Norma's - it is possible to reserve on OpenTable.com. On weekdays you can reserve easily. Pricey? In absolute terms, yes. But if you consider that many of the menu items you can't get anywhere else (or at least don't have a choice among them unless you go to Shopsin's ) and you get high quality ingredients, extreme volume, and attentive service in an upscale setting and an expensive neighborhood, it may be worth it. Yes, it's $7 for fresh-squeezed orange juice. But it's a *bottomless* glass of fresh squeezed orange juice. Coffee is likeqise around $7 but you get your own French press pot full, and it is some of the best coffee in the city. Especially if you like it hi-octane.

Another place worth the trek - "Burgers and Cupcakes", formerly mitchell London foods. Mitchell London recently "renovated" the space (they painted, put up some pictures and changed their awning and name) to make it have a little more atmosphere. It is still bare bones and is all about the food. Service is haphazard, but it is relatively cheap and it serves, hands down, THE BEST PANCAKES IN TOWN. A bottomless stack of pancakes is about $7. Mitchell London is at heart a caterer, not a restauranteur, and his French crullers sell out by 11am on a weekend morning. They can also be found at Murray's cheese shop in the village, and the pancakes can also be found at Zabar's upstairs restaurant. It's on 9th Ave around 35th St. (1-2 blocks north of 34th).

(not really breakfast, but funny: they close early, around 9pm. Lately they have been putting cupcakes outside around closing time with a sign that says "FREE cupcake if you tell us you hate Bush," sometimes the sign just says "FREE CUPCAKES.")