Maggie Brown

September 26, 2008

Maggie Brown Restaurant

455 Myrtle Ave.                  

Brooklyn, NY 11205

The Setup: It was a rainy Saturday morning and Greg and I were in the city to check out an apartment. We had a 1:00 appointment time (supposedly) which gave us just enough time to stop for brunch before heading to Bushwick Ave. After driving through Brooklyn for a little while, Greg remembered a place called Maggie Brown which he had been to once before for breakfast. Having decided against taking the train for the day, we somehow lucked out and found a parking space directly across the street from the restaurant.

The Experience: Maggie Brown is a quaint restaurant in the Clinton Hill area of Brooklyn. At 12:30 on a Saturday afternoon, the place was packed with hipsters! Instead of waiting on a table we decided to have a seat at the bar since we were super hungry. The bartender (and possibly owner?) was both attentive and efficient. She took our order promptly and we waited happily with our coffee and tea.

The Food: Although Maggie Brown has a varied menu ranging from burgers that looked delicious to salads that would please vegetarians and carnivores alike, Greg and I both opted for breakfast. Greg decided on The Maggie Brown ($8) which is scrambled eggs with cheddar, horseradish and chives, while I went for the Buttermilk Pancakes ($8.50). The portions on both dishes were very generous -- 3 huge pancakes with mine, and with Greg's - hash browns, toast and even a small salad along with his eggs. Neither of us could quite clean our plates, but I did help out by stealing some of Greg's hash browns!

The Verdict: B  Maggie Brown is a place I would definitely visit again, although next time I would opt for something more special than just pancakes. Greg really enjoyed his breakfast, but I have to say that I've had better pancakes. Also - at least 4 other people who arrived and ordered after we did seemed to get their food before us. All in all though, I did enjoy the atmosphere of the restaurant and would probably make Maggie Brown a staple if I lived in the neighborhood. **Insider's Tip** - ask for a side of raspberry butter with your toast or pancakes. They don't bring it to you automatically but it was definitely worth asking for!