Wednesday Food & Drink Round-Up

Photo by Graydon Wintour

Review: Po Brooklyn
276 Smith St., Brooklyn, between Degraw and Sackett Streets, 718-875-1980
“Fortunately for the meal, the main course was fantastic, a profoundly crisped boned guinea hen whose dark, juicy meat resonated with flavor. The grilled bird was placed on a bed of fregula, couscous-like pearl-shaped pasta. It was flavored with fresh corn, and swirled around with grassy olive oil and a sweet Italian grape syrup, known as saba, which complement each other and the meat nicely.” [NY Sun]

South Slope Restaurant Gossip
According to a few Chowhounders, there are a few new restaurants getting ready to open on 5th Avenue. There’s a “mystery restaurant” brewing on 5th between 19th and 20th Streets, and a Mexican restaurant is set to open in the old Jack’s space on 5th and 13th. On 5th between 17th and 18th the former diner space will be replaced by a sushi joint, and Aaron’s will become a “Southwestern French” restaurant. A Chowhounder who goes by fat hot says: “That’s Southwestern as in Southwestern American, not Southwest France, so I have no idea what that would mean. Cream sauce with chili peppers? Escargot tacos?” Hmm…

Opening Soon on Smith Street: Bar Great Harry
Local blogger A Brooklyn Life snapped the photo, and according to the bar’s own site, they’ve got “12 draft lines, about 50 bottles, and one (usually) one cask. Feel free to bring your dog. Come soon.” No official opening date yet.

After the jump: A health food war in Ditmas Park, locals protest Papa John’s in Sunset Park, and Mirror’s in Clinton Hill…

Health-Food War in Ditmas Park
“For years, the Flatbush Food Coop has pretty much had the run of the area, and neighbors, even those who were members, often grumbled at their prices. But earlier this year, the Natural Frontier market opened down the block, garnering kudos for their extremely competitive prices. Now Flatbush Food has fought back, taking over the just-vacated Associated Supermarket across Cortelyou Road.” [Grub Street]

Locals Protest Papa John’s in Sunset Park
“There really is a John inside Johnny’s Pizza in Sunset Park, Brooklyn — John Miniaci Jr., whose father, John Sr., founded the neighborhood pizzeria in 1968. There will soon be another John right next door on Fifth Avenue — Papa John’s Pizza, a franchise outlet…. That’s why Johnny’s latest delivery is a petition — to Papa John’s corporate headquarters in Kentucky. Some 2,200 people — shopkeepers and customers, including other pizzeria owners — have come to Mr. Miniaci’s defense. They have signed a declaration ‘to stop the establishment of Papa John’s in our neighborhood.’ ” [NY Times]

The Clinton Hill Bar that Couldn’t
“It’s been nearly a year since a sign reading Mirror’s on Grand first went up in a storefront on the once—and sometimes still—blighted Grand Avenue in Clinton Hill. Not a mirror store, but a bar was coming— and we knew this because they’d applied for a liquor license. Then this spring, they were a no-show at the local community board meeting as part of the application for said license.” [Eater]