Austin Cook
Equinox staff
The Elm City Brewing Company serves more than just beer: It serves good food with hospitality. This casual full-service restaurant is tucked away in a restored 18th-century colonial textile mill that highlights lots of exposed reclaimed brick and wood. It also has outdoor seating available pending weather conditions. Elm City Brewing Company (ECB) is located a mile from the center of Keene State College in the Colony Mill Market at 222 West Street in Keene.
The restaurant has a warm and pleasant atmosphere. The rustic feeling of the mill is a perfect setting to come with friends, a date, or just by yourself. There is not a bad seat in the house as the exposed brick and woodwork project a comfortable and welcoming feeling.
ECB offers many dining options to its customers. The menu showcases typical pub sandwiches and burgers, higher-end entrees like New York strip steak and a handful of pasta dishes. There seems to be something for everyone here. During my visit, I chose the Blues Burger with fries. ECB serves this burger with caramelized onions and gobs of blue cheese. My burger was cooked and seasoned perfectly as ordered. It was juicy but not greasy. The onions added just enough sweetness to soften the sharpness of the blue cheese. The flavors of the blue cheese and onions meshed so well with the beef of the burger that it was simply delicious. The fries are salty, seasoned and have a good crunch to them. The burger is also served with a fresh leaf of lettuce, tomato, and onions. Other than the lettuce, I did not put any of the toppings on my burger, because it would have been too much on one burger.
ECB is reasonably priced for the portion you receive. A sandwich is around $10. Premium entrees are more expensive and range $17 to $24. Appetizers are a bit high and can run you around $10 each. So, be aware of what you are ordering, as the price can really stack up if you order an appetizer, a drink, or dessert with your meal.
The service was good overall. I found my server friendly and attentive. I was greeted and attended to throughout my time there. The staff at the bar engaged in casual conversation with customers, making a relaxed atmosphere. Overall, the staff was prompt and the service fast. I was there for just a half hour in total.
Despite my bill being higher than what I would have liked, I enjoyed ECB. The Elm City Brewery is in a great location, offers high-quality food, and the staff provides quality service. I recommend eating there, and I will go back again.
Austin Cook
can be contacted at
acook@kscequinox.com
