Let's face it, New York City food culture can be extremely intimidating. The stress of choosing restaurants from among the multitude of possibilities can definitely be overwhelming. After having explored the options available to New Yorkers for several years, I can finally say I have a grasp of what the city has to offer avid foodies. Seeing as I love mornings, this article is going to discuss a must-try breakfast spot in the Upper West Side of NYC: The Smith.
What is The Smith?
The name of the restaurant was inspired by the desire of the establishment to craft happiness and empower itself to be a maker of great food, cocktails, and hospitality. While The Smith is renowned for its amazing breakfast and brunch menu, the dinner menu is equally praised by satisfied customers. Its popularity has made it one of the top 10 most reserved restaurants on OpenTable and one of the top 100 grossing restaurants in the US.
The Menu
The first menu item I ordered was the cappuccino. While I was expecting a flowery display to be made from the frothed milk (you know.. the kind you see at cafes), the taste was still pretty great. Alongside the cappuccino, I found it interesting that every table was served sparkling water instead of plain water, which was a pretty nice change. There's also an alcohol menu, and you can basically spike every drink including your cappuccino.
Before I explain this menu item, yes I understand that I shouldn't be ordering fries for breakfast, but I couldn't help myself (and they were amazing btw). The BLT+E sandwich with fried egg and applewood smoked bacon on a croissant was pretty darn good. Although the menu item may sound relatively simple, the creaminess of the over-easy egg, the crisp and flavorful bacon, and the buttery croissant worked perfectly together.
The next dish was honestly one of the main highlights of the breakfast. The Sicilian baked eggs with spicy tomato sauce, artichokes, burrata, spinach, and ciabatta truly made my day. The contrast between the fatty flavors of the egg and burrata(if you haven't tried burrata you need to get out more), the bitter flavors of the artichoke and sautéed spinach, and the spicy/smoky flavors of the tomato sauce really stimulated my taste buds and made every bite interesting.
Last, but definitely not least, the pancakes with whipped ricotta, toasted pecans, and salted caramel sauce made the perfect end to a stellar breakfast. While pancakes are an ordinary breakfast item, this dish was elevated by the toppings, especially the flavorful pecans and the rich ricotta.
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and the better you start off your day, the happier you will be. Kick it off right at The Smith, I promise you won't regret it.