Brunch At The Garden: FS NYC

Surrounded by enormous African acacia trees, I recently found myself sipping on a Berry Brunch Collins in Manhattan’s Midtown East. Proud that I had discovered an oasis in the city that never sleeps, I melted into my seat as the sun beamed through the spectacular floor-to-ceiling windows at The Garden restaurant. Sigh, the Four Seasons somehow always manages to create serene spaces in bustling cities…

To be honest, I didn’t think this level of tranquility was achievable in the heart of Manhattan. Especially during the much-anticipated, and sometimes ravenous, weekly outing: brunch. You see, brunching in the big apple is somewhat of an olympic sport where strategy, agility and endurance will determine your success. So, in a city where waiting in a two-hour line for a taste of your favourite eggs benny has become the norm, a civilized rendezvous with friends at The Garden (they take resos!!) is a godsend. Yup, no need to deal with hangry friends as you peer through frosted windows and stare down those who are joyously eating inside; instead, a beautiful table awaits your arrival at one of the world’s finest hotels…

Overlooking the grand lobby at Four Seasons Hotel New York, the restaurant was the perfect place to meet my friend Anna for a decadent brunch. The day was filled with indulgences as we tasted our way through the tantalizing menu. Here are the highlights of our meal:

Kale Salad – Shaved Heirloom Apples, Saba Dressing ($26). Topped with a generous amount of Pecorino, the bitterness of the kale and radish is rounded out nicely by the sweetness from the Saba and apples. After a night out on the town, your body will thank you for ordering this nutrient-filled salad.

Lemon Ricotta Pancakes. A signature on the brunch menu, these delicate pancakes are dusted with powdered sugar and brightened up with fresh raspberries. If you’re going to order a mimosa (which you certainly should), this is the dish to have it with.

Organic Salmon Tartare- Ginger Apples, Avocado Mousse ($27). Perfectly balanced in both flavour and texture, this beautifully plated tartare is a must-have in my opinion. The salmon is exquisite and elevated by a light avocado mousse. The ginger apples and roe provide a nice crunch.

Lobster Hash – Soft Egg, Choron Sauce ($26). To say that my friend loved this dish is an understatement. She inhaled it! While I’m not a huge egg fan (I know, I know – a rare breed), I can say that the lobster is divine: sweet, succulent goodness. I also thought the Choron sauce complemented the hash quite well. To me, the dish is a perfect unification of comfort food and fine dining.

Fried Chicken & Waffles – Maple Bourbon Butter, Maple Candied Bacon ($28). Crispy on the outside, light and fluffy on the inside: these waffles are expertly made (not an easy feat). But the fried chicken is the real star of the dish: moist, not greasy and well-seasoned. We thought the bacon added a nice saltiness, especially after we poured on the maple syrup (we were a bit overambitious: Canadian styles).

Just as we were about to wave our white napkins to surrender, our server brought us a round of desserts to taste. I was going to decline, but one look at the spectacular Grapefruit Panna Cotta and I caved. Topped with a thin disc of white chocolate, the light and refreshing dessert lifted me right out of my food coma. Equally delicious was the creamy Ricotta Cheesecake: the pineapple and coconut shavings had me dreaming of a tropical getaway. We also sampled the Flourless Chocolate Mousse Cake, but could’ve done without it; the dessert was uninspired and too sweet for our palates.

After a couple of brunch cocktails and an obligatory photo in front of the stunning, 25-foot Christmas tree (it’s so big that it has to be lowered into the lobby), we were merrily on our way…

If you’re looking for a great dining experience at a restaurant that lets you focus on the two most important aspects of brunch: the food and the company you share it with, then look no further than The Garden. The cuisine is refined, the servers are attentive and the ambiance is inviting. Oh, and the chef features products from local farms so expect nothing less than fresh, quality ingredients on every plate. Happy brunching!

Special thanks to The Garden for hosting us. As always, all reviews and opinions are entirely our own.