The Manhattan Brunch Map — And the Spot on 9th Avenue That Wasn't Supposed to Be There
Every great brunch destination in Manhattan has an origin story. Most of them start the same way: a chef with a concept, a lease signed, a menu designed, and a PR push timed to the opening. The institution is built on purpose. Some of the best ones weren't. The Map, As It Stands Manhattan's brunch landscape is well-charted. Certain neighborhoods own certain reputations, and certain restaurants define those reputations so completely that the two have become inseparable. In SoHo, there is Balthazar — Keith McNally's French brasserie that has been packing red leather banquettes since 1997. The bustling, romantic brasserie serves traditional French fare from breakfast through supper every day, with brunch served on weekends, alongside a wide selection of fresh seafood and shellfish and bread and pastries baked fresh daily at Balthazar Bakery. The Eggs Benedict here runs $19 at breakfast, and the room — all high ceilings, brass fixtures, and the ambient roar of a hundred conver...