Clinton St. Baking Company
Categories: Bakeries, American (New) [Edit]
Neighborhood: Manhattan/Lower East Side4 Clinton St
(between Avenue B & Houston St)
New York, NY 10002 (646) 602-6263
37 reviews
Neighborhood: Manhattan/East Village
"I am a disgrace to the beersnob uniform. I've been to Burp Castle and Standings, which are upstairs from Jimmy's, about 500 times. I…" read more »
126 Reviews for Clinton St. Baking Company
Well executed comfort food with unique touches that make it a little special. Fried green tomatoes with jalapeo sour cream were amazing.
This is my absolute most favorite brunch spot- EVER. No one can top it. Everything is amazing!!
I live nearby, so it's easy for me to drop my name and then tell the friends to meet up there at the designated time. However, if you already know what you want- their carry-out service is great. Call and place your order- it will be ready in 15 min. Squeeze in, grab your meal (they hook you up with everything including incredible rasberry jam and butter) and take it to the park for a picnic!
Must haves: (everything... duh)
crispy potato pancakes with the most unique apple sauce
eggs benedict to die for
biscuit sandwich
maple bacon!
vanilla choco chunk milk shake
Dinner is nice too- and much less crowded. Also, the mini biscuits come out at this time, which is an extra special treat!!!
Bookmark Send to a Friend Link to This Review
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Cool (1)
A friend wanted to go here for brunch at noon on a Saturday. I wasn't thrilled since I don't eat pancakes, which I'd heard were the main draw. But I lucked out and they had a fantastic organic vegetable terrine special that day. In fact, I think it was worth the nearly one hour wait - but it was a sunny day in September.
Friend and I ordered southern breakfast and blueberry pancakes - we cleaned our plates. Blueberry pancakes were fluffy, buttery and stacked to perfection....and the syrup made it even better (pour the whole thing)
Southern breakfast - divine! Eggs were scrambled to perfect consistency and simply good. I'm a condiment freak, but I didn't add any salt, pepper, tobasco... etc. to my eggs, whoa. Cheese grits - flavor and texture were perfectly balanced - not too cheesy or too gritty. Fried green tomatoes - breaded, fried vegetable - yum. And finally , sugar cured bacon - OMG, words cannot describe: thick and meaty, not too salty or too sweet... just take a big bite and you'll see
We did have to wait 1.5hrs for our table, but service and food made up for the wait...just plan around the wait time.
We ate our entire meal in silence and left with a huge smile.
Bookmark Send to a Friend Link to This Review
People thought this was:
Cool (1)
This place is amazing, we showed up at 10:45(ish) and had a 1.5 hour wait... I ordered the potato pancakes which were amazing. I loved the carmalized applesauce that you eat with them. I loved all my food, my only regret was that I couldnt have ordered everything I would have liked. It all looked soo good.
My friend ordered the banana nut pancakes which were also very good, although I think the potato pancakes beat them out. My mom had been here awhile ago (on a Wednesday) and said that they had lemon ginger pancakes then. I would have loved to try that, I was told they were absolutely amazing!
Definately a place I will be coming back too, despite the wait...
Food wise, Clinton St deserves 5 stars, but the wait and menu inflexibility only earns it 4. The food is wonderful. I wish however you could get one pancake added to another dish. It is 3 or nothing. I was impressed at how fast you were waited on and served once you finally seated. The 1-hour wait turned into 2. I may go back if I can figure out a slow time (if there is such a thing).
The restaurant should open earlier on weekends and also take credit cards. Both downsides.
Bookmark Send to a Friend Link to This Review
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Cool (1)
If I practically start drooling before I even dig into my food... I KNOW it's gonna be good... and IT WAS!!!
My friend and I arrived at Clinton St. right before noon on a Wednesday. There was a small crowd and we were told the wait was 20 minutes. We probably only waited about 10-15. I already knew that I wanted pancakes and the service was a little bit slow, but I'm not surprised since there were only about 2 servers for 30ish people.
I ordered the Banana walnut pancakes and my friend ordered the blueberry pancakes. We also ordered a side of sweet potato fries.
Everything came pretty promptly (about 6-8 minute wait for food). Everything was BEAUTIFUL! The pancakes were light and fluffy and the presentation was really good for a "non-fancy" place.
While taking pictures of the food... I was salivating over how good it all smelled!! I had to dig in and I was NOT disappointed. It was FABULOUS! I make pancakes a lot myself, so I had to question how they got everything so fluffy!! I have never really been able to do it. I think it's baking soda (or powder!?) but who knows. The maple syrup was the best part. It had this sugary taste which was paired perfectly with their pancake. I wonder what's in that too!! (probably a lot of sugar!).
Later my friend and I ordered a muffin and biscuit to go. I later had the biscuit for breakfast with raspberry jam and it was really good! A gigantic biscuit that was still fluffy the next day -- yum!.
I'd definitely go back and definitely recommend going at least once!
Bookmark Send to a Friend Link to This Review
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Cool (1)
Just got back from Monday breakfast at Clinton Street Baking and FINALLY... a place that lives up to the hype. It's great for what it is - a fantastic breakfast. The wait was about 20 minutes for my husband and me - which only seemed long because the subways were stopped and we walked in all the way from the West Village/Chelsea area. I'm actually really glad we walked that long to get there because I did not feel any guilt at all for eating my whole meal! I ordered the 2 eggs with the hash browns, biscuit and added bacon. Hubby had an omelette with hash browns and we shared a plate of the blueberry pancakes. The pancakes were very fluffy - not as moist as I normally like them, but the syrup and real blueberries helped. They were excellent and once we were seated, the service was great too. I will definitely come back here when I'm visitng New York and have leisure time!
My cousin told me about the biscuits here... and how they were out of this world. Hmm... sadly i was disappointed. my biscuit was a little on the overbaked side and a bit hard...i prefer flakey soft goodness!
Their potato pancakes were on the salty side... and thats coming from a heavy handed salt shaker!
my friends had the biscuit sandwich... was kinda bland.
i would only give it 2 stars but i thought i'd be generous because i didn't try the blueberry pancakes (like my friend jane recommended) and she said i should try dipping the biscuit in the pancake syrup. so i guess i shall give it one more go...
although, i will give them this... the rasberry jam was fabulous! and the price is right... don't know if i'd wait in line.. but maybe i'll try again on a weekday!
Bookmark Send to a Friend Link to This Review
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
Mmmmm. Monday through Friday: burger and a beer for $10. 6-8pm. The two hour wait for brunch on the weekends are a killer, though.
Bookmark Send to a Friend Link to This Review
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Cool (1)
Clinton St Baking Co... I love you! Your biscuits ARE really that good. All that hype, I bought it and believe it! Your homemade raspberry jam is delicious and went great with my biscuit. Yum! And the blueberry pancakes! Wow, if I could have pancakes like this everyday, I'd be... seriously fat. But it might be worth it. (That and I'd be hitting the gym extra hard!) The caramel syrup is original and really memorable. As soon as I put that large chunk of blueberry pancake into my mouth, my eyes opened WIDE because it was so good. I chewed every bite with so much pleasure and happiness! My actual brunch entree was the hamburger, which was good but my fiancee's pancakes really eclipsed it. Although, excellent homemade potato chips. Other stuff: good coffee, great milkshake and excellent service! (We got there after 2pm so we didn't wait for our table that long. Apparently, the wait for the bar was even less!)
Bookmark Send to a Friend Link to This Review
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
Funny (1)
Cool (1)
MID-WEEK DINNER REVIEW (not brunch!)
Over 100 reviews and being forever on the lips of not just Yelpers but practically every foodie in the city, I finally tried it out, on half-priced wine night (Tuesdays; on full bottles), with a friend. We arrived at 8pm and there were about 3 empty tables. By 8:30, every table was occupied. The buttermilk biscuits they start the table with were fabulous, as was the Bacchus Cabernet Sauvignon we had (at $15 for half-price night, a steal), but nothing else (except maybe the roasted pear salad) lived up to the hype.
The space is very pretty, wonderful lighting, sleek and clean without being aggressively modern, and not at all hokey farmhouse/bakery either. Service was pleasant and not rushed. My friend and I shared the roasted pear salad, which was fantastic: mixed greens, frisee, candied pecans, and a fantastic blue cheese, along with two generous pieces of roasted pear. I had the spicy shrimp & cheese grits in creole sauce. My friend has the fried chicken. Both of us felt the need to salt our food! The grits were good, the shrimp was so-so. My friend said her fried chicken was good, but nothing to write home about. After all the hype, we just kept eating away at our fine but not orgasmic food wondering if we came on an off night or something. Also, the famed mac & cheese was not on the menu.
For desert we split the black/white layer cake: chococlate cake with cream cheese frosting and a chocolate glaze. It was excellent, moist and rich without being cloying, but we still couldn't finish it. The tab on half-price night, with a bottle, shared desert and salad, and two entrees, was under $80.
Would I come back? Maybe for lunch or another slow night dinner, but there are a thousand other restos I'm interested in trying and Clinton St. Baking Co. did not impress me so much that I have to either a) return anytime soon or b) join the hype parade. Maybe brunch is another matter.
Bookmark Send to a Friend Link to This Review
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
Cool (2)
I would def recommend this place but only once to see what the freaking hype is about, but it is not worth the wait especially if you have to deal with a bitchy hostess with a power trip. The service is barely average, the hostess was not nice ( excuse my language but she was just awful, miserable and not pleasant). As a hostess, you the first impression people have about the restaurant, you should make the feel welcomed since they are spending their hard earned money to eat there my money is paying your bills. It was so bad, people did not want to go up and ask her how much longer.
Got there at 10.40 ( restaurant opens at 10) i still had to wait 2 hours, plus she got mad because i asked her for a menu and asked how much longer while we were waiting. She basically told me with the biggest attitude i just told you 15 minutes ago, it would be an hour and a half, next thing she starts seating others that came after me. I was ready to leave but the people i came with were dying to eat here based on the reviews. Even the bartender came by and said you have been here forever, the lovely guy offered carrot cake while we waited and checked to see how much longer. He was the only nice thing about the place.
Do not get me wrong, the food is pretty good but you can find places that serve brunch that just as good. Try it once but get there at 9.30. If you are hungry def, don't go there. The food is def not worth the attitude and the wait. If you must have it, go on a weekday. Food is meant to be enjoyed especially if i am spending my cash there, and the hostess left a very poor taste in my mouth. I will never ever go back there. there are tons of restaurant in that area that are just as nice. I worked hard all week and i just want to enjoy a meal and not feel rushed after waiting 2 hours to eat.
Bookmark Send to a Friend Link to This Review
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
Funny (1)
Cool (2)
I'm not the biggest fan of the LES, but this place is awesome. Their burgers are great and it comes with homemade potato chips! Go for dinner from 6p-8p for their beer and burger combo ($10). When my friends and I went, we all got burgers, but we couldn't help looking at the dishes everyone around us got.
I'll definitely go back and try their other dishes.
Bookmark Send to a Friend Link to This Review
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
Cool (1)
I hate to say this, but Clinton Street Bakery is one of the few places where the wait is probably worthwhile.
In the spring/summer/fall the wait is bearable because you can lollygag around the neighborhood until the hours pass and your turn arrives. I've done this before and it's not too bad. In the wintertime, however, I don't do it. I have low tolerance for waiting in the cold.
If you can come from brunch/lunch during the week, take advantage. It's awesome to stroll in and sit (especially if you've endured the long wait times on the weekend).
Okay, enought about wait. Onto the food. The items are fresh. Everything is delicious. I usually order off the "specials of the day" menu. I've never had any complaints. I had a pork tenderloin once that was amazing. Coffee's good. Bloody Marys are excellent.
Note: If you're brunching alone or with one other person, try sitting at the bar. If it's the weekend, chances are you'll wait less.
Bookmark Send to a Friend Link to This Review
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Cool (1)
If Heaven were a buttermilk biscuit, it would be from the Clinton Street Bakery.
The problem is trying to pick only one thing for brunch! I came here with a friend and we split the brioche french toast, hot cocoa, and the bacon, egg, and cheese biscuit sandwich. Having waited an hr to sit down - we earned our stay and were never shuffled out the door.
Cash only, people!
Bookmark Send to a Friend Link to This Review
People thought this was:
Useful (3)
Funny (1)
Cool (5)
I can't believe I haven't reviewed this place yet... esp since they serve THE best pancakes in the world!! I would eat pancakes here anytime any day. I'd pay a decent amount of dough to learn the recipe. I love these damn pancakes!
The ridiculously long wait for weekend brunch (usually 1+ hr) is pretty bad and painful (esp when you can smell and see those pancakes all around you)... but if you like pancakes, it's worth the wait. Every time I have pancakes anywhere else, I can't help but think back to the Clinton St. It's the benchmark for all other pancakes. Why are they so good? Well, they're the perfect balance of fluffiness, crispness on the edges, moistness, and buttery goodness. And to help matters, they give you a healthy portion of pancakes. Plain is great, but the blueberry ones are also amazing. And to top it off, the warm maple butter is the perfect complement.
All of their other dishes pale in comparison but the eggs, scrambles, etc. are all solid. Sounds like their fried chicken is also a winner, as well as their po'boys. But it's just too hard to come here and not pig out on the pancakes. Thus, I have no idea if I'll ever get to try any other main dish....
Bookmark Send to a Friend Link to This Review
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Cool (1)
If I could give this 6 stars or more, I would.
The best blueberry pancakes I've ever had - and they're on the dinner menu! ($11)
Nice little cocktail list (raspberry lime collins was pretty good) and coffees, plus genuine hot chocolate!! The first place I've had real, proper, good hot chocolate in this city! Hoorah! (I may be a bit of a picky bastard in this area)
Glazed root vegetables (delicious) and so many other tantalizing sides.
No wait for a table at 9pm... and the service rocked. 7 stars! Eight! Do I hear 9? YES - 9 stars to the gentleman in the back.... TEN! Ten it is, then. SOLD... :)
Note: CASH ONLY during the day
Bookmark Send to a Friend Link to This Review
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Cool (1)
Dunno what the hype is. My pal Esther really wanted to go there because she heard it was the shit.
I just thought it was just a better- than- average brunch place.
My friends and I came here Saturday morning and it was packed! Over an hour wait for a table, but it was well worth it! I had serious food envy. I ordered the frittata with mushrooms and goat cheese, but the real winner were the banana walnut pancakes! They were so fluffy and moist! They were served with fresh banana slices and walnuts with a side of maple butter. YUM!
My frittata was good, but I wouldn't recommend waiting over an hour for it. My other friend had the sausage scramble it it was delicious! I had a taste of my friend's biscuit and it was heavenly!
Definitely check out Clinton St. Baking Company if you're looking for a yummy NYC brunch spot!
Hot damn! As a visitor to NY I always feel a bit overwhelmed at the food choices, so on this trip I turned to my trusty foodie friend who lived in the city. His first words:
"You have to go to Clinton Street Baking Company! Best brunch EVER! And I know my brunch..."
Considering this same friend gave me a clutch recommendation on the other coast, I trusted him enough to drag my friend and convince her to wait the hour we were given by the hostess. Which turns out isn't that long for a Sunday. And when they say an hour, they mean it. Not a minute before.
Good news is that gave us plenty of time to look at what everyone else ordered. So before I sat down I knew I was having the frittata with goat cheese and mushrooms. My friend had the blueberry pancakes. AMAZING on both counts. The only pancakes I will usually eat are Grandpa's, and please don't tell him, but these were the best freaking pancakes I've ever had.
It was so good we went back later that week. The menu was slightly different on a weekday, but there was no wait.
I will definitely hit this place up every time I'm in the city.
As over Yelpers have advised -- this place can be a wild mad-house during brunch.
"DO NOT, DO NOT, DO NOT come here for weekend brunch".....I often find myself repeating this mantra every time I see this long list of names on the hostess' clipboard and see the crowds of people waiting inside and outside this breakfast/comfort food mecca....
INSTEAD try coming here for breakfast or lunch on the weekday, and you'll be treated to a country breakfast so hearty, so rich, so decadent that you'll be licking your plate clean with picking at the biscuit crumbs that are on your napkin or on your lap.
My faves:
The pancakes are fluffy and never dissapoint....drizzle some of the maple & melted butter syrup on top and you've got breakfast and dessert at the same time.
The buttermilk biscuits are HUGE and not to be missed -- perfect with the homemade raspberry jam.
You'll feel like you were transported out of the city and into the country with their delightfully rich, excellently prepared comfort fare!
Bring cash, as they do not accept credit cards...and be prepared to have people seated VERY CLOSE to you...so close you can probably take a slice of crisp bacon off their plate when they aren't looking.
Bookmark Send to a Friend Link to This Review
People thought this was:
Useful (5)
Funny (5)
Cool (4)
I went here with my friend for brunch and we waited 1 1/2! I guess I shouldn't be surprised since I read the reviews on Yelp about the long ass wait and all. The food is really, really good. This is not a good place to go to, especially on the weekend, if you want to savor your delicious meal. The server will matter of factly usher you to leave when he/she see that you're done eating. It's probably good to go here during the weekdays, perhaps then you might be able enjoy your meal!
I'm a huge fan of pancakes and breakfast foods. I always opt for the carb packed delicacies that any restaurant has to offer. When visiting New York for the summer, many places suggested this place for its pancakes.
Now being an aficionado of food and travel, I know that "famous" doesn't really qualify anything. A little truck stand can use the word "famous" just for the sake of marketing. The Clinton St. Baking Company's pancakes over-qualify for being "famous", and yet they don't even label them that.
The interior feels like a throw-back to a 50's coffee shop/diner while still feeling contemporary and hip. It can roughly seat 20-30 people. You are bound to find people waiting outside for an open seat. You probably don't have to have reservations, but get there early since you'll probably have to wait 10-30 minutes. And if you get a seat immediately, you're just lucky.
The service is alright. Since it's a small and busy spot, they don't have time to suck up. It doesn't really matter because the food makes up for everything. Everything is high quality and incredibly fresh. I chose the blueberry pancakes for the first time. It's three thick pancakes not too big, not too small. It also comes with a cup of homemade syrup.
The presentation is really clean and simple. It just looks high quality. I became really skeptical because of its "looks". I decided to take one bite of the pancakes without the syrup to see if it could stand on its own. Instantly the pancakes melted in my mouth. It brought back memories of every great baked goodness that I have experienced and elevated it to godlike status. Imagine the best blueberry muffin you've ever had, times it by two, then put it into fluffy pancake form.
If you think it doesn't get any better than this, you are mistaken. Take a piece of the pancake and dunk it into the homemade syrup. This will either send you through the roof with joy, or melt you into ecstasy a thousand times over. Their syrup is unusually in its consistency and flavor. It's not as dense or gooey-thick as your typical off the counter stuff. It's almost as if they've injected butter or some kind of liquid into it. This makes for a much lighter and buttery syrup.
While these are the best pancakes I've ever had, it is quite a feat to finish the entire plate. Its appearance is deceptively average. Since it is very high in quality, you'll feel like a stuffed pig half-way through the pancakes. I couldn't finish the entire plate. My brother ordered the waffles, and although they were stellar they didn't compare to the pancakes.
Everything else is high quality here. Fresh squeezed orange juice that is actually fresh squeezed, good bacon, and your usual selection of diner food including omelets.
While our itinerary was packed for the rest of the trip, we made it a priority to come back. Coming back, my brother ordered the banana nut pancakes while I had the special of the day, the fruit and walnut covered french toast. The french toast was exceptional. Very satisfying. I was surprised to find a very high caliber of fruit and nuts on my french toast. Very very good. My brother finished his entire plate of pancakes and I thought I was going to go sick from looking at him!
Anyone visiting New York is required to make this a must visit destination.
You will not be disappointed.
Bookmark Send to a Friend Link to This Review
People thought this was:
Useful (3)
Funny (1)
Cool (2)
8 minutes wait for a table. Max.
... I know. Go ahead and hate me.
Craving some sweet carby breakfasty goodness, I dragged my best fooding buddy (aka my sister) down to Clinton St Baking Company. But at 3pm on a Saturday, past the brunching hour and encroaching on the "lunner" time, this tiny gem of a restaurant wasn't overly crowded. And so we scored a table just after we finished deciding on what we were going to order!
My sister doesn't have the same sweet tooth as me and opted for a savory dish of smoked salmon eggs benedict. It was decent, but nothing wowing. While appreciated the thick slices of bread instead of the normal wimpy english muffins, the bread was way too crumbly. Not to mention, I wish they provided something else on the plate - you know, potatoes, salad, fruit. Something; anything. My Asian instincts weren't pleased. And the food was served chilled! The random? In the great words of Stephanie Tanner: "How rude!" (Oh, c'mon, you know you love you some Full House).
Moral of the story: At a restaurant with "baking" in its name - stick to the carby goodness. So... onto the good.
Although I know Clinton St Baking is famous for its pancakes, I was wooed by the brioche French toast instead. The dish came out nice n' hot, with three thick slices of brioche bread, topped with caramelized bananas and nuts. And of course... maple butter. Heaven on a plate.
Whoever invented maple butter was a genius. Sugar + delicious fat, melted together to make a mouth-watering combo of yummy dunkable goodness. Brilliant!
I polished off my entire plate of French toast easily. And resisted the urge to drink down the remaining maple butter.
But I decided I wanted to live...
For another plate of that French toast with maple butter.
Bookmark Send to a Friend Link to This Review
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Funny (1)
Cool (1)
It was my little Sex and the City moment.
I had the omelettes, which seems to be one of their signature dishes. The portions were reasonable for the price. The jam was simply delicious, but the bacon was much too dry -- I want to feel the grease flow forth!
The place isn't that big so it isn't surprising that it gets crowded pretty fast. I passed by the front window a few times trying to scope out a seat -- I have a problem just standing there waiting for a table -- and I got some strange looks for it.
Boo!
3.5 stars.
We came here for dinner and not for the cakes which sound amazing...Sat night was packed and lively. The l-o-u-d Sinatra music was a bit surreal for a bakery, as was the Scarlett Johansson lookalike waitress :)
If the food was more consistent this place would be perfect, but my friend's pizza was kinda dull - she said "the crust was the best bit!" That's a BAD pizza! My Moroccan lamb tagine style dish was great - it had stewed lamb AND lamb chops...nice and spicy too. The others had lentil soup which looked ok too. Still, I think the kitchen has hot and cold spells, so ask the wait staff what is the best choice.
Bookmark Send to a Friend Link to This Review
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Cool (1)
One of my top places for brunch.
*Warnings:
-Cash only
-Weekends= 2 hour long wait for brunch
Faves:
1) "Raspberry jam" --I come to Clinton just for this delicious concoction, which is actually more like a raspberry topping than a jam since it wasn't gelatinous. Regardless... I pour it on my blueberry pancakes, my biscuit, toast, and anything else I can find on my plate to eat it with. yum yum.
2) Blueberry pancakes. Fluffy cake-y deliciousness with lots of fresh blueberries baked inside. The best I've had so far in the city. It comes with this sauce that tastes like buttery toasted caramel.
3) Sugar-cured bacon. Carmelized and crispy.
4) Spanish Scramble.
Overrated:
-Biscuits had a nice buttery flavor but I wish they were softer on the outside.
-Hash browns. I like my hash browns to be brown and crispy. Clinton's are more like twice-baked potatoes.
-Fried green tomatoes were just a bit too oily for my taste.
Bookmark Send to a Friend Link to This Review
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
An LES brunch favorite, the pancakes and crab cakes are some of the best we've ever had, but the line outside on a weekend make it something only worth it on the weekday.
Their famous biscuits are very good, but a bit too bit for one person. The first time I was there I ordered the buttermilk biscuit sandwich, but found the tomato jam a bit strange and the whole thing a bit dry. The second time, however, all was forgotten when I ordered the delicious crab cake sandwich. It comes with lots of crab and very little filling, for a satisfying treat. My husband always gets the blueberry pancakes, which are also very very good.
The third time I went, i got the catfish sandwich on "crusty" bread. The bread sucked and was way too "bready" for the sandwich, the catfish itself was dry and encased in a breadcrumb like crust. I kept thinking how great it would have been if they used more of a beer batter and actual crusty bread, but instead it was a big disappointment. Also, service was bad as well. I think there was only one waiter there, she messed up the order and forgot about us. She was pretty busy though so I don't want to blame her too much,
I've decided now that this place is totally overrated and only good for the pancakes, crab cakes and take-out buttermilk biscuits. I would never wait in line for a table.
Second time here and it was almost as good as the first (earlier trip), but only because I didn't order the pancakes. The best items we've had so far are the blueberry pancakes and the bacon, both of which are the best either of us have ever had. We like both kinds of bacon, regular and sugar-cured. The sugar-cured almost tasted like candy. And the pancakes, well, true nirvana. Hot and fluffy with a batter straight from the gods, dotted with fresh blueberries, they downright rule.
Dishes:
Blueberry Pancakes (Brilliant)
Hash Browns (Respectable)
Southern Breakfast of Eggs, Cheese Grits, Bacon, Fried Green Tomatoes (Good)
Bookmark Send to a Friend Link to This Review
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
Cool (2)
I give this place 5 stars only because I never come here for brunch on the weekends (long waits when I'm hungover and me do not get along). But I do come for breakfast about once a week on weekdays--perfect! By far the best breakfast place... their biscuits are tender, buttery and flaky, the raspberry jam is amazing, perfectly scrambled soft eggs (not overcooked like every other place you order scrambled eggs), and pancakes that taste like cake. YUM! My favorite dishes: wild mushroom scramble, either of the biscuit sandwiches, and when I'm craving something sweet--blueberry pancakes.
Bookmark Send to a Friend Link to This Review
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
I thought I had died and gone to heaven when my breakfast biscuit sandwich came out in it's cheesy, scrambled egg glory, topped with a generous smear of "tomato jam," which is neither tomato paste nor tomato sauce nor salsa... but perfect for the sandwich. It came with a side of hash browns, and while the crispy part was yummy, it was a bit too mashed-potatoey for my tastes.
The superstar of the spread was definitely the cheese grits, which depart from other cheese grits I've tried in that the cheese isn't sprinkled on top, but rather it is blended into the grits with mmmm butter! And they go so well with a fresh mimosa in the morning.
Farmer's frittata was inventive: creamy goat cheese atop eggs, pesto, and mushrooms, but a little bland for me. Sweet potato fries nice and buttery, but too soft and not crunchy enough. It's pancake month and I may be back for the bananas foster pancakes on Feb 12-13th. The pancakes looked amazing.
Get there early. The line starts at 10, right when the place opens! I got there at 10:10 and waited 50 min for a seat. But it was so worth it. And bring cash because your credit card will be politely refused.
Bookmark Send to a Friend Link to This Review
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Friendly staff cute place. Pancakes of the day (pear and apple compote) with a maple butter syrup were fluffy perfectness.
The first time I came to Clinton Street Baking Company was for brunch. My sister was in town for a visit, and I'd heard they had the best brunch in the neighborhood. We got there reasonably early, but there was, of course, a huge wait. We waited. And waited. And waited some more. Then I had to take a bathroom break, during which someone knocked on the door. I said, "I'll be out in a minute." When I came out, the woman waiting huffed at me and said, "It took you long enough." I was not in there that long.
After she was done doing her business, she proceeded to come back and sit down at her table, and announce to her brunch companion very loudly that "THAT GIRL WAS IN THERE FOREVER, GOD." And it's a very small restaurant. So where was I seated? Right next to this lady. Awkwaaaard.
But the food is pretty fantastic. I've had both the french toast and the blueberry pancakes, and they are equally good. However, I've learned my lesson. No more brunches at this place - it's a zoo, and I don't want to be in such close quarters when bitchy brunchers strike. Also, for the boozers out there, there are no drinks included with brunch meals.
Now I just come by for breakfast during the week (same menu, MUCH less crowded), and at dinner (when they still serve the tasty pancakes, as well). For dinner, I've had the organic roasted half chicken, which was amazing. I also nibbled off of my family's orders of fried chicken, and that was great, as well.
Good quality food that's not terribly cheap, but reasonable for what you get. And they have yummy biscuits.
I too used to live near Clinton Street Bakery and I love their muffins. Their breakfasts were good, but not wait in line around the block good. I liked eating there because of the friendly friendly waitstaff who let me sit in there indefinitely to read or write and for those damn muffins. Yum! I like that there is a lot of sunlight that comes into the restaurant. 4 stars because of the bridge and tunnel yuppie factor. It's really best experienced on a weekday morning when it's calm and only occupied by the idle and self-employed.
Bookmark Send to a Friend Link to This Review
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Cool (1)
I cannot tell you how often I have heard from others of the this restaurant. "It's really good brunch, we should go" or "Any place that has a long line has got to be good!". Well, by chance, I was walking with a friend looking for a good dinner place and stumbled across Clinton St. Baking Company. (Think of it as an "Oh! It's here" moment) Anyhow, we were thoroughly pleased. Great service. Fun music. Small but cozy atmosphere. And the hot cider with rum is delicious. For dinner, I got the Po' Boy Catch of the Day (Tilapia) with house tartar sauce, cole slaw, and homemade chips. My friend tried the black angus cheeseburger on a crioche roll with caramelized sweet onions and homemade chips. Both were phenomenal. Next time, we are going back to try the wild maine blueberry pancakes ('cause breakfast for dinner is always neat) and the buttermilk fried chicken with a honey-tabasco sauce.
In conclusion, if you're not the mood to wait on line for weekend brunch, I highly recommend coming here for dinner. Equally good food without the wait!
it's good, but i'm not sure if it's actually worth the wait. we got the goat cheese omelet and the french toast. the omelet was pretty good, with fresh cheese, and a tiny pile of greens on the side, along with 2 pieces of ordinary multigrain bread that seemed like it was from a supermarket. the french toast was very light and airy, but the bananas on top were just ordinary, and the nuts weren't caramelized. the maple butter dipping sauce was too liquid; i would've liked something more syrupy.
it was difficult to get water refilled. in fact i ended up drinking my friend's.
we got some muffins and a biscuit to go. the muffins have no muffin tops. the carrot one was decent but the spinach/cheese one shouldn't have qualified as a muffin; it was more like a biscuit. the biscuit was pretty good.
Crowded, neighborhood joint. Overall, so-so.
This place is jam packed by 11.30am even on a weekday. So either come during non-brunch hours or be prepared to wait.
They're known for their pancakes and sugar-cured bacon. I tried those one time. I got the banana walnut pancakes. The pancakes taste as good as they look. 3 stacks, thick and cakey. The bacon was your regular bacon but it has a crisp, sugary crust on the outside that made it special.
I've also tried the crabcake eggs benedict special. The crabcake was full of real crabmeat. It's served on top of biscuits and then topped with the poached egg and hollandaise sauce. There is nothing bad with this dish but I also would not say there is anything outstandingly special either.
Orange juice is freshly squeezed and when it's good, it's very delicious. Although, one time I was there, the juice was watered down and it didn't taste as good as I know it could.
Bookmark Send to a Friend Link to This Review
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Cool (1)
