JJR
September 29, 2010 5:33 pm