“I don’t know,” I lamented. “My husband has to work that night.”
“Get a sitter,” insisted my friend Jesus. “You need a girls’ night.”
He was so right. Which is how, on a recent Wednesday, friends Stephanie, Christy and I piled into Stephanie’s very-much-not-a-minivan Honda to head downtown for a night of libations and small bites at Pineapple Ink Tavern.
The restaurant reminds me of a jewelry box, from its gorgeous mirrored-glass bar and stools padded in lipstick-red and golden mustard leather to gilded stencils of flora, fauna and, of course, pineapples, on the storefront and everywhere on the walls. The look is unique and so is the food.
The inside of Pineapple Ink Tavern reminds Danielle Wong Moores of a jewelry box. Staff photos by Danielle Wong Moores 
I’d never been, but both ladies had, so they were quick to offer advice on what was great. The menu featured a variety of shareable small plates, from cheese curds to beer-battered artichoke hearts; pit plates ranging from a shrimp burger and other ‘wich options to full-on entrees like braised oxtail, sweet potato curry and grilled huli-huli chicken; salads or soups; and even a couple of mac bowls. Wines, beers and a list of tasty-sounding cocktails round out the menu options.
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“They’re known for their duck,” said Stephanie, and the menu does include both fries cooked in duck fat and a duck banh mi.
“The mustard on the Tavern Burger will change your life,” added Christy, who also pointed out the brussels sprouts were also cooked in duck fat.
We ended up ordering all the duck — the fries and Brussels sprouts to share as appetizers, along with a ceviche. For our meals, Stephanie went for the banh mi, while Christy chose the fried deviled eggs, and for me, the sticky sesame meatballs with a strawberry salad.
My friends ordered cocktails while we were waiting for our food; the Open Door Policy with the tropical flavors of rum and pineapple; the Bless Your Heart, a riff on an old-fashioned; and the French Weekend, an floral concoction topped with a sprig of lavender. Meanwhile, I tasted the Blackberry Rose, which was light and fruity, a perfect summer cocktail in my opinion.
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I have to admit swooning a little bit inside as I tasted the fries and the Brussels sprouts fried in duck fat. The fries were crisp, with a complex flavor reminiscent of pate (the aioli made it even richer, and the gochujang ketchup was a nice counterpoint), while the vegetables became both charred and rich, resting in a sea of yum yum sauce.
“These two are incredible,” said Stephanie.
Meanwhile, the ceviche offered welcomed lightness, but I wished it had a bit more acid and heat to amp up the flavor. The strawberry salad was likewise lightly dressed, with tiny dots of goat cheese, and simply filled my craving for some healthy greens to go with our fried options.
With its sunny-side egg, the banh mi has layers of pate, pickled cucumbers and carrots and confit duck. Photo by Danielle Wong Moores. The strawberry salad was likewise lightly dressed, with tiny dots of goat cheese, and simply filled my craving for some healthy greens to go with our fried options. Photo by Danielle Wong Moores
With its topping of a sunny-side egg, Stephanie’s banh mi was a bit too messy to share, but it looked great, with its layers of pate, pickled cucumbers and carrots and confit duck — and she loved it. Christy offered me a fried deviled egg, with its potato aioli, ancho BBQ sauce and pickled mini sweet peppers — we agreed that we both liked it, but as with the ceviche, we wanted stronger flavor.
My meatballs, though, delivered that and then some. The sauce was both sweet and savory and was fantastic with both the tender meat and the swirl of rice noodles that came on the plate.
Live music was on that night, so the restaurant got loud. But as we nibbled, we swapped stories, commiserated and laughed all night long. Girls night, accomplished with style.
Dine & Dish: Charcuterie for Two at Local Spots
Make Your Reservation — Pineapple Ink Tavern, 1002 Broad St. www.pineappleinktavern.com Entrée cost: $14 to $28.
Danielle Wong Moores is a local freelance writer who’ll never turn down a shrimp cocktail, sushi or cheese dip. Her greatest food influences are her mom and writers MFK Fisher and Amanda Hesser. Her Dine and Dish column will run the second and fourth Friday of each month.
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