MIGHTY EATS: BRUNCH AT 5 & DIAMOND

We headed to the 5 & Diamond by 112th Street on 8th Avenue to see what the great buzz about the amazing brunch was about.  A big thanks to Lia and Joe for coming up with such an enticing Sunday menu and having us over to sample everything for the first time even though tables were in high demand with folks waiting outside. Below is the restaurant review by Kay Excell who is  a notable local foodie and the founder of Mighty Meaty.

5 & Diamond is neighborhood standby, known for their Mac n Cheese, with a brunch worth getting out of bed for.  While deciding on your main course order the nook and cranny filled biscuits, served with your choice of house made berry jam or Chef Joe's sausage gravy. You can not go wrong with either. These biscuits are what the trendy downtown biscuit emporiums aspire to.

The main brunch menu has quite a few options including classics like French Toast, executed wonderfully on soft challah bread and is lovely paired with the lightly sweet bourbon champagne cocktail for those who eschew savory flavors at brunch to modern take on hash that was comprised of eggs, seasonal root vegetables and short ribs which could have used a dash of salt to enhance the melt in your mouth tender cubes. An honorable mention goes to the fluffy pancakes which looked to be about 1/2" thick, with vanilla notes wafting from them and arrives with fried chicken and maple syrup.

Our favorite standout has to be the shrimp and grits. Featuring fresh, large shrimp cooked to perfection and a slight smokiness that did not overwhelm the creamy texture and taste of the grits, there was also the added surprise of roasted tomatoes which brought a welcome hit of acidity to complete the balance of the dish. This was thoroughly enjoyed with the warm heat of the Bloody Mary cocktail which had hints of fennel throughout.