Brunch @ Cornelia Street Café | New York City

On a beautiful Saturday afternoon, my husband and I met friends (Vik & Amy) of ours for brunch in my most favorite Manhattan district – West Village.

Cornelia Street Cafe is a restaurant that has been on my “places to dine” list for quite some time now.  I was so excited for Brunch!
  

We were seated after a 20 minute wait.  I loved the artwork all over this charming restaurant. 

LOCATION:
29 Cornelia Street
New York, NY 10014
(West Village)

MENU: Cornelia Street Café Menu
COST: $$
CUISINE: American / Breakfast & Brunch
RECOMMENDED TO: Casual Dining, Couples, Groups, Kid Friendly (Brunch time).
AMBIENCE: Cozy/Charming/Warm


MY REVIEW
I was excited about the Price Fixe Brunch which consisted of each of the following:
1 entree
1 baked carb
1 juice/cocktail
Unlimited coffee/tea
All for just $20!
Three of us started with a cup of Coffee which was nice and hot, medium-bodied, and very tasty.  I truly enjoyed a solid cup of coffee after a long time.

My friend, Vik, ordered Green Tea… I like tea presented in a tea kettle as opposed to a cup of hot water.
As our carb, three of us ordered a Croissant which was delicious, but it would have been nice if they warmed it up, there is just something so homey about having a warm croissant and a cup of joe.
My husband went for the Chocolate Bread which is really no different than a chocolate croissant.  The chocolate croissant was delicious, but personally I prefer the plain croissants over the chocolate ones.  We chitchatted with one another while we snacked on croissants and coffee.
Before our meal arrived, each one of us ordered cocktails.  Most of us went for the Mimosa which is a mix of orange juice and champagne.  I wasn’t too crazy about this drink since I found it rather bitter.  I’ve tasted sweeter Mimosas in the past so I’d say this was one was below average.
I went for the Greyhound which was a blend of vodka and grapefruit juice.  This drink was extremely bitter, understandably so, I wasn’t too impressed, but the drink sure looks pretty.  In a way, it’s a good thing I didn’t start off my day with alcohol.
As for my meal, I went for the Eggs Florentine which are poached eggs with sautéed spinach on an English muffin topped with hollandaise sauce.  This dish was so buttery, and the hollandaise sauce was creamy, lemony, and so delicious.  There was also a side of Roasted Garlic Rosemary Potatoes which was good, but nothing to write home about (or on this blog).  Off to the side were 2 lonely tomatoes, not sure what that was all about, kinda pointless in my opinion.
Eggs Florentine ~ DELICIOUSNESS!  Just look at the yolk oozing out… PERFECTION!  One of the best egg dishes I’ve ever had.
My friend, Vik, went for the same dish as I, only with smoked salmon at an extra cost.  Eggs Florentine w/Smoked Salmon.
My friend, Amy, went for the Eggs Benedict which are poached eggs with country baked ham on an English muffin topped with hollandaise sauce.  Instead of ham, Amy substituted her meat for smoked salmon.  She said her dish was excellent.
My husband went for a slightly different dish than the 3 of us – the Omelette of the Day which consisted of eggplant, red peppers, marinated onions, and cheese.  His omelette was so flavorful that I ended up eating a couple bites.  The eggplant really stood out – a great combination to try at home.
p.s. I don’t know what is up with those 2 lonely tomatoes – they were on every single dish!

VERDICT: 4 / 5
Cornelia Street Cafe is an inviting brunch spot in Manhattan, and I’d definitely drop by again for their excellent
coffee and fantastic food at a reasonable cost.  Speaking of cost, the price fixe brunch menu at $20 is a great value, but unfortunately the cocktails were underwhelming both for my party and I.  In addition to the cocktails, their service lacks the warmth this cozy restaurant exudes – it wouldn’t hurt being greeted with a SMILE.  Having said that, our waitress did come by 3 times for coffee refills.

Considering the plethora of brunch restaurants in New York City, Cornelia Street Cafe needs to step it up
with their bitter cocktails and slightly bitter service!  Despite the negatives though, their ambience, food, and coffee alone are reason enough to dine here, at the very least, one time.  For next time, I already have my eye on the Huevos Rancheros – YUM!


Food: Excellent
Drinks: Average  (coffee – excellent; cocktails – bitter)
Decor: Good  (warm/charming/cozy)
Service: Average  (unfriendly)
Value: Excellent

TELL ME: Do you enjoy cocktails or a hot cup of Joe with brunch?  What’s your favorite brunch item that you must have?