I love finding somewhat hidden gems around the city. And luckily, I found another, in Alphabet City, for brunch, BIKINIS. 

First off, the name is pretty adorable, so, I knew we were off to a good start. This Spanish cuisine restaurant is small, yet very bright and charming. On the walls you’ll find quirky pictures and paintings, namely one of a hairy chested, mustachioed man. Everything on the menu is extremely affordable and sounded delicious.

We were first brought out some complimentary little Mimosa shots. Not a bad way to start.

Then, for my entree, I ordered the Verde Bikini (Barcelona style pressed sandwich made with challah bread, sautéed crimini mushrooms, organic catalan style spinach, pine nuts, raisins, roasted peppers, provolone cheese). Served with a mixed green salad, this was a really nice sandwich. Golden brown and crisp around the edges, this was more of a fork-and-knife sandwich for me. The ingredients go really nicely together, and the mix of textures and flavors made this really tasty. 

The Shorts:
Name: BIKINIS
Location: 56 Avenue C, NYC
The Long and Short: Would I go back? For sure. The space is totally charming and the service was excellent.
Would I recommend it? Yes. They have a really nice menu, something for everyone, at really affordable prices, in a casual, cozy space. Just a heads up, they’re only open for dinner and tapas Tuesday-Sunday and brunch Saturday and Sunday.