Reunion Tap & Table
What happens when OLD friends open a NEW restaurant and take classic techniques to create a modern menu?
It makes for one delicious reunion.
Located in North Grafton, Mass, Reunion Tap and Table is a big, fun eatery created by brothers Josh and Sean Briggs, Sargon Hanna and lots of family and friends in an effort to bring downtown dining to their hometown in the suburbs.
“My brother and I, we spent a lot lot of time in this part of the world and Sargon, and his father, also from Grafton. And we brought some other friends in to help us run the restaurant. And it really was a kind of a reunion of friends and in our hometown, kind of coming together to build something here in Central Mass that we thought maybe you could only get maybe Boston. So basically a reunion of all their friends coming together.”
And the space itself is a place you’d want to reunite over a meal whether you’re on a date, out with some friends, or for some quality time with the family.
“You walk in. You see this beautiful space, a newly renovated, very cozy fun, rustic, industrial looking space. Our services top notch, we have servers who care and they get it done right.
“Our chef is of the highest caliber. His food is delicious. So when you have great food, great service and great ambiance, you can’t go wrong. And that’s why people love coming to Reunion. And they always want to come back.”
Chef Ryan Marcoux is the culinary force behind the playful scratch menu, which even has a section dedicated to poutines.
“So the poutines are unbelievable. If you just love french fries, gravy, cheese, you can’t go wrong.”
There’s the Veggie Poutine loaded up with wildwood mushrooms, spring onions, and roasted peppers.
Or the Pork Belly Poutine topped with slow roasted pork belly and a zippy sweet chili mayo.
“It’s a giant heaping portion of french fries with pork belly that we slow roast, very tender, fatty and unxious. You know, just has that umami thing going on”
And for breakfast anytime of day, try Sargon’s favorite- topped with bacon, eggs and a flavorful hollandaise.
“So the breakfast poutine is basically that one thing that you want for breakfast it’s all wrapped up in one. you have french fries you have the eggs you have the meats. Very hearty, very comforting. Very delicious.”
Other great options to kick your meal off with include Grilled Chicken Wings tossed in a housemade garlic parmesean sauce or a comforting crock of French Onion Soup.
“It’s so good. So hearty so rich then you add tons of onions a bunch of cheese. You layer it with the bread…and it’s one of the best French onion soup you’ll ever have.”
But of all things, THE must try of the appetizer menu is the soft Bavarian Pretzel, sourced from Sean and Josh’s other company, Wicked Twisted.
“My brother and I own a company called wicked twisted pretzels here in Massachusetts, actually not far from the restaurant. We’ve been making pretzels, little over six years now.”
“It’s traditional Bavarian style pretzel, we’re using all natural ingredients, we’re baking it in the traditional Bavarian style, so it’s got this really great chewy exterior. So when you bite into it’s got the texture of a nice New York style bagel but it’s got all the flavors and nice nuttiness of a pretzel and it’s really better than anyone you’ll ever have.”
Reunion also offers several hand held options. There’s the Mediterranean spiced lamb gyro slathered in tzatziki and topped with fresh veggies or their burger, which is onne of the best in Central Mass.
“So the burger you know when we open reunion, our goal was to have the best burger in New England and the chef has nailed that. It’s a just a perfect combination of the of the right meats with the rate cheeses on the perfect bread. Again, with our hands cut fries on the side. You really can’t go wrong with the burger here at Reunion.”
And the entrees coming out of the scratch kitchen are equally as impressive, with everything from Roasted Monkfish in a brown butter sauce to a perfectly cooked chicken smothered in a flavorful peri peri sauce to the spicy and satisfying Shrimp Fra Diavolo.
“So the shrimp fra diavolo is just a crazy combination of flavors and this is that right exact spice right on the right at the tip of your tongue. When you’re when you’re eating fresh shrimp coming in daily. The chef is hand making the cavatelli pasta that goes in there. The the fresh vegetables, the sauce, the spice it’s phenomenal.”
But the Maple Brined Pork Chop is definitely the fan favorite at Reunion.
“So the pork chop is the creme de la creme right? I mean, this thing is huge. It’s my favorite thing on this menu. First start with the pork chop itself. I mean, the thing is massive, right? You have the pork chop. You mix it with the house lentils and now you have bacon wrapped asparagus, all in this one cohesive dish. The thing is massive and it’s so tender and soft. And you’ll never have another pork chop after you have this one.”
And if you have room after that one, an ice cream sandwich is a must order.
“It’s the perfect way to end the meal. And once it’s done once you finish the whole thing you’re going to say I think I want another one because it’s that damn good.”
And when you combine all of these tasty dishes with this amazingly cozy space it makes for one fantastic Reunion.
