A Cozy Spot in Gramercy That Won’t Break the Bank

Ever walk by a neighborhood restaurant and never stop in? Come on�you know you do. There is a neighborhood eatery in Gramercy, that I pass on my travels constantly, but have never stopped in. FINALLY, through a gracious invitation, Cheapeats tried this local spot. What is it? Mumbles.

Mumbles is a Restaurant and Craft Beer Bar located at 179 3rd Avenue. Their look and feel, is very reminiscent of Cheers. You know; “where everyone knows your name.” So, it’s the perfect spot for Cheapeats to meet a friend for dinner and catch up.

As we sat at the table and glanced at the menu, their small plates were singing to us. So, we decided to order some appetizers and sides and share. Our choices: Jamon Croquettes, Truffle Mac & Cheese with Lobster, Crab Cakes and Sliders. Sounds yummy, right?

As we sipped our cocktails and caught up on the latest gossip, plates suddenly appeared. First up, the croquettes. Their ham croquettes, are very similar to Italian rice balls. Bite sized nibbles, that are crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. The filling was a combination of ham, mashed potatoes, cheese and herbs and were served with a roasted red pepper aioli. Delicious!

The sliders were not your ordinary sliders, which is basically a small burger. These were shortrib sliders. It was like a BBQ Brisket on a small bun. Fork tender beef, that melted in your mouth, with a tangy BBQ sauce. Fantastic! It came with a side of cole slaw and jalapeno peppers.Two thumbs up.

Next up, Crab Cakes. These moist and sweet crab cakes were pan seared, which makes them less greasy than others I’ve had. They were jammed packed with sweet crab and dill and topped with a remoulade sauce. It was served with a fennel and mandarin orange salad. This salad was so light and refreshing. The perfect combination of textures.

I have to say, the Truffle Mac & Cheese with Lobster was the star of the show. This guilty pleasure was creamy, cheesy, gooey and just sinfully delicious. So worth the calories. A must try.

Then came the big question; “Any room for dessert?” Does any girl turn down dessert? Not this one. So we ordered their Coconut Cream Flan. This creamy creation hit all the right notes. Sweet, Salty and Crunchy. The flan itself was light, creamy and sweet and was topped with a caramel sauce that had a hint of salt. It was sprinkled with toasted coconut. The perfect ending to a perfect meal.

Thanks Mumbles for a lovely meal. And as Arnold says; ” I’LL BE BACK.”

Happiness, $25 and under.