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| The Fat Radish, New York |
The Fat Radish could just about earn its place as Cafe of the Week by virtue of name alone. But this Lower East Side, New York, cafe and bar has more going for it than just a great name.
Located on a quiet stretch of Orchard Street, just north of the screeching bustle of Canal Street, The Fat Radish is one of those places that's not much to look at from across the road. The beauty is all on the inside. Walk through a small coffee bar and foyer into a white-washed room filled with light from a long open-shuttered window and a huge mirror, with specials listed in pink and white pen.
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| The Fat Radish interior, LES |
The Fat Radish has a loosely 'modern British' theme, which means on the plus side there's a full English and bacon butties on the brunch menu for homesick ex-pats, and artfully displayed Brit groceries on the shelves (never has Rose's Lime Cordial looked so chic). On the downside, I'm not sure the hipster staff have been fully briefed in the cuisine of our fair Isle - the waitress described a special of kedgeree as 'Irish risotto.' Oh dear.
The brunch menu was of the kind New York does so well - full of inventive ways with eggs, the pig and carbohydrates balanced with super-healthy dishes for the gangly model types who are two-a-penny in these parts. Though how anyone has the self-restraint to order 'The Fat Radish plate' - seven types of seasonal market vegetables (kale, squash, Swiss chard etc) and nothing else, is beyond me.
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| The Fat Radish burger |
We ordered mostly from the other end of the healthiness spectrum. J ordered the house burger (yes, you can legitimately eat burgers for brunch in NYC). It came smothered in melted cheese and crispy bacon and was served with rust-coloured duck-fat fries. It was delicious, but so decadent as to to kick-start feelings of remorse after just a few bites.
A portly potato cake came bound in cloth and served with sauteed Brussels sprouts, crisp bacon and a runny poached egg. A stylish take on a rustic hash or bubble and squeak.
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| The Fat Radish, avocado on toast with spicy eggs |
I ordered 'avocado on seven-grain toast with spicy eggs' and was pleasantly surprised when it arrived with two soft-boiled eggs on top rather than poached, the yolk bursting out over the avocado with just one press of my fork. The eggs were drizzled with hot sauce and the avocado was well-seasoned. It's an easy twist on avocado on toast that I'll definitely be trying at home.
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| The Fat Radish, avocado on toast with spicy eggs |
The Laughing Man French-press coffee was so-so, but a hangover-baiting red juice of beetroot, celery and apple made me feel better almost instantly. You can be as indulgent or as health-conscious as you like at The Fat Radish. Just steer clear of the 'Irish risotto.'
The Fat Radish, 17 Orchard Street, New York NY 10002
www.thefatradishnyc.com
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6 comments:
So jealous of your New York trip. And I agree the Fat Radish is a brilliant name - love NYC brunches.
Avocado on toast is my favourite thing in the whole wide world. Add in chilli and some soft-yolked egg and I'm in heaven :-)
Cara - I'm not going to lie, it was brilliant. Still working off all those brunches!
Littleloaf - me too, had some for breakfast just this morning. Never seen it with boiled eggs til now, made a fun twist, as did the hot sauce.
It's places like this that make me want to up sticks to NYC. LOVE doing eggs like that- such a simple way to do them for a crowd as well- much less faff than poaching. x
Fat Radish is a cute, quirky name - very catchy. And that avocado on toast with spicy eggs looks so scrummy-looking it's making my gob water just by looking at it. I am going to make my own after this.
I love NYC and I would love burger for brunch please. Aside from burgers, I also fancy avocados and that avocado on toast with spicy eggs just looks gorgey.
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