Brooklyn Fare Launching Today
We told you about it last October and now it’s really happening: Brooklyn Fare, the new gourmet market in the ground floor of 200 Schermerhorn Street, opened earlier this morning today. We haven’t made it by yet, but a reader who popped in for a croissant already emailed us with a report: They did a…
We told you about it last October and now it’s really happening: Brooklyn Fare, the new gourmet market in the ground floor of 200 Schermerhorn Street, opened earlier this morning today. We haven’t made it by yet, but a reader who popped in for a croissant already emailed us with a report:
They did a particularly nice job in the café area, with walnut (I think) cabinetry, stone countertops, and brushed metal stools. The breakfast pastries looked great. Most of the rest of the market was pretty standard supermarket stuff (plenty of organic, but not dominated by super high end or gourmet brands), although the meat/deli/prepared food sections weren’t fully stocked yet. They did a nice job of carrying through their cute branding onto everything: grocery bags, coffee cups, napkins, etc.
As we understand it, the new spot will have a range of fresh breads, cheeses, fruits and vegetables as well as tons of prepared foods from chef Cesar Ramirez. Send us your reports from the field! GMAP
I found it to be a combination of Jubilee (in the FiDi) and Key Food… not bad. For me, the location is great, because I always go to Trader Joes, & Key Food, and occasionally Met (on Smith St). But, when I take the A/C to Hoyt on my way home, I now have a decent grocer to use. Everyone’s definition of a good grocery store varies (for example, I don’t eat fruit or vegetables), but this one meets my needs. It just makes where I live even more convenient than it already was, which is nice.
I don’t understand this Key Food price comparison except for their beer which is cheaper than a bodega. Everything else I thought was 2x more than Key and thought the prices were more in line with Garden of Eden in Brooklyn Heights.
Anyway, very happy to have a grocery store in the area. It needed one desperately and hopefully it will succeed.
I live in the building and must say I’ve been looking forward to BF opening since we moved in! I have 2 small kids and I’m left with little time and energy to food shop. It’s so great to have BF open! I love Trader Joe’s but do not look forward to the walk in the hot summer or to sludge through snow again next winter. This is a good addition to this part of town!
I tried their couscous today (more flavorful than any I’ve had at Whole Foods, though not as dry as I’d like), and was impressed by the cheese and meats. The rest is a good balance of more upscale stuff and stuff you get at Key or Pathmark.
Michaelem –
How do you know Intelligentsia? I used to work there back when it was one little store and roasting works in Chicago. I’d be psyched to drink it again, hope it is there!
The prices may be Key Food-ish but the food certainly isn’t. I just lunched on an amazing seared haddock and a basmati rice with chamomile and herbs for about $8. Super tasty! Everyone was really nice and helpful and the food’s great. Let’s hope they can keep up the quality because the selection rocks.
The prices seem to be on par with the Key Food (above Pathmark, below bodegas), although I just briefly checked it out while enjoying a rather great cup of coffee this morning. (The Intelligentsia blend they use is very nicely balanced and, in my opinion, much better than the single-varietal blends used at Clover.)
But, the similarities to Key Food end at the prices. It has a fishmonger, a butcher area, a cheese counter, and tons of prepared food. It looks beautiful, the produce – allbeit trucked in – is merchandised nicely and they have a good variety. (I was surprised to see chermoyas.) Supposedly they will have local produce when in season. The people working there (at least on opening day) were quite nice. The baked goods – trucked in from Ft. Greene – are also very good. They also have a beautiful dessert case – I don’t know if they’re made in-house or not.
It’s not fully up and running, but it will likely change life for us downtown dwellers. (The last supermarket here closed back in ’98 or ’99 – anyone remember that C-Town deathtrap?) It has a good mix of upscale items, fresh foods, and general supermarket items and should do a good job of serving a very diverse clientele.
The produce looked like nice-for-a-supermarket produce, and at least it’s not all bulk packaged like most of Trader Joe’s produce. Didn’t pay attention to the prices, but I suspect also on the expensive side. Again, for me it’s about convenience. The green grocer on Atlantic between Clinton and Court is cheap and decent quality, but not very convenient for those of us at this end of the hood who just need to pop out somewhere for an onion or a bunch of parsley. In my opinion, the only produce worth shlepping a bit out of the way for (and paying a little more for) is from the farmers market (at Borough Hall).
This place is totally unnecessary and it looks totally overpriced–Trader Joe’s is good for anything except produce, and I love the produce place on Atlantic between Clinton and Court.
How is the produce? I’m occasionally unhappy with the fruit and veggies I get at Trader Joe’s.