This week we decided to kick off our month of changes with a new and different brunch spot. As it was on the way to Coney Island, we decided to stop by the quaint and eclectic main street of Bellevue, KY and try out the Bellevue Bistro (Bb). After a few weeks of going as a duo, we finally had companions with us this week- our future roommates, Joey and Nick.
I had never been to Bellevue before and enjoyed the small town, yet bustling, setting of Fairfield Avenue. Initially, for this reason, we thought it would be a good idea to sit at a sidewalk table. However we soon found out, as the abundance of available outdoor seating should have indicated to us from the start, it was way too sunny and hot to sit outside. No problem though, as Bb has a few indoor tables looking out on the street and a kindly gentleman gave his to us.
We knew from looking at their online menu that Bb was a good value, most of their breakfast dishes are between $4.50 and $7.95. They also have a separate and extensive lunch menu. Everything was sounding delicious. Joey went for the Belgium waffles, Nick decided on the portabella mushroom sandwich from the lunch menu, and John and I, not wanting to wander too far from the breakfast side of brunch (even though it was almost 1pm), both got breakfast sautes. The sautes are breakfast skillets and we decided to get one seafood (The Surf and Turf) and one sausage saute.
The interior of Bb feels like a warm and inviting bohemian-style living room, with marbled gold walls, wood trim, a fireplace, lots of pieces of art all over the place (for sale, by local artists), and tables stocked with issues of Dwell. It was clear that someone at the establishment had some design sense and everything was very tasteful.
But, getting back to the food!
The surf and turf saute was delicious! With crab, avocado, bacon, basil, tomato, egg, and cheese all over potatoes, it was pretty much every good thing all mixed into one. Sometimes this can go awry, but not this time. It was a true winner. The sausage saute was just meat and potatoes, even the green apples thrown in for variety couldn't dress it up enough...or maybe the surf and turf was just too good by comparison. Nick's Portabella sandwich looked fresh and hardy, with grilled onions, red bell pepper, and mozzarella, on Ciabatta bread. I think the next time I go, I'm getting this.
Unfortunately, I don't think Joey realized that his waffle was a Taste from Belgium (TM) waffle from the guy at Findlay Market and therefore not very big. The waffle looked minuscule on the giant plate, with bananas and chocolate shavings merely attempting to compensate. However, as most Cincinnatians already know, these are the best waffles in the world, with a crunchy/sweet outside and cakey inside. But, if you're expecting a huge, fluffy Belgian waffle, these aren't the ones for you. I got a lemonade instead of a coffee, but tried a little bit of John's coffee and it was definitely good. Almost made me regret my lemonade decision. Free refills on everything was a nice bonus. Overall, we had a great experience. The service was friendly, the food delicious, and the prices decent. The Bellevue Bistro is definitely a little gem of a place that you should check out, if you haven't already. I'm sure we'll be returning there for brunch, lunch, or even dinner (!) at some point in the future. Bellevue Bistro website
This week we take the brunch blog to Lavomatic in the 'Gateway Quarter'. While white people are busy making inroads into a black neighborhood through the gateway, we were simply interested in some brunch. (kidding.)
On this particular morning we were one of two tables at Lavomatic. We had our choice of almost any table in the restaurant, except, unfortunately the rooftop patio tables (rained all day). The refurbished outdoor dining area overlooks Vine Street and is nestled between two taller buildings for a pleasant, intimate urban atmosphere.
In a trend noted by Michael Pollan, local chefs are starting to pair up with local farmers and are even promoting the growers by naming them on their menus. Lavomatic is one of the first places we have seen in Cincinnati to do this.
Their menu is made just the way I like it: small. One side of an 8.5x11 is all they needed to display their nine entrees that vary week to week and small selection of sides. This week they offered: Eggs Benedict, the Monte Cristo, Steak and Eggs, the Porkopolis, Fruit Pizza, French Toast, an Omelette du Jour, Curry Chicken Salad, and a Poached Salmon Salad.
After strong campaigns by the Steak and Eggs (doomed by its $14 cost) and the French Toast (thought I'd want something savory), we opted for the Monte Cristo and the Porkopolis.
The Monte Cristo is actually a french toast sandwich, filled with bacon, turkey, swiss, and small bits of pineapple. The pineapple was tasty, but there wasn't enough of it to radically change the character of the sandwich. Even with the French toast, it was still just a turkey sandwich. (delicious nonetheless) It was served with a mountain of greens dressed in the lightest vinagrette. I never realized how appropriate a huge pile of subtle greens could be for brunch, but it was probably our second favorite element of the brunch.
The Porkopolis description reads: Findlay sausage links over Brickdough stuffed with hot slaw of green cabbage and bacon, bourbon butter, and topped with a fried egg. Sue didn't like the cabbage or the huge rod of a sausage that was 'too meaty', but she was a fan of the 'filo doughish' brickdough. Again, I thought everything was delicious. (Perhaps I'm too easy to please?) In addition, this dish completely blew my previous conception of Lavomatic - that the portions tasted good, but didn't fill you up - out of the water. I was satiated nicely, however Sue couldn't finish all of her portion.
Drinks were a mixed bag. The coffee at Lavomatic is amazing: a very dark french roast served in attractive little cups and saucers. (the coffee was my favorite single component of the brunch) All you can drink of course. They also offer alcoholic brunch beverages, such as the Bloody Mary and Mimosas. Sue went out on a limb and ordered the Salty Dog, which is grapefruit juice, gin, and a salted rim. The drink ended up being a huge disappointment. The grapefruit juice came straight out of an Ocean Spray plastic bottle, was bright pink, and tasted just OK. For $7, you'd think they could offer some fresh squeezed grapefruit juice, or at the very least a juice of a little higher quality than the neon pink ocean spray stuff.
Overall, Lavomatic is a touch more expensive than other brunch spots we have covered, but for the most part the extra expense is worth it. The dishes were innovative and did a great job of somehow mixing density and flavor with delicate, light elements. Just stay away from that Salty Dog!
Lavomatic
