BRUNCH!
Joseph Leonard
Jeffery's Grocery
Murray's Cheese Bar
Jack’s Wife Freda
Home
Hudson Clearwater
Waverly Diner
Grey Dog
Joseph Leonard (Christopher Street and Waverly Street) – owned by Gabe Stulman (of Jeffrey's/Bar Sardine/Fedora/overall West Village restaurant badass). Put your name in and go grab a coffee around the corner at Jack's Coffee, because you'll be waiting for at least an hour for brunch. Croissant egg sandwich, brussels sprouts, hashbrowns and fried chicken sandwich are not to miss.
Jeffrey’s Grocery (Christopher Street and Waverly Street) – right across from Joseph Leonard and owned by the same guys. The "Fresser Platter for Two" - a Jewish smorgasbord of bagels, smoked fish, caviar, eggs and hashbrowns - was all I wanted for my 30th birthday.
Murray’s Cheese Bar (Bleecker Street and Cornelia Street) – opened by the Murray’s Cheese Shop folks two doors down from their flagship store. The breakfast melt, burger or fried chicken sandwich are all winners. Excellent hangover spot.
Jack’s Wife Freda (Carmine and Bedford) – beautiful space with delicious "South-African-Israeli-Jewish-Grandmother cuisine." I can't get enough of the Mediterranean Breakfast with eggs, labne, Israeli salad and avocado. Husband is a fan of the "Madame Freda," a spin on the classic croque with duck prosciutto. Don’t forget to order extra hot sauce.
Home (Cornelia Street near West 4th Street) – The food is good, but what is great is the $28 pre-fixe brunch menu that includes two courses and all-you-can-drink brunch cocktails for an hour and a half. The kale salad, mac and cheese, cajun frittata, and turkey sandwich are favorites.
Hudson Clearwater (Hudson Street and Morton Street) - Previously mentioned in the "Cute Date Places" section, we are also big fans of their brunch menu. I have dreams about their egg sandwiches (on homemade English muffins), grapefruit brûlée, and duck hash.
Waverly Diner (Waverly Street and 6th Avenue) – The standard but delicious NYC diner, with humongous omelets (and is fairly cheap-ish!)
Grey Dog (Carmine and Bedford) – casual neighborhood spot with a huge menu, ranging from omelets to seared tuna tacos to overstuffed sandwiches. My favorite is the smoked salmon and arugula salad, served with poached eggs and avocado.