Table Talk: Farm Belly

Maia: WEEE’REEEE BACKKKKK. Yup. Nina and I have ventured into Fair Haven for a delightful little brunch date. She just told me she got approved to be a Beli creator, so our new mission was to see if this place would make Nina’s new schmancy list. And strap in. It was worth the trip. 

Nina: Shameless self-plug everyone subscribe…. @ninabo on Beli

Maia: Ok, Ok. Let’s get going

Nina: We walked in and immediately I knew me and Farm Belly were going to be good pals. The interior is the child of a quintessential New England establishment and a modern, minimalist cafe. Bright, natural lighting with white-paned windows look out onto the Quinnipiac River. The floors are wooden, and the tables and chairs are typical: light, wooden square surfaces and black metal Tolix-style chairs. That Saturday morning the customers were a mix of silently munching regulars and eagerly tasting visitors. There was one long table at which a few people had computers propped open and breakfast sandwiches to accompany their laptop labors. That might be my next move. 

Maia: We got the menu and began serious discussion. I pulled up my notes app, of course, and just wrote down anything we said was appealing. Immediately, I saw their add-on of ramp butter and knew we were getting something with it. 

Nina: I proceeded to pull up my Beli and stalk Farm Belly’s page. I saw many photos of the blueberry pancakes and biscuit breakfast sandwiches. We knew what had to be done. But obviously we were getting more than two things – have you met me and Maia?!

Maia: We deliberated for, truthfully, a number of minutes into the double digits. We landed on the biscuit egg sandwich with sausage and ramp butter, polenta with mushroom gravy, a confit tuna melt, blueberry pancakes, and a TBD pastry we’d select from the counter upon ordering (it’s an order-then-get-your-number-and-sit situation). We debated taking off the polenta, but for some reason I was really craving some southern-gravy-vibe-runny-egg-situation. And so, we ended up with 5 dishes, an orange juice, and an iced coffee. 

Nina: At the counter we landed on the blue-corn chive-bacon-cheddar corn bread. I asked for it to be warmed up, which was not exactly something they were offering, but if you can get it warm, it’s the move. 

Maia: We were getting hype when we realized we had mistakenly sat at a two person table. Now, yes, Nina and I are just two people, but, given the sheer quantity of the food, the 3 by 3 table simply wouldn't do. Our server came over and vehemently agreed. 

Nina: We readjusted to our 4 person table and our meal for five started streaming out of the kitchen. It was a sight to see.

Maia: The biscuit sandwich was superb. I was hungover and hungry, and this sandwich fixed both. The warm fluffy biscuit, soft eggs, sausage patty, and ramp butter were incredibly comforting. As soon as I bit into the sandwich, the ramp butter flavor was the first thing I tasted and I was so glad. I was not expecting much from the corn bread to be honest. But it proved me wrong. The warm blue slice was crusty on the outside, filled with bacon and cheese, and just so filling and hearty and hangover-curing. BOMB. 

Nina: I don’t like polenta. And putting something in my “don’t like” category is rare – I eat nearly everything. So when fried polenta cakes with mushroom gravy and eggs was the first thing Maia stated as her want-to-try, I wasn’t excited. I was quickly proved wrong. Well, I still didn’t like the polenta, but it ended up only being a small portion of the dish. The yokes of the masterfully fried eggs exploded over their homemade pickled onions and carrot green chimichurri. I would have bought multiple jars of this chimichurri if given the chance. I want it on everything. The mushroom gravy was comforting, but nothing out of the ordinary. The best parts of this dish were the goodies on the side. 

Maia: I was craving a tuna melt after my TikTok had been filled with New York deli tuna salad reviews. I was thrilled when the menu read “confit tuna” melt because I was expecting a moister tuna melt. Sadly, it wasn't all that. The bread was not toasted but not soft either. The tuna quality wasn't bad, but the ratio of mayo to cheese to bread was off. It ate dry and bland unfortunately - but I still ate most of it. 

Nina: The blueberry pancakes were delicious on the pancake front: medium brown with carmelized rings around the edges, visibly fluffy from the side, and sprinkled in powdered sugar. The blueberries, however, had been marinated in some sort of liquor and the taste had not fully cooked off. A one-off perhaps, but such a mistake made my blueberry pancake eating experience into a pick-the-blueberries-out-eat-a-holey-plain-pancake experience. 

Maia: My favorite bite was most definitely the biscuit sandwich. Following that insane first bite, my second favorite would have to be carrot top chimichurri with polenta. It was so unique and satisfied my corn craving.

Nina: I’d have to second the biscuit sandwich (sausage and ramp butter adds on are the move). And not to be boring, but the carrot top chimichurri with the fried egg was incredible. I guess the consensus is clear. We for sure will be returning to try a different pastry (or three), give the pancakes a second go, and probably eventually taste the entire menu. I’m specifically intrigued by the breakfast burrito, french toast, and mushroom wrap (includes shiitake, maitake, king oyster, golden oyster, and blue oyster mushrooms). 

Maia: All to say: there will be a part two. Farm Belly we will be back. We tried to keep this on the DL at first, but we couldn’t keep it in. Welp. See you next time we ate goooood this week.