There are few places in downtown Manhattan that have a more remarkable view or a better vibe for brunch than Riverpark. The restaurant sits atop the FDR Drive on 29th Street, overlooking the East River, with indoor seating that feels more formal and outdoor seating with bench tables ideal for large parties. Besides the spectacular view, another draw is Riverpark’s own urban farm, established on a temporarily empty lot next to the restaurant; there is a special Farm Table dinner available in the farm for parties of 10 to 12. Chef/partner Sisha Ortuzar, a longtime member of the Craft Restaurant Group and the mastermind behind ‘wichcraft, knows a good sandwich, and the BLT breakfast sandwich is a good example. The pork belly sandwich is topped with a fried egg, arugula, spicy mayonnaise, melted Cheddar and a Southern flourish inspired by chef de cuisine Bryan Hunt’s Tennessee roots: fried green tomatoes. It comes with fries, but as you can see in the photo above, I substituted with hash browns as I was in more of a breakfast mood. The menu changes frequently so don’t get attached. Service at Riverpark is attentive and pleasant. The whole package makes me want to spend more weekends there.