The Wayland | East Village, NYC

The final NYC brunch was at The Wayland in Alphabet City - a hip, artistic, bohemian neighborhood of Manhattan's East Village. I only wish we had more time to explore around the graffiti imaged, community garden centered, up and come streets after our delicious meal! It started with their signature Garden Variety Margarita ($11) made with blue agave blanco tequila, ginger-kale juice, lime juice, agave nectar and smoked sea salt. A margarita + ginger-kale juice = a healthy, rejuvenating buzz. The boys went all out with a dish aptly named The Man Child ($14) a heaping plate of three eggs any style, bacon, sausage bread, fried fingerling potatoes + Brussels hash. Leah had the Breakfast Tacos ($8) - 2 fried eggs on corn tortillas w/ bacon, avocado, refried beans, cilantro, salsa + smoked pepper sauce. I went for something totally different which was their Cauliflower + Egg Sandwich ($11) - crispy cauliflower, shishito peppers, soft scrambled eggs, pickled onions + cilantro on a baguette. I absolutely loved it.

The Wayland

700 E 9th Street

New York, NY 10009

The Mermaid Inn | East Village

 

The Mermaid Inn in the East Village is charming and casual, where a crowded oyster bar and a richly wooded dining room pop with a dash of sophistication meets and understated nautical kitsch. A small but affordable wine list offers one Rosé by the glass, which happens to be a local Paumanock Cabernet Franc ($9) from North Fork, Long Island. Oysters are impeccable and they have a solid selection of east and west coast.

 

Their entrée menu comprised mostly of seafood is hit or miss, it seems. Seafood Fra Diavolo ($25) is overwhelmed by heat, the inherently spicy red sauce was lacking any balance of flavors and half of the shellfish is poorly cooked (unopened clams are a bummer.) The Mermaid Fish Tacos ($21) are much better, keeping it simple they impress and comfort with crispy battered fish dressed in a marinated red cabbage, jalapeno and pico de gallo. 

 

Dessert is an espresso sized cup of chocolate pudding on the house, accompanied by a fortune telling fish. (Though I am not so sure about him, he told me I was jealous - that's a red paper fish for you!)