food comas

The Central Park Boathouse

Executive Chef: Anthony E. Walton
Cuisine: American Traditional
Neighborhood: Central Park East, Upper East Side
Price: $50 total per person for brunch
Address: East 72nd St. & Park Drive North, NYC 10021
Phone: (212) 517-2233
Hours:
Mon – Fri: Lunch 12:00 – 4:00pm // Dinner 5:30 – 9:30pm
Sat – Sun: Brunch 9:30am – 4:00pm // Dinner 6:00 – 9:30pm

(I apologize this post is a bit of a tease as the Boathouse is most likely closed already for the season… but hey, there’s always spring 2013 to look forward to!)

The Loeb Boathouse is an iconic, beautiful restaurant located lakeside in Central Park. I first visited the restaurant with my parents for a meal to experience something “touristy” but found the restaurant surpassed every expectation. The Boathouse has quickly become one of my favorite restaurants in the city; from the elegantly prepared food to stunning lake and park views, from the tranquil ambiance to fantastic hospitality — this restaurant has it all. Additionally, due to the superb location, there are plenty of fun activities to make the most of your park visit.

The rowboats are a must-do activity, no matter how cheesy you may think it is. People have been row boating on the Lake since the 1860s, and it’s a timeless tradition that must be honored. You can rent a rowboat for up to four people for $12 per hour, $2.50 for each additional 15 minutes. I had a ridiculously fun time paddling around the lake with friends, and plus it is a great way to kill time while waiting for your table during the busy brunch hours.

The Loeb Boathouse is a seasonal restaurant that is usually only open April to November, but may extend its hours weather permitting. Advance reservations are highly recommended, but weekend brunch is walk-in only.

The last time I dined here, it was part of the most perfect day in NYC. We arrived at the restaurant around 11am to put our name down on the waiting list. The wait was to be 45 minutes for our party of 11, which gave us plenty of time to take a spin around the lake in the row boat. We then sat down for our brunch and proceeded to have a delicious brunch with plenty of mimosas and Bellinis. After we had ate and drank to our hearts’ content, we decided to rent some bicycles to work off the calories. We rode through the park to explore to the prettiness of the Conservatory Gardens before saying goodbye to the urban oasis. Ahhhh the sweet memories…

And now — onto the food! Bottom line — it was all fantastic.

BRUNCH MENU

BREAD
I think this was some kind of berry poundcake… it was delicious!

APPETIZERS

Market Oysters

Macaroni Au Gratin: Vermont Cheddar and Gouda
It’s quite hard to dislike something that is smothered in cheese

ENTRÉES

Omelet of the Day with Market Vegetables
Omelet was good, nothing special but the market vegetables were just so bright and crisp

Eggs Benedict: Smoked Salmon, Asparagus, Hollandaise and Seasonal Greens
A brunch classic dish brightened with fresh seasonal greens

Warm Quiche Lorraine: apple wood smoked bacon, gruyere cheese and leeks
Intricate layers of awesomeness

Fried Eggs and Esposito’s Breakfast Sausage

Boathouse Smoked Fish Platter: Norwegian Smoked Salmon, Whitefish Salad, Smoked Sturgeon, Beefsteak Tomatoes, Bermuda Onion and Toasted Bagel
This was soooo good… added bonus: it was served on a fish shaped plate

Steak Paillard and Eggs