For no particular reason... too often we mourn instead of appreciate around here at EVG...
Second Avenue between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place.
19 comments:
Christian H.
said...
This was the first place I had breakfast when I moved to NYC. I wandered around the neighborhood on my First Morning and found the Stage Restaurant. It was perfect. It remains to this day the only place I go to for eggs over easy, bacon, hash browns and rye toast with coffee . Just watching the large man crack eggs softly on the grill with one hand is enough to make my day.
I love Stage! They also have yummy Ukrainian / Eastern European foods (better for lunch / dinner), prices are good; I love eating at the bar and the non-pretentious atmosphere here.
I am not prone to gushing on about friendly service, being a NYer its not something I really care too much about. I have only been to Stage a couple of times but its worth mentioning how super-nice and welcoming these people are. The man behind the counter who I assume is the owner is a mensch. While I was waiting for my egg&bacon sandwiches he took the time to tell me about what's good on their menu and when I asked about the borscht he insisted that I have a free sample cup. Special place indeed.
"Just watching the large man crack eggs softly on the grill with one hand is enough to make my day." I agree!
I love the Stage, so am always torn between telling people about it and keeping it a secret. Best pumpernickel toast and corned beef hash. You can't beat the atmosphere and company...long live the Stage!
Before the Stage was a simple pizza shop in the early 60s. I used to hang out with other little tough guys. We all amounted to nothing. Incredible how many were shot in all sorts of deals gone haywire, whew! We were the future of the East Village, look at us now...
I'm a sucker for greasy spoons and I avoided it my first few years in New York b/c I thought it would be one of those places where the kitsch outweighs the food quality. But nope. Delicious. And a kickass cup of coffee, too.
Had a big dish of beef stew there last night. Yeah, the tight space is part of what makes it nice to be there - you're practically on the griddle yourself. Very comforting place, especially when it's cold out, & very friendly. It always puts me in a good mood.
Stage is perfect. I rarely share the existence of it as its really small and more often than not its hard to get a stool.
Long live Stage and the large male Ukranian cooks who don't speak but understand your order and get it right down to the level of butter on your toast!
Ya know what's funny? Travel out of NYC - upstate or out to PA, these greasy spoons are common. It's sad they are so rare here!
Hash browns? If you don't know that it's not hash browns but home fries (or your choice of grits or even better kasha)... Large man behind the counter? You've been coming for how long and haven't connected the people who work there with names?
Anon @ 8:26 -
Yummy? Are you 12 years old? Did you call the counter a "bar"? "non-pretentious"? You must be 12 years old.
Oh what the hell? If we're going to get grumpy, here's my sour contribution. The people that work at Stage speak Polish, not Ukrainian. A lot of people don't recognize the difference, it seems.
*shrug* When I go for breakfast the big-man is usually quite busy working. I guess I never felt inspired to bother him with chit-chat. If it makes you feel better I know my bar tenders names at my regular bars, but then uncrowded bars are more conducive to conversation.
Also, your right, they are home fries not hash browns. Coming from the mid-west originally I suppose it's something like calling tissue paper, kleenex, even if it isn't. I do miss good hash browns though. Waverly Restaurant had them, but they aren't re-opened yet, and they aren't Stage Restaurant either. :)
19 comments:
This was the first place I had breakfast when I moved to NYC. I wandered around the neighborhood on my First Morning and found the Stage Restaurant. It was perfect. It remains to this day the only place I go to for eggs over easy, bacon, hash browns and rye toast with coffee . Just watching the large man crack eggs softly on the grill with one hand is enough to make my day.
I love Stage! They also have yummy Ukrainian / Eastern European foods (better for lunch / dinner), prices are good; I love eating at the bar and the non-pretentious atmosphere here.
Now you're giving up our secrets, the best breakfast in town. THEY COOK YOUR BACON TO ORDER. And you can usually get grits instead of spuds.
I love Stage! My father visited me once when I lived there, and when we talk about it, he always brings up that breakfast first! :D
I am not prone to gushing on about friendly service, being a NYer its not something I really care too much about. I have only been to Stage a couple of times but its worth mentioning how super-nice and welcoming these people are. The man behind the counter who I assume is the owner is a mensch. While I was waiting for my egg&bacon sandwiches he took the time to tell me about what's good on their menu and when I asked about the borscht he insisted that I have a free sample cup. Special place indeed.
I take friends here who are visiting from out of town for their first morning breakfast. It sets the tone for their time here.
where's the grub!
"Just watching the large man crack eggs softly on the grill with one hand is enough to make my day." I agree!
I love the Stage, so am always torn between telling people about it and keeping it a secret. Best pumpernickel toast and corned beef hash. You can't beat the atmosphere and company...long live the Stage!
Before the Stage was a simple pizza shop in the early 60s. I used to hang out with other little tough guys. We all amounted to nothing. Incredible how many were shot in all sorts of deals gone haywire, whew! We were the future of the East Village, look at us now...
I love Stage!
I'm a sucker for greasy spoons and I avoided it my first few years in New York b/c I thought it would be one of those places where the kitsch outweighs the food quality. But nope. Delicious. And a kickass cup of coffee, too.
@goggla Don't keep it a secret, shout it from the rooftops. Word of mouth is lifeblood of places like Stage.
Yeah, it's a beauty.
I'm always amazed at how tight the workspace is behind that counter
Had a big dish of beef stew there last night. Yeah, the tight space is part of what makes it nice to be there - you're practically on the griddle yourself. Very comforting place, especially when it's cold out, & very friendly. It always puts me in a good mood.
Stage is perfect. I rarely share the existence of it as its really small and more often than not its hard to get a stool.
Long live Stage and the large male Ukranian cooks who don't speak but understand your order and get it right down to the level of butter on your toast!
Ya know what's funny? Travel out of NYC - upstate or out to PA, these greasy spoons are common. It's sad they are so rare here!
Christian H -
Hash browns? If you don't know that it's not hash browns but home fries (or your choice of grits or even better kasha)...
Large man behind the counter? You've been coming for how long and haven't connected the people who work there with names?
Anon @ 8:26 -
Yummy? Are you 12 years old?
Did you call the counter a "bar"?
"non-pretentious"? You must be 12 years old.
Call me NYgrump jr.
Anon@6pm ~ What is wrong with you?
Why turn a rare bit of appreciation into nasty commentary?
To each their own I suppose, but to all who have shared their sincere love of Stage, a big thank-you! Hope it stays around for many years to come.
Oh what the hell? If we're going to get grumpy, here's my sour contribution. The people that work at Stage speak Polish, not Ukrainian. A lot of people don't recognize the difference, it seems.
Anon@6pm,
*shrug* When I go for breakfast the big-man is usually quite busy working. I guess I never felt inspired to bother him with chit-chat. If it makes you feel better I know my bar tenders names at my regular bars, but then uncrowded bars are more conducive to conversation.
Also, your right, they are home fries not hash browns. Coming from the mid-west originally I suppose it's something like calling tissue paper, kleenex, even if it isn't. I do miss good hash browns though. Waverly Restaurant had them, but they aren't re-opened yet, and they aren't Stage Restaurant either. :)
Er, facial tissues not tissue paper.
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