Chron Critiques: Small Batch
Ethan Albin/The Hofstra Chronicle
On a busy Easter weekend, it was hard to find a brunch spot with open reservations. However, Small Batch, located at the Roosevelt Field Mall in Garden City, proved to be an exceptional find. I came to find this place after desperately perusing OpenTable for available reservations, and as soon as I saw Small Batch’s ambiance I knew this spot would be more than serviceable.
As a college student looking to spend a substantial amount of money, Small Batch proved to be a fantastic choice. Ordering beverages, an appetizer and two entrees felt reasonable as all came out in ample time and in fantastic quality.
The service was acceptable, nothing exceptional, but for Easter brunch I found it to be a bit lackluster. While the restaurant was bustling, the server could have given more attention to our table.
When it came to drinks, I stuck with water while my friend decided to try out the lemonade. It lacked the tartness that often comes with lemonade, but still had the lemony sweetness we crave.
As an appetizer, my friend and I started off with the whipped ricotta toast. The toast came topped with dandelion greens, toasted hazelnuts and truffle-infused honey. It was divine, so creamy and complex as the greens cut through the richness of the ricotta.
For our entrees, I ordered the baked eggs, which came served in a skillet surrounded by oven roasted tomatoes, parmesan cheese and two slices of toasted sourdough. The dish was very rich and the eggs and the tomatoes combined to make this amazing stew-like consistency. The sourdough was toasted to perfection, it had a crunch but was not too toasted.
My friend got the pan seared cod served with brussel sprouts, apple butter and bacon crumbles. The cod was exceptional, so flavorful and delicate, just the touch of a fork caused it to flake off. The brussel sprouts and apple butter complimented each other as they intertwined sweetness and bitterness. The bacon crumbles added a great crunch to the dish and was a nice touch to finish it off.
My only regret from this meal is not ordering a second appetizer, as there are so many that sound fabulous. For example: the eggplant parmesan, the fried goat cheese and the monkey bread all look delectable, so I’d love to go back and try them.
Small Batch is located at 630 Old Country Road, Garden City, New York.
