By Ava Stryker-Robbins
Weekend brunch is a neighborhood tradition on the Upper West Side. It is a time to recollect. To breathe. To meet up with friends. And to reset.
There are a variety of brunch restaurants in the area, but a neighborhood treasure provides the perfect baked delicacy that makes for a lovely light meal or a start to a full brunch.
Sarabeth’s Basket of Popovers is a dish that comes with three popovers and three spreads. A popover is a light roll that is typically baked in the same tins as muffins and is airy and buttery. Sarabeth’s popovers are baked to perfection, with slight crispiness around the outside, and an inner softness that allows the dough to melt in your mouth. The spreads are orange marmalade, strawberry jam, and butter. The jams are sweet and fruity, and add an additional freshness to the popover’s flavor. The butter is creamy, easy to spread, and delicious.
Sarabeth’s began in 1981 as a small bakery-kitchen where Sarabeth Levine sold her baked treats. Eventually, the store started to serve breakfast and lunch and gained significant popularity. It now serves all meals and has four locations throughout Manhattan. The first one on the Upper West Side has been open for nearly 30 years. “Sarabeth’s quickly became a New York City landmark for New Yorkers and visitors from around the world,” according to the website. Sarabeth’s mission is to “offer simplicity, perfection and classic tastes.”
Sarabeth’s has indoor, outdoor, and bar seating. All staff is extremely friendly, and service is prompt.
Sarabeth’s Basket of Popovers costs $10.
The Dish: Basket of Popovers
The Restaurant: Sarabeth (423 Amsterdam Avenue between 80th and 81st street)
Read all our Here’s the Dish columns here.
And don’t miss Ava’s essay in Chalkbeat about living with a disability.
I’m obsessed with popovers and will definitely check these out! Thanks for the tip.
Yummy. Thank you for the article!
Good to know! Popover has been closed for a long time, and I am hungry fo these American mini-versions of Yorkshire Pudding.
You make them sound so good!
Oh, how I miss Carol Baer’s Popover Cafe! She and the cafe were neighborhood stalwarts, slightly harried but without attitude.
I used to like sarabeth’s starting in the 80s…
During covid a friend took me for brunch there on Amsterdam (outside)
I ordered overnight oats
It came ice cold
I guess I misunderstood what that meant
The young waitress was so rude to me when I said I was sorry but didn’t like it— didn’t know it was “cold”—
She could have graciously understood and exchanged it. But she was very insulting about the whole thing. We left and NEVER went back. Neighborhood places should realize that one ruined experience is all it takes. Plenty of choices on UWS. Just be kind.
“Popovers” popovers were SOOOO much better!! These Sarabeths’ are chincy and don’t even popover like a popover should, meaning spill over the baking cup. A true popover should be twice as big outside the cup as the cup itself, hence the name. Should I say it again?! Popover popover popover, there. Dang it, now I’m hungry for popovers. Since no one on the UWS knows how to make a real popover, thank goodness I still have my moms recipe, maybe I should go into the popover business. Goldmine!! Nah, I would have to charge $30.00/ popover just to make the rent. All for me and my friends. Will someone be my friend??
La Sirene (80th & Amsterdam) makes excellent popovers but only on Friday during the working week. I don’t know for sure but I assume they bake the for weekend brunch.
No need to suffer inferior popovers or snippy waitresses. Popovers are among the easiest baked goods to make at home. No fancy, expensive ingredients or special skills needed This recipe is as good as any, maybe even as good as your Mom’s. The only secret is to get the pans hot before pouring in the batter. https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/melissa-darabian/fool-proof-popovers-recipe-1949002
This probably makes me a weirdo, but I’ve never had a popover!