5-3-14 Cafe Rue Dix in Crown Heights

My first post in quite some time. My buddy Nick and I knew we had to get some brunch, and stopped by Cafe Rue Dix since we wanted to try something new. Nestled in Crown Heights, Cafe Rue Dix is a Bistro style spot with some African inspired French dishes. Small but cute, it was packed when we arrived, apparently popular with the brunch crowd.

We walked in and were asked to take a seat anywhere. Unfortunately, this might have been the best service we received all day. It took a couple minutes before someone came over to give us menus, despite the small size of the restaurant and that they had two servers and a bartender at work. We felt inattended throughout the meal, and this is a point I will discuss a few times more.

The menu itself looked tastey and there was a wide selection of brunch items for not too much coin. Some dishes included a few types of omelettes, a spicy burger, and fresh baked bread and pastries. I ordered the Crepes Monsieur and my buddy got the Spicy Poulet Sandwich. We also split an order of Hummus Verte to start with and I changed up my drink a bit by getting a Bloody Maria.

After a short wait, our drinks came, my Bloody Maria and Nick's cider. The bloody mix they made in house was very spicy and very good. It came as a bit of a surprise almost, it didn't have the typical Tobasco vinegar kick, but rather the spice came from whatever spices they put into it and it was nice and thick and served with pickled veggies. The tequila was definitely a nice accompanying flavor to the mix as well.

Bloody Maria

The Hummus Verte came out next with a small basket of warmed pita bread. Not entirely sure what the base of the hummus was, but it had a nice zip to it, with a little bit of earthiness. It was topped with a dab of kalamata tapanade which offset the herbaciousness of the hummus with a little bit of saltiness. Unfortunately we ran out of pita fast. As our main course came out, I asked for more pita, but never actually got any at any point of the meal.

My Crepes Monsieur consisted of melted gruyere smothering bits of ham and on top of a thin crepe. It was served with a side of greens, which was dressed with a light vinaigrette. The salad actually hid the larger portion of the crepe. I'll admit it wasn't entirely what I expected, was still good.

Nick's chicken sandwich was billed as spicy and he said it didn't disappoint. Unlike most chicken sandwiches, he said the spice came from the rub, and not any sauce on it. He also mentioned it was a little on the salty side, but otherwise good. The fries were really tasty too, hand cut and cooked skin on. I got to taste a few and we dipped it into the hummus as well. 

Spicy Poulet Sandwich

The real pain of the service came toward the end. By the end of the meal, the restaurant had 5 tables being served, a few people at the bar, and still the same three front of house staff. But somehow, the service got slower and less attentive. I had to flag someone down to get a check, and we never did get our pita. I cannot stress how important service is to a dining experience. 

Despite how good the food was, the poor service really overshadowed the entire experience. I cannot recommend this place unless they fix that. 2.25 out of 5 Bloody Marys.

3/16/14 - CraftBar in Flatiron

Just like in Parks and Rec, sometimes you got to Treat Yo Self. And this brunch was certainly that. On my own, and on a Sunday, I was wandering around the Flatiron district looking for a place to munch. And that's when I saw CraftBar. I had been here once before for lunch and the food was spectacular, and so I knew I had to see what their brunch would provide.

It was already after 1:30 but there was still a sizable brunch crowd still lounging and eating. As soon as I walked in they asked me if I wanted to sit at the bar or a table, and as I am wont to do when I'm solo, I made my way to the bar. I was handed a brunch menu and a large drink list as well. I was the only one at the bar initially, but even as more people sat around me, the two bartenders were incredibly attentive.

The menu apparently rotates, so each brunch might have different items. The "snacks" seem to be constant though, and consist of small appetizers and cheese plates. I ordered a pickle jar to start with, and chicken and waffles as my main course. As for drinks, I went with the classic bloody mary to begin with, and then tried one of the signature cocktails, Garden of Fire, as my second.

House Bloody Mary

The bloody mary came out garnished with celery, a pickled carrot, a green olive and a slice of lemon. The drink itself was particularly spicy, with a strong kick of horseradish and cayenne pepper. But the nice thing was the spice didn't overpower my palette and finished clean at the end. Overall, a great bloody.

Pickle Jar

The pickle jar consisted of an assortment of pickled vegetables in a small jar. Cauliflower, carrots, cucumbers, radish and cabbage all presented a variety of tastes. Each one had a slightly different flavor profile, but all were delicious. Overall, there was a bit of sweetness, a bit of sour and some mustardy heat coming through. My favorite of the veggies was the cauliflower, which absorbed the brine perfectly and took on a slightly yellow tinge. The pickles went perfectly paired with the bloody as well, and so I wound up downing the whole thing along with my snack.

Garden of Fire

The Garden of Fire was a surprisingly refreshing drink, and not overly spicy despite the name. Consisting of muddled cucumber, vodka, cocchi americano, some lemon and some peppercorn, it was similar to a really refreshing martini, with a kick and some coolness from the cucumber. I really liked this drink, and would easily order it over and over.

Chicken and Waffles....drooooool

And finally, the chicken and waffles came. It consisted of three wedges of waffles, topped with three buttermilk fried chicken pieces and drizzled with a chili honey and smothered in sausage gravy (the best kind of gravy). This was absolutely amazing, sweet, spicy, savory, succulent, crispy. It hit on every level. Easily one of the best things I've ever eaten at brunch. My one critique is the use of bone-in chicken parts, but that may have contributed to the juiciness of the chicken. And thankfully, they do warn you that there are bones and give you a small dish on the side for them.

The service at CraftBar is impeccable. From the moment I walked in, until I left and they said goodbye, I felt I was always in their constant care. My water was never empty and I was attended to at a regular pace, but not overwhelmingly. I never once felt like I was waiting for something and all my needs were met instantly. Plus, everyone had a smile and seemed genuinely happy to be working there. Perfect service.

My only knock is the lack of an all you can drink special and the high price of drinks. While they were excellent, there was a definite markup (considering they had Victory Golden Monkey on the beer list for $8.50 a pour, and you can get a sixpack for about 11 bucks). You can tell this place makes a lot of money from the bar. Granted I knew this would be a bit pricier, it's something that prevents it from being a go to brunch spot.

Overall, this place was amazing. If you're looking for a great time, or a cool place to take a date, I definitely recommend it. Just be prepared to shell out so money. 4.5 out of 5 bloody marys.

3-8-14 Calle Ocho in the UWS

My buddy Miller and I decided to run out to go see the new Wes Anderson flick and I invited him to join me for a spot of brunch first. If there has been one drunk brunch I could do over and over, it would be at Calle Ocho. This place hit on all the levels: great food, great drinks, a vibrant atmosphere and good service.

Stock Photo of the Dining Room

There was a momentary panic when we got there and they said an hour and 45 minute wait, but that was just for the bar/lounge area. We were led through the bar and into a large dining area, and sat at a table within five minutes. The place does get crazy though, so do show up early. Despite the large open space and voluminous conversation going on around us, it was rather easy for my friend and I to still have a private conversation and hear each other perfectly. The atmosphere was warm and colorful and reflected a sense of life and vibrancy.

Sangria List

The menu itself consists of Cuban inspired dishes, eight different kinds of sangria and a variety of additional cocktails and wines. Samples include Pan Rellano (a stuffed French Toast), the Calle Ocho Omelet, and a vegetarian paella. The real treat is that you get unlimited sangria with your entree (within reason) as long as you are eating.

Within moments of us sitting down, a server came over and asked us what Sangria we wanted. I started with the Spanish Harlem, and my friend got the Blanca. The Spanish Harlem was a dry, a little earthy, and overall nice. The Blanca was incredibly light, refreshing, and slightly sweet. As soon as our sangria came, a server ninja showed up right behind with a basket of baked goods. The real prize inside it were these little rolls that were baked with some kind of cheese, and a side of whipped strawberry butter that went perfectly alongside it.

First round of sangria

The server returned and we ordered our meals. I got the Frita Cubana, a pork and beef hamburger with fries. My companion got the Latin Benedict, a Cuban inspired eggs benedict. I also ordered us a plate of fried plantains to start.

The plantains came two ways: a younger green plantain, sliced and fried, and ripe plantains chopped and also fried. The young plantains had a light herb sauce on top, were fairly salty and savory and went really well with the accompanying pickled onions. The ripe plantains were lightly breaded and fried and very sweet. Both were perfect and complimented each other.

One course down and our next round of sangria was ordered. I switched to the Havana Banana, a white and my friend got the Fresa, a red. The Havana Banana, as the name implied, had a banana flavor to it, but also fresh lychee and white rum and was sweet and refreshing but not cloying. The Fresa tasted like fresh berries but was still off-dry, very nice.

Frita Cubana

The Frita Cubana consisted of two pork and beef spiced patties on a fluffy sesame seed bun. A light glaze of chipotle ketchup and some lightly sauteed red onions were the only compatriots on the bun, and it came served with a mound of seasoned shoestring fries. The burger itself was slightly spicy, delicious but also slightly dry, most likely from the pork. But overall it was really good. The fries were excellent and the seasoning on them complimented the burger nicely.

Latin Benedict

My buddy's Latin Benedict consited of a duck and pork sausage, topped with some herbs, which was in turn toped with poached eggs and then finally doused in a chipotle hollandaise sauce. He admitted that he had actually never had an eggs benedict before, which made me a bit curious as to why he ordered it. But he said that the dish was delicious, creamy and slightly spicy.

The server came around one more time to offer us a final round of sangria. This time we both wound up getting the Roja, though neither of us realized we each got the same thing. At this point we did have a little bit of a buzz going, because as I may have neglected to mention, these sangrias weren't exactly tiny glasses. The Roja was a slightly sweet, but off-dry red sangria with a hint of citrus and loaded with fresh orange pieces.

The service at the restaurant was great considering how incredibly crowded it was. Within moments of our sangrias being empty someone would come over to take our order. Our water rarely ran out for long. The only knock I have is that I ordered a second side of fries and they never came. But we told the server and she was incredibly apologetic for it.

Overall, Calle Ocho may have been one of the best brunches I've been to ever. It was fun, scrumptious, and wonderful. Only a few small knocks on it that kept it away from perfection. 4.5 out of 5 bloody marys.

3/1/14 - Mayfield in Crown Heights

So originally I was going into panic mode and making a list of all the unlimited booze brunches I needed to hit when the news that they became illegal came out. And then New York pulled a New York, and said 'nope, just kidding.' So that no longer became a crazy priority and I was free to return to the point of this blog; To enjoy good brunches. And Mayfield in crown heights didn't disappoint.

View of the crowded restaurant

The Mayfield is a very popular spot it seems, even in the restaurant rich Franklin Avenue. My buddy and I arrived at 1 PM on Saturday and had a half hour wait. Thankfully they take your name and number and give you a call to say your table is ready, so no worrying about losing your spot. We were shown to a high table in the back with a good view of the action in the kitchen. The decor is rather simple. Brick motif, some small pieces of art on the walls, just straight forward but nice. Not overpowering in any way or distracting.


 The menu is deep and varied, with a mixture of riffs on brunch classics and tasty lunch options. Items included Corned Beef Tongue Hash (which I almost got), Dry Aged Steak & Eggs, and Challah French Toast. With my view of the kitchen I noticed that a lot of people were ordering the Shredded Kale Salad, so that might be something to try in the future too. I opted for a Maple BLT and a Bloody Mary, my buddy got the Burger. I also got us a spoonbread to try, since that's not something commonly seen in this part of the country.

Bloody Mary

The bloody mary was very tasty, though a little small. It was served in a lowball glass, filled to the brim. The overall drink was more savory than spicy, and didn't taste like vodka at all (though it was definitely in there). It came garnished with olives and a lime, and rimmed with a hot spice mixture that when sipped added a whole new dimension to the drink. Overall, it was good, and so I wound up having two.

Berkshire Maple BLT

My BLT was served on a small french demi that was pressed down. The balance of tangy mayo, lettuce, sweet tomato and salty bacon was nice, though I do wish it had a little more bacon on it. Overall, it was pretty good, but not in the top tier of BLTs I've had. The maple was present but only because I knew to look for it.

The BLT and burger both came served with a figurative mountain of hand cut fries on the side. They were salty and crispy and really good. On top of that it came with a side of standard Heinz ketchup (I saw a guy refilling a ketchup bottle) and a side of remoulade. The fries dipped in the spicy remoulade were amazing and definitely a nice touch.

Burger

My buddy's burger looked unbelievably delicious. It came covered in gooey, melty cheese, topped with sauteed mushrooms and the regular fixins and served with sweet bread and butter pickles, and placed on a toasted brioche bun. I watched as he ate it, and it dripped with delicious meat juice, the sign of a well made hamburger in my opinion. I got a small bite of it at the end, and it was meaty, savory and had a nice amount of char from the flat top. I'd definitely order that in the future.

The spoonbread, for those that don't know, is kind of like a mixture between a corn meal souffle and a bread pudding. It's a little savory and a little sweet, with a nice crispy texture on top that carries through the rest of the dish.

Service at Mayfield was great, from the moment we stepped in the door and put our names down to the second we left. I've said in my young blogging career before, excellent service can really make a meal much better. And this is definitely a case where the service added a little extra punch to an already good meal. Again, only thing I wished was that there was unlimited drinks.

Overall, Mayfield was pretty delicious. Good service, good food, and a great menu, I'd definitely recommend the place. I wish the BLT was baconier (that is a word!) and the bloody could have been bigger but those are just small knocks on an otherwise great brunch. Four out of Five Bloody Marys.

2/22/14 - West 3rd Common in Greenwich Village

Another solo brunch outing for myself, I was feeling cooped up so I needed to flee the nest. Went into the city to grab a haircut from my barber of 20+ years down at Astor Place and wanted to check out the brunch at this place nearby. Actually meant to go here last week with a friend, but they weren't open when we got there. But this time, I made it.

West 3rd Common is set up like a large lounge. Huge areas of communal seating, plus couches, wide open spaces, it seems perfect for the mix and mingle crowd. Unfortunately it also gets very loud, and the blaring music they play doesn't help make it any quieter. Seating for small groups is hard to come by, and so I saddled up to the already very crowded bar.

Picture of the main area taken from website

The menu itself sounded very appetizing and filled with interesting dishes such as Spicy Chicken and Waffles, and Pancake Tacos. I went with the Fried Chicken Biscuits, because I hadn't had any since I started boycotting Chick-Fil-A and I was feeling a craving. Also....no Chick-Fil-A in NYC for me to boycott anyway. I also ordered a single bloody mary, to wash it down. The menu has options for both unlimited drinks with an entree for $30 or a single brunch drink with an entree for half the price.

The bloody was alright. Spicy, but not overpoweringly so, with flecks of horseradish and garnished with a single lime. Came in a huge glass too, which lasted me quite a while. But it seemed a bit straightforward, not very complex. Also, couldn't really taste any alcohol in it, but I know it was there, just not as strong as I would have liked.

Bloody Mary

The Chicken Biscuits were quite tasty. The biscuits were flaky and tender, baked perfectly. The fried chicken was tender and juicy, plump and delicious. Combined with the mustard and Gouda, it was like a party in my mouth. Definitely a fan. Unfortunately the accompanying sides did not reach the same level. The potato hash seemed like it came out of a pan, a little cold and rather lifeless. The arugula salad was missing something, the arugula itself seemed a little off (like it didn't have the requisite pepperiness).

There only seemed to be two servers on staff, one of whom was the bartender, which made service a little slow. I'm not sure if this was just an off week or what but I can only judge by what I saw. If I had gotten the unlimited drinks not sure how often I would have seen a refill. The service itself also was a little cold, like they were just trying to get through the day, and get people through the door.

Overall, I wasn't that impressed. The Chicken Biscuits were amazing. Everything else, left something to be desired. I guess when you have a food blog, not everything is going to be awesome. So I'll have to give West 3rd Common 2.5 Blood Maries out of 5.

2/21/14 - Catfish in Crown Heights

DRUNK BRUNCH ON A FRIDAY?! Why yes, yes indeed. I was swinging through Brooklyn to drop off a bunch of booze at my friend's apartment and he suggested we give this place a shot because they have brunch daily and he's heard good things. I'm always up for trying, and Southern style food has a place in my heart so we gave it a go.

Waiting for me across the booth.

 Located on Bedford Ave off of Prospect Pl, Catfish is cozy and inviting and if it wasn't for the fact that most people are working at 1 PM on a Friday probably would have been a bit more crowded. Exposed brick, leather booths, hot sauce and cast iron art on the walls, the ambiance had a nice charm to it.

My buddy and I were real excited about the menu. A great selection of food and drinks. I opted for a pulled pork sandwich and a Creole Bloody Mary. He went for the Chicken Sandwich and the Shot and a Bud special. I did rib him a bit, over his choice of beer, but it's brunch and all bets are off. I nearly opted for the Death in the Afternoon, a libation consisting of absinthe and champagne, but I did have to drive somewhere after and it didn't seem like the best idea. My buddy also pointed out the extensive whiskey list, which made me smile.

Creole Bloody Mary

The bloody mary was spicy, savory and just excellently crafted. A nice touch was that the ice cubes had little dobs of hot sauce suspended in them, so as they melted the drink got a little spicier and not as watered down. The rim was coated in a cajun salt, that made sipping from the glass equally fun. 

Pulled Pork and sides

The pulled pork sandwich was excellent. While definitely braised and not smoked, the meat had a ton of flavor from both the juice it was braised in as well as the pork fat. The brioche bun added a hint of sweetness to it, and the meat was tangy, slightly spicy and melted in your mouth.  My friends chicken sandwich consisted of pulled chicken and remoulade on a brioche bun. He said it was slightly spicy and really good.  

The accompanying sides for both included a small green salad with vinnegrate, cole slaw and a pickle. The slaw was alright, overall slightly sweet but a bit over dressed. The salad was overall tasty and simple. The pickle really surprised both of us. We were expecting your standard dill. Instead we got a sweet bread & butter pickle, with a hint of nutmeg. As my buddy put it, it was kind of like Christmas. Absolutely delicious.

The service at Catfish was great, our server checked on us constantly. The atmosphere was friendly, and nice and quiet which made for great conversation. The food came out quickly, hot, and our server stopped by and checked on us multiple times.

Overall Catfish was great and I definitely will go back in the future. How many other places have brunch daily after all? I'd give it 4 out of 5 bloody maries overall. Only reason why it doesn't get more is that it doesn't have an unlimited drink special to take it over the top. 

2/15/14 - Mother Burger in Hell's Kitchen

My amazing best friend came to visit New York this weekend, so I knew I needed to include her in on brunch. She always wanted to try the brunch at Mother Burger, so off to Hell's Kitchen we went. Situated right by New World Stages, and across a nice little square from Blockheads (which holds all kinds of college memories for me), Mother Burger is a little restaurant with good yet inexpensive food.

Mother Burger on a snowy day

The highlight of Mother Burger's brunch is a small menu of slightly spruced up brunch classics, with a slight Southwestern flare. Scrambled egg tacos, granola pancakes, southwestern omelette are just some of the items on the menu.  The drunk portion is provided by $3 frozen margaritas, $3 mimosas and $3 margarita/mimosa mixtures called an "Orange Flower."

My order consisted of Frosted Flake Crusted French Toast and a side of bacon. My friend got the Mother's Breakfast Burger, which came with a side of home fries. I wound up getting both a Mimosa (or two) and a coconut margarita. She also got a mimosa and an Orange Flower.

My french toast was rather tastey. The frosted flakes provided a nice crunch. The toast itself was thick and slightly fluffy. My only real critique is the toast itself was rather plain, like the highlight was that they put frosted flakes on top to mask the rather standard eggy bread. It was still tasty, but it could have been so much more. Like it just missed reaching it's potential. The bacon I got on the side was cooked perfectly. Slightly crunch, still slightly chewy, salty, greasy. Everything you want in bacon.

Frosted Flake French Toast

My companion loved her breakfast burger. Fried egg, bacon, burger, cheese, all melded together to make one delicious meal. I watched as she mopped up the yolk as it oozed out by dipping her bun in it, and scooping it up with the home fries. She also got the mother's sauce, a tangy, thick southwestern style sauce that seemed to have mayo and spices in it. I got to taste a little bit of it, and it was quite good. I'd dip my fries in it if I could.

Breakfast Burger

The drinks were strong! I'm a fan of cheap and strong, especially with brunch. The mimosa was tasty, not too dry, but you could definitely tell there was some booze in it. The margaritas were strong, with a nice twinge of tequila, but the fruit flavors masked it well.

The ambiance of Mother Burger is another area that didn't really stand out. Not that it was bad, but it wasn't anything special. Just a small, standard pubby look. The wrap around window is nice, allows for some great people watching and good natural lighting.

Mimosa

Service though was great. We were well attended throughout the meal, and the food came out fast. Plus, there was no real rush for us to leave, even as a larger and larger crowd came in the slightly smaller venue. It was refreshing that we could just sit and chat over a drink.

Overall, Mother Burger had some good menu choices, inexpensive libations, and great service. I'd give it 3.75 BloodyMarys out of 5. There were just some small things that could have taken it to greatness.