Eat Unique Indeed…read more
We were famished for something brunchy this past Sunday, and were looking at different places to go to. Went to the Watermark, parking lot was inaccessible, seems people don't know how to park over there. Even the street spaces were full.
We headed further west, Flying Pig was closed down, we had been to Crazy Beans, then a quick Google search pulled up a spot we'd never heard of before.
Pulled up to a strip mall where BlackSheep was located, nice big parking lot as expected.
Walked in, and we were the first ones there. The place smelled fantastic. We sat ourselves and perused the menu. The server came by and enumerated the specials, but I was fixated on Braise your Belly. We also got me-mah's mac and cheese, and started off with the Roasted Garlic Northern Bean Dip and the Minestrone soup.
The Bean Dip starter was fantastic. All the little things you need for a perfect bite. A scoop of bean dip on a toasted pita wedge, stick a couple of kalamata olives on the bean dip mortar (3 olives were too much), add pickled red onion and fire-roasted peppers, then top with crumbled feta. Amazing bite.
I had a taste of the Minestrone, and it was excellent. Flavors were all there without being overdone. The pasta was nice and cooked just right.
The mac and cheese was perfect. I couldn't put my finger on the cheeses used, but it all came together nicely. You didn't just get a mouthful of one cheese flavor. It was creamy, balanced, and the crispy onions on top made it really nice.
and the stunner.
I am a big fan of pork belly, and this really piqued my interest. Served with lemongrass grits and pickled veg with a soy miso glaze. The pickled veg was tossed in a bed of leafy greens, and I saw some seaweed salad in there as well. A little bite of the grits topped with the salad was amazing. I've never had that combo before. A little tart, a little salty, nice umami, I could have eaten a bowl of just that. However, when the pork belly came into play, everything changed. The crisped, lightly charred crust on the fatty slices of nirvana by themselves were perfect. Cut a piece of it and lay it on the grits-salad bite, and you can feel your eyes roll backwards. I wanted to, and almost ate it all, but I left a slice for my girlfriend and topped off her little bit of mac and cheese that she wanted to take home.
Half an hour in, and the place pretty much packed out for a bit while they were doing a healthy amount of takeout/pickup orders.
The place is pretty simple: interesting Black Sheep art, with mostly little tables, plasticware, and a drinks cooler. The food can certainly be right at home in a fancier and upscale setting, but doesn't need it. They had one server, and she was delightful and attentive to everyone. The chef came around and asked how everything was, which I find is always a nice touch.
Definitely coming back.