It was the refrain of customers constantly asking Mersina and George Ocampo when they'd open a second location of their popular Nyack restaurant that had the couple, owners of The Breakfast and Burger Club, searching for additional space.
And boy did they get it with their New City spot, which opens Aug. 24. Formerly The Place, the eatery, which has been in Nyack five years, has gotten a complete facelift complete with a new kitchen, new lighting, new furniture, new paint and a whole lotta retro décor with an emphasis on checkered black and white accents. That includes an old pay phone where a local call costs 10 cents, a (hooked to Bluetooth) jukebox, diner-style red booths, and a variety of black and white photos, each paying homage to different
themes.
Mersina said each wall tells a story: in one case it's old Hollywood (think Clark Gable and Elizabeth Taylor); in another it's past TV shows (i.e. "I Love Lucy" and "The Three Stooges"); in another it's rock and roll (with a nod to Elvis and The Beatles) and on another, an ode to classic cars with references to Route 66.
As with Nyack, there's lots of signage including "Life is too short for boring food," "Beer limit 24," "Catch you on the flip side," and "Ice cream solves everything." There's even a Bourbon Street and Tequila Way.
Mersina said she had fun sourcing items from eBay and other venues including a gumball machine, the aforementioned pay phone (her personal favorite), and a sign for Johnny Cash performing at Folsom State Prison on January 13, 1968.
Bigger space, big menu changes
The main difference with the new space is the size — think a 130-seat capacity versus 86 in Nyack. In addition there are three bars, including one outside with additional seating, both loungey and patio-style, as well as an area devoted to kids named Leo's Play Zone, after their one-year-old grandson.
To cap it off, there's an indoor fireplace as well as new menu items including a full coffee bar, hard and soft serve ice cream, boozy shakes and a wide variety of cocktails including margaritas and martinis. Minus the soft serve, some coffee drinks and the extensive liquor menu, most are also available in Nyack.
Primarily known (and beloved) for its pancakes and burgers, the restaurant, which made my "Best Thing I Ate" list in 2023, has added a "Morning Fiesta" portion with Huevos Rancheros (two fried tortillas over fried beans, topped with ranchero sauce, avocado, sour cream and two fried eggs sunny side up), an El Paso quesadilla (scrambled eggs, jalapeños, Mexican sausage and pepper jack cheese with chipotle sauce) and a chorizo burrito (Mexican chorizo, onions, avocado, jalapeños. pepper jack cheese and two scrambled eggs topped with chipotle mayo).
Also new: a birria quesadilla and a Crispy Biggie Mac Burger Wrap, topped with American cheese, lettuce, onions, pickles and Russian dressing in a deep-fried wrap.
Other big changes are with the coffee, ice cream bar and full liquor menus. Their "But, first .. coffee" list features Mexican hot chocolate, a homage to George's background (he's the chef), while the Greek coffee, slowly brewed over hot sand, references Mersina's Greek heritage (she's front of house). Diners will also find an affogato, Nitro cold brew including a Nitro cold brew float with vanilla ice cream, and a variety of lattes including a peppermint patty and chocolate covered raspberry.
There's also a traditional Greek frappe that can be served with ice cream. Keeping to the Greek theme, there are cheese and spinach pies along with croissants, something they never carried before and will not be serve in Nyack.
Baked into the menu: a nod to the past
Keeping to their nostalgic diner theme, cocktails include the Pink Cadillac (vodka, cranberry juice, lemon and a splash of bubbles), Blue Suede Shoes (tequila, blue Curaçao, pineapple juice and fresh lime), Disco Espresso Martini (vodka, espresso, coffee liqueur and a touch of vanilla) and a Route 66 Margarita (tequila, peach puree, triple sec, lime with a thin sliced jalapeño and Tajin rim).
This being a popular brunch spot, mimosas, Bellinis and a Bloody Mary also take center stage as do boozy shakes.
Like any diner spot, their ice cream list is long and varied with classic shakes that reference the 1950's such as the "Shake, Rattle & Roll" (vanilla soft serve loaded with Oreo crumble, chocolate chips, mini marshmallows, chocolate drizzled, whipped cream and a cherry), "Twist & Shout" (chocolate and vanilla twist topped with warm chocolate sauce, crushed peanuts, Oreo crumble, whipped cream and a cherry), and "Choc Around the Clock" (vanilla soft serve topped with warm chocolate sauce, Oreo crumble, chocolate chips, whipped cream and a cherry).
Classic milkshakes and an ice cream float are also part of the offerings (the hard ice cream comes from Perry's).
The Ocampo's also redid the design of their menu, adding a "Welcome to our family" portion which explains their goal of making people feel at home. They're also all about showcasing little bits of themselves, with George's natural instinct for flavor and Mersina's gracious hospitality (she grew up in the business and has a photo of her parents above the coffee bar, who owned multiple eateries).
"Our goal is simple," she said and something they proudly display on their menu. "We make tummies smile."
If you go
Address: 191 S. Main St., New City, 845-570-5455, thebreakfastandburgerclub.com.
Hours: 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday to Wednesday; to 9 p.m. Thursday to Saturday; to 4 p.m. Sunday. Hours are subject to change.
Good to know: Liquor license to come (hopefully by opening). Also, they have tumblers for sale. Worth noting, too: they kept the small, elevated stage The Place had and may use it down the road for karaoke and other events.
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Jeanne Muchnick covers food and dining. Click here for her most recent articles and follow her latest dining adventures on Instagram @jeannemuchnick or via the lohudfood newsletter.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Popular Nyack burger spot goes big with second Rockland location
