BernBaum’s has made a splash on downtown’s dining scene since their launch a few years back in an old midcentury modern furniture store on Roberts Street. It was once a best-kept secret–a hidden gem of sorts. And to this day, there still isn’t really anything like it in the local restaurant scene. But their move to a larger location at 402 Broadway this past summer has allowed this Nordic-Jewish dining space to grow even more.
Israeli pickles with tumeric cauliflower, lemon turnip, olivers and sumac onion
Hummus with harissa-roasted chickpeas, feta and house-made pitaBreakfast and lunch are hot commodities at Bernbaum’s, with lines consistently close to being out the door most days. And up until now, BernBaum’s had only been serving breakfast and lunch with a menu that was rooted in Jewish and Scandinavian traditions and of course, New York-style bagels. The restaurant has recently, after much anticipation by the public, launched a decadent dinner menu that reflects their attention-to-detail and love when it comes to the art of food.
“What we’re trying to do is combine some different Jewish traditions with some Nordic traditions–some things that are sort of comfort food, things that are recognizable but still sort of still interesting,” said Andrea Baumgardner, head chef and co-founder. “We have kept the dinner hours into a shorter window so we can really focus on the meal aspect versus it being a bar-like establishment. We are hoping it’s a place that people want to come on a regular basis like they do for lunch.”
Roasted roots: beet, carrot, rutabaga, shallot, labne, almond and sumac dukkah
Swedish meatballs with sour cream gravy, lingonberries and fennel cucumber pickles
Schnitzel: matzo-breaded chicken cutlet with potato salad, kraut tzatziki and lingonberriesNew to the dinner menu are large plate items, along with a “nosh” section that features appetizers, small-plate delectables and shareables. There are all-day small plates that carry over from breakfast and lunch, as well as salads and soups. The diner even plans to have a beer and wine license in the near future for the dinner hour. The restaurant also still offers plenty of gluten-free and vegan options as well.
Dinner is served from 5-8pm every Friday through Sunday.
It’s quite obvious that BernBaum’s is much more than just a bagel shop. It’s much more than a quick meal fix. It’s much more than just a diner. It’s a place of kindness, warmth, great conversation and spectacular food that sparks joy in even the coldest of souls. And this new dinner menu is no exception to that greatness.
