Best brunch places in Hell’s Kitchen: The weekend starts here

The hookup was bound to happen eventually: Beloved baker Amy Scherber has set up shop downtown right near Murray’s Cheese. It’s a dynamic duo if there ever was one. Scherber will offer her famous loaves—including that addictive raisin semolina—along with a full spread of breakfast pastries; grilled sandwiches, salads and soups for the lunch crowd, plus giant cookies and old-fashioned layer cakes.

You’ll find fusion comfort foods—not all-day breakfast—at this “diner,” a stylish, exuberantly kitschy Hell’s Kitchen favorite. Though tender rings of fried calamari get a North African kick with harissa mayo, juicy fried chicken and waffles is straight-up American. If you’re feeling like Asian, sample the seared coriander crusted tuna with udon noodles, sauteed bean leaf and sweet soy garlic sauce.

The best reason to visit this upscale Hell’s Kitchen diner is spelled out right there on the awning. The namesake burger, a delicious Franco-American handful, features sweet caramelized onions, Comté cheese and herb-infused aioli. Served with top-notch golden fries, it anchors the sprawling menu—an odd, rarely successful mash-up of big salads, overstuffed sushi rolls, pasta and barbecued ribs. Management didn’t edit, so you’ll have to—stick to the burger and to all-American desserts like the rich and generous caramel-brownie sundae.