Briarpatch Restaurant   

Nestled among the tony boutiques of Park Avenue, this unpretentious restaurant and ice cream parlor has been attracting loyal patrons with creative menu items for more than a decade. If you plan on dining here in the morning hours, expect large crowds and a bit of a wait, especially on the weekends, as breakfasts here are all the rage and always exotic. The Hawaiian pancakes with freshly shredded coconut, macadamia nuts and crushed pineapple (pictured), crabby eggs (scrambled eggs, crab, dill and cream cheese) and the ham, brie and apple omelet are just some of the more popular items on its breakfast menu. Its vast selection of sandwiches, salads and burgers keep the lunch crowds strong (even the garden burger's good) while the dinner menu features an eclectic array of French provincial and Italian-influenced items. The petite merlot filet (grilled filet mignon with a merlot mushroom sauce, garlic mashed potatoes and French green beans) comes at a very reasonable price while the chicken Briarpatch (breast of chicken, mushrooms and artichokes served on angel hair pasta in a light cream sauce) is a house favorite. The chocolate layer cake and peanut butter mousse pie are nothing short of superdelicious, but if you want to take a cake home, it'll cost you. The ice cream is made fresh and changes daily. You won't have a better pistachio ice cream or Mandarin orange yogurt anywhere in the city.