I tend to judge menus with the $10 threshold: Anything above $10 usually begins to look a little less appetizing. I’m always on the lookout for cheap meals, particularly brunch in the East Village where a lot of college students reside (NYU, The Cooper Union, St. John’s).
Here are five restaurants in the East Village that serve entrees around $10:
Cornerstone Cafe
Where else in the East Village can I get two eggs, potatoes, mixed greens, and toast for just $4? No where.
Their Eggs Benedict ($10, pictured) is solid as well, and I’ve heard good things about their grits and steak & eggs.
Located at East 2nd Street & Avenue B.
El Diablito
One of my favorite restaurants in the city, you should definitely find some time to make your way to this gem hidden just blocks away from Houston Street on a quiet block.
Their breakfast burritos ($5.99) are compact, yet filling and cheap enough to add in a bottle of Jarritos. Or if you’re feeling a bit more ambitious, the Huevos Rancheros ($9.95, pictured) pack quite a punch. And they give free chips and sauce if you eat-in.
(The Huevos Rancheros and chips alone are actually enough for two people, provided both people don’t have monstrous appetites.)
Located at East 3rd Street between 1st & 2nd Avenue.
Rustico
The menu at this Mediterranean brunch spot is loaded with eggs, with some sweets and savory crepes to boot. It has a brunch special of two eggs, salad, roasted potatoes, and toast with coffee or tea for $11.
The Nordic Scramble ($13, pictured) is a bit above the $10-threshold, but well worth the money with its blend of salmon, scrambled eggs and greens, along with potatoes and toast.
Located at St. Marks Place & 2nd Avenue.
The Crooked Tree
For something a little different from the typical brunch fare of eggs and toast, check out this cute cafe near Tompkins Square Park. They are mostly known for their wide variety of crepes, such as their Homemade Dulce de Leche (caramel) crepe.
Besides their popular sweet crepes, I would definitely recommend the crepe with sautéed spinach, garlic & red pepper flakes, mushrooms, thyme and goat cheese. ($11, pictured)
Located at St. Marks Place between Avenue A & 1st Avenue.
Cafe Orlin
Cafe Orlin is always a good time, with its mix of American and Middle Eastern fare. Their two-egg brunch special comes with toast, potatoes, orange juice and coffee. ($10, pictured center)
They’re also known for their Tunisian Eggs ($13, pictured left), which are poached eggs on top of a tomato sauce accompanied with pita and homefries.
Located at St. Marks Place between 1st & 2nd Avenue.
This is only a brief list, and there are plenty of other great deals in the neighborhood, not to mention the rest of the city. If you have any recommendations for more killer brunch places in New York City, hit us up on Instagram. We want to know! (Sharing is caring – we’re awaiting your DMs.)
For more coverage, check out some of our other brunch articles:
–38 Best Places to Brunch in NYC
–NYC’s Best Bottomless Brunches for Under $30
–There’s a Scientific Reason Why You Love Brunch
–The Ultimate Student Guide to Eating and Drinking at New York University