Archive for April, 2008

Nero (West Village)

April 15, 2008

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)

April 8, 2008

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