Barney Greengrass

UWS -  Amsterdamn Ave between 86^th and 87^th 

Kosher Deli

Welcome to Barney Greengrass, put your name down, and wait.   At Barney’s the atmosphere will take you back to Sunday brunch with your grandparents.  Bagels, smoked fish, cream cheese, eggs, potato pancakes and blintzes; Barney Greengrass hits all the spots. 

Barney’s moved to the current location on 86^th Street and Amsterdam Ave in 1929, ironically coinciding with the start of The Great Depression, which explains the choice of wallpaper.  Barney’s has been going strong for over 100 years of business. Forging on through two World Wars, The Depression, Savings and Loan Crisis, and Dot-Com Bubble, Barney’s continues to flourish on the Upper West Side to put my wallet through The Great Sunday Recession. 

At Barney’s the premium lies in the quality salmon, sable, white fish and sturgeon, along with the history and atmosphere that come with your breakfast.  I highly recommend Barney’s Specialties.  Mainly, the Nova Scotia Salmon Scrambled with Eggs and Onions.  My advice: add cream cheese to the mix to bring it all together.  While it may go without saying, you can’t go wrong with the Nova Scotia Salmon platter for however many people you are with.  Pick your bagels, sip your coffee or fresh squeezed orange juice while anxiously awaiting a breakfast that will meet all expectations. 

If you’re in a rush, grab a dozen bagels, nova, cream cheese and some black and white cookies at the counter to go.  Gary Greengrass sits at the register on top of his Throne as if he’s Sasha Baron Cohen in Borat.  “King of the Castle, King of the Castle.” 

Just remember, cash is King at Barney Greengrass, and your only way to settle up. 

 

Five Points

NoHo - Great Jones between Lafayette St & Bowery

American Nouveau

I’ve always had difficulty wrapping my head around eating at a restaurant named after the Five Points.  An old time New York City intersection where filth, disease, gangs, crime, and corruption all met; ironically to form what was known as “Paradise Square.”  However, if someone put a gun to my head and asked me to provide them with the name of a top notch New York City brunch spot, my first instinct would be Five Points in NoHo.  

The old Five Points of lower Manhattan, formerly infested by slum life, is now home to the Civic Center.  An area filled with State and Federal administrative buildings and courthouses.   When it comes to brunch, the court is adjourned.  Chef Marc Meyer is guilty of cooking up one of New York’s most reliably delicious and hearty brunches.   Yes, they take reservations. 

Start your brunch off with banana-walnut bread and wash it down with one of the best Bloody Marys New York has to offer.  I highly recommend the Eggs Rancheros and Lemon-Ricotta Pancakes.  An order of Mac & Cheese is a must, too good to keep to yourself; share this one with the table. 

Now you’ve got a solid buzz going and you’re definitely full.  Chances of doing anything productive with the rest of your day are as good as someone in old Five Points living past 20 without catching typhus or cholera.

Which reminds me of the disease I tend to suffer from when ordering at Five Points; short term memory loss.  Apparently, I like to pretend I’m Drew Barrymore in 50 First Dates.  I read the menu over as if I’m going to go with anything but the Eggs Rancheros.  Eventually, I come to my senses and order them (while speaking with a lisp of course). 

In all seriousness, I really forget just how great they are and I’m always pleasantly surprised.  Yes, I just compared Eggs Rancheros to Adam Sandler, but after Jack and Jill, it’s safe to say his career is over… easy.