Brick N Fire

Brick N Fire

300 Holland St W, Bradford, ON L3Z 2J3

(905)561-4300

http://www.bricknfire.ca/

Over all: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Service: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Food: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Atmosphere: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️

We recently visited Brick n Fire while in Bradford, drawn by its high recommendation as a top non-franchise dining spot, and we were immediately impressed.

The exterior appearance is a classic example of "don't judge a book by its cover." Stepping inside, the ambiance is a delightful surprise: a beautiful, fresh, and thoughtfully decorated dining room that immediately sets a great tone for the meal.

The Food: Highs and Lows

The menu is an appealing mix of Italian and French dishes. We tried a selection of appetizers and sides, and the kitchen's potential for excellence was clear in several dishes:

French Onion Soup (9/10):

A Must-Try. This was, hands down, the star of the meal. The broth had a perfect balance of savoury, herby flavours (thyme, bay leaf, parsley) and good-sized, tender onions. The crostini and the mix of Gruyère and mozzarella cheese were spot-on.

Baked Eggplant (7/10):

A very solid and well-executed dish. The thin, even slices of eggplant, mixed with ricotta and topped with an herby tomato sauce and mozzarella, were quite good.

However, a couple of dishes missed the mark, particularly the main protein:

Wild Mushroom Pizza (6/10):

The crust was thin but slightly crispy, which we personally wished was a little softer to complement the toppings. The roasted garlic and medley of mushrooms were great. However, the pesto sauce was slightly overpowering and had an unusual flavour, making some of the slices taste like wilted basil. A lighter, fresher-tasting pesto would allow the other great ingredients to truly shine.

Chicken Parmesan (4/10): 

The Main Concern. While the dish was visually appealing and the accompanying linguine with Alfredo sauce was excellent, the chicken itself was disappointing. The meat was unusually soft and lacked any distinct chicken flavour, tasting only of the breading, sauce, and cheese. This is likely due to either a high level of moisture retention from brining/tenderizing, or the chicken simply wasn't seasoned sufficiently before being breaded and cooked. A firmer texture and more flavour within the chicken itself would dramatically improve this otherwise well-presented dish.

Service and Overall Experience

The staff worked hard to manage the dining room, and our server was friendly. We did note a couple of minor service hiccups. Specifically, there was a miscommunication regarding the baked eggplant, which we had requested as an appetizer but was delivered with the main courses instead. We also experienced a slight delay in getting our drinks. While these things can happen on a busy night, ensuring order clarity and prompt drink service is key to elevating the overall experience.

On a positive note, the restrooms were spotless and well-stocked, which reflects a great level of care for the facility.

Overall, our experience was "good" when it could have been "great." We saw the passion and quality in dishes like the French Onion Soup and the excellent pasta on the Chicken Parmesan plate. We are not deterred from returning and hope that focusing on consistency—especially refining the seasoning and texture of the main proteins and tightening up the service flow—will turn this promising spot into a truly exceptional one.