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2 people, 1 restaurant, 25 bucks
Meals for people with big appetites and small wallets
Meals for people with big appetites and small wallets
When a fellow writer named Mike wanted to know more about the different sorts of writing assignments I take on, I asked him to meet me for lunch at Hogans Hideaway — a Park Avenue staple for 30 years — so he could participate in one of them.
The mood
Quirky. Customers in the main dining area fronting Park Avenue are surrounded by a collection of vintage hats and umbrellas, artwork, street signs and other random, colorful objects. Multiple seating areas accommodate various moods (dimly lit booths for romancing, for instance).
The food
I've been to Hogans Hideaway on several occasions but can remember only one time when I was truly impressed with the food (a seafood special). This visit was no exception, but I keep going back because I like the atmosphere, and the people and the ingredients are always fresh.
This was my first time ordering the Portobello Mushroom Sandwich ($8.75), a balsamic-marinated, char-grilled portobello mushroom cap topped with artichoke hearts and roasted red pepper-ginger sauce on house-made veggie focaccia. A nice presentation, served open-faced — but someone got a bit heavy-handed with the balsamic vinegar, which overpowered the other flavors. The meal included a cup of delicious chicken, vegetable and barley soup.
Mike decided on the Eggplant Parmesan Sandwich ($6.75), breaded and fried eggplant baked with house-made marinara sauce with mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses on a grilled sub roll. He appreciated the well-melted cheese and the light use of breading and tomato sauce (he'd been worried it would be too messy).
Starters, soups, salads and sandwiches — with a decent number of vegetarian options — fill out the lunch menu.
The drinks
Sodas, iced tea, coffee, hot chocolate, juices (I had pineapple juice), organic loose-leaf tea and seasonal hot-mulled apple cider are $1.75. Bottled water ranges from $1.25 to $2.25. Hogans Park Ave Ale and Pale Ale are brewed by Custom BrewCrafters and cost $4.50 a pint; nearly two dozen other beers range from $3 to $5.
The damage: $20.24
Next time ...
Hogans Veggie Burger ($7) — a seasoned blend of whole grains, lentils, brown rice, celery, onions and carrots topped with Cheddar cheese on a grilled whole wheat roll, garnished with lettuce, tomato, red onion, alfalfa sprouts and a side of Thousand Island dressing.
