Posts from the ‘Williamsburg’ Category

May 11

Sweet Mama’s

1/2

What an odd scene. I honestly think this was the first time I've ever
uttered the words, "we're the youngest ones here" in Williamsburg. The aim
was barbecue and for some inexplicable reason I deterred James from going to
Pearson's with the promise of ribs at the newly located Sweet Mama's. I also
told him not to beat me if they didn't have ribs on the menu, though how
could they not, billing themselves as Southern and all. Well, the ribs were
on the menu in print, but not in presence. They'd just run out. Blasphemy.
I'll chalk it up to grand opening kinks, but that's a bad thing. I had
chicken with white barbecue sauce that wasn't white. I don't know what white
barbecue sauce even is, but for some strange reason I thought it'd be white.

Things turned interesting when the restaurant closed up shop at 11pm.
The bar scene grew a bit, a jazzy band started playing and craggy
milk-drinking lesbians sat in the corner. I became freaked out by the 4'11,
tan, heavily banged blonde, 50-something in a hot pink polyester dress with
white pumps and lots o' makeup primping in the bathroom mirror. Next thing I
knew, she started cutting a rug. I was a little shocked at first, then a bit
soothed. It looks like a slice of Park Slope came with the restaurant's
move. Williamsburg could use a little scene-shifting. (5/11/02)

So, it's back in Park Slope and in a lesbian bar. I wouldn't even know
that if I hadn't been assigned the place to review for Time Out NY. Odd,
very odd. (3/1/03)

*Gone for good. (6/11/04)

Sweet Mama's * 559 Lorimer St., Brooklyn, NY

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Feb 16

White Castle

I can't believe I've never mentioned White Castle here. I guess I haven't
really kept track of fast food or pizza since it all blurs together. But
White Castle is a horse of a different color. The most frequented location
is in Williamsburg, but I also live a block from one (though I eat there
less frequently–I don't feel right eating it alone, it seems sort of sad
and destructive like drinking by yourself rather than socially). I first got
on my W.C. kick when they were doing a funny Craveology promotion and I
tried to collect all 12 plastic cups. I haven't noticed any remarkable ad
campaigns lately, but now I'm hooked and there's no going back. (2/16/02)

White Castle *
Metropolitan Ave. or Fourth Ave., Brooklyn, NY

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Feb 1

Allioli

1/2 Closed: I think the owners are now focusing on Zipe Zape (which I've yet to try) down the street. (6/6/05)

It's about time Williamsburg got into the tapas game. Well, I'm not sure if quail with quince, chestnut puree and chocolate qualifies as tapas, but I was definitely intrigued. This was more of an entree, but Allioli also offers smaller, standard fare like grilled octopus and bread topped with serrano ham and olive oil.

Make sure to bring cash because they don't take credit cards and ATM's are none too near (as we discovered a bit to late). Cash-only seems to be a big trend these days. Is it the recession or primarily a Brooklyn thing? (2/1/02)

Both times I've eaten here, I've ended up with a stomach ache. I never know if it's because devouring tapas always seems to go hand-in-hand with imbibing heavily. I also feel like we must over-order, choosing four dishes. The waitress seems ready to take off after the mention of two. But then again, this is Williamsburg and if girls are going to persist in walking around with ten-year-old-boy bodies, the servings must be kept to a minimum. The baby squid baffled me because I wasn't sure if you were supposed to dig into its bulbous head or not. I wasn't put off by the notion until James talked me out of it. Suddenly self-conscious and squeamish, my thoughts turned to a conversation from earlier that evening about the Daniel Pearl video (which I still haven't watched–I tried the other day, but my internet connection was too slow, and the movements were drawn out and jerky and it seemed even more upsetting and ominous in slow motion so I turned it off) and the notion of eating this disembodied squid head made me uncomfortable. I relish in offal, innards and the like, but this time around I had to take the waitress's chiding ("how come no one eats the heads?"). I just couldn't bring myself to take a chomp out of the darn thing. (6/7/02)

Allioli * 291 Grand St., Brooklyn, NY

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Jul 25

Peter Luger

Beef, it's what's for dinner. At least when it comes to the special
occasions in my life. I've always felt a little out of the loop, since it
seems like everyone in the world has eaten a Peter Luger at some point. It's
a local institution to be sure.

I was definitely into the idea of it, though at first I was a little
intimidated since the waiting/bar area was wall-to-wall men in khakis. But I
quickly got into the old-school surroundings, ordered a whiskey sour and
even snuck my fingers into the sauce boat while perusing the menu (which
screams novice–they ask if you want a menu, assuming you know exactly what
you're there for)

I opted for the shrimp cocktail instead of the onion and tomato salad
that appeared to be de rigeur. Steak for two followed, and a side of creamed
spinach. The fries seemed like overkill–maybe next time. The meat was
medium rare and fine as can be. You could feel years being shaved from your
life as the waiter ladled the rich pan juices over the steak. But birthdays
are about coming to terms with your mortality anyway, right? The meal closed
with a shared slice of pecan pie coupled with an entire bowl of whipped
cream. No joke, it was almost as impressive as the meat itself.

It was creepy fun watching the power salesmen at the communal table next
to us. Who's to say what their actual profession was, but a sleazy internet
vibe was definitely in the air. Company parties are a strange ritual, not
that I would know first hand as I've only been a part of miserly start-ups
gone (going) bad. A pizza party would be asking too much in my case.

The evening was satisfying, yet with that all said, I'm now going to be
an ungrateful wretch for a moment. I don't go in for spendy, overhyped
clothes, neighborhoods, clubs and the like, but when it comes to food I
don't mind indulging my fancy every now and then, especially when it comes
to special occasions. Don't get me wrong, I was raised on a strict meat and
potatoes diet (nary a fresh vegetable graced my plate), but after Peter
Luger for my birthday and Churrascaria
Plataforma for Valentine's Day, I wouldn't say no to something
more…er, refined next time 'round. I'm a lady, dammit. Mabye 30
will herald the aesthetic experience I'm seeking. (7/25/01)

On a whim, James called for reservations the Sunday before Independence
Day, and was surprised by a 7:45 quote. However, when we showed up he was
not on the list, the host scoffed at the fact that we thought we would could
get a seat a mere four days in advance, and my blood started boiling. Then
they found his name on a waiting list. We weren't told about a waiting list
on the phone, or why would we have bothered showing up? Anyway, we were
seated, as the place was not filled to capacity. Steak is steak at Peter
Luger. The new discovery was the grilled, thick, perfect Canadian bacon
served in strips as an appetizer. I thought about it for days afterward.
(7/4/02)

PeterLuger * 185 Broadway,
Brooklyn, NY

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Mar 2

Azteca

Nobody seems too keen on this place. I guess Vera Cruz is the cooler Bedford Ave. Mexican choice. But I find the food to be more authentic (or maybe just in the style I prefer) than most places around town. It's not fast food (in fact, it's just about the slowest food in the world), but it's certainly not fancy either. Prices are great, food is better than average, it's open 24 hours…so what's the stumbling block? The service!

It's crazy. I've been when it's busy, the food came at a snail's pace, then I ran into a friend who was leaving without eating because they just couldn't take it anymore. The waitress always appears to be on her first day at the job. At first, I thought it might be a language barrier issue, but now I think she's just brain damaged (not that she isn't nice). Appetizers come after the main course, beers are forgotten, and all the while she looks confused and harried (even when there's only four customers in the entire place). The icing on the cake was when we gave her two twenties for a $25 meal and didn't realize til later she'd only given $4 in change. I know it's not the world's biggest crime, but it irked me, nonetheless.

The menu is better than decent and they offer many fresh squeezed juices and a kick-ass cafe con leche. I like what I've eaten like the al pastor and carnitas burritos and the little jalepeno potato croquette things, so I wish they would work out the kinks.

I don't know what's here now. The whole Bedford strip is in flux and I certainly wouldn't consider myself a regular in the neighborhood. (6/6/05)

Azteca * ? Bedford Ave., Brooklyn, NY

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Feb 17

Miss Williamsburg

I really shouldn't be writing about this restaurant because anything I say
will be clouded by the all-around bad night I was having the evening I dined
there. I had too much to drink before showing up at 11pm (an hour before
closing) and got into some heavy relationship talk (which I never do) and
was irritated by the pretentiousness of putting on the menu how you couldn't
have extra parmesan or lemon in your espresso (not that I would ask for
either, but the fact that they were so overly bold their attempts at
authenticity like some hipster Mario Batalis). I barely tasted my food–a
shared mussel appetizer, farfalle with artichokes and part of a panna cotta,
ended up bawling for no good reason, then getting a $75 bill (which at least
I didn't pay for). All in all, a night to forget. (2/17/01)

Miss Williamsburg Diner * 206 Kent Ave., Brooklyn, NY

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Dec 29

Relish

This seems an odd second dining choice compared to my first, Outback
Steakhouse in New Jersey. But after being quoted an hour wait (and feeling
tears well up–I'm serious, it was an emotional evening), I had to go to
plan B, and Relish was vaguely on the route from New Jersey to Queens.

Actually, it was a fine, solid choice. sat in the back lounge, had a
lamb chimichanga (which wasn't much like a "real" [as if there is such a
thing as an authentic chimichanga] one) appetizer with a sort of hominy
sauce/soup and prepared for the impending blizzard. I had a thick, meaty
pork chop with a rich oniony sauce and potato pancakes with apple sauce.
This is food food. I left full, but not overwhelmingly so.

Relish * 225 Wythe St., Brooklyn, NY

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Dec 21

Plan-Eat Thai

1/2
I hate to be one of those people that goes on about how an original location
was better than the new incarnation, but really, Planet Thai has gotten too
damn big for its britches. The thing is, the food's perfectly good, but the
service leaves much to be desired. I don't know who they're trying to be,
but it seems ridiculous to wait 45 min. on a Thurs. night in Brooklyn (or
anywhere for that matter). They've got the requisite art on the walls and a
clientele weighing heavily towards the (not-so) lovable mop-topped hipster
contingent. Maybe the folks from the nabe (god, that's a gross word) think
it's cool to stand around sipping $6 well drinks, waiting for a table, but I
could do without.

They have a fairly extensive Japanese menu, which I've never tried (that
a majority of the diners seemed to be ordering from). I stuck with the Thai
side, choosing fried spring rolls (a measly two rolls for $3.95) and steamed
mussels with lemongrass and basil (huge for the same $3.95) as appetizers.
For entrees we got a super spicy beef with basil and a tangy order of
tamarind squid. I wasn't disappointed by a single item. Unfortunately, once
we received our food, our waitress made herself scarce Even eye-contact and
later, arm-waving, couldn't get our water glasses re-filled or new beers
brought.

For the most part, the food is the real deal, not some fusion-y take on
Thai. But this isn't your typical formica table, vinyl-padded chair,
hole-in-the-wall. You'll get exposed brick walls, thumping drum and bass,
photos of naked people and the lax who-cares attitude inherent to that
ambience.

Plan-EatThai * 141 N Seventh St., Brooklyn, NY

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Posts from the ‘Williamsburg’ Category

Sweet Mama’s

White Castle

Allioli

Peter Luger

Azteca

Miss Williamsburg

Relish

Plan-Eat Thai

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