I have been dying to try Pren Kitchen ever since we heard they were moving into the old Robin's Nest. Based on early reactions from other locals, I knew I wouldn't be the only one trying to get a seat there as soon as possible. The Man and I waited for about a month to avoid the "OMG MUST TRY THE NEW PLACE THE MINUTE IT OPENS!" crowd. I've gotta say, I have a new obsession. I have now been to Pren four times in the last two weeks, and I'm already itching to go back.
Pren is a bit hidden - you won't know it's there unless you either know where to look or someone tells you where it is. Located next to the Black River Candy Shoppe (yet another local gem), the place doesn't look like a restaurant from the outside. Once you step inside the door, you're in their quaint waiting area. There's seating and a small area directly in front with some promotional items for sale and a small refrigerator with drinks to the left. On the right is the register/host area. You order and pay there, and then find a seat in the dining area - a warm, cozy room with booths on one side, a large table in the center, a nook with small tables, and 2-tops on the other side. All said, the dining rooms probably seats no more than 30. The dining area is an electronics-free zone, meaning that they discourage patrons from talking on their phones while they are in there - probably a good suggestion since it's a pretty small space and you don't need everyone and their mother being up in your business, ya know? The entire space feels warm and inviting, making you feel more like you're sitting in someone's home than in a restaurant. They have an array of board games to keep kids and adults busy, and the servers generally make regular rounds to see if anyone needs anything.
Because you order and pay upfront (all their prices include tax and service charge), things more pretty quickly. It has been pretty crowded during some of my visits, and I don't think I've waiting more than 10 minutes from the time I walked in the door until my food arrived at the table. Not bad considering everything is made fresh! Now on to the things we've ordered from Pren and what our thoughts are...
- Bacon omelette (weekend brunch menu) - the prettiest, fluffiest omelette I've ever seen. Lightly seasoned, beautiful presentation, and the home fries served with it were excellent.
- Chicken and the egg (weekend brunch menu) - crispy buttermilk fried white meat chicken with a fried egg and sriracha mayo. This is my favorite. The yolk on the fried egg breaks as you close the brioche bun, coating the chicken with creamy, savory goodness that mixes with the not-too-spicy sriracha mayo for the perfect sauce.
- Sausage, egg, and cheese sandwich (weekend brunch menu) - this is NOT a drive-through breakfast sandwich! Homemade sausage with a glorious fried egg, cheese, and sriracha mayo. It doesn't take anything like what you get at the Golden Arches.
- Potato cheddar soup with sausage - I could live in a bowl of this thick, creamy soup. Don't let the portion size fool you. This soup will fill you up in a hurry. I practically licked the bowl when I was done.
- Roasted tomato tart - another "small but mighty" menu item. The puff pastry was sublime, the herbed and roasted tomatoes packed a ton of flavor. This paired really well with the potato cheddar soup for a quick lunch combo.
- Grassfed burger with PREN fries - sure, it might look like any other burger you'd get at a non-fast food joint, but it is so much more. The burger itself was well-seasoned, bringing out the umami of the beef. This had so much flavor, in fact, that The Man didn't bother with ketchup. The fries also packed a mean punch with rosemary and Parmesan. Perfect compliment to the burger.
- Pastry basket (weekend brunch menu) - mini croissants, chocolate croissant twists, and a pumpkin muffin made for a terrific starter for brunch. The croissants were buttery, flaky, and everything you want from a French pastry. The muffins are light, fluffy, give you just enough pumpkin flavor to leave you wanting more.
So yea, I'm clearly Team Pren. I was just there yesterday, and I'm already craving another trip in a big way. If they're already this good only a few weeks after opening, I can't wait to see how amazing things they'll have to offer once they've found their groove! read more