Forepaugh's

Details

Date of Visit:

Mother's Day - May 8, 2011

Attendees:

Kim and Kim's Mom

Our Rating:

Eh, it's okay

Total Bill:

$77.77

Type:

American

Rerun Rating:

I want to go back.  I will go back.  I have to give this place a chance when it's not a big event brunch....

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The Logistics

Reservations:

Yes

Dress Code:

Fancy

Noise Level:

Quiet

Parking:

Valet or restaurant parking lot across the street

The Drinks

• Mimosas

The Food

Family-style Mother's Day Brunch

• Cinnamon rolls
• Yogurt with granola and fruit
• Scrambled eggs with cheese
• Diced potatoes
• Roasted salmon with asparagus
• Eggs benedict
• Bacon and sausage

The Review

Let me start by saying that I truly wanted to love Forepaugh's.  I hadn't been there since 1994, when my mom and I went to dinner prior to seeing "Phantom of the Opera."  That visit was the first time that I had (and loved) beef wellington.  (I think they called it filet de boeuf en croute, honestly, but I still think of that first time as beef wellington.)  Mom has been back more recently, and she tends to enjoy it.

All I can think is that the higher-than-usual traffic levels for Mother's Day made the quality go downhill. The menu was served family-style, so there were no choices about what you received other than your drinks - which were not included in the brunch price.

The big deal about Forepaugh's lately is that everything is homemade.  Typically this would be good.... for example, the granola that was served with the yogurt was excellent.  On the flip side, the cinnamon rolls were like barely-iced hockey pucks. I'm not a baker (at all), but I'm pretty sure that they didn't get enough time to rise and then the issues were compounded by over-baking.

The eggs benedict had a similar issue - I can't eat much in the way of eggs, but Mom enjoyed them once she was able to saw through the tough, over-toasted English muffin.

The rest of the meal was okay, but I expected a lot more than "okay" from Forepaugh's for their well-publicized Mother's Day meal.

The pricing now bothers me too.  When I go back to their website (on May 13) and check their brunch menu, the brunch (at half the price of what I paid) now includes a complimentary mimosa, champagne, juice or coffee.  The mimosas are listed at $4 each, whereas I paid $6 each.  I don't typically nitpick price - in fact, I'm usually overly unconcerned about watching prices when good restaurants are involved - but this feels like price inflation just because of the date on the calendar.  Perhaps it's a supply/demand situation - at least that's what I'm telling myself so that I don't get crankier about it. ;)

The atmosphere of the restaurant was nice, and I really did enjoy having brunch with my mom.  I just wish the food had been more impressive.

I will go back.... I want to give this place another shot.... I'm just not in a hurry to give it that second chance.