The [Brunch] That Jane Likes

Brunch on the weekends is something of a cultural icon in NYC. You can find different people who are all equally enjoying their brunch, but interested in such different brunch experiences: those looking to cure their hangovers with Bloody Marys and greasy diner food, those who are a few steps prior to a hangover drinking unlimited mimosas and screwdrivers, and those seeking a bottomless cup of coffee to sip while flipping through The New York Times (don't tell my boss @ WSJ!), just to name a few. For me, the best kind of brunch is one with great food served in a restaurant with wide-open windows/doors on a gorgeous Spring day.

JB was in town for a long weekend with her friend PB, and they invited me to join them for brunch at Jane Restaurant on that Sunday along with PB's sons and friend. I was excited to see them and to go back to Jane since it had been at least 4 years since my last visit.

The two other times I had been there, I ordered the same thing...the Benedict Johnny. So, for this visit I decided I should change it up and try something new. I went with the Farm House Scramble, which included smoked ham (which I did without), gruyere cheese, and caramelized onions. I didn't quite think it through that without the meat in there, it was a little bit boring. The eggs were cooked well though, and the combination of the cheese with the sweet onions was delicious.
I hate to say it, though, but the best part of the meal for me was the french fries. Not that that's necessarily a bad thing! They were crispy, salty, and sprinkled with fresh rosemary giving them a great flavor. I should have stuck with the Benedict Johnny!

PB's sons ordered the vanilla bean french toast made with brioche bread dipped in crème brûlèe batter, topped with Vermont maple syrup. This stuff looked ridiculous! But, I noticed while they were eating it that the batter hadn't soaked all the way through. So, the center of the slices was just dry bread...a big french toast faux pas!
Even with the restaurant being packed at prime time on a Sunday morning, the server was great. She happily answered all of our questions about the menu, and patiently took our orders with lots of substitutions.

Everyone really enjoyed the brunch all around. Good food, great company, and gorgeous weather all made for the kind of brunch that I really like.

Jane
100 West Houston Street
b/t Thompson Street & LaGuardia Place
website
Menu Pages listing

Comments

LaFleur said…
Great to see you back Miss Menu! Missed your posts!
Great post, girl!
Loved the review :)
Welcome back!
Brazilian XOXO´s,
Gabriela
Miss Menu said…
Thanks to both of you! Doing my best to keep posting more often. The encouragement definitely helps :)