It’s Thursday evening, and Yellow Belly is bursting with chatter, laughter, and cheers with beers. Rightfully so, it’s the perfect spot for a post-work happy hour with colleagues and friendly reunions, centered around good food and good beer, all in a quaint meets hipster atmosphere.
My night begins with a refreshing white, and a rich stout for my guy, on the heated light-adorned front patio. Choosing a beverage for beer connoisseurs can be a challenging—in a good way—due to a fine selection of on tap craft beers, which rotate, allowing visitors to try something new each visit. Luckily our server, who was a delight, lets us try out a few samples before making a commitment. For apps we opt for spicy chicken wings, a quintessential dish for American cuisine, and the Brussels sprouts, which are surprisingly still en vogue.
Both dishes are great for sharing, but my split is less than fair, due to the original preparation of the sprouts. Delivered in a personal skillet, reflecting a cozy home-style feel, they’re not the generically grilled to a crisp sprouts we are so used to seeing on every trendy menu in town. No, these babies do their own thing, and they do it well. Caramelized shallot sauce adds a juicy kick of tang, while generously sprinkled thick cut bacon coverts the veggie dish to something even guys can’t keep their hands off. Balancing the sweet and sour app are hot wings, whose flawless (not one bit soggy) crispy texture lands them a spot on my top wings list—it’s quite the honor.
While waiting on the main course, I step inside and inevitably run into friends. This is the type of place where fortuitous run-ins occur; the restaurant’s all about bringing people together for a good time. I return just in time to enjoy the black and bleu burger and buttermilk fried chicken sandwich—I recommend splitting two things to get the most of your dinner. Both mains were recommended to us, and it’s easy to see why. The toasted brioche bun cradles a hearty patty, balsamic onions, arugula, garlic aioli, and the ingredient I’ve always avoided, blue cheese. To my surprise, I accept the cheese…and devour my half of the burger along with garlic Parmesan fries - our nearly finished, double order of this cheesy flavorful side speaks for the fries’ quality. Although I feel completely full, I move on to the chicken sandwich, and forget my fullness with the first bite. Equipped with pickled onion (a favorite of mine) and cabbage slaw upgraded with piquant jalapeno, it’s an ideal twist to the traditional recipe.
Although everything was tasty, and I could not pull myself away from a single dish, the dessert takes the cake (no pun intended). Our server expresses that the cast iron cookie is her favorite order, and we reluctantly go along. My goodness am I happy we listened. A classic (and large) chocolate chip arrives in a charming cast iron skillet topped with McConnell’s Brazilian coffee. The combination of a local favorite and everyone’s go to childhood dessert makes for sweet tooth heaven. I am definitely coming back to try the rest of the cookie-ice cream combos—there are three cookie choices and four ice cream flavors to mix and match.
My dinner was everything it should be: delicious, entertaining, fun, and concluded with a slightly tipsy food coma, and a very happy belly. As we get ready to leave, I overhear a table raving about the brunch selection…looks like I’ll be back sooner than expected.
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