Riverpark (brunch)

While Riverpark might be tricky to locate, it is certainly worth the hunt.  My best advise is to tell the cab driver to drop you off at the corner of 29th and 1st (if you are not traveling by foot/subway...once you are there, you can make the cabbie drive you up the ramp or proceed by foot).  If you hit the water, you went to far.  You will see a newly built glass building adjacent to the water.  To enter it, you must use the revolving doors at the top of the ramp, all of the other entrances are locked.

It sounds like a lot of work for a meal but I promise you will be rewarded for your efforts.  If you managed to avoid getting lost, you will notice the Riverpark garden, which grows fresh herbs for the restaurant.  The dark, modern dining room is enclosed by tall glass windows.  The tables in the back of the restaurant face the East River.  Weather permitting, I prefer to sit outside, along the water.  There are communal tables in the sun and individual tables in the shade.  They even have heat lamps (when it's 70 degrees out) for wimps like me :)

The service at Riverpark, like most Tom Colicchio restaurants, runs like a well oiled machine.  The hostesses are attentive and organized, efficiently doling out the choice outdoor tables.  Once seated, your water is promptly filled and you are warmly greeted by the server.  Throughout the meal our server would check in to make sure we were satisfied with our selections and the maitre di stopped by towards to end to ensure we enjoyed our experience.

The brunch menu features traditional brunch cocktails, like Mimosas and Bloody Mary's, and an impressive wine by the glass selection.  There are small pours for lightweights.

We decided to kick off brunch with the freshly baked Cinnamon Rolls, which were warm, doughy and excellent.  I'm a big icing fan so I would recommend asking for extra if you are like me and suffer from a vicious sweet tooth.

What to Eat:

Riverpark does an excellent Grilled Bread & Avocado starter.  A thick layer of ripe avocado is spread over toasted country bread, and then topped with freshly cracked pepper and sea salt. This dish largely relies on the quality of the avocado and finding ripe avocados in NYC isn't easy.  But Tom C delivers.  The Californian in me loves nothing more than a simple avocado toast on a warm spring day (or any day for that matter).

Fara wins best pick at brunch hands down.  The French Toast at Riverpark is a must.  The quality of the ingredients in this dish is even more impressive than the already impressive avocado toast.  A large dollop of home made whipped cream and sweet red currants top the three slices of thick, doughy brioche.  The french toast was so sweet and tasty it didn't even need maple syrup.  It is just the right size if you made sure to share starters and/or sides with your dining companion(s).

Looking for a classy brunch with a view?  Riverpark is perfect for this (and any) season,

Your foodie friend