First Look: Veritas Tavern
From the moment I walked out of Veritas Tavern, Delaware's new molecular gastronomy spot helmed by Josh Dalton of 1808 American Bistro, I've taken on the task of convincing people they must go there, and soon. I'll admit it's for purely selfish reasons -- I want this place to succeed so I can keep eating there.
And I worry that not enough people will make the haul to Delaware (at a 40-minute drive from downtown, it's definitely out there) ... and that there aren't enough people who live in Delaware, period, to keep a place as special as this one afloat. From the just-plain-fun small plates menu (every single bite was fantastic) to a selection of cocktails themed after famous writers to a focus on 22-ounce bombers of high-octane beer, Veritas is worth cheering about.
Now let's talk about what I ate on my inaugural visit. Up top is a fairly straightforward crowd-pleaser, Bacon Risotto topped with a perfectly cooked egg, crumbles of smoked white cheddar and intensely flavored little bacon twists.
Meanwhile, here's the dish I can't stop raving about. It's called Corn + Beef + Cabbage + Smoke. Translated, that's: a base of sweet corn foam topped with pretty cabbage sprouts and a few hunks of the most incredible beef I've ever tasted, finished off with a smoke gun to add some campfire ambience. Dalton explained it as beef brisket that gets cooked sous-vide for 72 hours, then smoked. I can't even think of enough adjectives for it: tender, smoky, fall-apart, delicious, delicious, delicious.
This is essentially grown-up fish sticks: big hunks of monkfish covered in a crunchy tempura batter shell, served with fries and a dill-tartar hollandaise.
And these riffs on jalapeno poppers are fried squash blossoms filled with cream cheese and roasted peppers.
If those dishes didn't sufficiently whet your appetite, here's a look at the entire menu I had the night I visited (menus change daily):
BEFORE
Feta Dip + Cucumbers + Flat Bread ($7)
Potted Blue Cheese + Mascarpone + Chocolate Biscuits + Toast Points + Port Wine Syrup ($10)
SALAD
Heirloom Tomatoes + Cucumbers + Micro Basil + Fresh Mozzarella Pearls + Watermelon ($8)
Mixed Baby Greens + Baby Onions + Radishes + House Bacon + Smoked Blue Cheese + Champagne Vinaigrette ($9)
VEGETABLE
Grilled Tomato Sandwich + Vichyssoise ($7)
Squash Blossom + Cheese + Pecans + Tomato ($12)
Tempura Baby Onions + Buttermilk Herb Dressing ($5)
LAND
Bacon Risotto + 62 1/2 degree Egg + Smoked White Cheddar Cheese ($9)
Chicken Quesadilla = Chicken + Salsa Duo + Masa Puff + Queso Fundido ($11)
Corn + Beef + Cabbage + Smoke ($11)
WATER
Monkfish Stick + Tripple Cooked Chips + Dill Tartar Hollandaise ($12)
Scallops + Masa + Avocado + Cold Smoked Pico ($14)
Shrimp Cocktail = Shrimp Mosaic + Cocktail Sauce + Lemon Powder ($11)
AFTER
30 Second Pistachio Sponge Cake + Greek Yogurt + Honey Ice Cream ($6)
Vanilla and Saffron Creme Brulee ($6)
Buttermilk Panna Cotta + Blackberry + Granola ($4)
COCKTAILS
American Orange Punch ($6)
Aviation = Gin + Lemon + Maraschino Liqueur + Creme de Violette ($8)
Brandy Plush = Brandy + Cream + Simple Syrup + Nutmeg ($5)
Corn N Oil = Falernum + Blackstrap Rum + Club Soda ($5)
Mt. Victory Blackberry Smash = Bourbon + Dry Vermouth + Brandy + Lemon + Blackberry ($7)
Pimm's Cup = Pimm's No. 1 + Lemon + Simple Syrup + Prosecco
Angelita = Fernet Branca + House Cola ($5.50)
Dark & Stormy = Dark Rum + House Ginger Beer ($5)
Limoncello Spritzer = House Limoncello + Club Soda ($6.50)
New Screw(driver) = Zubrowka Bison Vodka + Fresh Orange Juice ($5.50)
Veritas G&T = Smooth Ambler Gin + House Tonic ($7)
French Mexican = Hornitos Reposado + Domaine de Canton Ginger + Lime ($11)
Veritas Pomegranate Margarita = Hornitos Plata + House Pomegranate Lime Soda ($5.50)
Writer's Series
Hemingway = White Rum + Maraschino Liqueur + Grapefruit Juice + Lime ($5)
Ibsen = Aquavit + Lime + Orgeat + Egg White ($8)
Mark Twain = Scotch + Lemon + Simple Syrup ($6)
BEERS
12oz cans
21st Amendment Bitter American ($5)
21st Amendment Back in Black IPA ($4.50)
Avery Ellie's Brown ($4)
Avery White Rascal ($4)
Avery IPA ($4)
Barney Flats Oatmeal Stout ($4.50)
Six Points Resin Double IPA ($5.50)
Six Points The Crisp Lager ($5.50)
Southern Star Bombshell Blonde ($4)
22oz Bombers
Ace Berry Hard Cider ($12)
Bear Republic Racer 5 IPA ($16)
Hoppin Frog BORIS The Crusher ($17)
Hoppin Frog Mean Manalishi ($19)
Hoppin Frog Goose Juice ($16)
New Holland Dragon's Milk ($16)
Rogue Chatoe Rogue OREgasmic Ale ($14)
Smuttynose Gravitation ($14)
Veritas Tavern
15 E. Winter St., Delaware
740-417-4074