When I was young and had game, I used to play ball on Columbia Place. It was a nice run where I tested my skills against the Puerto Rican and Middleastern kids from the other side of the BQE. The court became a victim of mindless 90's gentrification - it was torn up and replaced by a dog run and herb garden. Now, a decade and a half later even more has changed - I've become one of those type who gets all excited about trying out a new cafe - this one just 50 feet from where I used to float my patented finger rolls.
For better or worse, I've moved on and my eating habits pose little risk to my new game: golf. And what habits they are. I am far from a grits lover but Puffin's cheese grits with soft boiled eggs and thinly sliced ham were revelatory. I may have to try grits more often now. Ditto the homemade cinnamon sticky bun. This will bring me back time and again. It also didn't hurt that they served Stumptown coffee.
It's a pretty chill place. Small, open kitchen in the back, brick walls, tin ceiling, focused menu. You order and then grab the food when it's ready and bus your own table when you're done. Free wifi during the week is turned off on the weekend due to crowding.
This place is a keeper. A true neighborhood spot, because if you don't live close to Columbia Place, you may not want to make the trek from the subway, which is pretty far. Check out the map link to see what I mean. NOTE: See the September 2010 update post here.
20 Columbia Place
Brooklyn Heights
I love this place... I had grits once and to be honest, I did not enjoy it. This version however... is a major winner! The eggs, together with the serrano ham and grits was absolutely wonderful - am totally SOLD!
ReplyDeleteThe toast was also a winner.. or I should say everything we had was a winner! Yeah me for finding this cool spot!
@Puffin - now I get it, you only comment on places YOU find... Wahahahaha. Yes, I should have mentioned, Puffin found this wonderful place.
ReplyDeleteHoly Toledo, the man liked grits. Wonder if they are stone-ground and cooked for 20 minutes, unlike so many which are "jiffy" and kind of grainy.
ReplyDelete@Sal - don't know what they do to em, but they were super smooth, no grains at all. We just went back this morning and we met Iris - she is the mother of one of the owners. She was making some kind of pastry that was just out of the oven - it was dynamite.
ReplyDeleteI know the courts you're talking about, I used to live around the corner on Willow Pl when I was a kid.
ReplyDelete@Alex - those were the good old days. I used to play ball there then go get a hoagie from the Heights Deli on the corner of Henry and State.
ReplyDeleteOh yeah.. today's Orange Pecan Nut Roll was slamming and that's not it... the Chocolate cream cheese choc chips muffin was rich and moist. LOVE THIS PLACE!
ReplyDelete@Everyone - we went here again for breakfast today. I got a triple-shot latte and some kind of raspberry and almond danish that was freshly made. Frigging GOOD. This is an out of the way spot but we keep walking there every morning for breakfast!
ReplyDeletei need this, now!!!
ReplyDelete@Sandy - I've not had one bad thing here and I've been three times now, I think.
ReplyDeletegrits yo. that's where it's at, i would go there but yea, it's super out of the way...
ReplyDelete@Danny - what? You won't jog from the subway a few long blocks for your favorite? Grits!!
ReplyDelete@FN - That deli used to be called the "Lucky Market" though.
ReplyDelete@Alex - that must have been before my time.
ReplyDelete@To Whom it May Concern.... Man, I miss Iris! This is the one NY place that I really, really, really miss. There is no place like it.
ReplyDelete