Brunch is an institution

Brunch in this town is a 'thing'. It's done by both sexes, all age groups and any decent restaurant will have a special menu. Chefs embrace it in their specially-curated menus which generally provide a mixture of breakfast and lunch items as you might expect, but some places do it better than others.

Here are a few of the better places I've been to for brunch recently:

Goat Town
It's probably better known as a bar or gastropub but by day, it's equally nice to sit in the cozy surrounds where the decor is very Brooklyn-esque in that it may be a small space but it has plenty of character. I've been here twice. On the last occasion, I ordered the ribollita, that well-known Tuscan dish described as 'two poached eggs over cannellini beans, kale, parmesan, broth and croutons. Their take on the dish was a lot lighter than the ballsy, stomach-sinking versions I had in Tuscany but perfect not to weigh you down and with a nice smattering of cubes of carrots too.

More recently, I ordered the Housemade Granola described as 'oats, sunflower seeds, quinoa, sesame seeds, almonds, served with milk or yogurt'. It had a very grainy and crunchy texture not dissimilar to birdseed (not that I've tried that before!) but once you get over that, it went very well with the thick and creamy yogurt balanced by the wafer thin apple slices.

Tastytip: They do not have lattes or cappuccinos here or any soy milk. :(

Supper
This is a popular destination for Italian food for celebrities and locals alike. It must be due in part of the warm and friendly service, classic yet refined cooking and homely interiors. What you may not know is that they also serve a great brunch that applies the same level of quality in service and cooking. The omelette with goats' cheese and spinach was expertly cooked so that it was just done in the center. We also ordered some fried eggs on rustic toasted bread with a side of crispy bacon. Our dishes came with a hunk of fresh bread served with a dish of fruity and green olive oil with white beans, garlic, herbs and salt pounded into it. Delish!

Tastytip: They do not have soy milk here but their Americano coffee is freshly made and akin to a long black.

Homespun
The Memorial Day public holiday resulted in a last minute decision to head to Beacon for a day trip to the Dia gallery. Worth it just for the Warhol 'Shadows' series:

Since it was a holiday, only a few cafes were open including this one that was on my list. Great courtyard out the back with potted plants, seating and umbrellas that made for a pleasant dining experience on a sunny day, that is if our food came out. We waited half an hour before we had to ask a waitress who said that she would check on our order but then she never came back. We then went up to the counter and asked another lady who was apologetic and informed that there had been a mix up and we received our meals shortly thereafter from a very friendly guy who said we got a bit of extra of everything.

My Tuna Nicoise luckily, was delicious and screamed freshness and variety and I do not just think this was because they made it extra good. We also ordered the Prosciutto and Blue Cheese salad that came with apple, lettuce and hazelnuts, which was very substantial. What's not to love about those 2 key ingredients? Upon leaving, we were offered free sweets to go and grabbed two 'Bionic' granola bars for the trip home. They were a bit greasy but hey, it's the thought that counts. Overall, I would recommend this place for the food and ambiance.

Kittichai

Whilst it's better known as a swish dinner location that is hard to get a booking at, they have a refreshing brunch menu including Thai twists on typical brunch fare. Eggs Benedict is reinvented with the 2 poached eggs being served with a subtle curry flavor to the Hollandaise. Or how about Kaffir lime leaf pancake with lemongrass butter? This is a spot for the adventurous foodie bruncher. They sweeten the deal with their $25 special that includes unlimited mimosas or bellinis with a choice of 5 brunch entrees. Recommended as a place to take a visiting foodie friend!

ABC Kitchen

Jean-Georges V has quite a restaurant empire but this relatively new place was the first one I've tried, excluding Spice Market where he only consults. It's all about seasonal and fresh ingredients prepared to showcase natural flavors here. My favorite dishes are the roasted carrot salad with avocado, sprouts, sunflower seeds and a sour cream drizzle - the spiced carrots are amazing and the vegetable burger which comes with a wonderful yogurt-based relish that amplifies the juicy veges in the 'burger' patty.

The pizzas are also pretty sensational. They not only get the pizza crust right so that it's crispy on the bottom from the wood-fired oven, yet slightly chewy and thin but generously splatter on the best ingredients. On a recent visit, I tried the bacon, ricotta and shaved asparagus one you can see below and it did not disappoint.

*Tasty Tip: Order a coffee here (they have soy milk) which is also rather good with a naturally sweet flavor and comes served in a beautifully hand-crafted mug. If you like the mug, you can pop into ABC homewares next door and pick one up!

Also, why is it that brunch menus are confined to weekends? Sometimes you just want to eat breakfast for lunch and order a cocktail before noon without feeling tragic. I think Boqueria has the right idea!