Finally the wait is over, well nearly! Chef Jeremy Spector, accomplished culinarian of past eateries as Employees Only, Dogmatic Dog and Gramercy Tavern, heads up the helm at this British inspired restaurant, nestled in the East Village. I got the scoop, from a confidential burger source a couple of weeks ago, that a goliath meaty sandwich was going to appear on the menu for brunch to challenge this gotham of burger architects. The Brindle Room is the brain child of Chef Jeremy and CIA graduate Dean Piccolo, a beef fanatic, and owner of Sebastians Steakhouse in Morristown New Jersey. The Brindle room is a charming, cosy little Gastropub-like spot, serving a variety of fare with a small menu made up of three parts-spreads,small and large. The reason for this is to ensure an easy transition to seasonal and daily changes. Some features on the menu consist of a traditional Lancastrian speciality Potted Shrimp, Crispy shredded pork bellies with warmed spinach, and Roast Chicken with root vegetables in porcini jus. The restaurant is drowned in pleasant dark tones and has a feel, reminiscent of an old English ale house, featuring a Starck-esque wall length banquette, wooden stools and warm lighting.
I sat at the small counter/bar in the rear, and chatted to Chef Jeremy as he prepared a 9 oz patty, hand blended daily by Sebastians Steakhouse. The meat elements included aged trimmings of Short Ribs, Filet Mignon, Skirt and Rib-Eye. He pan-fried it in a seasoned cast-iron skillet, till char brown and juicy, assembled it in front of my eyes with a simple bun (soon to be Pain D’Avignon), creamy soft Stilton cheese, and earthy herb flavored caramelized onions. Perched in front of me with a generous bed of crispy hand-cut french fries, I wasted no time sampling this beautiful beast. The flavor was rich and powerful ! A mouth-watering succulence, mixed with full-bodied velvety taste of the Stilton, and slight tones of earthy herb and spice from the onions. The French-fries were perfect, crispy and salty. And to add a little” je nais se quoi” it’s also offered à cheval-with a fried egg.
The burger will open to a popular following in two or three weeks for brunch, or maybe you can pull up a bar stool like I did, and chew the fat with Chef Jeremy Spector and he might give you a sneak peek ? who knows? you may just have the luck of the Irish! or… is it the British?? Whatever! go and check out The Brindle Room and find out for yourself, you won’t be disappointed.
The Brindle Room
277 E 10th Street,
nr. Ave. A and 1st Ave
Ph: 212.529.9702
DMANBURGER- a quest for the best burger in nyc 