Please note that the meal was complimentary. However, the opinions expressed in my blog are 100% my own!

I was recently invited at Asset on the Upper West Side to try their brunch. This Modern American restaurant that serves a cuisine with Mediterranean influences is the result of the collaboration of Larry Bellone and Will Tracy, the owners of Tessa, a place on Amsterdam Avenue that I discovered few years ago (Asset is in fact Tessa spelled backward). With its industrial feel and stunning horseshoe staircase, Asset has a beautiful decor from the same architect who designed Tessa. I particularly like the booths in the back that give an intimate feel to a meal.

Menu wise, for brunch, they have classics: eggs, sandwiches, waffles and pancakes are the main highlights, with a nice selection of vegetarian dishes. Anyway, they can accommodate you if you fill like having a dish without meat (not the burger of course), like they did for the avocado toast that is normally made with smoked salmon, trout caviar and radish. Quite good, I for sure appreciate the fact that the bread was not too thick, so there was a good balance with the avocado and could be cut easily.

Avocado toast at Asset on the Upper West Side

Another vegetarian dish is the vegetable scramble that is made with tomato and mushroom: the eggs were quite good, smooth and not overcooked.

For non-vegetarian, I suggest their signature burger, composed of two patties smothered by sharp cheddar and caramelized onion. It was delicious, although I would have preferred a different kind of bread, this one being a bit dry for my taste. The meat was juicy and tasty (I hate when there is too much seasoning and you cannot taste the meat), and I loved the sweetness that the caramelized onions gave. It was served with a pickle and some French fries that were skin on and slightly crispy.

For drinks, while Jodi got an English breakfast tea, I decided to go with an Irish coffee that is a good brunch drink: well it is coffee, right?

Last was dessert and we finished with a sublime homemade banana baked Alaska. Often, I see passion fruit baked Alaska that are not really my favorite, but I admit that this one was one of the best I had. Not too sweet, it was made with a banana mango sorbet and had dulce de leche in it. I highly recommend it!

We left Asset full and glad we got the opportunity to try this place: the food was great and they had a nice and relaxing atmosphere. I will have to go back for dinner...

Enjoy (I did)!

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Asset - 329 Columbus Ave, New York, NY 10023

Jean-Philippe Gerbi