Greenpoint Coffee House, New York

Known throughout the neighborhood for mighty veggie burgers and buttered pancake slabs, Greenpoint Coffee House has drawn throngs of loyal brunch-goers willing to loiter on the sidewalk for upwards of an hour before winning a prize patio table. The shady interior is more forgiving than Label’s too-sunny palette, with polished black booths and lamplight stifled through red shades. Large bench tables can accommodate large parties or two smaller gatherings willing to rub elbows in exchange for a shorter waiting time. GCH opts for only the two most high-profile of brunch beverages, but the mimosa is airy and sweet thanks to fresh-squeezed orange juice, and the Bloody Mary arrives with a flourish of celery and a gutsy kick of Tabasco. For those who celebrated too heartily the night before, the varied offering of loose-leaf teas make for a wholesome recovery.