As usual I was running late. My dining companion texted me a picture of his refreshing Margarita to make me feel even worse as I was making my way to Brooklyn. When I finally arrived, I was greeted by our spunky waiter, an annoyed friend, and the delicious scent of Mexican food. All was right in the world.
Nostrand Avenue in Brooklyn has a new gem everyone should check out. It’s called Sweet Catch and it brings the flavors of the Carolinas to New York City. The new hot spot is the brainchild of Ka-Wana Jefferson, a Bronx native, who has a passion for good culinary experiences. I stopped by on a beautiful Saturday morning for Brunch and was immediately captivated by the serene environment as you opened the doors. The space is decorated with a southern style decor and hosts many photos which showcase black culinary history and Heritage.
South Village Hospitality, the brains behind Ainslie Brooklyn, Cotta, Follia, and Carroll Place, just opened a Manhattan Ainslie this month. The 20,000-square-foot Italian restaurant, wine bar, and beer garden took over the space formerly occupied by Vandal at 199 Bowery on the Lower East Side.
Earlier this month in France, Champagne purveyor Pol Roger finally opened the first two bottles of their rare 120-year-old champagne. The bottles had been recovered from a 1900 cellar collapse, which devastated the company. The collapse was caused by rain and cost the company an estimated 1.5 million bottles of premium champagne. The bottles were discovered in January of 2018, as the company was building a new packaging facility, above the site of the collapsed cellar. Before torrential rain halted the excavation, they were able to unearth 23 intact bottles which were sealed with wax. Last week, Pol Roger brought their famous champagne to Brooklyn, to toast the borough’s most well-known bridge. A champagne reception and intimate dinner were held at 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge’s, stylish rooftop eatery, Harriet’s. The evening was hosted by Hubert De Billy, a fifth-generation member of the Pol Roger family who thoroughly explained Pol Roger’s connection to the massive Brooklyn Bridge which was once used to store their precious champagne.
We’re happy to report the return of one of Brooklyn’s hottest spots, The Springs, which is located in the Greenpoint section of the popular borough. This is the spot soak up the sun, chill, and sip on delicious frozen cocktails. The Springs not only has an outdoor space but an expansive bar and lounge. On the night of our visit, we enjoyed the newly renovated patio. This area was inspired by retro vibes of Palm Springs circa the 1950s with lounge style seating and rainbow-colored decor. Although inspiration comes from the west coast, the vibes of The Springs remains true to Brooklyn and its edginess.
Clinton Hall has gifted us with another Summer hotspot, just this time we’re all going to be crossing the bridge over to Brooklyn and going to their new beer garden at 247 Metropolitan Avenue in Williamsburg! The restaurant is located next to the POD BK Hotel, who Clinton Hall worked with previously to open up their location in midtown earlier this year. Guests can access Clinton Hall through the Pod BK Hotel or by the street entrance.
In true keeping with the Jack Daniel’s brand slogan, “Every Day We Make it, We Make it the Best We Can,” the Jack Daniel’s House No. 7, opened this week on Wednesday, June 28 and Thursday, June 29 and Friday, June 30 at the Brooklyn Navy Yard in NYC. These whiskey makers proved they know how to throw a party with flair and surprise and delight. Each door of the Jack Daniel’s House No. 7 opened to a new experience with a sprinkle of surprise touches at the exact right times.
Location: 594 Classon Avenue, Brooklyn, NY
Cuisine: American
Best Dish: We adored the pork chops. The meat was succulent and the chutney was a tasty complement to the meaty chops.
Price: $$
Overall: A casual home-style eatery the whole family will enjoy.
Brooklyn welcomes Farm to Table Freshness with new eatery Alice’s Arbor. This Bed-Stuy gem offers classic seasonal American fare. The purveyors of this establishment are committed to providing a healthy alternative to preservative laden dining. To achieve this they have curated a seasonal menu showcasing the freshest vegetables and meats of the season. Each dish is prepared using only ingredients sourced from local farms. The Farm to Table concept is evident in the design of their space. The decor is reminiscent of a charming country bistro with reclaimed wood and vintage barn materials throughout. The space includes driftwood branch light fixtures, hanging mobiles scrounged from the Ashokan Reservoir in Upstate New York, and clustered glass beaker pendant light fixtures. It reminds us of family road trips down the east coast, sharing a meal with loved ones in a classic country kitchen.
