belated Mother's Day brunch

Alexander and I celebrate Mother's Day today, a week after its official date.

I google "best pancakes in NY" and The Clinton St. Baking Company is at the top of every list. Also is mention of the fact that the restaurant doesn't take reservations for Sunday brunch and the line is always long.

Undeterred, that's the place I chose.

We are meeting at 11. I exit the subway on the lower east side and ask somewhere where Clinton Street is. "Are you looking for that breakfast place?" the stranger asks. I answer yes, and he knows exactly where it is, though he's never been. "The wait's ridiculous."

I arrive on time and see Alexander has arrived before me.

He greets me with, "It's a one and half to two hours wait. Where else can we go? We're not staying here."

I leave it up to him to find an alternative because, after all, this is our Mother's Day brunch. Alexander does a quick google search and finds a Nordic-inspired eatery in the East Village called Smør, with "a 4.6 rating." He calls, and if we can get there within 15 minutes (we can) and be out within an hour (we can) we are encouraged to come.

It's packed outside, which is a good sign. The place is tiny, busy, and looks great.

We get a very small table in the front (I have to sneak photos of him; he does not like posing).

Though he's fine behind the camera.

The food is great. Not exactly the pancakes I imagined (no maple syrup even) but still very good.