Buttermilk Channel
524 Court St
Brooklyn, NY 11231
(718) 852-8490
Food 4
Ambiance 7
Service 5
Overall 16
Good for local beers and wine ,skip the pricey food and head somwhere else on Court street
So after hearing so much about this place, this past Thursday I ventured forth with my husband and cousin hankering for some expertly fried chicken. The restaurant is at the far end of Court Street, without too many other competing restaurants nearby. We arrived at 6 pm without reservation and were promptly seated when our full party was complete. The place is standard Brooklyn ,cool and elegant. Cream walls, cozy small space with high ceilings, loads of windows and historic seeming charm. Actually given the menu, focused on so many comfort foods, I was not expecting the refined decor. We waited at the bar for my cousin and I tried a $ 10 Bill Royale, a champagne cocktail with pear brandy and ginger liquor while my husband had a $6 ommegang draft beer. My cocktail tasted like gingerale with a whiff of pear. Not my cup of tea and certainly not worth the price tag but not bad enough to send back.
The menu is somewhat pricey for the mish mash of good ole american and french inspired comfort food. The most well priced were the appetizers 5- 11 dollars, ranging from oysters cooked 3 ways, a variety of charcuterie, cheeses , salads and soups. The wine list is an impressive ode to American wine, with a nice well priced selection of Californian, Oregon and New York varieties. We settled on a $30 Wolffers Estate North Fork Merlot and were nicely surprised.We started off with the $10 winter squash tart and the $7 pork rilletes. The tart was without a doubt the highlight of the meal. A sweet beautifully cooked squash layered on a thin bed of ricotta and puff pastry that tasted like shortbread crust. It was a perfect appetizer, combining a variety of subtle winter flavors in an appropriate sized portion. The rilletes on the other hand were another story althogethr. Underflavored, overly fatty with an unappetizing look and consistency, they reminded me of undercooked hamburger and had none of the lovely fullness that pork can always impart. For the main course ,my cousin had the $14 lamb salad, I had the $18 fried chicken and my husband had the $19 ommegang oxtail chili. Although I did not sample my cousin's salad, it was a small portion of a 2 romaine leaf boat filled with primarily lots of roast cauliflower, eggs and capers with a dusting of lamb chunks. My cousin seemed to marginally enjoy it. My fried chicken was a geneous portion of 2 leg and two pieces of breast meat with a tiny serving of coleslaw and half a cheddar waffle. The chicken was overly crusted and the leg just barely cooked while the breasts were dryly over cooked. The crust was an hard shell around the chicken meat , which was uninspiringly seasoned. The waffle, though a tiny portion, was actually tasty and light but was served with a side sauce that tasted more like molasses than maple syrup. The cole slaw was standard, not too much sugar or mayonaisse. Overall for the price tag of 18 dollars, there a plethora of better fried chickens to be had in Brooklyn and beyond. On to the worst of the worst, my husband's chili. I must preface my comments by saying that somehow my husband managed to swallow the entire portion of this chili and pronounced that he had found it enjoyable. But be forewarned that my husband likes to be contrarian ,especially when I have such obvious disdain for a dish.First , let me state that when I think of chili I think of hearty portion of beans and meat, simmered together into a perfect stew of protein spiced goodness. The first clue that this was not the kind of chili Buttermilk Channel was serving was the minuscule portion of chili served in a beautiful white porcelain mini terrine soup bowl. The bowl itself was filled perhaps a third of the way with chili,at most a 1 cup portion for 19 dollars. Now despite the small portion, I hoped that maybe an incredible taste filled with heaty chunks of meat would make the ridiculous price worth it. Unfortunately, the first impression I felt at looking and smelling the warm dirt brown colored chili in the soup bowl was that it reminded me of dog food . I ventured forth with a bite and my impression was confirmed that this chili was worse than it looked. .Truly shocking for a restaurant of this supposed caliber. A place that can't make decent chicken or chili is very telling. I would certainly not waste my money on their other entrees when they can't get basic standards. We continued with the $7 dollar apple bread pudding which unfortunately continued the theme of disappointment. We were served a barely warmed congealed hunk of bread doused with an overly caramel sweet sauce. We shared 3 bites and then were done. What was truly amazing is that by the time we were leaving, the restaurant had a line out the door. The only reason I would return here is if I wanted some local beers and wines at the bar. Otherwise, to spend your dollar at this Brooklyn joint when there are so many other fine establishments is in my opinion frankly nuts.
The Quest continues...........
Showing posts with label Brooklyn. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Brooklyn. Show all posts
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Char No 4
Char No 4
196 Smith Street
Brooklyn, NY 11201
(718) 643-2106
Food 5
Ambiance 5
Service 4
Overall 14
Good For whiskey shots and appetizers, skip the pricier food and cocktails
Finally made my way to Char No 4 this past MLK monday on our way back from a D.C weekend.
Craving some good barbecue and whiskey, I figured this Brooklyn place should fit the bill.
We arrive at 6:30 pm without reservations, and the tiny spot had a few people dining and drinking already. By the time we left at 8:30 the joint was completely packed. Of course, not hard to do since this place is TINY. Mainly bar as you enter and 4 booths and 2 tables in the back. The place to us was depressing in its decor. An poorly thought out ode to the sevenities with brown walls and wood everything.
We were promptly seated and the menu is on the pricier end for what you get. We were hungry and unimpressed by the primarily all fried appetizers so we went striaght for drinks and main. I ordered the $22 ribs with spicy cornbread and baked beans. Underseasoned and not deliciously smoked ribs. Cornbread was moist and tasty. The beans were undercooked and the spiciness and other flavors not appetizing. Since I am somewhat obsessed with all things barbecue, this was a definante disappointment. My husband had the $18 house made maple sausage with brussels sprouts. The sausage was unmemmorable although the sprouts were nicely caramelized and seasoned. A fairly small portion of food for the pricepoint.We shared a $6 side of braised kale. My husband first ordered the whiskey version of dark and stormy. A very weak sweet and watery cocktail, definantly not worth it. I ended up drinking most of this relunctantly and he went for their midprice $22 whisky flight. I started with a sazerac cocktail, which is not on the regular menu and I have never had, which was completely undrinkable medicine like cocktail. I returned that and went to my standby whiskey cocktail of a Rob Roy, which was predictably delicious.
Service was barely present throughout. And when I returned my Sazerac, my waitress grilled me on why I wa returning it.
Overall, would definantly not recommend this place if you are not in the borough already. The star here is really the whiskies. The food is secondary.
The Quest continues.....
196 Smith Street
Brooklyn, NY 11201
(718) 643-2106
Food 5
Ambiance 5
Service 4
Overall 14
Good For whiskey shots and appetizers, skip the pricier food and cocktails
Finally made my way to Char No 4 this past MLK monday on our way back from a D.C weekend.
Craving some good barbecue and whiskey, I figured this Brooklyn place should fit the bill.
We arrive at 6:30 pm without reservations, and the tiny spot had a few people dining and drinking already. By the time we left at 8:30 the joint was completely packed. Of course, not hard to do since this place is TINY. Mainly bar as you enter and 4 booths and 2 tables in the back. The place to us was depressing in its decor. An poorly thought out ode to the sevenities with brown walls and wood everything.
We were promptly seated and the menu is on the pricier end for what you get. We were hungry and unimpressed by the primarily all fried appetizers so we went striaght for drinks and main. I ordered the $22 ribs with spicy cornbread and baked beans. Underseasoned and not deliciously smoked ribs. Cornbread was moist and tasty. The beans were undercooked and the spiciness and other flavors not appetizing. Since I am somewhat obsessed with all things barbecue, this was a definante disappointment. My husband had the $18 house made maple sausage with brussels sprouts. The sausage was unmemmorable although the sprouts were nicely caramelized and seasoned. A fairly small portion of food for the pricepoint.We shared a $6 side of braised kale. My husband first ordered the whiskey version of dark and stormy. A very weak sweet and watery cocktail, definantly not worth it. I ended up drinking most of this relunctantly and he went for their midprice $22 whisky flight. I started with a sazerac cocktail, which is not on the regular menu and I have never had, which was completely undrinkable medicine like cocktail. I returned that and went to my standby whiskey cocktail of a Rob Roy, which was predictably delicious.
Service was barely present throughout. And when I returned my Sazerac, my waitress grilled me on why I wa returning it.
Overall, would definantly not recommend this place if you are not in the borough already. The star here is really the whiskies. The food is secondary.
The Quest continues.....
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Aliseo Osterio Del Borgo
Aliseo Osterio Del Borgo
667 Vanderbilt Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11238
718 783 3400
Food 6
Ambiance 6
Service 4
Overall 17
Good for romantic simple Italian cuisine for couple or very small group
So having lived in the Prospect Heights area a few years ago, I had always passed by this restaurant with intrigue. Last night, Saturday, finding too many of the funky new Prospect Heights establishements packed and not allowing reservations, I ventured forth in the cold night for some proper Italian comfort food. When you enter Aliseo,you feel you are coming home. Home to a cozy small dining room that your Uncle from Italy happens to open daily to strangers. Faded rose gold gilded wallpaper. Flickering candles. Soft sheltered lighbulbs. Murmurs of soft jazz background music. This is the kind of place that becomes your Sunday night dinner go to. The kind of place where you spend a 3 hour meal with friends and the owner ends up sharing a bottle of wine with you. In other words my kind of place. Now to have this kind of atmosphere , you must be intimate and truly small. The restaurant has maybe 8 tables total, all cheek to cheek. The food menu is as small as the restaurant, with many mains doing double duty as appetizers. Prices are reasonable, most appetizers in the 9-10 dollar range and mains in the mid teens to early twenties.Where Aliseo is not small is its fairly comprehensive Italian wine list, with an excellent representation of wines from most of the important wine regions.
After consultation with the owner, we settled for a $38 Montepulciano from Marche. A well balanced fruit forward wine which complemented our meal and mood fantastically.
We opted to start our meal with the $9 squid fennel salad. The fennel was refreshing and mildly sweet. The squid was not ultrafresh and a bit too salty. Overall, an adequate salad. For mains, I opted for the $21 braised short rib with grilled polenta and my husband for the $25 special branzino and monkfish. We also ordered an extra $8.50 side of mixed sauteed vegetables. My short rib came , a tender mildy seasoned piece of meat with a pan grilled portion of creamy polenta. The plate also had some lovely charred endive. The beef could have been better caramelized and the polenta more grilled, but the overall flavor was simple home cooking. It reminded me of some of the inexpensive Italian places in Marche I have visited . My husband's fish, also not ultrafresh ,was served in a deliciously fragrant saffron broth. Unfortunately the heady perfume of the broth did not have a chance to permeate the fish. In addition, his fish was not served with anything, vegetables or starch, which I thought was odd for a 25 dollar special. We moved onward to desserts. I ordered the chocalate tart and my husband the ricotta and coffee cake dessert. Both $8.50. My tart arrived , pieshell dangerously close to burnt, dancing on a semisweet orange sauce. The tart was a light not too sweet creamy chocalate. If the pieshell was less burnt it would have a been a perfect light dessert ending. My husband's ricotta and coffe cake turned out to be flavored ricotta served in a pie shell. Our waiter forgot to let us know they were out of coffee cake. Unfortunately, the flavored ricotta tasted odd with the pieshell and was really not a welcome dessert ending.
Our waiter was not very present most of our meal.
Overall, although there were some misses in the food and service, I would venture forth here again and focus on pastas and meats.
The Quest continues..............
667 Vanderbilt Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11238
718 783 3400
Food 6
Ambiance 6
Service 4
Overall 17
Good for romantic simple Italian cuisine for couple or very small group
So having lived in the Prospect Heights area a few years ago, I had always passed by this restaurant with intrigue. Last night, Saturday, finding too many of the funky new Prospect Heights establishements packed and not allowing reservations, I ventured forth in the cold night for some proper Italian comfort food. When you enter Aliseo,you feel you are coming home. Home to a cozy small dining room that your Uncle from Italy happens to open daily to strangers. Faded rose gold gilded wallpaper. Flickering candles. Soft sheltered lighbulbs. Murmurs of soft jazz background music. This is the kind of place that becomes your Sunday night dinner go to. The kind of place where you spend a 3 hour meal with friends and the owner ends up sharing a bottle of wine with you. In other words my kind of place. Now to have this kind of atmosphere , you must be intimate and truly small. The restaurant has maybe 8 tables total, all cheek to cheek. The food menu is as small as the restaurant, with many mains doing double duty as appetizers. Prices are reasonable, most appetizers in the 9-10 dollar range and mains in the mid teens to early twenties.Where Aliseo is not small is its fairly comprehensive Italian wine list, with an excellent representation of wines from most of the important wine regions.
After consultation with the owner, we settled for a $38 Montepulciano from Marche. A well balanced fruit forward wine which complemented our meal and mood fantastically.
We opted to start our meal with the $9 squid fennel salad. The fennel was refreshing and mildly sweet. The squid was not ultrafresh and a bit too salty. Overall, an adequate salad. For mains, I opted for the $21 braised short rib with grilled polenta and my husband for the $25 special branzino and monkfish. We also ordered an extra $8.50 side of mixed sauteed vegetables. My short rib came , a tender mildy seasoned piece of meat with a pan grilled portion of creamy polenta. The plate also had some lovely charred endive. The beef could have been better caramelized and the polenta more grilled, but the overall flavor was simple home cooking. It reminded me of some of the inexpensive Italian places in Marche I have visited . My husband's fish, also not ultrafresh ,was served in a deliciously fragrant saffron broth. Unfortunately the heady perfume of the broth did not have a chance to permeate the fish. In addition, his fish was not served with anything, vegetables or starch, which I thought was odd for a 25 dollar special. We moved onward to desserts. I ordered the chocalate tart and my husband the ricotta and coffee cake dessert. Both $8.50. My tart arrived , pieshell dangerously close to burnt, dancing on a semisweet orange sauce. The tart was a light not too sweet creamy chocalate. If the pieshell was less burnt it would have a been a perfect light dessert ending. My husband's ricotta and coffe cake turned out to be flavored ricotta served in a pie shell. Our waiter forgot to let us know they were out of coffee cake. Unfortunately, the flavored ricotta tasted odd with the pieshell and was really not a welcome dessert ending.
Our waiter was not very present most of our meal.
Overall, although there were some misses in the food and service, I would venture forth here again and focus on pastas and meats.
The Quest continues..............
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
67 Burger
67 Burger
67 Lafayette Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11217-5500
(718) 797-7150
Food 7
Ambiance 5
Service 3
Overall 15
Good for upscale burger in deluxe McDonalds setting
On my way to see a really bad Tennesse Williams movie at BAM last December, I decided to check out 67 burger for a quick bite. Having heard enough of the rave reviews of my sisters, who rates it as one of her favorite burger joints, I ventured to see what all the love is about. Set in the hip heart of Fort Green, literally minutes from BAM it is a great location for fast and furious burger loving. The space is tiny, probably 10 tables in a mod diner looking establishment. Metal, bright colors all you need to feel funky and hip while eating a burger. I must admit although I did not partake when ordering my burger a nice touch is a select option of wine and beer at reasonable prices. When you enter the joint, its like Mcdonalds except upscale. Go to the counter, order the combo your way (oh yeah that burger king), sit down and burger arrives in a few minutes. They even give you free tap water without asking. So you can choose between 4 kinds of burger - grilled chicken, ground turkey, veggie and good ole beef. No organic grass fed fanciness here. All burger are served on standard sesame bun with lettuce tomatoes and onions. Then you choose your style- with 12 burger variations ranging from greek feta cheese, artichoke hearts and olive tapenade to your basic blue cheese and bacon classic 67 burger, varying in base price of $7-9. Then you can add a variety of cheeses and sauces for under $2 per topping. They also have a variety of salad sides or mains. Fries are not included and your options for under $4 are regular curly, cajun seasoned and sweet potatoe . They also have pricey onion rings for $4.50 . I opted for the $8 parisien beef burger, medium rare, served with white wine sauteed onions, mushrooms, dijon mustard with a side of regular $2.95 fries. One thing for sure this place is speedy. In five minutes, I got a well sized fresh tasting beef packet of yumminess. The lettuce tomatoe onion and pickle were a bit faded but the burger itself was a flavor bonanza. The meat was juicy and perfectly cooked. The fries were enormous, really the size for 3 people to share and unfortunately to salty and not crispy enough for my taste. Overall, the burger was good. Certainly not the best burger my big mouth has consumed. I also did not like the quick serve , Mcdonald aspect to this place. Its does not feel like a restaurant and personally if I am going to end up spending 10 dollars on a burger and fries I would like to feel like I am in a more chill down place. Of course,as a take out spot or I just need a quick upscale burger fix, it's not a bad option.
So overall I would recommend 67 burger .
The Quest continues..................
67 Lafayette Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11217-5500
(718) 797-7150
Food 7
Ambiance 5
Service 3
Overall 15
Good for upscale burger in deluxe McDonalds setting
On my way to see a really bad Tennesse Williams movie at BAM last December, I decided to check out 67 burger for a quick bite. Having heard enough of the rave reviews of my sisters, who rates it as one of her favorite burger joints, I ventured to see what all the love is about. Set in the hip heart of Fort Green, literally minutes from BAM it is a great location for fast and furious burger loving. The space is tiny, probably 10 tables in a mod diner looking establishment. Metal, bright colors all you need to feel funky and hip while eating a burger. I must admit although I did not partake when ordering my burger a nice touch is a select option of wine and beer at reasonable prices. When you enter the joint, its like Mcdonalds except upscale. Go to the counter, order the combo your way (oh yeah that burger king), sit down and burger arrives in a few minutes. They even give you free tap water without asking. So you can choose between 4 kinds of burger - grilled chicken, ground turkey, veggie and good ole beef. No organic grass fed fanciness here. All burger are served on standard sesame bun with lettuce tomatoes and onions. Then you choose your style- with 12 burger variations ranging from greek feta cheese, artichoke hearts and olive tapenade to your basic blue cheese and bacon classic 67 burger, varying in base price of $7-9. Then you can add a variety of cheeses and sauces for under $2 per topping. They also have a variety of salad sides or mains. Fries are not included and your options for under $4 are regular curly, cajun seasoned and sweet potatoe . They also have pricey onion rings for $4.50 . I opted for the $8 parisien beef burger, medium rare, served with white wine sauteed onions, mushrooms, dijon mustard with a side of regular $2.95 fries. One thing for sure this place is speedy. In five minutes, I got a well sized fresh tasting beef packet of yumminess. The lettuce tomatoe onion and pickle were a bit faded but the burger itself was a flavor bonanza. The meat was juicy and perfectly cooked. The fries were enormous, really the size for 3 people to share and unfortunately to salty and not crispy enough for my taste. Overall, the burger was good. Certainly not the best burger my big mouth has consumed. I also did not like the quick serve , Mcdonald aspect to this place. Its does not feel like a restaurant and personally if I am going to end up spending 10 dollars on a burger and fries I would like to feel like I am in a more chill down place. Of course,as a take out spot or I just need a quick upscale burger fix, it's not a bad option.
So overall I would recommend 67 burger .
The Quest continues..................
Monday, December 14, 2009
Aqualis Grill
Aqualis Grill
773 Fulton St.
Brooklyn, NY 718-797-3494
Food 6
Ambiance 6
Service 5
Overall 17
Good for basic Greek inspired seafood in the heart of Fort Green
Now since I live in Queens, not far from the bastion of the best Greek cooking in the city, Astoria, I pondered more than thrice the wiseness of trying Greek anywhere else. But curiosity ,proximity to BAM and a string of good reviews, made me venture forth. Aqualis Grill sits in one of the hippest strips of Fort Green, in a space that has had poor luck maintaining any restaurant for longer than 2 years. The interior has not changed much from its former incarnation as an Italian restaurant, and is fairly nondescript. Tame yellow walls, wood accents, a large undivided dining room. The decor is standard, uninspiring, but adequate. We arrived at 6 pm on a Tuesday and were lucky to find that there is a $25 prix fixe from 5- 7 :30 pm. The place was fairly empty,although by 7:30 pm it had slowly begun to fill up. My husband opted for the prix fixe option, which includes a glass of wine. I opted for the whole dorado and my sister ordered the appetizer mussels with a side of fries. One problem with this place is it is fairly slow in service. Although the place was empty, our waiter took his time getting our orders and our food took its time getting to the table.
The prix fixe appetizer we chose was an eggplant mash, which was served almost ice cold with tasty toasted pita points. Flavorful, it was marred by the ice cold temperature. My main dorado was a generous portion of fresh flaky fish. Under charred and under seasoned, it was no match for some of the best Astoria seafood places. Served with a side of wild greens , I also ordered a $4 side of the beet salad. The greens were delicately sauteed in garlic and olive oil. The red beet salad was one of my favorites of the meal, a combination of yellow and red beets tossed in a light vinaigrette with red onions. Perfect for summer with grilled meats. My husband's main was a grilled salmon filet, which was perfectly cooked and in contrast to my dorado well spiced. My sister's $10 appetizer mussels portion was fairly small with an interesting unexpected flavoring of feta, saffron and the anised sweetness of the ouzo. The $4 side of fries was disappointing not only in size but lacking in proper crispness. My husband's prix fixe ended with a small serving of creamy greek yougurt sprinkled with nuts and honey. Although tasty, fairly uninventive as far as a dessert offering.
Overall, this is not by any means on par with most of the excellent greek restaurants in Astoria.
However, the prix fixe is an excellent deal and if you are craving Greek in Brooklyn , Aqualis is a good substitute.
The Quest continues......
773 Fulton St.
Brooklyn, NY 718-797-3494
Food 6
Ambiance 6
Service 5
Overall 17
Good for basic Greek inspired seafood in the heart of Fort Green
Now since I live in Queens, not far from the bastion of the best Greek cooking in the city, Astoria, I pondered more than thrice the wiseness of trying Greek anywhere else. But curiosity ,proximity to BAM and a string of good reviews, made me venture forth. Aqualis Grill sits in one of the hippest strips of Fort Green, in a space that has had poor luck maintaining any restaurant for longer than 2 years. The interior has not changed much from its former incarnation as an Italian restaurant, and is fairly nondescript. Tame yellow walls, wood accents, a large undivided dining room. The decor is standard, uninspiring, but adequate. We arrived at 6 pm on a Tuesday and were lucky to find that there is a $25 prix fixe from 5- 7 :30 pm. The place was fairly empty,although by 7:30 pm it had slowly begun to fill up. My husband opted for the prix fixe option, which includes a glass of wine. I opted for the whole dorado and my sister ordered the appetizer mussels with a side of fries. One problem with this place is it is fairly slow in service. Although the place was empty, our waiter took his time getting our orders and our food took its time getting to the table.
The prix fixe appetizer we chose was an eggplant mash, which was served almost ice cold with tasty toasted pita points. Flavorful, it was marred by the ice cold temperature. My main dorado was a generous portion of fresh flaky fish. Under charred and under seasoned, it was no match for some of the best Astoria seafood places. Served with a side of wild greens , I also ordered a $4 side of the beet salad. The greens were delicately sauteed in garlic and olive oil. The red beet salad was one of my favorites of the meal, a combination of yellow and red beets tossed in a light vinaigrette with red onions. Perfect for summer with grilled meats. My husband's main was a grilled salmon filet, which was perfectly cooked and in contrast to my dorado well spiced. My sister's $10 appetizer mussels portion was fairly small with an interesting unexpected flavoring of feta, saffron and the anised sweetness of the ouzo. The $4 side of fries was disappointing not only in size but lacking in proper crispness. My husband's prix fixe ended with a small serving of creamy greek yougurt sprinkled with nuts and honey. Although tasty, fairly uninventive as far as a dessert offering.
Overall, this is not by any means on par with most of the excellent greek restaurants in Astoria.
However, the prix fixe is an excellent deal and if you are craving Greek in Brooklyn , Aqualis is a good substitute.
The Quest continues......
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Convivium Osteria
Convivium Osteria
68 5th Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11217-2021
(718) 857-1833
Food 7
Ambiance 7
Service 6
Overall 20
Good for well made and priced home cooked italian specialities in romantic Old World decor
So I have been intrigued by this place for some time as it advertises itself as serving Portuguese and Italian food. Aside from the odd combination, it has been a neighborhood favorite for some time, although because of its miniscule size, the wait is generally very long. Luckily, I attempted the outing on a Sunday night and was easily able to sit a party of 4 for 7 pm. We arrived there and from the minute we stepped in I felt we had taken our TAP flight right into Lisbon. Having traveled to Portugal frequently for the last 10 years, the place gets high marks for authenticity in decor. Beautiful blue and white tiles. Rustic wood tables. Cozy simple charm. I can only imagine how lovely it must be when they have their Fado set on Saturdays.This place however is beyond tiny. Maybe 5 tables at most in the entire space. It is amazing they can get enough mileage put of those few settings. Be prepared to get close to your neighbor diners.
Now while the decor is a definate ode to all things Portuguese, the food from my estimation was straight up Italian. Lots of pasta,polenta and preparations that recall nothing in Portugal that I have seen.The wine list is an extensive mix of primarily Italian ,Spanish and Portuguese wines, with a good range of pricing. We opted for a $40 bottle of Spanish Cava- a nice refreshing complement to everything we ordered. We started with the $13 grilled octopus served with a white bean celery and tomatoe salad, a sizeable appetizer portion. The octopus was perfectly grilled, tender and subtly seasoned. The salad, although a fresh summery combination was marred by the undercooked beans. I opted for the $24 whole seabass, my mother had a special linguine with half lobster, my sister had rabbit with polenta and my husband had the $22 dollar pork ribs with polenta. The star of all the dishes in my opinion were thoseb featuring seafood. My mother's linguine was perfectly cooked and delicately spiced with garlic and herbs with a generous portion of half lobster. My whole seabass was perfectly cooked and super fresh. I could have handled more ample seasoning and char but for the price, the fish is beyond ample for one. The sides of asparagus and potatoes were good choices,especially the charred delicious asparagus. Both my sister's and husband's meals were underflavored for my tastes. While both meals were not bad, they did not merit the price, as their portions were at least half of the seafood dishes with half of the taste. Though full, we finished of the meal with a "a panna cotta flan" which was an essentially very delectable,creamy flan and the italian house speciality- a crumbly moderately sweet chocalate hazelnut fig cake which was decadently good.
Overall , if you stick to seafood dishes , this place is a great ambiance filled trip to Portugual by way of Italian flavors for a reasonable price. Service was appropriately attentive throughout.
The Quest continues.....
68 5th Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11217-2021
(718) 857-1833
Food 7
Ambiance 7
Service 6
Overall 20
Good for well made and priced home cooked italian specialities in romantic Old World decor
So I have been intrigued by this place for some time as it advertises itself as serving Portuguese and Italian food. Aside from the odd combination, it has been a neighborhood favorite for some time, although because of its miniscule size, the wait is generally very long. Luckily, I attempted the outing on a Sunday night and was easily able to sit a party of 4 for 7 pm. We arrived there and from the minute we stepped in I felt we had taken our TAP flight right into Lisbon. Having traveled to Portugal frequently for the last 10 years, the place gets high marks for authenticity in decor. Beautiful blue and white tiles. Rustic wood tables. Cozy simple charm. I can only imagine how lovely it must be when they have their Fado set on Saturdays.This place however is beyond tiny. Maybe 5 tables at most in the entire space. It is amazing they can get enough mileage put of those few settings. Be prepared to get close to your neighbor diners.
Now while the decor is a definate ode to all things Portuguese, the food from my estimation was straight up Italian. Lots of pasta,polenta and preparations that recall nothing in Portugal that I have seen.The wine list is an extensive mix of primarily Italian ,Spanish and Portuguese wines, with a good range of pricing. We opted for a $40 bottle of Spanish Cava- a nice refreshing complement to everything we ordered. We started with the $13 grilled octopus served with a white bean celery and tomatoe salad, a sizeable appetizer portion. The octopus was perfectly grilled, tender and subtly seasoned. The salad, although a fresh summery combination was marred by the undercooked beans. I opted for the $24 whole seabass, my mother had a special linguine with half lobster, my sister had rabbit with polenta and my husband had the $22 dollar pork ribs with polenta. The star of all the dishes in my opinion were thoseb featuring seafood. My mother's linguine was perfectly cooked and delicately spiced with garlic and herbs with a generous portion of half lobster. My whole seabass was perfectly cooked and super fresh. I could have handled more ample seasoning and char but for the price, the fish is beyond ample for one. The sides of asparagus and potatoes were good choices,especially the charred delicious asparagus. Both my sister's and husband's meals were underflavored for my tastes. While both meals were not bad, they did not merit the price, as their portions were at least half of the seafood dishes with half of the taste. Though full, we finished of the meal with a "a panna cotta flan" which was an essentially very delectable,creamy flan and the italian house speciality- a crumbly moderately sweet chocalate hazelnut fig cake which was decadently good.
Overall , if you stick to seafood dishes , this place is a great ambiance filled trip to Portugual by way of Italian flavors for a reasonable price. Service was appropriately attentive throughout.
The Quest continues.....
Thursday, November 5, 2009
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.................
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.................
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Pomme de Terre
Pomme de Terre
1301 Newkirk Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11230
(718) 284-0005
Food 7
Ambiance 6
Service 6
Overall 19
Good for cozy casual tasty dinner with a small group of friends
So last night, we were driving my cousin to his Midwood apartment and I asked him about restaurants in the area as it was getting close to dinner time. He recommended two places: The Farm - which has had a lot of buzz for some time, and Pomme de Terre, both owned by the same people. After attempting to get seated at Farm which was packed with 45 minute wait for a table at 9 pm, we headed to Pomme when they told us they had a table for us. I am so glad I did. Although I did not eat at Farm, the space is super loud and the decor more sleek Manhattan than homey Brooklyn for my taste. The menu is more Nouvelle American and was not overly intriguing to my palate. In any case, we drove to Pomme, just 5 minutes away and before we entered I was glad we had not found a table at Farm. It is a truly small and quiet intimate space- one room with a tiny kitchen. Not cramped though, I actually had the feeling of being in someone's dining room. The decor is typically french bistro country: Some red paint on the wall, lots of old french newspapers as wallpaper and paintings. Nothing unusual or original, but a quaint neighborhood feel. The only thing I hated was the funky blue and white floor tiles, some of which were broken, which made no sense with the rest of the decor.
Our waitress was friendly and appropriately present throughout most of the meal. We were seated promptly and handed our menu which featured an assortment of french american bistro afforadable favorites. Most appetizers were in the 8 -10 dollar price range while mains were in the high teens with only the steak frites a high 28 dollars. The well priced wine menu was fairly small with not many available by the glass. Most were french wines but the varieties represented could have been more well rounded. We shared a bottle of a $29 dollar french white, which was a nice citrusy flavored simple fruit forward choice. I also ordered a glass of Spanish temparanillo with my steak , which was an approachable mildy interesting red.
We started off with a $8.50 pissaladiere for appetizer, a french savory tart . It arrived a generous serving of 4 perfectly baked flaky puff pastry squares topped with a well harmonized mix of diced tomatoes, basil and anchovies. Fresh,simple and tasty, each ingrediant lent its own note to bring th overall flavor together.
For mains, I opted for the $19 strip steak with twice baked potatoe and spinach, my husband went for the $17 onion crusted salmon and my cousin for the $17 roast chicken. I ordered my steak "bloody", which I felt underlined my need for truly rare steak. Unfortunately it arrived medium with parts medium rare. Despite that, the steak was bloody good. Beautifully seared exterior with light but well thought out seasoning, the meat was tender and juicy despite being cooked beyond my desire. The side of the twice baked potatoe and spinach were both well cooked and seasoned. While there was nothing original in presentation or flavor spectrum, this is the kind of food a good neighborhood joint should deliver. Fresh well prepared simple ingrediants that make you feel like a good friend has worked hard to make you a good meal. My husband's salmon , which he ordered medium, arrived a shriveled onion coated sliver . Although it looked extermely overdone, somehow they managed to retain moistness and flavor. My steak was a truly generous portion of food, so it was a bit surprising how skimpy the salmon portion was. I did not taste my cousin's chicken although it also looked a tad overcooked but was undeniably juicy appearing.
For dessert, we ventured for the warm chocolate cake and I had a glass of the white port. The cake was also overcooked with a tangy mango sauce that laced the plate and a large serving of vanilla icecream.
My white port was simply a well aged chenin french wine, which was a bit too light to call porto and would have served better as a appetizer drink.
Overall, if I lived in Midwood or were in the area, I am sure this would be one of my go to places for a lazy dinner on weekdays. The price ,portions,taste spectrum and friendly decor and service make it a good neighborhood joint. While the kitchen needs help in not overcooking all food, somehow whats left is still tasty cuisine.
The Quest continues.......
1301 Newkirk Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11230
(718) 284-0005
Food 7
Ambiance 6
Service 6
Overall 19
Good for cozy casual tasty dinner with a small group of friends
So last night, we were driving my cousin to his Midwood apartment and I asked him about restaurants in the area as it was getting close to dinner time. He recommended two places: The Farm - which has had a lot of buzz for some time, and Pomme de Terre, both owned by the same people. After attempting to get seated at Farm which was packed with 45 minute wait for a table at 9 pm, we headed to Pomme when they told us they had a table for us. I am so glad I did. Although I did not eat at Farm, the space is super loud and the decor more sleek Manhattan than homey Brooklyn for my taste. The menu is more Nouvelle American and was not overly intriguing to my palate. In any case, we drove to Pomme, just 5 minutes away and before we entered I was glad we had not found a table at Farm. It is a truly small and quiet intimate space- one room with a tiny kitchen. Not cramped though, I actually had the feeling of being in someone's dining room. The decor is typically french bistro country: Some red paint on the wall, lots of old french newspapers as wallpaper and paintings. Nothing unusual or original, but a quaint neighborhood feel. The only thing I hated was the funky blue and white floor tiles, some of which were broken, which made no sense with the rest of the decor.
Our waitress was friendly and appropriately present throughout most of the meal. We were seated promptly and handed our menu which featured an assortment of french american bistro afforadable favorites. Most appetizers were in the 8 -10 dollar price range while mains were in the high teens with only the steak frites a high 28 dollars. The well priced wine menu was fairly small with not many available by the glass. Most were french wines but the varieties represented could have been more well rounded. We shared a bottle of a $29 dollar french white, which was a nice citrusy flavored simple fruit forward choice. I also ordered a glass of Spanish temparanillo with my steak , which was an approachable mildy interesting red.
We started off with a $8.50 pissaladiere for appetizer, a french savory tart . It arrived a generous serving of 4 perfectly baked flaky puff pastry squares topped with a well harmonized mix of diced tomatoes, basil and anchovies. Fresh,simple and tasty, each ingrediant lent its own note to bring th overall flavor together.
For mains, I opted for the $19 strip steak with twice baked potatoe and spinach, my husband went for the $17 onion crusted salmon and my cousin for the $17 roast chicken. I ordered my steak "bloody", which I felt underlined my need for truly rare steak. Unfortunately it arrived medium with parts medium rare. Despite that, the steak was bloody good. Beautifully seared exterior with light but well thought out seasoning, the meat was tender and juicy despite being cooked beyond my desire. The side of the twice baked potatoe and spinach were both well cooked and seasoned. While there was nothing original in presentation or flavor spectrum, this is the kind of food a good neighborhood joint should deliver. Fresh well prepared simple ingrediants that make you feel like a good friend has worked hard to make you a good meal. My husband's salmon , which he ordered medium, arrived a shriveled onion coated sliver . Although it looked extermely overdone, somehow they managed to retain moistness and flavor. My steak was a truly generous portion of food, so it was a bit surprising how skimpy the salmon portion was. I did not taste my cousin's chicken although it also looked a tad overcooked but was undeniably juicy appearing.
For dessert, we ventured for the warm chocolate cake and I had a glass of the white port. The cake was also overcooked with a tangy mango sauce that laced the plate and a large serving of vanilla icecream.
My white port was simply a well aged chenin french wine, which was a bit too light to call porto and would have served better as a appetizer drink.
Overall, if I lived in Midwood or were in the area, I am sure this would be one of my go to places for a lazy dinner on weekdays. The price ,portions,taste spectrum and friendly decor and service make it a good neighborhood joint. While the kitchen needs help in not overcooking all food, somehow whats left is still tasty cuisine.
The Quest continues.......
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Walter Foods
Walter Foods
Neighborhood: Williamsburg - South Side
253 Grand St
between Driggs Ave & Roebling St)
Brooklyn, NY 11211
(718) 387-8783
Scaled 1 to 10, 1 being repulsive and 10 being orgasmic (of course!)
Food 4
Ambiance 4
Service 4
Overall Rating 12
Good For spending your hard earned money on mediocre drinks and food but looking cool doing it in your own 'hood with your Billyburg buddies
Review
The first thing you notice as you enter Walter Foods is the noise level.
Between the crashing din of loud clubby music playing and the people talking, you feel like you are walking into a bar rather than a casual restaurant. And in fact you are, as almost half of the indoor area of the place is devoted to the bar area and that is your first port of entry. The second thing you notice is the wood. And lots of it. The décor seems to harken back to an earlier age of old style saloon with some extra Brooklyn cool thrown in. What give its away are the deep green plush sofed back seating for cubicles and the artful wall placement of sepia and black and white drawings.
The menu ,matching the size of the establishment, is on the small side. Entrees ranged wildly in price from a 13 dollar short rib burgar to 44 dollars for their version of surf and turf, a half lobster and filet mignon. Food flavors might be described as leaning towards diner casual with some Brooklyn creativity thrown in, or what I like to call chef identity confusion. Their cocktail list is as extensive as the food menu, which might suggest this is where their true strengths lie. An interesting selection of tequilia, rum, bourbon or gin- based drinks with many classics thrown in. The wine list has a small but adequate selection of bottles, with a even smaller selection of wines by the glass. The bottles tended towards pricey for the casual style of the place,most in the 50 or 60 dollar range, maxing out at a 100 dollar pricepoint. (I never understand the placement of a 100 dollar wine bottle in a place like this. If you are spending 100 dollar on a bottle the quality of the meal should match the expense of the wine. I love fried chicken as much as if I was true southerner, but eating it with a 100 dollar bottle of wine is either sheer stupidity or sheer pretention. ) I opted for an 11 dollar rum based apricot sidecar. Light on the alcohol, very apricot in taste, a little too sweet for my taste. As far as cocktails go, pricey for what you get in the alchohol and taste spectrum. My husband opted for glass of an Austrian white, Gruner veltliner, which the waiter had a hard time describing. Not crisp or sweet, with a yeasty unusual aftertaste, my husband found it a good match for our first course.
We started with the oysters ,as they advertise prominently that they have a raw bar. In fact, there was only one raw option on the menu,”oysters”, with a selection of 4 to choose from. The price was standard, 2.5 to 3.5 per oyster, no Brooklyn deals here. We went for the Long Island Bluepoints and Beausoleil from Prince Edwards Island, which were good and fresh, although nothing spectacular. We also opted to try the lollipop wings which I had read much about. I was sorely disappointed to find them nothing but buffalo wings with less meat on them, albeit less messy to eat. In short neither unusual or an exceptionally good version of these bar standards. Served with a blue cheese sauce laced with cilantro which though tasty on its own, I did not find complementary to the wings. The wings were saucy but tended towards rubbery, perhaps having been simmered in their sauce for some time.
For our second course, I opted for a glass of the Austrian pinot noir and my husband, tried the German beer, bitburger. We found both uninteresting and not particularly good.
For my entree, I followed with the pork, which that night was not the typical menu selection with apple compote and braised escarole but served with broccoli rabe and sauted red and green peppers with garlic. When I was ordering this pork version it did cross my mind that the pairing of broccoli rabe with green peppers did not sound particurlary appetizing, but nothing else on their menu appealed. As expected, my pork came out a jumbled mess of overcooked rabe and peppers dripping with grease and too much garlic. The pork chop was a thin standard supermarket chop, not as I had expected a double rib chop. Although the pork was well seasoned and not over cooked, it,following the wings demise, had been left simmering too long in its sauce. The result was a watery meat, somewhere between braised and boiled, fully unappetizing. My husband chose the whole roasted trout with a warm vegetable side salad. It arrived charred and dried, served on a confused array of snow peas,raddichio,endives and presumably any other leftover vegetable available in the kitchen that night. It tasted as dry as it looked and was flavored with another mix of confusing and unsavory herbs. We ended the meal with the peach cobbler, which arrived suspiciously quickly after our order.A generous portion, drowned in a thick haze of confectioner sugar, filled with barely ripe peaches and laced with an overly enthusiastic layer of firm dough. Sad to say, it was the highpoint of the meal.
We found service was adequate and polite.
In short, Walter Foods should merit a visit if you live in this Williamsburg block and want a few pricey drinks in a loud bar atmosphere followed by some expensive nibbles of mediocre food.
The Quest continues. .......
Neighborhood: Williamsburg - South Side
253 Grand St
between Driggs Ave & Roebling St)
Brooklyn, NY 11211
(718) 387-8783
Scaled 1 to 10, 1 being repulsive and 10 being orgasmic (of course!)
Food 4
Ambiance 4
Service 4
Overall Rating 12
Good For spending your hard earned money on mediocre drinks and food but looking cool doing it in your own 'hood with your Billyburg buddies
Review
The first thing you notice as you enter Walter Foods is the noise level.
Between the crashing din of loud clubby music playing and the people talking, you feel like you are walking into a bar rather than a casual restaurant. And in fact you are, as almost half of the indoor area of the place is devoted to the bar area and that is your first port of entry. The second thing you notice is the wood. And lots of it. The décor seems to harken back to an earlier age of old style saloon with some extra Brooklyn cool thrown in. What give its away are the deep green plush sofed back seating for cubicles and the artful wall placement of sepia and black and white drawings.
The menu ,matching the size of the establishment, is on the small side. Entrees ranged wildly in price from a 13 dollar short rib burgar to 44 dollars for their version of surf and turf, a half lobster and filet mignon. Food flavors might be described as leaning towards diner casual with some Brooklyn creativity thrown in, or what I like to call chef identity confusion. Their cocktail list is as extensive as the food menu, which might suggest this is where their true strengths lie. An interesting selection of tequilia, rum, bourbon or gin- based drinks with many classics thrown in. The wine list has a small but adequate selection of bottles, with a even smaller selection of wines by the glass. The bottles tended towards pricey for the casual style of the place,most in the 50 or 60 dollar range, maxing out at a 100 dollar pricepoint. (I never understand the placement of a 100 dollar wine bottle in a place like this. If you are spending 100 dollar on a bottle the quality of the meal should match the expense of the wine. I love fried chicken as much as if I was true southerner, but eating it with a 100 dollar bottle of wine is either sheer stupidity or sheer pretention. ) I opted for an 11 dollar rum based apricot sidecar. Light on the alcohol, very apricot in taste, a little too sweet for my taste. As far as cocktails go, pricey for what you get in the alchohol and taste spectrum. My husband opted for glass of an Austrian white, Gruner veltliner, which the waiter had a hard time describing. Not crisp or sweet, with a yeasty unusual aftertaste, my husband found it a good match for our first course.
We started with the oysters ,as they advertise prominently that they have a raw bar. In fact, there was only one raw option on the menu,”oysters”, with a selection of 4 to choose from. The price was standard, 2.5 to 3.5 per oyster, no Brooklyn deals here. We went for the Long Island Bluepoints and Beausoleil from Prince Edwards Island, which were good and fresh, although nothing spectacular. We also opted to try the lollipop wings which I had read much about. I was sorely disappointed to find them nothing but buffalo wings with less meat on them, albeit less messy to eat. In short neither unusual or an exceptionally good version of these bar standards. Served with a blue cheese sauce laced with cilantro which though tasty on its own, I did not find complementary to the wings. The wings were saucy but tended towards rubbery, perhaps having been simmered in their sauce for some time.
For our second course, I opted for a glass of the Austrian pinot noir and my husband, tried the German beer, bitburger. We found both uninteresting and not particularly good.
For my entree, I followed with the pork, which that night was not the typical menu selection with apple compote and braised escarole but served with broccoli rabe and sauted red and green peppers with garlic. When I was ordering this pork version it did cross my mind that the pairing of broccoli rabe with green peppers did not sound particurlary appetizing, but nothing else on their menu appealed. As expected, my pork came out a jumbled mess of overcooked rabe and peppers dripping with grease and too much garlic. The pork chop was a thin standard supermarket chop, not as I had expected a double rib chop. Although the pork was well seasoned and not over cooked, it,following the wings demise, had been left simmering too long in its sauce. The result was a watery meat, somewhere between braised and boiled, fully unappetizing. My husband chose the whole roasted trout with a warm vegetable side salad. It arrived charred and dried, served on a confused array of snow peas,raddichio,endives and presumably any other leftover vegetable available in the kitchen that night. It tasted as dry as it looked and was flavored with another mix of confusing and unsavory herbs. We ended the meal with the peach cobbler, which arrived suspiciously quickly after our order.A generous portion, drowned in a thick haze of confectioner sugar, filled with barely ripe peaches and laced with an overly enthusiastic layer of firm dough. Sad to say, it was the highpoint of the meal.
We found service was adequate and polite.
In short, Walter Foods should merit a visit if you live in this Williamsburg block and want a few pricey drinks in a loud bar atmosphere followed by some expensive nibbles of mediocre food.
The Quest continues. .......
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