02.22.09
Review of Stanton Social, brunch Sunday January 2009
99 Stanton St. & Rivington St., 212-995-0099
Great for: cocktails for large groups, romantic desserts, sophisticated brunch after a night of debauchery, sharing food
I finally got home from exile with my family and needed copious drinks. Commodities Broker, now just a friend, said he’d be in the neighborhood and we agreed to grab brunch/lunch. This was the only place I could think of. It’s not the best place for food but it is nicer than most of the other little local spots. Plus, lots of fun cocktails!
It’s the same menu all the time, so they don’t get any lunchtime reviewing mercy, not to mention they’re quite as busy at lunch as dinner. We started with the excellent breakfast bruschetta, lots of soft eggs on chewy bread. The chicken and waffles was an insane mix of sweet and savory - maple syrup and balsamic swirled together, especially. It was sort of strangely good and I enjoyed the plethora of scallions, but overall it was just a little too weird for me.
The French onion soup dumplings were more my speed. They were extremely juicy and maybe a bit too salty. I liked the Social mac and cheese, although I would have preferred no tomatoes. To be fair, I hate tomatoes that are not in marinara form. The meatballs in tomato sauce, good though a bit vinegary, were accompanied by an interesting and tasty lasagna sheet filled with ricotta and pesto.
I had no objections to my strong champagne julep or gin-lemon mojito. CB found his mimosa a little flat and the pineapple 75 martini a bit weak. We agreed favorably on the margarita and the friendly though somewhat absent-minded service. In general, the food is pretty good but not really the focus of the place, I think. It is just a very pretty bi-level hideaway on a trendy-ish stretch of the Lower East Side, expensive enough to keep out the undesirable and tastefully decorated to soothe hangovers. Or nourish the beginning of one – I’ve been here once for dessert (I love the doughnut sauces) and once for many, many cocktails with a bunch of friends upstairs. I’d stick to the booze if you have the choice.
Rating: 6.5 / 10
Our cost: $160 (5 small plates, 5 drinks)
Noise level: try to banish your hangover before you come in, although their bloody mary looks quite popular
Chance of walking in: not good, ever. Definitely call ahead. They take brunch reservations too.
