April 19, 2010 6:22 pm
Music to My Stomach: Brunch at Chelsea's Vnyl
In New York, the majority of the week we're on the go and too busy to leave the house with much more than a cup of coffee and a piece of toast. We all look forward to weekends and the sheer number of NYC restaurants to grab a great brunch and Bloody Mary with friends. Deciding to stray from my regular weekend visits to The Smith, I met some of my girlfriends at Vnyl, a hip brunch spot in Chelsea.
Vnyl is everything music, although I must say I was surprised when Celine Dion came blaring from the speakers. The extensive menus are printed on old, vinyl covers with choices ranging from Jimi Hendrix to Rod Stewart. Tip: Don't be fooled by Justin Timberlake's dressing room...it's the unisex bathroom with a life-sized painting of Justin himself.
With spring finally peeking out behind fickle city weather, the outside seating at Vnyl (though sparse) is relaxing and refreshing. If you're not lucky enough to snag a spot outside before it gets packed, the spacious booths in the fifties style diner are comfortable enough to take a nap in. Trick: Vnyl's large windows open up the space and sunlight showers the inside, making it seem like you are almost sitting out on the sidewalk.
While the service was definitely not superb (not the norm from my friend's experience), we couldn't complain about the extra "free" Bloody Mary our table received. The mimosas were just as tasty and cheap. Besides the delicious mixing power of the bartenders, the extensive selection of alcohol behind the bar also stirred my curiosity about happy hour at Vnyl, which runs weekly from 4PM to 9PM at the bar.
The Vnyl Scramble, a tasty heap of scrambled eggs, scallions and watercress on top of a pile of homemade hash browns with a side of bacon and toast, was enough to fill my stomach until dinner. My friend's sole reason for frequenting Vnyl a little too regularly is the Brioche French Toast. Tip: The Make Your Own Omelet is a popular choice for those who are undecided or have diet restrictions.
By the time our dishes were empty, Vnyl was still booming. Although we had to wait for our coffee and food longer than we expected, we were comfortable and thankful that we didn't have to make it ourselves. After all, weekends are all about relaxing. I'll definitely return to Vnyl, but my heart and stomach still belong to The Smith.
Vnyl: Chelsea
102 8th Avenue
(between 15th Street and 8th Avenue)
New York, NY 10011
212.400.2118
Vnyl: Hell's Kitchen
754 9th Avenue
(at 51st Street)
New York, NY 10019
212.974.2003
— Written by Christina Licata
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