Wednesday Food & Drink Round-Up

Andrea Strong was the annoying girl in Law School who sat in the front row - tried to answer every question and hid books in library to try to get a leg up on everyone else.

Now she is an annoying blogger writing about nothing....

The common thread

Andrea Strong is ANNOYING

Posted by: guest at May 14, 2008 11:41 AM

Ugh. I read that Andrea Strong review earlier in the week, and although I haven't been to Bar Tabac, her review does less to make the restaurant sound bad and more to reinforce that she clearly thinks she's Frank Bruni, when the pants she wears aren't nearly that big.

While her reviews early on were good, she's now become self-important and much to full of herself to be any use as a food critic, self-proclaimed as she is. She's worse than Amanda Hesser!

Posted by: guest at May 14, 2008 11:57 AM

What is with Boerum Hill Foods? did it close(totally or for vacation) or just not open for dinner anymore?
When walked by couple times last week in evening was never open.

Posted by: guest at May 14, 2008 11:58 AM

back to manhattan with you, Andrea Strong!

Posted by: guest at May 14, 2008 12:08 PM

Well - obviously the food is much better at Grocery - but unfortunately Grocery has the blandest atmosphere ever combined with vaguely nervous staff overwhelmed with teh need to live up to their unexpected and unsolicited #1 in NYC Zagat rating. Andrea Strong clearly doesn't get it since she just moved to the neighb. Bar Tabac is cheery and vibrant, has the most amazing jazz ever, has good enough food, and for the boys, is a nice place to watch the world cup. Sad to say, there just aren't that many restaurants in the "bococa" area that have a fun atmosphere and Bar Tabac is one of those few. Moreover, I am so tired of people projecting "self-importance" onto so-called hipsters. 99% of the people who people like Andrea Strong label hipsters would never call themselves that - they just dress with a little more style than your average kacki-shorts-and-baseball-cap-wearing american. It's just stupid.

Posted by: guest at May 14, 2008 12:09 PM

11:57 - actually you probably have never seen Andrea Strong's lower body - I believe her pants are far bigger than Frank Bruni

Posted by: guest at May 14, 2008 12:13 PM

hard to compare Bar Tabac + Grocery since they are pretty different price points. I like to go to Bar Tabac, but would agree the food and service are pretty ordinary.

Posted by: guest at May 14, 2008 12:14 PM

Not sure why this trashing by a loudmouth "critic" needs to be featured on the front page of brownstoner. Bar Tabac has become a neighborhood institution, a great place to get a late night meal, brunch, or drinks. I go there regularly and have never had an issue with the waitstaff.

Sounds like she has an axe to grind - noise from the outdoor seating. She should have considered before moving within earshot of Smith St. I know of a great apt on the corner of Union and 5th ave she should check out...

Posted by: guest at May 14, 2008 12:16 PM

The problem with Bar tabac is you always come out smelling like steak. They need some better hood venting. I can't go there without planning to wash my hair before I go to sleep.

Posted by: guest at May 14, 2008 12:16 PM

12:13, best comment yet.

Posted by: guest at May 14, 2008 12:18 PM

It always seems that those people with attitude complain the most about other people's attitude.
But I will say I find Bar Tabac (outside) to be intrusive - They put the ugly foosball table on sidewalk and keep open the hatch to cellar along Smith which is not too pretty.
And then all the tables along Dean St. seem to take up most of the sidewalk which means people walking down the street have to walk around the patrons/waitors.

Posted by: guest at May 14, 2008 12:19 PM

I loved Bar Tabac, but they've been terribly rude in the past six months. On a nice day in April I asked if I could eat at the table outside since I had my dog with me. (They'd let me sit out there with a latte before, so I didn't any problem.) I was told aboslutely not, because they weren't licensed to serve on the sidewalk. Huh. Okay.
But then a few weeks later, they're serving all over the sidewalk.

Then, I was there recently on a Tuesday night just trying to grab something as takeout and they were remarkably rude about saying no. They weren't all that busy -- though the service always seems frantic yet inefficient -- but it took me 20 minutes to get anyone's attention. (The host is never present.) All they had to say was they were sorry, but no, for whatever reason. Instead I got condescension and rolled eyes. Maybe my bad for trying to do takeout, but it was right there on the way home.

Posted by: guest at May 14, 2008 12:36 PM

Grocery is by far the most overrated restaurant in Brooklyn. The food is only so so, the service is atrocious and the prices reflect the reputation more than the value of the experience. There are plenty of other fine restaurants.

Bar Tabac is a reasonable place to stop for a quick bite. Grocery is a lousy place to go for a fine meal.

Posted by: guest at May 14, 2008 12:38 PM

I like Bar Tabac but also didnt necessarily agree that it was the best restauarant on Smith Street. Do agree there is a touch of pretentiousness about the place and the patrons--disproportionate number of men wearing fedoras, for instance...but I dont necessarily mind that.

Posted by: guest at May 14, 2008 12:41 PM

"The room was now filled, and Diana was looking around, smiling. “Brooklyn people are so cute,” she said, sweeping a piece of soft crusty bread through the last of the dill dressing. I laughed. “I guess we are,” I said, taking in the room"

HAHAHAHA. BROOKLYN PEOPLE ARE SO CUTE!!!

Posted by: guest at May 14, 2008 12:42 PM

Its funny how all middle eastern food has suddenly become Israeli food.

Posted by: guest at May 14, 2008 12:52 PM

11:58, boerum hill food co. is sitll open, just not for dinner anymore. still packed as ever during the day (i work from home and am always amazed how many people are in there getting breakfast during the week. doesn't anyone in this neighborhood have a job?).

i have to agree with other commenters: the staff at bar tabac can be incredibly rude. and the level of attitude from the people watchers on the patio is pretty insane, as well.

Posted by: guest at May 14, 2008 1:00 PM

If there's schnitzel on the menu, it's Israeli, not "middle eastern."

Posted by: guest at May 14, 2008 1:00 PM

Though I might not go as far as Andrea Strong, I agree that Bar Tabac is VERY overrated. I think the food is generally mediocre, especially brunch. I also suspect that waitstaff fake french accents.

Posted by: guest at May 14, 2008 1:03 PM

Gee, Andrea posts drivel like that on her blog ("I haven’t gotten over my Brooklyn guilt yet") and features the subtlety of her winning personality ("And when I somehow managed to graduate second in my class..."), and she wonders why people in the neighborhood don't smile at her on the street? I would think all of BoCoCa would run screaming in the other direction. It would be interesting to see her interview Alex McCord, however.

Posted by: guest at May 14, 2008 1:06 PM

Now isrealis think they're not part of the middle east.

Posted by: guest at May 14, 2008 1:09 PM

I went to Bar Tabac three times ... and never ate there. I never got as far as actually being waited on. And no one ever seemed to care that I walked out. Three times!

Posted by: guest at May 14, 2008 1:13 PM

Oh, why, why, WHY must people continue to use the term "BoCoCa"?!?!?!?!

Posted by: guest at May 14, 2008 1:49 PM

Long Live Alex McCord!!!

Swak.

Posted by: guest at May 14, 2008 1:52 PM

I knew Andrea in law school - and she might have been annoying to talk to but in bed she was pretty wild and fun (she talked alot there too)

Posted by: guest at May 14, 2008 1:59 PM

Bacchus is better than Bar Tabac.

Posted by: guest at May 14, 2008 2:09 PM

I went to law school with Andrea as well, and I'd like to meet with the other classmates of mine who've posted comments here. I'm willing to bet that they're small people, in size, stature, and standing in the profession.

It's amazing how disgruntled (and probably only moderately successful) attorneys get so jealous when a peer actually makes a good and happy living, especially when they do so outside of the law. Andrea left the doldrums of practicing law to build a fantastic career: eating, being invited to every new restaruant opening for the purpose of eating some more, and writing about it. What the hell is better than that?

Now she tells the truth about an overrated French place with rude and self-important staff (yes, I live in the area and know Bar Tabac well) and she gets personally attacked. You people need to get a life. She's a writer. She writes. Writers use descriptive prose and things like adjectives and creativity to make their writing more interesting. Get over it. Get a better job.

I've only spoken to Andrea maybe four times since law school (we graduated in 1994) but I'm still disgusted by you morons (that includes you non-BLS alumni who rip Andrea personally for her opinion).

Posted by: guest at May 14, 2008 2:24 PM

Biff - you're usually an informed commenter and a positive, "voice of reason"-type poster. What's with the outrageous and nasty remark?

Posted by: guest at May 14, 2008 2:35 PM

That seems like a typical biff post to me. It's either some highly offensive comment that convinces me he's a 7th grade boy skipping school or some crap about how 'guests' are negative, off topic, or not adding to the thread.

"Speaking of sacks, I might actually prefer to put one over her head" This kind of crap is supposed to be adding to the thread?

Grow up.

Posted by: guest at May 14, 2008 2:42 PM

Who cares about Andrea Strong? It's Bar Tabac that sucks. The staff is snotty (neither the food nor the outdoor seating warrent the atitude) and the crowd is annoying. While I don't miss the old crumby takeout place that used to be there, it's a gross misrepresentation of the good food found in Brooklyn and the neighborhood in general. Or it's just a perfect representation of what the neighborhood is. Just look at that stupid TONY "Best of".

Oh and BoCoCa is made up and not a real word or neighborhood. Where are you from? Manhattan?

Posted by: guest at May 14, 2008 2:49 PM

Who cares about Andrea Strong? It's Bar Tabac that sucks. The staff is snotty (neither the food nor the outdoor seating warrent the atitude) and the crowd is annoying. While I don't miss the old crumby takeout place that used to be there, it's a gross misrepresentation of the good food found in Brooklyn and the neighborhood in general. Or it's just a perfect representation of what the neighborhood is. Just look at that stupid TONY "Best of".

Word, BoCoCa makes my skin crawl too

Posted by: guest at May 14, 2008 2:51 PM

2:24 - come on if you really went to BLS class of '94 then you HAVE to know what an annoying 'striver' Andrea was.....

It isnt sour grapes - she was as cutthroat as they come - and she deserves all the hits

As for my Law Career - while it may have taken me longer than Ms #2 in the class - I am making quite an excellent (and ethical) living at it - and also unlike Andrea, my law job isnt the doldrums of practicing law.

Posted by: guest at May 14, 2008 2:55 PM

Have been to Bar Tabac 3 times and never had a problem. Service has always been good even when they are packed (left alone like one might be in France and other European restaurants (IMHO), but was able to get the attention of the staff, when needed). Prices are reasonable and food was fresh (always liked the mussels and fries).

I believe the owner's are French (or at least some of the employees), so perhaps their attitude rubs people the wrong way. Just a thought.

Posted by: guest at May 14, 2008 3:26 PM

Bar tabac has the worst food and the worst service on smith street. Why anyone eats there is beyond me.

Posted by: guest at May 14, 2008 3:36 PM

All the food on Smith St is made in the same kitchen by the same people - the 'restaurants' you see are just fronts for 1 huge kitchen.

Posted by: guest at May 14, 2008 3:39 PM

Yes there's no accounting for taste. I think mcdonalds is packed also.

Posted by: guest at May 14, 2008 3:58 PM

That smokehouse sounds good..kinda fette sau of park slope .kinda.

Posted by: guest at May 14, 2008 4:02 PM

3:58 - thats because McDonalds TASTES amazingly good - its everything else about it that is troubling.

Posted by: guest at May 14, 2008 4:08 PM

Does anyone have an idea about what ground floor commercial spaces are renting for on 5th Ave.in Park Slope? Especially in the North Slope section. I have a 1900 sq. ft. unit and was wondering what the price per sq.ft. would be or where to find more information.

Posted by: guest at May 14, 2008 4:23 PM

see there's no accounting for taste
mcdonalds makes me throw up

Posted by: guest at May 14, 2008 4:35 PM

Thanks Biff, but I am afraid to say I write better than that and not so pretentiously either!

In any event Andrea seems to miss the point about Bar Tabac. She writes that it's a neighborhood favorite but fails to see that it takes a little longer than a month to be living in the nabe, to be recognized by the staff at Bar Tabac.

Once she has she'll find that the service standards ramp out rapidly.

I'll also second the complimentary comments about Jolie but Bar Tabac and Jolie are quite different, and (mostly) serve different needs. Jolie by 10pm on a week night has closed its kitchen whereas Bar Tabac is still going strong.

Simon van Kempen
(the real one!)

Posted by: guest at May 14, 2008 4:38 PM

Is there anyone on Brownstoner who DIDN'T go to law school with Andrea?

Posted by: guest at May 14, 2008 4:47 PM

Simon, can you perhaps stay at work for an extra hour today? The contractor said he has a few more "measurements" he needs to take.

Alex

Posted by: guest at May 14, 2008 4:57 PM

By the way, graduating second in the class at Brooklyn Law School is about as prestigious as being named Runner-up Most Annoying Blogger on Dean Street.

Posted by: guest at May 14, 2008 5:05 PM

Went to Bar tabac last week, four of us were seated in the back room. The only other person in the room was a worker counting money. We sat there for over 20 minutes without any service. Finally we just got up and left. Found the wait staff to be extremely rude. The waiter sitting in our room did nothing to get anyone to help us.

Posted by: guest at May 14, 2008 6:52 PM

I am so glad that so many posters here have found the service at Tabac poor. I am a heavy tipper to a fault, Tabac kept me waiting a half hour from "can I have my check" to delivering the check, I was in a hurry and for the first time in my adult life dared to undertip. I was scolded by the young half way attractive waitress. I like to think she was probably underpaid and overworked and the system is set up for bad service but....since I had to wait the same half hour for a beer on the front end of the meal I'm thinking that at least part of the fault lay with the waitress. I haven't been back and am doing well without them. Thank you for lifting my cloud of guilt for under tipping.

Posted by: guest at May 14, 2008 8:51 PM

There are over 50 posts about Andrea's Bar Tabac review. HELLO?!

Posted by: guest at May 14, 2008 11:13 PM

Neighborhood Newcomer Bashes Bar Tabac

Um...she just moved here, what the heck does she know. From day one ie. over 6 years ago, it was a fun little place. All the places food wise on Smith are mediocre.

She is a johnny come too lately.....

NEXT.....

Posted by: guest at May 14, 2008 11:15 PM

It's fun, fine fare, and I miss the days when no one but the old time Italians and just a few new comers lived there. Oh the good old days.

Andrea was still in school. Rents were affordable, and it was stil 2000.

The fries have always been good.

Posted by: guest at May 14, 2008 11:22 PM

Best of luck to the Smokehouse, but it had better "Lookout" for itself. That spot is a dead zone for restaurants.

Posted by: guest at May 15, 2008 8:26 AM

Bar Tabac deserves a good bashing: The last time I was there a few months ago, the host was rude, and the waiter actually told us that they needed our table about 5 minutes after our plates were cleared. We were finishing our drinks. I couldn't believe it!

Posted by: guest at May 15, 2008 10:08 AM

11:15 - actually I think you are wrong - from what I recall (its been about 15yrs) she usually cums right on time.

Posted by: guest at May 15, 2008 12:44 PM

Just want to throw in my vote for "Bar Tabac Sucks" -- i've been twice and taken out once. Had trouble getting seated and being served each time -- also it's generally too loud to hear myself think.

Posted by: guest at May 15, 2008 7:24 PM