Brunch at The District - Better Off at Home

We first tried The District back when they first opened and we are all excited for a new spot in the neighborhood.  Back then, we thought the food was okay but we cut them a lot of slack because they were new and the menu was limited.  We went back once or twice just to grab drinks at the bar, and one of those times encountered a bartender who essentially ignored us... to the point where we just put money on the bar and left even though we were hoping to order another drink.  Negligence at the bar = not so good for business.  Needless to say, we weren't particularly rushing back.  But we were meeting up with Carole and her friend and trying to keep it local, so we figured we'd give them another shot.

We expected a long wait because it was the first sunny and somewhat warm day in a while, and it was also peak brunch time when we headed over.  We were pleased to find that there wasn't a wait at all, but perhaps we should have also taken that as a hint that not too many neighbors are clamoring out of bed for this place.  

Our server was extremely pleasant and attentive, which is always a bonus at brunch time.  But sadly, the food left a lot to be desired.

Kathy's Vegetable Salad

(boston lettuce, chopped vegetables, grilled apples, scallion, sunflower seeds, fresh mozzarella, whole grain mustard vinaigrette)

It sounded so promising on paper, but it was pretty much a bowl overflowing with lettuce.  The chopped vegetables were essentially mirepoix on a plate, and the grilled apples were cooked to a point of resembling gelatinous canned peaches.  (Maybe they ran out of apples and it actually was canned peaches?)  The saving grace of this dish was the chicken - super juicy and flavorful.  But the rest of the salad was so bland, it seemed like they added barely any vinaigrette at all.  Even adding salt and pepper couldn't prevent the experience from feeling like grazing on a meadow.  (Not that we've ever grazed... but we're pretty sure this salad is what it would feel like.)

District Burger

(artisan chop steak, house made pickles, lettuce, beefsteak tomato, aioli, seeded brioche bun)

You can rarely go wrong with a burger and fries.  These fries were pretty tasty - nicely salted and a good thickness.  But the burger seemed to have no seasoning at all.  Again, even adding table salt didn't seem to help.

Our friends got typical breakfast fare: French toast and eggs.  Since you'll find those on nearly every brunch menu in existence, sometimes restaurants will try to play with them a bit and put their own stamp on them.  Contrary to that notion, The District pretty much stuck to the basics.

French Toast

(egg battered challah bread, fresh whipped cream, drunken blueberry syrup)

Two Eggs

(served with bacon, ham or sausage)

As you could probably guess, we don't plan to run back to The District anytime soon.  Though we absolutely love the overall vibe of the space, there isn't anything unique about the food.  It tastes like something we could make ourselves at home.  We suppose people who have absolutely no desire to use their own kitchens would find that appealing, but we'll sooner save a few bucks and buy our own ingredients.