StreetLevel: Franny's Cheese Shop Opening Soon

While I love the quality of the food at Franny's, as well as the emphasis on local foods, I'm in the camp that no longer goes there because of the prices and the attitude. While the pizzas start at $8, that pizza has no cheese and no tomatoes--basically, it's the dough with some oil and salt. To me, that is expensive. Once cheese and tomatoes are involved, you're looking at $15. And that's not too bad for a pie--I happily pay almost $10 more for a pie at UPN. That being said, the pies are a lot smaller at Franny's, and their refusal to slice them seems to have no other purpose than to say "we're better than you." (Incidentally, one can make the same observation that people go go along with 'tude have self esteem issues--i.e., "The proprietor and I obviously know more about food than you, and that's why we're so into the hoity-toitiness").

The beer on tap seems only slightly expensive at $7, but it comes in a glass that couldn't have been more than 10 ounces, and appeared to have been 8 (it's a real pint* glass when you order at the bar--go figure). I couldn't help but chuckle when it came out, to which the waitress scowled at me and said "Is there a problem?" in a demanding tone.

All that aside, I think an earlier poster was right in noting that it's hard to have a lot of attitude when standing behind a counter and selling cheese/cured meat, so I do hope that Brooklyn Larder turns out to be a nicer experience. I'm looking forward to seeing how it shapes up. Hopefully, they'll take their cue from some place like the Bedford Cheese Shop and not from the mothership further down Flatbush.

*With the caveat that most "pint" glasses in the U.S. actually measure in at about 14 ounces.

Posted by: kimcheater at May 28, 2009 6:16 PM