Seventh Avenue Chow: What's Your Take?
APPLEWOOD Homey, easygoing and urbanely rustic, Applewood manages to evoke the country smack dab in the middle of the city. Chalk up that feat to its quiet, tree-lined street, the green wood bench on its raised front stoop, the broad fireplace in the middle of one of its dining room’s yellow walls, and the seasonal,…

APPLEWOOD
Homey, easygoing and urbanely rustic, Applewood manages to evoke the country smack dab in the middle of the city. Chalk up that feat to its quiet, tree-lined street, the green wood bench on its raised front stoop, the broad fireplace in the middle of one of its dining room’s yellow walls, and the seasonal, locally grown produce that works its way into dish after dish.
(718) 768-2044; 501 11th Street (Seventh Avenue); $$.
BAR MINNOW
Bar Minnow’s brick walls and tin ceiling give the place the feel of a venerable tavern, inviting customers to sidle up to the stretch of marble bar. The owners, Aaron and Vicki Bashy, who are also the chef and the pastry chef, offer sandwiches, salads and bar food, often based on meats and fish they smoke at their parent restaurant, Minnow, two doors down.
(718) 832-5500; 444 Ninth Street (Seventh Avenue); $$.
BLACK PEARL
This is a new spot for seafood prepared by Frederico Duarte, who worked at Dos Caminos and Da Silvano. The menu includes lobster risotto, king crab legs, tuna burgers and thin focaccia pizzas.
(718) 857-2004; 833 Union Street (Seventh Avenue); $$.
CAFE STEINHOF
With its wraparound windows and neon sign, Cafe Steinhof is just about New York’s homiest Austrian outpost. The cooking is simple, and nothing costs more than $13. There are bacon-studded sauerkraut and thin-crumbed, acceptably chewy pork Wiener schnitzel blanketing cold, cubed parsley potatoes, and marinated cucumbers.
(718) 369-7776; 422 Seventh Avenue (14th Street), $.
MIRACLE GRILL
The popular Southwestern restaurant on 415 Bleecker Street in the West Village opened this branch last year. True to its name, the menu features grilled items including sirloin burgers, chicken and pork chops as well as a selection of quesadillas and catfish tacos.
(718) 369-4541; 222 Seventh Avenue (Third Street); $.
SETTE ENOTECA E CUCINA
This new, sophisticated Italian place doesn’t let its ambitions trump the relaxed atmosphere or distract it from trying to win diners’ hearts in direct, unpretentious ways. The chef, Amanda Freitag, formerly of ‘Cesca, has a way of taking familiar dishes and administering subtle tweaks, like tuna, rolled in ground fennel seeds before being seared and topped with olives and preserved lemons.
(718) 499-7767; 207 Seventh Avenue (Third Street); $$.
Seventh Avenue Chow [NY Times]
Diner’s Journal: Applewood [NY Times]
Black Pearl Cometh? [Eater]
Pilsener and Schnitzel [NY Times]
Nothing beats Al Di La.
The cheap but amazing Mexican place that serves brain tacos (among other tasty stuff) is Tacos Nuevo Mexico on 5th b/w 11 and 12.
Kinara on the next block is as good for Indian as anything in the city.
12th street Grill is very good and underappreciated. It should have Applewood’s reputation, but I am glad it doesn’t have Applewood’s prices.
Coco Rocco has gone so far down hill in the last two years, I can’t believe they are still in business. If you want good Peruvian, you now have to go to Queens (Pio Pio).
Jacks’s is very so-so.
Beso serves great brunch – and some new flavors you wouldn’t expect on 5th Ave. Try the Mangu’.
And I will never EVER go back to Minnow – after two tasteless and overpriced dinners, I’d rather still hike into the city to go to Pearl’s oyster bar.
CoCo Rocco is not a very good place to eat. It was about 5 years ago but not anymore.I think they serve hamster meat. If I had a real job I would eat at AL DI LA, and STONE PARK. I think the rents are so high on 7th the only way you can survive is from massive take-out orders. Thus the 10 or so Chineese/sushi places. You really have to hit the ground running or else. 5th Ave gives the owners a chance.
Best in the slope is AL DI LA…….one of the best in all the city!!!
I couldn’t live without La Villa. So much good pasta and pizza. Nothing on 7th compares.
Santa Fe Grill on 7th is much better than Miracle Grill; better food and service by far.
Applewood is great for brunch, always very friendly. I’m not as big a fan of the dinner. Stone Park Cafe is fantastic.
Tried Black Pearl and found it really subpar; I wouldn’t go back. I love the Chip Shop, but I can really only do it once or twice a year or my arteries would not thank me.
Stone Park and Tempo win my vote. Stone Park’s brunch is awesome and fun…dinner wonderful. Tempo although pricey has never been wrong.
My two (or ten) cents on Park Slope dining:
7th Ave south of 9th.
Applewood is great if you like the atmosphere — I do, but some clearly do not (see comments above). The kitchen occasionally misses on a dish (undercooked or too salty or the like) but many of the dishes are truly great. They should improve the quality of their wines by the glass. But all round, I always love the time I have there.
Steinhoff — good food, good beer. a good spot to hang out.
Tost — limited selection but what they do, they do really well. And some good wines to go with your bruschetta.
12th Street — good but not great. but definitely work a trip or more.
7th Avenue north of Ninth Street — generally overrated and overpriced, including this Miracle Grill and Sette.
5th Avenue south of Ninth Street — beyond a good slice of pizza, Joe’s of the Village, nothing.
5th Ave north of Ninth — lot’s of good spots, highlights being Stone Park, Chip Shop, Coco Roco, Brooklyn Fish Camp, Blue Ribbon Sushi (although pricey), Convivium, and one place that always gets less press than I think it deserves, Tempo (pricey but I have had great meals there).
If I had three meals in Park Slope, I would have them at Applewood, Stone Park and Tempo. Of course, everyone else would probably disagree, but such is life…
Applewood is good for brunch, provided you can get a seat in less than an hour. Dinner wasn’t as good, but still better than most offerings in the Slope.
Steinhof is fun but certainly not gourmet.
Miracle Grill is pretty ersatz. I liked it, but my more discerning dining partner thought it really nothing special.
Applewood stinks. The food is okay, but it’s way overpriced and the atmosphere sucks.
The best restaurant in all of Park Slope is Coco Roco. Just try it.
12th Street Grill is good, as is Magnolia.