It’s hard
to find a restaurant that does it all.
Often times, I find myself labeling eateries as good “lunch spots” or
designated “dinner chow”. Very rarely,
do I declare an establishment a “Jack of all trades”. (Okay, no more quotation marks.) That’s why I find it so difficult to decide
what time of day I should visit Park Bruges*.
I have to ask myself: Do I want brunch, lunch, or dinner?
Going to dinner at Park Bruges, located
on the expanding Bryant Street in Highland Park, is always a satisfying
experience. On any given night, you can
treat your taste buds to an array of French inspired bistro delights. On our last dinner visit, we had the pleasure
of attending one of their Neighborhood Tasting Nights. On this particular evening,
we munched on yummy items like pan-seared scallops, butternut squash risotto,
and pork tostadas. And what did we
imbibe on you ask? Our meal was paired
with four generous tasting samples of locally brewed booze from Arsenal Cider
House & Wine Cellar.
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| Tasting Menu with Arsenal Ciders |
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| Scallops with Butternut Squash Risotto |
If you can’t make it out every
third Monday for these truly inspired chef’s tasting menus, fear not. The normal dinner menu is just as exciting,
featuring palate pleasers such as Steak Frites, Mediterranean Seafood Stew, and
the always-popular Moules (mussels). The most rustic dish on the menu might be the
Gerber Farms Roasted Half Chicken. This
juicy, bad boy is made to order so make sure you get an appetizer. It’s worth the thirty-minute wait though: no
heat lamps required. The daily specials
are also a must try, featuring seasonal ingredients and clever innovation.
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| One of the delicious summer specials. |
Let’s talk
lunch now. If you have the time, Park Bruges
has one of the best lunch menus in the ‘Burgh.
My go-to indulgence is the Bruges Burger. Get ready to salivate. Fresh ground chuck is topped with braised
short ribs, Gouda cheese, and accented with green peppercorn mayo. That’s what I call an afternoon delight! If you prefer something lighter, their salads
feature seasonal veggies and their soups are made daily.
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| Bruges Burger |
Okay, now
let’s quit messing around and get to my favorite meal: Brunch! As with each of Park Bruges’ menus, Chef
Kevin is mindful of the season. As a
result, we were excited to see a recently updated brunch menu featuring some
new autumn treats last Sunday. After
changing my mind several times, I finally decided to go with the Baked Pumpkin
French Toast. As I waited for my food, I
was trying to figure out how the pumpkin would be infused into the dish. None of my imaginings were realized,
however. Those culinary geniuses had
made a pumpkin bread pudding of sorts and sliced it into “French Toast” (had to
use one more set). It was then stuffed
with baked spiced apples and drizzled with maple crème anglaise. I never had anything quite like it
before. It was equally unique and
delicious. The husband opted for the
Parmesan & Herb Biscuits. His meal
began with flaky biscuits, which were generously cloaked in savory Parma
sausage gravy, then topped with two fried eggs.
Southern-style cooking at it’s best. My one suggestion for Park Bruges? The coffee, my friends, is on the weak side and is served in a tiny after-dinner cup. When I go to brunch, I need a boldly flavored caffeine supply served in a mug. Maybe they could get some brew tips from Taza D'oro.
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| Baked Pumpkin French Toast! |
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| Parmesan & Herb Biscuits |
So there you have it, folks. Whatever the time of day, Park Bruges is always a taste bud pleaser. This neighborhood gem is sure to satisfy.
*See also Point Brugge.
I give Park Bruges: 4.5/5 forks
Will I Return?
Absolutely!
5801
Bryant Street
Pittsburgh
PA
Phone:
412-661-3334
I love this place! The food is fantastic and the servers are the best! Highly recommended!
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