Brunch at San Babila in the UES

2024-2

Oct 6

Please note that this meal was complimentary. However, I was not obliged to post and the opinion expressed in my blog are 100% my own!

Taking its name from a Roman Catholic church in Milan, San Babila is an Italian coffee shop and restaurant on the Upper East Side that opened in the summer, where Chef Francisco Lamanna crafted a modern Italian menu. I admit that, as we entered, I saw that cozy coffee shop with mouth watering pastries facing the window, and thought that was it, until they pulled back a heavy curtain that was hiding a nice and warm dining room. I got the opportunity to try their brunch, that they started to serve a couple of weeks ago and was surprised by a couple of dishes that are worth a visit…or two…or three! We started off with drinks: Jodi got a chai latte ($5.75), while I settled for a Cimbali martini ($19) that is an espresso martini,La Cimbali being the name of their espresso machine, coming straight from Milan.

Cimbali martini at San Babila in the UES

Jodi got their artichoke salad ($22) that was composed of arugula, avocado, mint and a generous amount of pecorino cheese on top, next to deliciously crispy artichokes. Superb. On my side, I did not hesitate and went for the octopus burger ($30), an original creation of the chef. The perfectly grilled octopus was sandwiched between broccoli rabe and stracciatella cheese, and topped with tartare sauce. This is a must have if like me you love octopus and are looking for something unusual. We also shared the challah French toast ($20) that was one of the best I had in a long time: it was slightly crispy and caramelized on the outside, and very eggy on the inside, with candied orange and blood orange giving that Italian twist to a must have dish. I was already full, but, I could not resist their offer to try a Nutella bombolone that was sublime, the doughnut being light and airy, filled with a generous amount of Nutella, perfect with an espresso.