We just tried out Twisted Elm Tavern a "Gastro Pub", that opened about a year ago in Elmwood Park.
It s a good place with 10 rotating beer taps, a nice selection of wine, cocktails and very good food. We sat at the bar, we like that, and had fish and chips and a burger. Both were very good.
Beyond the great food and drink we enjoyed chatting with some folks at the bar and especially our very cool bartender, Lindsey.
From the outside Twisted Elm does not look like much, but inside it is nicely decorated.
We went right to the bar which is set away from what seemed like three separate dining rooms.
Our first question in a place like this is what's on tap. There was a nice selection which is also listed on BeerMenus.Com.
From the day's offerings we had three beers, after just tasting a couple more.
A rich nutty ale in the Rouge style, which I find is always complex and flavorful. Not a favorite of mine, but Diana liked it.
A very bright flavorful Pilsner. You may not know that Pilsner is the youngest and most popular style of beer making in the world. Though for beer lovers, they often are not that good. This one from Pennsylvania has flavor stoked beyond a normal Pils and is not too bitter. It is a perfect Summer beer.
This is a beer, an Ale, I really love, in fact I had it again on Saturday at Twin Lights Taphouse in Highlands, NJ.
It is brewed in Paso Robles, San Luis Obispo County, California. A big area for wine.
The beermaker says, "Double Jack IPA is our first ever Imperial IPA. It features a big malty middle to cloak the high alcohol and mouth puckering hop bitterness. Huge tangerine, grapefruit and juicy fruit aroma blossom over the herbal blue basil and malt earthiness of this aggressive beer."
What impressed me most about Twisted Elm was the quality of the ingredients and the preparation that went into the two dishes we tried.
For example the fish and chips were very good but the tartar sauce looked and tasted homemade. I wouldn't be surprised if the kitchen was making their own pickle relish and mayo. Really made the dish stand out.
Look at this mustard, I would not surprised if they were making this in house too. So fresh and delicious. I am a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to mustard, taught by my father-in-law, Rudy Polack. His company Baker Brands made fine mustard in New York City for decades.
The burger we had was made with very good meat, a nice grind of some selected cuts. It was perfectly grilled and served with a steak knife stabbed in its center.
Like the fish and chips on the London newsprint, there is artistry in the presentation of each dish. I had my eye on a lamb shepherd's pie that another patron was eating, he said it was fabulous.
I can't say I was thrilled about the french fries, good, not exceptional.
The menu is by no means limited to bar food. The kitchen turns out many tempting dishes. They say " Using the finest local and seasonal ingredients, our chef prepares familiar dishes with a unique twist. We hand-toss delicious artisan pizzas that are cooked to perfection in our brick oven. See their menu here
435 River Drive
Elmwood Park, New Jersey 07407
(201) 791-3705
Things to do, places to see, with food and booze
Comments