Restaurants
May 14, 2008
Wednesday Food & Drink Round-Up
Photo by McBrooklyn
Neighborhood Newcomer Bashes Bar Tabac
Food blogger Andrea Strong recently moved to Brooklyn, and while she loves the Grocery, she's got nothing but hatred for Bar Tabac: "You see, I live down the block from Bar Tabac, a wannabe faux French bistro owned by the same folks that own Jules, Café Noir and Cercle Rouge, that recently and unfathomably to me, was voted best neighborhood bistro in the Time Out Awards... From where I sit, which is just a few yards from this hellacious restaurant’s front doors, it’s a rude, self-important, obnoxious cave (with al fresco seating) for French ex-pats and ubiquitous hipsters in the Brooklyn area." Yowch!
This Week on Chowhound
One Chowhound has good things to say about the newly opened South Brooklyn Pizza (Court at 4th Street, Carroll Gardens), and another spotted Uncle Louis G's "iconic blue & white striped awning" on Smith Street near the New St. Claire. Meanwhile, Chowhound's Outer Borough Digest shares a few positive reviews of the new Israeli restaurant at 641 President Street, Delicious on the Slope.
Now Open: Lookout Hill Smokehouse
230 Fifth Avenue at President Street, Park Slope; (718) 399-2161
Time Out New York reports that Lookout Hill Smokehouse has opened in the old Biscuit space: "Two smokers pump out the expected lineup of brisket and ribs, along with a few wild cards such as lamb, hanger steak and kielbasa from nearby butcher Jubilat." Heart Fish shares some photos of the place.
After the jump: Lost City ponders the new 360 signage, a review of the Olive Vine Café, BeerMenus.com expands to Brooklyn, and a big-time pastry chef sets her sights on Clinton Hill...
May 7, 2008
Wednesday Food & Drink Round Up
Photo by Eating in Translation
Tasteworthy: Blue Marble's Organic Ice Cream
420 Atlantic Avenue (between Bond and Nevins), Boerum Hill
Ice cream season is upon us, and Brooklyn Based is raving about the fresh flavors at Blue Marble: "a Strawberry that actually tastes a little tart (just like in real life!!), a Mocha made with rich cocoa and studded with fat chocolate-covered almonds, and Blackberries and Cream that no one should ever share." This Sunday, they'll be setting up shop at the Flea and offering a rotating selection of four flavors.
Loads of Openings
The NY Times reports that Abigail Abigail Café & Wine Bar (807 Classon Avenue at St. Johns Place, Prospect Heights) will open this Friday, South Brooklyn Pizza (451 Court Street at Fourth Place, Carroll Gardens) opens tomorrow, and the owners of Fatty Crab are getting ready for a summertime opening of a Southeast Asian barbecue spot called Fatty'Cue (91 South Sixth Street, Williamsburg). Time Out New York says that Plan B, a "sports den that boasts an 800-square-foot garden," has opened at 626 Vanderbilt Avenue (between Park and Prospect Place) in Prospect Heights, and Organic Heights, an "organic bakery and takeout spot, featuring 30 varieties of tea and fair-trade, shade-grown coffees," has opened at 460 Bergen Street (between Flatbush and Fifth Avenue).
Now Closed: Chicory Brooklyn
243 DeGraw Street (between Clinton and Court), Cobble Hill
"Just taking a moment to mourn the neighborhood's best fried chicken, greens and various roasted veggies. Also, I'll miss the burger." [A Brooklyn Life]
After the jump: Prices rise at Sweet Melissa and — you knew it would happen eventually — somebody's opening a burger joint called "Williamsburger"...
April 30, 2008
Wednesday Food & Drink Round-Up
Photo by roboppy
Bars in Battle with Neighbors
Park Slope's Union Hall (pictured above) is up for their liquor license renewal next week, and according to Eater, community members issued a 1200-word press release railing against this stroller-free establishment. Meanwhile, Gothamist reports that Greenpoint's Studio B has received a stop work order from neighbors who are hoping that the club's proposed tropical rooftop oasis will be nipped in the bud.
New Brooklyn Openings
Looks like there's nothing but love for the recently opened Root Hill Cafe on 4th Avenue an Carroll Street. Ed Levine describes their Clover-brewed coffee as "pretty amazing" and Slice loves the cafe's outdoor canine accomodations. Eater reports that a new bar and burger joint called Brooklyn Ice House is slated to open in the old Pioneer Bar-B-Q space on Van Brunt Street in Red Hook. And according to Time Out, Appertivo (279 Fifth Avenue at 1st Street) — part of Sotto Voce's mini-empire in Park Slope— is now offering a menu of "pastas like linguine with a chicken liver, sage, white wine and cream sauce," but their liquor license is still pending.
Best Outdoor Bites
Brooklyn Based shares a list of all their favorite restaurants and bars with outdoor seating, calling Rocky Sullivan's "the only rooftop bar in the city that can actually be called serene" and describing the table for two beside the fountain in Palo Santo's tiny backyard as the most romantic outdoor table in Brooklyn.
After the jump: Fresh Direct expands delivery range, the Voice says Barrio is overpriced, Gothamist hits Shachis and the Times visits Jake Walk...
April 29, 2008
Streetlevel: Speakeasy Could Get Huge Patio
Clinton Hill restaurant The Speakeasy could get one of the largest patio cafes in Community Board 2, District Manager Rob Perris told us yesterday. He said the week voted last week to approve the bar and restaurant's application for outdoor seating at 132 Greene Avenue with around 18 tables. That could be a pretty awesome thing for Clinton Hill, unless the food really is that "subpar," then it's only kinda awesome. According to their menu, the cheapest entree is a $10.50 burger, and the most expensive is a ribeye and loaded baked potato for $22. Most of the online reviews said the food wasn't worth the price, but this multi-national restaurant has only been open for a few months. And there's a bar and wide selection of appetizers, so cheers to that!
Reviews of The Speakeasy [Menu Pages]
Reviews of The Speakeasy [City Search]
Reviews of The Speakeasy [Yelp]
April 23, 2008
Wednesday Food & Drink Round-Up
Angry Wade's Gets a Makeover
224 Smith Street (at Butler Street); (718) 488-7253
Haven't been inside in a while, but doesn't this place look better in red?
Five Guys Burgers in Park Slope: Hot or Not?
Says one Chowhound: "I was walking past the corner of 7th Ave and 6th street (where that ugly Bank of America is going in) and I saw a work permit on the space next door (the old D'Agostino's) that says a Five Guys is going in. Yea!"
But another replies: "Or is it another nail in the coffin for the charm of Park Slope?"
Opening and Closing Report
According to Eater, Jesse's Brooklyn Kitchen will be closing shop on Smith Street, and Manhattan's Cheyenne Diner will reopen in Red Hook, but Red Hook's 360 is officially gone for good.
After the jump: Luz turns out the lights for Earth Day (and today), bargains at Barrio, and Andrea Strong's move to Brooklyn...
April 9, 2008
Wednesday Food & Drink Round-Up
Coming Soon: Barrio
7th Avenue at 3rd Street, Park Slope
An OTBKB reader snapped this photo of the new Mexican restaurant's colorful interiror, and according to Gowanus Lounge, it should be opening "around April 16."
Now Open: Eurotrip
667 Fifth Ave between 19th and 20th Streets; (718) 285-9425
"This Central European spot from Czech owners Otto and Maria Zizak is a far cry from the youth hostels its name evokes. The pair promises a refined menu that includes duck Wien (duck confit with buckwheat stuffing and riesling sauce) and mussels steamed in tocai. Thanks to a strong selection of Czech spirits and beers, you don’t need to hit Williamsburg’s Radegast for your becherovka fix." [Time Out NY]
Celebrity Spotting at Lucali
575 Henry Street, Carroll Gardens; (718) 858-4086
"These days, it’s not unusual to encounter a wait of well over an hour for one of the ten tables [at Lucali]. So it was hardly surprising, last week, when a Presidential-calibre motorcade pulled up out front. Beyoncé Knowles and Jay-Z emerged, and were quickly ushered to a table near the chef. Their bodyguard, a man roughly the size of the three-hundred-and-fifty-thousand-dollar Maybach sedan idling at the curb, settled into a chair on the sidewalk, where he enjoyed rounds of gratis espresso and pizza delivered by a giddy waitress." [The New Yorker]
After the jump: Expanded hours at Franny's, top "artisanal" cocktails, and Brooklyn's own rent-able commercial kitchen...
April 2, 2008
Wednesday Food & Drink Round-Up
Ethiopian cuisine at Ghenet's original Manhattan location. Photo by Tien Mao from Gothamist.
Opening This Week: Ghenet
348 Douglass St at Fourth Ave, Park Slope; (718) 230-4476
"Mother-and-daughter team Yeworkwoha Ephrem and Sosinna Degefu open a Park Slope spin-off of their Nolita Ethiopian restaurant this week. The menu will skew lighter than Manhattan’s, with grilled meats and fish replacing sautéed dishes." [Time Out New York]
Smoke Joint Owner to Take Over Petite Basam Space
393 Lewis Avenue, Bed-Stuy
"I was surprised to come home from work today and run into the owner of the Smoke Joint out in my neighborhood, outside the recently shuttered Petite Bassam on Lewis Avenue. Apparently, Ben (the Smoke Joint guy) is setting something up there to start 'soon.' We chatted a bit, and he said he wanted something cheaper than Petite Bassam (which was a good place, but always seemed a bit expensive for the neighborhood) and a little 'different' from the Smoke Joint." [EaterWire]
The Best Coffee in Bushwick
This week, NY Press hits up a couple of neighborhood coffee shops. Potion Café (248 McKibben Street), which is "by far the most aesthetically pleasing café in Bushwick" serves "strong coffee, good pastries, mid-range bagels," $3 Red Stripes, and sandwiches, such as the recommended cheddar and pesto croissant. Archive (49 Bogart Street), on the other hand, is "devoid of personality" and serves "prepackaged paninis and salads and soup." On the plus side, the baristas are friendly.
After the jump: A new cooking show is looking for sexy Brooklyn singles, and the L Magazine reviews Beer Table...
March 26, 2008
Wednesday Food & Drink Round-Up
Coming Soon: Olive Vine Cafe
316 Court Street at Degraw Street, Carroll Gardens
We spotted this signage at the soon-to-open new branch of Park Slope's Middle Eastern spot, the Olive Vine Cafe. (A Brooklyn Life snapped a shot of the storefront, too). There's some buzz about this block on Chowhound, where one user heard that next-door neighbor Donut House is also closing and will also be replaced by a Middle Eastern restaurant. Hmmm... two falafel joints operating side-by-side sounds like a West Bank Story waiting to happen. Anybody know if there's any truth to this rumor?
What Will Become of Magnetic Field?
Atlantic Avenue's Magnetic Field is closing for good this Sunday. Brooklyn Heights Blog says, "We know that the bar is for sale and there's a juicy 7 year lease attached to it," but what should become of the space? BHB readers suggest opening a taco stand, another Zombie Hut, or "someplace that serves delicious hot wings and has a huge beer selection." Any better ideas?
Pies 'n' Thighs Is Making a Comeback
"Sarah Buck, Carolyn Bane and Erika Geldzahler left their devotees of North Carolina-style pulled pork and first-rate fried chicken hungry in January when they closed, but they plan to reopen this summer in a larger location nearby: 166 South Fourth Street (Driggs Avenue), Williamsburg, Brooklyn." [NY Times]
After the jump: Rumor has it that Frankie's on Court Street is expanding; Gridskipper tracks down the best tres leches in the Big Apple...
March 19, 2008
Wednesday Food & Drink Round-Up
Now Open: Toby's
6th Avenue and 21st Street, South Slope Greenwood Heights
Last Tuesday, Toby's opened its doors with a menu of brick oven pizzas, such as the Margherita ($12), four-cheese ($14), and white ($13). They're also serving up salads and antipasti, like a selection of "artisan Italian cured meats" (prosciuitto, sopressata, Italian ham) with focaccia. Customers can wash it all down with wine by the glass, booze, or beer — they've got a well-chosen selection, with Hofbrau seasonal brews on tap. But over on the Brooklynian boards, folks are already complaining that the pizzas are overpriced and griping about the "No Strollers" sign in the window. Check out an interior photo after the jump.
Now Open: Moxie Spot
81 Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn Heights
As we reported last week, the Moxie Spot is finally open and serving up its family-friendly menu. But according to one Chowhound, some parents on a local list-serv are complaining about their "small portions, and out-of-synch serving (tables getting there plates 1 at a time)." On the bright side, the small portions are offered at low prices (burgers cost a mere $4.75), and Brooklyn Heights Blog is singing the praises of the place's creative entryway, which features an adult-sized door, with kid-sized and pet-sized doors built into it.
Roberta's: "Pizza as Art"
261 Moore Street (at Bogart Street), Bushwick; (718) 417-1118
"The 12-inch pizzas ($7 to $15) are the focal point of the short menu. Roberta’s offers a margherita and a tomato-only rosso, but the restaurant is not a destination for anyone looking to stoke memories of Napoli: the heretically creative pies are the thing to get... Roberta’s take on a Hawaiian pizza comes topped with paper-thin sheets of ripe pineapple, shreds of ham, sliced jalapeños and dabs of ricotta cheese." [NY Times]
After the jump: A peek inside Toby's, Brooklyn's first "occasional restaurant," Trois Pommes Patisserie's hamataschen how-to, a look inside the Hideout and the Habitat, and the official details on Brooklyn Restaurant Week '08...
February 27, 2008
Wednesday Food & Drink Round-Up
Photo by williamsburger
Zenkichi: Best Japanese in Brooklyn?
77 N. Sixth St.,at Wythe Ave., Williamsburg; (718) 388-8985
"As you descend a flight of stairs into this three-story labyrinth of corridors, you'll feel like you've stumbled upon some hidden 'otherworld' decorated with Japanese lanterns, bamboo and pebble-strewn floors. Diners are escorted to dimly lit wooden booths and secluded from other guests by bamboo shades... the small-plates menu is as beguiling as the intimate surroundings. Luscious oysters - grilled in a red miso sauce and presented in an oyster shell - taste as opulent as they look. So do glistening beads of ikura (salmon roe) mingled with salmon sashimi and tucked into a vibrant lime." [NYDN]
Big Success for Brooklyn IHOP
276 Livingston Street, Downtown Brooklyn
"An International House of Pancakes that opened in Downtown Brooklyn in December is already ranked top in sales among the breakfast-focused chain's 1,300 stores, the company says... 'It seems like there's no recession in Brooklyn,' said Dave Cox, owner of the new IHOP, who plans to open in Bed-Stuy, East New York and Williamsburg." [NY Post]
Sneak Preview: Greenpoint's t.b.d.
224 Franklin Street, Greenpoint; (718) 349-6727
"The future residents of the Magic Johnson’s 130-unit condo down the block are sure to flock to the sleek 2,500 square feet lounge, which features three flatscreen TVs (intended for video art, not sports, according to Foley). There are twelve beers on tap and some catered comfort food, like mac ‘n’ cheese and zucchini pie." [Gothamist]
After the jump: fish 'n' chips in Bay Ridge; new vegetarian and fro yo joints in Park Slope; the New St. Clair gets a face lift; and Met Foods Clinton Hill scrambles for some street cred...