Currently, all I can think about is brunch. Specifically, brunch at Peels on the lower east side.
We had been meaning to try the brunch there ever since New York magazine claimed it had the best bacon in Manhattan, house smoked and oh so delicious. We were intrigued and after months of putting it off we finally got our asses out of Brooklyn on a Sunday and gave it a go.
And Oh. My. God. We went back the week after and are going again this weekend. And I plan to go every weekend until I have to leave for Paris.
Yup, it’s that good.
On our first visit I had the Spa Eggs – an egg white omelette with spinach, goat cheese, and onions and Erik had the Farmer’s Breakfast with fried eggs, house smoked bacon, hash browns, and toast. YES, transplant west coasters – they have hash browns and they’re pretty fucking tasty. Not the greasy diner hash browns we know and love, but still hash browns – in New York City. I’ll give you all a minute to take that in.
Everything we ordered was so delicious that I don’t believe Erik and I even spoke much, we just kept eating with small breaks to look at each other and communicate our happiness by widening our eyes before they rolled into the back of our heads.
But it gets better, the next time we went we tried a few new things and our second brunch was even better than the first. Andouille sausage corn dogs anyone? They have them, and they use real corn meal. Then, there’s the build a biscuit option and I just about died from happiness. I had a biscuit with scrambled eggs, pepperjack cheese, and avocado and it was by far the best breakfast I’ve had since moving back to NYC. Normally, I wouldn’t even order scrambled eggs because I’m extremely picky but these were amazing – buttery, soft, fluffy and delicious. Erik meanwhile had the biscuits and gravy and was extremely pleased. So much so that I have a feeling even when I’m gone for 2 months in Paris, he will be seated at the counter eating breakfast at Peels at least once a week.
The only complaint – the cocktails are way too pricey. I suppose since they know the food is so good, they’ve already got you, and therefore don’t have to lure you with a mimosa special for brunch, but I still think $13 for a mimosa with my eggs is ridiculous. For a one time brunch experience, who cares, but if we’re really going to become regular weekly fixtures at this place, there will be no booze with brunch. I know, I know – it goes against the basic rules of brunch in Manhattan, but the food is that good and I’m willing to adjust if it means I can eat there as much as possible. If that doesn’t tell you how good the food is, I’m not sure what will. Here’s the menu so you can drool over it with me.
Seriously, go. Don’t question me, just go. But beware of the Sunday rush at noon when those New Yorkers with bigger paychecks than me come for the brunch and the booze. It can be up to an hour wait. But I promise it’s worth it.
Peels
325 Bowery (corner of 2nd Street)
646-602-7015
Closest Subway: 4, 6 Bleecker Street or B, D, F, M Broadway Lafayette
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