Jason M.
Yelp
I have been making it my intention to go to brunch as much as possible this summer. I've been going through my bookmarks and making plans, but also consulting Yelp and word-of-mouth from friends to decide where to go. Jane came up during one of my searches - the 3000+ Yelp reviews and photos definitely caught my attention, so I made plans to visit.
For a lower Manhattan restaurant, Jane is quite spacious. Walking in you're greeted by an open dining room with a bar to the left and tables scattered throughout the space (you can also sit and eat at the bar). They also have a downstairs area which houses the restrooms and what looked like a private room for events. The decor is simple - it's bright with lots of light to medium wood tones and off-white walls. It could use a touch of color/accent, but it was fine. I wasn't a fan of where we were sitting - they placed us at a table shoved in a corner and when we pulled it out more towards the center of the space we noticed we were being leaked on. I can't help but think it was shoved in the corner to avoid being leaked on.
The brunch menu isn't too large but has a nice mix of breakfast and lunch items - it was really the perfect size since too much would be overwhelming. We decided to get a few starters to share: the deviled eggs, buttermilk biscuits, and the seasonal breakfast bread. I'm not a fan of deviled eggs, but did partake in the carbs. The biscuits were pretty good - not the best biscuits I've had, but they were warm, soft, and came with jam and butter to spread mmm. The breakfast bread was really good - I couldn't really decipher all of the flavors, but it had mostly savory notes with a slight sweetness. I also got a Negroni which was quite good.
For my main I got the ABC&E - which stands for avocado, bacon, cheese, and egg. This was a sandwich which was served on a sesame bun and paired with rosemary fries. The sandwich was good, albeit nothing too outstanding - it had ample filling and didn't fall apart when I took a bite. The fries were a good complement - they were shoestring style and seasoned with just the right amount to provide flavor without overpowering the carb.
Service was good - everyone we interacted with was friendly and our server made sure we were taken care of. Overall, I had a pleasant experience at Jane, but I didn't find it to live up to the hype that I've heard about it. Nevertheless, they provide a comfortable atmosphere, good service, and quality food. I would be open to return for another meal, but I'm not running back.