Bottom Line:  You have to wait out the long line at least once for this classic Murray Hill brunch haven.

Tips:

• Put your name down!  They will hold a table for you.

• Offer to sit at the bar and you have a good chance of eating sooner.
• Nutella French toast
• $15 brunch special includes entree + cocktail
  

About:  Penelope is one of those restaurants that has a reputation for excellence based on fact.  The cute, suburban-coffee-shop-looking exterior is a peek into the cozy, modestly sized restaurant, with a small bar and a to-go station. The hour or so wait for a table makes the first bite when you finally sit down even more delicious! 

Food:  Classic brunch food and drink, with a couple of seasonal specialties (try the apple cider mimosa!).  The Nutella French toast is the classic dish and a common favorite - rightfully so.  But I have never been disappointed at Penelope with the egg sandwiches, omelets, and sweets.

Atmosphere:  While cute and cozy, the interior somehow reminds me of the dining hall at camp.  Maybe it is the open space layout of tables in a row, or the wooden flooring, but it adds a little something to the ambiance of the meal.  The service can be a bit slow, as the restaurant is constantly packed, but otherwise the atmosphere is pleasant and perfect for brunchtime.

Penelope:  159 Lexington Avenue at 30th street, 212.481.3800
Saturday & Sunday brunch:  8:00AM to 4:00PM

Bottom line:  You can't go wrong with Mexican for brunch at this BR Guest Hospitality chain.

Tips:

• There are multiple locations throughout the city, all with similar if not identical menus
  
• Get a free drink with your meal - even if it isn't on the brunch menu

About:  Dos Caminos is one of those restaurants that you know will be good, regardless of which one you go to or what time of day.  Part of the BR Guest Hospitality family, Dos Caminos is subject to high standards in food and atmosphere.  While the restaurant is generally thought of as a lunch, dinner or cocktail spot, don't rule it out for brunch - they have a great special and a delicious Mexican-inspired brunch menu.

Food/Drink:  Overall the food was very good, albeit a bit greasy.  Definitely not an every weekend type of brunch, but worth the occasional splurge.  (Or just order healthier than we did!).  Also, we loved the drink special - a free frozen prickly pear or traditional margarita, or classic brunch cocktail, plus coffee or tea - with your entree.

• El Mexicano Burger - ground beef (8oz) with jalepeno chili elleno, guacamole, and roasted tomato mayonnaise.  A fantastic beef burger with an obvious Mexican influence.  Filling and tasty - and comes with fries.  ($13)
  
• Smoked Chili Fries - Not a huge fan of cheese fries, but liked the chili spice on top - gave the fries a nice kick.
• Breakfast Quesadilla - handmade thick tortillas filled with scrambled eggs, chopped up bacon and chihuahua cheese.  Very good but very greasy.  Could only finish half the plate - but it was a delicious half.  ($14)
• Mimosa & Screwdriver - chilled and delicious, pretty standard brunch drinks
  

Atmosphere:  I love the atmosphere at Dos Caminos, which has a more trendy, upscale vibe than that of a traditional Mexican establishment.  Whether you are seated at the bar, in the front room or the large back dining room, you can take advantage of the interesting decor (including metallic hanging lanterns with different cutout patterns) and solid service.

Dos Caminos Park:  373 Park Avenue South, 212.294.1000

Bottom line:  $19 brunch in one of NYC's busiest parks.

Tips:

• Snap a photo of a bird in Bryant Park, then check-in on Foursquare to receive a FREE dessert (otherwise $9.50)!

About:  Bryant Park, situated between tourist-filled Times Square and businessmen & women-filled midtown office buildings, is a haven for anyone looking for a bit of greenery in the concrete jungle.  Whether you want to relax, go holiday shopping, ice skating, or juggling, the park has it all.  I had never been to Bryant Park Grill, the beautiful and pricey restaurant in Bryant Park, so when I happened to be in the neighborhood last weekend, I decided to check out their brunch menu.

Food:  When you sit down, you are greeted with a large bread basket with fresh rolls.  Note: the rolls that look like they have blueberries or raisins are actually filled with olives (ew for me)!  But the plain rolls are divine.

• Classic Eggs Benedict - With Canadian bacon, chive hollandaise sauce and roasted fingerling potatoes.  Overall very good, liked the thinly sliced meat that was used.  Also, the potatoes were nicely seasoned and very tasty.
  
• Mushroom & Cheese Omelet - Shitake mushroom & cheddar cheese omelet with a side of grilled portobello mushrooms and roasted peppers.  This omelet had a wonderful taste, but as you can see in the photo below, the mushrooms and cheese were dropped on one side of the omelet, so the majority of the omelet was plain egg.  I always prefer ingredients to be mixed in with the eggs, but if they aren't, they should at least be even throughout the dish.
  

Atmosphere:  You can't beat the backdrop of Bryant Park, especially if you are in the outdoor patio garden or rooftop garden.  (Reservations recommended if you want to eat in the dining room).  Service was good, the wait staff was friendly and accommodating.  Overall a good experience, but unless you take advantage of the free dessert (Foursquare special), I think the value doesn't quite match up to the $19 price of the entrees.

Bryant Park Grill:  25 West 40th Street, 212.840.6500
Brunch served Saturdays & Sundays from 11:30AM to 3:30PM

Bottom line:  Unbeatable $12.95 brunch special in a quaint French bistro.

Tips:

• The French toast is incredible!
• $12.95 brunch special includes one drink
  
• The restaurant is small and gets packed so make a reservation if you can

About:  Le Parisien is a neighborhood gem in the heart of Murray Hill.  A small, quaint bistro with delicious food and rustic French decor, you feel like you're no longer in Manhattan as you take advantage of the unbeatable brunch special.  For just $12.95 you will get an entree and a drink (mimosa, OJ, coffee, or sangria)!  Chef Johnathan Masse, who comes from the Waverly Inn, does a great job bringing a comfort-food flare to this French bistro.

Food/Drink:  While everyone loved their brunch, the French toast was the clear winner!  The food came out in a timely manner, and our coffees were refilled almost before we knew we were out. 

• French toast - With warm vanilla maple syrup, thinly sliced bananas and apple compote.  This was sooo yummy!  The apple compote tasted like apricot to me, and it was such a unique taste that went perfectly with the dish.  Loved how the bananas were sliced very thin so that they don't overpower when you take a bite.  This leads to the question... do the French really make the best French toast?...
• Omelets - Both the herbs & roasted veggies omelet and the ham & cheese omelet were bit hits.  The spinach was particularly tasty in the herbs & roasted veggies omelet, but the egg wasn't cooked evenly throughout the omelet.  The ham & cheese omelet came with gruyere which added a flavor you don't normally get in this basic type of omelet.
• Poached eggs with salmon - On an English muffin with hollandaise sauce.  We loved the crisp muffins and the eggs that tasted farm-fresh.  The eggs were cooked to perfection and the hollandaise sauce was well-balanced.  Also enjoyed the crispy French fries and salad that came with the dish.
• Eggs benedict - With Canadian bacon and hollandaise sauce - gets two thumbs up.
  

Atmosphere:  Except for the unsightly, tiny restroom that is basically in the kitchen, I can't say anything negative about the atmosphere here.  It was a bit loud and only as people cleared out did we notice music playing in the background.  While the restaurant itself is small, it doesn't seem cramped.  Instead, it actually has an intimate, romantic feel, and would be great for a day date.

Le Parisien:  163 East 33rd street, 212.889.5489

Bottom line:  An NYC gem behind a dingy front door, with a hidden rooftop and live music.

Tips:

• The menu is somewhat limited - salads and crepes only
• You won't find any mention of brunch or its menu on the Hotel Chantelle website, so scroll down on this page for a full menu!
• Not an actual hotel...

About:  Don't be deterred by the restaurant's drab exterior - this is a winning brunch spot in the popular Lower East Side of Manhattan.  Who doesn't love a semi-secret rooftop brunch with live music and quality food? 

Food:  The petite menu offers a few specialty salads and a variety of sweet and savory crepes.  

• Banana crepe - It's like eating dessert (and some of us did share it as dessert) - filled with hazelnuts, nutella, and acacia honey creme fraiche and topped with bananas.
  
• Smoked salmon crepe - Very tasty and made with fresh salmon (not 'lox'), asparagus, fresh dill and lemon creme fraiche.  Love that it comes topped with a small piece of hash brown - adds a nice flavor and texture to the savory crepe.
  
• Wild mushroom crepe - Another savory crepe that is a great substitute for those who tend to order omelets, this one is filled with wild mushrooms, fresh baby spinach, applewood smoked bacon, and goat cheese.
  

Drink:  Overall the cocktails were very tasty, and the coffee was good as well.  Note there is no skim milk and no Splenda (when will these restaurants learn!?).

• Mimosa - Good taste, small glass!
  
• Bloody Mary - Not so great to be honest.  Tasted like tomato juice - not spicy, couldn't taste the alcohol, just overall lack of flavor.  Go for one of the other drinks.
  
• South of Delancey - While the first two sips were too sweet for me, that quickly wore off and this was actually a favorite.  It is made with citrus vodka, sweet tea vodka, peach schnapps, and lime juice.
  
• Mint Julep - Looks (and tastes) a bit like a mojito, the mint julep is a refreshing cocktail that complements the lighter fare.
  

Atmosphere:  While the view from Ludlow street is less than attractive (simply a grey brick wall and a single neon sign with the venue's name), after walking inside and upstairs it is a different story.  The tile floor is a bit diner-esque, but the delicate design of the chair legs and bar add a nice feel.  The table is a shadow box filled with fake flowers and green, fuzzy moss-like things that nobody could figure out... but we didn't mind. 

We love the live jazz music by Dandy Wellington, fronted by a college classmate and friend of mine!  The music is relaxing and totally takes you out of your busy NY state of mind.  They play every Saturday during brunch!

Hotel Chantelle:  92 Ludlow Street, 212.254.9100

About:  This past Sunday, I went with the Brunch Upon A Time Meetup group to Rafaella on Ninth (aka Rafaella Cafe, but spelled Raffaella on their home page...so not really sure what it is called!).  There's always a gathering outside of the small restaurant, and it had been years since I'd been there, so I was excited to come back and write a formal review. 


Food/Drink:  In addition to a full brunch menu, there are two options for a special deal: for $14.95, treat yourself to a coffee or tea, an OJ, mimosa, sangria, or bellini, and a generously-sized entree.  For just $10 more, at $25, enjoy 5 drinks with your brunch.  Overall the food was very good, and I like that a healthy green salad or side of fresh fruit came with all of our entrees.

Rafaella omelet:  The omelet comes with your choice of cheese + any two ingredients.  We created these two omelets:

• Spinach, mushroom & mozzarella
• Mushroom, red pepper, mozzarella

Both omelets were very tasty, although quite well-done.  I personally like eggs to be on the dry side, but it would certainly have been too well-done for some of my friends.  The omelet itself was very tasty, good proportion of egg to ingredients, and the ingredients were mixed in the egg batter.  (As you may know by now, I have a pet peeve of omelets that just fold over the ingredients and aren't mixed together!).  The eggs came with a green salad which was a nice surprise, as well as potatoes which were a bit undercooked / too hard, and slightly seasoned but a bit too bland.

Benedicts:  Across our group, three people had benedicts: two had the salmon and one had the traditional eggs.  The smoked salmon benedict was certainly preferred, described as "juicy" and "succulent" with delicious eggs "done right". 

The eggs benedict wasn't quite as popular.  The ham came as thin deli-like slices, which wasn't bad, but the flavor of the dish overall was uninspiring and a bit bland.

The huevos rancheros was a winner, the black beans cooked to perfection and a perfect platter of ingredients.  The dish wasn't spicy, but was very flavorful - especially with the avocado on top.

The restaurant was out of steak for steak and eggs so they substituted with ham and eggs which was a relatively simple dish of scrambled eggs alongside thinly sliced ham.  A simple, yet tasty dish.

And finally, the mixed berry French toast which came with a side of all kinds of fruit - not just berries.  The French toast was very good, perfectly moist, and complemented by the excellent fresh fruit.  The fruit was a mix of blueberries, strawberries, cantaloupe, watermelon and more.

Drinks:  The coffee was very good, but nobody ever came by to refill our cups (more on the service below).  The brunch special came with a choice of OJ, bellini, mimosa or sangria.  The OJ had a good flavor but the pieces of orange pulp were very large which grossed me out a bit. 

The sangria was basically white wine on ice with a few strawberries inside (that didn't even appear fully ripe).  When sipped, you couldn't even taste the fruit, it just tasted like white wine. 

The bellini was also not a winner, as it came out room temperature, too warm to be refreshing.

The mimosa was the clear winner of the cocktails, everyone who had one enjoyed it thoroughly, so that is definitely our recommendation.

About:  Garage is one of the best places to go for live jazz, right in the heart of Greenwich Village.  In addition to nightly performances, they have a band playing every Saturday and Sunday to spice up your brunch from 11:30AM - 3:30PM. 

Food:  The diverse menu has a mix of breakfasty and lunchy items as part of a great special.  For $16.95 you get an entree and a cocktail, and for $6 more you get unlimited cocktails!  Also, the huge portions will keep you nibbling throughout the jazz performance!

I'm showing the dessert first because it was sooo good!  This was a special on the day we went, glazed donuts filled with vanilla ice cream, topped with whipped cream, chocolate sauce, raspberry sauce, a strawberry and a cookie!  Similar to Holey Cream in Hell's Kitchen, with a more gourmet twist, this donut ice cream sandwich was out of this world!  One order was enough for a table of nine (nobody felt guilty having a couple of bites).

Most of us got egg dishes and overall we were very pleased with our brunch.  The omelets are huge and come with a nice assortment of extras including a mini watermelon slice and orange slice to cleanse the palate.  The one negative of the entire meal from a food perspective was the potato scoop.  Our table was fifty-fifty about it, and I was on the 'not a fan' side.  it comes as a mashed potato scoop that has pieces of potato skin and something like bread crumbs inside.  Not a traditional breakfast potato and I didn't really know what to do with it. 

Aside from the potato ... thing... the omelets were spectacular:

• Caprese omelet: with diced beefsteak tomatoes, fresh basil and grated mozzarella.  Flavorful and garden-fresh.  The fresh taste makes you feel like you are in the Italian countryside! Definitely a favorite dish at Garage.
• Bacon and cheese omelet:  with applewood smoked bacon and Vermont cheddar cheese.  This omelet was delicious!  There were quite a bit of full pieces of bacon in this omelet (not little cut up bits like you may find elsewhere).  The white cheddar was very tasty as well and was a good complement to the bacon.
• Farmer's market omelet:  eggs filled with fresh roasted zucchini, tomatoes, asparagus, eggplant, and yellow squash tossed with goat cheese.  (We didn't have it with the goat cheese).  Pretty standard veggie omelet with some more exotic veggies that you don't normally see in an omelet.
• Spinach and mushroom omelet: with fresh spinach, cremini mushrooms, sun-dried tomatoes, and a slice of brie.  The brie adds an interesting twist to a traditional omelet and literally melts in your mouth.  The sun-dried tomatoes also added a nice flavor to the great mix of ingredients.
  

The non-omelet items were also winners at Garage:

• Garage Benedict:  One of the restaurant's specialty benedicts, the Garage Benedict has lightly poached farm fresh eggs with Nova Scotia smoked salmon, asparagus and homemade hollandaise.  ($3 additional to the $16.95 brunch special).  This was a favorite dish at Garage, and the salmon was described as "delicately scrumptious".  the eggs were very tasty and the whole dish was awesome.
  
• Garage chicken cobb salad:  A standard cobb salad with the nice surprise of having a healthier greens (spinach) mixed into the salad.  The applewood bacon was divine and went well with the tarragon ginger dressing.  Other dressings are available as well, but the tarragon was delicious.  The salad is giant and a great pick if you are looking for more of a lunch-brunch. ($2 additional to the $16.95 brunch special).
  

Drinks:  As part of the $16.95 brunch special, a bloody Mary, screwdriver, mimosa, or juice is included with your entree.  For an additional $6, you can get unlimited drinks for one hour.  Note:  everyone at your table must participate in order to get the bottomless special.

The bloodies were not too salty or strong, they had a good spicy kick with a lot of black pepper at the bottom.

The screwdrivers and mimosas were pretty standard.

Coffee is not included in your brunch special.

Atmosphere:  A bi-level brunch spot with a lot of open space.  There is a big bar that you can sit at, or you can sit in the main dining room or upstairs overlooking the customers and the band.  The jazz band is lovely and definitely created a nice soundtrack to our meal, but it was a bit too loud and was hard to hear the people at our table.  So while it is a fun activity for groups, don't expect to enjoy a deep conversation here!

The band is also in a little corner of the restaurant so it is a bit hard to see them perform from the upstairs seating.

The service was decent, it seemed like our waiter was handling too many tables at once as he didn't give us all that much attention.  But he was polite and efficient.  Overall, a nice casual atmosphere, great for music enthusiasts or couples who want to experience a unique brunch activity.

More photos:

About:  A true Astoria landmark, Sanfords Restaurant has been pulling in the crowds for over 75 years.  The upscale eatery has its roots as a traditional diner, and has gone through a couple of facelifts over the years to keep up with the times.  Literally a few steps from the N/Q trains, this Astoria hot spot is delicious and accessible to all. 

Food/Drink:  Sanfords has a great brunch special which includes 2 cocktails, a coffee/tea/cocoa and a brunch entree.  The food doesn't come in the most beautiful presentation, perhaps due to its diner roots, but it makes up for looks in taste.  Portions are also reasonable and don't overwhelm you or leave you wanting more.

There is also an a la carte menu (includes more lunch-like items) which is pretty diverse and random including everything from tuna tartare to falafels, crab cakes and more.

Recommended items:

• Zucchini, ricotta, fresh tomato, and pesto frittata ($9) - comes in piping hot cast iron skillet
• Banana chocolate chip pancakes ($8) - not overstuffed with ingredients, but just enough
• Breakfast wrap ($8) - Perfectly filling and tasty with scrambled eggs, avocado, peppers, onions, tomato, and gruyere on a whole wheat wrap

Atmosphere:  Sanfords certainly doesn't feel like an old diner.  It is modern, clean and trendy with low lighting and metallic and bamboo accents, with almost an Asian restaurant ambiance.  While a diner at heart, Sanfords isn't particularly loud, and is actually quite comfortable.  Definitely one of the nicest spots in Astoria for brunch.

Sanfords:  30-13 Broadway, Astoria, 718.932.9569
Sat & Sun: 11AM - 4PM

About:  This Italian restaurant in the heart of Murray Hill is home to a popular neighborhood brunch special.  There are many options on this block on third avenue, but La Giara is among the best - with competitive pricing, attentive service and good food.

Food/Drinks:  Overall, a very standard brunch menu, with the delicious spaghetti frittata being the most unique item.  The portions were just right to fill you up without overstuffing you, and making you feel like you are getting a great value for your cash.

• Pancakes:  The classic pancake dish comes with strawberries, blueberries and banana slices and is beautifully presented.  It comes with only two pancakes, because these are the thickest pancakes we've ever seen - so fluffy!  They taste great, the only drawback is because of the amount of pancake in each bite, you really need to drench with syrup so it will soak all the way through.
• Tomato and basil omelette:  Loved the basil flavor in the omelette which wasn't overpowering.  The ingredients are mixed into the egg batter just the way I like it (vs. folded inside like a crepe) and the portion is just right.  It needed salt, and I think adding fresh mozzarella to the omelette would have made it just right (but I'm no chef!).
• Two eggs any style:  Simple dish done right.  We got it scrambled and the eggs were cooked perfectly - not too runny and not too dry.  Also, it was just the right amount of food so you aren't stuffed but feel like you get a good value for your money.  Comes with bacon, toast and potatoes for an extra dollar for a total of $9.
• Eggs benedict:  Honestly, pretty standard and nothing special.  Wouldn't order again with so many other delicious things on the menu.
• Spaghetti frittata:  We don't know who thought of mixing these ingredients together, but they deserve a medal.  This pasta / egg concoction was actually really really good.  It is made with parmesan cheese and tastes almost like a fettucini alfredo - but much lighter.
• French toast:  Another well-done classic that comes with berries to complete the meal.  
• Mimosas:  The mimosas were tasty, and had a good balance of champagne and OJ.  They were constantly refilled, without us having to ask, but they were refilled with pitchers of the mixture which almost cheapened the drink experience.  Of course, we know that it is quicker this way, plus we are only paying $6.50 for the bottomless mimosas, so we'll let it slide.
• Bloody Marys:  The bloody Marys are a lot of fun because you get a class with the classic mixture, and then you receive a bucket of spices and sauces to create to your liking.  Celery salt was not among the ingredients which was a bit odd, but all the other classics were readily available.  Only drawback, in order to not water down the bloody Mary mixture, there is no ice in the pitcher, so the drink is lukewarm every time your glass is refilled.  Easily fixed with a cup of ice, but something to keep in mind.

Atmosphere:  When the restaurant fills up around 1PM, it gets LOUD so be prepared especially if you are at a large table because it may be hard to hear one another.  The decor of the eatery is nice and definitely seems like a romantic dinner spot with a large wine selection.  Love how the wine bottles, barrels and cases are integrated into the interior design.  The service is a bit slow but attentive overall, and we didn't feel rushed to leave.  In fact, our cocktails were refilled even after our plates were cleared.

La Giara:  501 Third Avenue (at 34th street), 212.726.9855

About:  Walking down Seventh Ave, you will definitely notice Agave and all of its outdoor space.  You can't miss the waiters carrying trays full of 7 or 8 frozen margaritas to patiently waiting young professionals as they peruse the menu of Mexican/Southwestern specialties.  It is worth coming in, taking advantage of the special, and enjoying the attentive service and casual environment. 

Food/Drinks:  $24.95 gets you any egg item with a two hour bottomless choice of mimosa, wine or frozen margarita, but the brunch special isn't mandatory.  While not shared on the menu, egg dishes may be ordered without the drink special for just over $13.

The French toast came with two pieces so we were able to share it as dessert amongst the three of us.  Tasted. Like. Donuts.  So yummy and fresh!  And the berries were a perfect topping (barely needed the syrup!).

The energy scramble was a winner - who says brunch can't be healthy?  An egg white scramble mixed with veggies and a side of fresh fruit makes the perfect meal to get you pumped for your afternoon workout.  It did have a bit of a buttery/greasiness to it, but not to the extent that I had a problem with it.  It just could have been a bit drier for my taste.

The southwestern eggs Benedict was very fluffy, the hollandaise sauce was also a bit buttery, but in a good way.  Don't be fooled by the "chipotle hollandaise" on the menu - the dish wasn't spicy at all.

The huevos rancheros were inhaled, plate just about licked clean.  The meat was tender and soft, not too chewy.  And the guacamole was amazing.  Not a huge fan of the sour cream, couldn't quite place the taste so if you are on the fence about sour cream, get it on the side.

One note:  steer clear of the iced coffee - not sure if it was our pot but it just tasted bad.  The hot coffee was great!

Atmosphere:  This place is huge.  You wouldn't know from walking by, but aside from the two outdoor areas, the 'enclosed porch' area, and the bar area, there is also a dining room and a separate tequila room that can be used for private parties or large groups.  The Southwestern decor isn't overdone, and it is actually quite beautiful.  Beware - if you go to the restroom, you may need a flashlight.  It is so dark by the stairs that lead you downstairs that it is hard to see where you're going!

Overall, it is a trendy spot in the Village that caters to groups and couples alike (lots of groups though).  The outdoor seating areas (2) are nice and there are a few tables where you sit on benches with comfy cushions while resting under the shade of an over-sized umbrella.

Agave:  140 Seventh Ave (between Charles and West 10th), 212.989.2100
Brunch:  11AM - 3PM