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Brooklyn Food & Drink Round-Up
Closing Temporarily: Lobo
218 Court Street, Cobble Hill; (718) 858-7739
Grub Street reports that Lobo “is closing its Cobble Hill location for a month beginning March 23. The official reason given is ‘renovations,’ but you have to worry whether restaurants that take an extended break during this economy will actually reopen. There’s still plenty of people choking Lobo’s tiny hallway at night, so we’re hopeful.”
Many Openings This Week
Besides Zuzu Ramen in Park Slope, this week will also see the openings of Deniz (a Turkish restaurant at Fulton Street and South Elliott Place in Fort Greene), Anselmo’s Coal-Fired Brick Oven Pizzeria (on Van Brunt and Sullivan in Red Hook), and Lucky Shot Espresso (at 145 Driggs in Greenpoint), says Time Out New York. And according to New York Magazine, the Frankies are opening Cafe Peddlar, a “Viennese-style cafe” at 210 Court Street (near Warren Street, in the old Magaret Palca Bakes space), today.
Coming Soon: Purple Yam, Brooklyn Bowl, and Cherry Hill
Last month, we mentioned that the owners of Soho’s Filipino spot Cendrillon were preparing to open Purple Yam on Cortelyou in April. Now, Ditmas Park Blog says that Cendrillon has closed, but the new spot’s opening date still stands: “The concept of the new Purple Yam is to re-create a kitchen-centered home harking back to the Asian values of hospitality and generosity.” Plus, Down by the Hipster reports that Brooklyn Bowl is gearing up for a May 1st opening, and Gothamist says that the old Lundy’s space in Sheepshead Bay will soon be home to a “19,000 square foot gourmet market called Cherry Hill.”
After the jump: Hanco’s drops prices in Park Slope, Chef César Ramirez at a lunch counter in Downtown Brooklyn, and the O’Connor’s vs. Freddy’s rivalry… (more…)
03/11/2009 11:31 AM
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Brooklyn Food & Drink Round-Up
Photo by Brewing the Perfect Beer
Sixpoint and Frankies to Partner Up?
Eater shares an “unsubstantiated and somewhat far fetched rumor” that “the Franks (of the Frankies Spuntinos and Prime Meats) are working in conjunction with Shane Welch of Sixpoint Craft Ales to open a cafe on Court Street and (yes and) a Frankies beer garden in the vicinity of—or perhaps even in—the current space of the Sixpoint Brewery.” Eater also notes that neither Welch nor anyone at Frankies will confirm this rumor, “but it’s something to watch out for. ”
A Closer Look at Glass Shop
Last week, we reported on the new Crown Heights coffee house, Glass Shop. According to Grub Street, they’re open and serving “Australian-style espressos ($2.50) and lattes ($3 for 8 oz.). No drip for now, but there’s also a selection of PG Tips teas and simple sandwiches (ham and egg, sardine) as well as egg specials in the morning… and in warmer weather there’ll be a 600-square-foot garden in the back.” Has anybody been in yet?
Where to Wet Your Whistle
The bar at Prime Meats is officially open, and Time Out New York posted their “wallet-friendly” cocktail menu — but TONY also reviews the well-crafted cocktails at the less-hyped Jack the Horse Tavern in Brooklyn Heights: “the Robbie Robbie, a cockle-warming spin on the Scotch-based Rob Roy, which enlists Luxardo’s cinnamon-flavored bitter, Amaro Abano, to spicy effect. The Dos Amentes (tequila, mescal, Cherry Heering, dry vermouth, lime juice and cognac-almond syrup) is a rich tequila drink that allows the spirit’s aromatic, vegetal character to shine through.”
After the jump: Eating out in Clinton Hill, CSA news, beloved butcher closes up shop in Coney Island, Dom DeMarco hits up the Pizza Hall of Fame, and the Brooklyn Inn adds more seating… (more…)
03/04/2009 11:32 AM
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Closing Bell: Photo Tour of Lundy’s New Occupant
Gerritsen Beach got the opportunity to take a tour inside of the landmark Lundy’s building, which is now being occupied by Cherry Hill Gourmet Market. You can check out the photo gallery of the tour here. Or you can see the place for yourself by attending the Sheepshead Bay Civic Association Meeting tonight.
03/03/2009 4:00 PM
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Help Design the New Restaurants Section
When we first started gathering user generated restaurant reviews last summer, we weren’t too concerned about what the Restaurants section of the site looked like, since we knew it would be a while before we had the critical mass of reviews to make it useful as a stand-alone entity (as opposed to daily content on the home page of Brownstoner). But now we’ve got more than 150 reviews in the system, it’s time to start making it a truly useful resource for Brooklynites (and the people who want to eat here). In broad strokes, we want the Restaurants section to be more utilitarian and search driven and look less blog-like than it does now. But beyond that, we’re all ears. We’re also curious to know whether readers think there would be demand for some kind of print guide based on readers’ comments and ratings once we reach, say, 250 or 300 reviews. Fire away.
Thanks,
Mr. B
02/26/2009 10:29 AM
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Brooklyn Food & Drink Round-Up
Brooklyn’s Three Million Dollar Dive
38-44 Washington Ave. (Alternate address: 200 Flushing Ave.)
“One of the city’s truly gritty watering holes, the Navy Yard Cocktail Lounge, may not have long for this world. Per a Douglas Elliman listing, the bar’s building (along with three others) is for sale for $3 million… If you plan to pay your first and last respects to J.J.’s, as it’s sometimes called, know that even professional degenerates who’ve ignored the ‘MEMBERS ONLY’ sign on the establishment’s front door have ended up fleeing (if only at having to pay the impromptu lap dancers).” [Grub Street]
Harding and Mamary Heading to Soho?
“According to a posting on a French Culinary Institute’s job board, Alan Harding and Jim Mamary are planning a new Patois in Soho and a restaurant and charcuterie shop in Brooklyn. It had been reported after the shutter that Patois would be moving across the street to 254 Smith St., so chances are that is the future home to the meat shop.” [Eater]
Buttermilk Brunch
524 Court Street (at Huntington Street), Carroll Gardens
“Excellent Court Street newcomer, Buttermilk Channel has just launched brunch. It’s been proven that chef Ryan Angulo does wondrous things with pecans, so we’re looking forward to the pecan-pie French toast (says admittedly biased owner Doug Crowell, it’s ‘pretty insane’).” [Time Out New York]
After the jump: News from Vinegar Hill House, Draft Barn, Lunetta, NoNo Kitchen, Marlow & Daughters, Bar Great Harry, and South Brooklyn Pizza… (more…)
02/04/2009 11:27 AM
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Brooklyn Food & Drink Round-Up
Brooklyn Restaurants Reviewed This Week
Gothamist‘s Danielle Sucher hits up Park Slope’s Bussaco and describes their maple creme caramel, pictured above: “It’s like eating the extremely delicious bastard child of a perfect pot de creme and a soft caramel candy.” Plus, the new Carroll Gardens spot Buttermilk Channel gets a whopping 5 out of 6 stars from Time Out New York. And Chowhound binkis calls Vinegar Hill House “a fantastic neighborhood place, similar to Noodle Pudding in quality.”
Coming Soon to a Neighborhood Near You
Chowhound squid kun got in touch with the Calexico guys via email and learned that their new restaurant in the old Shnack space is set to open in “about a month.” And an Eater tipster says: “Was walking down 4th avenue in park slope last night, and the plywood is down at the ramen shop from the Sheep Station people and they were having what looked like a friends and family dinner.” Plus, The Stong Buzz says that Red Hook’s beloved sandwich shop Defonte’s “is set to open a branch of their hero heaven in Manhattan at 261 Third Avenue @21st street, 212-614-1500.”
After the jump: The Moxie Spot starts charging admission, the Times reports on Alan Harding’s divorce(?!), and three more restaurant openings in Williamsburg, Greenpoint, and Clinton Hill… (more…)
01/21/2009 11:30 AM
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Brooklyn Food & Drink Round-Up
Closings: Patois, Bay Ridge Chip Shop, and Jill’s
“Alan Harding just called to say that Patois, the pioneer restaurant on Smith Street in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn, that he opened in 1997 will close on Sunday. Brunch and dinner will be the last service,” reports Florence Fabricant for the New York Times. Plus, Eater reports that the Bay Ridge branch of Chip Shop was shuttered on New Year’s Eve, and Brunch Anytime says that Jill’s, the health food joint at 231 Court Street, closed on December 29.
Openings: Three New Bars
The East Village bar D.B.A. has opened a second location at 113 North 7th Street between Berry and Wythe streets, says Grub Street — and they’ve got 16 beers on tap, 3 hand-pulled real ales, and “artisanal cheeses, charcuterie, and other things that go well with beer.” Cornelius, a new cocktails-and-small-plates spot is set to open at 565 Vanderbilt Avenue at Pacific Street in Prospect Heights this Monday, January 12, Eater reports. And Brunch Anytime heard a rumor that “the owners of Bar Great Harry have put in papers to secure the spot across from the old Trout on Smith Street (which use to be an optometrist) for a new bar.”
After the jump: Roots Cafe, Five Leaves, Buttermilk Channel, Kelso of Brooklyn, and Morton’s vs. Peter Luger… (more…)
01/07/2009 11:27 AM
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Brooklyn Food & Drink Round-Up
Pho Returns to Nicky’s Menu
311 Atlantic Ave. (btwn Smith & Hoyt), Boerum Hill; 718-855-8838
A Brooklyn Life snapped this picture of the pho at Nicky’s Vietnamese Sandwiches — and claims that this satisfying soup is well-worth a long walk on a blustery day.
Now Open: Alta Voce
318 Fifth Ave between 2nd and 3rd Sts, Park Slope; (718-369-4899)
“Ten years to the day since opening the intimate Italian restaurant Sotto Voce (‘whispered’), the owners introduce the larger Alta Voce (‘loud voice’), with a multiregional menu.” [TONY]
Recently Reviewed: Eurotrip
667 Fifth Avenue (20th Street), South Slope; (718) 285-9425
“[The] kitchen serves Mittel-European comfort food in what might be called recession-era portions. Take the fried cheese ($10), a paperback-size slab of breaded Edam on a pile of crispy roasted potatoes. A gooey, crunchy, sizable mess, it gets surprising shades of flavor from the a tangy tartar sauce and pile of lingonberry jelly.” [NY Times]
After the jump: Caracas Arepas come to Brooklyn (!!!), a sausage shop gets ready for Red Hook, Ruby’s faces lease issues, and Gowanus is getting a new club… (more…)
12/17/2008 11:32 AM
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Have a Taste of the Restaurants Section
Those of you who haven’t been paying close attention might be surprised to learn that there are now 120 restaurants (with an average of 15 reader reviews) in the Restaurants section we launched last summer. We’ll be doing some redesign of the page early next year to make it more useful, but in the meantime please take a look and leave your feedback on some of your local spots.
12/17/2008 10:44 AM
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Streetlevel: Ortine Restaurant Tomorrow in Prospect Heights
An OrtÃn is “a small garden plot next to a farmhouse where farm workers grew food for themselves,” say the folks at Ortine, who plan to open their 35-seat localvore eatery at 622 Washington Avenue between Pacific and Dean tomorrow. It will be a cafe by day, with free wi-fi and granola or Belgian waffles available all day long. After noon, lunch fare includes seasonal greens with homemade creamy garlic or lemon dressing; marinated portobello mushroom and goat cheese sandwich; or sweet Italian sausage. Dinner: roasted Cornish game hen; mushroom lasagna; or braised short ribs. Perhaps this will be a boost to buyers checking out the glut of Washington Avenue condos nearby? GMAP
Photo by Set Speed Condo.
12/16/2008 2:01 PM
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Restaurateur Gets Wrist Slap For Laundering Money
Earlier this year, Marco Polo, a Carroll Gardens Italian restaurant from “way back in the day” (how long has it been there?) opened a new take-out shop. But the big news there now has nothing to do with brick oven pizza or linguine. The owner, Joseph Chirico, reputed to be a soldier in the Gambino crime family, has been convicted of money laundering for the mob, but his sentence is surprisingly light: six month’s house arrest, with 10 hours a day allowed at his restaurant, writes the NY Daily News. The reason for the short, sweet sentence: friends in high places. The Beeps, current (Markowitz) and former (Golden) sent “glowing letters” of reference for Chirico. The judge said he was swayed by Chirico’s character. Maybe the linguine’s not bad, either.
Mob-tied Brooklyn Restaurateur Avoids Jail [NY Daily News]
Photo by indiamos.
12/08/2008 9:33 AM
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Streetlevel: Bye-Bye Boerum Hill Food Company
There’s another one down on Smith Street. Gowanus Lounge reports that Boerum Hill Food Company, a beloved fixture in the neighborhood, shut its doors yesterday. Apparently the restaurant was owned by Saul and Lisa Bolton, owners of the Michelin-starred Saul restaurant down the street. That one’s still open. GMAP
12/05/2008 2:02 PM
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Playa Now Open For Business
Fits and starts in the Fifth Avenue restaurant scene. It turns out Baluchi’s is not quite open for business, Gowanus Lounge reports, but the folks at Playa (Web site not yet live; try on Monday) did indeed fire up the grill last night. The owners, also responsible for Barrio and the newly open Cabana Bar, sent us these photos. If you go, please report back.
11/21/2008 11:45 AM
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Baluchi’s Opens for Business
Apparently today is the day, folks. Indian cuisine foodies are welcoming an outpost of Baluchi’s to Fifth Avenue between Second and Third Streets, which blogs like Gowanus Lounge have been watching since construction started a year ago. We’ve heard the dish kachori (“too difficult to explain but recommended”) is very good.
11/20/2008 2:50 PM
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Brownstoner Restaurants Now More Searchable, Sortable
Since we started the Restaurant of the Day feature back in July, we’ve accumulated a database of 86 restaurants with, in most cases, a fairly robust amount of reader-generated comments. Up to now we’ve just been filing them away in the Restaurants section, but there hasn’t been much functionality. Today, though, the section relaunches with a great deal more functionality. We suspect that there’s still more we could be to make the section more useful, so please check it out and leave us comments here about what you’d like to see.
Thanks,
Mr. B
11/10/2008 10:14 AM
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For Sale: Columbia Street Restaurant
We learned this week that Zagat declared Brooklyn home to the city’s best barbeque. If that whetted your appetite to own a bbq joint, not just patronize one, perhaps you’ll be interested in Jakes, the Columbia Street institution currently on sale for $695,000 courtesy of Warburg Realty. (Although we did just report that another BBQ joint, Lookout Hill, closed up shop pretty quickly.) In addition to the physical location and a bunch of wholesale accounts, the deal comes with a “fully programmable website and domain address.” Barbecue blog, anyone?
Warburg Realty [Warburg Realty] GMAP
Photo by Kate Leonova for Property Shark
10/09/2008 10:20 AM
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Bored? Hungry?
Killing time on a gloomy weekend afternoon? Looking for a place to eat tonight? Why not take a look through our ever-growing restaurants section. (We’ve got more than 50 user-reviewed entries to date.) The more feedback from readers, the more useful it becomes!
09/27/2008 9:08 AM
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New York’s Dirtiest Restaurants
The Epoch Times released a list of the city’s cleanest and dirtiest restaurants, and Brooklyn fared…okay. None of the top six cleanest are in our borough (the Bronx seems to be the best place to get a clean plate of food), but only two of the dirtiest are in Brooklyn: a Golden Krust on Nostrand Avenue, which seems to share the space with mice, cockroaches and insects along with customers, and a Jamaican restaurant on Saratoga Avenue; rats and insects were found there. The list came courtesy of State Senator Jeff Klein, based on data from the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. The Senator, and his colleague, Brooklyn’s Senator Eric Adams, are hoping the ratings will lead to more pressure on the department and thus fewer cockroaches with your side of fries. Seen anything particularly stomach-turning recently?
Senators Release List of NYC’s Dirtiest Restaurants [Epoch Times]
I (Heart) New York. Photo by Vorago Joe.
09/17/2008 10:15 AM
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Streetlevel: New Restaurant Opening on Third Street
Perhaps inspired by its upscale Stone Park Cafe neighbor to the east, the space where Pizza by the Park used to be — 357 3rd Street in Park Slope — has been upgraded. Villa Rustica, says the sign, will serve Italian cuisine and brick oven pizza. There’s another Villa Rustica in Queens. Same owner, ya think?
08/25/2008 2:02 PM
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Introducing the Brownstoner Restaurant Ratings Feature
Recognizing the significant role that restaurants play in shaping the character and desirability of a neighborhood—and the fact that the major review sources have yet to comprehensively cover Brooklyn—we’re launching a new feature today. Every day at noon, we’ll run a post on one Brooklyn restaurant that will include a mash-up of existing reviews along with menus and other vital statistics, and then invite readers to comment and rate the restaurant. Over time, the hope is that we’ll have a robust user-generated guide to dining in Brooklyn. Helming this project is Kara Zuaro, author of I Like Food, Food Tastes Good and, some of you old-timers may recall, the former editor of The Brooklyn Record (remember that?). Anyway, we urge you to participate, being as honest and fair as possible. And now for the first restaurant…
07/14/2008 11:56 AM
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ruth2989
May 29, 2012 | 11:02 AM