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.”
I loved Bar Tabac, but they’ve been terribly rude in the past six months. On a nice day in April I asked if I could eat at the table outside since I had my dog with me. (They’d let me sit out there with a latte before, so I didn’t any problem.) I was told aboslutely not, because they weren’t licensed to serve on the sidewalk. Huh. Okay.
But then a few weeks later, they’re serving all over the sidewalk.
Then, I was there recently on a Tuesday night just trying to grab something as takeout and they were remarkably rude about saying no. They weren’t all that busy — though the service always seems frantic yet inefficient — but it took me 20 minutes to get anyone’s attention. (The host is never present.) All they had to say was they were sorry, but no, for whatever reason. Instead I got condescension and rolled eyes. Maybe my bad for trying to do takeout, but it was right there on the way home.
It always seems that those people with attitude complain the most about other people’s attitude.
But I will say I find Bar Tabac (outside) to be intrusive – They put the ugly foosball table on sidewalk and keep open the hatch to cellar along Smith which is not too pretty.
And then all the tables along Dean St. seem to take up most of the sidewalk which means people walking down the street have to walk around the patrons/waitors.
12:13, best comment yet.
The problem with Bar tabac is you always come out smelling like steak. They need some better hood venting. I can’t go there without planning to wash my hair before I go to sleep.
Not sure why this trashing by a loudmouth “critic” needs to be featured on the front page of brownstoner. Bar Tabac has become a neighborhood institution, a great place to get a late night meal, brunch, or drinks. I go there regularly and have never had an issue with the waitstaff.
Sounds like she has an axe to grind – noise from the outdoor seating. She should have considered before moving within earshot of Smith St. I know of a great apt on the corner of Union and 5th ave she should check out…
hard to compare Bar Tabac + Grocery since they are pretty different price points. I like to go to Bar Tabac, but would agree the food and service are pretty ordinary.
11:57 – actually you probably have never seen Andrea Strong’s lower body – I believe her pants are far bigger than Frank Bruni
Well – obviously the food is much better at Grocery – but unfortunately Grocery has the blandest atmosphere ever combined with vaguely nervous staff overwhelmed with teh need to live up to their unexpected and unsolicited #1 in NYC Zagat rating. Andrea Strong clearly doesn’t get it since she just moved to the neighb. Bar Tabac is cheery and vibrant, has the most amazing jazz ever, has good enough food, and for the boys, is a nice place to watch the world cup. Sad to say, there just aren’t that many restaurants in the “bococa” area that have a fun atmosphere and Bar Tabac is one of those few. Moreover, I am so tired of people projecting “self-importance” onto so-called hipsters. 99% of the people who people like Andrea Strong label hipsters would never call themselves that – they just dress with a little more style than your average kacki-shorts-and-baseball-cap-wearing american. It’s just stupid.
back to manhattan with you, Andrea Strong!