 Brunch at the BLACK FOREST CAFE & BAKERY 212 Route 101, Amherst 672-0500; theblackforestcafe.com Serving: Sunday, 8-2:30 Cuisine: American Prices Entrees from $8.95-$11.95 Scoring: Our Gourmet and The Dining Companion each grade a restaurant in six categories, for a combined total score of up to 100 points. Visit the Dining section of NewHampshire.com to read previous Our Gourmet reviews listed by town. |
Since we have to judge brunch on a different set of criteria than a full-blown dinner, we have to change our rating system a bit this week. As there’s no real appetizer or dessert, the main course will be worth a total of 60 points (30 from each diner), and the service and ambiance (“All the rest”) will be 20 (10 each), while the value is 20, as usual. That should add up to 100 possible points.
The Black Forest décor is fairly simple, but the main dining room is clean, bright and spacious. It’s a nice place for breakfast on a sunny Sunday morning.
Entrée: 53/60
OG: I have to first mention the basket of warm homemade breads served after you sit down and get your coffee. The assortment on this day included a cinnamon nut bread as well as scones, all warm and delicious. And the nice thing is, you can buy more of the delicious goodies, baked on the premises at the bakery right outside the dining room.
I should also mention the refreshing mimosas served at brunch – just the right blend of champagne and orange juice – sort of a festive way to start the day ($4.95)
When it comes time to order, it’s tough to settle on one thing at the Black Forest. The menu is varied enough that everyone is sure to find something. Our vegetarian companion was happy with his pancakes ($8.95) that came out in a huge stack – more than enough for breakfast.
In the past I’ve had the delectable apricot almond stuffed French toast ($11.95), French toast made of brioche and stuffed with a creamy almond and apricot filling and served with (real) warm maple syrup. Sweet, filling and sinful, it’s enough for two meals.
This time, however, I opted for the seafood crepes ($10.95), which consisted of two crepes filled with scallops, shrimp and salmon flavored with fresh basil and orange and topped with a creamy veloute sauce. Veloute comes from the French word meaning velvety and this sauce was indeed that. Not too heavy, yet still creamy and lightly flavored, it set of perfectly the seafood filling that was in and of itself rich and creamy. And they didn’t skimp on the seafood – there was a nice balance of large, well-cooked chunks of each of the types of seafood mentioned on the menu. Just the right size and delicious. 25 points.
The Dining Companion: I like that the brunch starts off with a nice selection of their breads, muffins and scones to munch on as one decide what to order. Another thing I like about this place is that the coffee they serve is Starbucks, which I like in the morning.
I decided to go with the smoked turkey hash ($9.45) and was very happy. It is a pie slice-shaped wedge of potato, onion and smoked turkey goodness bonded together with a thick cream. It was served with two poached eggs (you can substitute scrambled if you wish) and a fruit cup with watermelon, pineapple, grapes, cantaloupe and honeydew melon (home fries are offered as a substitute). I have had brunch here in the past and the hash is a favorite of mine. It is a must-have for me when we eat here. 28 points. The rest: 17/20
OG: The ambiance is comfortable and the service efficient. There were no flaws to speak of in our dining experience, which was perfectly enjoyable. 9 points.
TDC: I too love the dining room here. If you get there and there is a small wait, you can wander the antique shop upstairs, or wander into the bakery to plan something to take away after dining. The only complaint I would have is the waitress, when asked to refill my coffee, did not ask OG if she wanted to be topped off (which she did want) and walked away from the table. We had to flag her down to get OG refilled. 8 points.
Value: 16/20
OG: You can certainly get a cheaper breakfast with no frills, but it’s nice once in awhile to enjoy a little something extra special for breakfast and the Black Forest fits the bill. For what you pay you get both quantity and quality, making it a very good value and making me want to go back to try their dinner offerings. 8 points.
TDC: For a brunch, it is a fair value in that you get a hearty breakfast without breaking the bank. This place has been visited by us in a non professional setting, and will still be on our “will stop at again” list. 8 points.
Total: 86/100
