This is the second of two articles covering Derby Station. Read about our first experience, by Jami Farkas.
Derby Station is one of those restaurants that feels comfortable. It’s a place to settle into a booth and perhaps stay for hours having one of many microbrews with friends. However, we popped for a “pre-theater” evening dinner. We wanted to stay longer, but this was not one of those evenings.
We were immediately struck by the large space, which still feels intimate. Maybe it’s the dark wood or abundance of brick. Soft lighting and a variety of seating choices are other features that promote comfort.
The second thing that struck us was our server Emily. She was “with it.” We were confident asking her anything about the menu or beers and she’d know the answer. It was refreshing to have an experienced server who was either well trained, employed here for awhile or perhaps both.
A nice touch right off the bat was a basket of popcorn, which appeared at our table as soon as we sat down. It was pesto Parmesan popcorn, which was quite different and hard to resist.
After some recommendations and discussions of what we usually like, we were expertly guided toward two beers that turned out to be spot on. My friend chose the MBC Celis, which was the “pint of the day” ($2.50 rather than $4.50), and I went with the Founder’s Ale, ($4.50).
With beverages in hand, it was time for the food choices. I love chevre on greens, so I chose the Flash Fried Goat Cheese Salad, ($9.50). It was served with delightfully delicate rounds of warm goat cheese over spring greens with tomatoes, fresh apples, smoked bacon, radishes, toasted walnuts and a blueberry vinaigrette. It was a good-sized salad and could have been a main course by itself. The sweet and savory flavors and the crunchy and soft textures were perfect.
My friend chose the Caprese salad ($10), and it’s hard to imagine a prettier salad. The red and yellow tomatoes with the basil and greens, adorned with the crostini and cheese looked beautiful on the plate. It was fresh and every bite was consumed.
Because our salads were so filling, we decided to split the Fish Tacos ($9.95), which were a feature for June. The Cajun-style fish was light and flavorful, and there was plenty to share. It was served with a black bean salsa, lime, avocado, pico de gallo and a sour cream sauce. Really enjoyable.
We decided to get a dessert to go, and although tempted, decided against the brownie because Emily told us it came with ice cream. Since we were headed to the theater that wasn’t a good option. We decided to try the Cinnamon Bun Bread Pudding ($7). It came packed in a nice box and the fragrance of cinnamon prompted me to take a peak in the car as we drove away. It was a big piece of bread pudding, topped with whipped cream and much to our surprise, ice cream. We had to make a quick stop and drop it off in the fridge at my friend’s workplace. In the end, the ice cream was just the cold, creamy touch needed to balance out the sweet and dense texture of the pudding. Delicious.
The entire menu can be found on their website and is updated with each month’s features, which are based on the best that local farmers and growers have to offer.
There are many reasons to find your way to Derby Station: the beer, the food, the service, the atmosphere, the ever-changing menu, or just because it’s convenient. Whatever the reason, if our visit is any indication, we think you’ll enjoy it!
