Brandywine comes up short
I’ll admit it. I had pretty high expectations for Brandywine, a nook just on the brink of Eastown. Over the years, it’s become a neighborhood favorite, attracting people for all meals of the day. But while the atmosphere seemed to be homey, and very family-friendly, the food and service just didn’t seem to cut it.
When I walked in for dinner the other night, I was surprised by how busy it was. We were able to find a seat (though eventually moved to a booth), but it did seem to be quite a popular place. The atmosphere was warm and unique, and reminded me of a small town eatery.
I was immediately intrigued by a sandwich feature that was on the cover of their menu. While the name of it escapes me, it had fresh turkey with pepper, cranberries, cream cheese and red onions on a toasted bun. My dining partner, Bethany, chose to go with the sweet potato pancakes with pecans, as well as a half order of the vegetarian omelette.
We knew what we wanted. But there was one problem — where was our waitress?
Nearly 10 minutes after we walked in the door, she finally made an appearance, and took our order. And while our food arrived relatively fast, we weren’t overly impressed with the service. During the hour that we were there, our waitress didn’t check to see how we were doing or how our food was. She also frowned upon us switching to a booth once it was available.
But back to what really matters — the food. Bethany’s pancakes were very good, and it reminded both of us of an apple orchard. It had quite a bit of cinnamon, and the pancakes were thick and fluffy. But there were portions of it that seemed to be undercooked. Her omelette was a little on the bland side, although green olives seemed to help that a bit. On the plus side, Bethany did seem to get a lot for her money, and did take advantage of a few to-go boxes. Overall though, her breakfast meal seemed to be a great start, but it just didn’t finish off strong.
But what about my sandwich? Having similar types of sandwiches at other restaurants, it was natural for me to compare it. I took a bite, and while I enjoyed it, it certainly wasn’t anything special. I lifted the bun up, which revealed slightly dry turkey with not nearly enough sauce. As I continued to eat, I noticed the heaviness of the pepper against the turkey. It was just a little too much for me, and I think it could’ve been offset by the cranberries — that is, if I could find where those were hidden.
It’s honestly something I could have probably made at home. And despite my lack of cooking skills, I probably could have made it better.
Both of us agreed that the food was under average. Bethany was also disappointed that she was offered no type of meat with her meal — no sausage or bacon. I was equally disappointed that my only option for a side was plain potato chips.
In addition to sandwiches and breakfast items, Brandywine also has a variety of Mexican options, burgers and pasta dishes. It seemed like a menu that was certainly out of the ordinary; there was definitely no common theme present.
For as much as Brandywine is recognized as a good neighborhood restaurant, it clearly missed the mark. It seems to be known for their breakfasts and brunches, but even those menu items were sub-par. Combined with the unfriendly service, Brandywine just didn’t seem to stand out as a restaurant that’s worth going out of your way for.
Brandywine ( Rating:
out of 5 )Where: 1345 Lake Drive SE
Hours: Sun. from 8 a.m to 4 p.m., Mon. from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., Tues-Sat. from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Ambiance: Small town nook, family-friendly
How much will it cost you: Breakfast and lunch entrees cost around $6-12. Dinner entrees start at $9, and can go up to around $17.
Credit cards: All major
Alcohol: No
Reservations: No
Contact: (616) 363-1723
