(credit: Veselka)

This bowl of slow-cooked oats is served at Veselka Bowery, the sister location to the original East Village hot spot. The old school Ukrainian restaurant, led by executive chef Stephen Hayak, is known for its killer brunch and late-night bites. Along with a superb, Kielbasa-infused bloody Mary, the Bowery outpost whips up a sophisticated yet scrumptious bowl of oatmeal and nuts.

(credit: Oatmeals)

Oatmeals is one of those true New York gems with the ability to change the way you think…about breakfast. The bakery is devoted to whipping up oatmeal-based bowls like Bacon Pumpkin, Fig & Gorgonzola with Balsamic Glaze (pictured), or “The Health Nut” (flax seeds, chia seeds, pumpkin seeds, fresh blueberries and honey). The West Village spot has seen a fair share of media attention since its opening earlier this year. Most recently, “The Canadian” (Oatmeal with bacon, cheddar cheese, roasted apples, maple syrup and sea salt), was featured in New York magazine. The bakery also serves sandwiches and muffins.

(credit: Egg)

If you’re not in the mood for the namesake food when dining at Egg in Williamsburg, the steel-cut oatmeal is a go-to dish for a healthy, hearty breakfast or brunch. The plump oats aren’t soupy or sticky, but cooked to a creamy thickness. Toppings available include toasted almond matchsticks, brown sugar, raisins and dried cranberries. A small pitcher of cream is served on the side to perfect the creaminess of your bowl.

(credit: The Grey Dog)

Already named one of our favorite spots for iced coffee, the Grey Dog offers you two options for great oatmeal. The first, a bowl of traditional Irish oatmeal topped with bright berries that won’t come between you and your diet.  But the second option is our preference.  The restaurant’s Delaware Baked Oatmeal (pictured) is a rich breakfast pastry infused with cinnamon and sugar.

(credit: Five Leaves)

We’ve already raved about the ricotta pancakes at this nautical-themed restaurant in Greenpoint, and placed them on our list of favorite breakfast restaurants. It seems only fitting to acknowledge the quality of their warm bowl of steel-cut oats, with banana, walnut and brown buttered currants. The wide range of their full breakfast menu will win over most any appetite.

(credit: Whole Foods)

It’s no secret many New Yorkers rely on the food bar at Whole Foods for a midday snack or hot lunch. Stop by before you get to the office in the morning to take advantage of the oatmeal bar, where you can get brown sugar, cinnamon, honey and dried cranberries to layer on hot steel-cut oatmeal. You can enjoy a small cup or giant bowl, depending on how hungry you are to start your day with this nourishing breakfast.

For more from the Best of New York, follow us on Twitter!

Sarah Shaker is the founder of the blog Bright Lights, My City.