It's hard to find a quaint brunch spot in the Middle-East... Manhattan that is. But alas, I found my pre-Bloomingdale's brunch spot. Penelope's is quaint, quick and close to the six train (on 30th and Lexington). There definitely was a crowd and a wait but listen to this! Although the wait for a table was about 40 minutes, the bar is first come first serve, you can nab a tall seat so fast the people in line will think you've got connections. Service was super-friendly and fast. BOTH the Bloody Mary and the coffee are fantastic! There are a lot of healthy and creative items on the brunch menu like Pumpkin Waffles and Salmon Wrapped Poached Eggs. Big thumbs up... just make sure you stalk the bar to get a good/fast seat. Once you're there, you can stay as long as you like.
