La Ventura, New York City: The Perfect Brunch Escape

Finding a brunch spot in the West Village may be the easiest quest ever right now as there are so many choices. But isn’t it nice when you discover a really super new one? With La Ventura, you’re in pretty good hands as the restaurant comes from the team of Ryan Burke and Kenneth McCoy of The Public House Collective (Ward III, & The Rum House).

The Scoop

The all-day café and restaurant, which just opened recently, is led by Chef Peter Lipson (Empellon, Northern Spy Food Co.) Sure, the West Village is off the charts charming on a Sunday afternoon and you’re only a few blocks from the uber-trendy Meatpacking area but inside, it almost feels like you’re in Southern California. Why? “The mantra is coastal”, Burke says, “and by that we don’t just mean cuisine. We mean the restaurant’s entire spirit. We want to capture how people live, breathe and eat when they’re by the water.”

The DNA

First of all, there’s so much space (a rarity in the West Village.) And the team has created an inviting place where you can really park yourself and your BFFs (at the 8-stool bar or one of the many petite tables by the large picture windows) for a few hours and munch on food that’s well prepared while enjoying (not grabbing) a cocktail or two. I mean what is brunch without cocktails? “Hanging out at local coffee shops isn’t as popular as it once was, but people still want someplace with a relaxed vibe where they can chill in the afternoon and there’s a nice variety of food and drinks,” says McCoy, PHC’s creative head. “That’s our main idea here … we’re an all-day café where you might drop by more than once in the same day.”

The Goods

The menu can be your own discovery. Brunch goes from 12 PM to 3 PM and dinner 5 PM to midnight but all the selections will be visible on one menu throughout the entire day. “I want it to be an invitation to visit at different times of the day,” says Lipson. The brunch menu features egg dishes, light salads and a to-die-for Ricotta Pancakes. And I did mention cocktails, right? McCoy hits the nail on the head here drawing inspiration from a recent trip to Rome for the Marcello, a refreshing sparkling concoction, and The Vitti, a killer mix of Beefeater Gin with the beguiling Itallicus Bergamot.

And if it’s a Manic Monday or another day of the week? Will it be a snacking day while you toil away on your laptop? Try the Niman Ranch Prosciutto with Hot Honey Mustard or the Avocado Toast. Feeling a bit peckish? Commit to a Mushroom a la Plancha and the Grilled Octopus. Was it the day from hell and you’re ravenous? Order a Scorpion with Vida Mezcal pronto then relax into a Tilefish Crudo with Avocado and Yuzu followed by a Lamb Burger with Smoked Cheddar and Pepperoncini.

The Best Made Plan

Even if it’s a blistering hot summer day when you make your way to La Ventura, you’ll swear the Pacific Ocean is just down the street thanks to the healthy menu choices. And the light and airy interior with distressed wooden benches and a pink marble counter will soothe you like the waves. But for sure you’re going to appreciate that warm, laid-back Cali vibe come winter, too.