a sense of Belonging at The Briar
Tucked away in the blooming gardens of my residential Northeast neighborhood is a place of refuge - the kind of neighborhood spot with the potential to strengthen its community simply by creating space for it. Located not more than two blocks off Logan Park, the Briar provides the cozy local experience that I have been long craving.
The first time I visited was on my birthday - on my walk from my hair appointment to my home, I wanted to stop for a light and celebratory lunch. The nondescript building gave little indication of what to expect - save for the beautiful wooden front door. Heaving it open, I was met with the relief of a small but cozy space. The great and imposing bar is juxtaposed with bistro-style seating that satiated my fantasy of a European afternoon. Two cushy booths line the right side of the restaurant, perfect for card playing with friends or an intimate meal. The kitchen is semi-exposed, shielded slightly by bookshelves that are playfully lined with a variety of games and books and other curiosities. Layers of nostalgia compete for your attention - piles of VHS tapes and a small tv in the corner, a wood-framed oil painted portrait of an elegant woman overlooking the dining room, strings of bulbed lights under the shade of a large tree on the patio, and of course the delectable scents of espresso and butter waltzing through the air and right up your nose.
The staff was kind and helpful in a wonderfully subdued sort of way, providing gentle suggestions and allowing me to take my time as I perused my options. I ordered a French 75-esque cocktail and a salad and sat solo by the windowed doors, looking out on the patrons who opted to bask in the heat of the midday sun. Several other customers were sitting alone at the bistro tables, sipping on espresso, working on their computer, reading a book … a sense of quiet comfort that punctuated my experience.
As I sat and sipped and snacked and listened to the strange grunts and high pitched whirrs of the espresso machine, I decided this was the kind of hidden gem that has fallen to near extinction. An uncomplicated, unpretentious spot that serves cocktails during the day and coffee into the night and invites you to sit and stay while … a place that encourages community with clothing swaps and yoga on the patio … a bar you are dying to reveal to your friends, so they can revel in its unique aura of nostalgia. The Briar is my newest escape - a rare sanctuary where time stops and asks you to sit and make yourself at home, and does not pass judgment on whatever that may mean to you.
