10 Best Brunch Spots On The Lower East Side, Manhattan

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.

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.

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.

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.

For a stick-to-your-ribs brunch that comforts the soul, look no further than Root & Bone. Leave a window for a nap after this meal because after eating hearty dishes, like waffle benedict made with pork belly bacon and lemon yolk sauce, shrimp and grits, or braised short rib meat loaf and eggs, you’ll need one. Their cocktails come with names that sound like characters out of an old western and even use homely ingredients like preserved peaches, black tea and orange blossom honey.

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.

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.

No one does Mediterranean brunch better than Mezetto. The za’atar flatbread with kalamata olives and olive oil is a great place to start and the perfect vehicle for delivering their hummus, eggplant or spicy feta spread. For something with a bit more sustenance, try the spanakopita omelet, the challah French toast with apples, figs and date honey, or the grilled chicken souvlaki sandwich.

If brunch dishes like strawberry artichoke dip and eggs benedict made with kimchi and bok choy strike your fancy, then Black Tree is the place to go. Black Tree sources all of the ingredients from local purveyors for their seasonally changing menu. Brunch here is anything but boring, so an adventurous palate is encouraged!