I recently discovered Juliette in the heart of Williamsburg, a boutique-style café with friendly service and a mouth-watering brunch menu offering value for money. After being ejected from the rooftop area, which we were told is for drinking only (can’t waiters go up stairs?), we sat in the cheery garden room on the first floor filled with plants and vines and natural light.

Without hesitation I ordered the steak and (fried) eggs – it was delicious, but the steak was not quite as large and juicy as it might have been (I was comparing it to Veselka’s Friday night steak, the best I’ve had in New York). The steak and eggs were on their own, unfortunately – a few home fries would have gone down well. A friend ordered the House Cured Scottish Salmon Benedict, which came with a lemon-caper hollandaise sauce, and she was thoroughly impressed. Another friend loved his eggs, too.

We shared the Brioche French Toast, nice and plump with a tangy lemon curd and plenty of berries, but best of all was the Apple Pancake. This was no ordinary pancake – not thick and heavy, but light and crispy, like a puff pastry apple pie or an apple turnover left unturned, only better. It was simply divine, and we toyed with the idea of ordering another. By this stage it was nearly 5pm, and our waiter, seeing our enthusiasm for the food options, offered us the dinner menu, which we seriously considered for a moment. Next time!

Juliette is located at 135 N 5th St (between Bedford Ave & Berry St), Williamsburg, accessible via the Bedford Ave L train stop. Telephone (718) 388-9222.