Cambodian Cuisine: Should’ve Stayed in Brooklyn
In March 2005, Jerry Ley, owner of the Fort Greene restaurant Cambodian Cuisine, signed a lease for a bigger space on 93rd Street in Manhattan. Many fans of the 520-square-foot neighborhood hang-out were sad to see it go, and now it’s looking like Mr. Ley wishes he stuck around. The NY Times reports:

“Mr. Ley, 54, admittedly is a broken man. He is heavy-hearted as he ticks off his debts in a defeated voice. He owes $866,000 to various banks, $144,000 to a friend and co-worker who took out a second mortgage on her home, and more than $200,000 to friends and relatives who contributed smaller sums at zero interest. ‘My heart is broken and I’m so frustrated,’ he said. ‘Every corner I move into is a disaster. I’m nearly bankrupt. I do not know who to trust.’”

Something New on Montague

“Vegetarian/vegan friendly eatery The Greens is closed… The phone message promises that ‘Island Grill’ a restaurant specializing in ‘Singapore cuisine’ will be opening soon at the 128 Montague Street location.” [Brooklyn Heights Blog]

Boycotting Beer Nuts in Boerum Hill
One Eater reader is pissed off about the changes the new owners have made to Boerum Hill’s Brooklyn Inn: “Firstly, beer nuts now appear throughout the bar giving it a frat-boy alehouse vibe. Nobody, afaik, wants them there. Secondly, a broken or removed stained glass panel at the end of the bar has been replaced by a white board. Thirdly and most damningly, they’ve installed a huge A/C vent on the inside wall the full length of the front room. Its ugly and completely not in keeping with the room.”

After the jump: The best mac ‘n’ cheese in Brooklyn and bitchin’ bahn mi in Boerum Hill…

Dumont’s Got the Best Mac ‘n’ Cheese in NYC
423 Union Avenue, Williamsburg
“The one true God in mac form. The ‘DuMac and cheese’ is a blend of cheddar and gruyere, with a light parmesan crust. It comes with bacon by default (though you can request it without)… The small radiatori are so soft and tender that they fall apart when disturbed with a fork. Meltingly delicious. $12.” [Gridskipper]

Bitchin’ Bahn Mi at Hanco’s
85 Bergen St between Hoyt and Smith Sts, Boerum Hill; 718-858-6818
“Speedy delivery is the name of their game: after placing an order at 8:30 she had a bulging banh mì ($4.25 each) in hand by 8:46. The bread was still toasty warm, drizzled with precisely the right combo of butter and hot sauce, and the mild pâté, pale rounds of Vietnamese ham, and crumbly, greasy pork were topped with julienned cucumbers and carrots, and bright florets of cilantro.” [Time Out NY]