Medium Rare is brought to us by Mark Bucher, the chef who continues to ride the hamburger wave locally with his mini-chain
BGR: The Burger Joint. Serving mainly steak frites, we went to the Barracks Row location for the brunch menu. Closest Metro is Eastern Market.
For $23 the inclusive brunch includes bottomless Bloody Marys, Screwdrivers, Mimosas, coffee and fresh orange juice. I stuck with mimosas, and my glass was constantly refilled. However, I found the drink to be a bit sour - not sure if it was the warm juice or the type of bubbly used. Keith started with screwdrivers, which tasted a bit better than the mimosas, presumably because of all the ice.
We then started with fresh, rustic bread and a choice of: Vanilla Yogurt Parfait, Farm Fresh Fruit Salad or a mixed green salad. I first picked the fruit salad, but our server said they were all out. So I chose the
Vanilla Yogurt Parfait instead. It was topped with a small amount of granola and dried fruit, and a drizzle of berry sauce. While it all tasted good, I would have liked more toppings to balance out the yogurt ratio.
For my main course, I chose the
French Toast and Logan's Sausage. I gave my sausage to Keith, who said it had a bit of spice. The French Toast is made with the end of the loaf and then are soaked overnight, then quickly deep fried before serving. So the result are crunchy exteriors with soft and chewy interiors. Dusted with powdered sugar, the toast is served with warm maple syrup on the side. A couple berries adorned the plate. I would have liked more berries, but again, there appears to have been a fruit shortage at the restaurant today.
Keith started with the house salad, which was a bit overdressed, but tasted fine. He then got
Steak and Eggs that came with poached eggs with fries. The steak was cooked medium-rare and topped with the house special sauce, a gravy made from pan juices. The eggs looked a bit runny at first, but were actually poached perfectly. Overall, he was pleased with his savory meal.
The price is a good deal for brunch and bottomless drinks. While it can be busy, we were not rushed out, nor were other tables of larger groups. Everyone was allowed to linger after finishing the food to enjoy more and more drinks. This is, after all, what makes a great brunch experience, in my opinion.
With our check, we were given two pieces of old school Dubble Bubble gum - a fun twist on the complimentary mint. Medium Rare is a great option to take visitors for brunch, or even to meet up with old friends. The brunch offerings peaked Keith's interest enough to want to return for dinner sometime, though I may not join unless they have more non-steak options to eat.
Total Rating:
4.2
Food: 4, Price: 5, Service: 3.5, Ambience: 4, Accessibility: 5
What I ate:
French Toast and Logan's Sausage
Plus Keith ate:
Steak and Eggs
poached eggs with fries
