Closing Bell: The Backlash of the Brooklyn Hype
Is the mystique of Brooklyn finally getting squelched? Not long after Brian Williams poked fun at the New York Time’s obsession with Brooklyn, food writer Mimi Sheraton shares these choice words with Capital New York: I’m from Brooklyn, but it would take a lot to get me there for dinner. When Lundy’s was Lundy’s, I’d…
Is the mystique of Brooklyn finally getting squelched? Not long after Brian Williams poked fun at the New York Time’s obsession with Brooklyn, food writer Mimi Sheraton shares these choice words with Capital New York:
I’m from Brooklyn, but it would take a lot to get me there for dinner. When Lundy’s was Lundy’s, I’d be there. When Gargiulo’s was Gargiulo’s, I went. I certainly went to Gage and Tollner. There were one-of-a-kind things there, but so far anywhere I’ve been to there has not been worth the trip from Manhattan. I haven’t been to Al di la, because you have to wait on line, and I’m not going to Brooklyn to wait on line. Not when there are 10 good Italian restaurants in Greenwich Village. The Times has certainly been very exaggerated in its Brooklyn coverage, because most of them live there. They begin to see it as being better than it is because it’s so close to them. I would go to Brooklyn if it were exceptional.
Chow Time: Mimi Sheraton on What’s Changed Since Lutece [Capital via Eater NY]
Photo by kathyylchan
however, reservations for people with 5 or more makes sense. just not for 2 or 3 unless it’s some special event but you can just call ahead of time. restaurants are typically more than happy to accomodate.
the problem with reservations for restaurants is that it sets up false expectations. a reservation during the rush hour at a busy restaurant with limited capacity is never on time. i use to work as a hostess and i would constantly piss off people because the tables did not turn and people before them either arrived really late or are taking their sweet time.
with the no reservation policies you know what you’re getting into. and if you frequent the place enough you know when to go. like getting the early bird special…
dh that only makes its more democratic for people who don’t plan ahead. i’m a relatively young guy and i’m with dave and ishtar, no reservations is silly.
If there’s only two or three of you, how long of a wait is there really at these places? The time it takes them to make one of those fancy cocktails, you drink it, then it’s time to be seated.
Mimi grew up in Brooklyn, but she has lived in Greenwich Village for over 50 years.
I love that most of the really good restaurants in Brooklyn don’t take reservations. It makes it much more democratic. If any of the popular Brooklyn restaurants with long waits started taking reservations, you simply wouldn’t be able to get one during peak times. Places like Prime Meats, Al Di La etc would be booked for WEEKS (unless you don’t mind eating at 10:30 or 6pm)
You all could eat at Al Di La or Prime Meats tonight if you wanted. Try calling an equally hot Manhattan restaurant that takes reservations and see if you can get a decent reservation.
I don’t know what everyone is complaining about waiting on lines. Maybe it’s just my luck but I never had to wait or I didn’t mind to wait. with al di la I will just go around the corner to the wine bar/cafe which in my opinion I prefer. as for other places, I just sit at the bar. the bar is the best place to sit and eat between two people.
Given that, yes I do agree it’s annoying that certain places don’t except reservations. it’s equally annoying however when you have to make a reservation months out in order to get in.
Funny, the most telling part of her comment is “not worth the trip from Manhattan”. She’s guilty of the same thing she’s accusing Brooklyn residents of doing — preferring to eat in a nearby neighborhood restaurant instead of traveling for a good dinner. I suspect there are not “10 Italian restaurants” in the Greenwich Village that have food that is better than Prime Meats or (pick your favorite here). But Brooklyn residents don’t want to travel for a good meal any more than Manhattan residents do, and now they don’t have to.
Mimi was also complaining about sifton’s writing style and the lack of fine french dining in NYC. Though I will say the not taking reservations is old and tired and frankly I won’t make the effort anymore to hang in crowded bar to wait for table.