Drop in: Brindle Room

Sometimes you just want comfort food. Nothing fancy. Just good, satisfying food well prepared. And really well done comfort food can be as satisfying as any high end cooking. Saturday night was a comfort food kind of night. My sister and I went to see "Safe House." This is Hollywood's version of comfort food, and in this case it was well done. Denzel Washington, as always, was in fine form. Ryan Reynolds got the job done and a strong supporting cast (Brendan Gleeson, Sam Shepard, Robert Patrick, Vera Farmiga and Ruben Blades) made for entertaining popcorn fair. A solid, smart action thriller. Comfort food.

After watching Denzel Washington kick ass for two hours I was hungry for some real comfort food. I headed for the Brindle Room. I have written about the Brindle Room before. A full review of the Brindle Room is overdue. But based on the fact they make some of the best doughnuts in the city and that I went there for their fried chicken, you know you need to check it out.

I sat at the bar and and ordered a beer. The Brindle Room rotates its beer selection. It is a small but well curated list and I have never been disappointed by any brew I have had there. This time I ordered a beer I had never heard of, a Pinkus Organic Pilsner. Crisp and clean, with a nice medium body, the Pinkus Pils is delicious. Pinkus is a German brewer based in Munster. Their pilsner comes in a 16.9 oz bottle and is one I am going to search for and find for my home fridge.

As to the fried chicken, it can stand toe to toe with any in the city. The dish comes with four pieces of fried chicken. The skin is seasoned with a nice balance of herbs and spices. The chicken is fried to perfection, the meat tender and juicy. The skin is not overly crispy and the chicken is not greasy in anyway. A side of honey accompanies the chicken for dipping. The licking of fingers will occur.

This being the Brindle Room the sides are not an afterthought, they are part of show. Greens are sauteed with garlic, complimenting the spice of the greens without overwhelming them. The greens are tangy without any bitterness. Mashed potatoes are smooth and hearty, with a rich, chunky white gravy that blends in with the potatoes and surprises with its depth of flavor. This is comfort food of the highest order.

The Brindle Room never fails to deliver. Breakfast, lunch, dinner or brunch. It is one of those restaurants you can always count on. Kind of like Denzel.

The Brindle Room - 227 East 10th Street, between 1st Avenue and Avenue A - www.brindleroom.com