Prune

Super small space with tables cramped together, so if you want to avoid the brunch crowds, arrive before 11:30 am. Regardless of whether it’s crowded or not, know that service will be lacking and rude. It seems like all the hostess was concerned about was telling you that your entire party had to be present to be seated and rushing you from your table. So if you’re looking to catch up with your girlfriends over brunch, look elsewhere as within seconds of being seated you’ll be asked what you’d like to order.
My friend and I split the famous Dutch pancake and the Monte Cristo. Both dishes were good, but not omg this is so amazing good to justify the $ 17 price tags. The Dutch pancake resembled the taste and texture corn bread, which I happen to love. My favorite was the crispy corners of the pancake. It’s dense and heavy, so I would recommend sharing this dish with someone if you wish to try it. Its flavor is also one noted after awhile as it lacks texture, so attempting to eat the entire pancake alone loses the initial first wow factor after a couple of bites. The Monte Cristo was extremely fried, so it’s another heavy dish, but with some added grease. It’s a smaller portion too. Both dishes had a hefty amount of powder sugar on top, so eating both altogether had the equivalent amount of sugar/​sweetness as a dessert — I can still taste the sugar lingering.
Oh and at the end of the meal, you’ll get a piece of black licorice. If you’re not a black licorice fan, DO NOT EAT IT. This was the first time I’ve ever tried black licorice and I was not a fan. Poor judgement on my part for placing the entire piece in my mouth and not wanting to be rude by spitting it out.

Great little 9 table restaurant with some solid food. Here’s the rundown from dinner: Pasta Kerchief, Mackeral and Sprouts were all great. Radishes and Tiramisu were a miss.

After being disappointed with a 3 hour wait for brunch at a nearby establishment, a few friends and I found Prune randomly on Unilocal.They were very nice and squeezed us into one of the last open tables. I was pleasantly surprised at the quality and creativity in the food. I ordered the fried oyster omelet with hash browns and it was divine. The omelet had a delicious creamy and tangy sauce inside that complemented the briny oysters perfectly. I never thought fried oysters would go well inside an omelet, but I am now a believer. The hash browns were the crispiest I ever had and so flavorful. There was a red, spicy and sweet sauce on the side that I just drenched everything on the plate in because it was so delicious. ¹⁰⁄₁₀ would recommend this dish. I tried some of my friends’ foods but the omelet was by far the standout dish.

Only negative is you’ll likely wait for a table, BUT it’s worth it and everything once your seated will be lovely! Food, service, atmosphere, it’s all recommended!

A quaint brunch location for the hungry foodies.
Decorated in simple and vaguely french simplicity, this tiny restaurant takes brunch to the next level. The food is light and full of flavor. I recommend the Eggs Benedict which comes with a slab of hash browns perfectly crispy, and perfectly poached eggs doused in a light hollandaise. Very satisfying and no one leaves hungry. They also have a long list of unique bloody Mary drinks.

Finally made it here for brunch! Got my name on the list then chilled at home for an hour (I live a couple blocks away) then came back and waited for another 20 – 25 mins. It’s faster if you want to sit at the bar, but the restaurant is so small that we opted for a table so we could chat and eat with ease. The food was great, it’s worth all the hype. We got the carbonara (favorite dish of the meal. So flavorful. So cheesy. Very well done! A heavy dish for brunch, but we were starved from the hours of waiting — must get!) We also got the Dutch Pancakes that everyone raves about. It was good — very different — it’s a fluffy thick pancake topped with cooked apples. Loved it, but I’m still loyal to my Clinton St Maple Pancakes. The meal was wonderful — however…(hate to add this part) the owner asked my friend and I to leave, so he could seat a party of 3 before closing. We had only been sitting there for an hour, and just paid the check. Why he asked us of all the other «finished» tables around us I do not know, but I was shocked and my friend was very upset. It would have been fine if we had been seated for 1.5 hours but after only sitting for 1 hour — borderline rude.

Llegamos por recomendación del brunch pero fuimos a cenar. El lugar es precioso, pequeño y con el encanto típico de los pequeños lugares de Manhattan. La comida es increíble. Clásica con toques innovadores y modernos. Pero lo más sobresaliente es la atención. Te hacen sentir apreciado y que les interesa mucho que la pases bien. La carta de vinos es corta y acertadisima. Precios súper accesibles. Si quieren tener una cena especial y recordable, no duden en ir a Prune.

Good food but not my type of flavors.
Although the food was actually flavorful something about it just didn’t really satisfy me. It started with the crispy papadam which is served in place of bread. Although it’s pretty good, there’s something about it which is not as comforting and satisfying as good bread (especially if you’re hungry and want to start with a cocktail, you kind of want to fill up your stomach a bit so you don’t fill totally dizzy).
Same thing with the sweetbreads. Although they are perfectly cooked, the caper sauce is just not the kind of sauce I want with sweetbreads. It kind of cancels out the delicious flavor of the meat.
Finally the fish which is very good is not really served with anything and sort of makes me feel like something was missing.
I can tell the chef is good but I’m just not into those flavors and ideas of dish creation.

I give Prune my «best brunch of 2015» award. Anthony Bourdain loves it, and so do I. In a city full of excellent brunch options, this one outshines them all. Others will have bottomless drinks with bad alcohol, and others will have more of a scene. But no place in my 2015 experience in Manhattan provided the combination of a cozy and warm atmosphere, delicious brunch food, off the chain Bloody Marys and such friendly service. The line may be a bit long, but it’s worth the wait.
My friends and I arrived in a group of 6, and they accommodated us within 20 minutes in a fun little nook downstairs. The Dutch pancakes were so wonderful that my friend is still talking about them months later, and I enjoyed the most delicious spaghetti carbonara with eggs and bacon that I’ve had outside of Rome. The Bloody Mary is served with spicy perfection and with fresh pickled vegetables on top.
Our server was just excellent in her fabulousness, and she brought us a complimentary dessert to try.
Prune is a must NYC experience.

2.5 stars. This place has been on my list for a while and I really wanted to love it! My husband and I decided to check them out for dinner.
While the food was decent, service was sub-​par.
First of all, I really appreciate places whose wait staff can provide personal recommendations. It makes the dining experience feel more intimate over someone just listing off the ingredients. When asking our waitress for recommendations, she did just that — just listed off the ingredients, when we easily could have gotten the same information from just reading the menu. Big pet peeve.
When we finally ordered, the food took exactly an hour to come out. This was a bit confusing to us because fist of all, it wasn’t even that crowded and second of all — other tables, who came in at the same time and 1 after us, received their dishes before we did. We couldn’t even ask our waitress how much longer we would wait, because she didn’t make it over to our table very much. The hostess was the one who was refilling our waters, and asked us how we liked our meals.
And to make matters worse (but not included in the rating… well, maybe) was that a dead fly dropped from the ceiling onto my shirt! By that time we had already been waiting for 45 minutes so it was just comical at that point ;)
What we ordered:
Braised oxtail — my husbands dish. Not a huge fan of oxtail due to its texture but my husband enjoyed it. The horseradish gave it a nice flavor.
Duck breast with lentils — duck breast was cooked really well. Thought the lentils was a bit overpowering especially since I view duck to be more of a lighter dish, but it definitely made the dish more filling.
Roasted leeks, cauliflower, and mushrooms — this was a standout. If you like mustard, you will love this dish. Cauliflower was also nice and crispy.
Overall, I think the standouts are the side dishes. Table next to us only ordered sides and they were very happy.
Would probably think twice before returning due to the service we received.

We had a fantastic experience here from the first minute to the last! Every member of the staff made our late dinner experience perfect. We felt comfortable and welcome and in good hands. We wanted for nothing. The bar produced some beautiful cocktails for us. And of course, there was the food! The food that came out of Gabrielle Hamilton’s kitchen was superb. I can personally vouch for the sweetbreads, the duck breast with lentils and the roasted brussels sprouts. Also, the frozen milk pudding dessert.
In short, all elements came together to create a magical night out for us! We’d love to go back.

My favorite brunch in NYC. Get here early for a table. Really tasty everything. Simple and filling. Tables are a bit close together but really great everything. I would give Prune six stars.

I came across Prune and realized that I never wrote a review about this place! I love coming here!
Yes, I know there is always a line, and yes, there is always a wait, and yes, the restaurant is small, but trust me, you will not be disappointed. The wait can vary from 30 minutes to 2 hours (especially at Sunday brunch).
I’ve been here for both dinner as well as brunch, and each time I was not disappointed. Even the long waits for a table did not deter the foodie in me. The first time I came was at the request of my bestie, who loves coming here, and who comes often with her family. So together we came, and had the bone marrow, which if you have never had bone marrow, do not have it anywhere else but here. It was beyond delicious, almost orgasmic, with buttery goodness that I have not found anywhere else. I also had a glass of wine as well as a salad, both which were delicious. Our waiter was awesome, with the suggestion of wine to have with our bone marrow.
The brunch menu is relatively simple, and I got the dutch pancakes as I can’t eat eggs. The pancakes were soft, moist, and just delicious. I love the fact that they have a wide variety of bloody mary’s and although I’m not a big fan of them, I do sample them and they are delicious as well. My friend got the eggs and she said she was not disappointed!
The secret to getting in earlier on Sunday brunch is to come early. And prepare to be amazed!

What do prunes make you think of? If you’re anything like me, «prunes» make you picture delicious scrambled eggs, some delightful eggs Benedicts, and then (because you’re also Dutch) a pancake. And boy are you right!
I generally like my eggs Benedict like I like my prunes. Um, without any ghost chili peppers and smaller than a yacht? Kind of backed myself into a corner there. But this spot beats out my previous best eggs Benedict (Clinton street baking) and is now the proud sole owner of the number one spot on my imaginary list! Congratulations prune!
Then that Dutch pancake. The guy sitting at the table next to us literally looked over and groaned «oh my god we messed up our order» to his dining buddy. Everyone should get one, no questions asked. Get it for dessert, or get it as a snack to go after you’re done, but don’t miss out on it!
Also, they don’t have prunes as far as I could tell.

I saw Cameron Diaz here!
After a 2 hour wait, we were finally seated and the food is amazing. I think we got the Dutch pancakes and it was pretty good. I got a classic blood mary and it was quite good. They have a whole list of about 10 different bloody marys! Prune is, all in all, a solid brunch spot.
Back to Cameron Diaz. She had to wait the rest of us mere mortals, which is cool in my book. Props to the restaurant for not giving special treatment to a celeb and props to Cameron for being so down-​to-​earth. And if Cameron Diaz is going to wait for a table, it’s gotta mean something. right?

Prune has always been on my list ever since I saw Anthony Bourdain’s episode with the bone marrow. We didn’t however come here for dinner. Came here one weekend for brunch.
It’s a small restaurant with a homey feel. Don’t be surprised if you see people outside waiting to be seated. But do not be dismayed turnover is pretty quick. From our arrival to being seated to ordering and actually eating, it actually took us roughly 45 mins.
So we ordered two things Carbonara (yes, pasta for brunch) yum! And oysters and sausage. 3 oysters in the half shell and a pretty good size of lamb sausage.
I would recommend the carbonara. It’s your basic carbonara but is definitely filling and satisfying.
The table next to us all had steak and eggs. Get that. It looked great.
Service was friendly and attentive.
Great brunch spot.

Let me start by saying that my expectations were very high right from the beginning and they were exceeded. Wow! Where to begin? Our recent dinner at Prune was one of the most delightful dining experiences we have had.
Although we don’t live in NY, we made a dinner reservation as the focal point of a trip to the city from Connecticut. We went on a Saturday night. When we arrived, there was a great vibe in the restaurant. It is a rather small, slightly cramped, but a cute spot in the East Village. Our table was immediately ready for us. The décor is nice and very French. Plume also a small bar.
The cocktail list is inventive and reasonably priced by urban standards. There are good selections of wines by the glass, including a Crémant. Wines by the bottle are priced from moderate ($ 40) to slightly expensive ($ 100+).
Our server was very nice. He was highly informed and very passionate about the menu. He and his partner (maybe the sommelier?) gave us excellent recommendations for wines by the glass to pair with our meal. The pacing between courses was perfect to chat with my friend, laugh and enjoy the atmosphere. By the end of the night, we felt like our server was a new friend.
This is truly a food lover’s restaurant. When I asked if the soup was made with chicken stock, our server intuitively asked if I am a vegetarian. Although I will eat meat on occasion, it is my preference to eat vegetarian. Our server offered to have the chef prepare a special entrée for me not on the menu. The entrée was a sampling of practically every amazing vegetable on that menu! Hen of the woods mushrooms, sunchokes, Brussels sprouts, radishes, salted red onion, roasted cauliflower, delicious sauces, baked fennel (my new found favorite!)… Oh… my friend licked the platters clean from his sweetbreads appetizer and pigeon entrée.
I won’t elaborate on the desserts because you just have to go and try for yourself. Three words: transcendental, beyond compare. The restaurant also has a good selection of dessert wines, ports and grappa for after dinner. Proprietor Gabrielle Hamilton was spotted in the dining room. After reading her memoir and experiencing her food, I felt I was in the presence of greatness. It will be a treat to return to Prune again.

Don’t be fooled by the people standing outside, the wait time is quicker than you think.
We came for brunch and left somewhat satisfied. Place is tight and we didn’t necessarily get seated in the most convenient places but we made it work.
The carbonara was good. Firm pasta and pretty good flavor. Very satisfying.
The lamb sausage and oysters were okay. Nothing to write about. Would I have it again? No.
Otherwise, not a bad brunch spot.

Went for dinner on a Tuesday, had to wait about 15 min for a table, which wasn’t too bad. Be prepared to be squished next to your neighbor as Prune is tiny tiny tiny.
Food was good; but not great. I’m not sure if we will go back, but may try brunch sometime if we’re in the area and if the line isn’t crazy.

Pretty good. It’s a small spot so if you’re not into cozy New York cafes then I would avoid this spot. We went in for brunch and they were able to squeeze us in at the bar. The service was above and beyond here which always brings me back to a place.
I had the sausage and oyster breakfast which was good but not exceptional. My other guest had the eggs Benedict and said its the best she’s ever had and that’s a strong statement.
The place is cute, feels very European and has good food. It’s a solid win in NYC but I don’t know if I’d wait an hour for a table with all the great other choices in the area.

I came here for brunch because my bf suggested I bring my cousin there. He didn’t specify how TINY this place can be! We waited about 25 minutes to be sat, and the host asked if we wanted to sit at the bar, which was more comfortable because all the tables are very close together, where they have to pull out each table for the inside person to sit down.
I still don’t know why they call it Prune, I didn’t see any prunes on the menu… at least not for brunch.
Anyways, the bartender was super cute and chill. Totally made my brunch a lot better, since I just had an awful one a few days before that. Service was attentive, my water was always filled, and food was awesome.
I ended up getting the fresh ricotta plate, which is exactly how it sounds. Topped off with some fresh pine nuts, figs, and raspberries. You can’t go wrong and I loved it. Both of my company’s meals looked awesome as well. And their fun Bloody Mary’s are delicious! I stuck with the classic but my friend ordered the Green Lake, which came with a beef jerky swizzler lol. It was awesome meat goodness in a drink.
I recommend coming in early, although service moves fast. And go with a small group, nothing more than 3 or 4 at most.

Prune offers some truly unique, artistically prepared, and delicious options for brunch. The restaurant itself is has a really cute ambiance. The service was quick and the staff are very nice.
The Spicy Stewed Chickpeas with butter crumbed eggs, spicy chickpeas, and flatbread was really pretty and delicious. The crunchy crumbed eggs and the spicy chickpeas made a really awesome combination. The Eggs Benedict was also really good with hollandaise sauce and Canadian bacon on an English muffin. The Bloody Mary was delicious but pretty pricy ($ 16/​drink).
Tip: Prepare to wait 15 – 20 min to get a table even with a reservation during their busiest hours (Sunday at 11am-​1pm)

Great brunch spot! They don’t take reservations so we had to wait a little in the heat, but on a Sunday only waited ³⁰⁄₄₀ minutes so I’ve waited in worse lines (I.e Dmv, airport customs). When I got seated with my group we were right in the open doorway so without any air conditioning it was a prime spot with a breeze. If I had sat farther in the back of the restaurant I may not have been so happy.
Great and interesting Bloody Mary selections with a little beer chaser started brunch off right of course. Then my sister and I split the eggs benny and the monte cristo sandwich. Both were excellent. The eggs Benny was cooked perfectly, a nice runny egg and the hollandaise sauce had a strong lemon flavor which helped make it seem a little lighter, since hollandaise can get very heavy/​buttery sometimes. The monte cristo was a fried sandwich too, so it was a little heavy, but the jam helped offset the fried taste so it molded together perfectly.
Another great little spot on the lower east side!

This place has been on my brunch bucket list for awhile. And I finally made it and it did not disappoint. We came here bright an early on a Saturday and by bright and early I mean before noon. We walked in and the host quickly snapped to close the door behind us. I was still determined to eat at Prune regardless of the first impression. It took about 10 minutes for stools at the bar. The Melissa Etheridge was blasting and the service continued to not be the nicest. But all in all I was way to preoccupied to find the perfect brunch item. I was not in the mood for the obvious choice of pancakes. It takes a lot to have me order pancakes. (if you are ever in Pittsburgh, go to Pamelas). And I don’t eat meat so I couldn’t do the carbonara. And almost down to the wire… I noticed some eggs with garbanzos and flatbread.
When my dish arrived I was really impressed. The flat bread was these savory grilled thin slices. The garbanzos and the olives reminded me of my love for the Mediterranean! And then for a second the eggs were reminiscent of two cheese croquettes with the light bread crumb breading surrounding them. As I sliced with my fork into the eggs, a gorgeous bright ooey gooey yolk flowed out into my garbanzos creating a medley of delicious flavors. The parsley in the dish brought a lemon tang. Parsley is one of my favorite herbs and it does not get the attention it deserves. Prune on the other hand makes it a star! My only issue was that even though I loved the flatbread, I would have loved some bread to soak up the juices of my dish.
I can see myself coming in for dinner or caving in to pancakes. Update coming soon! Ha! #brunchaddict

A brunch Classic. Try the Montecristo ! If you go during weekend, be prepared to wait for 30 – 40 minutes.