Bubby's tries really hard to be the quiet, neighborhood secret. The decor is low-key and the restaurant caters to families, which is an anomoly here in NY. The problem is that the secret is out, the service is iffy and the prices reflect a more significantly upscale establishment. Bubby's has become a famous stop on the tourist itinerary for Sunday Brunch, but it's open for other meals as well. Before you trod off with 5,000 others for brunch, be forewarned.

The focus at Bubby's is on 2 mainstays of an unhealthy diet: alcohol and pie. For both, Bubby's certainly earns its reputation. The pies are all homemade and delicious and the drink menu is comprehensive. Meals at Bubby's begin with homemade biscuits with butter and homemade jam. These are very tasty!The food menu for their famous brunch offers up many types of pancakes, egg dishes and unique selections such as chicken sausage. The lunch and dinner menu is full of typical American fare: sandwiches, pasta and meat dishes. All the entrees are huge, so be prepared!

We visited for brunch and were treated to a gorgeous meal that was the best I've had in New York. The waiting staff were friendly and helpful (as being British, we weren't sure what some of the menu items were, but if you're unsure, just ask and the staff will be happy to help). The feel of the place is simple and homely, with wood decor and benches instead of chairs, you feel like you're sitting in someone's kitchen rather than a busy New York restaurant.

The atmosphere is relaxed and when we visited at around 11am they weren't too busy. But with so many visitors a year, it's hard to believe it's like that for long, and as we were finishing the restaurant was starting to fill up quickly. However, despite this and being slightly full, I couldn't leave without a try of what Bubby's is famous for -- its pies! There are various choices, from chocolate, pumpkin and the traditional apple and all are baked fresh daily and come served with delicious fresh cream.

To sum it all up the meals are good, the staff helpful, prices fair and the atmosphere pleasant, but what do I love most about Bubby's? Banana Cream Pie, yum.

As for the menu? Those into Southern comfort food will find themselves in bacon heaven. Who says you have to visit Georgia for a decent bowl of grits? The Bubby's Breakfast is quite Southern traditional: eggs, grits, toast, bacon, and a cup of Joe. While that was tempting to me, I opted for eggs scrambled hard with mushrooms, which were served with a smile. I stole a taste of my brother's Huevos Rancheros, and I would've tried my son's syrup drenched waffle, too, if he hadn't devoured it as soon as his plate hit the table.

And what's available for the harried parent that you probably wouldn't find somewhere else at brunch? Well, you can get a Dirty Olive Bloody Mary like the guy with the three toddlers at the table next to us. It's not like anyone drives in New York City. Or, for the more propriety conscious among us, have a piece of Bubby's pie!

The food is your basic American staple food, though often with modern touches. Meatloaf, for example, comes in a brown mushroom-y gravy rather than the ketchup stuff that Mom put on top. There's chili, but it's vegetarian. The mac 'n cheese (which is supposed to be wonderful) comes with (ew!) a salad. And so on. But traditional, modern, whatever -- boy, is it good!

Bubby's is also rightly famous for its brunches ... but then again any food tastes good after you're famished from waiting an hour for a table. After a few tries (some successful, some not) I've given up on brunch, but I've never had a wait at lunch or dinner.

I took my parents to Bubby's a few days before Christmas, and as usual we enjoyed our food. On that occasion I discovered, however, that I had been living only half of the Bubby's experience. Yes, on that occasion I discovered the PIE. Apparently Bubby's began as a pie company before it was a restaurant, and turns out they serve some of the best pie my parents and I have ever had. The crust is incredible and is really more of a pastry than the thin, sad little crusts I've had on other pies. We were given certificates for free pie on a return visit, and my parents spent the rest of the Christmas weekend begging for that return. They were obsessed. (Who am I kidding? So was I!)

Bubby's has a sort of farmhouse decor, with white wooden benches along the outside walls. The wait staff can be a bit hit or miss. Be sure to check the chalkboards posted on the walls for the daily specials, as well as the list of the day's pie. Bubby's also boasts a small bar, as its own destination or a place to hang out while you're waiting for your table.