Isabella’s
“The menu had the usual fancy brunch fare, including more breakfast-y items and more lunch-like items.”
“From Sunday brunch to casual weekday dinners, Isabella's is one of my favorite spots in UWS.”
“My Mom and I were attending a talk by Neil deGrasse Tyson at the American Museum of Natural History, but we wanted to grab dinner first.”
Isabella’s
Takes Reservations: Yes
Take-out: Yes
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Bike Parking: Yes
Good for Kids: Yes
Good for Groups: Yes
Outdoor Seating: Yes
Waiter Service: Yes
Caters: Yes
PokéStop Nearby: Yes
Price range.
$$ Price range $11-30
8 reviews
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Fine place for weekend brunch. I've been here a couple of times with big groups after morning matinee movies, and somehow we've both times managed to get a table without a long wait (yay!). The food, starting with the bread basket pastries, is fantastic (love their hollandais sauce), and you also get a free refreshing cocktail to boot!
What I tried: Mushroom omelet (with goat cheese instead of cheddar), filet Mignon benedict
Came here for brunch and was told it would be a 40 minute wait. It wound up being about 50 minutes, but that was OK. The waitress took our order fairly quickly, but then took an extremely long time to bring our drinks. By the time our drinks finally came we were getting pretty antsy, but we knew it was busy so we didn't say anything- even when my coffee and my friend's juice was not in tow with the rest of the drinks. However, I then had to remind our waitress a couple of times to bring my coffee, and had to ask for bread which every other table seemed to have gotten right away. I feel bad complaining about service at busy restaurants, because I know it's not easy, but it's just a fact that we felt kind of forgotten. I really enjoyed my omelet and my friend's benedict, but it just did not make up for the rest of the experience.
After watching a friend run the NYC Marathon this past weekend, he demanded a burger. We happened to find him outside of Isabella's and despite the crowds, there was a table for six available.
The setting is very European with the outside seating and the open windows.
The menu had a dish specifically called "The Burger" which satisfied our marathoner, as well as a variety of other classics including salads, waffles, and eggs. I chose the huevos rancheros and was not disappointed. On Sundays, brunch goers get a complimentary breakfast cocktail, juice, or coffee is included which was pretty cool.
The staff was great and even brought out a congratulatory ice cream sundae for us. If you get a sundae for running the marathon, I need to start training!
Isabella is a charming restaurant on the UWS and I loved their chair seating outside. The food was decent, nothing memorable for me to go back again. Service was good and on time.
Came here with 3 other friends and we all left with a somewhat pleasant opinion of this place.
I ordered a seafood salad and it was really good. I tired some of my friend's eggs benedict at it was awesome to. However, my friend did order an omelett that tasted horribly wrong (the eggs part of it had an off taste). This was, however, remedied as the waiter took it back and gladly allowed her to reorder without any extra cost. All of us really appreciated this sort of service and will definitely come back.
Love this place! Again, I don't understand why all the negative reviews, some of these (fake) Yelpers are really letting me down. Let's start with how adorably cute this place is…if you pass by, you will do a double take and want to go in. They also have a lot of outdoor real estate (by NYC standards), so if you love sitting outside, you'll be able to get a table here. The inside is pretty large too. Romantic ambiance. Friendly service.
Now the food. Cocktails are creative and fun. We both had the Gin Fashioned (Earl Grey Tea Infused Langley No. 8 Gin, Honey Syrup, Candied Orange Peel Garnish) – delish! My only complaint is that it was a bit too bitter for me, I think it was the orange peel that made it taste bitter. I had the branzino, which was perfectly cooked and seasoned. The potatoes that came as the side were a bit undercooked but uniquely flavored. I had a taste of my companion's scallop dish (the special for the night) and it was heavenly! The scallops melted in your mouth. The bed of corn that it was served with was equally divine. I don't know how you can make corn taste that good, but whatever it was, it was marvelous. It seemed like it was seasoned with something that had just a bit of a warm kick/spice to it. I wish I had ordered the scallops, if they ever have it again, I won't hesistate to order. We didn't have room for dessert, but I spied some beautiful looking desserts on other tables on my way to the ladies room. I can't wait to come back and try more of the menu, including dessert.
I expected a long wait for brunch last Sunday, but in fact our party of five was able to be seated [outdoors!] immediately. Perhaps this was because we arrived around 11, before alcohol can legally be served.
The majority of the brunch menu indicates standard brunch fare rather than the "inventive Mediterranean cuisine" suggested by the Isabella's website.
Another gem from the website: "A destination for couples, and neighborhood families of all ages, Isabella's is consistently satisfying and unexpectedly thrilling." Well, that's just hyperbole. This place is good, but I wouldn't say there's anything thrilling about it, unexpectedly or no.
I do appreciate any brunch menu that devotes an entire section to eggs benedict dishes. I had the smoked salmon eggs benny, which arrived with dill-flecked hollandaise and a side of home fries. This all sounded quite spectacular, but in reality, the sauce was a bit lackluster, as were the fries. The eggs were cooked nicely, however, and the smoked salmon was tasty.
You're allowed a complimentary alcoholic/non-alcoholic beverage with your brunch purchase. I was not a huge fan of the overly-spiced bloody mary (ordered promptly at noon).
Overall, Isabella's is decently affordable for the UWS (our totals, including tax and tip, amounted to roughly $25), and it's spot for people (and, perhaps more importantly, dog) watching. It's also super convenient if you're planning on heading to the Museum of National History. Still, I don't feel a particularly urgent need to return anytime soon.
My favorite brunch place in NYC! The bread they bring you beforehand is super delicious. Their omelettes are my favorite 🙂