For weeks leading up to my birthday, Sara made little hints about our brunch plans. More along the lines of, "make sure you're hungry"... "don't forget"... "shhhhhh"... thinking back, those sounds were quite Owl-like.
I was joyfully surprised when we arrived at the restaurant,
Little Owl. It was a restaurant that entered our radar a while back, after numerous friends talked about it, we read reviews as New York's "best burger" and it just happens to be on one of our favorite blocks in the west village. With a dusting of snow from the night before, the scene was set for a hearty meal.
The restaurant itself was quaint and charming. Only about 10 small tables. Extra large windows, a small bar and simplistic design. Sara particularly liked the Owl logo and noticed that all of the restaurant's dishes were from Fishs Eddy. It added to the charm..
Even though it was only 11am, we both of course had to try the burger. A plate of perfection soon arrived. The fresh cuts were accentuated by robust hearty flavors and perfectly grilled, allowing the burger to "breathe". The bun was different, a nice sourdough roll full of nooks and crannies to absorb the flowing juices of the burger. The plate was soon drenched and we were all smiles. As could be expected in a place so small, the waitstaff was extremely friendly. The maitre'd even left me with a memorable message as we were leaving: "Turning 30 was good...its encouraging for all you can now do, if you want to do anything at all". Interesting, indeed.
As soon as we stepped outside in the January 2nd cold, flurries of snow began falling again, and we were reminded not of the past, but of all the things that could follow...
