Ever since we saw it on Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives, Dan and I have been dreaming of visiting the Brindle Room and trying their legendary burger. Marveling at Guy Fieri, as he devoured that juicy patty with all the fixins, we decided to make a date out of it, coming out for happy hour and staying til dinner.
Atmosphere:
Set in the heart of the East Village on 10th Street between 1st Avenue and Avenue A, The Brindle Room is surrounded by private residences and a sprinkling of quaint eateries. It’s somewhat easy to miss if you’re not looking for it, as the sign is subtle and the façade narrow.
Comfort and familiarity washes over you as you first step into The Brindle Room, feeling oddly nostalgic and automatically like a place you won’t come to just once. Dan and I situated ourselves close to the bar, so we got a little feel of the action and observed a few folks enjoying quintessential bar food eats such as burgers, beers, poutine, oysters and such. Everything looked and smelled wonderful, which assured us why we came.
Food:
Noticing a sweet deal on happy hour items such as oysters, mussels, poutine and beers, Dan and I started with a few apps before moving on to the showstopper burger.
Oysters – The $1 deal on oysters was an easy sell for us, as we ordered a half dozen and gulped them down with gusto. Not only were they large and meaty, they boasted a clean fresh-from-the-sea flavor that didn’t need much else besides a little spritz of lemon.
Moules Frites – It was also hard to resist the happy hour PEI mussels, which came topped with a rustic garlic, tomato and basil broth. While enjoying the actual mussels and their substantial interior, the Provencal sauce was the best part, especially as a vessel for those well done frites.
The Burger – To simply call this a burger wouldn’t do it justice, as it was so much more than that. I have to admit that it didn’t look impressive, the puny thin bun and a slightly charred outside making it seem pedestrian. However immediately following the first bite, we quickly understood why it was recognized as a Triple D standout.
Firstly, the juiciness of the meat is simply diabolical, as each morsel produces utter delight with the well marbled meaty flavor dissolving into your tastebuds. You quickly learn why they use the thin bun, as the meat is truly the star ingredient and the bread simply just a vehicle of transport for the meat. A heap of perfectly caramelized onions and a generous slab of slightly melted Roquefort cheese gives the burger a hint of sophistication and further accentuates its quality. Without a doubt, this is an overall win!
Donut Holes – Although we were already full, the waitress offered us a serving of complimentary orange glazed donut holes that we couldn’t refuse. Loving the idea behind this clever dessert, I appreciated the resourcefulness of the holes as well as its sweet flavor and airy texture. The orange glaze on top further sealed this already sweet deal.
Service and Cost:
Very much in line with the relaxed vibe, the service at the Brindle Room also mirrors that. Impressed with the level of knowledge that our waitress had about the menu, she was confidently able to recommend what to get and even went into specifics about some of the ingredients. Overall, everyone had a very casual feel about them, which was welcome and needed after a long day in the big city.
Costs are pretty decent considering the quality of all the food and its NYC location. The burger set us back $14, which isn’t cheap but it truly was a bomb burger, and the happy hour small plates were $5-$6 each. Our dinner came out to about $35 each including drinks, tax and tip.
3 Mmmms
The Brindle Room – 277 East 10th Street, New York, NY 10009
212.529.9702
L Train to 1st Avenue
brindleroom.com
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