Brunch at the Popular Chat Restaurant

If the popular dinner crowd at Chat is too much to handle, especially on Fridays and Saturdays, then I suggest dining during the Saturday and Sunday brunch time.

The American grill restaurant still hosts a decent-size crowd, but the wait time is nonexistent and the room to stretch is almost endless.

There is indoor parking, and there is also the street-parking option. Chat is easy to spot on the newly renovated Christie Place thanks to its red brick building, burgundy canopies and floor-to-ceiling windows.

Once inside, patrons are overwhelmed by the large dining areas, the lounge area, the full bar, and the outdoor terrace. The bar is long and chic, with flat screen televisions mounted on the wall behind it, while the lounge area is nice and intimate for a date.

I arrived Sunday closer to the end of brunch, and was greeted by a surprise live solo jazz guitar performance. The tunes were fitting to the laid-back and friendly atmosphere.

The window shades were drawn to diffuse the amount of sun shining on the diners, and the dining area was also dimly lit with hanging jeweled lamps spread out across the ceiling.

Along the walls hung large framed black and white photographs of the famous faces from the golden age of Hollywood like Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton.

My first choice was to sit by the windows facing the streets, but those tables were all occupied and stationed near the live music. Instead, my table was situated almost in the middle of the room. I was surrounded by families. One table in particular was celebrating a birthday. Another table sat a mother and her two daughters enjoying a delicious-looking Carmelized Banana Split with chocolate syrup ($9.50).

I decided to start with the Crabmeat Quesadilla ($12). While I waited for my dish, I tried the cranberry scones and raisin walnut mini muffins in the bread basket on my table. The scones were lightly sweetened, and the muffins were moist.

After 15 minutes, the quesadilla dish arrived. It was evenly toasted and filled with crab and brie. A bowl of chili apple glaze was on the side.

The first thing I tasted in the quesadilla was the mild and creamy melted brie. The crabmeat was just a hint of flavor. Drizzling some of the chili apple glaze added some sweetness to the dish. The glaze taste reminded me of apple sauce. The various combinations like the chili, apple, brie and crab were surprisingly complementary.

Next, I ordered pan-fried Shrimp and Vegetable Dumplings which could also be steamed, with soy sauce in a bowl on the side ($9.50). The dish was served in a bamboo steamer basket. The dumplings were slightly crisp and succulent. The shrimp were juicy, easy to chew and blended well with the vegetables.

I ended my meal with Chat Triple Chocolate Mousse Cake ($9). It was served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and sliced strawberries. The plate was decorated with chocolate syrup and powdered sugar – truly a fluffy and sweet dessert.

I enjoyed my dining experience at Chat, and was relieved I did not have to wait long for a table or for my food, despite the neverending rush hours it seems to have in the evenings and weektime lunches. Chat has yet to hit its one-year mark (opened in September 2009), and it is already garnering praise rivaling the other older restaurants in Scarsdale. The Chat Saturday and Sunday brunch starts at 11 a.m. and ends at 3 p.m.