Philip Marie for Brunch

There is something to be said about those days where you wake up with brunch plans, knowing you will get intoxicated with multiple mimosas, knowing the conversation will be good, girly and GIGGLY, knowing that you have nothing real planned for afterwards but the day will unwind slowly, with everyone not being in a rush “just to catch up” and then leave for other social obligations, knowing that everything will be about relaxing and having a good time… and that something is: amazing. 

A recent day like so started off with brunch at Philip Marie, which boasts unlimited mimosas on Saturdays for a reasonable $16.95 including any entree on its brunch menu.  Considering the most expensive item on the menu is $12.95, this isn’t a bad deal at all, especially if you plan on getting sloshed.  Which we did.  And we did.  Heh. 

HB ordered Marie’s Wrap, $10.95, which is scrambled eggs, bacon, grilled ham, onions, mushrooms with cheddar & pepper jack cheese served with skillet potatoes &  tomato salsa.  I didn’t hear any complaints, nor did I hear her raving that it was great, so it’s safe to assume that it was satisfactory but not outstanding.  But it’s brunch; my personal opinion that it’s easy to screw up and hard to make wonderful enough that people need to rave about it, but generally, pretty standard to hit a satisfactory level.  If you throw in unlimited alcoholic drinks for relatively inexpensive, it’s really hard to mess up so much that people will notice…

AB & StB both ordered the crabcakes benedict $12.95, to my sadface.  I normally do order something benedict, but they didn’t have smoked salmon benedict and I didn’t feel like making a fuss.  Anyway, they both seemed happy with their dishes and when I blearily glanced over (I was at one end of the table, they were both at the other end), it looked like they both finished their plates.  Which actually doesn’t sound right, since neither of them tend to be that type.  Haha… can you tell I was pretty drunk by the end of brunch?

SpB is, as she would say, easy to make happy.  She ordered waffles with fresh fruit on top, and that does look mighty tasty to be honest.  As I sat next to her, I could tell you she was happy munching away, and it didn’t even look like it needed syrup.  Yummm….

My order of mahi-mahi with shoestring fries, cajun mayo $10.95 – the shoestring fries were crispy, delightfully thin, and enjoyed by all (that’s a huge mound there!).  The cajun mayo was progressively spicy, but still delicious.  And the mahi mahi?  Well, while cooked properly, still tender & moist, the breading was total overkill.  I know!  I always say this about fried fish, but what is wrong with a light hand with the batter/breading?  It was thick and bready, so I picked off some of it and put it aside (I know that’s gross, but I really just can’t tolerate that much breading!).  The fish itself was fine, with the mayo it was delicious.  Overall though, the breading being too thick was one strike, but the breading also being completely bland and flavorless was another strike.  But that’s only two strikes.  Everything else was tasty.

I have to say, I know brunch is hated (apparently) by chefs, waitstaff, everyone, and drunken-brunches must be even worse.  But our servers were fine, except an odd moment where the guy pouring our neverending mimosas stopped to ask us if we want more.  Uh, yeah we do?!  Haha. 

Yvo says: Depending on where you normally roll in the city, this may be a bit out of the way for you – it’s on the west side, fairly south (right after 8th Ave. becomes Hudson).  Aside from that, there’s nothing to particularly love or hate about my experience – the food was solid brunch fare, the mimosas were free-flowin’, and we weren’t ignored – our water glasses were kept full, an important note for those of us who need to drink equal parts water to our mimosas in order to prevent hangovers, haha – and though the place was pretty full, we weren’t rushed and we weren’t squished too badly.  I recommend it for your first stop during a drunken day – can’t speak to the non-brunch fare.
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