Choice Market
"The kitchen is about twice the size of the seating/ordering area at this lively neighborhoody bakery cafe, which means that most of the gourmet pastries, paninis and rotisserie meats are made fresh on-the-spot," says Metromix. And Eating Clinton Hill writes, "The shop itself is really beautiful, with a huge array of baked goods, and an open kitchen... It takes a little bit of time for the food to be prepared (so don't get all in a huff if you are in a hurry - like one customer did), it just means everything is freshly prepared. They have a small community table for eating in, and dog-friendly benches out front."
New York magazine says that Choice has "has the boho vibe of a hippie hangout in a college town" but the food is far more sophisticated than run-of-the-mill coffee shop fare: "A prosciutto panino is embellished with raclette, steamed potatoes, and cornichons. An estimable pan bagnat utilizes high-quality imported tuna and a ciabatta crusty enough not to disintegrate. Offbeat seasonings and spices insinuate their way into everything from an aji amarillo-sauced tilapia sandwich with radish sprouts and cilantro to a rosemary-aïoli-dressed BLT." What's your take on this place?
Reviews (20)
wasder wrote a review on January 28, 2009 12:05 PM
Despite its desperately inadequate counter staffing, this place is a neighborhood godsend, producing sandwiches, prepared foods, salads, pastries and desserts of very high quality. Where would we be without it as a neighborhood focal point?
Schultz wrote a review on January 28, 2009 12:22 PM
Agreed with Wasder, however I believe ANY neighborhood would be thrilled to have Choice located there. We work around the slow service (which is really only bad when they are busy) -- call in an order and pick it up.
NsPx wrote a review on January 28, 2009 12:28 PM
Fantastic food and a great vibe. The lines on a sunny weekend day are a bit long, but it's worth the wait.
Lothar of the Clinton Hill People wrote a review on January 28, 2009 12:51 PM
Say what you will about the layout and the service, but I'm hard pressed to think of a better place in all of Brooklyn for a casual meal with a newspaper. May the Choice empire continue its expansion and domination until it's a global chain and its quality is a distant memory.
Burger is awesome too.
h8usrnmes wrote a review on January 28, 2009 12:53 PM
Can be long waits, but get a menu and call ahead. Delivery is sometimes just as quick as going there in person, but the food is worth the slow (and sometimes very confused) service.
h8usrnmes wrote a review on January 28, 2009 12:54 PM
Can be long waits, but get a menu and call ahead. Delivery is sometimes just as quick as going there in person, but the food is worth the slow (and sometimes very confused) service.
superstooper wrote a review on January 28, 2009 1:12 PM
Best of BK. The wait can be long.
wasder wrote a review on January 28, 2009 1:18 PM
forgot to vote before...
qis4quincy wrote a review on January 28, 2009 1:43 PM
Great addition to the neighborhood! The food is delicious, the vibe is bohemian, and the owner is nice to look at.
miss priss wrote a review on January 28, 2009 1:59 PM
honestly, nothing comes close - brooklyn or manhattan. We never had anything like this in williamsburg or the west village or little italy before that. It's also wonderful, because they have turned that corner into a lovely community hub. I agree about the waits, but we also call ahead and pickup when we know we're hitting a busy time. I've gained 15 pounds since they opened though...
jib wrote a review on January 28, 2009 2:11 PM
I never leave this place in a good mood-it has totally the wrong vibe for me-the decor says cool bohemian but it just doesn't work, I think the long wait kills the relaxed atmoshere it should have-service is terribly slow. I can't face it any more. Food is pretty good although the croissants are nowhere as good as the ones at ICI.
Amelia wrote a review on January 28, 2009 2:19 PM
While the waits can be frustrating, Choice is the best breakfast/lunch option in the neighborhood. Sounds silly, but their oatmeal is amazing! Prices are reasonable for such well prepared and fresh food. It's great on a warm day when you can sit on the benches outside. Also- I am so glad they brought Choice Greene to the neighborhood- definitely need for their high quality produce, meats, and cheese.
superstooper wrote a review on January 28, 2009 2:41 PM
Little secret for my friends- Bidonville (47 Willoughby Ave, between Adelphi Street and Clermont Avenue) sells a selection of Choice baked goods without the wait. This place has a seriously great vibe and outstanding coffee.
TD wrote a review on January 28, 2009 3:51 PM
I went to Bidonville once. Talk about slow service. There were 2 people ahead of me and the wait was as long as if there were 10 people ahead of me at Choice.
jimdisc wrote a review on January 28, 2009 4:12 PM
When this place opened I was in my last few weeks of graduate school around the corner at Higgins Hall. Boy, were we upset that they hadn't opened a couple years earlier. Occasionally I would eat two of their pork sandwiches in one day. That said, even then service was slowwwwww.
superstooper wrote a review on January 28, 2009 4:48 PM
"I went to Bidonville once."
That's funny. Not indicative.
KPantin wrote a review on January 29, 2009 11:22 PM
Great food but a horrible, horrible wait and the staff kind of has a nasty attitude sometimes. The food is good but the Tiny Tea Cup is a few minutes away and has quicker service without the lines; cheaper too. The coffee is great and so are the muffins.
janelle wrote a review on April 30, 2009 4:40 PM
miss having this in the neighborhood after i moved. looking forward to the new dumbo location
Tevin Frederick wrote a review on October 20, 2009 12:51 AM
food is very good. very grateful to have a place where people can walk to and eat. sandwiches, fish, the works.
Snarkypants wrote a review on November 5, 2009 12:14 PM
Choice Market fills a huge void in Clinton Hill if you can get past the generally horrendous service. Actually, save yourself the frustration and just order delivery, it's far less detrimental to your blood pressure. Seriously, it baffles my mind sometimes just HOW BAD the counter-staff is.
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