Turn left onto Little West 12th Street as you make your way to the Meatpacking District and you just might find yourself in a decidedly un-clubby restaurant, comfortably filled with rustic accents such as a wooden bar and plants scattered throughout the space. That restaurant is The Wild Son, the latest to come from the team behind the Wayland and Good Night Sonny. The cafe provides a much needed escape just under the highline and is sandwiched between the Brass Monkey and the Standard Biergarten. This unassuming restaurant transports you to a much more calm and relaxed atmosphere than the usual scene that takes place in the neighborhood…
The Wild Son is a great all-day café, and offers a welcoming place to grab a casual, yet healthy bite for breakfast, lunch or dinner. With items that range from greens, grains, veggies and juices, there are a number of delicious options to try at every meal. While the only dish that is 100% gluten-free is the buckwheat pancakes, many of the dishes can be made gluten-free upon request. The menu itself is divided into several sections, with sandwiches, greens & grains, and all-day plates taking up most of the real estate. A wide variety of coffee, juice and cocktails are offered as well.
Stopping in for lunch, we tried the Good Morning Sunshine sandwich (without the bread of course) which was a sunny side up egg with pulled braised bacon, avocado, tomato and rosemary aioli. The flavors were full and bright, and the textures all mixed well. We also tried the buckwheat pancakes with wildflower honey, orange and turmeric butter – for an extra charge you can add fresh berries or bananas and granola. The sweet dish paired perfectly with the savory sandwich and the turmeric butter added a unique spice to everything. An iced almond milk latte topped off the whole meal and we left feeling pleasantly satiated– not super stuffed, and very happy.
The Wild Son is a great spot to drop by at any time of the day, and definitely better if you’re in a smaller group since there are only a handful of tables and seats at the bar. This cafe is one that we will definitely revisit soon!