Oddly enough, I found my next brunch spot during a heavy night of drinking.(sorry mom) Arlo and Esme is an amazing night spot in the East Village, but is also known for great coffee. After my night out, I decided to go back the next morning to try their coffee. Much to my surprise, I found out they had a brunch menu too!Before we dive into the food, I have to discuss the coffee (see photo) We're looking at a large cup, a creative presentation (jack-o-lantern?!), and the most important part... IT WAS AMAZING. This latte was probably the best I've had in NYC, so feel free to watch for me on any given morning (I'm the unshaven, shaggy-haired, hippy-lookin guy, who is probably rambling about how good the coffee is.)
While the menu is pretty slim (about 6 dishes),everything sounded pretty amazing. It took a while, but I finally decided to go with the Brioche French Toast, with a side of scrambled eggs.
French toast is not a food I normally eat. It tends to be way too sweet for me and I feel awful afterward. Well, I am mid-meal right now (yes, I'm blogging and eating**) and I am loving this. (maybe I'm just happy because my second latte just arrived) caramelized bananas, a little powdered sugar and maple syrup over perfectly cooked Brioche (crispy & flakey, warm). A lot of breads really lose their texture after "being frenched"(ha), but I gotta say, Brioche really knows how to hold it together.
Sorry mom, I love you, but that white bread french toast I grew up with may not cut it anymore. Arlo & Esme has set the bar high with this dish. Dont believe me? Come check it out for yourself. Oh, & did I mention it only cost 8 dollars???!
**Not a live broadcast.
