Thissteaks4you's Profile
Waterfall on Atlantic-
Waterfalls was great before the switch. I didn't really know the owners, as some on this board undoubtedly did, so when I went there the last two times I noticed something was afoot strictly from the food. The menu has actually changed -- they've added Pitza, for example -- although most of the old option are still available.
And, as for the quality, I couldn't agree with Armagnac more: the shawarma I had on my first post-Wafa trip was in a totally different style than I had come to expect and much more intricately spiced than before. I thought it was an upgrade. I hadn't had the merguez sausage prepared by Waterfalls previous owners, but it was also great, with just the right amount of heat and lamb-y goodness. And the pita and salads are clearly a cut above than before.
So, in sum, a good place actually got better.
brooklyn bread
The breads at Mazzolla (Union and Henry) are worthy of consideration here. The olive bread rocks - crunchy crust, soft and savory innards. As a non-pork eater, I haven't had the lard bread, but it's supposed to be exceptional. (Unrelatedly, they also do a mean, buttery croissant, although it's a bit on the dense side. )
Buckley's on Ave. S?
Bay Ridge is very far away. If you're willing to even consider Bay Ridge, you might want to try out Kebeer Bar and Grill in Brighton Beach (on Brighton Beach Avenue) which is half as far. It's an excellent German beer bar -- one of the best in Brooklyn, in my opinion. They have hard to find beers on tap (Krusovice, for example) and I hear the food is quite good, although I didn't try it when I was there. They have German and Uzbek options.
Brooklyn Heights/Cobble Hill - Restaurant and Bar
Incidentally, I second both of those - they're quite good -- if they fall within the OP's location and price preferences.
Both trend towards the high-end in terms of cost. And, I disagree re: Prime Meats being no farther afield than Alma from the OP's criteria; Prime Meats is well into Carroll Gardens (maybe 10 blocks south of DeGraw?) and further from Cobble Hill than Alma - which is a block into red hook (i.e. a block west of the BQE, the dividing line between Cobble Hill and Red Hook).
For what it's worth, if you're willing to venture that far into Carroll Gardens and consider Prime Meats reasonably priced (I consider it a splurge), I'd send you to Frankie's 457 before Prime Meats. They're on the same block, under the same ownership, and have the same pricing, but the food at Frankie's (which is Italian) is far more consistently good than Prime Meats (which is German). The quality of the wine lists and the overall, dimly lit style of the places are very similar. Note: last I checked, neither takes reservations and, depending on the night, can have long waits.
Brooklyn Heights/Cobble Hill - Restaurant and Bar
A few thoughts:
If you're looking for a relaxed beer bar where you can just plunk down, enjoy some quite good pub food, sample some excellent beers, and enjoy each other's company, I'd suggest Waterfront Ale House on Atlantic. You can either stay there the whole night, or head to any one of a number of nearby bars after dinner (e.g. Floyd, No exit, and a bit further east, Brazen Head).
For Mexican with margaritas, I'd send you to Mezcal's on Atlantic, Lobos on Court Street, or, for a somewhat more upscale feel at a higher price, Alma. The food at all three places is just okay, but they're good spots for enjoying margaritas with friends. Alma has great city views too. (Others may disagree, but in my opinion, Alma has the best vibe of the three and possibly the worst food.)
Bocca Lupo is a great wine bar on Henry Street. Great wine, small plates, slick modern look, that type of thing. I haven't been in awhile, so I'd check to see if their current pricing is in your range.
Another thought: BYO to Waterfalls (Lebanese) on Atlantic Ave. Very reasonably priced, delicious middle eastern food. Then move on to one of the Atlantic Avenue bars mentioned above.
Any Good BBQ in Brooklyn?
Anyone try that BBQ place in Carroll Gardens/Red Hook on Columbia St. next to Alma? Can't remember the name. I've never been and have been intrigued by it. Since no one volunteered it, I'm guessing it's mediocre or unknown...
Sunset Park Latin for a Large Group
Okay, so I posted once already looking for a festive place to throw my birthday party and got a smattering of good suggestions (see http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/666461 ).
But I thought I would throw out this targeted request to the 'hounds and see if it could spark some ideas: any good Latin place in Sunset park that (a) serves drinks; and (b) is big enough to accommodate a large group (say 30 people) on a saturday night without renting out the whole place?
(Also, if you have any ideas based on the earlier post, I'm not fully set on Latin food, so feel free to add further ideas!)
FESTIVE BIRTHDAY FEAST (Russian? Brazilian BBQ? Other Ideas?)
A place where you bring your own drinks would not be a bad way to keep the costs down -- thanks for the tip. Although there is something fun about drinking whatever cuisine-specific option the restaurant doles out.
Which makes me wonder: is there a Mexican place with margaritas that might fit the bill? Maybe in Sunset Park?
FESTIVE BIRTHDAY FEAST (Russian? Brazilian BBQ? Other Ideas?)
These are great ideas. Please keep 'em coming!
FESTIVE BIRTHDAY FEAST (Russian? Brazilian BBQ? Other Ideas?)
I need your help. I'm planning a raucous night of eating and toasting to celebrate my 30th bday, and I need a venue, preferably in Brooklyn. The idea is to have free-flowing platters of food and pitchers/bottles of drink. And it needs to accommodate a large group, say 20 or more.
My two general ideas thus far: Russian in Brighton Beach or Brazilian BBQ (I'm familiar with Newark's options, but an NYC location would be much preferred). But I'm open to just about anything that's festive, big enough, and reasonably priced. Any suggestions?
Here's the deal on price: each invitee will be paying his/her own way, and I don't want the cost to turn off those who otherwise might want to come. To help frame the discussion, $50 pp all-in seems like a reasonable high water mark, but I'm willing to entertain all ideas.
(Note: the Brazilian BBQ places in Manhattan I know about, e.g. Plataforma, are too expensive.)
Thanks!
Best SLICE in BoCoCA/RH
The Brooklyn neighborhoods of Boerum Hill, Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens, and Red Hook.
Best SLICE in BoCoCA/RH
100% agree with House of Pizza and Calzone being the best in the nabe. I like all of the varieties I've tried there (regular, grandma, upside down), and if I ate pork would be all over the prosciutto and tomato I've seen there on a number of occasion. The former Nino's, current Francesca's is okay, except their pizza is often overcooked and too crunchy (when it's not overdone, I think they make the best white pie in CG). And Sal's can be tasty too, but, the pizza's just too greasy. The cheese slides right off the slice in a yellow liquidy mess.
Also, for what it's worth, South Brooklyn pizza does have by-the-slice available from its takeaway (or, at least, it used to; last time I went was several months ago), but I'm not a particular fan. I view it as a weak, overpriced attempt at DiFara's style (i.e. the fresh basil is nice, but the flavor's just okay).
Brooklyn rec needed
I agree: Walking beats standing in line any day. And I'd say 30 minutes (if you're a relatively brisk walker) is about right. But it's more like 40-45 minutes to Defonte's. If the principal orbit is Dumbo, I'd say we're getting a bit far afield. But since that's up to the original poster to decide, I second all the suggestions offered (the House of Pizza and Calzone is underrated), and might add Hanco's, a quite good Vietnamese Bahn Mi place on Bergen off of Smith (which, in Cobble Hill, is a shade closer to Dumbo).
Brooklyn rec needed
Carroll Gardens is a very hefty walk from Dumbo. And Defonte's in Red Hook is even further. That said, if you do decide to go there for sandwiches, be advised that they have peculiar hours (i.e. peculiar for non-longshoremen, that is) and are not open for dinner. I think they close at 4. As for mideast style grab-and-go pitas on Atlantic Ave., I'd recommend Waterfalls. Cheap and tasty.
If you're set on quick food in Dumbo, the only place I can think of is Front Street Pizza, which is mediocre at best.
"whole beef tenderloins" came with required ground beef-did I get ripped off?
Maybe I'm missing something, but to complain about not being able to return perfectly good meat seams unfair. They can't resell it at that point.
What the store seems to have done wrong was print that bait-and-switch advertisement. That seems worthy of a complaint, but I don't understand why they should take back a product that by all appearances was seen by the customer for what it was. Did I miss something?
Eton Dumplings - New Location
I personally think it's a value for the money. I may be biased though, since I too live across the street and can call in my order. It's not going to compete with Chinatown, but for 7-8 bucks, you can have an incredibly filling dinner of high quality, thoughtfully prepared dumplings.
Baby Shower in Brooklyn
I threw a thirtieth bday party for my wife at Sweet Melissa's in the Slope. (Actually posted about it not too long ago.) We thought it was a great success -- amazing dessert, relaxed atmosphere, just overall good vibe and service. The indoor back area for that many people (we had about the same number) might be a tight fit, but -- if the weather's nice -- the patio space is absolutely fantastic.
DiFara Price Hike
One of the charms of DiFara's is that it's sublime, lovingly prepared, and dare I say, gourmet pizza packed into an unassuming neighborhood slice joint with its dirty tables and pedestrian pizza oven. Sure, the price hike doesn't affect the quality, which for all its deliciousness may well merit the $5. In my mind, though, the increase erodes a certain element of the romance of the place. The furniture may not have changed in many decades, but it's hard to see DiFara's as a neighborhood slice joint that made good when the price renders it (as far as I'm aware) the most expensive pizza-by-slice in the city.
Red Hook Primer and Logistics
I would wager that the trendy Mexican is indeed Alma, a fine place for drinks and rooftop views, but the food to my tastes is mediocre and overpriced. If you're up that way, a few stores down is the DUB pie shop, which bakes tasty Australian-style meat and vegetable pies.
Red Hook Primer and Logistics
Haven't eaten at Fort Defiance, but the walk is pretty reasonable (for someone who goes on urban hikes!) and, during the day, it's perfectly safe.
As for food options, across the street and down the block (away from the BQE) from Ferdinando's is a taqueria that has been getting a lot of buzz (Calexico), although - despite my best intentions - I've yet to get there myself .
If you want dessert, "Baked" on Van Brunt bakes up some awesome red velvet cake, etc. And the coal own baked pizza at Anselmo's, which is close by, is pretty darn good, although, in my opinion, it's not a destination pizza place like, say, Lucali's. (Which is not too far from there, although definitely on the Carroll Gardens side of the BQE).
Help: 30th Bday in Carroll Gardens or Slope
We decided to host the event at Sweet Melissa at their Park Slope location (7th ave and 1st Street) and make it a champagne dessert. Melissa worked with us closely on a menu, which involved free-flowing bubbly, a selection of fruit and cheese, and some of the most amazing and decadent pastries -- the strawberry rhubarb pie with fresh whipped cream was a personal favorite, but others loved the lemon meringue pie, the chocolate peanut butter bday cake, and the mini-banana creme pies -- and, although the back "room" (more of a back space, since there's no door or partition separating it from the rest of the place) would've been a snug fit for a party of our size, the weather was pleasant enough to enjoy the absolutely lovely back patio.
Thanks for all the excellent recommendations!
Must eats in Cobble Hill?
It's adequate but nothing special. My preference for a neighborhood slice joint (as opposed to a place where you order by the pie) is House of Pizza and Calzone on Union. They have great grandma slices. I haven't worked up the intenstinal courage to go for one of their deep fried calzones though.
Brooklyn Beer Bars Part 4 - 4th Ave. Pub
I've had nothing but good experiences with this place. They don't seem to keep much on tap for popularity alone and many of their bartenders truly know their stuff.
Admittedly, I've gone primarily on weeknights, and crowds weren't really an issue. Also, it would be nice if they served food besides popcorn. (I hear that in the summer they fire up a barbecue.) But for the beers on tap and the vibe -- that old relaxed dark wood bar vibe and laid back crowd -- I definitely prefer it to the other places on the block.
Help: 30th Bday in Carroll Gardens or Slope
Sam's is high on the list possibles -- that back space looks plenty big for our crowd, although I need to call over there and see how it works. And I'm going to follow Malibu and bobjbklyn's advice and check out Bar Tabac (which I like for their no-fuss brunch) and Fash and Fresh (although I'm still skeptical).
BUT please keep the great ideas coming! Once I get to calling venues, I expect the first few to fall through because of cost/availability/etc...
Help: 30th Bday in Carroll Gardens or Slope
These are all excellent and quite helpful suggestions, and I'm chasing down the leads. But, for future posters, what I've gleaned so far: (1) places where the average entrees on regular menu run more than, say, $16 generally push the per person costs, with wine or other alcoholic beverages, out of contention, unfortunately; (2) I'm looking for a place with some interesting character or some flash.
(Fast and Fresh is great, but I'm not sure it satisfies what I'm looking for on point two; also, is the back garden covered? Because I need a pleasant indoor space in case of weather).
Help: 30th Bday in Carroll Gardens or Slope
Super helpful. Both will go on the list of places to call (although the Convivium website suggests that it only accommodates 25 ppl in the private space).
Help: 30th Bday in Carroll Gardens or Slope
I'm looking for a venue for a 30th bday party for my wife; it'll be on a Saturday night in May, preferably in the greater Carroll Gardens/Cobble Hill/Brooklyn Heights/Park Slope area.
Here are the particulars:
1. Accommodate 30-40 people
2. Has back room, separate space, or side area that can be cordonned off/taken over.
3. Fun/festive/cool atmosphere.
4. Affordable, in the $25-40 pp range, including at least some drinks.
I'm willing to entertain any interesting or quirkily fun places. And all food types are under consideration (good pizza, Mexican with margaritas, pub food, etc.).
Outdoor options would also be considered, but they'd also need an indoor option in case of weather.
Oh, and hybrid events could work too (i.e. we'd be willing to bring the food in from elsewhere to a bar space that doesn't normally serve food).
Any help would be most appreciated!
Seamless Web: Midtown West
So, I know there've been past discussions about Seamless Web dinner options for those of us stuck at their desk while our peers are home watching Wheel of Fortune. But I thought it was worth asking: what's good on seamless web these days that delivers to Midtown West?
My Seamless Midtown West standbys:
Sushi: Haru or Hakata Grill (although they've both fallen off a bit of late)
Mediterranean: Akdeniz (excellent mixed grill, bread), Ravagh (great rice and lamb dishes)
American: Josie's (quite good fish options, unfried rice is tasty)
Barbecue: Hill Country (I love the brisket and beef short ribs.)
Thai: Wondee Siam (get this rarely, so I can't recommend a specific dish)
Generally, I try to choose places with moderately healthy options. But as Hill Country attests, that effort is no always successful.
Relatedly, any place to stay away from at all costs?
Brooklyn Borough Hall Area
I've been there at least a half-dozen times. I've only really ordered one thing: the roast lamb. I'm a relatively adventurous eater, have nibbled off the plates of friends who've come along and not been interested in lamb, have had the hummus and a few other salad/spreads (which were all excellent) but nothing could make me order anything other than the roast lamb. It's that good. (I believe it's called haneez.)
