You might wake up with a hankering for pancakes and bacon after a night of exploring all the world-class nightlife that Manhattan has to offer. But what you’ll get is something far more sophisticated because New York’s fine dining reputation doesn’t only apply to dinner. Try Artisanal for superb cheese-related dishes and Balthazar and Brassiere 8 ? for modern French brunch. Celebrity chef Bobby Flay will cook you a spicy omelette at Mesa Grill, and you’ll taste some of the fluffiest blueberry pancakes at Clinton Street Baking Company and Restaurant.

1. If you love cheese, then you’ve found your paradise at Artisanal. This sprawling, dimly lit bistro with buttercream yellow walls and red-checkered floors is where people to go when they want to nibble on baskets of airy gougeres and dig into pots of gooey fondue at the tightly packed wooden tables. It’s the quality of the French-style food, from hearty leg of lamb to charred hanger steak, that salvages Artisanal from becoming a kitschy fondue joint and instead makes it a delightful restaurant you will want to return to again and again. Weekend brunch isn’t for the calorie conscious-the cinnamon sugar dusted beignets are impossible to refuse.

2. Balthazar Restaurant, a warm, noisy French bistro, was once a hot spot of the 90s and is now a reliable standby. It’s always been a transporting experience, though-from the sunshine-yellow walls to the European crowd devouring steak au poivre, duck confit and other “I must be in Paris” staples. The brunch is among the best in town; the smartest calls are the pillowy brioche French toast and baskets of baked goods.
3. Food Network fans know chef Bobby Flay as the red-haired chef who is a master of the grill. Today, he’s practically an empire, with multiple restaurants under his helm, cookbooks and numerous television appearances. But Mesa Grill, which opened in 1991, was his first restaurant, and above all else, Flay is the king of all things spicy. Dishes such as sweet potato hash or scrambled eggs chiliquiles (paired with a spicy bloody mary of course) will test whether you can handle the heat. The service can be clunky, but your focus will be on the food.

Food Network burgers are among the best

4. Modern French cuisine has never tasted so good as it does at Midtown’s Brassiere 8, where the contemporary restaurant offers its own twist on classic French dishes. On Sundays the restaurant hosts a buffet, but you can order off the breakfast or brunch menus when you sit and order as well.

5. Opening in 2001, Clinton Street Baking Company and Restaurant has become known as the spot for blueberry pancakes in Manhattan. Sure, the brunch lines are long, but the husband and wife team behind the restaurant follow pancake month-an entire month dedicated to introducing new pancake flavors. A bite of almond frangipane or Japanese pumpkin pancakes in February will immediately cause you to forget about your wait.

Pancakes at the Clinton Street Baking Company and Restaurant

2011

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