At his press conference last week, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg told reporters that Brooklyn was one of his favorite areas for fine dining.
“It is amazing the change in Brooklyn in the last dozen years or thereabouts. I’m going to have dinner tonight in Brooklyn,” Bloomberg said at his Thursday City Hall press conference on the Coney Island land deal.
“Time and time again, when I say, ‘Where do you want to go to have dinner?’ Friends who’ve come from out of town pick restaurants in Brooklyn, and that is really different,” the mayor added.
Now, whether or not Bloomberg meant it or was just trying to score points with Brooklynites could be open for debate. In any event, Bloomberg has been a fairly regular customer at the Stone Park Cafe, 324 Fifth Avenue near 3rd Street, Park Slope, according to the New York Post.
Of course, Bloomberg can afford to dine out at a place where a salad runs between $11.00 and $15.00, a burger $14.00, and entrees around the mid-$20 range and nobody is going to confuse Stone Park Cafe with Nathan’s at Coney Island.
As a related sidebar, the Post also pointed out five other restaurants that its readers should check out (though, as a service to our readers, Brooklyn News is not only including locations, but, where applicable, web sites).
Vinegar Hill House, 72 Hudson Avenue, between Front and Water Streets, DUMBO
The Post says: “This old-fashioned restaurant in the shadow of the Brooklyn Navy Yard features a giant wood-burning oven, where its delicacies, including a tart drizzled with creme fraiche, are concocted.”
One would certainly hope this oven makes that $8.00 mashed potato dish as tasty as a potato one would by from the local grocer.
Located between the Navy Yard and the Manhattan Bridge, Vinegar Hill House is a short walk from the York Street Station of the (F) train.
Marlow and Sons, 81 Broadway, between Berry Street and Wythe Avenue, Williamsburg
The Post says: “This tiny eatery serves up fresh oysters and jalapeño-rum cocktails along with an oldschool atmosphere.”
And, there’s also the $9.50 roast beef sandwich on the lunch menu. Other than the oysters, there isn’t a large menu selection, though the $22.00 brick chicken on the dinner menu certainly sounds tempting enough to try.
Marlow and Sons is located in the shadow of the Williamsburg Bridge; the nearest subway stop is the Marcy Avenue Station on the (J), (M), and (Z) trains five blocks to the east.
Tanorren, 7704 3rd Avenue, at 77th Street, Bay Ridge
The Post says: “A massive menu is among the highlights at this Middle Eastern restaurant, where garlic and spices aplenty adorn such dishes as ground lamb.”
The $15.00 chicken kabob appears reasonably priced, especially when served with rice and salad. Half portions of these entrees are available between 12:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.
Tanorren, which celebrates it’s 10th anniversary in Bay Ridge this year, is located one block away from the 77th Street/4th Avenue station on the (R) train.
Noodle Pudding, 38 Henry Street, between Cranberry Street and Middagh Street, Brooklyn Heights, (718) 625-3737 (no web site found; link to Menutopia’s listing)
The Post says: “It’s like a SoHo transplant with its trendy crowd and trendier wait time of up to 45 minutes, but the gnocchi and buffalo mozzarella are worth it.”
Bounded by the Brooklyn Bridge and the BQE, what is known about Noodle Pudding is that it’s an Italian restaurant. Unless Menutopia is missing an item or two, the menu doesn’t seem as long as expected from a decent Italian restaurant.
Noodle Pudding is located across the street from Cadman Plaza Park and is accessible from the High Street Station of the (A) and (C) trains.
The General Greene, 229 DeKalb Avenue, between Adelphi Street and Clermont Avenue, Fort Greene
The Post says: “Check out the sangria and the candied bacon at this Southern tinged food hall, where the barstools are refurbished tractor seats.”
Seats in the dining room, however, appear to be only slightly more comfortable than a typical seat on the (L) train. With that said, breakfast is served during the week between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., which seems a little odd, but if it works, more power to them.
The General Greene is located minutes from LIU-Brooklyn, the Brooklyn Hospital Center, Fort Greene Park, and the Brooklyn Flea Market. The nearest subway stops are Clinton-Washington Station on the (G) train and Lafayette Avenue Station on the (C) train.
There are hundreds of restaurants in Brooklyn, and these are just five that the Post seemed to think quite highly of. Of course, your mileage may vary, as the old saying goes…
From May 30 through June 13th, St. Ann’s Warehouse in DUMBO will once again host Great Small Works’ Toy Theater Festival and temporary Toy Theater Museum, packed with performances and tiny delights. The festival includes six different programs for adult audiences, a program for family audiences, a late-night cabaret for developing work, two symposia, two public workshops for all ages, and an extensive exhibition of both historic and brand-new examples of toy theater.
