BRUNCH of the WEEK
Le Barricou
Envision a French bistro with scruffy, rustic floors, well-worn tables, and a cozy wine lounge complete with a wood-burning fireplace. Now add antique bud vases on the tables, each holding a single daisy. Flood the place with sunlight, throw on some jazz in the background, and fill the tables with skinny-jeans-wearing Williamsburg hipsters...et voila! You’ve got Le Barricou, the bustling French bistro and wine bar run by Jean-Pierre Marquet (of Brooklyn’s Marquet bakery and Joshua Boissy).
Brunch at Le Barricou is a boisterous affair, fueled by $6 Mimosas (with fresh-squeezed juice, bien sur), $6 Bellinis, and $8 Bloody Marys (made with an extra-spicy homemade mix). The entire neighborhood turns out Saturday and Sunday afternoons, there as much for the cocktails and convivial atmosphere as for the free croissants and the slew of hearty egg dishes.
On a recent trip, we loved their omelettes (especially the wild mushroom), all served with a mesclun salad dressed in a lovely mustardy vinaigrette and fantastically greasy home fries. The Eggs Benedict ($10.50), Florentine ($10.50), and Norwegian ($11) are all terrific, but the croissant sandwiches were what really won us over. Warm, flaky croissants from Marquet bakery filled with your choice of sautéed spinach and goat cheese, or ham and gruyere, and served alongside two fried eggs and a side salad—all for $9.50. This place is practically giving the food away, and you’d be hard-pressed to find a more pleasant brunch vibe anywhere.
So tell your Manhattan friends to hop on the L train and give this gem a try. It’s only two stops into Brooklyn (less travel time than your average Manhattan brunch wait) and—best of all—brunch is served ‘til 6 pm...so you have plenty of time to sleep off that hangover.
