Restaurant: Prune

*Prune
54 E. 1st St. nr. First Ave.
Mon-Thu, 11:30am-3pm and 5:30pm-11pm; Fri, 11:30am-3pm and 5:30pm-midnight; Sat, 10am-3:30pm and 5:30pm-midnight; Sun, 10am-3:30pm and 5:30pm-11pm
Subway: F, V at Lower East Side-Second Ave.

Prune is one of the spots where I always recommend people come for brunch. I mean, the dinner is spectacular, and special, and creative, and interesting-in-a-good way (I suppose you'd call it nose-to-tail "New American," maybe with French country influences? Anyway!), but brunch is much cheaper if you're not doing a special occasion! And it's amazing, and the place is just as cool and casual and friendly and they're just as inclined to be playing Talking Heads or Dolly Parton. Brunch here is very popular (their Bloody Mary menu is legendary) and of course it's tiny, so if you don't want to wait, come before the first seating at 10. Everything is perfect, be it the stewed tomatoes, the fresh juices, the perfect Eggs Benedict or the various quirky, hand-written things that have never occurred to you.

Or, come in the evening for a drink and a homemade deviled egg. Either way, you'll be so glad you did. (For what it's worth, last time I brunched here, Claire Danes and Hugh Dancy were waiting for a table.)