In honor of what would have been my mom's 71st birthday, I went to one of her beloved landmarks in…read moreGreenport, or at least, it's current iteration- Bruce and Son. Twenty five years ago it was still Bruce's Café, aka Cheese Emporium, and I remember many a happy visit there with my mom and brother, for muffins, for scones, for cheeses, for brunches, and for the wonderful people who worked there. The bakery-style counter of muffins and scones is gone, and it's quite a different look these days, but the meals served by a new xrew of wonderful people lives up to the legacy granted in my memories.
Ok, after that extended intro, let me tell you what we all ordered.
I got the carrot "lox" sandwich, and I was truly surprised by how convincing the vegan lox was - before becoming a vegetarian I loved lox, and though the texture was a bit different (more tender than chewy) the taste was startling close. The fried egg was perfectly done and all the fixings - the whipped cream cheese, capers, dill - were excellent. DEVOURED.
My dad is very old school and kind of didn't know what to do when he saw the menu, so knowing his tastes, I recommended the Savory Oats, and he was astonished with the dish he received. He all but licked the plate clean.
My dad's girlfriend ordered the cheeseburger with the addition of bacon, and not only did they perfectly cook the burger to her preferences, the whole thing was as beautiful as it looked (if I wasn't a vegetarian). I think she may have left a lonely pickle slice or two on her plate.
The girlfriend and I also both ordered the iced version of the "pep talk" beverage. It was a LITTLE sweeter than I would prefer and I would have liked a stronger fennel presence, but she adored it just as it was, so I was glad to have given her the idea.
The service, from the host at the register, to the server who took our order and the additional staff who bussed the table, was excellent. It was a busy summer Friday and I was a bit worried because I was time-restricted thanks to needing to catch a train, but they were efficient and cordial while keeping the vibe laid-back in a way that seemed effortless (which I'm very sure it wasn't).
The current prices might make it so that I couldn't patronize this establishmrnt as often as I did with Bruce's Café, but everything is so good and it has such a classy, elevated feel, it is worth every penny. Thank you to Bruce and Son and its wonderful staff for letting me experience both a lovely meal wrapped in bittersweet bittersweetly cozy memories.