Le 55 (formerly Merkato 55)
I've actually been waiting a while to go to Le 55 (formerly Merkato 55 ) for brunch, dinner not so much. Merkato 55 is one of the "go-to" restaurants in the Meatpacking District for brunch (Bagatelle, Nero D'Avola, Pastis and 201 are the others). Merkato stands out from the rest (well perhaps all but Bagatelle) by blasting loud music, serving overpriced cocktails, only admitting beautiful people and the most important...making it a living hell to get a reservation! Merkato only takes reservations for brunch via email (reservations@merkato55nyc.com) at specific hours (12:30 PM & 2:30 PM), so its quite a hastle to get in. Option 2 is to try and get in as a walk-in (like I did). On a rainy summer day when New York's elite is in the Hamptons, going to Merkato as a walk-in is that much easier. You can feel Merkato's pulse pounding music from up the corner of Gansenvoort St. Once in front of Merkato you are greeted by a long velvet rope, a door man and 2 bouncers. I'm telling you its like a club but at 2 PM instead of 2 AM. Once getting past the doorman (which is basically to see if you look good enough to get in) you're told to see the maitre de. The first thing you see when you get through the doors is the crowded bar filled with Manhattan's yuppies (Merkato's hype hasn't really reached outside of Manhattan yet...for some odd reason I just happen to be obsessive with restaurants so I know about it). Getting to the maitre de is about a 10 minute task as that specific area is overly crowded and very narrow. But once speaking to the maitre de, you will either be told to go upstairs or to stay downstairs. Let me tell you, the party is downstairs. I walked up the two flights of stairs...and saw a half empty room. Despite that Merkato was having a slow day, I still would have imagined upstairs to be at least 75% filled. But never the less, the upper level was still thumping with dance music and the alcohol was still flowing. However, I did have an issue with the seating. I was seated at a both in the far right corner and the booth had holes and the stuffing was coming out. Now, I'm not one to complain about things like this (I better not be as I'm not even getting anything close to this when I go to Rwanda), but for a restaurant of Merkato's caliber the seats should be at least in tact. I'll give Merkato the benefit of the doubt and say that it was just that particular booth, but it had better be fixed before the next time I go! Now to the food! Let me first tell all my readers...YOU DO NOT GO TO MERKATO 55'S BRUNCH PARTIES FOR THE FOOD! But with that said, the food was actually better than it had to be. I ordered the eggs benedict, and now while it didn't look/taste anywhere near as good as Pastis', the dish was generously portioned and the eggs tasted pretty good considering the level of importance food is in Le 55. If you can either get a reservation or gain attmitance as a walk-in AND get past the bouncer and door man, Le 55 is a great way to spend your afternoon as while the food isn't anything to rave about the atmosphere makes up for it. Be sure to check out Merkato's Lavish Thursdays and their Sunday Chill Brunch as well! Oh another thing, Merkato doesn't look anything like it does in the pictures. It isn't as lavish nor as large as the pictures make it seem (image via guestofaguest.com).