A Cobble Hill Culinary Trifecta

April 30, 2006 by alex

On Saturday, somewhat by accident, Karen and I pulled off a strange feat: eating all 3 of our meals at 3 restaurants that are not only owned and run by the same people (Alan Harding, who also counts Zombie Hut, Gowanus Yacht Club, Schnack, Patois, La Rosa and Sons in his stable. He will have probably opened another one before you read this) and are adjacent but two of them even share a bathroom. The 3 restaurants of the day were: Gravy, Trout and Pacifico.

We started the day at Gravy which is always a good bet for breakfast and usually not too pricey. We each chose one of the specials and got a side of kielbasa and toast so somehow our bill came to $35. The food always pleases though (get the breakfast potatoes crispy!). While we were there we asked our waitress about the space next door that looked like a seafood-y beer garden called Trout. She said the new place was exactly that - outdoor drinking and bar food. Mental note made.

Later that afternoon we were sitting at home thinking we should venture outside on what was a beautiful day and we decided to test out Trout for an afternoon beer. The garden looks pleasant and kitschy in a good way - boats hulls hanging from the rafters, fishing poles, etc… The place is pretty packed though we’re able to find a good corner table. The menu is filled with great looking seafood selctions - oyters, cajun popcorn shrimp, steamed clams, calamari, etc… all tasty things that you can eat with your hands while drinking beer - perfect. This place looks like a slightly more upscale version of Gowanus where you can spend $6 for popcorn shrimp instead of $2 for a burger, allowing it to probably make some more money for the proprietor. We ordered the clams and the muscles and a couple of beers. The clams came in a broth with hot peppers, onions, garlic and slices of sausage - all in all, it was areally good, spicy dish. Kevin gets our check-in and swings by on his way to the city for a beer. WE find out that kevin pulled off a little trifecta of his own, managing to consume three meals during one sitting at the Gowanus Yacht Club. Well done, Kevin! This was when the idea of the trifecta first became a reality - we decided to go next door to have a margarita and some mexican food at Pacifico - a place that we’ve always felt excels at margaritas, guacamole, atmoshphere and otherwise acceptable mexican food.

There was no turning back. Kevin left us to head to Dorrian’s on the Uppper East Side, for a trip down memory lane. Karen and I headed to Pacifico for mango margaritas (delicious!), some guacamole, a goat cheese and chicken quesadilla (good, but too much goat cheese) and some sauteed shrimp and vegetables (I liked it). By then end of the meal we were stuffed and waddled our way back home, beaming with pride from having completed the first Cobble Hill Clulinary Trifecta.

You can see all the photos here.