Bars of the Burg: 2011 Edition

One less hot and more lovely summer evening, not so long ago, Ry and I found ourselves on a bit of an impromptu bar crawl in our beloved Williamsburg. Since, we have checked out several other new places as well, and they all seem to follow one of two uber popular trends: beer hall or old-timey cocktail mixology. It's made for some good drinking!

Maison Premiere

This cocktail and raw bar is by far the most visually stunning of them all- with a backyard that looks like a total New Orleans French Quarter fantasy! We sat in the front bar, where many mixologists ran around, crafting drinks that often took 5 minutes or more to make. All were southern-inspired gems, such as a champagne julep, served in the silver cup with hand stacked sno-cone like ice cubes, and with fresh mint. Ryan had a Belfour's Hurricane, which looked a bit girly- it was a bit pink- but was by no means light in the punch. Made with Four Roses Bourbon, apple brandy, aperol, and strawberries, Ryan declared it delicious.

Dram

A little further south, Dram is another bar specializing in classy spirits, but this time with the added fun of ordering a "Bartender's Choice" from the menu for $11. I asked for a champagne-based drink, and received a super refreshing champagne, gin, cucumber, and mint concoction. Ryan tried a Mai Tai, and our friends ordered the drink pictured above, which in addition to tasting great, was really beautiful!


The Post Office

This bar has the greatest chairs, situated next to adorable picture windows that open on pleasant sunny days. The bar reminds me of a man's man's bachelor pad, with lots of dark wood and a few touches of antler here and there. The drink menu specializes in whisky and bourbon, yet surprises with a wine menu that is really wonderful (One of my favorite glasses of alberino!) The food menu- snacky- but with delicious things (so says Ryan)- such as a spicy pork taco that was devoured in seconds. I sampled a pickle platter that must have had 10 different vegetables on it and all were lovely to pair with the white wine. We've already been there twice, and will definitely be back again and again!

Berry Park

Just another beer house, but not: a fabulous roof affords amazing views of manhattan, a caesar salad comes with a surprisingly tasty house-made lemon caesar dressing, and best of all: the huckleberry lemonades! Served in mason jars and made with a 44 huckleberry vodka and a splash of citrus, they are not too sweet, and just strong enough. Delicious!

The Brooklyn Smorgasburg @ Brooklyn Flea

Yesterday Ryan & I ventured over to the Brooklyn Flea for lunch. We'd heard a lot about this little party by the river, and it definitely was fun! There are many local and artisinal food stands, including a few we sampled- and some that we will be back for in the near future. Highlights:

I love donuts- and this little treat, from DOUGH, did not disappoint! Light and not too oily, and covered in delicious cinnamon sugar, I am embarrassed to admit to eating... well... most of it in about a minute or less. Next time I might branch out into some of the more exotic flavors- there was one that was hibiscus flavored, and chocolate.. and glazed... and... oooooh donuts!

In addition to the donut, we added a chilled carrot apple ginger soup and a toast with some fresh cheese and carmelized onions ($8), and Ryan went money with the Lobster Rolls from the Red Hook Lobster Pound. We were both super happy with our choices- the soup was mildly spicy from the ginger, but with tons of flavor, and Ryan was loving the fresh lobster. (If only they weren't $16 each?!?)

As you can see from the photo evidence, we enjoyed our lunch. Ryan was very excited by the many choices, the picnic-style eating nearby on the grass and benches, and the beautiful skyline views. Me too! Next time, we're thinking of trying wings from the meat hook stand (Ryan), and I could be tempted by the homemade seitan stand.....

Anella

We recently tried this lovely new restaurant in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. The NY times review made it sound awesome, and the menu had lots of tasty veggie dishes, so it seemed like a great place to try!

The bread is of note; it arrives fresh-baked in a flower pot!! Warm and soft, the way it should be.



We shared an appetizer of the roasted broccoli with watercress, parmesan cheese, and lemon. It was ah-maze-ing! The tartness of the lemon and the parmesan topping was so delicious!

The other appetizers sounded equally awesome- a sunchoke salad and a roasted beet salad- and I'd love to try them both sometime.

For my entree, I tried the gemelli pasta, a homemade pasta with roasted squash, sage, brandy and ricotta cheese. Super savory and rich, it was over the top.

Ryan had the roast chicken with an arugula and gorgonzola salad, and fingerling potatoes. Ryan doesn't normally order chicken when we're out, but he loved it.

The bar was good too- I had a few glasses of prosecco and Ryan sampled some cocktails. Definitely going back soon!!

Sel de Mer Act II: Dinner

So, as mentioned in my previous post about brunch at Sel de Mer, we were so impressed, we wanted to give dinner a shot ASAP. So, the other night, cold and windy and icy, seemed perfect for some fish n' chips and other hearty sea fare. And Sel de Mer did not disappoint!

We had some really lovely glasses of wine- Ryan tried a special Beaujolais, and I had one of the tastiest glasses of Albarino I've come across in some time. Albarino is a light spanish white wine, almost a little bubbly, and this one had really nice citrus notes.

For appetizers, I ordered a warm beet salad. I have to admit I am a sucker for this dish: if it is on a menu, I am pretty much going to order it. Usually it contains all my favorite things- beets, arugula, spinach, or field greens- and often goat cheese. I've had my fair share of good, and I've had my fair share of meh. This one comes out near or at the top of the list. The beets were sweet and delicious, and the greens nice and peppery. My only complaint was there was a bit too much cheese, but it was easy enough to leave it on the plate.

Ryan ordered the lobster mac n' cheese- it was delicious, but very rich. I am not a fan of lobster, and though I did not try the meat, I tasted the noodles and it was delicious. The flavor was great.

For our entrees, I ordered the fish n' chips, which was awesome. super light and flaky and the batter was just right. The best part of course was the malt vinegar. Ryan had the mussels in white wine and garlic, and they were "really good. Really good." Locally, Ryan has declared them the best in the 'hood"- high honors.

Overall, the tab wasn't bad- not cheap, but in step with what we see for dinner for 2 with appetizers and drinks. $85.

Sel de Mer

A few close friends of ours have been singing the praise of this spot for quite some time. I have been a bit reluctant, as the menu is seafood heavy- but decided to try their weekend brunch. The atmosphere is super cute- it reminded me of the cape, with blue walls and pictures of crusty old sailors on the wall. I ordered the blueberry pancakes, which came with fresh whipped cream and syrup, and Ryan had the french toast, which was made from crusty baguette. The coffee was equally wonderful, and we enjoyed everything. I'd love to try some of their other menu items in the future- a vegetable omelet sounded amazing, as did the tofu scramble. Ryan was interested in the lobster mac n' cheese, and of course, we will be back to try the fish and chips. With weather like we've had of late, I think I can see an amazing meal here in our future!

Al Di La

We've been hearing amazing things about this place for years. So you can imagine my excitement to finally try it for myself! We have only just begun to explore the restaurants of downtown brooklyn and park slope, and it is high time!

I started off with the Winter White Salad, which had turnip, leek, jerusalem artichoke, salsify, and many other things which I could neither really distinguish nor identify, but truly enjoyed. The salad was lightly dressed with a champagne vinaigrette and topped with a little cheese. It was light and really flavorful.

Our friends, Brian and Kenzie, were with us, and they shared a plate of the polenta with oxtail. Though I did not try the oxtail, the polenta was creamy and savory. Ryan had the mussels in a white wine and garlic sauce, which he really enjoyed.

For our entrees, I had the cosunziei- ravioli pockets filled with red beets and topped with ricotta cheese, which came in a buttery sauce that I mopped up with some bread.

Ryan and Brian had a hanger steak in a balsamic reduction with a side of arugula. Kenzie had the winter white salad and a special Farro soup with winter vegetables. Everything was delicious- and for italian food, pleasingly light.

For dessert, I had the cheese plate, Kenzie tried the homemade sorbet and gelato, and Ryan had the fritoles with chocolate sauce.

If you have a chance, check out this great spot!

Traif

Happy New Year! I spent the last meal of 2010 with close friends and Ryan, sampling the 4-course pre-fixe at Traif, a new(er) Williamsburg spot on the south side. (Shout out to Becky who will be proud of me for knowing that 'traif' refers to forbidden foods in Judaism)- and forms the theme-as the website sums up best- as "A nod to shellfish, pork, and soul food". Perhaps you might wonder what I was doing there, seeing as I don't eat any of that either, lol. Well, turns out they can muster up some love for us vegetarians, too, and I have to say, my courses were damn tasty. (Though I fear my kosher friends will have to seek elsewhere to eat...)



First course- for me, a mixed green salad with a round of goat cheese rolled in nuts, which was nice, and included some fruits and pomegranite seeds that added a much needed acidic bite. The goat cheese was too large for the small plate of greens, but was nice and creamy.

Ryan had a plate of tuna tartare and bone marrow, served with a puff pastry- Ryan liked the tartare, but found the marrow undercooked.

The second course, however, picked up steam and was an all-around favorite. I had a curried plate of potato, pineapple, green bean, and brussel sprouts which was sweet and spicy and delicious. The flavors reminded me of sweet and sour sauce in Chinese cooking, a touch of thai hot sauce, and perhaps a bit of a curry flavor like that in Indian dishes- an impressive mix of spice and flavor. I loved it! Julie, our friend, had the same dish but topped with prawns, and she too was really into it.



Ryan and our friend Mike both tried a kobe beef burger with lobster, and a side of truffled french fries. They both marked this as the highlight of their meal, saying the lobster and beef was great, and the fries decadent.

The third course I had was savory- wild mushrooms, brussel sprouts, eggplant in a creamy sauce. I enjoyed it, but wished for some type of grain or starch- perhaps a little pappardelle pasta, or even rice- just to cut the richness of the flavors and to add a contrasting texture to the vegetables on the plate.

Julie had a duck dish wrapped in pork cheeks, and Ryan and Mike tried the short ribs. All enjoyed, but shared in the feeling that the dishes were very savory and salty.

The winners for dessert were definitely the boys- both of whom wisely chose the nutella sundae- which was like a pudding, sweet but not sickening, and a really creamy, smooth texture. Julie and I had selected cheese plates, which included a really nice blue cheese and a triple creme brie, but after the third savory course, we felt cheese was not the right follow up, but wished we had the sweet treat too!!

Overall, I tasted a lot of great flavors, and the second course and nutella dessert make me want to come back and explore the a la carte menu.

Haab

The newest mexican restaurant in Williamsburg- and wow, the best. Finally, a place with fresh ingredients and non-gentrified flavors. My constant complaint about Mexican food in NYC is that it all tastes anesthetized- no spice, no seasoning- just tons of heavy nacho cheese, stale tortilla, and microwaved beans and chewy bits of rice. At the other end, we have some very upscale mexican joints- but come on, who really wants to pay $30 every time they want a decent enchilada?

Compared to the flavors and freshness of mexican food in California and Texas- it's really just unacceptable.

So, you can imagine my joy at finding a spot committed to creating good, authentic mexican food at a reasonable 'neighborhood' price point.

Ryan has tried the chicken, pork, and steak tacos. He loves the chicken- they spice the chicken itself, and each taco comes in a double shell (According to Anthony Bourdain, the sign of the real deal). The salsas are all amazing- and there is definitely some spicy heat to them all.

Ryan has also tried the chicken enchiladas with red sauce, which he really liked. I've had the vegetarian enchiladas- which impressed me, because they weren't stuffed with cheese- but actual vegetables! Spinach and mushrooms, topped with a tomatillo green sauce, and several different salsas. I found the same was true for a vegetarian quesadilla special- full if veggies, not cheese, and lots of flavor.

I've also tried three soup special- all of which were soooo good! A chilled avocado soup, which was creamy, rich, and full of 'green' flavor, a cauliflower soup that had a slight curry flavor to it- really interesting and unique- and a squash soup that tasted a little like stuffing at thanksgiving- lots of sage, celery, onion, and butter flavor- and all that tastes gooood.

Finally, we tried the flan, which was tasty, too!

This is such a welcome addition to our subway stop, and to the city in general!! Can't wait for my next order....

Egg

Brunch is one of my favorite meals, right up there with 'supper'- and luckily, Brooklyn is all about brunch! This week I went with a friend to check out the hot new brunch spot- Egg- which is famously good and notoriously a long wait. We decided to try it on a friday rather than the weekend, and we only had to hang out for about 20 minutes to snag a table. The restaurant is really cute and simple- and the food is the star.

Egg has its own farm upstate, and works with a local dairy and bakery, so everything is fresh and organic. The coffee comes in french presses- and damn it was good! (Pardon the french!) It was also nice to have a refill waiting for me when i wanted it. I ordered the french toast- which is made using brioche from Amy's Bread, one of the yummy bakeries in the city. I opted to top it with fresh berries- currants, blueberries, and raspberries. A big yes from me. My friend went with the eggs- she had them scrambled, and with a side of five grain toast, hash browns, and a carmelized grapefruit with mint. We really enjoyed it- and I spied my next order on the menu: Eggs Rothko- two sunny side up eggs with grafton cheddar cheese on a brioche roll. I'll be back for that, like, next week!

Mode

I was debating if the role of this blog should be to simply recommend and review the places I've enjoyed, or if I should also include a review of a place I would not suggest to others? I've already listed pros and cons of places, or said a restaurant might be better for just appetizers and drinks, or just dessert- but this would be my first out-and-out pan. Well, since I'm writing, I suppose I've decided that yes, the role of this blog is to record my eating adventures, and in this case, misadventure- and so here is my review of 'Mode'.

To start at the beginning: Ryan had read several early reviews of this new spot that said the food was great, and the live jazz spilling out from the bar area made it even more enticing. The interior is dark with a long bar, which features cocktails and several glasses of wine, nothing crazy- a pinot noir, a merlot, and a cabernet sauvignon were available by the glass, all tasty enough. (one early sign that things might be not quite right: the bartender had no idea how much our two drinks were supposed to cost...) Had we known otherwise, this was where our experience hit a high note, and should have come to an end. The original plan was to grab a drink and head elsewhere for food, but the menu- handwritten on a chalk board- promised tasty treats: mussels, peppercorn tuna, a mushroom and leek soup, and a goat cheese salad. These are things we like, so we decided to grab a table.

This is where mode went down the commode- the service was sllllloow: it took about forty minutes for my soup to arrive, and the wait staff had to be repeatedly waved down for water refills, more bread, etc. The mushroom leek soup was tasty, though heavy on the mustard, and the leek was overpowered. But maybe it was the forty minute wait and the fact that I was hungry, so it went down just fine. We then waited an additional half hour until the entrees came for the rest of the table, ironically with my salad not coming out with the other plates. The owner stopped by at this point to offer us desserts on the house! Which we thought was very nice, and made us feel slightly better. However, the food just didn't win us over. Ryan said the burger was just ok- and did not live up to some of the others in the area (dumont, le barricou, etc etc) My friend Liz had a pasta with fresh vegetables and a light cream sauce, which was at best... safe, but she enjoyed it. My salad eventually arrived, and though the goat cheese was nicely puffed in pastry, the greens were overdressed. (Seems picky, but after and hour and a half wait, it should at least be perfect....)

The free desserts, again, sounded good, but took an additional half hour to come to our table (Yes, for those of you doing the math, this dining experience was well over two hours....)There was a truly good raspberry coulis with vanilla ice cream which was a sleeper crowd pleaser, a decent creme brulee, a so-so apple pie, and what I felt was a less-than-yummy flourless chocolate cake, though I am not a fan of the genre to begin with.

To top of the tale, I ended up with a 24 hour, uh... stomach ache, we'll call it to be polite on a food blog- that pretty much sealed the deal for me on this place. But, an ever-optimist, I would say... the jazz was lovely if a bit loud at times- and a cocktail can't hurt anybody. But don't let the charming atmosphere and chalked specials lure you in!!!

The Vanderbilt

Renee has been wanting to try The Vanderbilt for some time, and I was more than happy to oblige her and come eat along. I am also falling in love with this neighborhood (Prospect Heights)- so it was fun to try one of the local spots. Here is a shot of my train going over the Manhattan bridge- I think it is hilarious that I have to go from Brooklyn --> Manhattan---->Brooklyn to get here, but hey, Renee, and good food, is totally worth it.

We were excited to take advantage of the summer happy hour menu- offered Monday through Friday from 5-7- which includes both cheap drinks and eats. We sipped some $5 glasses of wine- a nice red gamay, and then sampled a few dishes, all which are served 'tapas' style. The first was off the regular menu, a green garden gazpacho ($8), which was just amazing. We tasted zucchini, cucumber, celery, and parsley in the broth, and it was served with a lemon sorbet dollop and topped with scallions and radish. Pretty much every bite was a little party in my mouth. So light and flavorful, and they managed to perform a balancing act with the cucumber so it did not overwhelm the other flavors in the soup. It also had a creaminess to it- almost- which we had originally suspected might be from avocado, but was actually provided by the zucchini, as the waitress informed us.

Round two was the beautiful special salad pictured above- which included grilled peaches, heirloom tomatoes, purslane, basil, ricotta cheese, olive oil, sea salt, pepper, a little bit of fennel, and onion- and wowza. I can't believe this was my first grilled peach encounter, but ladies and gentleman, it will NOT be my last, that is for sure! What a phenomenal treat- both Renee and I agreed that this was pretty much a little slice o' heaven, and I was really loving it!! (PS: My food porn skills are growing nicely, this shot actually looks pretty appetizing and cool, right?!?!)

For our third and final course, we shared one of the happy hour menu items- a spring vegetable risotto ($8). There were several herbs in the parmesan risotto- including mint- which every now and then gave a nice (and surprising) burst of flavor to the dish. The vegetables included carrots, peas, and fava bean, and scallion and radish was again the perfect garnish to the flavors.

All in all, I could not complain about my experience. The food was amazing, way gourmet for the price- and introduced me to a bunch of new flavor combos and foods, which was extraordinary. Purslane, grilled peach, and mint in risotto are all now on my list of to-eat as often as possible. Kudos to this place- and I highly recommend it!!

Fiore

So many local italian joints... so little time. Ro & I went back to this one just the other night. We started off with two glasses of the falanghina- a nice crisp white wine, and an artichoke salad appetizer. I have eaten here before, and this was the first dish that was truly disappointing. The artichokes were scratchy and woody, and lacked any flavor at all. Our pastas, however, made up for the saddening start- I had the eggplant rigatoni, which was fresh and flavorful, and Ro had a special spaghetti with prosciutto. I'd never sat in the backyard before, but it was quite nice for an evening meal. All in all, I'm always pleased by the fair prices- the entrees were only $11 or $12 each- but the wine did add up pretty fast. We probably would have been better off getting a bottle.

In the past I've had several other tasty dishes, including some good salads, and overall I love the rustic decor and casual food. I'll be back- just no artichokes for me!

Tabare

Ryan and I tried another of the burg's new restaurants for dinner the other night. A uruguayan/ south american flavor and very romantic spot, Tabare was super cute! We sat in the tiny back garden for dinner, but inside and out is very romantic. The restaurant is BYOB, so we picked up a bottle on the way, a huge perk, for sure. I tried the asparagus soup which was delicious, with a nice buttery green flavor, and then a beet salad that was really refreshing. Ryan tried a steak and egg sandwich that came with amazing fries- loved the seasoning on top. We'd love to try some of the pasta and fish dishes next time. But the real highlight of the meal was the dessert. So rarely do I fall in love with sweets- but wow. They gave us a free piece of the flourless chocolate cake, which was rich and chocolaty and sooo good. I tried the dolce de leche flan, which was also super tasty. With a cup of coffee, it was perfect. We will definitely be back!

Bar Crawl for a Cure!

This past weekend Ry, Jon & I decided to spend our Saturday drinking for a cause: a cure for cancer. We heard about the idea of a bar crawl fundraiser for the American Cancer Society, and it just seemed too awesome to pass up. We met some new friends along the way, which really made the whole event a smash. Every bar donated $150 and a buck for every drink sold, which I thought was a totally awesome idea!!

Spike Hill


Our first stop is a Willyburg regular for us, an irish pub that has amazing curry fries, and a decent selection of drinks, including wine for me! Here is where we met some new friends- Sam & Greg, who joined our little group and made this crawl so much more fun!


Brooklyn Ale House

I've always liked this spot- they have a free bagel brunch- darts and a pool table- drinks are cheap, they're dog friendly, and the staff is nice.


Soft Spot

This bar is quite tiny- but has a cute little back yard. We love the speciality of the house- a soft peach, which is a cocktail that uses peach schnapps in an alcoholic lemonade/ long island iced-tea type concoction. Really great on a spring day!


Mugs Ale House

Never one of my favorites, but a bar's a bar. This one is cheap, has TV's, and serves bar food.


The Gibson

Been here once or twice, the foosball is fun, backyard, and a grill serving up burgers, dogs, and now veggie burgers. Yay! Also, they have Wii- which is pretty darn cool!


Gutter

I'd heard of the gutter but had never been. Williamsburg's first bar/bowling alley, definitely a bit of a warehouse/dive, but I can see why it is a popular spot for birthday parties!!


Red Star


This was the last stop- and man did I fall in love with this place! DJ did a good job playing some classic tunes, good drink options, plenty of space, and I was really impressed by the bar food and menu. We tried the nachos, and everyone reported the hot wings were awesome and super hot. I also had the mac and cheese which was really delish! As visible from our photos, the crawl was quite fun and succesful, and we made some new friends along the way, and I was introduced to greenpoint bars- and will be coming back!!

Fanny's

Ryan and I came back here for dinner a few nights ago. We've had some nice evenings here in the past, and some memorable food. On one of our first visits, a long wait prompted us to sit at the bar, have a few glasses of wine, and nosh on some olives. I have had a pork entree here that was amazing, and most memorable perhaps was a frisee salad with a gorgonzola foam- The whipped, light blue flavor and the tart greens was really memorable.

This past visit, I ordered the vegetarian tagine- which was spot on. Sometimes I find restaurants have a tendency to overcomplicate the flavors, but they went french classic, and really respected the veggies. Tender zucchini, mushrooms, carrots, green beans, and garbanzo beans in a tomato broth, with very simple couscous beneath it. It made for a really nice, almost soupy, taste, and great comfort food for a vegetarian gal.

Ry ordered the lamb, which he said was really flavorful, and it was served with some marinated mushrooms, a whole roasted head of garlic, and fingerling potatoes. Great and savory.

They also have a good burger, and a dollar or so cheaper than some of the other neighborhood joints.

We've come here time and again, and have always enjoyed the food!

CSA: Community Supported Agriculture

We joined the Williamsburg-Greenpoint CSA!! What is so exciting about this? We will now get farm-fresh, picked-that-morning vegetables, fruit, eggs, and flowers every other week for the next 6 months! Beginning in mid-june and going all the way to Thanksgiving, we will be feasting on fresh foods. And all for only $22 a week. I am sooo excited! I am dreaming of produce :)

Check ours out at:
http://www.greenpoint williamsburgcsa.org/newsignup.php

Cheers! (vs. SEA)

Cheers is our local thai spot. The decor leaves a bit to be desired, though they do have a backyard... We opt for take-out. The food is phenomenal. Now, a lot of folks come all the way to Williamsburg to check out SEA, our other thai restaurant- but for me, Cheers beats SEA hands down, though I do occasionally venture to SEA, too. A play-by-play:





Decor:
Cheers: ugly.
SEA: Super chic, but looking a little worn?

Scene:
Cheers: no wait, 10-15 minutes for food
SEA: 1 to 2 hours on popular nights, total madhouse, we prefer lunchtime!

Apps:
Cheers: the spring rolls are amazing. They are always fresh, lightly fried, and super tasty. Love the plum sauce.
SEA: the spring rolls are tasty here too! I also like their version of Thom Ka Khai- a coconut soup with galangal and cilantro.

Entrees:
Cheers: Favorite for Ryan- Chicken Panang Curry. A red creamy, spicy coconut curry with red pepper. Me: Green vegetable curry with tofu- spicy coconut curry with eggplant, zucchini, green beans, and carrots.

SEA: I love one of their specials, "Rama the King". A mixture of red curry and peanut sauce! SO yummy.

With a cup of jasmine tea, I'm in heaven!

To Dumont, or not?

I've been eating at Dumont for 6 years now, and have a lot of memories in this Billyburg 'standard'. Back in the day, it was one of the few nicer restaurants off the Lorimer stop, and it had a cute backyard. For our first year here, it was our go to for out-of-town guests if we wanted an 'upscale' bite. I have always been a fan of the salad- well, really, the dressing- its an awesome vinaigrette, and always dressed nice and light, just the way I like a salad. The mixed greens are always fresh, and a little pepper makes this simple and a bite of perfection.

The burger is pretty famous- and though I haven't tasted one in a while, my husband, and good friend Rosalia- swear by them. It's definitely in the top 5. One complaint Ry has is that prices have creeped steadily higher, including the burger, which now runs $14.00 with cheese, and I believe might rise to $15 for bacon. I have always opted for the Dumac and Cheese, which is by far my favorite "creamy" roux-style mac. I don't usually order this out, as it tends to disappoint, but they have it down to a science. A creamy 4-cheese sauce, usually including gruyere, is topped with pancetta and baked until the top is well done. (Ask for well done when you order, you want that nice crisp). It is hard to stop eating it, and it really is the ultimate comfort food.

Over the years, I've tried many of the specials- and I am a big fan of the pastas- usually served in a chicken-broth based something-or-other that is just heavenly. Unfortunately, these menu items have now risen to the $25 price, which I just can't bring myself to order on a weeknight out. Too bad, because I really think this stuff is awesome. If you are here on a special occasion, indulge, and you will not be disappointed. Same goes for the pasta dishes at their sister-restaurant Dressler. Get them. They are phenomenal.

Now, before I forget, they also do brunch here, and the huevos rancheros gets extremely high marks every time.

If only drinks and food weren't quite so pricey, I might still come here on a monthly or bi-monthly basis, as I once did. But these days, the prices have just gotten too high. But, sometimes... You just gotta "do-mont"!

Rye & Huckleberry

I have been wanting to take Ry to Rye for a while. Like so many places in Williamsburg of late, Rye features old-fashioned cocktails at a beautifully crafted bar and intimate tables. There is no sign outside, but it stands out on an otherwise residential block. The interior features a lot of dark wood and white candles, and the restaurant was quiet enough to enjoy conversation.
There was an odd smell of chlorine and cleaning products right when we walked in that was not appetizing, however, and seemed out of place in a 'classy' joint...

We were seated right away at a great little table for two, in a curve in the booth that afforded a great deal of privacy, and I liked the people-watching view.

The cocktails were tasty and served on silver trays with hand cut ice cubes, a very nice touch. The wine list had several $9 and $10 glasses that were tasty. I tried the beet salad, which was quite good. The beets were sweet, with a creamy goat cheese and with peppery microgreens on top. We both agreed it was refreshing and savory at the same time. On the other hand, Ryan was not as thrilled with his brisket sandwich, which he reported was not very tender, and actually quite tough. For the carnivore he is, it was odd watching him pick meat off his sandwich- practically unheard of. The side of mac and cheese was quite large, and I found it tasty, but not rave-worthy. A bit bland. Overall, we found the food hit or miss. Other items on the menu looked very promising, but I wonder about execution.




After Rye, we headed over to the Huck bar, which is conveniently located just up from our apartment. Again, offering a selection of old-fashioned and crazy cocktails, this bar is a bit pricey, but upscale for the lorimer stop, and with plenty of wines and cocktails to choose from. Ryan first tried some Witches Brew that was strangely smoky, and later an old-fashioned, and I stuck to wine. I like the atmosphere here, and it's usually full but not crowded, a nice balance. The food is cute and a good nosh, but again, be prepared to burn some money. A fun note, they make their own grenadine, and shirley temples here are not just for little girls!!! I've come here once or twice after being out in the city and wanted to keep the fun times rolling while switching to a non-alcoholic beverage, and this was fun!!

DOC Winebar

I'd like to take credit for actually taking this picture (for once!) A relatively rare thing on this blog. Anyway, last night Ry & I went on a date to what is probably my all-time favorite spot in all of NYC. Yes, grand praise. We've been coming here for almost as long as we've been dating, and it never ever disappoints. I've brought my mom here, friend after friend from out of town, and my Aunt & Uncle most famously last summer. It rocks everybody's socks, so I hope it rocks yours, too. Why the italian meat and cheese counter? Because it might as well be in italy- the food is imported by the owner, along with the wine, on a weekly basis.




The interior of the restaurant is like a cozy italian kitchen, but we prefer to go when the weather is nice and sit outside. The wine menu is extensive and fabulous- ask the owner, (ie the cute bald guy with the killer italian accent), for some recommendations, and be prepared to be blown away (both in taste and quality... and a little less pleasantly in price). Some highlights of past sampling include a fruity, cherry-forward red, and a verdicchio that was neon yellow and had flavors of pineapple. If you are new to italian wine or tend to stick to the boring varieties of pinot grigio (AKA "water") and chianti, then this is a great place to come explore. The menu includes vermentino, verdicchio, montepulciano, nero d'avola, and falanghina, all worthy of your time and taste.

As for the food... wow. As I mentioned previously, the wine is not the only import here. The mozzarella is fresh, soft and salty, with a slightly firmer outer crust. Somehow the tomatoes always taste like summer here, as does the basil. The meat & cheese plate is awesome, and is served with a house-made olive oil and rosemary bread/chip that is addicting. All the fresh, home-made pasta specials and sauces are insanely good, as are the crostini and the salads. I don't think i've ever tried the panini, but I bet they are good too... Even the desserts are delish...



I can only think of 2 complaints. They only take cash (sooooo over this, Brooklyn) and they may or may not charge you your first born child. But hey, after a few glasses- or bottles- of amazing wine, who cares??