Mark on the Shore

Mark’s Score   8.5

I was recently in Easton at lunch time. I wanted to go to Rude Bodega and according to their website, they were open for lunch. But once I got there, it was closed. So, I thought, “Ok I’ll go to Rude BBQ.” Also closed. So, Rude Burger became my default choice. 

Rude Burger was opened by Tim Cureton (owner of the popular Rise Up local coffee chain) in 2021. Rude Burger was the first of three restaurants opened under the Rude banner. Cureton opened the Rude franchise with his chef brother, Brett Cureton. Brett oversees the culinary direction of all three Rude restaurants. The name “Rude” is a play on the word rudimentary, and not a reflection of service style. The brothers’ philosophy is that great food starts with fundamental techniques, and fresh, high-quality, locally sourced ingredients. From these ingredients they create approachable American comfort food. 

Though I got off to a rocky start, having to eat at the third of my three choices, I was nevertheless ready to enjoy a nice lunch, no matter what the cuisine. I am beginning to think that I am bad luck for restaurants because when I walked in (in spite of it being past noon) the restaurant was nearly empty. There is no table service, so your order at the counter. Unfortunately, I entered just after a family who seemed to be having trouble deciding what they wanted to eat. But it worked out OK, because I was undecided as well. I wasn’t really in the mood for a burger, hence the reason this was my third choice. 

I picked up a menu, and though this is a burger joint, they had a fish sandwich on the menu, so I decided to order the fish. I later learned that the fish sandwich was an item that had been added to the menu due to customer feedback. They bill themselves as a burger bourbon restaurant, but it was too early in the day for a bourbon. So, I ordered one of their interesting and unusual line of soft drinks, a lemon lime soda. 

I sat down, and in surprisingly short order, a waiter brought out my sandwich. I often talk about presentation. I believe that if the chef does not care enough about their food to think about presentation, then why should I care about the food? So, I appreciated the fact that they deliver their French fries in an iron skillet. As for the French fries themselves, I am sorry to report that I found them bland and soggy. At first, the fish sandwich looked worryingly dark, but it was in fact cooked perfectly. It was crunchy on the outside and flakey and moist on the inside. 

So. What is my conclusion? I like the vibe of the place. I liked the music and the casual neighborhood bar feel. The sandwich was very good, but they need to work on the fries. I would definitely go back, but I am now looking forward to trying their other restaurants. 

What else is there to do in Easton?

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