I guess we’re reviewing restaurants in New Jersey now, too. Why not? We make our own rules here on SoBros Network. I suppose that means that we can damn well do whatever we want to! So, if you’re looking for a spot to find restaurant reviews in Nashville and New Jersey, you’ve come to the right place. Besides, we have a nice little crossover audience with the Garden State, and who knows? You may think this brunch looks so good that you can’t resist getting in the car and driving to Freehold, New Jersey to get some yourself. We’re talking about Brownstone Pancake Factory this morning.
My wife and I were treated to a rival brunch spot, I believe, a couple of Christmases ago when visiting family for the holidays. When the subject of brunch was brought up on our most recent trip two weeks ago, my sentiment was “hey, as long as it’s not [rival brunch spot], I’m good with it. That place was just way too much!” Boy, was I in for a rude awakening upon arrival at Brownstone Pancake Factory. Maybe “too much” is just a brunch thing these days, and I need to get used to it. It looked like complete anarchy in the best way possible. There was a carousel front and center in the restaurant, for crying out loud. That should’ve told me from the get-go that we weren’t in Kansas anymore.
I’m not a sweets guy, so I was relieved to see things like a beef brisket breakfast skillet and short rib eggs benedict on the specials menu that rested adjacent to the host’s stand. But, then when I actually saw some of the pancakes and waffles traveling by en route to their tables, I couldn’t help but tip my cap out of respect. We’re talking about copious amounts of food here, combinations that no sane individual would think of…which made me realize that upon walking into Brownstone Pancake Factory, I had conceded to leave reason beyond those four walls.
We were seated, five of us, and I felt the pre-game jitters in my stomach as if I was about to take the field at MetLife Stadium. Having learned at least a little bit about what NOT to do thanks to [rival brunch spot], I figured I’d play it safe and opt for a good old plain cup of coffee instead of one of the premium lattes that they offered. That was the right call to make. My wife ordered their Nut N’ Honey Latte – espresso flavored with hazelnut and honey, and piled high with whipped cream. It was decadent, but it was nowhere near the jaw-dropper that my nephew’s Chocolate Fudge Cake Hot Chocolate was. That was quite literally a mug of hot chocolate with a piece of chocolate fudge cake on top of it that looked like it weighed as much as a cinder block. “The diet starts Monday,” I thought to myself.
When it was time to order our entrees, we went with hazelnut waffles, churro French toast, the short rib eggs benedict, and of course, I had to go with that beef brisket breakfast skillet. That thing weighed more than my cat does, and was probably designed as a dish meant to feed an entire family. But, not to me….no…I’m going to roll up my sleeves and take this thing on. Challenge accepted. The brisket itself was tender and juicy, falling apart in my mouth with each bite. Piled high with potatoes, onions, and peppers, and topped with two eggs and plenty of cheese, this skillet made for the heartiest breakfast dish I believe I’ve ever had. But, it was the zing…the pop…from the chipotle aioli that really gave the dish a burst of flavor. I can’t say that I’ve ever had brisket for breakfast, but Brownstone Pancake Factory absolutely nailed this concept, creating a unique breakfast dish for the ages. I think I only made it about halfway through before throwing in the towel.
By the end of the meal, we were all grunting and groaning. While I can’t speak for everyone else, I’d say it was certainly worth it to me. It made for a 10/10 experience for the whole family, one that I’m sure we’ll be talking about for years to come. There’s a bit of a gimmick to it because of the sheer decadence of how much food they serve you, so maybe the move is to go as a family and just split a couple of entrees. But, they absolutely back it up with the quality of each dish. For more on Brownstone Pancake Factory, check out their website here.
And, of course, here is my nephew Xavier’s review:
“The Brownstone Pancake Factory was WAY OVERBOARD! But as they say, the bigger the better! This is no exception. In my opinion, you should get one thing for each person, or if you don’t like to cook, you could have your ¾ ½ of leftovers. I personally (bad decision) got the Nutella waffle, which I thought was great, but had some issues. The waffle was as thick as a McDonald’s hamburger, but the fruit was towered up like the onion volcano from hibachi, (brazier) but 5x BIGGER!! And the waffle had no Nutella but the fruit did! In total, 6.710.
I had one of the best hot chocolates in my life! It was in a cup as big as my head, and I drank it quickly, BUT…not being picky…there was a slice of cake, yes, A WHOLE SLICE OF CAKE ON IT! In total, 8.8/10. By the way, I tried beef and it was great! Thanks, Uncle Stoney!”
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Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network, and a Dogs Playing Poker on velvet connoisseur. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD, #BeBetter, and ‘Minds right, asses tight.’ “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Nashville, Yankee Candle, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley.
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