Favorite Restaurants
Comments
-
Zaytoons? People like that place? Black Iris has much better food and fewer Pratt Brats. I'm not anti-Pratt, it's just that every time I've been to Zaytoons, there've been obnoxious "artists" that were more into being competitively pretentious than enjoying their food.
I didn't really like the food or service at Madiba. The steak I ordered was really fatty. For what they charge, I shouldn't have to deal with that. My waiter started hitting on my girlfriend and I called him out on it. After that, he ignored us altogether. If it weren't for the Ostrich Carpaccio, I'd have written it off as a total disaster.
I agree with a lot of the criticism of One Greene Sushi. They could be so much better if they upped the quality a bit. For what they offer, it's too expensive.
Olea is AWFUL. The staff is more surly than some of the places I've eaten at in Williamsburg and the food is utter garbage. I chipped a tooth on some bone fragment that was in my merguez and they were wholly unappologetic. I will NEVER return there. -
Young Hovacraft wrote: it's just that every time I've been to Zaytoons, there've been obnoxious "artists" that were more into being competitively pretentious than enjoying their food.
"competitively pretentious"?
Give me a break. -
I like Zaytoons and Black Iris about equally. I had a really amazing service experience at Zaytoons with a large party of diners, so I'm inclined to say that they are pretty awesome. The guy at Black Iris always hits on me when I get take-out, so that makes me a little less likely to go in.
As for the service at Madiba, that's what I forgot to mention. Not only did I not enjoy the food or the prices, but our service was terrible. We sat around waiting for half the meal and couldn't get our server's attention no matter how hard we tried. I believe we sat waiting for the check for 40 minutes. -
Yes, waiting for the check is much worse than waiting for the food. Nothing worse than being held hostage before you can leave.
-
My bad, I just don't find trustafarian name-dropping contests to be all that appetizing.
-
Los Pollitos is el blando--they don't even make good salsa, and the margueritas taste like cheap drink mix.
Castro's a few doors away is far superior. -
I stand by my high marks of Madiba as far as most of the menu goes (not all, but most). However, I totally agree that the service is atrocious. I personally find the service bad in nearly all the FG restaurants, but even by the neighborhood standards Madiba has very slow, inattentive service. Chez Oskar also receives poor service marks, in my book, and one of their waiters hit on my wife the last time we were there, which was mildly irritating.
I did not call him out on it though. I prefer my food phlegm-free. -
Sometimes its almost humorous how bad the service can be at many (most?) FG/CH restaurants. Is anybody on here a server? Can you give us any insight?
-
As poor as the service has been in places around here, Williamsburg takes the cake for worst restaurant service by neighborhood. Service is surly and slow if you're lucky and outright hostile if you're not. I think it stems from the fact that most of the servers consider themselves actors/models/writers/artists/musicians before servers and would prefer that customers do the same.
-
what's the gripe with Madiba's service. I think its great..was there again tonite and everyone was extremely attentive, including the bus boy
I love that place
Locanda is great..good wines..great food..great host :thumbs up: -
It's very possible it's improved since I was there last, about a year ago. If so, that's excellent.
-
I know it's kind of on the edge of the neighborhood, but I can't believe no one else said Thomas Beisl! I love that place!
-
that the Viennese place? never made it past the doors :oops: its on my list
-
thalia wrote: that the Viennese place? never made it past the doors :oops: its on my list
Yes. The food is great. Make sure to try the palatschinken with smoked trout and mushroom cream sauce (an appetizer). All the desserts are also delicious. And they have great coffee, and a great beer and wine selection.
The food is really hearty- perfect for fall. -
Zaytoon's has some of the best lentil soup ever. It's spicier than Black Iris's, which I like.
Anyone been to Bistro Lafayette on Franklin Avenue? I did a forum search, couldn't find any recent posts about it. Food on the site looks tasty.
My favorite no-nonsense breakfast spot has and probably will always be Mike's Diner on DeKalb and St. James. I'm also a big fan of Thai 101's (Myrtle and Washington) basil fried rice. Across the street from Thai 101: Kum Kau chinese takeout. It's been around for decades and I have never seen this place empty out.
Also one more vote for Luz (Myrtle and Vanderbilt): you can't beat 1/2 a rotisserie chicken and rice & beans (and they throw in a free side salad) for $10. -
I really appreciate all of the suggestions. It is nice to get recommendations, and I have many places to now check out.
Thank you all so much. -
My review of Bistro Lafayette.
http://www.clintonhillblog.com/?p=53.
Sorry about the pics but we're converting to Wordpress and I need to go back update all the photos.
---
All this talk about bad service - I really don't feel it's that bad and really haven't had terrible service since A Table closed down. (They were bad.)
It's not the "rush you out the door" type of pushy service I get in the city. it's more like an evening out - they leave you alone to enjoy your company and your meal. I haven't had to wait for my food or for the check. I've had to flag down a server before but that's normal.
My trip to Madiba's was good - got the ribs with monkey glands sauce - and the service was excellent. So was my trip to Chez Oskar's.
Oh, and Los Politos III is just eh. Castro's is better food but not as...nice looking for dining in.
I can't wait for Bonita's. -
BrooklynJay wrote: My trip to Madiba's was good - got the ribs with monkey glands sauce - and the service was excellent.
Monkey glands sauce?!:shock: :shock: :shock:
Zut alors! I have to try this place! -
yep. monkey gland sauce.
from the website's menu
http://www.madibanewyork.com/
Baby Back Ribs ($20)
char-grilled, basted with monkey gland sauce, served with slapchips, baked potatoe or yellow rice -
It's just what they call their red wine sauce. There are no actual monkey parts in the sauce. All hype. No flavor.
-
Subject: service in Ft. Greene/ Clinton Hill
I've been eating out in Clinton Hill/ Ft Greene several times a week for a few years now (I'm not much of a cook). I have to say that the service at many of the restaurants around here is BAD. Not European, and not just occasionally, but consistently really crappy service. It's a drag. But there are some cool places and some of the places are worth it in spite of the service. So here's my list:
Places where the people are friendly and the food is good:
Brown Betty (the best! Say hi to Cynthia.)
Sushi D
Castro's- great for a cheap meal
A Bistro
Pillow Cafe
Zaytoons
Luz
Smooch (weird menu, but good spot for a mellow drink)
Thomas Biesel
Tier 2:
Stonehome (slow/ sometimes inattentive service, but very good food and wine)
Olea (mixed service experience, but like the food a lot)
Chez Oskar (should treat regulars better, but that's true of most places here)
Pequena (awfully slow, not the best service, but good food & margaritas)
Habana Outpost (dumb & irritating system for getting food, but cool atmosphere)
Cafe Lafayette- nice place to sit outside and have a glass of wine
Graziella's- good pizza
Myrtle Thai (zero atmosphere, but the best Thai delivery around here)
June
Not worth bothering with:
Lulu (the owner should not be in the restaurant business)
Black Iris
Madiba (The atmosphere is cool, but not nearly cool enough to compensate for the overpriced food and bad, bad service)
Indian place on DeKalb
Veliis (unimpressive food and the owners don't seem to care much)
Rice
Jury still out on:
Locanda Vini i Oli (totally rude service the one time I went, but I've heard enough raves to try one more time)
Ici - loved this place, but had horrible service last time I was there and even complained by email and didn't get any response. Haven't totally written it off, but haven't been back since. -
After my initial post I ordered a burger with spicy fries from Bistro Lafayette. I was impressed that they delivered for under $10 (delivery was prompt as well). As BrooklynJay noted on his blog, I felt something was lacking but couldn't really put my finger on it and was too hungry to want to. I'd definitely go back to try other things.
-
Even though i've only been once, i would recommend Brook's Valley on Tompkins and Hancock. Had dinner there with a friend last weekend- the food was plentiful, fresh and delicious and our bill was only $30!! Not to mention I ended up taking half my chicken roti home for lunch the next day.
Started off with the Jerk Shrimp appetizer, 4 bamboo shrimp over a good sized salad, main course was the above-mentioned roti (which was a little mildly spiced for my taste, but really good) with perfect greens and plantains. I forget which soup my friend had, but he had the Jerk Chicken salad- both were great.
It is BYOB, wish i had known ahead of time and brought wine- a very leisurely, enjoyable experience all-around. Can't wait to go back! -
Went to Bonita on Dekalb tonight -- official opening night -- and had the guacamole and fish tacos. Absolutely delicious!! Perhaps a new favorite around these parts.
The 30% discount for coming on the first night didn't hurt, either. -
I thought I had posted about a place I have been going and really liked that is not on this list, but it seems I did not.
Cafe Martino on Myrtle. They close early so it is not exactly a dinner place, but the food has been consistently delicious. The service has been consistently attentive and personal. This is a perfect breakfast/lunch venue, and I will definitely be eating here a lot. -
Subject: Re: service in Ft. Greene/ Clinton Hill
Anonymous wrote: I've been eating out in Clinton Hill/ Ft Greene several times a week for a few years now (I'm not much of a cook). I have to say that the service at many of the restaurants around here is BAD. Not European, and not just occasionally, but consistently really crappy service. It's a drag. But there are some cool places and some of the places are worth it in spite of the service. So here's my list:
Places where the people are friendly and the food is good:
Brown Betty (the best! Say hi to Cynthia.)
Sushi D
Castro's- great for a cheap meal
A Bistro
Pillow Cafe
Zaytoons
Luz
Smooch (weird menu, but good spot for a mellow drink)
Thomas Biesel
Tier 2:
Stonehome (slow/ sometimes inattentive service, but very good food and wine)
Olea (mixed service experience, but like the food a lot)
Chez Oskar (should treat regulars better, but that's true of most places here)
Pequena (awfully slow, not the best service, but good food & margaritas)
Habana Outpost (dumb & irritating system for getting food, but cool atmosphere)
Cafe Lafayette- nice place to sit outside and have a glass of wine
Graziella's- good pizza
Myrtle Thai (zero atmosphere, but the best Thai delivery around here)
June
Not worth bothering with:
Lulu (the owner should not be in the restaurant business)
Black Iris
Madiba (The atmosphere is cool, but not nearly cool enough to compensate for the overpriced food and bad, bad service)
Indian place on DeKalb
Veliis (unimpressive food and the owners don't seem to care much)
Rice
Jury still out on:
Locanda Vini i Oli (totally rude service the one time I went, but I've heard enough raves to try one more time)
Ici - loved this place, but had horrible service last time I was there and even complained by email and didn't get any response. Haven't totally written it off, but haven't been back since.
I've ordered in several times from Amin (the Indian place on Dekalb) and love it. Their Tikka Masala and Curry Salmon are both great. They offer one appetizer, an entree, Nan bread and three sauces for $12.95 which I feel is a good deal for the amount of food I get.
Never been inside the place, though, so maybe that's why I like it so much. -
I like the garden in the back at Amin. Their Chicken Tikka Masala is off and on (different cooks?), but for the price its a decent place.
-
Subject: new retaurant
le toucouleur african french restaurant
1116 bedford ave -
Subject: fave restaurant
Just wanted to put in my 2 cents' worth for Black Iris. It's been our go-to cheap, fast and delicious restaurant since we moved to CH 2 years ago. The guy who runs it has always been super friendly to my family, and was the first place we went out to after our baby was born. My husband still stops in to chat and show off the baby from time to time. The food is simple, yet really fresh and well-prepared. My favorites are the "green pitza" (a delicious homemade pita baked with cheese and fresh fenugreek and other herbs), the lahmejun pitza (if you don't know what a lahmejun is, you should try one!), all the salads, and the falafel plate/sandwich. And I'm not usually a big falafel fan. Did I mention it is one of the few affordable restaurants on DeKalb? Try it! -
Subject: Re: service in Ft. Greene/ Clinton Hill
LeffertsGirl wrote: I've ordered in several times from Amin (the Indian place on Dekalb) and love it. Their Tikka Masala and Curry Salmon are both great. They offer one appetizer, an entree, Nan bread and three sauces for $12.95 which I feel is a good deal for the amount of food I get.
Same here. I love their Tikka Masala to death, and the dinner entree deal is fantastic. The Nan is excellent.
Never been inside the place, though, so maybe that's why I like it so much.
Howdy, Stranger!
Categories
- 40K All Categories
- 27.1K Neighborhoods
- 5.1K Crown Heights/Prospect Lefferts Gardens
- 7.1K Prospect Heights
- 2.3K Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Bed-Stuy
- 8K Park Slope
- 549 Williamsburg, Greenpoint, Bushwick
- 442 Flatbush/Midwood/Ditmas Park
- 657 BoCoCa (Boerum Hill, Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens)
- 151 Red Hook
- 104 Gowanus
- 304 Bay Ridge/Bensonhurst
- 130 Coney Island, Brighton Beach, Sheepshead Bay
- 270 Brooklyn Heights, DUMBO and Downtown
- 598 Windsor Terrace / Kensington
- 673 Greenwood Heights and Sunset Park
- 749 Brooklyn and Beyond
- 6.3K Stuff
- 86 Brooklyn Back When
- 1.2K Brooklyn Pets
- 257 Brooklyn Kids
- 241 Brooklyn Eats
- 51 Brooklyn Booze
- 3.6K The Lounge / Random Stuff
- 611 Brooklyn Politics
- 122 Brooklyn Sports and Fitness
- 111 Brooklyn Photos
- 339 Site Issues
- 8 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- 6.2K Listings
- 1.1K APARTMENTS and REAL ESTATE
- 1.3K Sales Openings Events
- 2.3K The Classifieds