Last month for Valentine’s Day, my guy suggested we celebrate with brunch at the New Leaf Cafe in Manhattan. New Leaf Cafe is the little restaurant in Fort Tryon Park near The Cloisters, the branch of the Metropolitan Museum dedicated to art and architecture of the Middle Ages. It’s a lovely setting.
The Cafe is managed by the New York Restoration Project, founded by Bette Midler in the mid-1990s. While cleaning up the park, she and her friends came upon this little stone building from the 1930s, and decided it would be good as a restaurant. Within a few years, the New Leaf Cafe opened for business.
I had been to the Cafe years ago and had happy memories of that time – strong coffee and delicious chocolate cherry bread pudding. I had just enjoyed a walk through the park and a brief stop in the Cloisters, with my friend Jo and her young daughter. We wanted a little something to eat, the place was crowded hardly at all.
For brunch, though, it was packed. Unfortunately, they don’t take reservations for brunch, so it’s best to show up as early as possible and put your name on the list. We got there at 11:45 a.m. and were told we’d have an hour wait. Fortunately, it ended up only being a 30 minute wait.
What I didn’t know is that the New Leaf Cafe is a sort of locavore/farm-to-table restaurant, which thrilled me! The meats, eggs, and dairy come from within 100 miles, and come from humanely-raised, pastured animals. Most everything was organic. And best of all, it was fantastically delicious.
I ordered two eggs served over smoked mozzarella and roasted tomatoes and sausages. He ordered a burger made from grass-fed beef. So, so good. I didn’t take any pictures during our meal; it was more important to focus on the taste of the food, the beautiful surroundings, and each other.
The beautiful space contains simple lines, lots of wood, and it reminds me a little of a combination of the spaces at Greens in San Francisco (the openness) and Chez Panisse in Berkeley (the wood and lines). Our server was wonderful as well, being helpful when needed, an being attentive without overbearing. She smiled and laughed a lot, too.
They do take reservations for meals other than brunch, thank goodness. Do yourself a favor and have a meal at the New Leaf Cafe. It will be a delicious and beautiful experience.
Photo Credit: (cc) Susan NYC via a Creative Commons license on flickr.
