Brooklyn Label (Greenpoint)

Price: Entrees range between $9.00 and $16.00.

Menu: Old-fashioned brunch classics mixed with seasonal twists (see: the Crabcake Benedict).  Local’s favor the vast selection of vegetarian goodies be it “Organic Tofu and Potatoes” or  “Green Eggs No Ham.” Jewzy, sugar-seekers will be lured by the infamous “Challah French Toast” served crispy and topped with  homemade cranberry-pecan buttah.

Things we Liked: Quick and friendly service, warm and inviting lighting, fast and free Internet. The sage and gruyere omelet was the most beautifully presented piece of food we’ve seen in awhile, hands down.  Also: the pumpkin cast-iron waffle the fact that they allowed us to sit idly at our table well after we finished eating, marshmallow topped hot chocolate, BYOB. The birth of magic realism.

Things we didn’t like: 30 minute wait, how full we felt when we left, trek to Greenpoint, BYOB.

Overall Bruncheon Rating: 8.0 This Greenpoint cafe is a favorite among locals.  The menu provides a full breadth of brunching options appealing to  the light breakfast eater to the serious brunch aficionado.  The friendly staff, speedy service, and delicious food were a hit all around.  The BYOB factor is both a curse and a blessing.  On the one hand it makes brunch more affordable, but the mimosa and bloody mary loving crowd would definitely be disappointed.  So, if you are sufficiently hung over and can spare the booze, Brooklyn Label will nurse you back to life with amazing food and cozy atmosphere.

Nero (West Village)

Price: $20 includes bread and hummus and unlimited drinks

Menu: Brunch, sandwiches and pasta, excellent sweets like chocolate chip pancakes with warm banana compote and maple syrup, salmon eggs benedict.

Things we liked: Hummus, good service, beautiful interior, champagne, yummy belinis, dark wood tables, outdoor seating, bacon infused roasted potatoes

Things we didn’t like: The 4pm alcohol cut off, the claustrophobic dining room, unseasoned firtatta,

Overall Buncheon Rating: 8.5 This place feels like a viking mead hall, but louder. A wonderful place for an intimate bunch with your inamorata, considering the proximity necessary for conversation, but good luck brunching with a stranger or group of three or more. The dining room is small, overcrowded and lends itself to serious neighbor to neighbor elbow rubbing. The food is tasty, and the unlimited drinks are a steal. Don’t bother making reservations: the host Pietro neither writes them down nor remembers them, but turn over rate is pretty quick. There is a two hour time limit per table, and we suggest arriving early before the alcohol runs dry at 4pm. neronyc.com

Elote (Williamsburg)

Price: $11 includes coffee or tea, a Mexican brunch entree, and a choice of a cocktail

Menu: Creative Mexican menu plus pecan banana corn cakes; extensive cocktail list featuring the “Fat Corpse Reviver” (no, we don’t recommend it).

Things we liked: Chilaquiles con chorizo, friendly manager, backyard seating, disarmingly stiff drinks, amazing prices, diverse help your self hot sauce bar, chef Dan’s amusing comments on the menu.

Things we didn’t like: Passive aggressive waitress, not-so-grilled version of mexican street corn that they decided to name their restaurant after, a dirty tea cup.

Overall Buncheon Rating: 6.5. If Sunday morning rolls around and you are feeling cheap and don’t want to leave Brooklyn, this is a great plan-b. The food, served home-style (piled in a large white bowl), is decent- and the drink menu is great. Unfortunately, the restaurant’s namesake side dish proved to be most disappointing. Note: be sure not to confuse the salsa by the kitchen with the help yourself hot sauce bar, for fear of upsetting the waitress. santafewb.com

Essex Restaurant (LES)

Price: $16 includes 3 drinks, onion bread

Menu: Specialty plates like Latkes topped with Eggs, caviar and Lox; all 3 brocktails.

Things we liked: Mexican Matzo Brei, stiff drinks, sunny modern space, quick service, 11am-4:30pm brunch, woman next to us falling asleep with a smile after “too many belinis.”

Things we didn’t like: Hour and ten minute wait, worst possible club music, unfriendly staff, bad Bloody Marys.

Overall Bruncheon rating: 7.0. Not a great spot for a brunch date after a drunken sleepover (the music will give you a headache even if you’re not hungover), but If you’re with a group and have a reservation, eat brunch here. And plan to waste away the better half of a sunday. Bring some friends and see who can get the drunkest before the food arrives, which is pretty quickly. After the three included drinks, refills are only $3, which is good considering that the mute waitress fills your cup for seconds before you even finish. essexnyc.com

Reade Street Pub & Kitchen (TriBeCa)

Price: $19?

Menu: Omelettes only (served with fries), Weak Mimosas

Things we liked: Crayons, Pregnant Waitress, funny music, french fries.

Things we didn’t like: Food was cold (the cheese was not melted), Waitress was pregnant and didn’t actually work there (her words), the color selection of crayons was limited due to many months of bigger picture reverse Darwinism.

Overall Bruncheon rating: 2.5. This place is too expensive for the cold eggs, unmelted cheese, and minimal alcohol they serve. We probably would have done better with a trip to the bodega, some home made margaritas, and a coloring book. thereadestreetpub.com