Lucy Eats Alone – Lucy Loves the Bar at MP Taverna

In this installment of Lucy Eats Alone, she introduces us to brunch at MP Taverna, with plenty of good things to say. -Meg

I know many have written about the happy arrival of MP Taverna and I concur – great food (although with sometimes spotty service but that’s to be expected with a new place – especially one this big). I’ve already been several times. OK, so possibly I’ve been there so many times that I already know a couple of the bartenders’ names.

MP is a great addition to the Ditmars area Greek restaurant collection. The bar is a real bar with ok music playing with a good selection of craft beers, wine, and real cocktails. Amen to having a place in this area where bartenders know what a Perfect Rye Manhattan is and have the goods to make one. The tables downstairs are almost always busy, even on the odd hours when I have stopped in.

The bar has a good crowd that is slightly older than the usual scene around town that’s heavily populated by 20-somethings. As a non-20-something who spent the previous evening getting chatted up by a 26 year old, I am delighted to chat with folks more in my demographic (nothing against the cute 20-something from the previous evening).

Every time I’ve eaten here the food has been great, but for the first time I tried the brunch. I settled on the Eggs Florentine with the optional smoked salmon and a glass of a bright Grüner. The poached eggs are perfectly cooked and the spinach is garlicky and not watery. Instead of english muffins, they are served on lovely little flat breads. This is good stuff.

The brunch menu is a limited version of their regular lunch/dinner menu with the addition of what you hope to find on a brunch menu, including skillets with eggs, bagel with smoked salmon, and they even have fruit and yogurt. In short, you will find something to make you happy.

Although I didn’t order one today I can affirm that bartender Erik makes a good Bloody Mary – spicy and lots of flavor – and when it comes to bloodys I am very serious.