Sunnyside Grill Corso Italia
The Sunnyside Grill is one of those brunch spots whose business model rests on the notion that brunch shouldn't strictly be a weekend thing. As a result, its franchise seems particularly appealing to those of us who don't work 9-5 and often get a craving for eggs on Thursday afternoons. I thought I'd check out the new Corsa Italia location to see just what was crackin'.
The restaurant is a decent size, with a bright, cheery interior that matches its namesake. Exposed brick and decorative ceilings give the space a modern air, while the open kitchen toward the back of the restaurant maintains the underlying authenticity of a greasy spoon. Working with what I would call "cafeteria-chic", the Sunnyside Grill provides the type of atmosphere that is comfortable for patrons and productive for staff - it is quick and filling brunch without the bells and whistles.
No lattes or Americanos on this menu. We ordered coffee (bottomless, $1.95) and water to start. We took our time with the menu and our attentive and patient server, Ivy, chatted with us about the restaurant. Only in its fourth month (replacing the similarly named Sunnyville Grill ), the business is doing well and can get quite busy on the weekends (she said short lines are common on Sundays). All ingredients served are fresh, and soups are made in-house as well.
Our meals arrived in good time. I ordered the Poached Eggs Florentine ($8.95) with a preference for medium eggs. Although the eggs were a bit harder than I'd like, overall the dish was satisfying with a decent hollandaise. The portion size was large, served with lightly seasoned griddled potatoes. I also ordered a side Fruit Cup ($3.50), which was smaller than I had expected, and (despite the summer season) only contained honeydew, cantaloupe and pineapple.
My partner ordered the Sunnyside Pancakes with fruit ($7.95). Matched with the same trio of fruits, the pancakes were good and filling. Bottomless coffees were filled several times, and the service was excellent throughout the duration of our stay.
All-in-all, Sunnyside Grill is the place you go when you want simple and greasy eggs and toast. Perhaps the homemade soups are something else, but at the end of the day, this is the type of joint that gets bacon and eggs out to those with hungry stomachs, and not a ton of time.
Writing by Trish Starling. Photos By Kathleen Rowen.