Buttermilk Channel
"Bright white walls tempered by gentle candlelight, a beautiful wood bar, and multiple windows facing the street immediately made us feel at home," writes blogger Artichoke Heart. Frank Bruni of the New York Times calls Buttermilk Channel "a restaurant of real standards, noteworthy ambition and uncommon slavishness to trends. It’s laudable and predictable in equal measures. And it was packed every time I went."
Restaurant Girl shares her favorite first course: "The chef's squash tart looks like a savory Slinky - rings of skin-on delicata squash topped with a sweet, homemade ricotta. This is the best dish on the menu." Papermag suggests, "go for a bounty of small plates: snacks like the smoky maple and bacon roasted almonds to start ($4), or a hefty pot of musky chicken liver mousse, accented with brandied cherries ($7)." Chowhound AndEats says, "We went for dinner on a Tuesday night and were able to try the nightly special, leg of lamb. It was perfectly cooked, the 'jus' was perfect and the side dish of roasted cauliflower with shallots, raisins, kalamata olives and anchovy butter was a perfect and creative match." Fellow 'Hound jinx "loved the chicken and waffles--really moist and tender chicken, crispy, and the cheddar waffles were a real hit."
And Time Out New York shares a dessert recommendation: "Doug’s pecan pie sundae (named for its creator, owner Doug Crowell) has the simple brilliance of a midnight snack conjured in your parents’ kitchen. The nutty, brown-sugary pie is pressed—crust and all—into an old-fashioned tulip cup, lavished with airy cream and Blue Marble’s butter-pecan ice cream." During brunch hours, Buttermilk Channel serves pecan pie French toast, which A Brooklyn Life describes as "heavenly." What's your take on this place?
Reviews (19)
Flatbushrising wrote a review on March 30, 2009 12:17 PM
I need to check this place out. I lived above here for 13 years and had to move when the owner sold the building because he couldn't deal with the previous restaurant owners that were there.
I'll check out he food, but what I'd really like to see is what they did to the two floors above - it was a gut renovation, looks like the may have opened part of it into two stories, and for some reason they bricked out some of the windows.
cggirl wrote a review on March 30, 2009 12:30 PM
Loved the fried chicken but didn't like the waffles with it. I know it's a southern thing but I could do without it. Garlic mashed would be much better.
jnewcleus wrote a review on March 30, 2009 12:52 PM
I ate there lst night and ate at the bar. Was told a table would be a forty minute wait, but a table actually opened up just five minutes later. Stayed at the bar and the atmosphere was very friendly. I am excited to see a well decorated restaurtant in the neighborhbood with quality food. The staff were friendly and that is always a huge plus. I had the endive and kale salad with buttermilk dressing to start and it was very nice. I ordered the Johnny Cakes as a main and they were a bit dull. Could have used a sauce. Instead they were kinda bland and dry. The accompanying slaw was nondescript. My wife ordered the bacon wrapped trout and she described her dish as bland. The beer and wine and coctail selection was first rate. We will be back. Hopefully, bolder flavors will arrive sometime soon. The pecan sundae was delicious. The prices were great as well. Entrees in the teens.
cthecat wrote a review on March 30, 2009 12:58 PM
The buzz surrounding this restaurant was stellar. So, I was very excited to go there for brunch a few weeks ago. Upon arriving, there was a 35 minute wait. I waited in anticipation of a great meal. The hostess was very nice and accomodating. She took my cell number and call me when they were ready for us.
It goes down hill from there. The service was lousy. The waistress was in la-la land; walking around as if she were auditioning for the role of her life. My salmon dish with capers was just okay and my friend's hamburger was burnt to a crisp. Since when does medium-well mean turn it into soot?
I will try them for dinner but brunch was very unimpressive.
NsPx wrote a review on March 30, 2009 1:01 PM
Had brunch here with some friends recently. The food was solid but fell a little shy of the hyperbolic praise I've been reading. My short rib hash was tasty; the scrambles were kind of lackluster. I'll definitely go back and try dinner some time.
harrythehat wrote a review on March 30, 2009 1:17 PM
I eat thier at least once a week. This place is the best, thier food will give you a culinary orgasm. Doug the owner is very personable and the staff very attentive. We needed a restaurant in the neighborhod of this quality. This place is packed just about every nite. Get thier early on Thu, Fri or Sat because its packed with people waiting to eat and its worth the wait. Don't miss this jewel it can compete with any top restaurant in the city.
lapmax75 wrote a review on March 30, 2009 1:21 PM
Dinner is excellent. I've been here about a dozen times, including during the opening week, and the wait staff has been very friendly and attentive every time. The food is always good - my family has tried everything on the menu. It's nice to have a "real" restaurant in this part of the hood other than Frankie's, which is usually characterized by an obnoxious waitstaff who think they're doing you a favor by serving up such a chic dining experience in this neck of the woods. Freakin' posers. Le Petit Cafe has good food too, but their service sucks and it isn't the same kind of dinner place. Buttermilk is the real deal. They're also very accomodating to families - we try to go at 5:30 to prevent horrifying other diners, but on the rare occasion that we go a bit later, the staff is great.
Eat It Brooklyn wrote a review on March 30, 2009 1:44 PM
I really like this place - great atmosphere, great staff. Just wanted to make sure it was noted that they only serve Brunch on Sundays. Don't make the same mistake I did by showing up with your appetite on a Saturday morning!!! I've also got photos on my blog of both dinner and brunch.
jwald wrote a review on March 30, 2009 1:58 PM
I had a great brunch there a couple of weeks ago. Although I was annoyed at first for the 30 minute wait, the Bloody Mary you get with the brunch made the wait a lot easier. The service was very pleasant and the food was solid (short rib hash was very tasty). This is a great addition to the this part of Carroll Gardens and I would definitely go back for dinner.
sebb wrote a review on March 30, 2009 2:49 PM
This place has well prepared food along with a nice staff. The chicken dish i had was very good, my friend had the burger and loved it. I will go back again and again.
Danny Noonan wrote a review on March 30, 2009 3:41 PM
i tried going there 2 weeks ago, was a 2 hr wait so we left. i then went there again this past saturday night. got there around 7:45 and was told an hour and 15 min wait for a table of 2. we were able to snag the last 2 seats at the bar so no big deal. a bit later we were told it would probably be less than the original wait, but then it actually ended up being a full 2 hours (what recession??).. but for the wait, we got a round on the house - which always works in my book.
the food and service were both great. i had the sat night special rib entree, but i couldn't believe how many plates of fried chicken kept coming out of the kitchen. i'll have to give them a try next time... but - i'm not sure i'll be back for a while though, until the buzz finally wears off and isnt so hard to get a table.. if that ever happens.
zinka wrote a review on March 30, 2009 4:00 PM
Overrated and way overpriced. The food was undistinguished, across the board. I don't understand why this place gets so much press.
bklyn14 wrote a review on March 30, 2009 5:06 PM
still trying to get in.....Sunday morning 11: 00 AM....Petite Cafe, Frankie's and Buttermilk channel all packed...ended up at PJ Hanley's where i waited 45 min for a pretty lame meal(no biggie wasn't expecting anything more).....i've lived in CG 14 yrs....there's no recession down here....where did all these kids come from ??
buttermilk channel wrote a review on March 30, 2009 5:17 PM
Went for brunch when they first opened. Nice overall concept, and decent food. Feels like it's been there a long time, and I think it may be there for a long time.
(btw, no relation)
Carol Gardens wrote a review on March 30, 2009 6:12 PM
Had one of the most self-indulgent meals I've ever had there: the fried chicken and the pecan sundae. I loved both. I would go back on a weeknight. I just don't feel the need to compete to eat out on weekends. (I went on Valentine's Day when they took reservations.)
2800bailey wrote a review on April 27, 2009 1:46 PM
I really like this place and it's a great addition to the neighborhood. I would say his Chef has a lot of talent and it show's in the quality of food and the decor of the restaurant.
A must!!!!!
panamac wrote a review on July 6, 2009 1:30 PM
been only once, but my 3 dining companions and I were all blown away by our meals. they also have a vegetarian menu, which is rare.
DeLepp wrote a review on July 29, 2009 11:01 AM
We all enjoyed our meals on our visit. The pork shoulder special was tasty and the service was terrific. Pecan sundae was a breezy finish to a super meal.
fpichel wrote a review on August 23, 2009 12:52 PM
Sat at bar, ordered off the vegetarian menu.
Food and drinks were amazingly tasty and unique.
Service was fast and courteous, even though it was packed.
It was packed, so it was a little loud for my taste.
I like their take on the location too.
My favorite place in Carroll Gardens by far.
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