Update (10/2013): I returned to a highly disappointing burger. The patty was all wrong -- texture, level of done-ness, flavor, etc. The fries were day+ old fries and overcooked. Just bad.
I wasn't sure what to expect at
Mess Hall after having read mixed reviews. The space was nice and service friendly. The food was solid. The burger was a mix of chuck, short rib and brisket meat and while the burger easily crumbled and definitely doesn't make you look dainty (more like a happy barbarian), it was good.
The brioche bun was fresh and just the right combination of soft while holding its own against the heavy works. The patty was freshly ground so I liked the texture although the flavor wasn't as noticeable. It was cooked medium rare but because the patty crumbled, I barely noticed the red parts in the middle. The burger came with caramelized onion, cheddar cheese, pickles and a smokey sauce. The combination worked well and I really wished they offered traditional BBQ sauce to enhance but alas, I had to settle for grainy Dijon mustard instead.
The accompanying fries (I approve of the lumping together with the burger deal without having to pay extra) were good but not fantastic. They were piping hot and crispy but didn't taste as freshly fried as, say, at a French bistro in New York City.
For drinks, I had the a modified Mimosa (gimmicky-ally dubbed 'You Could Be So Much More Mimosa') that had curacao and
Salers Aperitif instead of a straight up champagne and OJ concoction. It was refreshing but I couldn't detect too much of a difference. Then again, I'm no hard liquor expert.
My companion had the regular eggs benedict and they were solid as well. The eggs were perfectly poached, the sauce was rich but not too heavy and that ham was the best part. It was thin and top notch.
I'd definitely return for dinner or happy hour. We didn't sit outside because it was scorching but maybe in the evening, it would be nice to sip a cold one with its happy hour menu.
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