good eats
The Times published an item about PH restaurants over the weekend. Probably not a surprising list for readers of this board, but it's a nice little compendium and good to see the hood getting the attention it deserves.
September 25, 2005
Ahead of the Bounce
A new basketball arena for the Nets in Brooklyn came closer to reality this month as the Metropolitan Transportation Authority agreed to sell development rights to the railyard at Atlantic and Flatbush Avenues. One way or another, these little gems nearby in Prospect Heights may feel the impact.
BEAST
(718) 399-6855; 638 Bergen Street (Vanderbilt Avenue); $; $25 and Under: 4/20/05.
The name is inspired by the fondness of the owner, Deborah Bicknese, for mythological monsters. The menu features inventive plates that Ms. Bicknese and her co-chef, Megan Fisk, call tapas. But most of them, like the light potato-egg tortilla and the arugula salad with citrus-marinated fennel and feta, are large enough to pass around the table.
FRANNY'S
(718) 230-0221; 295 Flatbush Avenue (Prospect Place); $; $25 and Under: 6/16/04.
Franny's belongs to a new wave of pizzerias, where high-quality ingredients, like house-cured meats and farmstead cheeses, elevate humble pies. The nicely charred bottoms and puffy rims taste faintly of wood smoke, and thin centers hold their own against superior toppings.
GARDEN CAFE
(718) 857-8863; 620 Vanderbilt Avenue (Prospect Place); $$; Diner's Journal: 6/25/04.
This tiny spot with a small but worshipful following was rated No. 1 in Brooklyn in the 2005 Zagat survey. John Policastro's menu is ever-changing, the napkins are thick, the service by his wife, Camille, is warm and the portions are generous.
THE ISLANDS
(718) 398-3575; 803 Washington Avenue (Eastern Parkway); $25 and Under: 6/1/05.
The quirks make the Islands, a tiny Jamaican place, feel like a home kitchen, but the food makes it worth a visit. The codfish roti, with rehydrated salt cod mashed into the dough, is extraordinary, enlivening a soupy shrimp curry with just a hint of brine. Other highlights include jerk leg of lamb, curry goat and bread pudding for dessert.
KOMBIT
(718) 399-2000; 279 Flatbush Avenue (Prospect Place); $; $25 and Under: 7/7/04.
Kombit refers to the Haitian tradition of communal farming and feasting. The restaurant has the look of upscale dining but the soul of a family hangout. Kombit's kitchen coaxes flavor out of root vegetables, perfumes dishes with whiffs of nutmeg and clove and excels in fried seafood.
RESTAURANT SORREL
(718) 622-1190; 605 Carlton Avenue (St. Marks Avenue); $$; Article: 8/31/05.
This new addition is an airy setting for the market-driven menu created by Alexandre Tchistov, formerly of 360 in Red Hook. The current menu includes organic duck breast and leg with roasted French lentils and poached peach; snails with spatzle; braised veal shank; and beef tartare.
See http://travel2.nytimes.com/2005/09/25/dining/25rest.html?adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1127739480-VrT4btzFKiny51Jjdb6m1Q
September 25, 2005
Ahead of the Bounce
A new basketball arena for the Nets in Brooklyn came closer to reality this month as the Metropolitan Transportation Authority agreed to sell development rights to the railyard at Atlantic and Flatbush Avenues. One way or another, these little gems nearby in Prospect Heights may feel the impact.
BEAST
(718) 399-6855; 638 Bergen Street (Vanderbilt Avenue); $; $25 and Under: 4/20/05.
The name is inspired by the fondness of the owner, Deborah Bicknese, for mythological monsters. The menu features inventive plates that Ms. Bicknese and her co-chef, Megan Fisk, call tapas. But most of them, like the light potato-egg tortilla and the arugula salad with citrus-marinated fennel and feta, are large enough to pass around the table.
FRANNY'S
(718) 230-0221; 295 Flatbush Avenue (Prospect Place); $; $25 and Under: 6/16/04.
Franny's belongs to a new wave of pizzerias, where high-quality ingredients, like house-cured meats and farmstead cheeses, elevate humble pies. The nicely charred bottoms and puffy rims taste faintly of wood smoke, and thin centers hold their own against superior toppings.
GARDEN CAFE
(718) 857-8863; 620 Vanderbilt Avenue (Prospect Place); $$; Diner's Journal: 6/25/04.
This tiny spot with a small but worshipful following was rated No. 1 in Brooklyn in the 2005 Zagat survey. John Policastro's menu is ever-changing, the napkins are thick, the service by his wife, Camille, is warm and the portions are generous.
THE ISLANDS
(718) 398-3575; 803 Washington Avenue (Eastern Parkway); $25 and Under: 6/1/05.
The quirks make the Islands, a tiny Jamaican place, feel like a home kitchen, but the food makes it worth a visit. The codfish roti, with rehydrated salt cod mashed into the dough, is extraordinary, enlivening a soupy shrimp curry with just a hint of brine. Other highlights include jerk leg of lamb, curry goat and bread pudding for dessert.
KOMBIT
(718) 399-2000; 279 Flatbush Avenue (Prospect Place); $; $25 and Under: 7/7/04.
Kombit refers to the Haitian tradition of communal farming and feasting. The restaurant has the look of upscale dining but the soul of a family hangout. Kombit's kitchen coaxes flavor out of root vegetables, perfumes dishes with whiffs of nutmeg and clove and excels in fried seafood.
RESTAURANT SORREL
(718) 622-1190; 605 Carlton Avenue (St. Marks Avenue); $$; Article: 8/31/05.
This new addition is an airy setting for the market-driven menu created by Alexandre Tchistov, formerly of 360 in Red Hook. The current menu includes organic duck breast and leg with roasted French lentils and poached peach; snails with spatzle; braised veal shank; and beef tartare.
See http://travel2.nytimes.com/2005/09/25/dining/25rest.html?adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1127739480-VrT4btzFKiny51Jjdb6m1Q
Comments
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I've never seen the Garden Cafe open. When is it open and what do they serve?
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Cupcake wrote: I've never seen the Garden Cafe open. When is it open and what do they serve?
It never looks open. but it's great. I don't possess the vocabulary to describe their food accurately except to say that it's very American and traditional. in the gourmet west virigina sense. which is a good thing, honestly. -
The Garden Cafe is open. It's hard to tell b/c it's always very dark in there and they cover up most of the windows. Haven't eaten there since there are no veggie entrees (that i've seen), but the revolving menu looks excellent. When it is open, it always looks full.
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Subject: Garden Cafe hours of operation & more
Living nearby the Garden Cafe, I have come to know it well -- it is generally open Tuesday through Saturday, serving dinner from 6:00 pm to around 9:30 or 10:00 pm -- it is good to call for reservations, especially for Friday and Saturday evenings or, presumably, with a larger party -- say more than four, since it is an intimate size, with a few more than twenty seats, which partly explains why it is so good -- like eating at home, only with much better food than most of us likely put together, even should we have access to the same high-quality ingredients (with the highest rating for food of any restaurant in Brooklyn in the last Zagat survey), accompanied by the warm service mentioned in the NYT piece.
As to the type of food, it has been called "new American," and features top-quality ingredients, favoring organic supplies, with wonderful sauces complementing the main ingredients of the dishes. -
First off, I've been to the Garden Cafe once and it was absolutely incredible. My taste buds were dancing in my mouth! Just as an FYI, they don't take large groups. I had some family visiting, and they said a party of 7 was too large. We ended up going to Bistro St. Marks, and the food was delicious there as well. It didn't have the homey feel of Garden Cafe, but it had great dishes/wine choices, and my family left the restaurant drunk, full and happy.
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How can you over look Mitchell's Soulk Food on Vanderbilt by Berger and Christys Jamaican Beef Patties (the best in NYC) on Sterling Place and Flatbush? They're practically institutions.
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Idlewild wrote: How can you over look Mitchell's Soulk Food on Vanderbilt by Berger and Christys Jamaican Beef Patties (the best in NYC) on Sterling Place and Flatbush? They're practically institutions.
I've been meaning to try Mitchell's for some time. Any recommendations about what to order?
I strongly disagree about the Christie's patties (although this has been discussed extensively in a different thread).
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