Stir It Up
"Tucked away on a quiet block of Atlantic Avenue between BAM and Boerum Hill, this convivial, intimate Caribbean restaurant has slowly captured a devout local fan base... Funky paintings of tropical settings line the walls, and the homegrown charm extends to the waitstaff, who cheerfully point diners toward menu favorites," writes Justin Hartung for Citysearch.
Peter Meehan of the New York Times recommends stopping by for lunch or an early dinner because chef and owner Sonia Gordon "buys perishable ingredients in small quantities every day, so if there's a run on coconut curry shrimp ($14) at lunch, there may not be any left for dinner. And the tender, aromatic goat that she tops legume-stuffed rotis with marinates for days in a slurry of fresh thyme, scallions, garlic, peppers and more, so when the day's allotment is gone, it's gone."
Chowhound jro3000 says that Stir It Up's jerk chicken wings are "possibly the best wings we've ever had, marinated for 5 days so that they were perfectly flavored, and spiced with a kick that added to the taste without taking away from the other dominant flavors of the marinade." And fellow 'Hound Boots, a big fan of their plentiful faux-meat options, says that "their vegetarian dishes are literally the best-tasting vegetarian food I have ever eaten." What are your thoughts on this place?
Reviews (10)
Prodigal_Son wrote a review on January 13, 2009 12:06 PM
Happy to see this place get props.
Wings are bangin'. Roti skin not bad either. They make a goat curry too thats the best I've ever had. Now that goat is the new trendy food, try it out before the foodies buy up her supply.
But shhhhh, don't let this place get too popular. Then they'll have to move, expnad and go downhill.
; )
i disagree wrote a review on January 13, 2009 12:11 PM
tucked away on a quiet block of atlantic? i think justin hartung doesn't really understand the meaning of "tucked away." or "quiet."
Montrose Morris wrote a review on January 13, 2009 12:14 PM
I love Stir It Up! Sonia is good friends with some of my friends, and they use her catering services often, which has led to groups and individuals mobbing her small restaurant for some wonderful feasts, after sampling her fare. The food is probably the best Jamaican cuisine I've ever had that wasn't in Jamaica. We usually just ask her what special she's cooked up with those fresh ingredients, and take it from there. This is what home cooking is all about, she is a master of culinary goodness.
I highly recommend it.
gemini10 wrote a review on January 13, 2009 12:31 PM
When I went about a year ago, I ordered Stew Chicken with Rice and peas etc and thought it was OK, not great. However I will divulge that my husband is half Trini, so we tend to frequent the places in Flatbush that have both Trini and Jamaican style West Indian Food!
Stir it Up is better than Brawta Cafe (down the block on Atlantic) which is also Jamaican
10thStreetReno wrote a review on January 13, 2009 12:39 PM
This place is fab. Love the curry goat ! Didn't know they did catering service, good point for future reference. I'd definitely use them.
This and Buff Patty on Myrtle are my fav west indian places oh and my mate Bev's cooking which unfortunately is not for sale despite my plees for her to start up a place.
BrooklynButler wrote a review on January 13, 2009 12:47 PM
Does anyone else experience that this window shrinks to a narrow band when trying to look at anything in the restaurant category of Brownstoner?
btwprd wrote a review on January 13, 2009 1:33 PM
Terrific place. Always a pleasure eating there or taking food back home.
Brenda from Flatbush wrote a review on January 13, 2009 2:12 PM
YES! I get the shrinking-window thing, too!
dwarbi wrote a review on January 16, 2009 1:30 PM
Just stopped by this place for lunch with the Mrs. I had eaten here about a year ago and thought it was decent, but I decided to give it another shot after this write-up.
The folks that run this are very friendly and accommodating. It's exceptionally cold today, and they made sure we were seated in a warm spot. We both went with vegetarian dishes - faux chicken - and were quite happy with the meals. My wife with the "happy" sauce and I with the jerk sauce. The jerk sauce is spiced just right.
Definitely worth a stop in.
bknyer wrote a review on March 3, 2009 1:14 PM
Very good food, but lacking in ambiance and service. Wings and roti recommended.
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