A bright brunch, but no butterflies: Review of Sarabeth’s
BY BETH KAISERMAN
Sarabeth’s Central Park South
40 Central Park South
Midtown West
212-826-5959/sarabeth.com
After hearing about Sarabeth’s scrumptious lemon ricotta pancakes from various sources for the past year, I had some reasonably built up expectations. They weren’t quite as moist (or as lemony) as the hype would have warranted.
Sarabeth's lemon ricotta pancakes
For my meal, I picked the pumpkin waffle, sprinkled with pumpkin seeds and raisins, doused in a heap of sour cream and a drizzle of honey. It had that natural pumpkin taste that I like, but not quite enough; I like a big punch of that pungent orange gourd flavor. My way of gauging the food experience here is that my stomach did not experience the butterflies it usually does when hit with a fantastic brunch.
Nevertheless, the trek into the city was worth it to me. It was a nice change of scenery being in this breezy, light environment as opposed to the cramped, tiny brunch spots in Williamsburg (that I absolutely adore of course.)
The highlight for me, aside from the ambiance, was the deliciously strong Sunberry coffee. I think I had about three cups – a great way to start a leisurely Sunday.
The two meals were each $16, and the bottomless coffee was $3.50. That’s more than I’d usually like to spend on brunch, but considering the generous portion sizes and the restaurant’s location, it could be a lot worse. I actually left a whole section of my waffle behind, which is rare for me.
Sarabeth’s is definitely a tourist spot (right near the Plaza and the park), so I was surprised the wait was only 15 to 20 minutes. Also, we were able to put our name on both lists for inside and outside. The hostesses were very calm at handling a good crowd, as I’m sure they’ve seen worse.
Sarabeth’s has a nice, soothing vibe, but I’d rather stuff my belly with breathtaking brunch fare – even if that means being tucked away in a tight corner of a Williamsburg brunch spot.
GREAT REVIEW!