No other city does brunch quite like New York. Needless to say, there are countless options to choose from throughout the vast five boroughs. For those looking for a great meal in Queens, here are five great Michelin-recommended options to consider for your next weekend dining experience.
Bellwether
"Bellwether is simple-chic, though don’t let that fool you as its kitchen is seriously ambitious, turning out a seasonal, all-out menu that swings in different directions and is packed with creativity," inspectors say of this Long Island City newcomer. Brunch options range from shrimp and grits to a breakfast taco salad to avocado with seaweed, hemp, sesame, pepper vinegar and crackers. Those looking for something sweet can get an order of beignets with strawberry whipped cream and powdered sugar.Vesta Trattoria
"Ever-changing daily specials and a respectable wine list—celebrated with a weekday happy hour—have fostered the favorable reputation of Astoria's favorite trattoria," according to Michelin inspectors. "Local foodies fill the wee room, a moderately dressed space with sage-green banquettes and a wall-mounted blackboard displaying the names of farms and producers sourced for the menu's array of contemporary Italian food." At brunch, diners can indulge in carbonara macaroni and cheese featuring orecchiette, caramelized onions, bacon, focaccia bread crumbs and a poached egg, or eggs in purgatory with sausage, eggplant and tomato sauce, Grana Padano cheese and toast. Those recovering from the previous night's festivities can order the hangover pizza with spicy tomato, provolone, potato, bacon, sausage and baked eggs.Casa Enrique
Holding the title for the only Michelin-starred restaurant in the borough, Casa Enrique is one of the best restaurants in Queens. When it comes to the food, "One can literally taste the regions and cities that chef Cosme Aguilar’s amazingly complex menu explores—including his own childhood recipes to honor his mother’s memory," according to inspectors. "Start your meal with hearty rajas con crema, combining none-too-spicy poblanos with sweet, fresh corn, Mexican sour cream and cheese served alongside a stack of fresh and slightly toasty tortillas." Then move on to options like huevos con chorizo, which features scrambled eggs with homemade chorizo, beans, queso, potatoes and roasted poblano peppers.Mar's
Inspectors describe this spot as "a charming oyster bar...plucked out of another century." The restaurant boasts an unassuming exterior across the street from a grocery store in Astoria. "Most of the menu is given over to raw seafood and New England classics." At brunch, the menu includes dirty rice with sunny-side up eggs, rice, salted cod, pork and fennel sausage, leeks and herbs; homemade waffles with blueberries and maple syrup; and poutine featuring French fries, burrata, chicken demi, parsley, chives and scallions.Houdini Kitchen Laboratory
"Located in an industrial stretch of Ridgewood, this inventive pizzeria pulls off a number of tricks with carefully curated ingredients," according to inspectors. But this Bib Gourmand-designated restaurant offers more than just great pizzas for brunch. Menu items include poached eggs with Hollandaise sauce, fried chicken on a freshly-baked buttermilk biscuit, and a Cobb salad with homemade ranch dressing. But for those looking for pizzas, there's a brunch version with thinly shaved potatoes, homemade pork sausage and baked eggs. Wash it all down with any of a number of cocktails, such as the tamarind caipirinha.Bellwether brunch photo by Molly Tavoletti.
