As fun and exciting as it is to explore New York City and all of its wonderful cheat meal opportunities, it’s equally as fun, and certainly more functional, to explore healthy options too. Last week I ran out of prep by Friday night, so Saturday I had to wing it. For breakfast I had some Purely Elizabeth cereal with almond milk and then headed to the gym. Afterwards, I was very ready for lunch and was determined to find a spot in Brooklyn where I could hang out, get some work done, and have a meal that wouldn’t break my macros for the day. After a bit of research, I decided I would try Milk and Roses, an adorable French bistro in Williamsburg.
When I got there, I was immediately pleased with my choice. Though I was *slightly* under-dressed in my gym clothes (what else is new, right?), the wait staff didn’t mention it so I walked in and sat down. The atmosphere was very cozy and comfortable – it felt like I was sitting in my living room (if I lived in a fancy old Victorian home with red leather couches, a grand piano, and walls of bookshelves). Once I got settled and opened my laptop, though, a waiter came over to me and politely told me that the restaurant adheres to a no laptop policy anytime outside the hours of 9AM-5PM Monday through Friday. So I wouldn’t be getting any work done over lunch, but maybe that’s for the best anyway.
It was 1 PM and they were still serving the breakfast/lunch (brunch?) menu, which is exactly what I was looking for. (P.S. They take breakfast orders until 3:45 PM, like true heroes). I ordered the avocado toast, greek yogurt with granola and berries, and a decaf latte. The avo toast came with poached eggs on top, and the greek yogurt came with a heaping serving of fresh berries. In retrospect, two dishes was too much food for one lunch, but I wanted to have a small variety of things to write about in this post, so #NoRegrets.
The latte was delicious, and perfectly foamy.
The avo toast had just the right amount of perfectly seasoned smashed avo, a side salad, and the poached eggs on top, cooked just enough, made this a more nutritious option than plain avocado toast. The toast was ciabatta, which is a little bit crusty on the edges for my liking, but that’s just a personal preference. Overall, I highly recommend this dish.
The greek yogurt bowl with granola and berries was pretty good too. The greek yogurt was light and fluffy, and the berries (strawberries and blueberries) were very fresh. The granola was a bit sweet, though, and I opted to not eat all of it. Overall, this was a tasty choice, but definitely something that you can easily make for yourself at home with more favorable macros.
When it came time to pay for the bill, I learned that it’s cash only, but there’s an ATM on the premise, so it wasn’t a huge deal. When I made my way to the ATM, I noticed that there’s a really cute garden/patio out back with additional seating.
I would definitely recommend this spot and I’m so glad I stumbled across it this weekend. There’s something for everyone on the menu, and the ambience is great for a cozy date, and is casual and accommodating for a larger group as well. The food and coffee is good, and the wait staff is very friendly. The prices are also really reasonable. I can’t wait to go back and try their other brunch items, their dinner menu, and sit on the back patio when the weather is nicer! If you decide to check it out, let me know what your favorite dishes are!
Stay fit and fun, all!
Maddie Danza 