My biggest pet peeve with this kind of culture is when I get rushed out of a restaurant. I’ll barely be finished chewing my grilled tuna and the waiter is already dropping the check, yanking my plate out from under from me and refusing to at least refill my water. I’m very deterred from a place when I call to make a reservation and my reservation has an ending time. Hearing “Sure, Miss Casa..(butchering my last name).., we can put you down for a party of three at 9 o’clock, as long as you’re out by 11 p.m.”

Umm….no thank you. I’d rather cook in my sorry excuse for a kitchen.

Café Joul on First Avenue between 58th and 59th streets is anti-rushing, which is exactly how a meal should be and exactly why I like it. The suggestion to try Café Joul for Sunday brunch came from my friend, Lauren, a fabulous Upper East Sider and podcast aficionado (click here to hear all about Lauren and other fabulous Upper East Side talents).

The interior is very simple with a homey feel to it. With only 40 or so tables in the restaurant, it has a small, cozy, Parisian bistro atmosphere. The plain white paper tablecloths show you that there’s nothing very fancy about it. But then the food comes. And you realize it is fancy…without fancy prices.

They have a fabulous prix fixe brunch menu on Saturdays and Sundays where – for $19.99 – you can choose from a wide selection of dishes, and also enjoy a mimosa or bloody Mary and unlimited cups of coffee or tea.

My favorite part of the food, besides the most delicious and fluffy vegetable omelette ever with a refreshing spinach salad on the side ...

... was the little silver bucket that arrived before the main dish. The pastry selection inside – blueberry muffins, lemon Danish, multigrain bread, and of course, French bread – was a wonderful beginning to our experience there.

Our meal was very leisurely as we caught up about jobs, men and crazy friends. We sat and sat and sat, and they continued to refill our waters…and my coffee cup, much to my downfall. But the caffeine from the five cups of coffee I drank (I tolddd you they don’t rush you there) wasn’t enough to ruin our tranquil experience. I was relaxed, extremely satisfied with my meal and I still had enough money left for a mid-afternoon trip to Bloomingdale’s.

I rarely wake up on a Sunday morning and say to myself, “Self, I’m really in the mood for a bowl of Kashi cereal with soy milk this morning.”

Nope, Sunday mornings are for friends, socializing and brunch.

And more of my Sunday mornings will be for Café Joul.