Thanks to a rather unpleasant experience with Four Loko the night before this, I didn’t drag myself out of bed until the afternoon, so I couldn’t take advantage of the drink that comes with the brunch deal for $14.95 (one Bloody Mary, Mimosa or draft beer with your entree), but I still had a late brunch with a good friend, a rather large serving of fried onion straws, a giant grilled cheese, and washed it all down with an iced tea. Ahhh hangovers.
Two Door Tavern has popped up on my radar a few times and I never managed to make it over there even though it’s five blocks from my apartment. The bi level space is what I like to call Williamsburg-chic: lots of wood, glass fixtures, no frills. I have to admit that I think their regular menu sounds more intriguing than their brunch menu, but it was still good and I would definitely go back. I ordered the Tuscan Grilled Cheese with mozzarella, prosciutto, arugula, sliced tomato, and sun dried tomato aioli. The sandwich comes with fries or onion straws, and I am a sucker for onion straws (not to be confused with rings) so I opted for those. Onion straws are very, very thinly sliced onions, battered and fried to crispy and slightly spicy perfection – Two Door Tavern serves them with a spicy ketchup that was just perfect. The sandwich on the other hand was a little cold; a grilled cheese should be nice and HOT. This was not. The taste was good (and loaded with prosciutto) so it was kind of upsetting, and I thought about sending it back for a reheat, but it took a while to arrive in the first place so I thought better of that plan and just ate the slightly cold sandwich.
Ange (my late brunch date) ordered the Maple Pecan Chicken Sandwich with sweet potato fries. The sandwich is a chicken cutlet with baby spinach, tomato, and honey balsamic sauce on focaccia. The sweet potato fries are also served with a cinnamon-honey dipping sauce, which Ange was a BIG fan of – sweet and creamy, it made the fries almost taste like a dessert. She is a sauce-nut, so I trust her opinion on these things – I tasted a few (with and without sauce) and they were yum.
I really want to go back to Two Door Tavern for the regular menu…fried pickles, bacon wrapped stuffed dates, homemade pigs in a blanket, philly cheese steak spring rolls…yes. I need that in my life soon. And if you do go for brunch, please note that they have red velvet pancakes on the menu. I didn’t try them but they sound glorious.
Two Door Tavern
116 North 5th Street (btwn Bedford and Berry)
718-599-0222
Website/Menu: Two Door Tavern
