Café Orlin

East Village
41 St. Marks Place (between 1st and 2nd Ave)
New York, NY 10003
(212) 777-1447
Website

I'd been looking for a new brunch spot to try and this place has been on my restaurant bucket list for forever so even though it was a weekday, I decided to give it a go.  I've heard that there can be quite a wait on weekends, but when we went we were seated immediately.  It was quite a spacious establishment, with a seating area outside, and three divided areas inside.

The round tables and metal chairs really made the cafe come to life.

Northern Spy Food Co.

East Village/Alphabet City
511 East 12th Street (between Avenue A & Avenue B)
New York, NY 10009
(212) 228-5100
Website

A friend and I came here for a Saturday brunch date a few weeks ago, and we were seated immediately, as we arrived around opening time (10 am).  The interior was rustic and cozy, with wooden tables and earthy tones.  We each ordered an entree, the daily brunch pastry to share, and left completely satisfied.
Note:  Much of their interior decor is reclaimed/repurposed and their ingredients are locally sourced!