I finally made it to chef Daniel Eardley's Chestnut, one of the first to open on Brooklyn's "Restaurant Row" back in 2001, yesterday for brunch. It was so delicious and the service superb, I turned to my friend Katie and wondered why it took me 8 years to go. Granted, I had left the neighborhood for 4 of those years but still even with the abundance of restaurants and cafes in the Cobble Hill/Carroll Gardens area (which can certainly get to be a bit overwhelming), Chestnut is not one to miss!
I was greeted by Susan, the friendly bartender and sat in the "refined rustic" new bar (which just opened in October) while I waited for my brunch date. I ordered a bottle of sparkling water which was delivered in a bottle that I hadn't seen before. Susan told me that it was from a local Brooklyn company and that they were very green, bottles are re-used and collected weekly. I was instantly impressed and the water was refreshing and just as good as San Pellegrino or Lurisia. Katie arrived and we decided to stay and eat at the bar (I've always been a fan of eating at the bar, maybe I was British in a former life). We ordered and as we were waiting for our meal, we were given a complimentary plate of home-made baked goods. A moist blueberry scone, a freshly baked popover (a light hollow roll made from egg batter), and two miniature cinnamon rolls served with home-made jam and butter, yum!
Shortly thereafter we received our main course. I ordered the poached eggs with wild mushrooms and caramelized shallots atop of brioche toast drenched in a light, creamy mushroom sauce. Katie opted for the salt cod hash with roasted egg and mixed greens. Both dished were melt-in-your-mouth delicious and so inventive. Eardley's simple, savory dishes are all made with local produce, and according to Slow Food NYC, the chef has been known to "regularly travel upstate to his native Dutchess County to forage and visit farms of his childhood, filling the car with all it can carry."
My taste buds were pleasantly surprised and very satisfied. It is so refreshing to find a place that puts a creative spin on the traditional brunch dish and succeeds, focusing on the simplicity of the flavors and quality of the ingredients as opposed to going overboard in order to try to be different. Since Chestnut can be a bit pricey at dinner time for some, Susan informed us that on Tuesdays and Wednesdays they offer a $30 three course prix fixe menu. Amazing! I will definitely be back! It may have taken me eight years to sample the goodness that is Chestnut, but I am so glad that I did!
Chestnut
271 Smith St. (btwn. Sackett and Degraw)
718.243.0049
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