From the moment I walked through the door, Food.Bar.Food was my new favorite restaurant. The cool, robin’s-egg-blue walls were decorated with murals, canvases, vintage windows, and a giant plastic spider for the spooky season. A room divider made of tastefully-distressed, white, wooden doors created a little wall beside the entrance, with the other side surrounded by large, colorful plants. The rugs on the concrete floor were woven from white and purple strips of cloth. Similarly-designed vibrant pillows rested on the repurposed church pew along the back wall, which acted as a row of seating for larger parties. The cool tones of blue, white, and silver, with the soft pine-colored furniture gave the restaurant a modern-but-comfortable atmosphere.
I ordered the egg scrambler and the Asian chicken and pancakes with a side of smoked bacon to share with my companion, totaling around $23. A twist on a Southern meal of chicken and waffles, the Asian chicken and pancakes arrived, a crispy fried chicken breast atop two buttermilk pancakes, accompanied by Korean barbecue sauce and maple syrup, both on the side.
The barbecue sauce was sweet, with a spice that lingered on the tongue. Its flavor was reminiscent of tabasco, perhaps a nod to its southern inspiration.
The pancake was cooked perfectly, slightly browned and delicately crisp on the edges and bottom. The fried chicken was tender and crunchy on the outside and seasoned only slightly so that the Korean sauce could remain the savory star of the show. The tender chicken paired with the soft pancake, all dipped in maple syrup, made for a lovely flavor profile, while I found the Korean sauce paired best with the chicken alone, rather than alongside the pancake.
The eggs scrambler came with a side of breakfast potatoes, which were honest-to-God the best breakfast potatoes I have ever had. Breakfast potatoes are a challenge for most restaurants, as they struggle to find that ideal balance between a crisp outside and a soft and fluffy inside, but Food.Bar.Food effortlessly succeeded. The eggs were moist and bouncy, in the shape of an omelette. They were not too runny or too dry, but wonderfully fluffy and seasoned to perfection. I find that eggs are difficult to get right, as everyone likes theirs prepared a little differently, but Food.Bar.Food’s eggs scrambler was the ideal preparation. My side of thick smoked bacon was crispy, chewy, salty, and everything an order of bacon should be.
Food.Bar.Food partners with local breweries and farms to provide the freshest food and drink options to their clientele.
Their bar area overlooks the rest of the establishment, so you can sip your coffee cocktail in style while peoplewatching your fellow brunch goers.
The menu features a variety of American, Asian, and Mediterranean fare without the lines between flavor profiles becoming muddled.
Food.Bar.Food offers consistently excellent food, service, and overall atmosphere that impresses me more each visit. Try their brunch specials for yourself this weekend at 126 W. Bruce Street, Downtown Harrisonburg.
