Brunch in Williamsburg

Sunday in Brooklyn (348 Wythe Avenue) is the brunch spot that put Williamsburg brunch on the national radar, and it’s because of one dish. The malted pancakes with hazelnut maple praline ($19) are genuinely one of the best things I’ve ever eaten for breakfast.

They’re thick, fluffy, slightly nutty from the malt, and they come with a sauce that’s basically liquid dessert poured over breakfast. The first time I had them, I sat in silence for a minute. My husband thought something was wrong.

The rest of the menu is excellent too. The steak and eggs are well-executed, and the hash brown is crispy in a way that suggests they actually care about hash browns, which is more than I can say for most restaurants. But honestly, you’re here for the pancakes. Get the pancakes.

The wait on Sundays can hit 90 minutes by 11am. Go early or go on a weekday.

Diner (85 Broadway) sits under the Williamsburg Bridge in a converted 1920s dining car, and it’s been a neighborhood anchor since 1998. The menu changes daily based on what’s fresh, which means you can’t plan your order in advance. The server tells you what they’re making. You pick from that.

This sounds intimidating but it’s actually liberating. Everything on the menu is good because they only put things on the menu they feel good about that day. The burger (when it’s available) is one of the best in Brooklyn. The egg dishes are always well done. The vibe is effortlessly cool without trying too hard.

Brunch runs Saturday and Sunday. They don’t take reservations for brunch, so showing up at 10am is the move.

Five Leaves (18 Bedford Avenue) is technically in Greenpoint, right at the border with Williamsburg. I’m including it because everyone considers it a Williamsburg brunch spot and arguing about neighborhood boundaries is exhausting.

The ricotta hotcakes ($18) are the signature dish and they deserve the reputation. Light, creamy, served with honeycomb butter. They’re the more refined cousin of Sunday in Brooklyn’s pancakes. Less indulgent, more elegant. Both are excellent in different ways.

The outdoor seating on Bedford Avenue is prime people-watching territory. This is where I bring friends visiting from out of town when I want them to understand Brooklyn.

Egg (109 N 3rd Street) has been serving Southern-inspired breakfast in Williamsburg since before most of the condos around it existed. Country ham with red-eye gravy. Biscuits that could convert a carb-avoider. Eggs Rothko (poached eggs on cheddar grits with salsa verde, $16).

The portions are generous and the prices are fair. The space is small and a bit cramped. I genuinely don’t care because the food is so comforting that I forget about my knees touching the next table.

Cafe Mogador (133 Wythe Avenue) is the Williamsburg outpost of the legendary East Village original, and the brunch is just as good. The shakshuka ($17) is the standout. Eggs baked in spiced tomato sauce, served with bread for scooping. It’s messy and perfect.

The Moroccan eggs with merguez sausage are also excellent. The mint tea is strong and sweet. The space is bigger than the East Village location, which means the wait is slightly more reasonable. Slightly.

Misi (329 Kent Avenue) is a pasta restaurant from Missy Robbins that does a weekend brunch, and if you’ve never considered eating handmade pasta before noon, I’m about to change your life.

The brunch menu includes dishes like cacio e pepe eggs and fresh pasta alongside more traditional egg dishes. The space is beautiful, all light wood and natural light from the waterfront windows. It feels like brunch for adults who’ve outgrown avocado toast.

Reservations are possible here, which makes it one of the rare Williamsburg brunch spots where you can actually plan your morning. Take advantage of that.

Pies ‘n’ Thighs (166 S 4th Street) is where I go when I’ve decided that today is not a health day. The fried chicken biscuit sandwich ($14) is perfectly greasy and satisfying. The biscuits alone are worth the trip.

The pies change seasonally but they’re always good. The space is cash-friendly and no-frills. This is not a “scene” brunch. This is an “I want to eat fried chicken at 10am and I refuse to apologize for it” brunch.

My kind of place.

Not every morning needs a $19 pancake. Sometimes you just want an excellent cup of coffee, and SEY Coffee (18 Grattan Street, technically Bushwick) is the best in the area. They roast their own beans, the pour-over is exceptional, and the space is calm and bright.

A pourover runs $6. An oat latte is $7. They don’t serve food, which means there’s no brunch crowd. Just coffee people drinking coffee. Revolutionary concept.