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.