Big Apple Donut Shop
Corner of Thorton and Broadway
Brooklyn, NY
vs.
The Paramount
44 Charles Street
Boston, Ma
During the holiday there were two new places we went to breakfast. I was going to write about them separately, but then I started to think why not compare the two?
In the blue corner is The Paramount Beacon Hill, Boston, MA http://www.paramountboston.com/
In the red corner is The Big Apple Donut Shop Bushwick, Brooklyn, NY
http://bushwickbk.com/2009/03/16/get-what-you-pay-for-at-the-big-apple/
The Paramount is a well known place in Boston's Beacon Hill, a very posh neighborhood in the heart of Boston. We found this place for breakfast because it has a great reputation. It's won Best of Boston recognition for it's brunch, so we decided to bring my parents there during their visit.
The Big Apple Donut Shop we stumbled upon New Year's Day outside our friend's apt. in Brooklyn. We were on our way to McDonald's and realized it was after 11, and we couldn't get breakfast. We walked outside to find the Donut Shop across the street calling our name.
The Paramount serves it's brunch cafeteria style. You get into line, the menu is above the grills. All food is cooked to order, but it comes out very quickly. Nothing fancy on the menu, just typical brunch fare. Eggs your way, pancakes, french toast, toast, homefries, fresh fruit... Once you have your food, you seat yourself, or if you have a large party, someone has probably snagged a table while you order for them. Seating is tight, but there are about 30 seats at tables and lots of two tops!!! If you read my post on Terrie's you know I am a fan of the two top in small places.
The Donut shop is seat yourself and wait for a waitress. There is a long counter, and several two and four tops throughout. We sat at the counter. It took a long time for the waitress to take our order, but it was New Year's day and the sign said they serve breakfast until 11 and it was well past that, and they were still serving it, so I cut them some slack since it wasn't a typical day.
Both places were clean, but I would be lying if I said they were comparable.
The Paramount is all exposed brick and brushed metal tables and chairs. The lighting is beautiful. The neighborhood is swanky. There is little diversity.
The Donut Shop was old and probably could use an update, but you could tell it was run by a husband and wife team, and she was running around, ringing, taking orders, and ensuring this place was a clean as she could get it. The shop is located under an elevated train, and the area is dark. It isn't the most beautiful of areas, but it is an up and coming New York neighborhood, and a huge melting pot.
Two eggs with homefries, toast and bacon or sausage, and coffee at the Parmount is $8 minus the meat $6
Two eggs with homefries, toast and bacon or sausage and orange, juice coffee or tea at the Donut Shop was $5.95 , $3.95 without the meat.
At the Paramount, I got an omelet with feta, tomato and spinach. It was a nice size, came with homefries and toast. The homefries were a little under cooked for my taste. I don't think many restaurants get them right. The omelet was good, and Lou got fresh fruit which was very fresh (sans that green strawberry in the pic below!) and a nice addition.
At the Donut Shop I got two eggs scrambled with homefries and toast. The two eggs seemed more like 4 and the homefries had a crispy exterior just the way I like them.
At the end of this, I thought I would choose a winner, but have decided it all comes down to personal preference. Is it worth the extra $2 a person to sit in a posher place and eat the same food? True the service was slower at the Donut Shop, but The Paramount is self serve and I am still paying $2 extra. I guess you could argue, with tip, I am paying the same in the end, and besides these places aren't anywhere near each other, so it isn't like they are competing for your business!
I guess I thought it would interesting to compare them because breakfast everywhere is so similar, but these two places were clearly very different.
I think a lot of people would choose the atmosphere at the Paramount. Exposed brick, nice lighting, fancy tables, but for me, I think the Donut Shop was much more interesting. I found myself wondering about the lives of the people sitting around me, what they had done last night, what brought them here?, but, hey the service was slow, what else did I have to do to pass the time?
I will leave it up to you to decide, but on one final note, where can I get breakfast for $3.95 in Boston???
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