Heading to a Broadway matinee on a Saturday or Sunday? Here are seven great brunch spots where you can fill up with some deliciousness before the show.
The Terrace at the Times Square EDITION
If you’re looking for an upscale brunch spot in the heart of Times Square, the Terrace at the Times Square EDITION on 47th Street and 7th Avenue (take the elevator to the ninth floor) is an oasis from the bustling streets below. Decadent options include lobster soft scramble, steak and eggs, and crème brûlée French toast. Don’t forget to try the pastry tower, and save room for a cappuccino energy boost before your show. In warmer months, you can dine outdoors.
Sicily Osteria
One of the newest spots on Restaurant Row (46th Street Between 8th and 9th Avenues), Sicily Osteria is the perfect place for an Italian brunch. Start off with some fried calamari or lamb meatballs, and then feast on one of their many pastas and pizzas. If you want to make your pizza more breakfast-centric, you can even add heirloom eggs to any of them. Other menu items include Puratoio Siciliano (eggs baked in tomato sauce with eggplant, ricotta, and toasted bread), a sausage calzone, chicken Milanese, and branzino. In the warmer months, you can enjoy their sidewalk seating for prime people watching and maybe even see a Broadway star.
Friedman’s at the Edison Hotel
When you’ve secured those Hamilton tickets and are looking for a casual bite before the show, this is your best bet. Friedman’s is located on 47th Street between 7th and 8th Avenues, inside the Edison Hotel. They don’t offer a brunch menu, but their all-day menu fits the bill. Bagels and lox, burgers, grilled cheese, grain bowl, pancakes—and so much more. The kale salad is to die for. Be advised, the bathroom is located inside the hotel lobby. And the hotel boasts an entrance on 46th Street too.
Blue Dog
In the mood for a small, cozy spot? Blue Dog is your place. With its location on 50th Street and 8th Avenue, it’s close to so many Broadway theatres, including the Neil Simon Theatre, which is hosting MJ, and the Ambassador Theatre, where Chicago is playing. The omelets are make-your-own; the Benedicts are savory (there’s a crab cake option); the salads are filling, from the quinoa cobb to the butternut squash kale. The menu is endless and filled with a variety of burgers, French toast, pancakes, and waffles. There’s also bar seating if you can’t get a reservation or want to sit away from the crowds.
Rosa Mexicano
Want to head a few blocks out of the Theatre District, perhaps to see a show at Lincoln Center, like the upcoming McNEAL at the Vivian Beaumont Theater? Rosa Mexicano is the perfect spot for a Mexican brunch. It’s located on 62nd Street and Columbus Avenue. Options include classics like huevos rancheros and chilaquiles divorciados. If you’re not in the mood for eggs, they have tres leches French toast and tableside guacamole. There’s also an option for a bottomless brunch. Don’t forget the churro bites for dessert.
P.S. Kitchen
For a more organic, socially conscious choice, a 100-percent plant-based option in the Theatre District is P.S. Kitchen on 48th Street and 8th Avenue. The restaurant is a social business that donates all of its profits to charity; according to its website, it “hopes to break the cycle of poverty by connecting resources to vulnerable communities, providing tools necessary for self-sustainability, and building meaningful relationships with our neighbors, near and far.” Weekend brunch specials include Tuscan toast with homemade tofu ricotta, French toast, and a tofu scramble wrap. The menu has a healthy selection of salads, sandwiches, burgers, lasagna, and much more. Plus, make sure to save room for dessert so you can indulge in their apple cobbler or chai panna cotta.
Cafe Un Deux Trois
For tasty French cuisine, Cafe Un Deux Trois is a great brunch option right in the heart of the Theatre District, on 44th Street and 6th Avenue. Got tickets tothe Tony Award winning Merrily We Roll Along starring Jonathan Groff, Daniel Radcliffe, and Lindsay Mendez? The restaurant is right next door to the Hudson Theatre! It’s also on the same side of Times Square as the Stephen Sondheim Theatre, where & Juliet is playing. The restaurant offers a $32 prix fixe menu that includes a cocktail or juice, entree choice of quiche Lorraine, croque monsieur, eggs Benedict, or French toast, and coffee or tea.
