District Kitchen & Bar — Restaurant in Pittsfield

District Kitchen & Bar was a pretty good experience overall. Two friends of mine have been trying to get into this place for a while now, so we checked it out while visiting Pittsfield, and were finally able to get a table. I wasn't sure what to expect, so I went in with an open mind and open heart.

Let's Start with the good: First the atmosphere was pretty cool. Clean and hip with good lighting, and it had a foodie vibe where everyone appeared to be enjoying the food and their conversation which is always exciting. Sat down quickly, waitress was very polite (throughout the meal), looked over the drinks menu and a few things stood out to me. Most notably the "Figgin Delicious" and the "Nothing Compears 2 U", with bourbon, pear puree, pear liqueur, honey, ginger & sage syrup, lime, and cinnamon. All things I love, so I ordered that promptly. It was pretty fantastic with a beautifully balanced sweet flavor, the right amount of alcohol, and a clever early 90's Sinead O'Connor reference.

I started with the Beet Salad with raspberries, fried goat cheese, and citrus vinaigrette. Saying it was yummy is an understatement. The goat cheese was a nice sized chunk, perfectly fried with a golden brown crust. The raspberries were a nice surprise after every few bites, contrasting the bitterness of the greens. The beets were perfectly cooked, cut into little bite sized medallions. And the citrus dressing brought it all together beautifully.

When my burger came out, I was excited to try the Thai inspired flavors. The fattiness of the garlic peanut sauce had a nice flavor, but I think I didn't get enough pear in my slaw, because because it was missing the acidity it needed. Still, I ate every bite, but next time I would make a note to ask for a bit more. I'm a big believer that bad french fries can ruin a dish, and these were very good. However I seemed to get the bottom of the basket -- which is very disappointing. I think only two or three of my fries were longer than 1 inch, which meant I had to use a fork to eat them, and nobody should be subjected to that.

For dessert I got to taste the White Chocolate & Orange Bread Pudding. I was very impressed by the flavor combination. The bread pudding was warm and gooey and the bright sweet flavor of the orange zest ice cream brought it all together.

Now for the not-so-good: The french fries and lack of pear acidity on the burger were slightly disappointing. I think both of these could be corrected with slightly better quality control in the kitchen. We also never got offered any kind of bread before or during the meal. I saw other tables getting a warm and friendly looking baguette, that wasn't part of a cheese plate or anything, so that was also disappointing. But beyond those few things, everything else was pretty good.

Overall, I really enjoyed District Kitchen & Bar and would definitely go back the next time I'm in town. Hopefully these little things will be sorted out by my next visit, so I can bump up my review to a 5-star, which they just fell short of. Of course I would mention my tiny fries if I'm ordering something with them again. I'd also like to head back to try the scallops at some point, because they looked amazing on the next table, and of course that "Figgin Delicious" drink is screaming...

If you are looking for a cozy spot in Pittsfield for some amazing food and good drink, District Kitchen & Bar is the place to go. We stopped by after an event at the Berkshire Museum. Although we arrived around 7:30pm on a Friday and every table was taken, we were seated in less than 10 minutes. Beer is bottled or in cans, but they have an excellent selection. We chose a favorite: a 22oz bottle of Farmer Brown Ale from the People’s Pint in Greenfield.

The fried baby Brussel sprouts on their “smalls” menu were amazing and arrived as soon as they were done being fried. We were served a huge portion of delectably caramelized curry-flavored nuggets with a bowl of a dipping sauce that was possibly made with yogurt and cucumbers. Eating freshly made food that hasn’t been sitting on a steam table or under a heat lamp is a real treat!

For an entrees, I chose the pork tacos from the “mids” part of the menu. Served with a spicy and smoky chipotle sauce on the side, with plenty of vegetables and queso fresco with perfectly seasoned pork inside soft flour tortillas. My companion had a plate of linguini with a heavenly roasted pumpkin sauce. This was in the “larges” menu, and was enough to provide a take-home box for lunch the next day. These also arrived while our beer was still cold, and had clearly been made while we waited. They were well worth the brief wait.

We finished off sharing a pineapple-vanilla crème brûlée that was utter perfection. The pineapple was appropriately subtle, the custard rich and cool and smooth, and the top perfectly caramelized just before being brought to the table so it was warm and crunchy without being too hard.

We also ordered a third meal to go (a delightful cheeseburger) for a family member at home. We ordered it when our entrees arrived, and the burger was ready for us before we ordered dessert.

Total, including beer, appetizer, three entrees, dessert, tax and an 18% tip came to $100. While more than we usually spend on a night out, it was worth every penny, and far cheaper than some of the upscale restaurants where you are paying for real estate rather than good food and service.

Highly...

Having visited before and after the drastic renovation, I can say I'm happy they've made the changes they have. The bar was previously a bit shabby and limited in options. I'll have to admit that both times I've come I've had burgers and split a salad and appetizer, having never ventured into the large plate options. There are few places I'll order a burger, this being one. Always cooked to the appropriate temp and lacking the flavor of intense processing and additives, it's been consistent both times I've eaten here. The salads have always been great. This visit was highlighted by an incredible chicken liver mousse. It was served with more than enough accompaniments. It's always been a pet peeve of mine when a kitchen shorts you on the preserves, mustards, pickles and you're left wanting when enjoying the main focus of the dish. Service is friendly and doesn't hover. My one complaint is the bread basket we were served. The bread was the same type as what we received with the chicken pate, but stale and hard as a rock. I was happy the bread served with the dish was piping hot and soft. We were there late, and often times house bread is warmed and left up the the servers to care for at the beginning of service. Whoever picked up the bread should have noticed and either omitted the free offering, or asked for something fresher. I'm always for free bread, but if you're gonna give something away, at least make sure it meets the standards of quality for the rest of the well enjoyed food and cocktail program. I'll always be back. Thanks for giving me the option.

PS: I've been to Public as well, District always has blown Public out of the water. I'm glad...