Clinton St Baking Co & Rest

had dinner last night w/ a group of 7 and we didnt wait too long to be seated considering it was a Saturday night. service was so so but I think there were really only to waiters but they were trying their best. I ordered the house green salad and the spicy shrimp w/ cheese grits. I didnt care for the salad much, very plain, only greens, hence green salad. the shrimp was ok but the spicy sauce it was in tasted more like a tangy bbq sauce? the cheese grits were bland. my bf ordered the butcher plate which I thought wasnt too bad but you'd be better off skipping it, probably much better at a tapas place or something. he also ordered the pork chop which was pretty tasty. a friend had the crab cakes and sweet potato fries which I really liked, wish I wouldve ordered that.

Posted 04/15/06

I went here for Brunch last Sunday after having heard so much about it and also seeing the crowds abound outdoors while passing. The friend joining me insisted all menu items were fantastic and told me Clinton St Bakery was her favorite brunch place. I had the Eggs Benedict - food was tasty and home-made biscuits were absolutely delicious - coffee came in those huge bowl-like cups. Portions are substantial and service is average. You're probably looking at about an hours wait during weekend Brunch hour but if you can wait it's worth the time.

Pros: Food, Biscuits

Cons: Long wait, No reservations

Posted 03/28/06

Myself and 2 friends showed up around noon on a Sat and didn't sit till 2pm. The food and service were great but the wait was brutal. Just get there early.

Pros: Good Food, Reasonably priced

Cons: Crowded, Long wait

Posted 03/12/06

Great neighborhood place. Would recommend, if possible, going on the weekday to avoid long lines. The pancakes are all good- but go with a big appetite...there is a lot of food. Lunch is good as well.

Pros: pancakes, sandwiches

Posted 02/06/06

On the weekends add your name to the long list and go grab a bloody mary down the street because the food is well worth the hour long wait you will encounter during peak brunch hours. The southern breakfast includes great cheddar grits and although weird to say some of the best bacon you may have ever had. No self-respecting Clinton St. patron hasnt tried their famous pancakes and biscuits, which are more like an experience than a part of the meal. Couple any item on their breakfast menu with one of their lethal Mexican coffees and you cant ask for a better start to your day. Drop by on Tuesday nights for half off bottles of wine and sample one of their homemade desserts with ice cream straight from the Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory. Overall it is hard to make a bad choice no matter what the hour.

Posted 01/22/06

Well, no secret that a brunch here on Saturday or Sunday will be a long wait - but once you bite into those pancakes, it will have been worth every minute. Service was fine, and although it's a bit loud and crowded, the ambience is quite good.

Try the blood orange mimosa, the cafe con leche, and of course those pancakes!!

Pros: food

Cons: long wait

Posted 01/20/06

Yes, the wait is long and ridiculous as times, especially as you watch others gobble down their food. But they make possibly the best pancakes ever and decent french toast. The other foods are OK, but just go and order the blueberry pancakes and you wont be disappointed.

Pros: fun atmostphere, great flapjacks

Cons: long wait, long wait

Posted 01/07/06

yes, we waited 3 hours.... we were told 1.5 hour wait... and after that another 20 mins, then another 20 mins, etc. i can't believe we waited 3 full hours to be seated... for brunch! i was starving... even when they did send out some dollar sized pancakes to nibble on. the hostess was way off in her wait estimation. the banana walnut pancakes were actually very good, but the rest of the dishes are average.... i heard the place was good, but i wouldn't wait 3 hours again for anything. don't go with more than 2 people... we had 4 and the 2 seaters went fast but the 4 tops took 3 hours.

Pros: banana walnut pancake

Cons: too long of a wait, is it worth it?

Posted 11/27/05

The blueberry pancakes are perhaps one of the best things I've ever eaten. My coffee was always full, and food came out fast. Waited an hour and 45 minutes for a table, and did so with a smile because I'd heard such good things. The hostess was darling and sweet and apologetic for the long wait, and the waitress was perfectly lovely. They sent out silver-dollar pancakes while we were on line outside, which is a nice touch and quite a teaser. If my hips could stand it, I'd eat those pancakes every Sunday for the rest of my life. The whole experience was delightful.

Pros: pancakes, service, price

Cons: long wait

Posted 11/20/05

This place is my favourite spot for brunch! The only thing is that you have to wait a long long time before having your table. Waitresses smile, service is fast, the food is amazing and the portions are huge! I tried the French toast and the pancakes, that are really excellent. Eggs Benedict are very good too.
If don't want to wait too long and live in the neighbourhood, just try the take away option.

Posted 11/13/05

as I've been told that It's such a great place for brunch.though It takes so long to have a table but it's so worth it! try spanish scramble and pancake! the best thing is salmon egg benedict! I'm so happy to find a good place on clinton st.

Pros: food

Cons: having tables

Posted 10/30/05

Decent spot to grab some breakfast/brunch. Very small space so don't arrive too late. Having food allergies I am somewhat limited to choices. I must say the pancakes looked VERY good. I would stick to standards like pancakes, waffles etc. Egg dishes are kind of standard - nothing to rave about. The atmosphere was your typical LES crowd musing over their difficult lives while clutching gucci bags. Overall the food was ok. I could probably make the same stuff at home. Ah well. Cash Only brunch.

Pros: Inexpensive

Cons: Getting a table

Posted 09/10/05

While we were waiting, we were given complimentary mini pancakes which are some of the yummiest pancakes I have ever had. The eggs benedict on their famous biscuits is delicious as are their waffles and french toast. The food is most definitely worth the wait.

Pros: food!, pancakes

Cons: wait, small space

Posted 08/11/05

first we each got a glass of reisling and a pancake with a dolop of cream cheese/sour cream mix topped with caviar and chives (not on the menu) I had the hallibut (one of the specials that day) it was placed on top of gaucamole, cream, and a lime vinagrette... on top of the hallibut was a good spoonful of a tomato mixture...RECOMMENDED...my husband got the fried chicken which came with coleslaw and "spicy" honey and awesome jalapeno cornbread... my father in law got the pork tenderloin... they gave him a steak knife but he didn't need it.. the pork was so tender it practically melted in your mouth...for appetizers we got the fried green tomatoes... a definite yum!!... and after eating all of that... none of us had room for dessert... we went there before for brunch which was great as well... they're eggs benedicts are to die for!!

Pros: quality, taste, atmosphere

Cons: small, can get very busy

Posted 07/25/05

This place is an amazing joint! From amazing eggs to their deserts. We dropped in here by chance on a weekday and had the specials. Oh...my....god. Smoked Salmon eggs are awesome. Loved the cream cheese in the middle. My wife loved the salad...and guess what I did to. (not shamed to admit it) FRESH!
so we decided to try it for brunch on a weekend. Yes the wait is long (they said 1 1/2 hours), but we were seated in 25 minutes...NOT BAD! This time we ordered different specials...LOVED IT again. Service is fast and with a smile. I tip 25% here. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.
(p.s. love the laid back ambiance)
(p.s.s. CASH only so pack your pockets. ATM is nearby though)

Pros: Food, Service, Taste

Cons: Wait (sometimes)

Posted 07/24/05

As expected, we had a wait. However, we didn't expect it to be an hour and a half! So we made the best of it and were seated exactly at the 1 1/2 hour mark. We ordered the eggs bene and huevos rancheros. The food was served very quickly and was delicious!! We'd recommend both. If you are looking for very catering service, you may be disappointed. Although the server didn't check on us, we enjoyed everything. Overall was a great experience and one of our favorite brunch spots.

Pros: great food! , fast service

Cons: long, long wait

Posted 07/16/05

Dinner, drinks, dessert. Fried chicken and fish tacos are the best. Good for dates with lovers or friends. Bring a large group..it's quiet from 6-8.

Posted 05/18/05

absolutely delicious! especially there pancakes with the warm maple butter...and i don't even like pancakes! their omeletes/egg dishes are also wonderful. looking forward to expand my experience there beyond breakfast/brunch.

Pros: ambience

Cons: small space

Posted 05/06/05

I used to live on that block and would make a point to stop in as often as possible...even if it was to take out a biscuit.
Those biscuits are unparallelled!

Pros: biscuits and muffins, gourmet touch, freshness

Cons: small, crowded

Posted 05/05/05

They have some ice cream, I forgot the name of it, but it was rated the best Ice Cream in New York. And they're the only restaurant who has it. Delicious. Not to mention the full bar which can help cure your hangover with a delicious brunch. I had a group of 10, and this place was great. You just gotta get there at the right time on the weekends, cause it gets busy.

Posted 07/11/04

clinton st. baking company was a great find on clinton and houston st. Small place, but has a full bar, delicious ice cream, and an outstanding weekend brunch. The wait is long if you don't get there just as brunch starts.

Posted 07/11/04

Everything is homemade and now that dinner is served I'm totally hooked. The fried chicken and Key Lime Meringue pie make life worth living. Not bad for a little humble spot on the lower east side! Rush before the rest of the city figures it out.

Pros: kids chairs, ice cream, alcohol

Cons: , no dinner sunday nigh, young staff

Posted 06/22/04

Great hearty brunch (yummy blueberry pancakes, eggs benedict). Estimate when you'll get hungry, and get there 30 - 40 minutes before estimated time... there will definitely be at least a 25 minute wait.

Pros: great food, great neighborhood

Posted 02/14/04

my mother and i walked into this place with no idea, and had a very nice sunday brunch there...we thought it was another downtown diner, so we were pleasently surprised at the quality of food. It got very crowded when we were about to leave, so id say get there early for brunch.

Posted 06/14/03