Crown and Goose – Classic English Pub with a Culinary Twist

Something that simply can’t be missed when being in London is visiting a classic British pub. Even though some may feel a little grungy and the opposite of “posh” they’re a lot of fun, and their divey feel is very much a part of their charm.

A few of us from work visited one of these classic pub establishments called the Crown and Goose, in honor of our colleague Kylie’s going away party. She’s getting married soon so we wanted to do a proper send off, as well as to celebrate the holiday season.

Atmosphere:
Located on Arlington Road, which is just off Camden High Street, otherwise known as the main drag in Camden, the Crown and Goose is easy to get to. I like that it rests in a slightly more residential area, which is quieter and much more laid back, suiting us well in the middle of our hectic work day.

The interior showcases a classic pub design with a mahogany bar, and a mix of stool and table seating. There’s an upstairs dining room, which is great for bigger parties, and this is exactly where we sat and conversed. It made for a festive atmosphere, especially when they turned up the music, still to a very comfortable level where we were able to chat with each other easily.

Food:
To be honest, I didn’t have the highest expectations when it came to food since at home, classic pubs or dive bars have pretty standard food. However, Crown and Goose’s gourmet offering pleasantly surprised me, delivering on all levels.

Roasted Duck – Originally ordering the pork belly dish, I was disappointed to find out they no longer had it available. The duck I’m about to describe was actually its substitute, which turned out to be a very happy and delicious happenstance.

Boasting a generous portion of a beautifully roasted duck leg, I truly enjoyed the delectable meat that I dutifully picked off its bones. Another highlight was the crispy skin, which was flavored with a sprinkling of fragrant spices that totally exemplified the holiday season. In terms of sides, the duck was accompanied by an earthy succotash, baked potatoes and string beans, which all worked well together and accentuated the flavors in the duck.

Service and Cost:
Just like in any good neighborhood pub, the service felt casual, friendly, making us relaxed and comfortable. I was impressed with the organization with which the Crown and Goose is run, as we were asked to put in our order ahead of time, so the staff could adequately prep for our large group. All dishes came out in good time and I couldn’t help but have a little food envy when I saw some of the other amazing plates come out, especially the fish and chips.

Costs are moderate to a little expensive by NYC standards, but fit the bill when it comes to London. My roasted duck dish and a cider set me back about 20 pounds or $32.

3 Mmmms

Crown & Goose – 100 Arlington Road, Camden, London NW1 7HP
020 74858008
Underground to Camden Town Station
www.crownandgoose.co.uk

Boulton & Watt Brings the Best of Old and New

Once in a while, life surprises you, as I found myself at Boulton & Watt just 2 days after hearing about it from an out of town friend.  Dan and I had been invited there for a tasting, just by chance, and found the whole thing quite ironic.  I was excited to try it of course and after hearing that it's a gastropub, I was ready to enjoy some sophisticated, comforting pub grub.

Atmosphere:
Located on a busy corner on Avenue A and 1st street on the Lower East Side, Boulton & Watt is nicely positioned to enjoy a lot of neighborhood foot traffic.  Even in winter when everyone's gaze is on the ground and heads are buried in jackets, you can't help but notice this place and peek inside.  I have a feeling it'll get a lot busier in the spring and summer, with the windows open and the hip atmosphere spilling onto the sidewalk.  Which brings me to mention their interior.  Simply put...it's lovely and inviting without trying too hard.

Influenced by the Industrial Revolution, Boulton & Watt is done up with a lot of careful details that do a great job of bringing you back in time.  It was nice to see the neat iron fixtures incorporated into the wall and ceiling design--a lot of them serving as lights and fans--as well as the aesthetically beautiful and at the same time functional, vintage iron stools.  I like that everything looked clean and somehow a little weathered too, giving this place a lot of credibility and intrigue.  Surprised that they actually had flat screen TVs hidden behind a wall fixture, it's obvious that they don't want to be positioned as a sports bar, but don't want to deter sports fanatics either during big sporting events.

Food:
As I already hinted, the food here is homey yet sophisticated, giving validation to the whole concept of a gastropub.  It reminded me a lot of the food that I enjoy at Sweet Afton, and could see the chefs being good friends.

Appetizers - Choosing a few apps so we can sample a little bit of everything, we went for the Scotch Egg, the crispy wild mushroom duxelle, and a jar of pickled pineapple.  Out of those, my favorite was the pineapple because it offered the most surprising and unique bite.  Served in a sweet little mason jar, it was fun to pick out the tart pieces, which were on the fiery side, as they were flavored with generous amounts of habanero.

The Scotch Egg was a close second, with a really thick crunchy crust and a perfectly runny yolk interior.  While I've had Scotch Eggs before in other restaurants, none were done as expertly, and Boulton's also sat in a beautifully velvety Bernaise sauce, further bringing us to the edge of indulgence.

Entrees - For our entrees, we went pretty simple - me with a classic chicken pot pie and Dan with a signature burger.  While I had a bite of Dan's and really enjoyed it - the meat being cooked perfectly and the bacon crunchy and still a bit chewy - I really dug my entree.  The golden brown top was a pretty sight and when pierced with a fork, it revealed a creamy middle filled with white and dark meat, and vibrant root veggies.  I like that they used good quality, free range organic chicken, which absolutely stood out as the star ingredient.  Note that this dish is pretty large and can be shared with another person if you so wish.

Dessert - Taking dessert to go, we couldn't turn down the cast iron chocolate chip cookie.  I can't say it any other way than that it's to die for - the inside being soft and chocolatey while the outside remaining crispy and perfect for dunking in ice cold milk.  Since the portion is quite hefty, we saved some for the next day and heated it up again to bring out its gooeyness.  It was still godly!

Service and Cost:
Overall, I felt that the service was casual, complementing Boulton's atmosphere, while at the same time achieving efficiency.  I was amazed at how quickly our glasses of water were refilled and our plates cleared.  We had to wait quite a bit for our cookie, as it's made to order, but I think something still broke down in the process. Despite this little hiccup, our waitress kept us well informed and there was really no harm done.

Costs are moderate and comparable to other Lower East Side joints:

Snacks/Salads/Pickles $5-$15
Entrees/Burgers $14-$23
Sides - $8
Dessert - $9

3 Mmmms

Boulton & Watt - 5 Avenue A, New York, NY 10009
646.490.6004
F Train to 2nd Avenue
www.boultonandwattnyc.com

Corner Bistro - The LIC Neighbor that Could

It was so wonderfully exciting to find out last summer that the legendary, West Village Corner Bistro was sharing the wealth of their bodacious burgers with Queens. LIC to be exact, and with its prime location on Vernon Blvd, I knew they wouldn't have a hard time getting noticed.  

Last week was the first time that I tried it, and it sure didn't disappoint.  Even though it's simple as can be, that's the beauty in it, as they've really perfected their craft, which is the all-American burger.

Atmosphere:
A good old stand-by pub is how I'd describe Corner Bistro.  Even though it's still kind of new, it feels lived in and familiar.  The staff is friendly and treats you like a regular.  I loved that it's perfectly acceptable to come by, take a seat at the bar and just relax with a good book, or watch the latest sports program they have on.  No judgments, just good good old fashioned hospitality that never goes out of style.  Even though I haven't dined at the original location in the West Village, I did have the opportunity to peek in, and the location in LIC mirrors it pretty closely.

Food:
Having a clear, unflinching mission before I got here - to try their classic Bistro Burger - that's exactly what I got.  As it arrived in front of me, in it's full bacon and cheese glory, the bartender gave me a little preamble, letting me know that I would definitely enjoy this.  His confidence was deliberate but not without reason, as the burger clearly delivered what it promised.  Simple, uncompromising goodness.

Bistro Burger - As you can see from the above, this classic burger came with all the works - melted cheese, curly bacon, pickles, tomatoes and lettuce.  The burger patty itself was really tasty and cooked to a perfect medium.  I loved that it was juicy and clean tasting, nothing too greasy or over-embellished with spices.  The squishy potato bun was simple too but just the right thing to sandwich this baby with, as it hugged its contents dutifully and held up to everything inside.  I was asked if I wanted a side of fries with that, and I have to say that I'm glad I declined, as the burger did a great job of satiating me.

Service and Cost:
As I already described, the service was refreshingly familiar and friendly.  I loved that the bartender made conversation with me, and offered me a newspaper to read.  After he saw I occupied myself with some reading, he made sure to stay attentive but also gave me time to myself.

Costs are pretty affordable, setting me back only $14 for a pint and a burger, including tax and tip.

3 Mmmms

Corner Bistro - 47-18 Vernon Blvd, LIC NY 11101
718.606.6500
7 Train to Vernon Blvd/Jackson Avenue

Gleason's - New Pub on Broadway?

On my way to Brooklyn Bagel & Coffee Company, I noticed a new pub that's coming soon to the Broadway neighborhood. I don't know much about it yet, except that it's called Gleason's Fine Food and Spirits. From the look of it, I think that it'll be a pub but it could even be a food/wine store. I'm not sure but wanted to bring it to your attention. If you know anything about it and when it'll open, please give me a shout--I'm curious.

Gleason's Fine Food and Spirits - Broadway between 33rd and 34th Street, Astoria NY 11106