Wednesday Food & Drink Round-Up
Photo by McBrooklyn Neighborhood Newcomer Bashes Bar Tabac Food blogger Andrea Strong recently moved to Brooklyn, and while she loves the Grocery, she’s got nothing but hatred for Bar Tabac: “You see, I live down the block from Bar Tabac, a wannabe faux French bistro owned by the same folks that own Jules, Café Noir…
Photo by McBrooklyn
Neighborhood Newcomer Bashes Bar Tabac
Food blogger Andrea Strong recently moved to Brooklyn, and while she loves the Grocery, she’s got nothing but hatred for Bar Tabac: “You see, I live down the block from Bar Tabac, a wannabe faux French bistro owned by the same folks that own Jules, Café Noir and Cercle Rouge, that recently and unfathomably to me, was voted best neighborhood bistro in the Time Out Awards… From where I sit, which is just a few yards from this hellacious restaurant’s front doors, it’s a rude, self-important, obnoxious cave (with al fresco seating) for French ex-pats and ubiquitous hipsters in the Brooklyn area.” Yowch!
This Week on Chowhound
One Chowhound has good things to say about the newly opened South Brooklyn Pizza (Court at 4th Street, Carroll Gardens), and another spotted Uncle Louis G’s “iconic blue & white striped awning” on Smith Street near the New St. Claire. Meanwhile, Chowhound’s Outer Borough Digest shares a few positive reviews of the new Israeli restaurant at 641 President Street, Delicious on the Slope.
Now Open: Lookout Hill Smokehouse
230 Fifth Avenue at President Street, Park Slope; (718) 399-2161
Time Out New York reports that Lookout Hill Smokehouse has opened in the old Biscuit space: “Two smokers pump out the expected lineup of brisket and ribs, along with a few wild cards such as lamb, hanger steak and kielbasa from nearby butcher Jubilat.” Heart Fish shares some photos of the place.
After the jump: Lost City ponders the new 360 signage, a review of the Olive Vine Café, BeerMenus.com expands to Brooklyn, and a big-time pastry chef sets her sights on Clinton Hill…
360: New Signage, But Still For Rent
360 Van Brunt, Red Hook
“Still looks like 360 inside. But there’s a new message, emblazoned on a t-shirt, hanging in the window: ‘Stop and Think.’ Stop and think about what? About renting the place? About going into the restaurant business? About renting in Red Hook? About life? What are you trying to tell us, Arnaud?! And where are you??!!!” [Lost City]
Mediterranean Snacks at the Olive Vine Café
316 Court Street at Degraw Street
“Top marks go to the chickpea salad for the mix of sweet tomatoes and onions. I could have eaten a whole plate. Low marks go to the hummus, which while smooth and creamy was missing a certain bright tang that I like. All was accompanied by fresh pita bread, served hot and puffed up, a nice touch.” [A Brooklyn Life]
Satisfying Beer Cravings in Brooklyn
Beer Menus is a website that shares the beer selections at restaurants and bars across Manhattan and helps beer lovers locate their favorite brews, whether they’re looking for a Kasteel Brune or a Brooklyn Weisse. And now, it’s expanding to Brooklyn. Some of the first Brooklyn bars added to their Rolodex (or should we say “Beer-o-dex”?) include Spike Hill, Surf Bar, and Mug’s Ale House.
Coming to Clinton Hill: Brooklyn Recipe
Deborah Snyder, former pastry chef at Manhattan’s Alto and Lever House is setting her sights on Brooklyn. New York magazine reports: “She plans to open a café and dessert bar in her Clinton Hill neighborhood. She expects the venture, Brooklyn Recipe, to open in the fall.”
2:24 – come on if you really went to BLS class of ’94 then you HAVE to know what an annoying ‘striver’ Andrea was…..
It isnt sour grapes – she was as cutthroat as they come – and she deserves all the hits
As for my Law Career – while it may have taken me longer than Ms #2 in the class – I am making quite an excellent (and ethical) living at it – and also unlike Andrea, my law job isnt the doldrums of practicing law.
2:42, I’m sorry but you are being negative, off topic, and not adding to the thread. Please sign in and add to the topic.
Who cares about Andrea Strong? It’s Bar Tabac that sucks. The staff is snotty (neither the food nor the outdoor seating warrent the atitude) and the crowd is annoying. While I don’t miss the old crumby takeout place that used to be there, it’s a gross misrepresentation of the good food found in Brooklyn and the neighborhood in general. Or it’s just a perfect representation of what the neighborhood is. Just look at that stupid TONY “Best of”.
Word, BoCoCa makes my skin crawl too
The thread started out with the first, and the majority of the ensuing comments about Andrea. The vast majority of them were very negative to say the least. The whole thing is about Andrea it seems. I personally don’t even know who she is and could not care less. I haven’t even stopped in there to eat but apparently a lot of the other posters have…and with almost unanimously bad experiences.
I suggested Jolie above as an alternative…just my two cents which I know you are all dieing to hear.
Who cares about Andrea Strong? It’s Bar Tabac that sucks. The staff is snotty (neither the food nor the outdoor seating warrent the atitude) and the crowd is annoying. While I don’t miss the old crumby takeout place that used to be there, it’s a gross misrepresentation of the good food found in Brooklyn and the neighborhood in general. Or it’s just a perfect representation of what the neighborhood is. Just look at that stupid TONY “Best of”.
Oh and BoCoCa is made up and not a real word or neighborhood. Where are you from? Manhattan?
That seems like a typical biff post to me. It’s either some highly offensive comment that convinces me he’s a 7th grade boy skipping school or some crap about how ‘guests’ are negative, off topic, or not adding to the thread.
“Speaking of sacks, I might actually prefer to put one over her head” This kind of crap is supposed to be adding to the thread?
Grow up.
2:35, I love it! Thanks for bringing me back to reality. I guess I’ve gotten riled up by the nasty guest comments in the Garden of the Day story. You know how heated discussions of magnolias can become!
Biff – you’re usually an informed commenter and a positive, “voice of reason”-type poster. What’s with the outrageous and nasty remark?
I went to law school with Andrea as well, and I’d like to meet with the other classmates of mine who’ve posted comments here. I’m willing to bet that they’re small people, in size, stature, and standing in the profession.
It’s amazing how disgruntled (and probably only moderately successful) attorneys get so jealous when a peer actually makes a good and happy living, especially when they do so outside of the law. Andrea left the doldrums of practicing law to build a fantastic career: eating, being invited to every new restaruant opening for the purpose of eating some more, and writing about it. What the hell is better than that?
Now she tells the truth about an overrated French place with rude and self-important staff (yes, I live in the area and know Bar Tabac well) and she gets personally attacked. You people need to get a life. She’s a writer. She writes. Writers use descriptive prose and things like adjectives and creativity to make their writing more interesting. Get over it. Get a better job.
I’ve only spoken to Andrea maybe four times since law school (we graduated in 1994) but I’m still disgusted by you morons (that includes you non-BLS alumni who rip Andrea personally for her opinion).