Fresh, Latin Market Cooking At Palo Santo
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I normally don’t go out for brunch, but after discovering that our first choice of restaurant had closed permanently (that’s how often I go out for brunch), we found ourselves straying from the parade of strollers and well-meaning lefties that is 5th Avenue in Park Slope, and entering the world of Palo Santo. What a lucky break.
We ate in the light-filled back room where it was quiet and spacious. The servers were friendly, relaxed, and seemed genuinely happy to accommodate us. I had the pleasure of trying Huevos Banados ($13): two thick wedges of toast covered with pinto beans, poached eggs, sliced avocado, and what the menu described as spicy hollandaise. It wasn’t spicy, nor did it appear to be hollandaise as I know it, but it was divine. The ingredients were fresh and simple and the combination completely comforting. That dish could make a bruncher out of me.
Huevos Banados!
The table also ordered Cazuela de Huevo which was a small casserole of baked eggs, potatoes, beans, bacon (cured in-house), and parmesan. I didn’t have a chance to taste it since it was gobbled up by my boyfriend and, truth be told, I was too busy inhaling my own meal, but it looked fantastic and I was assured that it was quite tasty.
Since the chef uses as many local, sustainable ingredients as possible, the menu changes with the season. Also on the day’s menu were Short Rib Hash and Eggs ($14), Cactus Omelette ($11), and Pumpkin Soup ($7). For dinner, Palo Santo offers a $25 prix fixe menu seven nights a week.
Word on the street: they have a not-to-be-missed tasting menu for $55 which they don’t advertise. Add on an extra $35 for wine pairings. Make a reservation. That’s what I’ll be doing next month when I celebrate my birthday.
I cannot wait.
652 Union St (between 4th and 5th Avenues)
Park Slope, Brooklyn, NY 11215
718.636.6311
