Picture this: you de-train by Prospect Park with your beau. As you embark on your journey across the park into Crown Heights, the sun begins to set. You hear the sweet sounds of an outdoor concert. You walk down winding paths and revel at how un-New York this experience is. Then, you find yourself right in the middle of a full-blown block party. Oh, nostalgia. But let's rewind and go through that story again, this time adding in the very important detail of record high temperatures. What started off as a fantastic plan quickly became a test of brute survival. What could be worth such a struggle?
My man has a friend whose cousin happens to co-own this very restaurant (coincidence? Wait a sec..). Though I love researching restaurants incessantly on this lovely medium, having a personal recommendation makes the experience more special. So there we were at Mayfield: sweaty and ready (for noms).
The space itself feels like a bar/restaurant hybrid in terms of ambiance. It's dimly lit with different types of tables (we sat sat the high tops by the open kitchen) with a lively, down-to-earth vibe. And though Mayfield is advertised as a brunch spot, do NOT rule it out for dinner. I don't think I'd ever consider traveling to Crown Heights from the UWS for brunch, but if anything could help sway me, an action packed dinner that left me with a food baby yet wanting more would be it.
We needed to hydrate. So we did the exact opposite of that and ordered beer (don't worry, a big bottle of water was sitting on our table and was replenished efficiently throughout the night). On this particular night, Mayfield was offering a number of wonderfully summery beers--both on tap and in bottles/cans. I typically go for darker beers so I was lost at first. However, I ended up having two very delightful beers--one an easy go-to (Allagash White, bottled) and one a new pleasant surprise (Neshaminy Croydon Cream Ale). Cheers (pun semi-intended) to finding a new beer that's not off the charts in ABV!
The food here was sublime. Truly. The menu is diverse, unique and just special. Though there's nothing even close to pretentious about this spot, this is five-star dining (see: rating). Our waitress, who was fantastic and incredibly helpful, steered us toward(s) (I never know) a number of yummy small plates options, which was what we eventually settled on after some thoughtful (read: arduous) deliberation.
Cornmeal-Fried Oysters w/ house smoked salmon, celeriac remoulade, horseradish cream (A+)
Remember that time I only ate low-fat foods and never had any fun? Oh wait no, those are wasted years I only have to live with. In any case, this dish was quite possibly the best plate to kick off our night. Incredibly innovative in all the right ways. I've certainly seen fried oysters listed on menus before, but the flavor and texture combo taking into the account all components is unbelievable. Lox to please my Jewish ancestors and shellfish to make them hate me. Crunchy and savory, intense yet sophisticated.
Marinated Cucumbers w/ candied peanuts, chili jam, cilantro, watermelon radish (A/A+)
On the other hand, this dish *was* (and is) actually healthy. Light and refreshing but still flavorful. Cucumbers can easily turn out sad/boring given that they're essentially crunchy water with a vegetable label, but these were anything but that. The nuttiness was subtle but superb and the chili jam pulled it all together. Well done.
Crab Melt (open-faced) w/ cheddar, avocado, pickled chilies, cilantro (A)
I mean, how could this be bad? Honestly, despite the always-winning combo of crab and avo, this dish was probably the least exciting of the bunch. Don't get me wrong, it's still an A. It was everything you'd hope and quite possibly more. Creamy, rich and satisfying. I suppose it's just a bit "safer" than the other plates we ordered.
Smoked Berkshire Pork Ribs w/ cider honey BBQ, pickled cabbage, fried pickles, peanuts (A++)
Man, these were special and are worth allllll of the hype. Interestingly enough, I again made my Jewish ancestors happy with the pickles and not so happy with the pork. Hm, maybe I should start contemplating my faith a bit more. In any case, this cider honey BBQ was just as good as you'd expected it to be--immensely flavorful, sweet and rich. Throw your inhibitions to the wind and PLEASE order these. Unique preparation and finger-lickin' good.
Special Sweet Corn app (A+)
I wish I could tell you what else was in this dish but these came highly recommended and for good reason--every bite was a flavor bomb (you're probably recognizing a theme here). Sweet and savory, very rich without being overpowering. Ask about this one if you don't see it listed!
As if this meal wasn't wonderful enough, we were graciously brought a complimentary dessert (the Peanut Nougatine Chocolate Semifreddo--just order it) because of the friend-of-a-friend connection. Though stuffed, we ate it with delight. Pure class, pure generosity, pure yum. read more