Plan Weekend Brunch at a Bronx Restaurant and Lounge

If you are looking for weekend brunch in the Bronx with a lounge feel, Step In Restaurant & Lounge at 1309 Metropolitan Ave is a long-standing neighborhood pick that serves local cuisine and weekend brunch in a relaxed, trendy setting. It works as a restaurant by day and a lounge as the evening goes on, with a bar-and-grill style American kitchen that patrons rate above most nearby options. The restaurant holds a 4.4 out of 5 rating from 1,122 reviews, and some regulars have been coming back for over a decade.

The decision most people are making is timing. On Saturday and Sunday the doors open at noon and close at 11 PM, so weekend brunch here is a midday plan rather than an early-morning one. Weekdays open at 1 PM and close at 11 PM, and Friday runs until midnight, which makes it the late option of the week.

The caveat is cost. The listing puts the price level at two dollar signs, but long-term visitors note recent price increases, so budget a little more than you remember if you have not been in a while. The next questions are what the brunch and lounge experience feels like, how to plan the budget and when to go; the sections below cover each one.

Address: 1309 Metropolitan Ave, Bronx, New York
Hours: Monday–Thursday 1 PM–11 PM · Friday 1 PM–12 AM · Saturday–Sunday 12 PM–11 PM
Phone: (718) 822-0562
Rating: 4.4 out of 5 from 1,122 reviews
Kitchen: American, bar and grill, local cuisine and weekend brunch
Setting: relaxed, trendy restaurant and lounge with a nightlife side
Price level: $$ (regulars note recent price increases)
Not listed: brunch menu, reservations, parking, accessibility details

Step In earns its following less from a single signature plate than from the way it feels to settle in. The listing describes a relaxed, trendy setting under welcoming ownership, and that combination is why a neighborhood crowd keeps it in rotation. It is the kind of place where a weekend brunch can turn into a long afternoon, and where a casual dinner can drift into lounge hours without changing tables.

The kitchen is tagged as American and bar-and-grill, so expect a menu that sits comfortably between a restaurant meal and bar food, rather than a narrow brunch-only card. Patrons point out that the food is better than most nearby options, which matters when a weekend meal out often means choosing between a diner and a sports bar. Here you get table service, a bar and a room designed for lingering.

It suits friends catching up over a midday weekend meal, couples looking for a casual dinner with a trendy edge, and locals who want a reliable spot with nightlife built in. Birthday groups and small celebrations fit the lounge side well.

One honest limitation: the listing does not publish a brunch menu, specific dishes, drink prices or the exact hours brunch is served, so check what is on offer before you plan around a particular plate.

Price is the part of Step In that has changed most, so it deserves a clear plan. The listing places the restaurant at a two-dollar-sign price level, which usually signals a mid-range meal rather than a splurge. At the same time, long-term visitors have been surprised by recent price increases, and the experience now carries a premium compared with what regulars remember. The food quality is clear, patrons say, but it requires a higher budget than in the past.

The practical response is simple. If you are coming for weekend brunch, set your budget for a sit-down meal plus a drink or two rather than a quick, cheap bite. If you are splitting the bill with a group, agree on the plan before ordering so nobody is surprised at the end. And if you have not visited in a while, do not rely on old prices from memory.

The tradeoff is value versus habit. The loyal neighborhood following, with some regulars returning for over a decade, suggests many guests still find a kitchen they rate above the local average worth the higher spend. Others may treat it as a weekend occasion rather than a weekly default.

Limitation: the listing does not give menu prices, brunch set prices, happy hour details or payment rules, so call (718) 822-0562 before you go if the exact cost matters.

Step In keeps a schedule that rewards planning. Monday through Thursday it opens at 1 PM and closes at 11 PM, which makes weekdays a late-lunch or dinner window. Friday opens at 1 PM and stays open until midnight, the latest close of the week and the natural pick for a night out that starts with dinner and ends in the lounge. Saturday and Sunday open at noon and run to 11 PM, which is when weekend brunch fits the schedule.

For brunch, arriving close to noon on a weekend gives you the most of the daytime window before the room shifts toward its evening lounge mood. For a social evening, Friday's extra hour matters most, since every other night closes at 11 PM. A weekday visit around opening suits anyone who wants an easy late lunch and an unhurried conversation.

The location is straightforward: 1309 Metropolitan Ave in the Bronx, which makes it a neighborhood stop for locals and an easy anchor if you are pairing it with other Bronx plans the same day.

Limitation: the listing does not say whether reservations are taken, how busy weekend peaks get, or whether brunch is served for the full weekend day, so call ahead for a group or a specific brunch time instead of assuming a walk-in table.

Where can I get weekend brunch in the Bronx?
Step In Restaurant & Lounge at 1309 Metropolitan Ave serves local cuisine and weekend brunch in a relaxed, trendy setting. Saturday and Sunday hours run from noon to 11 PM.

What are Step In Restaurant & Lounge hours?
Monday through Thursday 1 PM to 11 PM, Friday 1 PM to midnight, and Saturday and Sunday 12 PM to 11 PM. Hours can change, so confirm before a special visit.

Is Step In Restaurant & Lounge expensive?
The price level is listed at two dollar signs, but regulars note recent price increases. Budget for a sit-down meal plus drinks rather than a cheap bite.

What kind of food does Step In serve?
The kitchen is tagged American and bar-and-grill, serving local cuisine and weekend brunch. Patrons rate the food better than most nearby options, though the menu itself is not listed here.

Is Step In good for a night out?
Yes. It works as a restaurant and lounge with a trendy vibe and a nightlife side, and Friday is the late night, staying open until midnight.

How is Step In Restaurant & Lounge rated?
It holds a 4.4 out of 5 rating from 1,122 reviews, with a loyal neighborhood following and some regulars returning for over a decade.

How do I contact Step In Restaurant & Lounge?
Call (718) 822-0562 to ask about brunch timing, group tables or current prices before you go, since none of those are listed here.

Keep the weekend going across the borough. Start sweet with fruit loaded acai bowls and custom cakes in the Bronx, where fresh juices and outdoor seating line West Fordham Road. For a quieter drink, a Bronx lounge plays music at a talk-friendly volume, a neighborhood bar that takes song requests. If brunch is the plan, French brunch with classic plates uptown brings Parisian fare to a 1983 brasserie on West 70th Street. Later, Bronx Latin American family recipes come with late night DJ sets, Taco Tuesday and a hookah lounge, while a Bronx Latin seafood restaurant serves skirt steak with shrimp, cash only, on Starling Ave.