Wednesday Food & Drink Round Up
Is Brooklyn Inn Closing? “We’re afraid it might be curtains for venerable drinking establishment Brooklyn Inn. A reader sends this alarming note, ‘i just heard (from a good friend) that the brooklyn inn is closing and the space being turned into a bistro. how has this info flown under the radar?'” [Eater] A Beer Garden…
Is Brooklyn Inn Closing?
“We’re afraid it might be curtains for venerable drinking establishment Brooklyn Inn. A reader sends this alarming note, ‘i just heard (from a good friend) that the brooklyn inn is closing and the space being turned into a bistro. how has this info flown under the radar?'” [Eater]
A Beer Garden For Brooklyn?
“[Robin] Lester formed a very ad hoc online exploratory committee in the comments section of her blog, in order to gauge response to the possibility of a beer garden in Brooklyn. Judging by the exclamation point laden comments section of the Clinton Hill Blog, the response has been overwhelmingly positive. ‘I think it would be a tremendous success,’ Lester told Gothamist. ‘Brooklynites are tremendously loyal to the borough and the products made here. Plus, who doesn’t love drinking beer outside on a summer evening?'” [Gothamist]
After the jump: Brooklyn squirrels for din-din and sunchoke soup at Porchetta…
Man Traps Squirrels in Fort Greene, Serves Them for Dinner
“Next up was the first main course: squirrel pot pies in little ramekins, with tiny rabbit Wellingtons on the side. ‘Not just squirrel,’ Mr. Rinella said, introducing the dish. ‘Brooklyn squirrel — the thinking man’s chicken.’ This dish was a big hit, actually, with most of the guests exclaiming over how good squirrel proved to be — though the little pies also included wild morels and acorn squash, so that in the end it was hard to say for sure what was the taste of what.” [NY Times]
Porchetta
241 Smith St. (at Douglass St.)
“The antipasti list is extensive but offers a wide variety to suit every taste. I particularly enjoyed the Smoked Sunchoke Soup with sheep’s milk ricotta ($11). The broth is poured onto the golden raisin, fried sage and cheese mixture as you watch and, somehow, the odd flavors actually complement one another. I just can’t get enough of it.” [NY Press]
Photo by eater.
From all indications, Vegas is indeed closing. However, the owners of the Brooklyn Inn have apparently decided to compromise and maintin its bar-like atmosphere. Last I heard they are taking out the pool table in back and will be serving bar grub there. The front will remain as is. Hope this is how it happens.
Why is Vegas closing? I thought they did pretty well there.
the structure of the bar itself maybe,
The Brooklyn Inn is really one of the few bars in the neighborhood with any character. This is a shame.
The guys who own the building have quite a lot of bar/ restuarant experience in NYC. When they bought this place 17 years ago, the nabe was pretty rough. I remember someone was shot right in front of the place. There was a couple who cooked out of that kitchen to the right of the bar in the mid 80’s. I don’t think the owners would let someone remove the bar, stained glass, or touch the tin ceiling. Who ever decides to move in, it’s going to take a considerable investment to bring it up to standards. I haven’t been there in a while but i remember it looking quite shabby during daylight hours.
Maybe someone can refresh my memory, but the Inn was opperated by a famous NYC chef who would cook dinners for people on a very intimate, exclusive, basis, before it was a bar.
I agree that it is no great tragedy as long as they don’t “renovate” to some hideous modern design. It could even be better as a bistro.
I concur that the Brooklyn Inn lost its luster long ago. A bistro is welcome in my book. Such a transformation worked for Sweetwater, in Williamsburg.
the Inn hasnt been cool in at least ten years, no huge loss, I am sure the neighbors had alot to complain about while it was there. Vegas is turning into a Lucky Jeans, furthering smith streets “upward demise”.