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February 6, 2008
Wednesday Food & Drink Round-Up
Photo by w33z3r12
Goodbye, Schnäck
122 Union Street near Columbia Street; 718-855-2879
"We're saddened, but not surprised, to learn of the demise of Schnäck... Co-owner Harry Hawk tells us that the end is nigh, but he will not give an expiration date. He says the proximate cause of the closing is a lost lease, but having seen ever-thinning crowds over the past year, we are more likely to believe that the poor location and awful service softened the victim up for the final blow." [Grub Street]
Patois Owner to Open Bistro in Ditmas Park
1301 Newkirk Avenue at Argyle Road, Ditmas Park
"A French bistro. A common enough sight in Brooklyn, but the first of its kind on this stretch of Newkirk in Ditmas Park, and suddenly a symbol on a cold Sunday morning of the way the old neighborhood bumps up against the new... What occupies the corner now looks as though it had been lifted gingerly from a country lane in Provence and placed here, across the street from a house bearing graffiti that reads 'Crack Pott.'" [NY Times]
What Will Become of the Kellogg's Diner?
518 Metropolitan Avenue at Union Avenue, Williamsburg; 718-782-4502
"Get ready for the 'Gateway to Williamsburg.' A tipster pointed us to redone renderings and promo material for 502 Metropolitan, a new building that will soon be wrapping itself around the Kellogg's Diner, the greasy spoon spot at Union and Metropolitan Avenues... It will include 28,751 square feet of retail space on two levels and is being pitched to a big box retailer, although one of the renderings says 'grocery store' at street level." [Curbed]
After the jump: Carroll Gardens residents rail against a raw bar set to open beside Black Mountain Wine House, an $11,000 coffee machine arrives in Williamsburg, and a report on the car that crashed into Marco Polo...
Neighborhood vs. Carroll Gardens Raw Bar
"Residents say they fear the opening of a proposed raw bar serving hard alcohol right next door to a six-month-old wine bar near the corner of Union Street [near Hoyt Street]. Taken together, residents foresee the makings of an unwanted, mini-entertainment district — and now they’re trying to stop restaurateur Jim Mamary from getting his liquor license." [The Brooklyn Paper]
El Beit's $11,000 Coffee Machine
158 Bedford Avenue, between between 8th and 9th Streets, Williamsburg
"The coffee at El Beit is supplied by the North Caroina company Counter Culture (also at Café Grumpy and Ninth Street Espresso), and.. El Beit uses the Clover, an $11,000 machine that Griffin summarizes (many times a day, we imagine) as 'a cross between a French press and a vac pot,' and 'an amazing machine.'" [Village Voice]
Marco Polo Gets Smashed
345 Court Street at Union Street, Carroll Gardens
A Brooklyn Life snapped a few photos of the wreckage when a police car and another car crashed into Marco Polo this past weekend. Meanwhile, one Chowhounder recommends the banged-up restaurant's new take-out joint, aptly named Marco Polo Take-Out.
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Comments
Shnack was great at first, but like the article implies - The service was rotten, the location was a pain in the ass to get to, and burgers got more greasy, unappealing, and expensive as time went on.
Tough break for Harry, who incidentally seemed to behave like a molester whenever me and friends were there (Guys and Girls).
Posted by: guest at February 6, 2008 11:43 AM
Schnack is closing because it was too expensive for what you were getting. And because the menu was confusing and nickel and diming.
Posted by: guest at February 6, 2008 11:45 AM
The last time I went there it was deserted. Nonetheless the sevice was slow and surly. The food was dreadful. Adios, Schnack.
Posted by: guest at February 6, 2008 12:03 PM
This place had such a great "Buzz" when it first opened. Traffic definately trickled off after a few years. Especially in the winter time.
Agree Harry was a little creepy and too touchy feely.
Posted by: guest at February 6, 2008 12:09 PM
I blame the failure on incorrect umlaut usage.
Posted by: guest at February 6, 2008 12:10 PM
How about the restaurant on Newkirk? Do you think he has a chance?
Posted by: guest at February 6, 2008 12:43 PM
You bet. My family lives nearby on Argyle Road. We'd love to have a neighborhood restaurant since we've been walking to the restaurants on Cortelyou (Farm on Adderly, Picket Fences, etc.) for our dinners out. The area around Newkirk is ripe for gentrification (great subway access, mix of homes and co-ops) with lots of families like mine moving in.
Plus, it's a tiny space, so I doubt he has to have more than 20 people in there at a time. I'd imagine the rent is very cheap. I think it has a legitimate shot, especially as the neighborhood cleans up and the spring and summer draw closer.
Posted by: guest at February 6, 2008 12:49 PM
If no one shoots anyone while they eat brunch, yes.
Posted by: guest at February 6, 2008 12:50 PM
Shut up 12:50.
Thank you and have a nice day.
Not that you seem able to do such.
Posted by: guest at February 6, 2008 1:16 PM
I'd watch that 'tude on Newkirk, 1:16.
Posted by: guest at February 6, 2008 1:18 PM
once schnack lost its liquor license, it was doomed. plus, the nabe is a lot fancier than five years ago.
Posted by: guest at February 6, 2008 1:27 PM
eh, newkirk is getting safer all the time. i'd imagine there were places not far from 9th Street and 4th Avenue that weren't that safe a few years ago (and still aren't today) but it's gentrified. newkirk ave has great subway access, and you know how much yuppies like bragging about not needing to own a car, so watch the gentrification creep further out along the q and b. this bistro is just the first step.
Posted by: guest at February 6, 2008 1:34 PM
I hope the place on Newkirk does well, but I'm still a little skeptical. Other than the immediately surrounding apartment buildings, whose occupants tend to be low-income, the area has a very low population density. And the local people with disposable income aren't generally big on dining out - otherwise they wouldn't live in that neighborhood to begin with. People tend to spend their money renovating and heating those enormous houses, and do their eating at home.
But it's true that the place is small and probably pays very low rent, so he doesn't need to draw huge crowds to make it work.
Posted by: Flatbushwhacker at February 6, 2008 2:05 PM
The beer milkshakes at Schnack were really really yummy.
Posted by: fortgreenest at February 6, 2008 2:21 PM
The area around Newkirk is prime for more restaurants. Bring it on.
Posted by: guest at February 6, 2008 2:21 PM
I beg to differ and think it's a bit of a chicken and egg argument. People might prefer to eat in their homes, but probably because their are fewer options here than in other places.
I'm big on dining out and I live in the neighborhood. I was also big on buying a home I could afford for my family, and the options in Park Slope were too expensive. So I bought a house out here for what it would have cost to buy a small two-bedroom in the Slope. (Many of my neighbors are former Slopers, priced out of the neighborhood after years of renting and wanting to stretch our dollars into more space.)
You could just as well reason that the people who own entire brownstones in Park Slope or Cobble Hill don't eat out because they spend their money renovating and heating their homes. I doubt that's the case. They have options in their 'hood and they use them. Once more options open up here, people will take advantage of them. It's like Field of Dreams: if you build it, they will come.
The only thing I've missed from my time in the Slope (near 5th Avenue) is the ability to grab a quick bite within a quick walk of my home. Trust me. People spend a lot of money on their homes here, but that also means that they have disposable income. We cook a lot at home, but only because we've been waiting for a place like this within easy walking distance. More will follow, I'm sure.
Posted by: guest at February 6, 2008 2:23 PM
why kelloggs held out is bizarre. it's awful, but they probably get so much biz just because of it's great location.
very curious to see which retailer it is. a high end grocery store is not so much needed as it would be welcome to make sure that the neighborhood doesn't get bad chain stores.
Posted by: guest at February 6, 2008 2:23 PM
schnack just needs to turn into a late night place to get fries quick, since thats all it really was. everything on the menu was gross.s
Posted by: guest at February 6, 2008 4:37 PM
Greatly welcoming the new restaurant on Newkirk. I definitely think it has a chance. If you have doubts, just walk by The two "new" restaurants in the neighborhood Picket Fence and The Farm on Adderly in the evenings and weekends. Both are consistently full. When Picket Fence closed for renovation recently the Farm was packed. A third option is definitely viable.
Posted by: guest at February 6, 2008 5:20 PM
The posters who think that DP home owners don't eat out, or don't want to eat out, don't have a clue. My husband and I eat out regularly, with and without our kids, both in the neighborhood as well as all over the city. We're devotees of the Farm and will be first on line when the new place opens. And I'm sure there will be a line. I've been amazed recently by the hordes of 20 somethings crowding the place not only in the evenings, but also at brunch.
Speaking of new restaurants, San Remo Pizza, a regular haunt of almost everyone in the neihborhood is expanding. There will be a back room with 40 additional seats, a bar, and an expanded menu. While it's not the Farm, it's not trying to be. The owners are making a smart move, families with young kids and people looking for a less expensive night out will keep it humming.
And now for an update on the Flatbush Food Coop - now slated to open in April. Yes, it's a wait but sounds like it will be worth it. The interior was pretty much gutted, rocked, new floor, tile, etc... A salad and soup bar just went it, there will be a full service deli, and a substantial fish and meat counter.
Oh, and the poster who said that Newkirk is no more dangerous than, say 5th Ave in the Slope a few years back - you're right on the money.
Although DP won't transform overnight, and no one ever said it's perfect, it has a great sense of community, neighborhood organizations devoted to improving the quality of life, not to mention some fabulous architecture.
Posted by: guest at February 6, 2008 6:20 PM
Guest #3 is totally right "The last time I went there it was deserted. Nonetheless the service was slow and surly. The food was dreadful. Adios, Schnack."
I used to live around the corner from it and I learned to hate it with a passion. It was never a fast place to pick up late night fries or an early lunch. Always slow, always rude.
Good riddance.
Posted by: guest at February 6, 2008 8:03 PM
schnack sucked.
Posted by: guest at February 6, 2008 9:30 PM
Went there once and it was ok. The services seemed ok. We were the only ones there. Good concept, but I guess they done fuckkked it up.
Posted by: guest at February 6, 2008 9:41 PM
I went in there once on a rainy day. Ordered a slow and none-too-hot knockwurst, fries and a soda ... for a WTF 13 bucks!
Posted by: guest at February 6, 2008 11:03 PM
"snack" was stupid. Is stupid. Marco Polo has filthy dirty trash and I would never eat there. Ever. I walk by them every day. A dump.
Posted by: guest at February 7, 2008 9:13 AM
Schanck was and is great. It's a dive, but it is what it is and it is great food in a friendly atmosphere. It's sad to see it go.
Posted by: guest at February 8, 2008 11:38 PM
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