Mt. Adams is a unique part of the Queen City. Atop a winding hilltop maze sit beautifully restored facades and brick town homes. With fantastic views of the city and charming architecture, you might imagine it would be buzzing with people on a Saturday morning. And yet, I find that it's rather quiet. While Friday night attracts a plethora of young party animals, Mt. Adams seems to be less popular in the clear light of day. But across from one of the more rowdy nighttime spots is a calm, happy, healthy little place called Sprout Market and Eatery. Sprout has exactly what Mt. Adams appears to be lacking. This beautifully renovated space features hearty wood tables, exposed beams, and a long bar. Light spills in from the many windows illuminating the comfortable modern decor. It's a wonderful, calming space.
I first visited for their Sunday brunch. Written on a chalkboard at the bar was the 'a la carte' menu with basics like eggs, toast and bacon as well as specialty items like grilled cheese and corn cakes. Guests order at the bar and receive a little numbered sign to put on the table. I chose a corncake and a portobello mushroom frittata. The corn cake was deliciously moist and drizzled with sweet, local honey. The frittata was well cooked and sprinkled with parmesan.
My dining companion chose ham and cheese (which was served with an amazing locally sourced mustard!). He chose roasted potatoes as well that came with two dipping sauces (one was tomato-based and the other was some sort of heavenly mayo).
We loved the brunch so much, we just had to go back for dinner service. I was surprised to find that the little numbered sign was also part of the dinner protocol. The menus are on the tables (as opposed to the brunch chalkboard) during dinner, however guests still walk up to the bar to order food and are given a number and silverware after ordering. Although this seems to be a hip trend in foodservice, I think it can come off as a bit impersonal. Nevertheless, the brilliant food certainly makes up for any reservations I have about the service methods. The food is simple, local, fresh and undeniably delicious. For dinner, we started with crispy bread from Sixteen Bricks. Being the pasta lover that I am, I just had to try their house made fettuccine with fresh tomato confit, parmigiano reggiano, and basil. It was a perfect balance of light and flavorful. While many restaurants serve up a pile of pasta built for 3, Sprout's portion was just right.
My dining companion had the turkey sandwich which he was quite happy with. Served on Sixteen Bricks bread, this sandwich is anything but boring. It features sage, thyme and house made mayonnaise.
After your meal, I highly recommend popping into their market. The market is stocked with fresh, local dairy, meats and produce as well as specialty breads and sauces. It's like a mini year-round farmer's market! Sprout is my kind of place. While the nighttime scene of Mt. Adams may remain boisterous and rowdy, Sprout is bringing something new to the hill. A celebration of pure, local food in a unique, modern atmosphere. -EK