It was one of those weekends when a casual brunch in the West Village was warranted.  There are many brunch spots in the West Village, some are so popular that it’s hard to walk-in and get seated immediately in a place that feels casual, not too busy, and that serves great food.  It was by chance that we found such a place in Tremont.  We had a delicious brunch at Tremont NYC (a 2012 James Beard Best New Restaurant semifinalist) and would love to go back there again.

Inside Tremont NYC

That day, we started out doing what we usually do – i.e., get off at one of the corners of West 11th and West 4th streets and look for a table at Tartine.  It’s usually packed with a long wait, and so it was that day too. So, as always, we walked on West 4th between West 11th and West 12th.  The Place (a neighborhood gem) and Cafe Cluny are among my other favorite spots on that short stretch.  They were both busy and could not accommodate us.  Tremont on Bank Street seemed casual, airy (had large windows) and a minimalist decor but we did not know how the food would be.  We walked-in and got seated by the window.

We had the Russian Kale salad, a two omelette and a plate of 2 eggs (scrambled) between the two of us and loved everything we ate.  The side of greens were not a pile of cold dry leaves, but were tossed in an aromatic vinaigrette (olive oil and lemon?).   The herbed fries on the table next to us looked sinfully delicious.

Russian kale salad:  This was a delicious salad of shredded Russian Kale leaves, and sunflower seeds tossed in a lemon vinaigrette and topped with a lot of thinly shredded pecorino cheese that was wispy thin.  I am tempted to recreate this at home, with lesser cheese.   This kale salad is among the best 5 Kale salads served in NYC and has the potential to convert anyone into a kale lover.

Russian kale salad with sunflower seeds tossed in a lemon vinaigrette and topped with thinly shredded pecorino cheese at Tremont NYC

Two egg omlette:  The omlette was made with gruyere cheese and fine herbs. Loved it – was it because it had adequate salt and pepper without us having to add anything to it or was it because the gruyere was added at the right time, that it was just oozing out of the omlette when it was served? Either way it was perfect and so were the side of greens and the chopped chives and herbs sprinkled on top.

Two egg omelette with Gruyère and fine herbs served and a side of herbs at Tremont NYC

Two eggs scrambled:  This tasted exactly the same as the two egg omelette, but it was scrambled and we loved it just the same.

Two eggs scrambled with Gruyère and fine herbs served with a side of greens at Tremont NYC

Can’t wait to go back to Tremont NYC (a James Beard Best New Restaurant semi-finalist in 2012) to check out their lunch and dinner menus.