Broadway Brewery – Columbia’s newest underground lair
Posted on 19 October, 2009 | No Comments
by Jessica Nikolich
It was after the second strike when ordering that I knew my experience at the brand new Broadway Brewery was going to be a memorable one.
First it was the pumpkin ale, which just emptied out moments before. Then it was the watermelon salad, which I mostly just ordered for the sake of it sounding so peculiar (Watermelon? In a salad?!), but it was a seasonal choice, and clearly, watermelon is out of season in October. My dinner companion and I should have known this was the case when we noticed that it was listed on my menu but not hers.
After much consideration, we decided on an appetizer of the roasted potato wedges with a chipotle horseradish sauce for dipping pleasure, the chicken salad sandwich (my backup) with a side of ratatouille, and the apple salad, paired with a Boulevard Oktoberfest and a house-brewed Nut Brown beer. Rich and woodsy, it was a fine choice to nurse during the wait for our meal’s arrival.
The sandwich and salad came before our potatoes, and they made quite a delayed appearance. The chicken salad came served on a hard floury roll, and could be compared to the size of a “slider.” The ratatouille (which I hastily chose on the spot because neither of us could remember what ratatouille really was, no matter how hard we fixated on that delightful Pixar movie) came in a small cup no bigger around than the sandwich itself. It was a tasty tomato-based stew served cold. The dim lighting made it difficult to see what else was in it, but I think there were mushrooms. The apple salad was heavy on the foliage, light on the fixin’s. We were impressed with the flavors and presentation of our meals but neither of us was very full. The potatoes would surely fix that right up.
We did get them, eventually. I think the manager might have been embarrassed/ashamed for the long wait, so he tacked them off our bill. But I must admit, I quite enjoyed potato wedges for dessert.
Located in the old Uprise Bakery space below Envy, it is owned by the same four people who run the Root Cellar grocery store, which is attached directly on the other side. It has a cozy nook feel, which is aided by the low lighting and comforting mustard yellow and green-painted walls. No more than 25 tables fill the small room. They all rest on a smooth teal cement floor, which might come across as cold and stark in some venues, but completely feels right in the brewery. If table-sitting is not your thing, there’s a bar as well. The ceiling is a cluster of copper piping, which reminds you that it’s a relaxed, okay-to-wear-jeans kind of place. Local paintings and photography decorate the walls.
The great thing about Broadway Brewery is that it’s casual enough to hang out with friends but intimate enough to take out a hot date. We forgive the slow service because the atmosphere and food/drinks were well worth it. I recommend keeping it in mind for appetizers and drinks over a full meal experience if you’re on a tight budget simply because the portions are not huge.
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