10 Best Brunch Spots On The Lower East Side Manhattan

Brunch is one of the few things that make Sundays worth looking forward to. Don’t blow this meal, which many New Yorkers regard as sacrosanct; waiting in long lines for mediocre food. Here are 10 of the best brunch spots on Manhattan’s Lower East Side that offer traditional as well as not-so-standard brunch fare.

1. Clinton Street Baking Company

Restaurant, American

A brunch institution, Clinton Street Baking Company‘s star dish has always been their stack of fluffy blueberry pancakes with warm maple butter. If savory food is more your speed, there are plenty of those options as well, such as their buttermilk biscuit egg sandwich with house made tomato jam, smoked salmon scramble, and for complete brunch autonomy, you can even build-your-own omelet.

2. Pig & Khao

Restaurant, Cocktail Bar, Asian

Pig and Khao is a Filipino brunch spot that is anything but traditional. As the name suggests, pork options are plentiful at this restaurant, and brunch is no exception. The sizzling sisig — cubes of pork head on a sizzling tray with a whole egg cracked in the middle — is a crowd favorite. Other typical brunch fare is peppered with island flair. Brioche French toast is dressed up with bananas, coconut whipped cream and genesee cream syrup, steak and eggs is served with a kiddie pool-sized bowl of spicy Issan sauce, and corned beef hash is seasoned with garlic, ginger and Thai chili.

Schapiro’s

If you’re looking for a weekend buzz, Schapiro’s is the place to go. Any of their brunch cocktails put the boring, old mimosa to shame. Try the breakfast cobbler cocktail made with sherry, amaro, lemon juice and orange marmalade or get your coffee fix with their morning jolt cocktail made with rum, chocolate liqueur and espresso. Schapiro’s self describes their food as having a ‘distinctive Jewish tilt,’ which means you can expect to find items like matzo ball soup, bagel and lox and a veal pastrami sandwich on the menu.

Schapiro’s, 120 Rivington Street, New York, NY, USA, +1 212 466 3360

3. Antibes Bistro

Bistro, Restaurant, French

No one knows how to do intimate brunch better than Antibes Bistro. Exposed brick walls and French country knick knacks give this place its rustic charm. Though the French fare is simple, it is expertly executed with highlights being the omelet du Antibes, which comes with wild mushrooms, goat cheese, truffle oil, roasted potatoes and mixed greens, and the simple baguette served warm with homemade jam and butter.

4. Dudleys

Restaurant, Australian

For all the avocado toast skeptics, Dudleys’ take on the dish will turn you into a believer. Thick slabs of grain bread get smashed with a buttery avocado and served with salsa verde and cherry tomatoes. If you’re in more of a lunch mood, try the behemoth Bronte burger served with mayonnaise, cheese and their special sweet chili sauce.

5. Spitzer's Corner

Gastropub, Restaurant, Pub Grub

Few restaurants on the Lower East Side have the space to accommodate large groups, especially during such a popular meal as brunch, but Spitzer’s Corner is great for a large gathering of friends and family. The restaurant has a beer hall vibe, complete with long communal tables where you and your party can chow down on an array of tasty brunch favorites. Try the lemon ricotta pancakes or a hickory short rib burger and wash it down with one of the 40 craft beers on tap.

6. Esperanto

Restaurant, American

Enter this Latin restaurant and you might think you’ve stepped foot into an island cabana with the walls boasting a vibrant shade of either yellow, blue, or green. Don’t expect your typical brunch fare at Esperanto either, many of the dishes have Latin accents and influences. Be sure to try the huevos loisaida — a dish named after Avenue C’s loving nickname — which features poached eggs atop a potato shrimp pie and doused in hollandaise sauce.