Maui Brick Oven

Ed. Note: Maui Brick Oven is now open Tuesday through Sunday from 11:00 am to 9:00 pm.

Maui Brick Oven
7850 Poplar
Germantown, TN 38138
505-2525

I have been trying to get to Maui Brick Oven for weeks. It's best known as the gluten free pizza place, but I have been wanting to try one of the grain bowls.



It's right by my mom's house in Germantown, but it's closed on Sunday, which is when I am usually out that way. I had a reason to head east on Saturday, so the monkeys (Satchel 12, and Jiro, 10) and I had a really late lunch/early dinner there. At 3:00pm we basically had the place to ourselves, which was fine by me.

The inside is very cute and "tropical."



It's an order at the counter and take a number place.



The cashier was sweet and gave us menus and said we could sit down and look them over, since we had never been in before. Unlike Belly Acres, the menu was in a normal sized font and easy to read, but I really appreciated the fact that they had a magnifying glass available. (Yes, I'm a memaw.)



Here's a better look at it.



I knew right away that I wanted the pollo bowl ($12) and Jiro wanted a pizza ($13). He decided to get crazy and add bacon to his usual pepperoni order. Satchel insisted he wasn't hungry and just wanted chicken tenders ($7). I really tried to get him to order something more exciting (coconut shrimp, maybe?, but he was insistent.

I went back to the counter to order and the monkeys followed since they had seen these on the way in.



Our total was $40.61 plus tip. We took our number and went back to the booth. (Satchel was really excited.)



After just a few minutes, my grain bowl came out. I was starved so I went ahead and started eating it. I was very pleased by how it looked.



I liked it even better once I mixed it up. (I didn't add any dressing--it didn't need it.)



It was really, really tasty. It made me wish Maui Brick Oven was in Midtown.

Satchel's chicken tenders came out next and they were massive.



He let Jiro and I sample them and the fries--both were very good.

Next up was Jiro's pizza.



He gave the pizza the thumbs up and said it was crispy like Memphis Pizza Cafe. I had a slice and it didn't remind me of the Pizza Cafe, but I thought it was really good.

Neither of the monkeys really knows what gluten free is and neither realized that their food was any different than at any other restaurant. I consider that a good thing.

Throughout the meal, people came to check on us, fill our water, bring to go boxes, etc. (They are not Project Green Fork certified but the to go boxes were paper, not styro.)

Maui Brick Oven is a chain, but as of now there is one in Maui, Hawaii and one in Germantown, TN. One of the local owners has a wife and two children who are celiacs. They live in Midtown and I really, really hope they open another one of these in town.

Bounty on Broad

Bounty on Broad
2519 Broad Avenue
410-8131

I've tried to go to Bounty a few times, but the Wed-Sat schedule made it a bit challenging. When I heard they were doing brunch on Sundays, it was ON. Despite a two day Halloween hangover, I brought the monkeys (Satchel, 12, and Jiro, 10) and Warren along.



Bounty is beautiful and a wonderful addition to my beloved Broad Avenue. I love the outside and the inside. We were seated downstairs near the kitchen. (I didn't make it upstairs!) At some point, in addition to the downstairs seating, there is going to be a butcher shop.



Our waiter, Tom, was super nice and pleasantly hipsterish. He brought menus and got everyone drinks. Jiro wanted lemonade, but settled for iced tea. Satchel wanted coffee like Warren and I, but settled for decaf. I kind of love that he thinks he's mature enough to drink coffee.



Since the bar was upstairs, Warren didn't realize he could have gotten a Bloody Mary until he saw the people next to us get one. Oh well.

The brunch food menu looked great.



Tom explained that everything is served family style. Then we had to have a discussion about what that actually meant to each of us. I broke it down and said, "It's like when we go eat Chinese food and everything comes on a big plate and we share." The monkeys do not like to share.

Tom made a few suggestions, which we took, and everyone placed their order.

For an appetizer, we had the avocado deviled eggs with house smoked bacon. Tom told us it was a whimsical take on "Green Eggs & Ham." It was a hit. Well it was a hit with the three of us who tried them! Jiro abstained.



We arrived right at 11am, when they opened, and by 11:30am, I'd say it was a full house. I saw children of all ages, and I have seen Bounty specifically say "children welcome" on their Facebook page. (The owners and the chef have young children!)

Soon the rest of the food arrived, and it all looked great. Jiro's choice was the cheese fries with country ham, scallion cream, and fried egg. (Somehow country ham is always involved in brunch!)



When he tried to grab some of the egg, the yoke spilled out and he exclaimed, "Mom! They forgot to cook the egg!" I calmly explained that it was supposed to be like that and it was ok. I probably should have had them fry it over hard, but the runny yoke is probably the only reason Jiro agreed to share with anyone, so that was a win.

Satchel chose the grilled hangar steak with brussels sprouts, mushrooms and balsamic reduction.



He really, really did not want to share, but was forced to. He could have easily eaten the whole thing.

I chose the catfish with arugula, artichokes and green tomato relish.



Satchel swiftly relocated all of the artichoke to his plate.

Warren went with the vegetable strata, which Tom explained had an English muffin as the base.



It was really yummy. Even Jiro had some of it.

But what really turned brunch into a party was dessert. Do not let Jiro's face fool you. He just wanted me to hurry up and take a picture so he could commence eating.



We tried two of the three dessert options--chocolate nirvana and banana bread. YUMMMMMMMMM.




On our way out, Jackson Kramer, the chef, poked his head out of the kitchen to say hello, which is always a nice touch.

Overall we were very impressed with Bounty. However, Bounty is not cheap. Our brunch rang in at $99 plus tip. (Credit cards only, in case any of you people still carry cash.) So, I will absolutely be back, but I will most likely leave the monkeys at home. Or maybe just bring one of them, as long as he promises to share.