Brunch w. Bri: Piquant
It is about time we do a Brunch post for the home team, BROOKLYN! So on this month’s Brunch with Bri we’re taking you to one of my newest finds: Piquant on Flatbush by the Barclay Center. No this isn’t the brunch spot you’ve heard about, that would be Woodland but regardless this spot is IT. Piquant, the hidden gem across the street from the most popular brunch spot in Brooklyn is a gem that needs to stay hidden so I am a bit reluctant to write this post but y’all know sharing is caring and I care for all of my brunchin’ babes 🥂.
Now I know you’re tired of me calling it a hidden gem without saying why so *drum roll please* Piquant does brunch ALL WEEK! (except for Monday but if you’re brunching on a Monday you clearly have the answers to life) Every day is a Brunch date when you’re brunching at Piquant, they offer a weekday brunch as well as a weekend brunch. I, of course, went for a weekend brunch, because mama was paying (yes y’all another ‘Mommy and Me ‘Brunch post) but I am most definitely excited to try the weekday brunch which a friend of mine has raved about.
So my mama came home on a Saturday this was after losing my phone and having the most stressful week of my life, (there’s a whole post about it…go read it) and wanted brunch. After the week I had, there was no way I was going to say no, especially to free alcohol.
Now for those who know me, my Saturday Brunch is normally reserved for getting WASTED with friends and Sunday’s are more a laid back brunch because no one wants to be at Magic Hour 2 am on a Monday morning knowing you have work in like 6 hours. However, I was willing to have a chill brunch Saturday because it will be a cold day in hell before I get my Mom to go to Woodland and drink the way I do… am I the only one?
We ended up getting there around 12:30 pm which was recommended when we called the hostess because that place can get PACKED. I know you’re thinking “well I can make reservations “
Reservations cannot be made for parties smaller than 10. I know, it may sound foolish but imagine walking into a lounge and every table is dique “reserved”. Trust, they would not see my business there again because no one got time to be waiting on an invisible line.
The location is a bit iffy since it is hidden in between a few stores on Flatbush but it’s about two blocks away from the Barclay Center. You really have to throw your brunch glasses on to find this place because BOY! It is small. You definitely would miss if you’re not looking for it but the interior makes up for that flaw. There is a basement that leads out to their outdoor patio like section that is absolutely beautiful. However, if the patio is not the place for you the lower level does accept guests for brunch. Upstairs there is a bar as well as a small section for dining and lastly a little upstairs portion. Still small but worth it. This makes it a great summer brunch spot because there is indoor and outdoor seating which we all know is what we need to make a summer day even better. Alcohol and Sun, What else could you need? We opted for indoors because it was starting to feel a little fallish and fall isn’t the best time to sit outside and enjoy a drink unless you’re apple picking and drinking.
Let’s get down to the nitty-gritty: That little upper level that doesn’t qualify as an entire floor was where we were seated and the energy was *tony the tiger voice* GREAT. It wasn’t loud I don’t even think they had much music playing. People were speaking, the servers were timely and kind. Like I said before… This is a Mommy and Me brunch so you know we didn’t come for the hookah. The food isn’t anything to die for, I mean it’s breakfast and I LOVEEEEEEE breakfast but if it wasn’t for alcohol I probably wouldn’t have eaten here again. However my mom was the complete opposite, the food had her in loveeee but she did have a burger. I got the pancakes which I must say are great BUT only ONLY because of the sauce that it was made with. I mean listen y’all, the food wasn’t even physically attractive; this looks like some McDonald’s eggs but that sauce slapped me up.
After slandering the food the way I just did I know you’re wondering well why the hell should I go and eat here. Well, we don’t go to brunch for the food now do we?
They don’t have a large array of drinks for the brunch menu. If you’re looking for a brunch spot with mojitos and rum punch this is not the place for you! however, their sangria and Mimosa’s were pretty good and they were served in the cutest wine glasses with straws. It totally may depend on the server that you get but my sis made sure that my glass was never empty. She came back as often as possible to check up on our glasses and for the one time, she didn’t get us before the glass emptied our server told us to raise our hand when we wanted more and she would be on her way. Now given it wasn’t no packed Saturday but she was busy: sis still managed to come and fill my glass and if that is not amazing customer service y’all I really can’t tell you what is and I work in customer service. She was sweet, she had conversations with us and treated us like we were the only people she had to take care of and drunk people love nothing more than to be coddled (earn your tip sis) My only complaint had to be that since we finished our food early she brought our check early and instead of having an hour and a half brunch it ended up being around 50 minutes. I know, a rookie brunching mistake but I never get the bill until brunch is over. She apologized but you know words don’t count as well as alcohol does so at least it gave us something to shit talk on the ride home.
Honestly, this is a great place to do a Sunday catch up brunch with your girlfriends… Yes the food wasn’t great and yes brunch ended early but the energy there was great. One of the biggest things I look at when brunching is the music, the people, and customer service. I already told y’all the customer service was great and the energy had to have been amazing. I mean it was people of color everywhere, not being rowdy, drinking and having a good time it brought me back to Fine Wine and the energy was felt. The place was also just so diverse: in front of me was another mother and daughter duo having their brunch and aside from me was this large friend group who based on what I heard couldn’t get into the brunch they were looking for but they loved the fact that they ended up there. I mean this place is phenomenal, yes the food isn’t the best but this is the kind of place you would go to for a weekday brunch and fall in love with. I literally can’t wait to make it back there again.
