One of the biggest blessings of my college career has been that, after a night of revelry (always moderated and safe—don't worry, Randy!), I never get hungover. What I get instead is hungry. And, after four years of the (albeit delicious) same ol' same ol' at Thorne brunch, I've started to branch out a bit more in my morning-after munchfest.
Brunswick offers several options for brunch on the weekends, some more formal, such as the family-style afternoon meal at Trattoria Athena and some that offer just the basics, like Broadway Delicatessan. This weekend I checked out two restaurants, both very economical, that are worth at least one visit in your four years at Bowdoin.
The first of these eateries is Brunswick Diner. Located on Route 1 in a refurbished railcar, this place epitomizes the classic diner aesthetic. Red leather booths, each with its own non-functioning jukebox, line one wall of the diner, while a bar with a long line of stools lines the other. The walls are covered in vintage, or perhaps faux vintage, Coca-Cola memorabilia. The atmosphere of Brunswick Diner is jovial—the waitresses are sassy but not intrusive, and the other customers are mostly older local residents.
The food is classic diner fare, executed well. The menu doesn't branch out much from your basic breakfast and sandwich options; if you're looking for out-of-the-ordinary, Brunswick Diner won't satisfy. But what it does serve, it does very well.
This weekend I splurged for the Chubby Checker Combo—a breakfast meal that includes two eggs, two pancakes, two sides of bacon, toast and homefries. Although it may be a function of how hungry I was the morning after the Junior Senior Ball, I found this meal to be phenomenal. My eggs over-easy were perfectly cooked and the homefries had that crispy outside and soft middle that you crave. The star of the combo is the pancake plate. These enormous flapjacks were thick and fluffy in the middle, but still had crispy edges— just how I like my pancakes. It is a bit of a bummer that you have to pay extra for the real Maine maple syrup, but overall, I couldn't have been happier with my breakfast.
Luckily, my fellow diners (pun intended) didn't seem to experience the post-party famine that I was suffering from. So, I also tucked in to everyone's leftovers. I found the onion rings to be a little heavy on the batter for my taste but good nonetheless. The french fries, too, were nothing special, but then again what's not to like about fries?
If you check out Brunswick Diner, also consider getting a milkshake; Brunswick Diner's are a childhood favorite of mine, extra thick and rich.
Not far down from Brunswick Diner is another restaurant with a focus on diner-style breakfast. Jen's Place is tucked into a little building on Stanwood Street and is marked by a black and white sign that is easy to miss. Jen's is tiny and features an open kitchen, giving you the impression that Jen herself invited you to her home for a meal.
The interior looks like a Christmas bomb exploded in your grandmother's living room (presumably, the decor varies by season). On Tuesday, the tablecloths were covered in reindeer, the plastic plates featured snowmen and Santas, and homemade paper snowflakes hung from the ceiling. The effect was, surprisingly, more charming than obnoxious.
Being a sucker for local, "down-home" establishments, I was ready to fall in love with Jen's Place. Unfortunately, I was a little disappointed by the quality of the food. My French toast was the best thing I tried there; although the portion was a little small (two pieces only, no accompaniments), it was well done. The bread wasn't soggy, as it often can be with French toast, and overall it was very tasty. Likewise, the Belgian waffle was satisfying, though not groundbreaking.
Unlike Brunswick Diner, Jen's offers some creative breakfast options. There are several breakfast sandwich variations with a few unexpected combinations. There are also numerous types of pancakes, including raspberry chocolate chip pancakes. When I visited, Jen's was offering an intriguing special of candy cane pancakes.
I really enjoyed Jen's onion rings which, unlike Brunswick Diner's, are light on the batter and are extra crispy. They had a much more homemade taste than the slightly generic version down the road. The french fries at Jen's were also very good, extra crispy on the outside but maintaining a soft potato-y inside.
Other dishes were total misses; several of my friends weren't able to finish their orders and some complained of tummy aches later in the day. Jen's grits, for example, were watery and lacked a sufficient amount of cheese. The chicken noodle soup was similarly bland. The general trend seemed to be that lunch options fell short in comparison to the breakfast meals, something to keep in mind if you decide to give Jen's a try.
Despite some of the disappointments I experienced at Jen's, I would recommend you visit at least once. The atmosphere is fun and the staff is very friendly—the owner stopped by our table after the meal to give us some of her homemade "Magic Bars" to try. I like the family vibe of the small dining room and its location and size make it feel like a secret. So, check it out, but stick to the breakfast menu.
Brunswick Diner
101 Pleasant Street
Brunswick, ME
(207) 721-1134
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Atmosphere:
Jen's Place
25 Stanwood Street
Brunswick, ME 04011-2843
(207) 729-8299
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Atmosphere:
Note: Neither of these restaurants accepts credit or debit cards. Brunswick Diner has an ATM outside; Jen's does not. Also, Jen's closes at noon on Sundays, so plan accordingly if you plan to get brunch after a long night out.