Freemans

My old time favorite! If you did not try artichoke dip at Freeman’s, you missed out big time. I’ve been to this place on numerous occasions: late night dinner, girls night out, group reunion, a date! This place was featured in Anthony Bourdain’s book and was listed as his favorite spot. Definitely a must!

I came here with high expectations seeing that there were often lines and reservations were always filled, but was greatly disappointed. The food was just alright and didn’t stand out. However, the ambience and location was nice.

First off, Freemans only accepts reservations for parties of six or more guests for dinner and weekend brunch service. I made a reservation for Sunday at 12:00 PM and I’m so glad I did because this place was packed by the time my whole party arrived! This spot is legit a hole in the alley so it might be hard to find for some people… to make it easier for y’all — it’s on the same block as Morgenstern’s!
My party was seated pretty quickly even though we were 15 mins late. We ordered some drinks to start off our brunch — The Garden Gate, Three Girl Rumba, Fancy Free and La Isla Bonita. These were all $ 12 each (a bit pricey) but all very tasty!
For appetizer, we got the Hot Artichoke Dip and for sides, we got french fries and thick-​cut bacon. The Hot Artichoke Dip came with crisp bread (remember to ask for more because there will not be enough) and this was such a good combo! The dip was super flavorful. The fries and bacon were tasty as well.
For entrees, we got the Baked Skillet Eggs Shakshuka and Poached Eggs with Roasted Asparagus. The Baked Skillet Eggs Shakshuka consists of spinach, feta cheese, tomato-​bell pepper sauce, buttered sourdough toast and it tasted OKAY — the eggs were way OVERcooked but the spinach and feta cheese was a good mixed to the skillet. The Poached Eggs with Roasted Asparagus consists of cheddar cheese grits, hollandaise sauce, and buttered sourdough toast. My friends had this dish and they said it was pretty decent.
Service here is really good. Our server always came by and made sure our water glasses were full and that we were satisfied with the foods/​drinks.
Overall, I thought the food here was average. this was a good one time experience and I don’t see myself returning any time soon.

Finally finally finally, I was able to sit down and enjoy one of the most trending brunch places in town after a pretty exhausted wait. Unlike many other brighter (or say it in other word, modern) places, Freeman’s was definitely on the old-​fashioned side — paintings with dust, animal sculptures, plants, whatever you could think of was everywhere!
Talking about food, I was surprisingly a bit disappointed, probably because I’ve given high expectations for so long and it somehow failed to impress me. Opted for the poached egg with grilled asparagus and butter toast. The poached egg was cooked perfectly well, with the egg yolk having the fluid texture and made the perfect combo with my toast. Sadly the asparagus was pretty bland… My friend got the granola bowl with assorted fruits. Probably the meaty dishes could be better? We don’t know.
Definitely not worth 1 hr wait, but if you could walk in and sit down as you pass by, it’s not a bad option either.

I have mixed feelings about this place.
I couldn’t rate less than 4 stars even if I really wanted to.
Let me explain. This place is so so so snob. Waiters are so rude and unpleasant to be around. There is always 30 – 45 minutes wait but you know that happens in NYC but the person who take your name at the front treat you like garbage.
But the place is atypic and the food is good. But not to die for. I would recommend to go there once, to try it out. But I won’t go back there as there is so many brunch spots that are cheaper, tastier and with nicer people.

Had a nice little brunch at Freemans. The place is a little hole in the wall (not so little when you walk in) at the end of an alleyway (which makes it so difficult to find) with an interesting (taxidermy all around) and rather dim interior.
Service is quick (I had my food in less than 10 minutes) and the staff friendly. I guess I chose a good time to go because I was seated immediately although the bartender mentioned that the wait can go up to 40 minutes.
I had Poached eggs with roasted asparagus and coffee. Good taste, not heavy. Not enough to fill me up, I should have ordered a side.
All things considered, a good experience!

It’s a disappointment from what I expected it to be. Mediocre food. Fries were cold, and the place was really hard to find (deep in an alleyway).
I ordered the Quinoa bowl which was good, but definitely not as big as how the waiter mentioned. My friend got the egg bacon and potatoes and she seemed to like it but not love it. The place is quaint and cute, I definitely like the rustic vibe of it.
Also, we wanted to come and try the skillet but… They only serve it on weekends. Wah

We went here for brunch on a Sunday based on excellent Unilocal reviews. I really enjoyed the entire experience so the reviews were spot on. The atmosphere is casual elegance without pretension. It was a very comfortable and welcoming ambience. Our service was professional, courteous, and attentive.
I ordered the smoked trout ($ 17). If you like smoked fish like I do you have to try it. Really, really good. Not a complaint from me except I wish they gave you more! And the horseradish sauce could be spicier. But that’s a quibble.
The wife got the egg skillet ($ 14), not sure of the exact name, and loved it. If you love eggs you have to try it. Came with a sauce that tasted Italian, and topped with lots of bacon.
I wish I lived in NYC and I would be back every weekend to work my way through the menu.

I guess at places like this you pay for the atmosphere not the actual food…
Came in for lunch on a Friday and the place wasn’t too busy. BTW, it’s down the alley. Don’t make the mistake I did and walk down chrystie street 3 times.
Our server was friendly and accommodating but the food was only mediocre. We ordered the crab roll which was bland but the bread was good and we shared the artichoke dip which was really good but nothing too memorable.
With so many amazing restaurants in NYC I can’t say I’ll be back anytime soon, but it definitely has photo appeal

Was absolutely not blown away by the food. Brunch was ok but nothing you would really remember. No interesting smoothies, regular American coffee without a twist, standard mac&cheese. Maybe we just did not pick right… Apart from that, service is good and atmosphere is really nice!

5+++ stars for ambiance, mood and romance. This is worth the walk down the only alley in NYC. A cheerfully bright blue door and dreamy lights on a string greet you. The interior is just as dreamy, albeit a bit strange with stuffed animal heads hanging on the wall. But hey. It oozes charm and I like it.
My friend and I snagged seats at the bar on an early Friday evening. The bartender looked just like Freddie Mercury. I asked Freddie what I should drink and he recommended the French 75 — plymouth Gin, lemon, simple syrup, champagne float — it was a little too citrusy for me — don’t always listen to what Freddie says. My second attempt at a cocktail was wonderful and warmed me up all over — El Bandito (chipotle mescal, bourbon, orange bitters, whiskey barrel bitters, demerrera syrup). I was feeling good. We had the famous artichoke dip to munch on and it was good.
There’s a private room in back should you want to reserve it for a small party. Reservations for large parties only, otherwise expect a wait. Bring your date or bff. I’ll have to come back to actually try the food, which could push up my rating to 5 stars. Well done, Freemans, well done, you made my night.

Expect a 1.5 hour wait in the LES alley on a Sunday afternoon for a spot at Freeman’s brunch!
We were seated upstairs, which has a rustic private dining room feel to it. In a table of 5, there were two parties that sat across long wooden tables, with guests seated on the ends of the table. This made it hard for waiters and guests to walk through, since there wasn’t much room behind the seat.
~ HOT ARTICHOKE DIP ($ 15) /​/​For a $ 15 appetizer, this is definitely very small. It comes out piping hot with plenty of crisp bread that may cut the roof of your mouth at times! Between 5 people, we were able to have 2 – 3 pieces of bread with dip.
~ BAKED SKILLET EGGS SHAKSHUKA ($ 14) /​/​This entrée was more worth the price, which came in a hot skillet with two poached eggs, spinach, tomato bell pepper sauce, and toast. Although very flavorful, I found the shakshuka to be somewhat dry.
The consensus at the table was that the poached egg quality varied a lot across entrees. Some were poached well, while others were overcooked without a runny yolk. Also, our waiter took care of us and was sure to refill our waters, but was pretty much nonexistent for the rest of the meal.
Overall, I think Freeman’s is pretty mediocre for brunch while being a little bit pricy for the quality of food and wait time.

The ambiance and alley way are incredibly cute! I loved the whole woodsy vibe, our table was half chair half leather couch, and was decorated with random wooden walking sticks.
The food was 5 stars, some of the best brunch food! I got the poached eggs and asparagus and the cheesy grits it came on were amazing, also a huge portion. My non Unilocaling boyfriend got the scrambled eggs and roasted potatoes. The potatoes were super crispy… Definitely would recommend this as well.
However, service was bad. Hostess and bartender were nice, but our waitress was a little miffed every time we asked for water or ketchup, like we were bothering them… It was also really hard to get their attention they avoided eye contact (probably because I suspected she started to not like us).
Overall, would recommend as a great and cute little place (no rez for less than 6, but we came at 10;30am on a sat and walked right in) for brunch, but wouldn’t come here again and again.

A very snobby place. I guess that;s what New York people do. The interior is cute and it is actually quite specious inside.
We came for a Monday lunch. unfortunately they don’t have the baked dish for lunch (only for brunch). They do not have much vegetarian options. We had an egg white omelette, which was not bad. I enjoyed the salad more, something like pea shoots. The pancake was fluffy, though I don’t like the apple sauce on top of it. So overall the food is good, but I really don’t feel that we were welcome in the place. Everything feels so cold.

I went really late around 2:30pm yet the wait was one hour. Since I was extremely hungry, I tried to go to a few other places but the wait was an hour for brunch. Oh well, I decided to give in and wait.
You have to walk through a small alley to get to Freemans, that’s pretty cool. The restaurant isn’t that small, there are 2 floors. The prices are quite reasonable. The décor is so rustic and cute– lots of animal heads on the walls.
We started off with some sort of artichoke dip, which was absolutely delicious. For my main, I had the baked skillet eggs shakshuka. I just love saying the word, shakshuka! You buttered sourdough bread that comes with it was a carb lovers’ dream. I also tried the roast pork sandwich, which was yummy.
If you have lots of time to kill and want to eat good food, Freemans is a good choice.

The best I can really say about this place is meh’
Let’s start with the good. The location is cool as can be; at the end of an old alley in one of the oldest parts of the city, Freeman’s is an old house turned restaurant. Rustic doesn’t quite begin to describe the ambiance this place is putting off, creaky wooden floors stuff animal heads all over the walls. The place might as well put sawdust down and have a guy playing a saw or washing basin. Still though, for the Bowery (or most of the city for that matter) it’s a unique spot, but they’ve taken it to the extreme.
Moving on to the Meh, namely the food. I ordered my go to for brunch, a burger (as is expected). At$ 17 I expect something a little more hardy than what they offered up. The burger was by no means was atrocious, but it wasn’t very good either. It was, as I said… meh. One of my friends got the roast pork sandwich, which looked way better to me, if you find yourself here this is a probably a better option if you’re hungry (…and you’re at brunch so you’re either hungry or a lush… if you’re the later, hit me up we’ll get along famously). My partner in crime got the baked skillet eggs shakshuka, which was pretty decent too, but nothing to rave about (I see a trend going on here). The cocktails were really quite good; I tried some of the pear gimlet and it was delightful. That being said the beer selection was seriously limited (I remember there being 2 or 3 beers on the menu), though they did have one of my personal favorites, 1664 (I’m a sucker for Paris, what can I say). 8 $ isn’t crazy for a 1664… but its pushing it.
And finally the bad. I really don’t mind waiting for brunch, especially on one of the first nice days of the spring. The city was jam packed the day we went here, and naturally there was a wait at every imaginable brunchery in town, Freemans being no exception. All was well in our world though, we headed over to Public and had a round of beers to pass the time. Unfortunately when we came back, they told us it would be «just a few minutes» for a lot of minutes in a row. Like I said the alley was a cool spot, but I have a hard rule about spending much time loitering in NYC alleys. bottom line, just give us a realistic time, if it’s going to be an hour and thirty, tell me I’ll be there 90min later as opposed to 60 (maybe offer text service… or if that’s too modern for this place, I’ll take a telegraph. Stop.). The other big issue this place should probably address is the service. Our sever was pleasant enough in the beginning… You know, when she finally got to us (read: 20 min after we sat down… so now we are at almost an hour wait). She proceeded to seem board with us after taking our drink order, and did not come back until well after our food came to ask if we would like another cocktail. Good stuff. At over 100 for two I can think of a few better places for brunch that would be more fun, I really expected more from these guys.
All in all, not my favorite brunch place and I probably won’t go back. If you’re looking for an interesting place to brunch, this place is unique enough, but it’s more along the lines of a novelty or theme restaurants in my opinion.

I decided to have breakfast here one cold early morning. I had high expectations for this restaurant. However, I did not feel it meet my expectations.
The atmosphere is pretty chill and literally CHILL. The day I came was pretty chilly outside. I was expecting to be warm in this restaurant. Nope, didn’t get that at all. I sat there with my lover slightly trembling while we wait for our food.
I had the skillet eggs shashuka. The skillet includes bacon, cheese, spinach, and some tomato like sauce, with 2 slices of bread on the side. Everything tasted bland. Even when i mixed it together it wasn’t very flavorful. My first bite was without mixing all the components in skillet. I tasted it individually to taste the flavor of each. My second bite was with everything mixed. The tomato-​like sauce was underneath was not to my liking at all. Personally, it just wasn’t to my liking.
The 2 slices of bread on the side was so difficult to eat. It was like a piece of wood. It was too hard. It really did hurt my mouth. I tried to place the skillet’s components on it to soften it, but that hardly made a difference.
I also tried the smoked trout. That was nothing special. The eggs were extremely bland. I tasted absolutely no seasoning. Apparently there were bones in the trout.

Came here for brunch around 12:30. Waited for 30 – 40 min. Ordered the skillet eggs with spinach and cheese. Fast service, good taste, nice deco and ambience, but food portion was a little small, and the restaurant was very packed with diners.
Overall, everything was okay. May try more stuffs in the future.

I will definitely be back. The food was delicious and the ambiance was so chill, perfect for brunch! They don’t take reservations, so keep this in mind. I had to wait for about 30 mins for a table for 2, but it was totally worth it.

Bön restaurant mais sans plus, plats pas assez salé ou assaisonné, granola ce qu’il y a de plus banal, un peu cher je trouve! Ambiance sympa.

While the food wasn’t amazing (good coffee though), the thing I like the best about this place is vibe. The servers, while they aren’t super attentive are nice and very personable even though the place is packed.
We waited for 30 minutes for a table for 3 on Valentine’s Day @ 1. I thought that was pretty good, especially because it’s a popular spot and it was the worse day ever to get a table anywhere.
They do not take reservations, so you usually aren’t going wait too long, unless its just crazy packed.
The décor is cozy and rustic in a cooky kind of way, if you are anti taxidermy or it creeps you out you won’t like the décor.
It was just a really great place to spend some time with friends, not stuffy, very casual, still a little cool. If you can get a seat away from the door though. With so many people coming in and out it can get a little drafty in the winter.

Came in to this place because of all the Unilocal reviews, though nothing from the menu really stuck out to me, but when the Unilocal community says you must go, then you must, right… NO.
My boyfriend and I walked in about ten minutes before opening time and a lady came up to us with a mouth full of food and told us to come back in ten minutes because they still weren’t open.
Okay no problem!
We asked if it was okay to wait by the entrance because it was 3 degrees outside and with eyes rolling, head shaking and fingers snapping told us not at all and to wait outside.
My boyfriend and I thanked her, stepped outside and two seconds later decided to leave because there was no reason for this lady to be so rude and nasty to customers. It wasn’t what she said, it was how she said it. I’m sure that two customers who walked away did not make a difference to this restaurant as it seems to be popular, but this restaurant made enough of a difference to me.
There are countless of restaurants in NYC that I will be more than happy to spend my money at than a restaurant with a hostess who has a bad attitude for no reason at all. Bye Felicia.

We came here for brunch on Valentine’s Day and we waited almost an hour for a table for four. It sucked, but we expected it to be busy because of the holiday. We were seated upstairs in a very cozy section of the hipster-​log-​cabin themed resto and everything was smooth sailing after that. Our group ordered the Shakshuka, scrambled eggs, poached eggs, and buttermilk pancakes. The pancakes were nothing to write home about, but the egg dishes were SUPERB, The sausage and bacon were very flavorful and everyone ended up ordering an extra round for the table. The food and ambiance get all the stars here, as the service was sufficient, but they were very busy and we didn’t get any extra attention.
Everything considered, this place lived up to the hype! We will definitely be back!

Disappointed in my recent visit. The service was inattentive and slow. I was seated upstairs this time and I’m not sure if that had anything to do with it? And the food. I ordered exactly what I had last time… The skillet eggs. I didn’t like the fact that my eggs were overcooked. There wasn’t cheese on top like last time. And barely any bacon and spinach inside the dish. I didn’t even finish my artichoke dip. I paid and left with more than half my food untouched.
What happened…

**3.5**
5 for IG-​worthy cute exterior and unique interior décor.
2.5 for mediocre food and forgettable service. They forgot to put in our food, so they comped us of two appetizers… had we been starving, this would have been a major faux pas.
Definitely worth a visit, though the quality of the meal was pretty underwhelming.

Just wonderful! I visited the place for brunch on Sunday morning and it was pretty busy, so the wait was about 30 minutes, which isn’t bad in my opinion especially coming from LA. Everything beginning from the location as its nestled in a small alley to the ambience and décor is super cute and hipster! I can imagine coming at night for a drink is just as amazing!
Highlights:
— Skillet Eggs with Grits/​Bacon/​Cheese — ordered this as everyone seems to be getting this here and it was delicious! I do wish/​prefer the eggs to be sunny side up, so I could crack the yolk and have it melt all over everything, but it was still really good!
— Poached Eggs with Cheddar Grits/​Collared Greens — I think this was actually my favorite! The cheddar grits with the butter and poached eggs just melts in your mouth! Given that its super buttery and heavy, the collared greens definitely help to balance out the dish! I would definitely get this again!
Overall, just a cute and amazing little brunch place in a wonderful area! I can’t wait to visit this place again!

Date night approved!!!
Even coming here on a busy Friday night is pretty painless. There are 2 bars (thumps up for that). I prefer going to the one inside while waiting for a table for 2. Would probably take 30 minutes or so if you didn’t give them a wrong name: D
Our bartender is super busy and fast. We got our order within 5 minutes unluckily because we ordered before this crowd of 10. Book a table is advised but i don’t see it necessary. We get to sit at the amazing bar and watch birds.
Food is really good. I never have mussels the size they served. I can actually see them. Seriously shame on those cheap restaurants. Ambiance is romantic for a place that’s located in the back alleyway, which is pretty creepy and cute. I love the fake door they painted.

It was Christmas Eve, and the city was winding down for the holiday. Freemans, tucked back into an alley, was warm and cozy. I like how the restaurant feels (might possibly be?) like a discovered farmhouse that was converted, with many rooms and interesting details.
I wasn’t as adventurous as my friends (who shared the special) and went with the peekytoe crab – wanted the mussels but they were out. We also shared the artichoke dip, which was rich and satisfying. Drinks were strong as well – we opted for things that kept us cozy like the Old Fashioned and the Freeman’s Cocktail. Our waitress was very friendly and checked in on our party many times.
Would love to come back to dinner on another quiet evening!

More like a 3.5.
This is one of those places that everyone talks about so you have to try at least once. The atmosphere of the restaurant makes Freemans worth visiting, but the food was pretty forgettable.
Freemans is tucked at the end of a graffiti-​filled alley in the Lower East Side. The exterior is very cute and picturesque (as frequently seen on Instagram). A friend and I arrived around 11:40 on a Saturday, and there was a 15 – 20 minute wait. We were seated on the second floor (thankfully), which was a lot cozier and quieter than the first floor. The restaurant has an Americana hipster vibe and feels like a house in the country.
I ordered the skillet eggs ($ 14) and a latte, and my friend ordered the poached eggs w/​grits ($ 14). My dish was pretty light, consisting of baked eggs, spinach, tomato sauce, and served with a piece of toast. I did enjoy the tomato sauce, however overall the dish was a bit bland. For my friend’s dish, her eggs seemed overcooked to the point that they were more hard-​boiled than poached.
The service was fine/​average. By the time we left around 1, there was a big crowd waiting, so definitely arrive early if you can.
Overall, Freemans is worth a visit for its unique location and interior design. The food is fine, but nothing remarkable.

I was super stoked to try this place out, given all the good things I had heard about this hidden gem of a restaurant. The service was great, but the food was mediocre.
I ordered a turkey sandwich, 5 cheese mac and cheese and my friend ordered the cheeseburger. She thoroughly enjoyed the cheeseburger, which is probably what I should have ordered in place of the turkey sandwich. The avocados were fresh, I’ll give them that, but the sandwich itself was so dry I found myself gulping down water after each bite. I could also barely taste the spicy mayo, which is one of the sole reasons I ordered the sandwich in the first place.
The Mac and cheese was also drowning in bread crumbs. $ 14 for a bowl of cheesy bread crumbs — not worth it.
Overall, I don’t think I’d find myself coming back here for lunch any time soon.
P. S. Don’t ask for spring water unless you want to find yourself paying $ 9 for a measly bottle of water.

For our 1000 Unilocal reviews & to end the 2015 reviews, we want to write about a place that we think is special. Well, we thought Freemans would be a perfect one just because it’s a place that we’ve been wanting to try ever since 2010. We did actually visited this place back in 2010 but we did not end up eating here because the wait was way too long & we did not have a reservation. 5 years later, we finally stop by here together for dinner.
We were here dinner on a Wednesday night around 9pm. This time the wait wasn’t too bad, only about 15 minutes. As soon as we were seated, our waitress asked us whether we want a tap or bottled water. She was great, very polite & friendly.
We love the décor, it’s very homey & cozy. This is definitely one of those place where you can bring your date to.
The artichoke dip, wow, that’s just amazing! It’s definitely a must have when you’re here. The artichoke dip is hot. If you have a sensitive mouth, it’s best to wait few minutes for it to cool down otherwise you will burn the roof of your mouth.
We also ordered the trout & the 5-​cheese macaroni. The trout were good but nothing special about it The 5-​cheese macaroni is probably the next best dish that we love here. It’s so cheesy & flavorful. The portion is decent. You won’t be stuffed but you’ll feel satisfied.
We’ll definitely go back. This place is definitely worth visiting. Everything from the décor, the service, the food, they were just great.

Girls in big hats and leather boots love Freemans (and the heart wall right outside), but I wasn’t crazy about anything except for the bizarrely beautiful entrance, which isn’t actually on Chrystie but on Rivington, between Chrystie and Bowery. I’m telling you this because I want you to go and soak up the prototypical NYC «brunch» experience by flinging yourself, head-​first, onto Freemans’ 1+ hour wait, and then realize your mistake and just hang out at Morgenstern’s ice cream for 3 hours next time.
Physically navigating yourself into Freemans is a bit of a disaster, because there’s very little room inside the entrance, and you find yourself waiting in the curtained-​off vestibule or right behind someone’s chair (avoid the seats right by the front desk if you can). Then, once you’re actually on the wait list, you can take photos outside, look around the art gallery, eat a pre-​brunch ice cream cone, look at $ 500 jackets in the nearby shops, etc.
Unfortunately, the downside to being a hip brunch spot and turning over so many tables is successive mistakes. Eggshells in the baked eggs skillet. Sending out a second order with bacon despite the first order containing no bacon and confirming that the second order also not have bacon. Taking away utensils for the first order and not bringing another pair. Visibly huffing in annoyance with the other server for missing the no-​bacon message the second time around. We’re all human, but this was just a parade of errors. I’ll forgive the waitress’s flippant «What do you want?» when she couldn’t hear my order for the first time, because she ended up comp-​ing the baked eggs.
I’d like to come back for dinner, when, hopefully, both the service and the kitchen have some space to breathe. The artichoke dip looks excellent.

Yummy food in such a cool setting! Definitely very hipster and the food is very pretty (don’t forget to take pics!) Theres also a Love Wall outside where you can take even more Instagram pics hahaha
I got the skillet with a latte and my bf got smoked trout with coffee. Also got a side of thick-​cut bacon (very fatty but YUMMM). I wish the skillet was easier to just scoop out of the pan but it was still good. I thought it’d be more fluffy and egg-​y but it’s a little different. More sauce-​y and tomato-​y but definitely got some egg in there. I wish it didn’t have so many clumps of cheese though because it gets pretty salty. My bf’s smoked trout came with the trout and two hardboiled eggs. Pretty basic and standard :) but good!
We waited for thirty minutes at 2PM on a Saturday but it wasn’t too bad! Feel free to take pics in the alley and just enjoy the setting. I probably won’t come back because there are so many brunch areas in NYC but I don’t regret coming here!

This restaurant is not accessible from Chrystie St. The entrance is actually on Rivington St and there’s a Freeman Alley in the middle where you can get to the restaurant. I came here for brunch and since this is a popular spot, I suggest coming early, so you don’t have to wait for a long time. They do not take reservations for brunch.
I had the Carrot Cake Pancakes with whipped cream cheese ($ 13). It’s pretty much pancakes that taste like carrot cake. It was quite good. And I had the Baked Skillet Eggs with has bacon, spinach, feta cheese, tomato-​olive sauce, and a side of buttered sourdough toast ($ 13). I loved it. It has the right mixed of ingredients and it taste so well together.

After getting a recommendation for this place for a dinner with a group of friends, we checked it out on a Friday night. The location is really cute — its at the end of a long alley and has plants and shrubs outside, you don’t feel that you are in the middle of Nolita/​LES. It’s designed to look like an old American tavern from the colonial era which it does with winged back chairs, benches, low ceilings, and a large wooden bar. It’s a warm and cozy environment. There was a long wait but somehow we managed to get a table for 4 rather quickly.
The artichoke dip appetizer was amazing! Cheesy, warm, and hearty — great for people to share. We also split the mussels which was good but fairly standard mussels. I had the trout ($ 25) which was a full fish, complete with the head. I wasn’t expecting it so maybe that’s why I wasn’t a huge fan of the fish. Seemed overly seasoned and lemony. It also didn’t come with anything else besides the whole fish so the lemon seemed a bit overpowering. We also got a bottle of wine and some drinks which were good but a bit expensive.
Service was okay. The waitress seemed in a hurry all night and annoyed when we wanted to put appetizers in w/​o knowing what we wanted for entrees. Service was approachable and they refilled water and drinks often. Overall, loved the environment but not the biggest fan of the food.

Hidden in an alley. Come here early to avoid the wait. I’m a fan of this brunch joint.
Good drinks + Good food = Good time.
— Hot Artichoke Dip: Good start; nothing better than dipping a toasty piece of bread into a cheesy artichoke dip (recommended for 3 – 4 people to share)
— Poached Eggs with Roasted Tomato: Good; love the roasted tomato
— Baked Skillet Eggs: Good and filling (cheese, spinach, eggs, bacon, bread)– I like to plop all the goodness on top of the bread and eat it that way
— Pancakes: It was good (tastes like pancakes– fluffy and moist)
— Freeman’s Cocktail: Get thissss
I shall be back!

KenScale: 7.5÷10
Freemans is a New American restaurant on the quiet corner of an alley in LES. It’s more well-​known for brunch and its décor that reminds you of a classic American tavern. I recently visited for a customized birthday dinner where all the menus were set in advance other than different options for entrees.
The food at Freemans will not wow you in creativity department, with a lot of classic, simple dishes some of which were quite nice while others were so-​so. I really enjoyed the artichoke dip that you can dip with crisp bread. It looks simple but the flavor was rich and delightful. Grilled cheddar toast was also quite solid. For entrée, I chose grilled brook trout with thyme, garlic and lemon. The fish was nicely cooked, but the seasoning was somewhat uneven. There is an assortment of desserts that are serviceable if not predictable, from banana with vanilla ice cream to chocolate brownie.
I did like the vibe of the restaurant a lot, with a nice mix of classic and modern décor and setting. The place was absolutely packed with people on a Friday night, so I assume getting a reservation could be an issue if not booked in advance (I didn’t make the reservation this time). There seems to be a large collection of wines and cocktails you can choose from. Freemans is the kind of place that I would recommend for a simple group dining that has mainly crowd-​pleasing dishes.

I wish Unilocal did .5s on ratings. Because this place is a solid 3.5: not a 3 but not quite a 4.
It’s worth at least one visit but I honestly wish the food had warranted the price and quality.
Good:
— pretty large portion sizes
— super cute entrance great for photo opps and insta posts
— lots of seating
— ordered the poached eggs– which were pretty tasty!
— 13 dollar brunch entrée is pretty standard
— once you actually ordered the food– it came pretty quickly!
Meh:
— poached eggs were drowned in grits (that were wayyyy too cheesy for my taste)
— wait was about an hour
— drink menu was a little disappointing
— service was very slow. wait staff disappeared for long periods.
Honestly, its cool that this place is an alley. With a colored wall to take pictures in front of. But I’m only going once.

I wanted to love this place as its so quaint down the little lane, but I loved the décor more than I loved the food. Which is such a shame as its such a funky spot. I was immediately drawn in by the taxidermy behind the bar and the antlers on the wall.
I brought my sister here when she was in town as I’ve wanted to go for ages, but was always put off by the potential wait. However, we were seated immediately, so I was very excited. My sister and I both ordered the bacon, egg and cheddar cheese biscuit. We both found the dish quite dry. It comes with a hash brown and I felt that only added to the water quenching feeling. I wasn’t too keen on the hash brown, I wished that I’d asked if I could sub for home fries. The portion wasn’t particularly large either, once you put the lid of the biscuit on the sandwich.
To drink I ordered a fruit punch, which is a non alcohol combo of different juices. At $ 8 I thought was a bit steep as it was just lots of ice with a bit of juice. Service was fine. I also didn’t think there was a huge selection of dishes on the menu.
I want to give this place another chance, maybe for dinner or drinks, but I’m not sure I’d return for brunch as I’m not sure what I would order.

Très déçus de notre petit déjeuner…Nous avons pris les oeufs pochés ainsi que les oeufs avec les épinards et le cheddar. Les 2 plats étaient secs, pas bien assaisonnés. Aucun intérêt, et pour un total de 28 $(sans tip), ca fait cher le petit déjeuner ou on ressort mécontent et surtout mon conjoint avait encore faim, mais né voulait plus rien prendre chez eux!
A né pas faire!

On arrive à 20h un samedi soir (pas de résa possible si on est moins de 6), on nous dit 2h-​2h30 d’attente: okayyyyyy.
Ca met dans le contexte direct qu’on vient dans un endroit «cool». Et apparemment la déco taxidermie est donc cool.
On prend un verre à coté en attendant et reviens au bout d’une heure, bonheur on a une table direct!
La star du menu c’est le artichoke dip, sorte de mix de mayo fromage artichaut plein de trucs interdits mais trop bon en somme, avec du pain grillé. Dans l’excitation que j’étais de gouter ce plat dont on m’avait tant parlé, je me suis brulé le palais, ouch. Ce dip = très satisfaisant
On enchaine avec des plats costauds, filet mignon et pork, la viande est fondante, les accompagnements goutus mais je n’arrive pas à finir mon plat, trop forcé sur l’artichoke dip!
Décor canon, accès caché au fond d’une allée qui donne l’impression d’etre des initiés, bonne carte et un joli bar, envie d’y retourner vite!

Das Wesentliche spielt sich im (fast) Unsichtbaren ab… Freemans ist so eine Adresse, die man suchen muss, um dann erstaunt festzustellen, dass alle schon da sind (und einen Platz haben) Je versteckter, desto angesagt! Zum Freemans-​Imperium gehören auch Bekleidungsläden für den Sportsfreund von Welt und ein Barbier. Nice! Beim nächsten Mal klappt es vielleicht mit dem Sitzplatz. Vier Sterne fürs Konzept.

Tres bon restaurant, bonne ambiance (people & lights)
A conseiller, pour la deco & les cocktails aussi !
oui certes il faut attendre un peu, et pas de resa possible… ca arrive !
& Les plats valent le detour par cette petite impasse

Die Lower East Side ist gerade das angesagteste Viertel in NYC. Ganz ums Eck des Freemans hat ein neues Museum für zeitgenössische Kunst eröffnet und zieht die ganze Hipp-​crowd an, so wie eben das Freemans. Man geht durch eine graffiti besprühte Gasse an deren Ende eine Traube von Menschen steht, die alle Einlass begehren. Reservieren kann man nicht, man muss warten, wir 1 ½ h, wir vertrieben uns die Zeit in anderen Bars und kamen pünktlich wieder, warteten aber nochmals ½ h, was tut man nicht alles für die Hippnes! Drinnen erwarten einen röhrende Hirsche, man denkt, man befindet sich in einer amerikanischen Jagdhütte. Das Essen ist eher Durchschnitt, Rinderfilet in Rotwein-​Charlotten-​Jus, Lamm mit Kräuterkruste, alles nicht spektakulär, aber auch nicht schlecht. Warum der Laden der absolute Trend ist, habe ich aber nicht verstanden.