Skip to main content

Good Enough To Eat: Review- Beyond Brunch



Good Enough To Eat 520 Columbus Avenue/85th Street-NYC
In homage to a Vermont farmhouse -plunked down on a bustling stretch of Manhattan's UWS 'hood, GOOD ENOUGH TO EAT...is a NYC cultural institution, brunch wise...with legendary lines (tourists/natives) on any given weekend -waiting for copious helpings of homemade-in-house breakfast classics and breads.

Not a queuer or around weekends-for that matter, we never-the-less jumped at the chance to sample some eats from an establishment that is arguably-one of the first restaurants that embraced the farm to table credo of dining...sourcing local producers for a wide variety of what's on the menu...and making it all fresh-daily, in-house...as ably illustrated by this pic we took...
organic and locally sourced ingredients...from iconic NYC establishments and smaller area farms-less carbon footprint in deliveries let alone guarantee-you will know that what you are eating is what it claims to be...particularly important when it comes to eating seafood!








The quaint overhead lights are slightly dimmed in the evening, the background 'soft jazz/standards-like' music-barely detectable...allows for easy conversation and is the perfect sound pitch for diners...that range from several duos of locals, a young family with baby stroller discretely sitting beside a table, and a scattering of people eating by themselves...always a sign of a relaxed atmosphere with food that is equal to -or in our case FOR SURE waaay better than anything that can be  cooked at home-including those ingredient delivery services where you still have to put it all together-and clean-up afterwards!!!!

We stopped by a on cold wintry worthy Spring evening...so the outdoor tables that align Columbus Ave. were all empty...but got a welcoming 180º experience when we entered the warm atmosphere of Good Enough To Eat itself-simply decorated with farm-country signs, a mini white picket fence aligning the space separating the bar from the main eating area---and adorable artistic efforts from past patrons.
paper and crayons-on demand

MENU wise---this is a crowd pleasing kind of restaurant at value prices---with those in-demand breakfast items available BLT Omelette with Gruyere cheese $12,  a Vegan Tofu Scramble $13, and the stomach filling Lumber Jack-2 pancakes, 2 strips of bacon and two scrambled eggs $14...

But we headed for the healthy kind of dinner options-choosing from a wide swath of casual favorites and more fancy specialties- salads, sandwiches, burgers, soups, old-fashioned entrees including a daily fish special, and stripped steak...preceded by starters with an international bent that are now American staples (guacamole+quesadillas).

Friendly -prompt service could not have been better...with two glasses of wine delivered pronto...choosing from a well priced drinks menu...
Chardonnay-Sauvignon Blanc-generous pours ($10-$12)....though we could have chosen from a list of bottled or on tap beers, specialty cocktails-including martinis, and a variety of wines-including bubbly sips.

Food wise...we began with a smoked salmon salad-  a nod to the neighborhood's heritage-which is practically large enough to be an entreé all by itself.
half a portion....shareable smoked salmon salad $18-mixed greens lightly dressed with green peas, red onions,  crunchy capers and crisp garlic croutons...underneath generous slices a fish. Yummy
Crowd pleasers like guacamole and chips-or crispy onion rings double as bar food too (always ordered-by a neighboring diner)---Added plus we were clued into-the inhale-able homemade potato chips...that are so good-a seated patron near us just went up to the bar, mid meal -for a handful.  (Starters-$7-$12) 
MAIN MEAL selections are indulgent-meaning mouth watering classics...plus very shareable-plus there are lot of healthy choices...
A crispy crunch every bite... and fresh-mildly spiced-ginger+watercress sauce...a VEGETABLE MOUNTAIN-stir-fry slice fresh carrots, zucchini, red bell peppers, scallions, radishes, scallions, and green cabbage $15.50-served with shrimp (extra $6)- atop a mound of sticky brown rice-delicious  

this serving of 3 Bean Vegetarian Chili-with fresh biscuits -southwestern fav with cheddar cheese atop brown rice $16.95 -ended up half going home-so filling but our meat eating pal deemed it 'perfect' ...

why wait till Thanksgiving???? Roasted turkey and gravy, cornbread stuffing, cranberry relish and sautéed kale-Tradition Turkey Dinner-a choice of a neighboring diner..Americana on demand and funny-we never see this on a menu yet it's so popular. $19.95
Burgers always in demand at $14-$15.50...here with add-on toppings ($1.95-$2.95)-like cheese (7 choices!)...served up with crispy fries...regular, turkey and vegetable options...also served to a neighboring diner...a regular, fyi


WHAT ELSE:
LOTS of Sides, Desserts like Pineapple Upside Down Cake with fresh whipped cream $8...and FUN FUN FUN old fashioned Shakes -grown-up versions too---spike 'em for a worth it added $5.00.