We got up early this weekend to brunch with good friends Moses and Sonya. Moses' recent move to Oregon has left us missing our friends, so even though this meal was way early in the morning, Dan and I looked forward to it for many reasons, the food being just one of them.
I was amused to see that when we walked into BareBurger, we were its first customers. It was a cool feeling actually, as this place is anything but mellow during core business hours. We settled in the extended dining room and scored a comfortable booth, which I always prefer.
Although I've brunched here before, the menu changed a bit since then, and all four of us tried something we haven't yet had.
Carrot Cake French Toast - I always wanted to try either carrot cake pancakes or French toast, so here was my chance. Not sure if it would be a bread-like texture with shredded carrots inside, or actual carrot cake, I took my chances. What arrived was the latter - a large, thick slice of carrot cake that was battered in egg and sprinkled with powdered sugar. It was dense, moist and so very decadent. Although delicious, it was difficult to finish the whole thing, as it got a bit too rich for my taste. Dan helped me clean my plate, but in the meantime, I dived into the side of fresh bananas and apples, which were scrumptious. The home fries that sat in the middle of the plate were also tasty and wonderfully crunchy, but I couldn't see them making much sense with the French Toast, as they were too savory. It was a rather curious combo.
Chicken and Waffles -Dan was on the fence about this dish and in the end, he chose it still with some hesitation. As a result, he was disappointed, as he said the waffle wasn't soft enough and that the chicken was too fatty. I had a bite of it but didn't agree at all, so it may have been simply a matter of preference. The chicken meat wasn't all white, which I like but Dan found it off-putting.
Buttermilk Pancakes - Both Moses and Sonya ordered these, and while I didn't try them, they looked fluffy and decadent. They were a huge hit, as our friends didn't have any complaints and nearly finished the generous portion. The most amazing part of this dish was the gorgeous Nutella cream served on the side, raising the bar from ordinary pancakes, which these were not.
Service and Cost:
While our waitress was quirky and a little odd, I really liked her honesty and dedication to our every need. She checked on us often, and even offered to change Dan's order after his Chicken & Waffles wishy-washiness.
Costs are moderate and set us back about $19/person with tax and tip. This included coffee, soft drinks and a beer too.
2.5 Mmmms
BareBurger - 33-21 31st Avenue, Astoria NY 11106
718.777.7011
N/Q Train to Broadway
www.bareburger.com
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