Brunch Recommendation: Ellis

So, I know, brunch is how restaurants make you pay crazy amounts of cash for what would cost you $1.20 to make at home. Yet, it's my favorite meal with which to treat myself (and visitors). It's cheaper than going out for dinner, it's at a reasonable hour for the kiddles, and there is often the option of eggie-cheesie delights if nothing else inspires you.

So on Sunday, with my sister driving out of her way to meet up for a very brief visit with her niece and nephew, we chose Ellis. I figured it's easy to get onto the BQE from there, it's a place I've been wanting to try, but haven't gotten around to, and I'd heard rumors about a changing table in one of the bathrooms (it's true!). Okay, I'll admit, I was also desperate to try one of the fry bread creations that I'd heard about when I gave up my invite for the opening to my favorite (and generous) photographer, Vanessa. (See what she had to say.)

It was empty when we arrived just past 11 AM. It remained empty the entire time we were there. We got two highchairs, a coloring book and crayons, and the entire side room (with NY1 - with no cable, I miss my NY1!) to ourselves. I ordered the Navajo Fry Bread Pizza (seen above), and it was amazing. Garlicky, rich pesto under cheese and sunflower seeds. Really, even if it had just been the pesto on the fry bread, I would have been happy. The fry bread was all I hoped for. If I were there on my own I probably would have ordered the Nutella fry bread as well. :)
My sister ordered the Navajo Fry Bread Breakfast Taco. I didn't get a chance to taste it, but she said it was really good. The beans didn't look refried to me, but actually, they were probably better whole. I may get this the next time.

My sister's traveling buddy ordered the two eggs over medium with sausage. The hash browns looked a little crispy, but he said they were actually amazing: crunchy on the outside and moist (is that the right word?) on the inside. He finished them. The three sausages were definitely not from the freezer section. My husband got the Breakfast Burrito with shrimp, and he enjoyed it very much.

I liked the space - gotta love a place with books and dart boards - and the bathrooms are definitely sized for Brooklyn not Manhattan. The changing table is in the left-hand bathroom. There's a tiny outdoor space, but it looks more like the smoking section at my high school in the 80's. (They don't have it anymore.) Maybe it looks more inviting at night.

Overall, our visit to Ellis made me want to return to try more dishes. According to Yelp, it's had some ups and downs with staffing and atmosphere. And it seems to be more of a bar than a restaurant (hence the website's EllisBar)...but I'm all about the food.

Have you been? What did you think? Wanna do brunch?

Ellis Bar Wants Parents to Get Out More

Ellis Bar, home of rattlesnake and apparently amazing cocktails, encourages parents to drink on a weeknight. I suppose you could use Thursday as a night out for Valentine's Day. It's a little late for me, but I know there are plenty of Sunset parents who hold later hours than I do. See below for the details from the email:

Parents of Brooklyn
Enjoy a night out because you deserve it!
The 2nd Thursday of every month at Ellis is Parent's Night Out
February 12th 9pm
1st. Get a sitter
2nd. Grab a picture of your little ones (or big ones)
3rd. Come to Ellis for $1 off Drafts

Just show the bartender a picture of your offspring and we'll take $1
off every draft beer you drink, all night long

Ellis Bar
627 5th Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11215
between 17th & 18th st
www.ellisbar.com

*Event Sponsored in part by Boing Boing of Brooklyn

Ellis Bar and Eurotrip get Reviewed by the Big Guns

It's quite the week for eating and drinking establishments in what real estate types still insist on calling South Slope (are we really calling it SoSlo?). Ellis Bar is reviewed by The Village Voice, and Eurotrip is reviewed by The New York Times.

Devoting three paragraphs to the dangerous delights and impressive history of Ellis' fry bread, The Village Voice's review of Ellis Bar is appreciative, if confused. The Voice's reviewer was disappointed in the rattlesnake and catfish, but thrilled with the homemade pepper jelly, meatloaf, and (most of) the drinks.

See my neighbor Vanessa's reaction to her meal at Ellis Bar here. She liked the rattlesnake better than The Voice did.

The Times gives Eurotrip a slightly condescending review, that likes the gooey, fried Edam cheese and the Slavik halusky (potatoes, bacon, cheese...), but calls the wine selection a "heartfelt attempt" (can't you picture the pat on the head?) to represent central Europe. The reader is encouraged to stick to the beer and stay away from the wine. "All is forgiven" the reviewer says, if you choose the hot Berlin cider to finish up your meal. It does sound good, but for $8, I'll heat up my own cider, thanks. Perhaps there is a smaller, cheaper version available?

Sunday Art Tour - Sunset's Tabla Rasa is on the Green Loop

If you want to check out some art for free, Sunday is one of the best days to take part. Tabla Rasa Gallery is the Sunset Park offering to this smART tour. Tabla Rasa is currently showing Nobis Solo; the accompanying photo is from that exhibit. The HUB for the Green Loop (which includes Sunset Park) is the Brooklyn Museum of Art. So, if you want to sign up for it, you can get a visit in to the BMA as well as the other Green Loop stops (which goes through Crown Heights, Park Slope, Gowanus, Sunset, and Flatbush) and then "hop off" for Tabla Rasa on your way home.

It seems like you have to get on at the beginning, but perhaps I'm reading it wrong. You can, however, hop on and off to enjoy whichever galleries on the loop you wish to see. Madarts on 18th and 5th has been especially good on previous open houses, so I recommend stopping there. Then you can get something to eat at Ellis or get a coffee at Southside (on 6th Avenue) while you're at it.

See below for more information. Or, you can download the PDF here: http://www.visitbrooklyn.org/pdf/smART_Program.pdf

Make sure you register!!

smART • December 14, 2008 • How to Participate

• Register by phone: 718-802-3530 or email: smart@visitbrooklyn.org

You must give your name, phone number or email, and specify which hub
and time you want (e.g., 2pm BLUE loop). Please note that you may only
make reservations for 2 people. Seating is limited - we will accommodate
people without reservations only after seating people with reservations!

• Buses leave on the hour: 1pm, 2pm, 3pm, 4pm and 5pm*

Please arrive at the hub location at least 15 minutes before departure.
Schedules for each loop will be handed out on the bus.

*The 5pm bus is the last trip for the day – please be advised it has NO return loop! • Enjoy hopping on & off the bus within each line’s loop! Please note this is not a door-to-door service. (Galleries will be within approximately three blocks of each stop)

Ellis Opens in South(est) Slope - or is it Greenwood Heights?

Or maybe it's Sunset Park? Well, it's within a pleasant enough walk or a quick bus ride from Sunset, so it counts. Besides, they invited us to a sampling of food and drink. You KNOW that deserves a looksee - and tasting.

Although Ellis just opened officially, it has had its doors open to the community for a month or so. It already has several reviews on Yelp.com. It seems like Ellis wants to become a true hangout in the neighborhood. Its calendar features Sunday's "Cheap Wings and Football" and Tuesdays advertise "Canned Beer and Pub Quiz Night." Can't beat that with a stick. Their Mondays sound especially enticing to a cheapskate like me: "Recession Special" - $8 buys you chili & bread with a Rolling Rock on the side. If the chili is any good, it rivals Steinhof's $6 Goulasch.

So the night they had various "press" over for dinner, they served a variety of their Southwestern fare. A highlight was the Rattlesnake skewer in a citrus and garlic marinade. Vanessa, the BViB correspondent who went to the dinner, said it was "surprisingly tasty" and it reminded her of a cut of excellent steak. It was bony, however, and the chef explained that this rattlesnake was from Florida, not Texas, so it was smaller and therefore not de-boned. Ellis usually serves Texas rattlesnake, which is de-boned, but the hurricane had affected the rattlesnake farms. The white bean soup with bacon was also good, and the catfish was tasty as well. The one dinner disappointment for Vanessa was the chicken (a sampling of chipotle, cilantro lime pesto, and red pepper). She described it as mediocre. However, the Sopapilla (Navajo fry bread) with honey and powdered sugar was "phenomenal." Worth a trip in itself!

Drink-wise, Vanessa tried the jalapeno caipirinha and a berry margarita. She warns that they pack a punch - which is exactly where most people want their cocktails to be. Vanessa also gushed that the service was excellent, and the staff was friendly and attentive. Southwest artwork decorates the walls, and together with the dark wood, it makes for a traditional, comfortable eating bar venue.

Vanessa and her husband had a fantastic time and truly enjoyed the food and drinks. She also said that she would definitely return and recommend Ellis to people she likes. Always a good sign.

Brunch has been postponed for a month or so, and high chairs have been promised in about the same amount of time. These are things I love. Is there anything better than a Southwestern brunch with a high-chair?
This is the rattlesnake, and the photo at the top of the post is the sweet and salty fry bread. Both were favorites the night Vanessa went. Photos courtesy of Ellis.