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July 5, 2007

Streetlevel: New Steakhouse for Leonard Street

According to the blog A Test of Will, this new steakhouse at the corner of Leonard and Conselyea is scheduled to open today. It's hard to say who the target audience is: The owner's penchant for for a corny pun at the expense of all irony ("Dee Brooklyn Steak House" reads the tagline) may not fly with the hipsters and we're not sure the old-timers are used to dropping thirty bucks for a cut of beef. How do you think this will fly? Is there much restaurant competition in that immediate area of the Burg?
Destefano's Steakhouse [Test of Will] GMAP

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I wonder if Mos Def will dine here

Posted by: Mr T at July 5, 2007 9:24 AM

I think the "Dee" is really a play on the name of the place (Destafano) as well as our "bwooklynese"

Posted by: dem bums at July 5, 2007 9:27 AM

hells yeah i be chowin down there fo real

big ups to brownstoner and thick frame glasses y'all

Posted by: Mos Def at July 5, 2007 9:56 AM

Nothing says fine cuisine like the glare of neon.

Posted by: Remistompa at July 5, 2007 9:57 AM

Who doesn't like steak? apart from the vegans.
Looks like an attractive and inviting storefront. I would go there if I had any idea where the heck Conselyea Street is.

Posted by: Sam at July 5, 2007 10:07 AM

The location has little foot traffic. Many will not know it's even there. The other restaraurants in the area are mediocre Italian places.

Posted by: Anonymous at July 5, 2007 10:56 AM

i'm not vegan & i don't eat steak. many people don't eat like that anymore--but then again, many still do. good luck to the new owner.

on neon & fine dining--
must everything look exactly the same? does fine now all mean the same thing? neon can be seen as mid-century retro perhaps? I dunno....

Posted by: Anonymous at July 5, 2007 11:09 AM

You don't eat steak?
Waddsa matta w/you?
This is Brooklyn, It's eat or be eaten!

Posted by: Anonymous at July 5, 2007 11:27 AM

Sam: click on the GMAP link next to the jump and you'll see the location.

Posted by: Anon at July 5, 2007 11:36 AM

The location is the setting for A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. However, it doesn't seem as though a steakhouse will prosper there.

Posted by: beef at July 5, 2007 12:03 PM

11:36
Thanks,
I see now where it is.
I'm not familiar with that area at all.
Will check it out.

Posted by: Sam at July 5, 2007 12:22 PM

Only a pompous jerk doesn't eat a restaurant because of a neon sign in the window. Or because they can't decide if the neon is meant to be ironic. Don't go--more steak for me, hipsters!

Posted by: GJ at July 5, 2007 12:55 PM

I wish this were on Montague Street.

Posted by: Anonymous at July 5, 2007 1:17 PM

I sincerely hope this place does well. This is not so far away from Grand Street where a new restaurant row is starting to take shape. Lily Thai, Wombat, Le Barricou (French Bistro) - all great additions to the hood.

Posted by: big eater at July 5, 2007 1:25 PM

From the look of the picture, it looks like the building is about to tip.

I hope the steaks won't slide off the table onto the floor.

Posted by: Anonymous at July 5, 2007 3:05 PM

that's funny.

Posted by: Anonymous at July 5, 2007 3:14 PM

"("Dee Brooklyn Steak House" reads the tagline" -- where is this 'tag line'?I see no mention.
And the 'glare of neon'? I think too many people just try to come up with something they think is clever remark to put down almost anything - even if makes no sense. I see this especially on Curbed - maybe it is the same person(s) on Brownstoner.

Posted by: Anonymous at July 5, 2007 3:47 PM

"I sincerely hope this place does well. This is not so far away from Grand Street where a new restaurant row is starting to take shape. Lily Thai, Wombat, Le Barricou (French Bistro) - all great additions to the hood."

I seriously doubt Grand Street will ever become a new restaurant row. Lily Thai is always empty. The same almost goes for Wombwat. Never even heard of Le Barricou! The Grand Central Bar has had at least 3 different owners and still can't attract a clientele. The wine bar closed down. Many store fronts are empty.

Besides, this place is north of Metropolitan, several blocks away from Grand. Grand Street is the starting point of the ghetto.

Posted by: Anonymous at July 5, 2007 4:57 PM

I wish them well, but how the hell?

No foot traffic indeed. Very residential. They better have great prices and extreme word of mouth. Or, very cheap to non-existent rent.

Posted by: Anonymous at July 5, 2007 5:14 PM

whatever the location, isn't it mostly word of mouth. don't tell me that people thought peter luger's would be some kind of smashing success in the middle of nowhere (at the time).

Posted by: lemonhead at July 5, 2007 7:50 PM

I live around the corner and watched the owner rebrick and redo this building which came out pretty nice.( lights, woodwork etc.) It wasn't the cheap, Italian glam style that is popular over here. Was a little diappointed to see the "cheesy" movie posters and trying to couch the "old world" (school) ie. authentic Brooklyn. It's not a hipster joint, but the new suits moving in across the street in the Casa might like it.

Posted by: Anon at July 5, 2007 7:55 PM

Posted by: Anon at July 5, 2007 7:56 PM

hey - anonymous poster at 4:57

Patience grasshopper.

Posted by: mos def at July 5, 2007 8:07 PM

love Grand Street! Lodge, the clothing store - POP, Baci + Abbracci, Bozu for Sushi. Aurora, etc.. Atlas, the best coffee shop ever. Grand is on it's way to having salons, shops and restaurants from the BQE to the river.

Posted by: condo dweller at July 5, 2007 8:58 PM

I live a few blocks away and wonder what inspired the owners to go with the monochromatic brick/storefront/tile/paneling/paint scheme. If only they had kept the original brick...

Posted by: Anonymous at July 5, 2007 11:02 PM

I live a few blocks away and wonder what inspired the owners to go with the monochromatic brick/storefront/tile/paneling/paint scheme. If only they hadn't covered up the original brick...

Posted by: Anonymous at July 5, 2007 11:02 PM

That's been "Dee's Corner" for the past 30 years in the various incarnations. I live down the block, and I think it'll probably attract us oldtimers, at least those who aren't vegetarians like I am. But a lot of things have come and gone there over the years.

I can't imagine it getting all that much car traffic from the more suburban parts of Brooklyn, Queens or LI where their target clientele lives. If they're going to come to Williamsburg for steak, it's pretty obvious they'll be headed south for Peter Luger's.

I actually like Brooklyn movie posters on the Conselyea St. wall, though -- including some less obvious Brooklyn films. But then I was born in the Truman administration.

Posted by: Richard Grayson at July 6, 2007 8:47 AM

I like the place... looks like it has potential... if they can manage to keep
prices fairly reasonable and food tasty,
it should draw the folks from the local nabe' and others.

Break a breadstick DeStefano's!

Posted by: bren at July 6, 2007 9:33 AM

There is already a better steak house in williamsburg, it has been here for 100 years before the hipsters.

Posted by: Anonymous at July 6, 2007 12:23 PM

Its says business attire required on the door

Posted by: j at July 6, 2007 5:12 PM

12:23 are you speaking about Peter Lugers? Good food and expensive.

Posted by: anon at July 7, 2007 9:18 AM

this place looks super cute-i dont eat meat but it makes me wish i did. only seen it form the outside but the owner did a great job on the renovation. i believe he is an old timer in the nieghborhood, and lives nearby.

Posted by: ainslie at July 9, 2007 12:17 PM

Haters. The place hasn't even had a chance to open yet and you're already putting it down.

Posted by: Anonymous at July 10, 2007 10:56 PM

Having been lucky enough to meet the owners, I was able to get some insight as to the theme of the restaurant, as well as the history of the building.

The significance of the neon sign would be understood if one glimpsed at the foto near it in the window.

Take the time to read the mission statement posted. Only then might you understand the sentiments.

Best of luck to Joe Dee and the crew of
DeStefano's. May all your hard work pay off.

Posted by: Anonymous at July 11, 2007 10:14 PM

The place looks great. Luger's is a dump, this place is a million times better. Go Joey Dee!

Posted by: the5thson at July 22, 2007 11:06 PM

what a great place to dine at it's really like being at home with the family and friends.

Posted by: birdman at July 23, 2007 10:18 AM

what a great place to dine at it's really like being at home with the family and friends.

Posted by: birdman at July 23, 2007 10:18 AM

35 posts and finally someone eats there! I went last night with a friend and it was excellent. Steahouse menu with an Itanlian twist. Poor vegans will never get to taste the salad with pears. These tender greens, it was sublime. (Or you could ask them to leave out the pancetta.)There is fish and a pasta dish on the menu as well. My friend got the lamb chops. Not the usual rosemary and whatnot - but an amazing nutty crust. The broccoli rabe was good. The ribeye (medium) was excellent, on a bed of aromatic veggies and fennel. The cheesecake is made with added ricotta, very soft and made there apparently; and the custard was also soft with subtle spices. Both excellent. So what about Peter Lugar's being the 800 gorilla in this trade, and only one mile away?? They might as well be a million. This place ihas nice lighting and a pleasent staff, Joseph himself is a gentlemen. Save Lugar's for your frat buddies reunion and celebrating the big deal you just signed. For a nice evening out with friends, a date or your folks - I would recommend DeStefano's Steakhouse.

Posted by: Billy at July 25, 2007 1:42 PM

"dee" is a play on the familys name.. theyre from the neighborhood and thats been their corner for generations.. anyone who isnt from the neighborhood should really keep their opinions to themselves about what fits in and what will do well in the only italian part of the neighborhood left.. not everything is focused toward the hipsters moving in that dont know what good food is.. try it before u knock it

Posted by: willyb native at July 26, 2007 5:45 PM

Hi all,
I'm Billy's friend from the July 25th posting. I live in Crown Heights but journeyed out to DeStefano's to try it with Billy. We were shown to our table by the owner's 8 year old daughter (could you ask for a more adorable hostess.) The decor is cosy and comfortable with black and white photographs on the wall, wood paneling and a fire place. We had excellent service the whole time.
One word for the food: YUM. Billy described the pancetta, pear and rocket salad, but I literally wanted to eat the plate. The lamb was melt in your mouth tasty with a wonderful pistacho crust. We had two fabulous desserts-- the ricotta cheesecake was subtle and creamy, very fresh and way too easy to eat-- and we had a lighter than air panacotta (sp?) custard, also quite nice.
The wine list was mostly Italian and French, we had an Italian Chianti (?) and we polished off the bottle.
Overall a bit pricey but the meal was well worth it. Next time I'm trying their steak frite...

Posted by: Ruth at July 27, 2007 5:38 PM

The restaurant has a warm, inviting atmoshpere.
The decor and the friendly staff made me feel as though I was at a friends home for dinner. Joe welcomed me into his "home" as if he had known me for years.
The food was 5 star but my favorite part was the house cheesecake (thanks to chef Arthur).
I can't wait to go visit again.
I am sure it will be a success!
Wendy from LI

Posted by: wendyG at August 5, 2007 11:11 AM

« Thursday Links Business Is Booming at 936 Fulton »

July 5, 2007

Streetlevel: New Steakhouse for Leonard Street

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