Paradou Brunch : Go for the food and party, but not for the ambiance and conversation!

I had been to Paradou (8 Little West 12th St. between 9th Ave. and Washington St., New York, NY) previously for brunch for my birthday several years ago and loved it! My group was very large and was lucky enough to be seated along the back wall away from the crowds and the pathway for the whole restaurant. I loved the food and the flowing champagne cocktails and vowed it was one of the best unlimited brunch spots there were! After my recent experience, many years later, I disagree with my prior feelings towards this place because it isn't really much of an "oasis" as it is described on its website. Also, there is only one bathroom in the whole restaurant, which makes for a long and unpleasant line when the whole restaurant is drinking unlimited champagne at brunch! 

Yes, the food was top notch with many savory and mouth watering choices, but the crowded dining room and loud atmosphere was not exactly worth it. Even with the flowing champagne cocktail pitchers, I would have liked a more roomy atmosphere. The enclosed patio dining room in the back, which is most of the restaurant, is tiny and filled with long tables for groups with some smaller tables crammed in there for smaller groups. There is very little room to walk in between each table, leaving the waiters and patrons the need to bump into your chair while they squeeze through. I was unfortunate enough to be seated at the table where we were in the main entrance area to the dining room, so everyone on my side of the table was bumped the whole time. Unfortunately, I guess unlimited brunch cocktails comes with a price! 

Another thing that I have never understood about Paradou is the tiered pricing based on the size of party, when essentially everyone is getting the same brunch deal, but some are just paying more for it and some paying less. We had a group of 18, which was nice that a restaurant could accommodate a group that large, however, we had to pay $45 per person for the same brunch deal that other tables of seven or less people were paying $29 per person. I guess this is to discourage large groups and keep the restaurant more peaceful? 

The menu states: 

 Our Unlimited Champagne Cocktail Brunch is $29 for parties of 2 - 7; $35 for parties of 8 - 11; and $45 for groups of 12+. All of these options include unlimited champagne cocktails and choice of entree. The $45 option also includes dessert.

I don't feel that because our group was larger, it warranted paying $16 more per person than a smaller group. I'd gladly pay $29 a person and be very happy not having dessert instead of paying $45 a person and having dessert to share amongst the table. This is still something that boggles me! 

Now onto review the food, which actually is some of the best brunch dishes I have had in a while!

3 Lobster Sliders with Sautéed Taters 
Loaded with lobster meat on a brioche roll, oven-roasted tomato, shaved fennel, sassy Sriracha aioli

The lobster sliders were filled with chunks of of lobster meat and were nice and buttery! The lobster was cooked perfectly with the perfect texture. The fennel gave each slider a nice crunchy bite, while the Sriracha aioli gave each bite that extra added kick! Additionally, the buns were nicely toasted and made for a perfect lobster roll :)
The salad that came along side the sliders was lightly dressed and helped add some tasty healthy nutrients to my brunch. The sautéed potatoes were deliciously seasoned and cooked perfectly. They were the perfect brunch treat!

Duck Reuben with Sauteed Taters
Duck confit, duck magnet, choucroute, arugula, served on grilled country bread with salad and sautéed taters 

The duck reuben was the better of the two entrees my fiancé and I shared, which is unimaginable when you are comparing anything to a lobster entree! The duck was super tender, juicy, and oozing with flavor. The sauerkraut added a nice crunchy texture with a contrasting flavor to the duck and the cheese. The cheese was melted to perfection and made the sandwich a package of heaven. The bread was perfectly toasted with each bite being perfectly crunchy. The bread was also buttery and delicious. This sandwich was pure gluttony, but every bite was worth it! It was also paired with lettuce and potatoes, which added a hint of healthy, and a taste of brunch goodness. 

Amish Bacon Crack

We also ordered the Amish Bacon Crack appetizer. It was amazing! It was sweet and spicy all at once, because it was candied with sugar and sweetness and then topped with red pepper flakes that made each bite spicy. May not be the BEST bacon dish ever but pretty damn close! Definitely a treat worth ordering!

Dessert Platter
Plate of Citrus Tart, Meringue, and Tarte au Chocolate

Dessert was brought to our large table on 3 platters, and meant for each end of the table to share a platter, and the middle of the table to share a platter. Three desserts were included on each platter and were included in our brunch since we had a large group. The dessert was definitely delicious, but not needed for the extra fee! I definitely enjoyed the Meringue, which was the creme brûlée dessert, since that is one of my favorite french desserts!

I definitely want to try Paradou for dinner sometime, because the back dining room is definitely cute, and most likely more scenic without the loud brunch crowd. I think my brunch days there may have come to end because of the crowded seating and one bathroom!