A large menu of comfort food, hearty portions, a range of meats and fish, and a list of sides that looks too good to be true. Friend of a Farmer is the perfect cozy café and provides a homey atmosphere to make your dining experience all the more enjoyable. When I first moved to NYC, everyone I knew raved about brunch here, but after coming for both brunch and dinner, I am going to have to recommend both! Recently, the FofaF team expanded to a second location in Brooklyn Heights, and we’re excited about their new spot in our neighboring borough! …
I’ll save the best for last and start with brunch. Friend of a Farmer doesn’t take brunch reservations, and if you don’t arrive before noon, you will have to wait on line to be seated. And yes, you literally wait on a line and are seated party by party as you get to the front of the line (NYC location). The menu is HUGE and one of my favorite features of the restaurant. More menu = more options for the nobread crowd. Porridge, pancakes, granola etc are offered, but a vast variety of omelettes, egg dishes, and salads outnumber these bread items. The menu offers a whole list of omelettes, but you can custom each type so it is exactly what you want.
Now for the dinner. Friend of a Farmer prides itself on all things comfort. The menu features all the typical comfort foods like country pie, mac & cheese, meatballs, lasagna, and chicken pot-pie BUT the menu is extensive and there are a ton of other options. Fish (prepared to your liking), chicken, turkey, and other meat entrees, as well as a phenomenal list of market sides makes Friend of a Farmer one of my favorite go-to restaurants in the city. Roasted Brussels sprouts, maple glazed carrots, garlic string beans, and most importantly, sweet potato fries fill the sides menu just to name a few. The sweet potato fries here are crisp with the perfect amount of salt, and FoaF is one of my favorite sweet potato spots (subject to CC in fryer). Also, the salmon here is incredible. You can ask for it blackened, sauteed, or broiled; trust me, you won’t be let down with whichever cooking method you choose.
Portions are huge and cooked exactly the way you ask. What at first may seem like a difficult restaurant to be gluten free at is actually one of the easier ones! Friendly and knowledgeable service adds to why I love it here so much. If I wasn’t so obsessed with trying as many new restaurants as possible, I’d come here all the time!