During
our wanderings along the Upper West Side, we hoped to find a low-key brunch spot.
Having just picked up cat treats and toys from a neighbouring pet store, a meal
at Fred’s was a serendipitous coincidence. The restaurant is made for animal
lovers, in particular dogs. Named after a female Labrador retriever, Fred’s is
run by the Guiding Eyes for the Blind organization, which breeds dogs to act as
guides and companions for the visually impaired.
Animal pictures are plastered
on the walls and beams, likely each filled with their own story. True to their
mission, the establishment exudes a playful spirit, and some indoor tables even
feature a couch for your furry companion. Alas, there were no dogs or cats
inside (they were on the patio) during our visit.
While waiting
for our dishes to arrive, a basket of cinnamon bread comes first (there were actually
four slices, we ate two before I realized they were worth mentioning). They don’t
look like much, but upon biting into them, you find a lovely swirl of sugary
cinnamon throughout and the butter and strawberry cream cheese spread makes it
even better. Turns out, the bread’s sourced from Orwashers Bakery, which is
well known for their artisan breads. It’s even used as a base for Fred’s French
toast – for those who want this tasty ingredient to play an even bigger part of
their meal.
The huevos rancheros ($15.95) was fantastic.
A crisp corn tortilla is layered with salty Black Forest Ham and gooey Monterey
Jack cheese, then topped with two eggs (in my case, scrambled) and a lovely
roasted tomato salsa. The eggs were fluffy without relying heavily on oil or
cream, so they actually taste like eggs. As you cut through the rest of the ingredients
and add a smear of the refried beans to the fork, it’s a lovely bite. With a hefty
helping of rice on the side, the dish kept me full well into dinner.
Fred’s,
like a four-legged friend, has a comfortable cute quality to the restaurant. The
dishes aren’t fancy, but they’re tasty and filling, and the large restaurant
means no wait and you can eat unhurried. If only there were a couple of pets
inside the restaurant, think they could have been seduced by a spoonful of
refried beans?
How To Find Them
Location: New York, USA
Address: 476 Amsterdam Avenue
Address: 476 Amsterdam Avenue
Website: http://fredsnyc.com/
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Gastro World's Grading System
- Anything under 5 - I really disliked and will never go back
- 6 - decent restaurant but I likely won't return
- 7 - decent restaurant and I will likely return
- 8 - great restaurant that I'd be happy to recommend
- 9 - fantastic restaurant that I would love to visit regularly and highly recommend
- 10 - absolute perfection!
Is That It? I Want More!
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