Hot Plate: Deviled Rabbit at Whetstone Tavern

Don’t get me wrong — I love brunch but sometimes I like to hold off for an early dinner. With the gorgeous weekends we’ve been having, a hearty evening meal basking in the sunshine at Whetstone Tavern was in order.

This Queen Village gem celebrates its second year anniversary in July and has already become a local favorite. Its inventive spin on American cuisine has something for everyone and won’t break the bank.

Chef Eric Leveille recently added a few new items to the dinner menu which included the deviled rabbit. I know you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover or a dish by its name, but my curiosity got the best of me and I ordered it. I had no idea what to expect but our server insisted that this dish in particular was his favorite.

I was a bit nervous about my decision at first. Would it basically be hard-boiled deviled eggs with bits of rabbit in them? Or would it be something more substantial? I figured if I didn’t like it, I could always take a bit of my friend’s pasta. (But who wants to be that friend?)

Let’s just say the deviled rabbit completely took my breath away so there was no need to dive into the food of my dining companion. It looked like a Miro-inspired work of art! An egg cooked sunny-side up was practically winking at me in a gooey pool of pecorino-infused polenta with juicy pieces of rabbit. Adding a pop of color, crispness and spice was a handful of fresh arugula and to the side, two generous portions of charred balsamic bread. A gorgeous orange swirl of deviled aioli complemented by a luscious black swirl of balsamic topped it all off.

Overall, this dish was creamy, warm and flavorful without being spicy. There are also many different ways you can eat it. I began with a spoon but soon switched to the charred balsamic bread for dipping and mixing everything together. Sometimes it’s perfectly acceptable to play with your food.

Whetstone Tavern is located at 700 S. 5th St.