The stretch along Broadway where Bar Boulud sits, is one I often frequent in the warmer months for some roomy al fresco dining. Next door at Boulud Sud is one of my favorite places to grab a glass of rosé after an evening stroll in Central Park. While I’d walked by several times, I never thought to brunch at Bar Boulud due to the daytime tourist type crowds.

I was excited when the Bitches were invited in to try their brunch, as I was really unsure of what to expect.

My beau and I had just finished several hours of delivering meals on the Upper West Side with Meals on Wheels, so we opted for a table inside by the window in our attempt to get the best of both worlds.

We were greeted by a friendly waitress with two flutes and a bottle of sparkling chardonnay. I loved this version of bubbly as chard is my go-to wine when I partake. We instantly ordered a small plate of the chef’s choice charcuterie as our stomachs rumbled. The various pâtés were hands down our favorite part of the board.

We decided we deserved to indulge this afternoon, so next up was our second appetizer: peekytoe crab and avocado tartine. I’m a sucker for a great piece of seedy bread, so I loved that Bar Boulud served this tartine on a fluffy piece of five grain. The tasty crab and avocado were completed by grapefruit, fennel, and espelette. This app was definitely my favorite dish of the meal.

As for the entrees, I was sold on the eggs florentine by recommendation of our waitress. Obviously, I went for the smoked salmon option instead of ham. This was some of the best smoked salmon I’d ever had. Unfortunately, the rest of the dish was luke warm and the hollandaise had already started to congeal as it got to the table. The flavors were so good, I scarfed it down anyway.

My sweetie went for a super untraditional brunch dish, the boudin blanc. The presentation with this one definitely wasn’t up to par, but my boyfriend seemed to enjoy the dish regardless. He was gushing over the mustard jus and loved the hint of truffle in the pork sausage.

Although incredibly full, we were told we absolutely had to at least try the gateau basque. We enjoyed the custard slice with an espresso each. The almond was faint but delicious in the cake, and the addition of brandied cherries on the side was quite tasty.

The Bitches say: B+. Bar Boulud is a great staple in Lincoln Square. While not jaw-dropping, the food is always good. Often crowded by tourist types, this would be a great brunch to bring your parents when they visit town.

Bar Boulud
Upper West Side
1900 Broadway
New York, NY 10023
(212) 595-0303

Bar Boulud serves brunch on Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.