Indigo Smoke: Montclair, NJ

2 March 2008
The Facts:
Neo-Southern brunch is served buffet style including grits, sweet potatoes, collard greens, fried and broiled fish, pork ribs, all to the sound of live jazz. There are also omelettes and waffles made to order. Each table gets a carafe of orange juice. Cost is $30 per adult, $15 for children.
I broke my vegetarian diet.
My Opinion:
The collards were the highlight for me. Subtly sweet and not overcooked. Though at first I found myself picking out little pieces of bacon, by the second helping I didn't care.
The sweet potatoes were so sweet they would have been better served with the desserts.
Both preparations of fish were fine, but in no way outstanding.
The pork ribs were were tender, and would probably be the greatest draw for carnivores. I was glad to find crispy end pieces and slightly burned parts. The sauce was sweet, but not so much that it overshadowed the smoky flavor.
The desserts were not special, but that didn't stop me from having two miniature slices of pumpkin pie. I love miniature food.
The service was very slow, which did not bother me at all until I wanted more coffee.
Overall:
I probably would not have enjoyed myself if I hadn't known someone else was flipping the bill, but I blame that mostly on my own dietary habits. I recommend this restaurant to anyone that likes jazz, collards, and thinks they can eat $30 worth of ribs.