Is it just me or do most brunch spots in Manhattan taste the same and remain relatively unimpressive? Eggs Benedict or French toast are basically the same anywhere you go, whether you're paying $10 or $20. But let's talk more about a little spot I tried this morning because a solid brunch spot is tough to find in the city or even worth the effort to blog about. Although I did not actually try their eggs benedict, I'm sure it's comparable to most places. But everything else I tried was tasty and creative. This little gem is located in the West Village on Waverly street.
Food
Let's begin by talking about their famous bloody caesar with an oyster and a brussels sprout wrapped in bacon. What an imaginative recipe. The oyster is an excellent way to start the day and get your sex drive going. It's fresh and delicious. I love brussels sprout and I love bacon, and together they are the perfect combination of healthy and a mild heart attack. Who would've thought to pair these two with the classic Caesar? It is well spiced at Joseph Leonard. The vodka is not the dominate player but rather a slight modifier that enhances the spices.
The fried chicken sandwich is one of their signature dishes. The chicken is tender and crunchy with a glaze of light honey. By default, it comes with chips, but I recommend substituting for brussels sprout with Siracha sauce—it is delicious, and a good balance.
Lastly, my favorite dish was the dessert, the monkey cake. It was literally an entire cake. Order it after you finish eating your entrees because they serve it fresh. It may look a bit intimidating at first, but I assure you, it is not OVERLY sweet. Thank god. The only part that's sweet is the coated white chocolate sauce, but the inside is left untouched, so you can control the sweetness level. The fresh strawberries and toasted almonds are an excellent complement to the cake. I highly recommend it.
Ambiance
The restaurant is very small and has a classic west village hipster ambiance. Before going, I always thought it was a very high-end brunch spot, but it's actually very chill and casual. The crowd is full of locals, yuppies, and chic grungy socialites. A spot that caters to foodies across the social spectrum.
Price
Joseph Leonard is comparable to any other brunch spot in the city. Roughly $14-$20 for an entree. Sides range between $4-$8. Drinks vary, but the bloody caesar is $16. It is on par with most places (by most places I mean good places of this caliber). I would expect to spend about $30-$40 (after tax & tip) per person depending on how hungry you are. But $40 is plenty, if not excessive.
Wait
When isn't there a wait in NYC? If it's any good, there's a line. Luckily this place is not yet overly commercialized on yelp or other mainstream media sites. The wait is reasonable for New York, about 45 minutes to an hour during peak times. I recommend going an hour before your desired eating time. There's plenty to do around the area. They will call you when your table is ready. So no need to stick around.
Overall, I think this is a great brunch spot that justifies its prices with solid food that is slightly differentiated from hot brunch spots. The charm of this location gives it the authentic West Village feel. One of my go to spots with really great food.