Eat.Here.Now: Caffe Storico

Hey There Upper East Siders, Gossip Girl here. Ok, ok, Caffe Storico is on the Upper West Side, but work with me here.  It reminded me too much of Gossip Girl so I had to go THERE (sorry).  

I hardly go up to the UWS, mainly because I live in the Financial District; and let's face it, all the action happens downtown.  Nevertheless, a few weeks ago I decided to step inside The World Above 59th Street (yes, I unlocked that Foursquare badge) to meet my aunt and cousin for brunch.  They had picked out the place because the restaurant is owned by Stephen Starr, owner of Buddakan and Morimoto (a.k.a it had to be good). 

The restaurant was located inside the New York Historical Society (so snobs, unite! KIDDING). The ambience and people were lovely.  The ceiling was strikingly tall and the decor clean, crisp and chic.  Lots of white, beautiful china on display, and a pop of yellow for the seating.  The baked eggs in a spicy tomato sauce was well worth the acid reflux.  After our entrees, we ordered the assortment of Italian cookies.  Definitely recommend.  

I realize not a lot of people venture to the UWS if you don't live there but definitely recommend this for a girls brunch.  One where you want to dress up all prim and proper, a la Blair Waldorf.  Blood Orange Mimosas included.

Sunday Funday Brunch

By far one of the best things about American culture is the invention of a new time to eat: brunch. Being from Puerto Rico a late breakfast consisted of oatmeal and juice. When I lived in Barcelona, people just didn't have breakfast. If they did, it was a piece of toast with coffee and cigarette in hand. However, here in the States people love to go have brunch, especially New Yorkers. Two places with a COMPLETELY different vibe and amazing food are Essex and Esperanto. So put these two in your to-do list based on your moods:

If you want to party while you eat, screwdrivers to be ever-flowing, big portions, occasionally spot a celebrity, check out good style, get together with a huge group and be in the middle of LES, go to ESSEX.

2. If you want to lay low, save some money (prixe-fixe brunch menu is only $9.99!), go somewhere busy but quaint, drink guava juice, have smaller portions, check out a hot host called Philipo, and feel like you are in a small restaurant on the coast of Brazil, go to ESPERANTO.

Eperanto pics taken from Yelp...I forgot to take pics while I was there.