905.522.2999 258 Locke St. S. Hamilton, On L8P 4B9 www.breadbar.ca
I continue my quest to love Locke St at Earth to Table Bread Bar. Now while I do definitely recommend ETT, I actually visited twice before writing this post. Because the first time I went, I was horribly disappointed and didn't want to say negative things about them because everyone seems so lovely there. I had, as I'm sure you have too, heard such awesome reviews about the place and had high hopes for an unforgettable dining experience.
My first visit was with my favourite foodie dining partner. We ordered an appetizer to share and a pizza each. For the app, we got the Local Burrata Cheese plate. Cottage-like cheese with olive tapenade and fresh bread. It was simple, fresh and delicious. The cheese and the tapenade together was a perfect match. I have no complaints about it. But the pizza...
Now, I've heard all about the pizza, and about how everybody loves the pizza and orders the pizza for take-out. My pizza was...problematic. I ordered the field greens pizza. What I got was a crust with sauce and cheese and a salad. I couldn't figure out how to eat it. I couldn't pick it up, and it was too difficult to cut. I wound up taking it home and tossing it a couple days later, very disappointed. And for the whole meal we paid $50, and didn't even order drinks. All in all, the visit was kind of a let down from what I was expecting. My dining partner and I both agreed that we wanted what everyone else ordered at the tables around us instead of what we got.
So when my sisters decided that ETT was going to be the destination for our monthly dinner with Grams, I was a little upset. I tried to tell them about my problematic pizza, but they insisted. And I'm glad they did!
This was visit was a total 180 from the first. I took a lesson from myself and ordered what I'd seen all the other tables ordering last time. Loaded fries for the app and the ETT burger for dinner.
Each day the loaded fries change. The daily loaded fries special while we were there was chili cheese fries. Which was incredible. Pretty much the best loaded fries I've ever had. The chili had the perfect spice; it was mild enough that I could eat it, but was still spicy enough to make me feel accomplished for eating it. My Grams ordered the chili to start (because we wouldn't let her eat too many fries) and said it was just as good on it's own too.
For the main course, I eschewed the pizza in favour of trying the ETT burger. I know I've posted here about how incredible Chuck's burgers are (and they ARE incredible!) but I have a new favourite burger. The meat was tender and flavourful without being over spiced, and it was topped with honey-pickled mushrooms! And brie! HONEY-PICKLED MUSHROOMS AND BRIE.
Ahem. Sorry about the yelling, I just got excited. ABOUT THE MUSHROOMS. Ahemcoughcough. Sorry.
Some other random things I love about Earth to Table (besides the burgers) are their commitment to community and sustainable practices and the decor.
As far as sustainability goes, they installed a filtration system and serve water to the table in old-school milk bottles instead of bottled water. They're promoting drinking local tap water, which is good for everyone. Plus, the milk bottles are retro-cool and now I want one for my place.
The layout is done in a bistro-style with the tables close together. Both times I visited, I made friends with the people next to me (I've learned that only nice, foodie-type people go to ETT, and I'm okay being grouped like that). Oh, and they have a chalk-board wall. I know there's nothing especially new about this as a concept, I've just...I've just always loved chalk-board walls.
So clearly, after the rocky start, I've found yet another place on Locke that has won my heart and will draw me back again and again. Maybe next time I'll go during the day so I can visit some of the shops too? Epic Books and Textures Craftworks, I'm looking at you. Here's hoping!
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