Nick and Eddie—The New, New French?

Part of the reason I, along with everyone else in town, love Nick and Eddie is it reminds me of the sorely missed New French Café. Same stark room, same je ne sais quoi, and a similarly appealing menu—especially for brunch. Nick and Eddie is the perfect place to soak up last night’s party or gab with girlfriends while digging into baked eggs on brioche with ham, French toast, family platters of scrambled eggs, and delightfully crisp hash browns. Jessica Anderson’s currant scones and almond brioche are flaky, buttery morsels of magic. If you’re feeling conscientious, divide one or two among the table for at least a bite of the sublime pastry. For lunch-ier fare, N&E offers a bright spinach salad with chicken and tarragon dressing, a Caesar, and a few respectable burger options (please report back on the one with chicken liver schmear. A girl’s gotta draw the line somewhere.) As with the New French, however, it’s a complicated love—remember the late-era surliness and the croissants’ decline? Some inconsistencies—a charred burger and a dried-out bacon omelette—are forgiven because it’s just too pleasurable to be in Nick and Eddie’s sun-drenched dining room with blissed-out brunchmates, a steaming café au lait, and the week’s ration of hollandaise.

1612 Harmon Pl., Minneapolis, 612-486-5800
Brunch served Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m.–3 p.m.

Brunchmeter:

Order: Shirred eggs, Italian sausages with polenta and peppers, Eggs Benedict, scones, brioche, hash browns

Libations: Usual suspects—Mimosas, Bloody Mary, wine by the glass, coffee, and espresso drinks