In the Lower East Side there are a lot of restaurants one would suggest visiting, some being Stanton Social, Pizza Beach, or Vandal but those places are mostly known for going-out/hot spot/dinner places and sometimes we forget about the other gems that aren’t in the dinner category – A forgotten food are (sometimes) and the most important meal of the day for that matter.
Good Thanks, an Australian breakfast joint located on Orchard & Rivington is shaking things up a little in the food world that isn’t just delicious but fresh, local and well-priced. There has been a big push for Australian joints in the US in the past few years and Good Thanks is one that, I feel, goes above and beyond your usual expectation for Flat White’s and eggs. The space, very narrow yet open, has a fresh and clean feel with white walls, succulent accents and large windows that allow natural light to flood in. Being an Australian establishment, their goal is to provide us Americans (and other visitors) with healthy and delicious food that won’t make our bodies feel gross – nothing wrong with a hearty meal and a healthy one as well!
Whether you’re in the mood for some fresh yogurt and house-made granola or a kimchi and eggs concoction that will make your heart full, there is something on the menu for all and it will for damn sure make you feel happy and content once you leave. My favorite and ultimate go-to at this spot is their avocado toast topped with the scrambled eggs. Basically, picture a super dense and thick piece of delicious, in-house-made bread topped with a mound of avocado that has been flavored up with pepper, lemon, chili flakes and other secrets one cannot share. It gets better too because after all of that we add the most crucial and important part – the egg – a fluffy, fresh scrambled egg mound that makes the whole dish come together. I know some might say that this is such a simple meal and you can easily make it at home and not to lie, I am one of those people as well, but this is like no other avocado toast. There is something about the creativity, fresh flavors and fluffiness of the eggs that one cannot master at home (and trust me, I have tried).
Good Thanks is space for all, whether it be a morning brunch spot after a workout with your gals, or an afternoon bite when you’re still craving something in the breakfast genre, or even a quick pick up spot for people like me who live in the neighborhood. With no reservations, the wait can sometimes get lengthy but my best move when that is the case is to put my name in, grab a coffee down the street, and explore all of the art, clothing stores, or even just people watch while waiting. I can attest that during these waiting periods I have found my favorite pair of shoes and my favorite coffee shop (on Orchard & Broome attached to Dudley’s).
Once the wait is over, there is one thing for certain – go and explore the menu. Be open to trying the things that don’t appeal to you the most because sometimes the most basic items on the menu can be the most eye-opening, delicious ones of all.