Veselka, an Ukranian Brunch in the East Village!
Wanting to try out those typical meals, I ordered blintzes, a type of pancake common in eastern europe filled with farmer’s cheese, a a lightly sweetened cheese that looks like the middle ground between ricotta and cottage. It comes with sour cream and apple sauce, but for an extra you can add fresh raspberry sauce. It is a light and savory breakfast option!
If you’re hungry for more, they have sandwiches, borscht soups, and meat plates. We ordered a thick sandwich with cheese, salami and ham with a side of super crispy chips.
But we couldn’t miss the opportunity of ordering the famed handmade pierogis. They are similar to chinese dumplings, made from potatoes (and therefore taste a little like gnocchi), and you can order the with different fillings. I ordered just four so I could taste them: meat, spinach & cheese, arugula & goat cheese and mushrooms. They can be fried or boiled and I chose the second option, which made them super light, I could have spent the whole morning eating them.
Veselka is not small, but can be full during the weekends, so try going on weekdays or alternative hours. Since it’s open 24 hours, you can even go there after a party or when you have midnight cravings. The price is really good (our meal, plus a limonade, was $34 before tips).
How to get there: take the subway to Astor Place or 8st-NYU station. The Veselka is located on 144 2nd Ave, New York, NY.
