allydee's Profile
The 'Oh My God' Food Awards
i'll have to second the calamar and sticky toffee at Beast. i get the former at least once a week and smile ear-to-ear upon first forkful each time.
others:
- skate at james. beautiful flavorful dish
- grilled lobster w miso butter at blue ribbon sushi, but this is ridiculously expensive for the size of the lob
- brunch eggs norwegian (i think that's what it's called): poached eggs, smoked salmon, toasted english muffin, hollandaise, greens, at jolie
- believe it or not, the half plain, half olive and onion pie i had delivered (extra well-done) from antonio's on flatbush last week. it was perfectly balanced crispy tangy greasy old-school bk pizza.
- shrimp sammy at el castillo on flatbush/park pl, with a side of guac salad and fries
- mussels the classic herb white wine butter way at le gamin.
- choc chip bread pudding at blue ribbon. a meal in itself; easily split three ways for dessert.
Any must haves at Blue Ribbon Brooklyn?
i second the steamed clams. with copious amounts of bread for soaking up the broth! i always order them, the smoked trout salad, some rawbar stuff, a martini, and i'm set.
my fowl-eating dining companions rave about the fried chicken, no matter the price. the chocolate chip bread pudding for desssert is ridiculous. you could skip the whole meal and just order an app with it and you'd be smiling.
WHAT ARE YOUR TOP 5 BEST DISHES AT BROOKLYN RESTAURANTS?
not necessarily in order of preference and not including my local pizza and chinese takeout, which i get to enjoy far more often:
1. skate and spinach salad at james (and i LOVE voyeuring the james burger that my dining companions appear to enjoy more than any other and that makes me wish i ate beef). -- prospect heights
2. scallops at beast. consistently divine for years. -- prospect heights
3. blue ribbon sushi miso butter lobster -- park slope
4. grilled octopus at areo, though it's been a long time and i have difficulty with the rest of the sensorium. -- bayridge
5. the mussels in gingery buttery broth at tatianas -- brighton beach boardwalk
another dinner at james, prospect heights
they changed up the menu this week and i was fortunate enough to snag seats at the bar on friday night w/o a res. i've dined here (and posted) a number of times since they opened. the last few times i;ve wanted to take a friend, the place was jammed and i was too starving to wait 45 minutes. i've always liked this place: from the great decor to the friendly service to the thoughtful and well-prepared food. tonight was no exception. we had the spinach salad, the skate entree and the scallop app. plus martinis and wine. first: drinks are well-executed. i can be obnoxious about the martinis, but nothing to complain about, here. the spinach salad is huge with plump shitakes the size of a child's fist and lots of crunchy things underfoot. the skate was amazing! it's not the typical skate wing. it looks as if they use both the top and bottom of the wing adn cut out the skeleton, resulting in a thicker fleshy skate. which really allowed the flavor of the fish to shine. this, too, was a huge portion for a 19 dollar entree. it was stuffed with broccoli and some other veggies and was slighlty sweet. the scallops started with a good concept, but they were either not a great catch (not as big and juicy as i would have liked) or, maybe a bit overcooked. they were served on fingerling taters and a horseradish puree. nice tasting stuff, regardless.
wines by the glass are well-chosen and reasonably priced.
the burger was not had by us tonite, but it was abundant in the room and smelled and looked as pleasing as ever. just wanted to give james a shout out as a restaurant that i've consistently enjoyed and that i'd frequent more often if i could.
seafood by the sea?
i recommend the russian places on the brighton beach boardwalk for such an occasion. on the ocean.. seafood is excellent. fun and interesting people-watching. a bit pricey but portions are HUGE!
james restaurant in prospect heights
wandered in unplanned on friday night at around nine thirty, due to the fact that beast was bursting at the seams and we didnt want to wait. what a pleasant surprise!! james was busy but we were seated fairly promptly. i knew they opened this week, so expectations were kept in check.
the negatives? too brightly lit in the room; too dimly lit in the 'loo.
the redecor is lovely, especially the new bar area and the chandelier.
the food was really fantastic and reasonably priced. i had a salad that included shitakes and pine nuts and slivers of toasted parm. tasty, minimally dressed, and large portion. also, the scallop appetizer with some sort of minty sauce. very interesting. not the best scallop dish i've had, but i appreciated the twist on tastes and the newness of it. scallops were plump and fresh. my eating partner had the burger. she was enraptured the entire time she was consuming it. completely stopped relating to me, in fact, and raved about it all the way home. it was served on brioche with l&t and little cups of condiments. she opted for a veg side instead of fries and it was swiss chard with orzo [i think]. also good, except i wished she had gotten the fries for me to steal.
we each had a glass of wine. several red and white options south of nine bucks that were fine. nice cocktail menu, too, but we were cocktailed-out.
i'm looking forward to going back soon!! like maybe even tomorrow....
sealand/naturaland delivery
has anyone tried fish/seafood delivery from this flatbush avenue estab? i noticed they advertise that they deliver their fresh fish [along w sushi, but i'm not interested in that]. if so, do they arrive with the good stuff? also, will they deliver groceries with the fish order?
thanks in advance
Favorite place to go for drinks and food in Park Slope?
if you/they are willing to cross flatbush, i would recommend highly Beast for your agenda. sit at the bar. cocktails and wine [by the 'quartino'] are reasonable and well-executed; atmo fun; and the food is delish and high-quality.
olea opinions?
has anyone dined there lately? i went a few years ago (when they first opened) and found the space pleasant and the food perfectly fine, but nothing memorable. this must have been before they did raw bar and oyster happy hour, which is what is inspiring this post. i usually end up at blue rib or bk fish camp when having these urges, but am looking for something different. opinions on the raw and the cooked at olea welcomed, as well as other good options in downtown bk for a place with some combo of oysters, romantic ambience, solid food.
park slope chip shop help
i've always gone with the cod and it's made me happy enough to dissuade trying the other options. cod and chips and/or mushy peas and the stilton salad with a nice brew...yummmmm....
Bagels-Where, oh where, can you be(in Brooklyn)?
i agree with the bagel hole kudos, also having grown up on bagels bought on brighton beach avenue and coney island avenue and ave u in the 1970's. has anyone tried the bagel shop in bensonhurst on new utrecht around 16th ave on a corner? i see it on my way home from work from that area to downtown and have gotten curious. there's also a shop on 18th ave and 62nd in the 'hoist that looks interesting.
fancy, fabulous but quick dinner before a show at the southpaw?
on an expense account with a need for speed and a group of six, i would choose blue ribbon and have an oyster/raw bar food orgy and then get a dozen appetizers to share for the table. they do really well with the apps and the raw and the service is always top-notch, in my experience. plus, you could definitely satisfy cravings for more diverse fare (marrow, escargot). conviviium is a great choice, too, but make sure you tell them when you would need to be wrapping it up. tempo, miriam, and melt may also be good options, in that order of recommendation.
TEMPO UPDATE
chiming in on all positive assessments of tempo. i am not sure what i've enjoyed more: the welcoming and competent space, owners, and crew; the diversity of the diners truly enjoying their own experiences; or the food, wine, and well-mixed (and generous) cocktails and wine list. granted, my socks are not routinely knocked off by what's on the plate (tho they HAVE been on occasion), i have never been disappointed nor have had a 'bad' meal or course at tempo. it's a consistently great place to bring a date, your parents, or a professional associate you really want to treat well, all. that's highly praiseworthy, at least in my book.
Sushi in Park Slope or South Slope?
taro gets my vote, especially for ordering in. i have found the sashimi, in particular, to be second to none in brooklyn. high qual fish and beautifully hewn. when they have toro or white tuna, get it!!! the rolls are good, but basic, which is my personal pref, anyway. what i appreciate the most, tho, is that my order has never failed to be professionally taken and delivered accurately and promptly. for dining out, i most often end up at nana or gen, with the former stronger in 'scene' and the latter in food. gen makes some gorgeous rolls and has a great saki selection. both also good for delivery.
Best Brooklyn Paella
if convivium is still doing the same 'paella for two' they did several years back, it is beautiful, but far from traditional. huge and all shellfish -- mussels, clams, shrimp, lobster -- served on couscous instead of rice, and heavily spiced and aromatic (whole cloves and garlic, roasted almonds, potent herbs). it's not inexpensive, but it is a great meal for two with salad and a bottle of crispy white. my fondest memories of this dish, tho, are ordering it as a party of three and starting out with the mixed seafood tapas appy and one or two other veggie appys. not sure if it's still on the menu, but if it is, i highly recommend.
new to the belle harbor/howard beach area
if you are referring to frenasia, i had been there a couple of times over a year ago and was quite pleased. i most enjoyed the raw-bar oysters (they had one puget-sound japanese transplant, one long island, and one mass variety). interesting apps/salads that i also enjoyed, as well as decent 'special' sushi rolls, and good cocktails. haven't been lately, but i would recommend if it's maintained its quality, even tho i think it's a bit pricey, given all factors.
18th Ave D stop, Brooklyn - anything?
that dim sum/buffet place is my default lunch every day (i work practically next door). i wouldn't recommend it. then again, i'm veg and they are limited that way. still, everything tastes like it is cooked in the same manner with the same sauce. however, they DO have some very interesting items you don't see elsewhere involving tendons and other 'parts.' also, some off-the-beaten path seafood offerings.
there's a huge great asian market one block south from that stop on 86th that sells amazing seafood and fish. lots of it live -- huge variety -- and really inexpensive. produce is very good there, too. lotsa asian-centric veggies with quick turnover, so it's all in good shape. and, if you are into imported frozen and canned items you don't normally see around, this is a great place to explore. refrigerated and frozen buns, both savory and sweet; tofu-based stuff, refrigerated and canned and dried; butcher in the back.
other than that, there is a very good italian market (latticeria? salumeria?) on 18th and 81st with nice cheeses, meats, breads, imported items, butcher, and prepared foods. i want to say frank and sal's, but this may be inaccurate.
good luck!
Need a Sheepshead Bay Update
is the sushi/hibachi place that shares the building with the ever-closing lundy's no longer in operation? i think it was momoyama. or yamamomo. it was owned by the same people who owned hokkaido, a place further down emmons that was one of the first (and best) sushi places in that part of BK but that changed ownership. i always remembered (in both places) really well-hewn, fresh, and reasonably priced fish and good rolls. is sushi mambo now the goto down there?
live crabs around now
if you are willing to go deep into brooklyn, there is a huge chinese fish and produce market in bensonhurst that i see unloading live crabs every morning lately. i think they are blue claws. the live seafood selection -- from squirming eel to littlenecks -- is very impressive and well-priced.
it is on 86th street just south of 18th avenue
Stone Park...So Good
i've dined at stone park about a dozen times and have never had a "bad" experience. mostly very good. then again, i almost always order the same things (octopus salad, the cod, the arugula salad, the corn soup, the risotto, and the scallops). and, i almost always go mid-week on the earlier side.
Bagel Recommendations
i'll "third" bagel hole for a dense, chewy, not-enormous, classic brooklyn bagel. the (windsor) terrace bagel would be my second favorite in brownstone bk. i don't dislike bergen, but i often find the bagels a little too fluffy and too sweet for my tastes.
i'd like to hear more about bagel world on fifth. what are those bad boys like?
Jade Eatery and Lounge - Forest Hills
i dined at jade about 6 weeks ago but failed to post a mostly positive review, so i figured i'd be the lone dissent. unlike many of the previous posters, i stuck strictly with the sushi-end of the menu and was pleased both by the quality of the fish and the creativity and presentation. had a sashimi appetizer that turned out not to be sashimi (it was seared),
but very good, nonetheless. interestingly dressed. also some basic sashimi and rolls. fish was fresh and the rolls were huge and the combinations excited me (admittedly, i was starving). sake and cocktails were good and i shared a decadent rich and surprisingly good chocolate dessert. the decor is a strong point. when i was there, an artist's exhibit was hung in the corridor, which was a nice touch.
all that being said, i thought it was way more pricey than it should have been, even compared to the higher end in brownstone brooklyn, which is where i consume most of my sushi.
Little Dishes
if you're willing to make it to or across flatbush, i've found that there are a couple of places that will suit the needs of salad/lighter-food fans and burger-cravers alike. specifically, tavern on dean (dean st and underhill), beast (vanderbilt and bergen), and downtown atlantic (atlantic and bond) fit the bill.
in p.s. proper, 12th street grill (12th and 8th ave) and belleville (5th ave and 5th street) come to mind.
none of these places are "cheap," but if you stick to the fare you're describing, they are all reasonable.
iso steamed clams, octopus, boulliabaise
i have my old standbys when craving these fruits of the sea in brooklyn, but would love tips/suggestions if anyone has stumbled across something notable. for the record, i get my steamed clam cravings met at blue ribbon; my octopus at stone park or downtown atlantic (or my fave -- at areo -- when i can actually make it all the way out there); and my bouilley...well, i've been disappointed lately. i used to enjoy the bistro st marks variation (i don't eat bird, so it can't really be the traditional rendition of this dish)/
thanks in advance!!
Solo Eating in Park Slope?
i dine at the bar at Beast solo on a weekly basis and always enjoy the food and the vibe
Stone Park Cafe all its cracked up to be?
i've been to stone park about 5 times in the past 6 months and have enjoyed my dining experience each time, with no service issues. however, i have gone on the earlier side (7) and during the week. i love their octopus and one of their other salads; the fish sandwich; and the corn-seafood soup. specials have also been good and they mix a nice martini.
not the most incredible food/service on the planet, but i've not been disappointed thusfar
Great salads in Park Slope
my fave salads in slope and environs, and i am an admitted salad-freak:
(not necessarily in this order)
-- the niciose at belleville. i think it's only available for brunch/lunch
-- the moroccan-spiced salmon salad at Beast
-- the roasted beet and goat cheese at Tavern on Dean
-- another Belleville salad that is served at dinner and has some crumbly bacon on it.
-- the octopus salads at stone park and downtown atlantic. downtown atlantic also has an excellent roasted beet salad.
Brooklyn Business Lunch??? HELP
i've participated in a number of business lunches at downtown atlantic. no sushi, but plenty of veg and fish options, solid food all around and good atmos. many parking-lot options around (nevins and atlantic, state and bond, livingston off atlantic). i've also not had a prob parking on street/metered at that time of day. i've also done business lunch at the marriot and can add my rec for that, but it's pricey!
Report on Jay and Lloyd's Deli
has essex on coney revived? if so, that place had for many years been my pref over j&L and adelmans whenever i was commandeered to bring kosher deli to my exacting parents in that area. essex on coney had a fire a couple of years ago that gutted the place. not sure if they reopened. i defaulted to adelmans, which wasn't a horrible option. plus, they will take a phone order to pick up, which beats standing on line for the inevitable 40 minutes. from essex on coney, i always brought my dad a half-pound of either corned beef or pastrami, club bread, and a tub of mustard; two hot dogs with everything on the side. his face is blissful while consuming said with a cold bud and a yankee game. too bad i'm a baseball-hating vegetarian!!!
