Brooklyn Food & Drink Round-Up

“Yo dude…. A new taco place opened. No, i have no idea. It just appeared. Sick, right?” — Jam It Down Your Throat

New Mexican Fare for Smith Street
Since Calexico opened last week, a bunch of Chowhounds and local bloggers have been raving about it. But in the meantime, with no fanfare whatsoever, a taco and torta joint called Oaxaca opened in the old Handmade space at 251 Smith Street (near Douglass). Blogger Jam It Down Your Throat says it’s a work-in-progress (they don’t even have a griddle yet) but recommends the pork taco, which is “shredded, pretty juicy and gets a nice spicy kick from the sauce.”

Openings and Gossip
The New York Times says that the Saul Boulton, the chef and owner of Saul, along with “Ben Daitz, a partner in Num Pang Sandwich Shop” plans to open an “informal place” called The Vanderbilt sometime this fall at 570 Vanderbilt Avenue in Prospect Heights… Eater says that Lot 2 is opening today “in the old Kitchen Bar space on 6th and 20th… The chef, Scott Bridi, is a Gramercy Tavern and ‘ino alum and is serving up items like Neck three Ways, olive oil poached cod, a mysterious dish called ‘lipstick on a pig,’ and ‘low and slow’ plate with brisket, pork jowl, and lamb rib.” …Time Out‘s weekly opening report includes a new Mediterranean seafood spot called Aqualis Grill is set to open at 773 Fulton Street in Fort Greene, as well as Vue Restaurant and Lounge on the eighth floor of Park Slope’s Hotel Le Bleu. This New American spot will have outdoor patio seating and access to the roof deck… And Grub Street says Brooklyn Bowl should open this week.

A New Farmer’s Market on 4th Avenue and Carroll Street
A tipster tells us that Root Hill Cafe started running a farmer’s market over the weekend: “They’re going to have it going from 2-7 on Fridays and 9-3 on Saturdays, though they may take off for 4th of July weekend. So far, they have one vendor from the Hudson Valley, but they’re looking to get other farmers involved (they have permits for the front & side of the building).”

After the jump: A couple of closings and the Times review of Diner…

A Couple of Closings
Chowhounds are mourning the loss of Little D (434 7th Avenue, between 14th & 15th Streets), which closed for vacation in early June and never reopened. ‘Hound flo says, “It’s closed, for real. And according to a waitress there it has already been bought by someone who is going to open a Mexican restaurant in it’s place. Bummer.” …Plus, and Eater tipster writes, “Sad, but Tamari on 5th & Union in Park Slope will be serving their last meals today. I don’t know where I’ll get a good bowl of soba or ramen in the neighborhood anymore.”

A Decade in Business, and Diner‘s Still Got It
85 Broadway (Berry Street), Williamsburg; (718) 486-3077
“A half chicken ($22) was impeccably cooked. Same for a fillet of halibut ($23). Neither reflected particular daring — that was left to an appetizer of grilled duck hearts ($11), by far the best dish of the night. The runner-up? Possibly a sorrel soup ($8) with such intensely smoky, porky accents that it tasted almost like a liquefied ham sandwich. I mean that as a compliment.” — Frank Bruni for the New York Times