Freemans Restaurant, Bowery

Tucked away at the end of this alley is one of the cutest restaurants I’ve come across in NYC. I’ve been wanting to visit Freemans Restaurant for some time now, and I finally had an opportunity to do so on my recent brunch date with Sonali. You enter Freemans Alley on Rivington, between Bowery and Chrystie. It’s almost hard to believe that this is what awaits you at the end of Freemans Alley…Imagine what this view looks like in the evening, a warm glow coming from the windows and twinkle lights across the entrance. A simple, rustic American tavern with cozy interiors and eclectic decorations. I’m not sure how I feel about the animal heads and antlers throughout the restaurant. It’s a bit disconcerting, but thankfully, I was distracted by the lovely company.

Freemans does not take brunch reservations, but there’s plenty of seating inside. It was only a short wait for a table, but we decided to stay at the bar. It’s fun to catch a glimpse of the kitchen and watch the bartenders in action. Freemans is a cute place for a date or catch up session with friends. The restaurant was bustling with life, but it was never overwhelming or too loud for conversation.

Sonali ordered the scrambled eggs ($11) with roasted potatoes and thick-cut bacon. She ordered an extra side of fries too. You can never go wrong with potatoes! I ordered the skillet eggs ($12) with spinach, gruyere, and buttered sourdough toast. Normally, this dish would come with bacon, but I asked them not to include it. I also decided to treat myself to a yummy brunch cocktails ($10) that contained grapefruit juice and St. Germain elderflower liqueur. I really need to get my hands on a skillet like this to recreate this dish. The eggs were delicious, and gruyere always melts so beautifully. The toast was a bit tough, and I had to break it up into very small pieces to avoid scratching the roof of my mouth.