Bottomless Brunch. Tipsy before Lunch.
When I heard “Bottomless Brunch,” I naively thought I would be overstuffing myself in a buffet line.
I should have known better, I’m in New York City.
The “bottomless” part pertains to the beverages.
The destination: Harry’s Champagne Brunch at Harry’s Cafe downtown near Wall Street. The focus is on the bottomless flutes, as evidenced by the waitress who asked the lone dry member of our party, “If you’re not drinking, why did you come here?”
Case in point.
Options include Blood Orange Mimosas, Grapefruit Champagne Cocktails, Classic Kir Royals and Classic Bellini’s and one of the above is served to you upon seating and refilled without pause until exit.
I spent a late rainy Saturday morning with my girlfriends, tucked away at our table, gossiping and catching up on each others’ lives as we sipped on Mimosas and Kir Royals. Harry’s is a perfect setting to do just that. The staff is attentive and kind, and the ambience is warm and cozy with a tin roof and windows along the upper walls revealing feet, but nothing more, passing by outside. Guests do not feel hurried through a meal and are granted time to spend with friends, family, food and drink.
The food was good, but I ordered a basic omelette: hardly testing the boundaries of their culinary magic. It was cheesy and tasty and the waitress and chef obliged me with a side salad in place of homefries. I always appreciate the gesture of accommodating a special request.
Our orders ran the gamut, from my omelette, to a salad with fresh grilled tuna, to a the special salad of the day (which was Cobb-esque) and side of berries to the the duck hash… and no one had a complaint. Thanks, in part, to the bottomless flutes? I know not. I’ll give the benefit of the doubt to the Chef.
[The duck hash]
The room seemed full of celebration, with both large and small parties enjoying their Saturday mornings out of the rain and drear of February in the City. There was a line filling the bar area and a waiting list for those without reservations, so if you plan on heading in after 1 p.m., a reservation would greatly help your cause.
All in all, a lovely way to spend a weekend morning… and afternoon laughing and relaxing. Just don’t plan to be productive afterwards!
