Location: 487 Amsterdam Avenue
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Items: 3 small plates, 3 brunch entrees, 2 cocktails
Best Dish: The fresh-baked bread is second to none, it is warm flaky and absolutely divine.
Overall: Mediterranean cuisine has long been celebrated for its freshness and quality. The health benefits of its olive oil and vegetable-laden recipes are heralded among the most healthful options. Bustan is a warm and friendly space with great food at reasonable prices. Its warmth and charm are great for any group including the kiddies.
We spent a glorious Saturday afternoon enjoying a fabulous brunch in one of NYC’s best Mediterranean eateries. Bustan is a relatively new space on the upper west side with some of the city’s most interesting brunch options. In creating the menu Executive chef Efi Nahon masterfully fuses Spanish, Greek, Italian, French, Turkish and Moroccan cuisine for a flavorful and eclectic selection. To complement the creative cuisine, Bustan is beautifully decorated with vibrant color and rich wood. Though the inside is gorgeous, for our visit we opted to enjoy the lovely garden area out back. I ordinarily avoid eating outdoors in the city but here the smog and random passersby are not an issue as the garden is at the rear of the location closed off from the general public. We walked in and claimed a seat at the long communal table. After a brief conference with our pleasant server, we ordered a round of cocktails.
I decided on the fig lemonade a sweet citrus take on the classic hard lemonade, made with a generous serving of figenza vodka as well as ginger beer and St. Germain. My companion ordered the blood orange fizz a refreshing rum cocktail with blood orange and basil.
We followed our tasty round of beverages with the Mazettim. A mazettim is a small tasting plate of different flavors and textures. For this review, we ordered ALL of the possible items at once. There was classic hummus, smoked eggplant, spicy feta cheese, tzatziki, olives, and radishes. Having a small plate service allowed us to sample and customize our own bites by smearing 2 or 3 different items on the same slice of fresh focaccia bread. Our favorite combination in the assortment was the smoked eggplant and the spicy feta cheese. The smoked eggplant spread was smooth and creamy and the cheese was lightly spiced and complimented the eggplant beautifully.
Next, we sampled the falafel basket, a bite-sized version of classic falafel served with green tahini and pickled mango sauce for dipping.
For our final small plate, we went with the charred octopus. We love the taste of char, especially on seafood and this octopus was exquisite. Despite the charred outside the meat was moist and tender. The octopus is served on a bed of warm white beans and topped with crushed tomatoes.
Brunch is notorious for its egg dishes. Eggs are an easy option for any time of day. Bustan offers diners several elevated options including several variations of the classic eggs benedict. We could not pass up the chance to try the jumbo lump crab benedict. Generous amounts of succulent buttery lump crab were piled high on a slice of toasted house-made challah bread and sautéed spinach topped with a poached egg smothered in Hollandaise sauce and a drizzle of truffle oil. This is a must-have dish for any seafood lover.
Next, we had the Shakshouka, an African egg dish of eggs poached in a savory tomato sauce. As with the Benedict, Bustan offers several variations of this dish Lamb Merguez version. The sauce is similar to a mild chili with the taste of cumin and chili powder that worked very well with the succulent lamb sausage. The merguez sausage is made in-house; an impressive feat for a busy eatery. The eggs are perfectly poached and runny, perfect for dipping the fresh bread. This was my first experience with this particular dish, I can say I would definitely order it again, the flavors and textures marry beautifully for an interesting meal.
Though Bustan has a dessert menu we ended our meal with their version of French toast. At first glance this dish looked very dense, however, the toast is surprisingly light and airy. The thick slices of home-made Challah are served with warm syrup, crème Fraiche and a light dusting of powdered sugar. This is one of the lightest French toasts I have ever eaten, even without the syrup the flavor is divine.
Brunch in NYC is a sacred institution, though many places offer it not many places get it right. Bustan offers brunch lovers a unique and flavorful menu with options for every palate. You can stay tried and true, with classics like pancakes and omelets or try something new like one of the benedicts or our new favorite the Shakshuka. Whatever you order be sure to order some of their amazing focaccia bread, it just may change your life.
For more information on this upper west side gem, visit their website at www.bustannyc.com.