The Spot

The Spot
417 Prospect Place
Brooklyn,NY
718 638 1733
Food 6
Ambiance 7
Service 6
Overall  20
 Good for drinks and appetizers, if needed a basic cheap dinner
I went to the Spot this past Halloween Saturday for dinner with my mother and husband to check out this fairly new American Bistro in Prospect Heights. It is a really sweet small cozy space with  touches of red and brown highlighted by candelit tables. There are odd artistic touches thrown in as well, like a withered brown tree painted on a white main wall. We got there at almost 10 pm and the place was almost empty, although this is a part of Prospect Heights that is just developing its restaurant row. We were seated promptly and since we were real hungry eagerly perused the menu which had a American Deli feel because of the abundace of  so many cuisines represented. Appetizer ranged from lots of fried seafood to ceviches in Mexican or Peruvian style while mains included various pastas and basic grilled meats and fishes. They have an fairly small wine menu and focus more on potent cocktail combinations. We settled on sharing the  $9 Mexican ceviche as a starter. My husband opted for the $11.95 grilled pork chop with mashed potatoes and asparagus, I had the $14.95 short ribs with spinach and rice and my mother had the  $15.95 grilled shrimp with plantains and spianch. My husband and I both opted for 2 strong cocktails ,both of which were cheap, sweet ,strong and tasty- in other words my kind of drink! Our ceviche came out a heaping portion of  fresh seafood - a mix of shrimp, squid, scallops, and fish  swimming in a spicy tomatoe sauce peppered with cilantro, lime and tobasco sauce. I was surprised at the size of the ceviche and was thankful we had not ordered another appetizer. This single serving gave us each an ample well flavored appetizer portion. Although the ceviche was a bit vinegary to my taste and the sauce was a bit too ample, it had nice taste and overall flavor  for the pricepoint. Our mains were less impressive. My husband's pork was seasoned with simple salt and pepper. Though moist, it was a bit overcooked and looked more fried than grilled. His asparagus were nicely sauted with basic flavorings although a very skimpy portion of only 4 asparagus. The mashed potatoes were pasty and unappetizing, reminding me of store bought box rehyrdated potatoes. My short ribs were tender with moderate seasoning of a little garlic, maybe  some parsley and salt and pepper. I found them too tomatoey in taste and stringey in texture. The rice was basic diner rice. The spinach was lightly seasoned and beautifully cooked. Probably the best part of the meal. Which is not faint praise since many places know how to kill some lovely spinach. Of all the mains, my mother's was the best. Her grilled shrimp were seasoned with a distant taste of cajun with nice even char. They were moist and not over cooked. The plantatins were not too greasy , and were nich thick chunks of sweetness. By the time dessert rolled around, we were just too full and a bit tipsy to order anything more.
Throughout, our waitresses were very attentive and helpful.
For the price, its not a bad deal. Nothing extraordinary but a good place for cheap good drinks and maybe seafood appetizers. If you must get a cheap dinner here. But there are so many places so close that can give you a great dinner experiance, really why bother
The Quest continues.................