We’re big fans of working breakfast spots and coffee/offices, but sometimes — usually during the first few nice weeks of spring — a dedicated freelancer is gonna wanna play hooky from the coffice, pretend it’s the weekend, and enjoy a nice long Brooklyn brunch.
The problem is, of course, many of Brooklyn’s best restaurants aren’t open midday-midweek. Whenever I have a friend in town during the week, I try to take off and head somewhere decidedly Brooklyn-y to eat, but most of the usual suspects (Buttermilk Channel, Saul, Battersby, Isa, Dressler, Vinegar Hill House, etc..) don’t do midday meals. So where to have a decidedly Brooklyn weekday brunch? A few ideas…
James: This refined Prospect Heights eatery just launched a midday menu this week, which was reason enough for me to take off work for a few hours. They’re calling it lunch, but the menu is decidedly bunch-y: black kale salad with red quinoa, smoked almonds, ricotta salata and a fried duck egg; melted cherry tomatoes swimming in a sea of baked herbed polenta, eggs and cheddar; and a French toast sandwich with Parmacotto ham, manchego cheese, and onion-maple jam–sort of a high-end monte cristo. All of them are delicious, plus, if you’re not heading back for PM working, there are even bloody marys and blood orange bellinis.
Anella: Greenpoint’s acclaimed farm-to-table spot also just recently added lunch service. Things are a little more lu- than bru- here, but still sound enticing: summer squash-ricotta frittata; asparagus salad with poached egg and Parmesan; and a pancetta PLT, plus Pimm’s cup and Campari on the cocktail menu.
Roberta’s: The home of Brooklyn’s longest wait time has a secret: they’re open daily for lunch and there’s barely ever a wait. In addition to all the standard pizzas, there are also breakfast-y offerings like sausage, egg and cheese sandwiches and ham steak with fried eggs and honey.
Prime Meats: Again, lunchtime is the easiest option for getting a table anywhere in the Frankies’ empire. At this Carroll Gardens restaurant you’ll find their famous black angus Prime Meats burger, along with sandwiches and house specialties like herb and gruyere spatzle.
(Photo: James)
Dean Street Cafe in Prospect Heights!
Second Dean Street – they have a mean BLT. And General Greene as well.
according to Anella’s website they are closed mondays and open at 6pm tuesday through saturday. forget brunch. that would make lunch impossible
they have’t updated their site–they are serving lunch.