<div class="tldr">Several Upper Manhattan restaurants, including Vinateria and ROKC, began offering expanded cold brunch options in June 2024. Tomato salads, yogurt bowls, and fruit-based dishes have replaced some hot offerings as temperatures rise.</div>\n\n<ul class="key-facts">\n <li>Vinateria in Harlem introduced a cold brunch menu on June 2.</li>\n <li>Seasonal produce now features on at least five uptown brunch menus.</li>\n <li>Chilled plates are often replacing hot dishes through September.</li>\n</ul>\n\nMany uptown restaurants are adjusting brunch service in response to warmer weather and changing customer demand. Vinateria, located on Frederick Douglass Boulevard, is now offering a summer menu with a focus on chilled plates and market vegetables. ROKC in Hamilton Heights has added a cold soba noodle bowl and a stone fruit salad to its weekend brunch lineup.\n\nOperators say the shift reflects both practical and culinary considerations. According to Vinateria chef Mimi Weissenborn, the kitchen saw a decline in orders for traditional hot brunch items after Memorial Day weekend. Suppliers have reported increased requests for local greens and berries, with some vendors like Red Jacket Orchards noting higher demand from Harlem and Inwood addresses.\n\nCustomers also appear receptive to the new approach. Staff at Oso, a Mexican restaurant in Hamilton Heights, report a majority of brunch orders now include the seasonal cold plate, which features cucumbers, watermelon, and goat cheese. The change comes amid concerns about kitchen heat and food waste, as unused hot ingredients are harder to repurpose during slow brunch services.\n\nRestaurant owners say the menu shift is likely to continue through the end of September, depending on weather patterns and produce availability. Several managers cited past experience with late-summer heat waves as a factor in planning. Chefs are expected to update cold dishes every two weeks to reflect market offerings.\n\n<h2>Frequently Asked Questions</h2>\n<h2>Which restaurants have changed their brunch menus?</h2>\n<p>At least five restaurants in Upper Manhattan have introduced new cold brunch dishes since early June 2024. Notable locations include Vinateria, ROKC, Oso, and Harlem Public. These changes are most common along the Frederick Douglass Boulevard and Broadway corridors.</p>\n<h2>What types of dishes are being added?</h2>\n<p>Menus now feature chilled plates such as tomato salad, yogurt with local berries, cold soba noodles, and fruit platters. Some restaurants also offer seasonal vegetable plates and cold seafood preparations. Hot items remain available but have been reduced in number.</p>\n<h2>How long will the new menus be in place?</h2>\n<p>Restaurant operators expect the emphasis on cold and seasonal produce to continue through September 2024. Menu changes will be revisited in the fall as temperatures drop and autumn produce becomes available. Adjustments may happen sooner depending on weather and customer feedback.</p>