As the new academic year commences, the search for previously unexplored and exciting food options does as well, particularly for those students who are relying less and less on University dining halls. The Backyard, newly opened on the Corner, may be one such choice for students.
The Backyard is rather inconspicuous when you first enter Elliewood Avenue from University Avenue. After a few hundred feet of worrying that we had the wrong street, we arrived at the restaurant front. Once home to Buddhist Biker Bar, the outside seating area of the restaurant was the first taste of The Backyard we received; it was very welcoming, with umbrellas at every table and statuesque trees contributing to the ambience of an actual suburban backyard.
The menu consisted of various appetizers, sandwiches and salads that may be relatively expensive for a college town accustomed to $5 sandwiches from littlejohn's down the street. For example, the sandwiches - which we had heard were the menu's staple items - ranged from $7.50-8.50. After minutes of menu consideration, which consisted of smirking at a "That's what she said" poster displayed behind the open bar, I ordered the $8 spicy pork and peach sandwich, as it appeared to be an atypical combination of ingredients and flavors.
Because we were eating after the lunch rush, and there was only one other party in the restaurant who had been served already, we were expecting to get our food rather quickly. But it was not until 15 minutes later, that our waiters served our meals - admittedly, though, with smiles.
The spicy pork and peach sandwich consisted of a chili-rubbed pork tenderloin with goat cheese, romaine lettuce and a peach chutney served on ciabatta bread. The pork was indeed spicy but not nearly enough for my taste buds. I was left wondering whether it had been rubbed with chili at all, but rather, with some other very mild pepper or an imitation pepper rub.
Apart from the seasonings, the meat itself was rather dry and lacked its natural flavors, as well, not retaining any of the juices for which pork is renowned.
The peach chutney did not offer the punch of flavor I was expecting. There was no rush of tangy or sweet. Like the pork seasoning, the flavor was very understated and too easily faded away from my mouth upon first taste. I did, however, enjoy the goat cheese topping. It was tart and complemented the pork wonderfully, all the while adding to the distinctive character of the sandwich.
My companion ordered the blackened barbecue chicken sandwich which consisted of chicken breast with lettuce, roasted red peppers and provolone served on a toasted challah bun for $8.50. The sandwich was smothered in barbecue sauce and offered a wider range of flavors than the spicy pork and peach option.
Although it was the more traditional sandwich of the two, it was the better pick. The roasted red peppers added spice to the chicken, and provolone was the proper choice for the challah bread.\nBoth sandwiches were accompanied with either an order of chips or fries - home-fried so as to be in accordance with the restaurant's goal to make everything from scratch while using local and organic produce. The chips were perfectly textured, seasoned well with garlic parmesan and deliciously crunchy.
The fries, meanwhile, were just as noteworthy and tasty. They also were sprinkled with the garlic parmesan and served in abundance on the side of the dish. It was a well-placed side, adding a touch of carbohydrate to the heavy protein.
It is a gamble; although The Backyard offers some notable options, others were a bit bland. The sides, though, were the standout, and make The Backyard worth a visit for every University student this semester.
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