Looks can be deceiving, but the red velvet waffles ($11.95 for two) will get me out of bed in the morning.  Made with red velvet cupcake batter and infused with the subtle flavor of chocolate, each waffle is an airy cake, light but substantial enough to support fleur de sel (salty) caramel syrup, raspberry sauce and a decadent cream cheese-based whipped cream, all without becoming soggy.

It’s hard to put down the El Gigante Mornin’ Burrito ($10.95 plus $1 for bacon, ham or sausage) once you pick it up. A flaky, pressed tortilla encloses creamy eggs scrambled with black beans, corn, tomato, roasted potatoes, and cheddar or Jarlsberg cheese. All meat options are from Faicco’s and the bacon is smokey and thick-cut. Sides of smashed avocado with cilantro and Cholula hot sauce are welcome additions to every bite.

If you’ve read this site before, you know I value decadence. I wanted the Scotch egg ($11.95 for 2) to be poached, not hard boiled; wrapped in pork sausage, not chicken sausage; fried in panko bread crumb and black pepper batter, not baked.  That being said, all flavors were in balance and I was told by the owner – upon offering my fattening suggestions for improvement – that this Scotch egg is the genuine article. The home fries, coated with rosemary and mixed with sauteed green pepper, were commendable as they arrived crispy – a rarity for home fries – without request.  To her credit, Marlo Scott, the lovely, aforementioned owner, told me she was going to head over to Faicco’s and see if pork sausage may be a better option for the Scotch Egg after all.  Community service at its finest.

Check out the rest of the new breakfast menu here.

Sweet Revenge LINK 62 Carmine St b/t Bedford St and Seventh Ave South New York, NY 10014 (212) 242-2240  Open Mon-Thurs 7am-11pm, Fri 7am-12:30am, Sat 11am-12:30am, Sun 11am-10pm  Breakfast menu served Mon-Fri 7am-10:30am, Brunch menu served Sat-Sun 11am-3pm

Wine, Beer & Cupcake Pairings

Sweet Revenge is the type of place every neighborhood would be happy to have.  Friendly staff, led by stylish owner/founder Marlo Scott, populate the bar and open kitchen where one can witness fine ingredients becoming delicious cupcakes.  Below is the menu for the wine, beer and cupcake pairings, but it’s by no means gospel;  feel free to mix and match at your own risk.  HAPPY HOUR ALERT: Monday to Friday, 4pm to 8pm, $10 gets you a glass of sangria or wine and a cupcake.

Full Drink Menu

Signature Cupcakes

“The Sweet Revenge”

Peanut butter cake, chocolate ganache filling, peanut butter buttercream.

This is the best peanut butter cupcake I’ve eaten in this city.

The decadent peanut buter buttercream is studded with bits of peanut while the super moist, crumbly cake houses a chocolate ganache center begging to be included in every bite.

“Crimson & Cream”

Raspberry red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting

Usually, red velvet cupcakes tend to disappoint, offering a cake that’s merely dyed red and devoid of any actual flavor.  The “Crimson and Cream” is an exception, offering a subtle raspberry flavor.  Despite the fact that the moderately rich cream cheese frosting slightly dilutes the raspberry flavor, this is still a superior red velvet.

“Dirty”

Valrhona chocolate cake with dark chocolate truffle

It’s Dirty!  Dirty how sinfully and intensely chocolatey this cupcake is.  The flavor of the cake is slightly generic but the chocolate truffle frosting is HARDCORE.

Full Sweets Menu

Sweet Revenge