Part of me doesn't want to talk about Bia because I know this place is going to get packed once people actually recognize the obscure down-below entrance to this delightful restaurant/beer garden.
Despite a clearly online-advertised location at 154 Orchard street in the LES, I walked past the joint a total of three times. On the third go-around, I finally found the rickety stairs that lead to a simple glass panel window; the perfect portal for Bia's employees to watch the struggle of finding their restaurant. Jumping on the speakeasy train CAN be fun.
Upon entering, I found myself in an ante room of sorts. "Here for brunch?!" asked a particularly chipper man who gestured to us that there was indeed a place to sit. Through the beer cooler-cum-hallway, patrons enter a covered "garden" with delightful wooden tables, a bench-lined perimeter, and empty cans of Cafe Du Monde chickory coffee doubling as utensil holders and centerpieces--hence his peppiness.
Turns out that New York brunch is an all-day event warranting a start time of "open to 4PM," at least at Bia. A spartan white cup of mahogany coffee sat on its saucer as I poured over a simple brunch menu: eggs in various styles, pancakes, steak and eggs, Etc. "Where's the rice?" asked my NYC-marathon friend. "I need the carbs!" He settled for a delightful omelette bedecked with Chinese sausage and a heaping side of yucca fries.
The meal was simple, delicious, and sunny (thanks to the translucent overhang). The only downside is that the place is cash only and while they'll tell you that the ATM across the street works, it doesn't. Turn left and walk to the corner falafel joint.
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