Brooklyn Food & Drink Round-Up

A Look Inside Dean Street
A few weeks back, we mentioned that former Spotted Pig chef Nate Smith was preparing to open a place called Dean Street in the old Tavern on Dean spot at Underhill. The new spot is open now and Yelper Noel R. says, “It’s strange because it’s almost as if the locals from the old Tavern on Dean spot have simply reclaimed their seats at the bar and continued their conversations from where they left off. This isn’t a bad thing since Dean Street already feels at home with a lively and fun crowd keeping the bar busy.” You can check out more photos of the space at Eater, and we’ve got a shot of the menu after the jump.

3 More Openings
“Alberto Avalle, who was one of the founders of the revolutionary Il Buco 16 years ago, will open a bakery, restaurant, and specialty foods complex, Pan Y Rosas, on Kent Avenue in April,” the Brooklyn Paper reports… Good news for fans of the Brooklyn Star: “The sweet tea will flow again at Joaquin Baca’s Southern-inflected eatery when it reopens on Feb 2. This expansive reincarnation—the original space was shuttered following a fire and reopened as Best Pizza—is nearly four times the size of the original, but the menu of hearty comfort food remains the same,” says The Feed… And according to their website, Mable’s Smokehouse (44 Berry Street at North 11th Street, Williamsburg) opened last night. “Barbecue has lots of company in Williamsburg, but this place cues the Midwest and South,” writes Florence Fabricant for the New York Times.

Marty Eats!
Everybody’s talking about the simply titled tumblr Marty Markowitz Eating, which consists of photos of our borough prez with food. Just keeping you in the loop, folks.

After the jump: Dean Street’s menu, Di Fara’s new look, and El Nuevo Portal vs. El Cibao…

DiFara Cleans Up
I Dream Of Pizza shares some photos of the recently renovated Di Fara interior and shares some thoughts on the space: “Now I’m not an interior design expert, but I’d say that Di Fara’s bright green walls weren’t particularly inviting. That’s now been replaced with a paler, lighter shade of green which is a little more homey. And a brand new spiffy sign that isn’t falling apart and doesn’t contain price changes that have been scribbled in with a marker. There are new floors too. And the clock — which so many patrons are closly watching as they wait for their pies — is now located above the exit.”

El Nuevo Portal vs. El Cibao
“El Nuevo Portal on Smith street has managed to stay alive despite the tidal wave of hipsters and ‘foodies.’ Its one of the two remaining old school Latino places, and by far my favorite place for dominican food in Brooklyn,” says Chowhound driggs. But a few of his fellow ‘Hounds, including Steve R, argue that Smith Street has a better old-school Latino option: “Neither will win any awards for gourmet cooking but I still go to Cibao when in need of hearty red (or black) beans and rice with chicken or pot roast.” Thoughts?