Loie Fuller’s

My wife and I haven’t been out to dinner or brunch in quite a while. We’ve been pretty busy (and broke) with moving and a new baby on the way and all. In fact, we might not be able to do much after the baby, either… Anyway, it was a special occasion (our 1 year anniversary), and so we decided we just had to treat ourselves.

We hadn’t been to Loie Fuller in quite some time. Ages ago, we had a prix-fixe Valentine Dinner there that was quite good. They were still new at the time and maybe working out the kinks in the menu, but it was a great experience. We had heard they had brunch for some time now, but like I said, just haven’t had the funds to make the trip.

Since it was a special occasion, we went decadent (for us). We started with a plate of beignets ($6), the french version of a morning donut. Dusted with powdered sugar with a side of what I think was strawberry rhubarb compote, this side dish was a the perfect sweet starter for our savory mains. Hot, a little dense in the middle, but very tasty, these guys were great. Reminded me, of course, of Cafe du Monde in New Orleans, but I’m not such a fanatic that I can say I remember what they taste like and that these were better or worse. All I’ll say is, not many places serve beignets and so I am glad there is an option when I’m in the mood.

The menu is small, but it changes rather frequently. I decided on the Steak Egg and Cheese (two eggs, shaved steak, cheddar and spicy aoili), which was a Philly cheesesteak with an egg on a bun. I attempted to eat it like a sandwich, but that only lasted two bites. It was just too rich and the bread soaked up the aoili. It was still delicious with a fork and knife. A little mixed green was on the side with a small slice of watermelon, all for only $8. The steak was tender and just made the perfect sort of Sunday morning fare.

Beth had the Shrimp and grits with poached eggs, which was also $8. I had only a little bite, and it was quite nice. The grits were creamy but not heavy, they shrimp looked expertly grilled, and the addition of poached eggs and hollandaise to the whole things just must have been divine. It was just what she was in the mood for, she said, and we both finished our plates. Sadly, that meant no leftovers for the next day (or that evening).

After our non-alcoholic drinks (coffee for me), food, taxes and tip, the bill came to under $40. I have to say, that’s pretty reasonable. Something about the sumptuous Art Nouveau decor in there makes you think you’ll be spending an arm and a leg, but the few times I have been, I was pleasantly surprised when the bill came. I’m sure once you’ve had a few $6 Bloody Marys and Mimosas you can go overboard, but at that point, I don’t think you care.

It must also be noted that there were quite a few families with small children there. I can only imagine that the packed houses at Nick’s and Julian’s not too far from Loie’s makes parents come here instead. The decor makes them feel grown up, the prices are reasonable, the atmosphere is friendly, and you don’t have hungry patrons staring at you while you eat. Plus, the more hurried waitstaff won’t give you the evil eye when your toddler throws some toast on the floor. Maybe that means that Loie’s isn’t making as much money as the rest, but I’d say it’s a win for parents who want a local option other than family chain restaurants or busy hipster hang outs. The lack of a wait actually makes me think twice about going back to Nick’s or Julian’s in the morning, and the food at Loie’s is just as decadent.

Other items on the menu while we were there include: Belgium Waffle, Vegetable Omelet, Striped Bass Cake, Chicken Hash, French Toast, Vegetable Frittata, a Croque Madam, and sides of Hash Browns or Applewood smoked Bacon.

Note: I intentionally put this place in the “Cheap Eats” and the “Upscale Dining” category because it belongs in both places: it’s reasonably priced but feels more upscale.

Brunch at LJs

When I found out that some friends of mine hadn’t eaten at LJs, I couldn’t help suggesting that we try them next time we do brunch, especially when I heard that one of them was a self-declared pulled pork fiend. She even went so far as to describe the food as “one of the best things humans ever came up with”. So when Sunday rolled around, LJs was the plan.

I love, love the Big Mess: potatoes, pulled pork, poached eggs and BBQ tinged hollandaise. Throw some hot sauce on top and dig right in. The BBQ and hollandaise and egg mix together with the pork… oh my gawd. Delicious.

The Modern Diner introduced me to the idea of pulled pork with eggs with one of their specials, a pulled pork omelette – but LJs homemade pulled pork, BBQ sauce and hollandaise just takes it all to the next delectable level. So much so that three out of the four of us got the Big Mess and loved it.

The other at our table – my wife – got another amazing staple, the LJs Benedict. Almost like the Big Mess, but with a few welcome additions: poached eggs and chipotle hollandaise over pulled pork and grilled cornbread with a side of homefries.

The atmosphere is a little Southern inspired for sure, but still feels down home in New England. The tables are covered in that standard red gingham that lets you know you are eating BBQ, and instead of napkins there’s a big roll of paper towel on the table. Dig in!

It should be noted that we have tried other things on the menu, but these two dishes keep us coming back. Their cornbread pancakes with bacon bits cooked in are amazing – they make pancakes savory again. Their sweet potato pancakes are also really good, and if you can’t choose, get the pancake sampler: one buttermilk, one corn cake, and one sweet potato. The Power Tool is great – chili and cheese with homefries – and their sides of grits are delicious. All around, I don’t think you can really go wrong with brunch – or dinner – at LJs.

Brunch at Brickway

It’s been a year or maybe two since I’ve been to the Brickway. It’s not because the food isn’t good, or affordable. It’s because it’s always just so busy. Good for them, really. I mean, its not a bad thing. It’s just tough for me as I usually arrive hungry and then get cranky if I have to wait for more than ten minutes.

This morning the four of us waited for just about 20 minutes, which isn’t bad. Most of the students are on Winter break, which I hoped would help us with the wait. We got shown our table with merely a point, but like I said, it was busy in there. Even though I hadn’t been there in so long, I still remember what most of the menu was, and you really can’t go wrong with most things. So, I went with something off the wall – literally. I decided to get a special.

Now, it was called The Hot Mess and had chili, cheese, poached eggs and hollandaise served over potatoes with toast. What’s not to like? But I really got it because it reminded me of one of my favorite breakfast items, The Big Mess at LJ’s BBQ in Pawtucket. So, while I liked it, I guess it was doomed from the beginning because I just love LJ’s pulled pork so much.

Still, it was pretty good. With some Frank’s hot sauce on top and a bottomless cup of coffee I was very happy. My wife got a great-looking fruit cup (esp. for winter-time) and the veggie sandwich (with avocado! Food kryptonite, says Adam Richman). A friend we were with got the Brickway staple, the S-Pet, which is a poached egg sandwich. The other friend of ours got a french toast special with blueberries and strawberries and yogurt cream which looked amazing, and smelled great. He was the first to clean his plate.

Bottom line – if it wasn’t always packed, I’d go more often. The food is solid, the prices are great, and the people watching is pretty good, too. It’s slightly better in the summer when you can sit outside.

You know, I hate to downgrade place a little just because they are busy – they wouldn’t be busy if they weren’t so good. So, it’s a lame reason, but I’m a lame old guy I guess.