Let’s just say this place is very appropriately named.
It’s not a hole in the wall in the traditional sense (dark, somewhat dirty, hidden in between a comic book store and a crack den), it’s more out in the open and quite bright, yet you can still walk right by it.
Hole in the Wall sits on 15 Cliff Street, right next to what looks like an apartment building that’s a little receded into the sidewalk, and there’s no signage. So when I was on the block looking for it, I wasn’t sure if that was it, or if it was part of the apartment building. Aka… outsiders persona non grata, you know? But I took a shot and walked in and asked if I was in the right place. The nice Australian folks inside said I was, so I waited for my brother, Cliff, to join me. Cliff on Cliff Street. I swear that was not planned.
My expectations were actually low for this, because I don’t frequent the financial district area often. In fact, I kind of hate it. I just find it crowded and confusing. But thankfully, Hole in the Wall delivered on some really beautiful plates and amazing iced coffee. Not kidding I would drink that coffee black, and I never do that. We were there for a late lunch, but we basically had brunch food. That said, I believe they are closed on weekends. So if you’re looking for a weekday brunch, here’s a good bet. Bonus points for the Australian staff, because who doesn’t love that accent?
Lunch at: Hole in the Wall Cafe
- Detox Cauliflower Salad: I don’t know why this was calling out to me, but it must have been the lemon, hummus, and egg combo. I saw that and I said “yes, my body wants that rn”. It was a hot day and it sounded refreshing. The cauliflower was done like cauliflower rice, with chopped almonds, dried cranberries, and a lightly fried egg on top. Really delicious, and low carb! Gotta love that for the summer AMIRITE.
- Pulled Pork Benedict: As I said to Cliff, they’re not exactly reinventing the wheel with this one, but they did a damn good job of it. They even added a few new touches I never thought about: citrus, apple, and BURNT BUTTER HOLLANDAISE. Like, ok. There were little slices of sweet and tart green apple on top of the egg, and a lemon wedge on the side. The acidic combo really perked up the entire dish! And the burnt butter hollandaise? Rich and slightly smoky. Loved all of this.
- Chili Scrambled Eggs: This was probably the most beautiful dish we had. The eggs were perfectly scrambled with a hint of pecorino cheese, topped with chives, shallots, and red chilies, served with avocado and bacon on the side. My only complaint was this: not enough bacon.
- Acai Bowl: Ok maybe THIS was the most beautiful dish we had. I mean it’s an acai bowl – theyr’re basically works of art. I liked this one a lot and I’m very picky about my acai bowls. There was coconut, granola, chia seeds, and blueberries.
