Brunch at Luna

Okay this post is out of sync because I had technical difficulties uploading the pics via iPhone app. Apparently, if you don't hit publish, they will no longer save the pics?! Methinks some writing will be done to the app devs.

Our last morning in DC, we opted for late check out and went to look for brunch. As there was nothing close by, we went off to Dupont Circle and scored at Luna, a kitschy looking place next to the Mad Hatter (I would have chosen this place because I like the name but they were pricier than Luna).

As it turns out, Barb remembered that she ate there before - a while back. And she only remembered once we stepped through the doors...

So upfront - there are no meat substitutions. If you don't like pork or are allergic to pork, then you can't have meat here. 

So that said, they have a small brunch menu full of hearty pork filled meat breakfasts or french toast or omelets.

Waffle with egg and cheese

Barb ordered their waffles with egg and cheese. They did not have meat subs so the pork filled menu was not a good choice for her. However, the waffle looked nice and fluffy and delicious.

A nice hearty platter

Since I am more likely to eat a pork product, I choose their platter - toast with eggs (I like mine over easy) which they served perfectly done and their maple syrup sausage. It was very delicious. My eggs were actually over easy!! Some places overcook them. And the sausage was very tasty - seasoned but with a lovely taste of maple!

Overall, I find this place to be friendly yet fast - a good place to grab a quick bite - just don't come here if you can't eat pork but want meat for breakfast.

Luna Bar & Diner
1301 Connecticut Ave. N.W.
Washington, DC 20009
tel. 202.835.2280
Hours:
Sunday -Thursday

8:00 am – 11:00pm
Friday & Saturday

8:00am – 12 midnight

 Brunch on Sat & Sun Only

Brunch at Gravy's

When I finally made it into the city - yes, I have to move from nasty old Queens...I was really looking forward to Gravy, which KA made sound so good...

Gravy

Gravy is tucked away on 21st Street - It's got lovely facade, high ceilings, nice bar and lounge. The chairs leave a little something to be desired and as with all restaurants - I don't mind coat check - but I have a bag and it would be nice if *someday*, someone would design the tables and booths with the mindset that *some* of us carry handbags. Just sayin'.

The hostess was a great gal - we ran late - mostly me - yes I do know I need to move out of Queens. Believe me...I really do. It took me 2 hours to get in. Damn you, MTA.

So we got our table and even got to switch to the more comfortable corner booth. :)

We got the brunch menu - with the liquid brunch menu. After perusing the drinks, we both chose the I-10, which was made of Firefly sweet tea vodka and orange juice. I actually liked this. I might want to get that vodka. :)

I-10 -yum

I decided to get the grilled ham steak and eggs - it's like a thicker slice of canadian bacon, grilled, scrambled eggs with gravy and honeyed grits. The honey grits were really good. The rest was ok - ham was tasty but the scrambled eggs didn't smell like eggs and were bland. The gravy was the worse part of the whole plate. It was sweet and didn't compliment the food at all.

Grilled Ham Steak and Eggs

Barb ordered the corn meal encrusted shrimp po'boy. There was not much shrimp and all the remoulade was on one side of the sandwich. The fries were nothing special either. I think that sometimes you do need to go for the authentic - if you can't find the chef in NYC, then Nawlins is where to go for po'boys.

Shrimp Po'boy

We decided after the food arrived that 'new' meant small portions and fake southern food so we opted to try the grits on the side for Barb and the biscuit and gravy for me.

The grits were yummy. Instead of Gravy, they should've named themselves grits. The best thing on their menu are the grits. It's so good!!

Grits

The biscuit was not flaky or raised. It came with a sausage that seemed to be made with organ meat. It was very sandy texture and I suspect it was lung or something. Maybe liver. It was alright - not so seasoned. The gravy once again - tangy mess. I don't like the gravies at Gravy. I prefer the grits.

Biscuit with sausage and gravy

I must say that Gravy was a big disappointment for brunch. If you must try it - definitely go for grits.

Gravy

32 E. 21st Street, between Park Avenue South and Broadway

New York, NY 10010
tel. 212.600.2105
Hours:

Dinner
Monday – Thursday: 5:30pm – 10:00pm
Friday – Saturday: 5:30pm – 11:00PM
Lounge Open Nightly: 5:00pm – 1:00am
Lunch
Monday – Frinday: 12:00pm – 2:30pm
Brunch
Saturday-Sunday: 11:30am – 2:30pm

Lunch at Patsy's on 3rd Ave

So lunch buddy, David calls me up and invites me out to lunch with Victoria and himself. Of course, I said yes when I heard it was Patsy's.

Patsy's serves darn good pizza and salads in an area full of bars and bar food.

The restaurant was still empty when we arrived. The place is decorated with pictures of celebrities, fake windows and a lovely copper ceiling.

The waitress was nice and checked in every so often with us. She was also understanding when we got the giant salad instead of the smaller portion we could handle. She took it back and gave us the small one very graciously!

It was nice to get out of the office and sit at a real restaurant to eat instead of going out and buying food to eat at the desk while still dealing with the phone ringing, emails and work.

Anyway, we started off with the salad. I do admit it took a while for them to prepare the plate but it looks darn good, doesn't it? It is the insalada siciliana, which is divine - a green salad made with mozzarella cheese, roasted peppers, black olives, capers, carrots, tomatoes and artichokes with homemade italian dressing. Oh, and if you do not omit it - anchovies. We ordered without anchovies, even though I totally admit not having eaten many anchovies before. The small appetizer is enough to serve three people well. The family size is too big and we ordered it accidentally and had to send it back to be cut down to this more manageable size. It is absolutely tangy, with the saltiness of the capers cutting into the sweet of the greens, tomato and cheese. It is so good!! 

Insalada Siciliana

Since we were all good with any toppings, we ordered a half sausage, half olive pizza pie. It came piping hot from the brick oven in the back and it looked absolutely divine. There were fresh basil leaves through the pie - with a nicely laid tomato sauce. The sausage was not very oily as it is at other pizzerias and it is crushed into little bits strewn throughout. Perfectly seasoned meat! The olives were cut into smaller pieces and spread through out the lovely thin crust. It was absolutely divine. We ate too much, I think because as we walked over, I felt my stomach expand and my weight gained by 5 pounds. It was totally worth it. :) I liked the decor and I love their pizza and salad!!

Half Sausage, Half Olive Pie - Thin Crust

Patsy's Pizzeria
509 3rd Ave, New York, NY 10016
(between 34th and 35th Streets on 3rd Ave)
tel. (212) 689-7500

Hours of Operation:
Mon - Fri 11:30 am - 9:45 pm
Sat & Sun Noon - 9:45 pm 

 

Cu 29 Copper Bar and Grill Brunch Buffet

Another weekend, another brunch. Yes, we just never posted others yet. This time, we went out to support Nissa who ran her first ever marathon! She placed 325ish!!!

After unsuccessfully trying to spot her, the app finally updated slowly and she had passed us and hit the 15 mile mark!

So we walked east along the park and found the Cu Copper Bar and Grill. I think today was some deal too as they had some southwestern theme going.

The service was a bit slow but decent. Our plates and drinks were cleared timely.

 

As we had a groupon for it, we ate unlimited buffet and bellinis. The buffet was serve yourself and the selections were limited.

They served eggs, potatoes, French toast, pork sausage, pork bacon, mini muffins, and fruit salad.

It was warm but not hot. They were very slow in replacing the French toast but the other stuff was replaced more quickly. I even had someone help serve my first plate. o(^▽^)o

The eggs were tasty, nothing special. The bacon extra crispy, and the sausage was alright. The mini muffins were quite delicious - blueberry was blueberry-ish and the corn muffin was yummy. The French toast was okay too. The real bad part is no subs so if you don't eat pork, no meat for you... This kind of made it a no for non porky eaters but for me is cool.

Overall, it was nothing special but two big plates were filling for about $18 a person with the groupon, tax, and tip.

Cu Copper Bar and Grill

232 N 12th St, Brooklyn, NY, 11211

Tel. 347-889-5531

MON-THU: 11:30am - 12am
FRIDAY: 11:30am - 3am
SATURDAY: 11:00am - 3am
SUNDAY: 11:00am - 12am
SAT&SUN BRUNCH
FROM: 11:00am - 4:30pm