RACHAEL RAY

Photo credit: Andrew Kaplan

Andrew Kaplan, a contributing writer to our NYC Foodie blog, has shared this restaurant recommendation with us:

Al Fresco Brunch (and Dinner!) in the East Village

On the corner of East 4th Street and Second Avenue lies a quiet, hidden gem: Belcourt. This restaurant dishes out seasonal fare in a simple manner, and while I had told my girlfriend about it before, in typical fashion, she needed to hear about it from someone else to actually give it a try. This “someone else” was a random person she sat next to on the plane – okay, I can handle that. 

Belcourt has a relatively roomy outdoor seating area and an attractive brunch menu. Our group started with the Warm Buttermilk Biscuits served with ricotta, raw honey and kumquats. This was a perfect start to what proved to be a tasty brunch. From there, one brunchee ordered a Lamb Burger served on a toasted bun with thick slabs of bacon and goat cheese. Meaty and cooked to perfection, it was a hit, especially with the fresh cut fries. The second brunchee ordered the Grilled Cheese and Sage Sandwich with Tomato Soup. The sandwich arrived on good quality bread that was griddled with a few pieces of sage and a thin layer of mustard. The mustard threw Brunchee Two for a loop, but it was a well-made sandwich that paired well with the pureed tomato soup, which was served with a tiny bit of cream. As for me, I ordered the Croque Madame, made with lamb ham. A traditional Croque Madame is a French ham and cheese sandwich served with an egg on top. The lamb was a tasty variation on the original, and it arrived with a green salad on the side. 

It doesn’t get much better than enjoying a delicious brunch at an outside table under a bright blue sky. Next up, dinner on a warm summer evening!