Tap That: Review of Brunch at Liquid Laundry
The easiest and quickest way to judge a place, especially a restaurant, is by its bathroom. And although bordering on sexist, the touch of wit (compliments of Burt Reynolds), in Liquid Laundry’s restroom accurately reflects the entirety of the restaurant. It is not clear exactly what the team behind Boxing Cat Brewery was going for when they put this place together, but somehow it works. From a “Laundry Room” (smoking parlor), to creative dish names like “Because Your Middle Name is Boring” and “Skinny Bitch”, your meal at Liquid Laundry is bound to be anything but boring.
The atmosphere of the restaurant is post-industrial with sharp edges, lots of metal, exposed wood, yadah yadah—basically like every other place in Shanghai. The dinner menu features an interesting mix of Mediterranean and American South influence, ranging from roasted eggplant dip with harissa to cornbread. They also brew their own beer in-house, displaying their shiny kettles in encased glass. This gastro-pub is a nice place to grab a beer and some grub, but also hits the spot for weekend brunch:
Bacon-Guajillo Cornbread with Maple Butter (48 RMB) The cornbread itself was a bit dry and frankly disappointing, until I spread some heaven-sent maple butter on it.
Hash browns (38 RMB) Hard to mess up, but these were beyond good.
Smoked pork neck with poached egg and cheese grits (88 RMB) The pork neck was perfectly cooked, and complimented nicely by the cheesy grits.
Green Eggs and Ham (88 RMB) Spanish ham, poached eggs, spinach, and avocado on whole wheat bread. For everything going on with this dish, it managed to be lacking in flavor.
Bagel with cream cheese spread, smoked salmon and arugula (78 RMB) This bagel is a bit messy to eat, but worth the effort.
Overall, the food was good, with a few disappointing moments. Nonetheless, it’s a nice spot to spend a Sunday afternoon, and leave with a new food baby. This article was written by Enrique Menendez. Send an email to [email protected] to get in touch. Photo Credit: Anna Perez