Abigail is a place that has potential. This potentially could have been a good meal with good ambiance, good food, and good service. Unfortunately, this place is far from realizing that potential.
Abigail Cafe & Wine Bar is located on the corner of Classon and St. Johns. The place is dark and candlelit and had a jazz band playing. Inside there are a cluster of little cute tables near the front with a large stocked bar. The bar itself has a good amount of seating that makes for a nice spot. The back is more open with larger tables but a big party (which our server warned us about) was occupying those tables when we were there. The jazz band was good and added to the atmosphere but they were a bit loud and it became sort of hard to hear conversation when they were playing.
So we were seated promptly but then no waiter appeared for minutes. Finally, the guy who seated us came over and to take our order though there were a bunch of guys who appeared to be waitstaff and were not taking our order. First, they were out of the smoked mac and cheese which I was very disappointed about. It was sort of the standout of menu but no luck. They were also out of the fish burger and a host of other things too. We finally ordered small plates of the Peppadews (South African sweet & sour peppers) and the roasted head of garlic. The dishes were good - a good appetizer size for $5 each. The peppers were stuffed with goat cheese and had a spicy kick which made the dish unique and delish. The roasted head of garlic was served with toast which was good. They cut off the top of the garlic so it was nice to serve and eat. Good appetizers even if they took awhile to come out.
Now the entrees. Justin got his red-wine braised oxtail which was poorly plated - it looked like a big bloody mess. Justin said it was actually quite good though once gets through the mess that is that dish. We got the garlic shrimp to split which came with lettuce and a pesto sauce. To me, it was the best dish of the night with nice, large, and well seasoned shrimp.
I had ordered a bean burger which never came out. We kept trying to find waitstaff to inquire as to the burger but no luck. When we finally found someone, he had no idea where the burger was and then said it was never ordered. By that time, my frustration had set in and I didn't even want the burger anymore. Then, another waiter told us the burger was on it's way up from the kitchen. 5 minutes later and no burger. Again, we said cancel the burger and we were promptly handed our check. Our check still had the burger on it. This should give you an idea as to the inefficiently of the staff.
When we went to fix the bill, a mysterious burger came up and a waiter timidly approached our table with it but after seeing my face of annoyance - he and the burger quickly disappeared. After our bill was figured out and we applied our 50% scoutmob discount (which may have been the motivating reason for going there) - our bill came out to something like $17. A good deal considering the oxtail dish was $19. What food we did get was quite good, however, not good enough to make up for the poor service and bungling of all the food. Sure, they had a big party but should that equal bad service and a forgotten entree? Overall, a bad dining experience.
Suffice to say, I won't be dining here again.
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Five Leaves - Greenpoint
Five Leaves in Greenpoint at 18 Bedford Avenue is a place where you are going to wait for brunch. Doesn’t matter what time you go, expect a wait of at least 30 minutes. Five Leaves is right near the end of McCarren Park and a strip of shops on nearby Manhattan Avenue so there’s enough to occupy you while you wait. So as you wait, here’s some background on Five Leaves.
Five Leaves was the late Heath Ledger’s idea and investment and was opened a bit after his death in 2009. Five Leaves positions itself as Australian/American but realistically, it’s a lot more American than Australian. They offer both indoor and outside seating. Inside is a small bar with a well-stocked collection of liquor and a maritime bistro feel. There are a bunch of old-timey signs advertising coffee, oysters, and cocktails. Outside is your standard bunch of small tables overlooking Bedford and Lorimer as well as waiting customers hungrily staring at you while you eat. It’s a bit crowded both inside and out as this is a place that has an earned a reputation as the place to go to in the neighborhood.
For food – the brunch menu ranges in price from $4 for grapefruit to $14 for their signature burger (that will be discussed later). There are various dishes from standard brunch dishes like sage eggs, gravelax, and granola to more adventurous dishes like ricotta pancakes, Moroccan scramble (merguez sausage, eggs, sourdough, and avocado), and mushroom toast. Many other diners (seated near us) ordered the ricotta pancakes which looked appetizing and I will admit to having a bit of order envy when staring, I mean glancing, at their plates while I awaited my food.
I ordered a hamachi tuna sandwich with an avocado spread for $14. As of today, this dish is not on their menu. I am in complete agreement with Five Leaves staff for removing this dish. Basically, the dish was an open faced sandwich with hamachi tuna, a whole bunch of minced veggies, and a strong helping of avocado spread. After my first bite, the sandwich fell apart and I finished the rest of the sandwich with a fork. It was a strange combination with the vegetables overpowering the tuna and the bread soaked with the avocado spread. Justin got the signature burger, primarily because it came with a sunnyside up egg, fried pineapple ring, and beets on a burger. The burger came and it was obvious that it wasn’t meant to be eaten like your standard burger and would involve a fork and knife. I felt the combination of elements was really unappealing. One bite of that burger totally proved my instincts right and I declined any further tastes. Justin liked the combination after reading the menu online but I think he was really enthused about the idea of an egg, pineapple, meat, and beet combo. After a few bites, I think that enthusiasm left. This burger really isn’t for everyone and they do offer a more standard burger. Both dishes came with blah shoestring fries.
The bill came to over $38 with coffee and tip. The service was bleh. Our coffee came out seconds after we ordered but our food took quite some time. Also trying to find our waitress for coffee refills and the check (despite the long line of customers waiting for a seat) was a challenge.
I won’t be making a return trip as I think this place is a bit overhyped and overpriced for what it really is. I think your money could be better spent at one of the many, many other places on Bedford.
Five Leaves was the late Heath Ledger’s idea and investment and was opened a bit after his death in 2009. Five Leaves positions itself as Australian/American but realistically, it’s a lot more American than Australian. They offer both indoor and outside seating. Inside is a small bar with a well-stocked collection of liquor and a maritime bistro feel. There are a bunch of old-timey signs advertising coffee, oysters, and cocktails. Outside is your standard bunch of small tables overlooking Bedford and Lorimer as well as waiting customers hungrily staring at you while you eat. It’s a bit crowded both inside and out as this is a place that has an earned a reputation as the place to go to in the neighborhood.
For food – the brunch menu ranges in price from $4 for grapefruit to $14 for their signature burger (that will be discussed later). There are various dishes from standard brunch dishes like sage eggs, gravelax, and granola to more adventurous dishes like ricotta pancakes, Moroccan scramble (merguez sausage, eggs, sourdough, and avocado), and mushroom toast. Many other diners (seated near us) ordered the ricotta pancakes which looked appetizing and I will admit to having a bit of order envy when staring, I mean glancing, at their plates while I awaited my food.
I ordered a hamachi tuna sandwich with an avocado spread for $14. As of today, this dish is not on their menu. I am in complete agreement with Five Leaves staff for removing this dish. Basically, the dish was an open faced sandwich with hamachi tuna, a whole bunch of minced veggies, and a strong helping of avocado spread. After my first bite, the sandwich fell apart and I finished the rest of the sandwich with a fork. It was a strange combination with the vegetables overpowering the tuna and the bread soaked with the avocado spread. Justin got the signature burger, primarily because it came with a sunnyside up egg, fried pineapple ring, and beets on a burger. The burger came and it was obvious that it wasn’t meant to be eaten like your standard burger and would involve a fork and knife. I felt the combination of elements was really unappealing. One bite of that burger totally proved my instincts right and I declined any further tastes. Justin liked the combination after reading the menu online but I think he was really enthused about the idea of an egg, pineapple, meat, and beet combo. After a few bites, I think that enthusiasm left. This burger really isn’t for everyone and they do offer a more standard burger. Both dishes came with blah shoestring fries.
The bill came to over $38 with coffee and tip. The service was bleh. Our coffee came out seconds after we ordered but our food took quite some time. Also trying to find our waitress for coffee refills and the check (despite the long line of customers waiting for a seat) was a challenge.
I won’t be making a return trip as I think this place is a bit overhyped and overpriced for what it really is. I think your money could be better spent at one of the many, many other places on Bedford.
Vanderbilt - Prospect Heights
Yes, I've been brunching but neglecting to blog. Here comes the first of many blog entries with the places you should avoid and the ones that you need to check out.
Vanderbilt in Prospect Heights is located at 570 Vanderbilt (between Dean and Bergen). I've heard good things about dinner, especially their small plate options, so figured it might be a good place to try for brunch. When you walk in, you are struck by a very large bar on your right. This bar has places to seat 10-15 comfortably. It definitely could seat way more than that 10-15 if they squeezed in seats like many other nearby spots. On the other side - there's a bunch of small tables next to windows overlooking the street. If you pass the bar and go down a few steps, there is cozy dining room with a bunch of tables and alot less distractions. The decor is rustic with dark wood planks on the walls, chalkboards listing specials, and a wood floor. It's definitely going for a sort of country feeling.
For brunch, they have some unusual faire such as Oyster Mushrooms and Bacon & Onion tart. Most of the brunch options are around $12 which is about what you'll pay at nearby brunch spots. However, they offer a $20 prix fixe option which includes a bunch of options. You get a beignet which I must admit it I never had had before. A beignet is deep fried dough with confectioner's sugar on top. Sort of like a grown-up, more dignified funnel cake. The beignets were small but delish! My friend Elisa (my brunch companion for this entry) had previously had beignets in New Orleans (apparently home of the beignet) and commented that it tasted pretty much the same. FANTASTIC START to the meal.
On the prix fixe menu, they offer a choice of three options: eggs vanderbilt (really eggs benedict with your choice of spinach or Mortadella aka a type of pork sausage), smoked trout crepe, and french toast. Elisa opted for the eggs vanderbilt with the Mortadella and instead of poached eggs - eggs scrambled. They are (or appeared to be) happy to accommodate however you want your eggs cooked instead of sticking straight with the menu. The dish looked good and she was very pleased with her choice. I opted for the smoked trout crepe which came with melted leeks, roe, and a sunnyside egg. Fabulous dish. It was on the small side (meaning if that's all you ordered, you might need something else) but beautifully plated. I felt like the crepes with the trout were the perfect combination with the sauce (leeks and roe) as a great compliment. Trout can sometimes have no taste but the creamy leek/roe sauce brought out the trout taste without it being too fishy. All dishes on the prix fixe menu also come with your choice of cottage fries (really potatoes), bacon, or sausage. We both got the cottage fries which were salty and crunchy - a nice addition to the meal.
The prix fixe menu includes coffee and your choice of brunch drink (bellini, bloody mary, dew drop, or something non-alcoholic) which makes this prix fixe menu's price ($20) totally, totally worth it! I got the dew drop drink which was an unusual bright pink and had a nice fizzy taste. The waitstaff are great and did not bug/rush us out at all. Though we were there for more than 2 hours and even past the time that brunch is served (3pm) - all the staff was courteous and brought refills of coffee and water throughout our time there.
All in all - totally recommended! Rustic setting, offbeat brunch menu, and a great value ($20 for all that food and drink!) - I totally suggest this spot and think it's worth the trip....even from Manhattan.
Vanderbilt in Prospect Heights is located at 570 Vanderbilt (between Dean and Bergen). I've heard good things about dinner, especially their small plate options, so figured it might be a good place to try for brunch. When you walk in, you are struck by a very large bar on your right. This bar has places to seat 10-15 comfortably. It definitely could seat way more than that 10-15 if they squeezed in seats like many other nearby spots. On the other side - there's a bunch of small tables next to windows overlooking the street. If you pass the bar and go down a few steps, there is cozy dining room with a bunch of tables and alot less distractions. The decor is rustic with dark wood planks on the walls, chalkboards listing specials, and a wood floor. It's definitely going for a sort of country feeling.
For brunch, they have some unusual faire such as Oyster Mushrooms and Bacon & Onion tart. Most of the brunch options are around $12 which is about what you'll pay at nearby brunch spots. However, they offer a $20 prix fixe option which includes a bunch of options. You get a beignet which I must admit it I never had had before. A beignet is deep fried dough with confectioner's sugar on top. Sort of like a grown-up, more dignified funnel cake. The beignets were small but delish! My friend Elisa (my brunch companion for this entry) had previously had beignets in New Orleans (apparently home of the beignet) and commented that it tasted pretty much the same. FANTASTIC START to the meal.
On the prix fixe menu, they offer a choice of three options: eggs vanderbilt (really eggs benedict with your choice of spinach or Mortadella aka a type of pork sausage), smoked trout crepe, and french toast. Elisa opted for the eggs vanderbilt with the Mortadella and instead of poached eggs - eggs scrambled. They are (or appeared to be) happy to accommodate however you want your eggs cooked instead of sticking straight with the menu. The dish looked good and she was very pleased with her choice. I opted for the smoked trout crepe which came with melted leeks, roe, and a sunnyside egg. Fabulous dish. It was on the small side (meaning if that's all you ordered, you might need something else) but beautifully plated. I felt like the crepes with the trout were the perfect combination with the sauce (leeks and roe) as a great compliment. Trout can sometimes have no taste but the creamy leek/roe sauce brought out the trout taste without it being too fishy. All dishes on the prix fixe menu also come with your choice of cottage fries (really potatoes), bacon, or sausage. We both got the cottage fries which were salty and crunchy - a nice addition to the meal.
The prix fixe menu includes coffee and your choice of brunch drink (bellini, bloody mary, dew drop, or something non-alcoholic) which makes this prix fixe menu's price ($20) totally, totally worth it! I got the dew drop drink which was an unusual bright pink and had a nice fizzy taste. The waitstaff are great and did not bug/rush us out at all. Though we were there for more than 2 hours and even past the time that brunch is served (3pm) - all the staff was courteous and brought refills of coffee and water throughout our time there.
All in all - totally recommended! Rustic setting, offbeat brunch menu, and a great value ($20 for all that food and drink!) - I totally suggest this spot and think it's worth the trip....even from Manhattan.
Sunday, October 16, 2011
The Farm on Adderley - Ditmas Park
The Farm on Adderly is the reason that some people trek to Ditmas Park. This traditional American/semi-organic restaurant in an outer borough neighborhood is a bit of the beaten track yet its inventive and playful cuisine is one that shouldn't be missed.
The Farm on Adderley is at 1108 Cortelyou Road, near the Cortelyou B/Q stop. Cortelyou has a bunch of other restaurants that looked interesting so all and all - this area does require a return trip on my end. The Farm on Adderley itself is a long narrow restaurant that opens up to a backyard garden. A large, dark wood bar is located in the front of the restaurant with tables squeezed in the front. In the back seating area and the backyard, there's more seating with more room between the tables.
Wait staff was prompt and eager to answer questions. The bread was a cross between an herb focaccia and standard sourdough bread (very delicious!) and was served with olive oil for dipping. While they only give you 3 pieces to start with, they are eager to refill the bread, even without prompting. Fabulous bread. I'd go back for the bread alone. We split a bottle of wine that wasn't cheap ($30 range) but they do have an extensive wine list starting at around $30 and ranging to the $80s. They also have a list of their own inventive cocktails ($10-14). Overall, the wait staff was very attentive except when it came time to get the bill – then they were nowhere to be found.
The menu isn't that extensive but there's more than enough to pique your interest. I settled on the Roasted Summer Squash dish with polenta fries and basil for $17. The dish itself was beautifully plated with a bright green base with zucchini and other various green squashes followed by a yellow squash middle with breaded pale yellow strips of polenta on top. The polenta was expertly cooked with a crispy shell and a rich creamy inside. The best cooked polenta that I've had in awhile. The rest of the dish didn't live up to the standard set by the polenta though in all fairness, it was still very good. I had assumed that there would be some sort of starch underneath the squash but I was mistaken, as there wasn’t anything hiding under the squash. The squash was cooked well and was the right amount of crunchy and soft but I did feel like I was eating the equivalent of a vegetable plate. If there had been less squash and more polenta (as there was only about 4 small pieces of polenta in total), I think the dish would score higher in my mind. My friend, Caroline, got skate aka a white fish dish for $19 which was expertly cooked and tasted delicious as well. The skate with a healthy serving of vegetables, which shows the restaurant, takes the ‘farm’ part of their name very seriously. High marks from her on the dish.
Desert left much to be desired. We got an apple crisp dish ($6), which was too heavy on the ice cream and granola with little apple to be found. It felt more like granola ice cream than anything else. I'd recommend forgoing desert in favor of a cocktail.
All in all, I liked the playfulness of the menu from the combination of dishes to the tasty and unique flavors. It has options for vegetarians and meat-lovers alike which can sometimes be a challenge to find. Definitely worth the 2 subways and bus that it took me to get there.
The Farm on Adderley is at 1108 Cortelyou Road, near the Cortelyou B/Q stop. Cortelyou has a bunch of other restaurants that looked interesting so all and all - this area does require a return trip on my end. The Farm on Adderley itself is a long narrow restaurant that opens up to a backyard garden. A large, dark wood bar is located in the front of the restaurant with tables squeezed in the front. In the back seating area and the backyard, there's more seating with more room between the tables.
Wait staff was prompt and eager to answer questions. The bread was a cross between an herb focaccia and standard sourdough bread (very delicious!) and was served with olive oil for dipping. While they only give you 3 pieces to start with, they are eager to refill the bread, even without prompting. Fabulous bread. I'd go back for the bread alone. We split a bottle of wine that wasn't cheap ($30 range) but they do have an extensive wine list starting at around $30 and ranging to the $80s. They also have a list of their own inventive cocktails ($10-14). Overall, the wait staff was very attentive except when it came time to get the bill – then they were nowhere to be found.
The menu isn't that extensive but there's more than enough to pique your interest. I settled on the Roasted Summer Squash dish with polenta fries and basil for $17. The dish itself was beautifully plated with a bright green base with zucchini and other various green squashes followed by a yellow squash middle with breaded pale yellow strips of polenta on top. The polenta was expertly cooked with a crispy shell and a rich creamy inside. The best cooked polenta that I've had in awhile. The rest of the dish didn't live up to the standard set by the polenta though in all fairness, it was still very good. I had assumed that there would be some sort of starch underneath the squash but I was mistaken, as there wasn’t anything hiding under the squash. The squash was cooked well and was the right amount of crunchy and soft but I did feel like I was eating the equivalent of a vegetable plate. If there had been less squash and more polenta (as there was only about 4 small pieces of polenta in total), I think the dish would score higher in my mind. My friend, Caroline, got skate aka a white fish dish for $19 which was expertly cooked and tasted delicious as well. The skate with a healthy serving of vegetables, which shows the restaurant, takes the ‘farm’ part of their name very seriously. High marks from her on the dish.
Desert left much to be desired. We got an apple crisp dish ($6), which was too heavy on the ice cream and granola with little apple to be found. It felt more like granola ice cream than anything else. I'd recommend forgoing desert in favor of a cocktail.
All in all, I liked the playfulness of the menu from the combination of dishes to the tasty and unique flavors. It has options for vegetarians and meat-lovers alike which can sometimes be a challenge to find. Definitely worth the 2 subways and bus that it took me to get there.
Chez Oskar - Fort Greene
Chez Oskar is located in the heart of Fort Greene's restaurant row at 211 DeKalb Avenue. The restaurant is your standard French bistro with a large and appetizing brunch menu - full of brunch classics from eggs benedict to omelets to crepes. If you are looking for a place with reasonably priced brunch classics, this place may easily become your new brunch go-to location.
The restaurant is a bit dark as they typically use sunlight to provide lighting; however, on a dark day, it makes the spot a bit too dark for my liking. Others say that the darkness creates the right amount of ambiance. There is a large bar on one side of the restaurant that provides for a good waiting spot as you typically will wait to sit down. There's also a patio full of outside seating which makes this a very popular spot in the spring, summer, and early fall. The day that we were there, the hostess immediately informed us that their cash registers were down and so the service was going to be extra slow. A fair warning as the service did prove to be exceedingly slow. Our wait staff took 10 to 15 minutes to just take our order.
I settled on Eggs Norwegian - Eggs Benedict with salmon, which comes with potatoes and a small masculine salad (really just lettuce and vinaigrette dressing) for $8.50. The dish was good with a delightful flavors and a good portion of potatoes with rosemary seasoning that was a bit salty for my taste. The eggs themselves were cooked wonderfully and were still warm when I took my first bite. Justin got an omelet with House Cured Salmon, Dill, Capers & Ricotta Cheese for $9. A good combination of flavors but Justin felt the Salmon tasted a bit overcooked. Both dishes tasted as one might expect which makes this a reliable and must-try spot, especially for those who live in the area.
The restaurant is a bit dark as they typically use sunlight to provide lighting; however, on a dark day, it makes the spot a bit too dark for my liking. Others say that the darkness creates the right amount of ambiance. There is a large bar on one side of the restaurant that provides for a good waiting spot as you typically will wait to sit down. There's also a patio full of outside seating which makes this a very popular spot in the spring, summer, and early fall. The day that we were there, the hostess immediately informed us that their cash registers were down and so the service was going to be extra slow. A fair warning as the service did prove to be exceedingly slow. Our wait staff took 10 to 15 minutes to just take our order.
I settled on Eggs Norwegian - Eggs Benedict with salmon, which comes with potatoes and a small masculine salad (really just lettuce and vinaigrette dressing) for $8.50. The dish was good with a delightful flavors and a good portion of potatoes with rosemary seasoning that was a bit salty for my taste. The eggs themselves were cooked wonderfully and were still warm when I took my first bite. Justin got an omelet with House Cured Salmon, Dill, Capers & Ricotta Cheese for $9. A good combination of flavors but Justin felt the Salmon tasted a bit overcooked. Both dishes tasted as one might expect which makes this a reliable and must-try spot, especially for those who live in the area.
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Linger Cafe - Boerum Hill
Linger Cafe is in that strange stretch of Atlantic Avenue (533 Atlantic) between Brooklyn Heights and Target. Nestled between Islamic bookstores and shops, Linger Cafe is easy to miss and walk past. However, this place is worth a look.
Inside, the decor is dark and cozy with mismatched Victorian chairs, park benches, and iron tables. A large and lush backyard garden has seating as well. An ever changing daily menu is chalked up on one wall. Today's entrees included stuffed french toast, a variety of poached egg dishes, croissants, and quiche. I chose the stuffed french toast with blueberry and mascarpone. Justin got the quiche lorraine with bacon, guyere cheese, and shallots. They didn't serve any hot drinks besides coffee so I decided upon an iced coffee.
Linger has an interesting manner of ordering. You place your order at the counter, find a seat and are served your food when it is ready, and then you pay on your way out. I think it would have been better to place the order and then pay for it upon arrival instead of 2 trips to the harried staff waiting at the counter. A small and maybe irrelevant critique.
We settled in the garden which is very large but did not have alot of seating. There were only about 5 tables when there could have been at least 10 or at least 25 in some Brooklyn brunch places. It must have been a good 10 minutes before a waitress brought out our coffees and then another 5 minutes before we got a bottle of water. There appeared to only be 2 people and maybe a chef working which was evident by the slow service. Our food came out a while later but was warm and beautifully plated.
My french toast was tasty with the blueberry adding a nice fruity touch yet it was a bit too sweet for me. The portion was a good size for $10.50 though. The french toast, itself, was just the right amount of softness. Justin's quiche was served over greens and a few slices of melon. Another good dish with a hearty crust and flaky insides. The melon looked a bit sickly. Since there was no real waiter/waitress - no one came by to ask if we wanted the check or strongly encourage us to get the check and pay sort of deal, which was a welcome change. On the other hand, by the time the food came, I was starving.
The bill was about $27 which is sort of an average price for this area of Brooklyn. The difference is service. This place isn't trying to rush you in and out - they want you (and like their name says) to linger. It's a nice place to have a lengthy catch-up with a friend though you may run out of things to talk about before you are served. Overall, the food is good and noteworthy, the decor was warm and relaxing, and is somewhere that's worth a linger, if you have the time.
Inside, the decor is dark and cozy with mismatched Victorian chairs, park benches, and iron tables. A large and lush backyard garden has seating as well. An ever changing daily menu is chalked up on one wall. Today's entrees included stuffed french toast, a variety of poached egg dishes, croissants, and quiche. I chose the stuffed french toast with blueberry and mascarpone. Justin got the quiche lorraine with bacon, guyere cheese, and shallots. They didn't serve any hot drinks besides coffee so I decided upon an iced coffee.
Linger has an interesting manner of ordering. You place your order at the counter, find a seat and are served your food when it is ready, and then you pay on your way out. I think it would have been better to place the order and then pay for it upon arrival instead of 2 trips to the harried staff waiting at the counter. A small and maybe irrelevant critique.
We settled in the garden which is very large but did not have alot of seating. There were only about 5 tables when there could have been at least 10 or at least 25 in some Brooklyn brunch places. It must have been a good 10 minutes before a waitress brought out our coffees and then another 5 minutes before we got a bottle of water. There appeared to only be 2 people and maybe a chef working which was evident by the slow service. Our food came out a while later but was warm and beautifully plated.
My french toast was tasty with the blueberry adding a nice fruity touch yet it was a bit too sweet for me. The portion was a good size for $10.50 though. The french toast, itself, was just the right amount of softness. Justin's quiche was served over greens and a few slices of melon. Another good dish with a hearty crust and flaky insides. The melon looked a bit sickly. Since there was no real waiter/waitress - no one came by to ask if we wanted the check or strongly encourage us to get the check and pay sort of deal, which was a welcome change. On the other hand, by the time the food came, I was starving.
The bill was about $27 which is sort of an average price for this area of Brooklyn. The difference is service. This place isn't trying to rush you in and out - they want you (and like their name says) to linger. It's a nice place to have a lengthy catch-up with a friend though you may run out of things to talk about before you are served. Overall, the food is good and noteworthy, the decor was warm and relaxing, and is somewhere that's worth a linger, if you have the time.
Friday, June 24, 2011
Puerto Alegre - Mission District, San Francisco
On a trip to San Francisco, we decided to look for a Sunday morning brunch place. After we successfully took a ride on an antique streetcar down Market Street which is really fun and only slightly touristy, we got off and looked for a place to eat. A few places that were noted for Brunch had long lines so we decided to go off the beaten path and look for something else. Justin knew a place that he used to go to in the Mission but it was gone, so we settled on a cheap, hole-in-the wall Mexican diner at 546 Valencia between 16th and 17th.
Reasonable prices, unlimited chips and salsa, and coffee at $1.35. Fine dining - its not, but instead, it's pretty darn good Mexican. The decor was tacky, diner-tastic meaning dark, pleather booths, and wood paneling. Yet the place was fairly packed and the service was fast and friendly.
The brunch menu is fairly extensive (2 pages!) and all entrees are between $6-9. All come with your choice of flour or corn torillas in addition to your entree. I got Huevos Rancheros which also came with a small salad and rice/beans. It was a hearty portion and the 2 eggs were cooked perfectly. They weren't overly runny which you sometimes get. It was filling and delicious. The beans and rice were fairly standard but a good compliment. There was a torilla on the bottom of the eggs but it got too soggy to eat. Justin got a sort of egg and meat scrambled dish that also came with a small salad and rice/beans. Again - a big hit. With coffee, the total came to under $20. All in all - a very good meal and one I'd highly recommend.
Reasonable prices, unlimited chips and salsa, and coffee at $1.35. Fine dining - its not, but instead, it's pretty darn good Mexican. The decor was tacky, diner-tastic meaning dark, pleather booths, and wood paneling. Yet the place was fairly packed and the service was fast and friendly.
The brunch menu is fairly extensive (2 pages!) and all entrees are between $6-9. All come with your choice of flour or corn torillas in addition to your entree. I got Huevos Rancheros which also came with a small salad and rice/beans. It was a hearty portion and the 2 eggs were cooked perfectly. They weren't overly runny which you sometimes get. It was filling and delicious. The beans and rice were fairly standard but a good compliment. There was a torilla on the bottom of the eggs but it got too soggy to eat. Justin got a sort of egg and meat scrambled dish that also came with a small salad and rice/beans. Again - a big hit. With coffee, the total came to under $20. All in all - a very good meal and one I'd highly recommend.
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