Brooklyn: Boerum Hill/Cobble Hill/Carroll Gardens Archives
Good News/ Bad News Clover Club
Krieger 6/17/08
Clover Club, Julie Reiner's fancy cocktail lounge on Smith Street opened almost two weeks ago, giving the cocktail hounds in Manhattan and Brooklyn alike plenty of time to get drunk on the bar's offerings and breathlessly relay their experiences on the internet. So far the reviews are surprisingly mixed. Some people can't get enough of the debonair decor and the pefectly made, beautifully presented cocktails, while others say the space is contrived, the cocktails, weak and unoriginal. At least no one's shy about sharing their opinions. Let's get to the good news and the bad news on Clover Club.
1) The Good News: Cocktail expert Robert Simonson offers up his thoughts and gives the place a bit of a rave: "The barstaff...was making dozens upon dozens of four select attractions from the cocktail menu, and I tried one of each...All were beautiful. The New York Sours dense and dark. The punch was not exactly deceptively strong, as punches can be—just plain strong. The swizzles were lovingly prepared with twirling palms swirling dancing swizzle-sticks. And the Juleps were ice cold and attractively frosting up their silver mugs." [Off the Presses]
2) The Bad News: Doree Shafrir of the Observer penned a piece yesterday pointing out exactly where Clover Club gets it wrong: "The biggest problem with Clover Club...is that it gets Brooklyn pretension all wrong. Everything looks like it came straight from the Jazz Age section of a Restoration Hardware catalog: tin ceiling, dark wood paneling, etched-glass light fixtures, black-and-white photos of indeterminate provenance of mustachioed men at a bar...and an overly descriptive menu of cocktails like the 'Hemingway Cobbler' and the 'Highland Smash.' In other words, it's all just a wee bit too contrived." [NYO]
More Bad news and a bit of a rave or two, coming up.>>
Monday Opening Report: Mercadito Cantina, Chocolate Bar EV, Zemi, Neighburrito Certified Open
This is the Monday Opening Report, a regular feature that provides the precise status of venues. As per standard operating procedure around here, your contributions are so very welcome.
1) Carroll Gardens: Fresh on the heels of Café Gray’s closing comes the opening of shaved ice/dumpling house Eton, named after Cafe Gray alum, chef Eton Chan. TONY had word of it last week and a tipster clued us in to the opening party being held tomorrow. They share some menu info as well: “To get a better idea of the of Eton's, the menu consists of dumplings (5 for $3.50), hand-pulled noodles and Hawaiin shave-ice with a variety of flavors (strawberry, green tea, guava, lychee, etc.) and toppings (vanilla ice cream, red azuki bean, mochi, fresh fruit, etc.).” Status: Not Open. Opening tomorrow at 3pm. 205 Sackett Street; Carroll Gardens, no phone yet. [TONY]
2) East Village: Multiple sources have reported on the opening of Mercadito Cantina, the new taqueria adjacent to the East Village original that opens today according to Metromix. They write: “[It’s] an updated take on the traditional taqueria with salsas, guacamoles and tacos made with high-end ingredients (think grass-fed carne asada and Berkshire pork carnitas) and a DIY attitude (think make-your-own tacos, with meats available by the kilo).” Status: Certified Open. 172 Avenue B, 212-388-1750. [Metromix]
The Plywood Mega Report (now with map!): Williamsburgh Cafe, Frankies, JoeDoe, Sweetie Pie, and More!
Eater Inside: Clover Club
Krieger, 6/17/08
The beauty right here is the very highly anticipated cocktail lounge Clover Club from Julie Reiner, Michael Brais, and Sue Fedroff. Neighborhood types in the BoCoCa area and cocktail obsessives across the city have been eying the plywood and the signage on this place for months, salivating for its prospective arrival. They finally got what they wished for, and from what was offered at the opening party last night, the place will be just as good as everyone hoped it would be.
Pressed tin ceilings in the front room give way to mirrored ceilings in the back, and both spaces are adorned with dark wood floors and vintage-papered walls. The ambiance is clubby and a bit swank with oriental carpets, chandeliers, and finely upholstered sofas aplenty along with a bonus 1890's mahogany bar. They'll be serving a menu of small plates and as far as cocktails are concerned they've got all the sours, highballs, fizzes, cobblers, royales and swizzles you could ever want. But we'll wait for the spirits hounds to pass judgment on the mixologists—we can pretty much guarantee you they'll be hopping on the F train en mass to try the place out before the week is out. Further reading here and here.
Cocktails, Mixologists, High End Drinking
210 Smith Street, BoCoCa; 718-855-7939
Opens tonight!
Monday Opening Report: Clover Club, NYC ICY Hell's Kitchen Opening Weds
This is the Monday Opening Report, a regular feature that provides the precise status of venues. As per standard operating procedure around here, your contributions are so very welcome.
1) Cobble Hill: The Strongbuzz reports on the much-delayed opening of Clover Club, the new cocktail spot from Flatiron Lounge’s Julie Reiner. Yet another entry in the trend of retro cocktail lounges, the offerings are as follows: “Collins & Fizzes, Sour & Daises, Buck & Mules, Cobblers & Highballs, Juleps & Smashes, Royales, Swizzles, and Punches that can serve 4-6 friends from vintage punch bowls...There will be seasonal oysters with mignonette and cocktail sauce, caviar shrimp toast, steak tartare with caper dressing and gaufrettes, four kinds of deviled eggs, etc.” Status: Not Open. Opening Wednesday night, opening party Tuesday. 210 Smith Street, Cobble Hill; 718-855-7939. [Strongbuzz]
2) Kensington/Hell’s Kitchen: TONY’s The Feed is reporting that seasonal Italian ice chain NYC ICY quietly opened in Brooklyn’s Kensington neighborhood last week (Chowhounders confirm) with a Hell’s Kitchen location to open this Wednesday. Here’s some menu info: “In addition to established favorites like apricot ginger and classic lemon, there are new (and can we say, ridiculously good-sounding) flavors such as wild strawberries and cream...banana and dairy-free grape made from fresh Concords." Status: Brooklyn location Certified Open, Hell’s Kitchen on Wednesday. 905 Church Avenue, Kensington; no phone yet. 628 Tenth Avenue, Hell’s Kitchen, no phone yet. [The Feed; Chowhound]
—Kelly Dobkin
EaterWire: New York Food Film Fest, Tasting Room Last Supper, and Frankies 457's New Waiting Area
LONG ISLAND CITY— Tomorrow the Second Annual New York Food Film Festival kicks off at Water Taxi Beach. It goes until the 20th, doors open and food will be served starting at 7 p.m., and the movies start at 8:30. Check the schedule here. [EaterWire]
NOHO— Fans of the Tasting Room who are upset that it closed without proper notice can pay $165 to sample Aleveras' food at the Astor Center: "Alevras will cook the last supper the restaurant never had, at the Astor Center on the June 27. It will be a seven-course tasting menu accompanied by Italian craft beers. 'I was pissed off that he closed the restaurant without telling me,' explains Astor Center director Lesley Townsend. 'People loved the place, loved him.'" [Cutlets]
Frankies 457 update.>>FW: Bait and Switch at Pit Stop
From: [an eater]
Date: Friday, June 6, 2008
To: eater complaints dept.
Subject: Bait and Switch at Pit Spot
——
A couple of friends and I were in Pit Stop on Columbia St in Brooklyn a few Wednesdays ago, with fond memories of a certain midweek free drink special. And there it was, printed on the menu-- "one free glass of beer or wine with every entree." We each decided to take them up on it. Well, when the bill came, we were charged for all of our drinks, and when we pointed it out to our waiter he said, "Yeah, there's a mistake on the menu, it shouldn't say that."
When can you get the free drink?>>Plywood Report: Spicy Pickle, Ted & Honey, Pump and More
1) Boerum Hill: The above shot of a new place going in at Pacific and Bond Streets in Boerum Hill comes from a tipster in the neighborhood: "OK, time to drop a dime on this place at Pacific and Bond and see if anyone knows what's up...they are really putting in some work on renovating the space and it looks really cool inside. Keep in mind that in a city of filthy delis, the deli that was at this corner for years was perhaps the filthiest. There were holes in the walls. These guys have already built out some big beautiful bay windows. Now the only question that remains is -- what's it going to become?" Any intel is welcome. [PLYWOOD]
2) Brooklyn Heights: Last week workers took down Armando's neon lobster sign and already the new sign is in place. From Brooklyn Heights blog: "Chain restaurant Spicy Pickle will be opening soon in old Armando’s location. Workers put up a sign for the establishment this weekend. The new sign appears to be the same size, shape and dimension of the old Lobster with a bolder color scheme." [PLYWOOD]
Midtown and Cobble Hill ahead.>>Monday Opening Report: Grand Sichuan, Rabbithole, Sweet Melissa Cremerie Certified Open, Yerba Buena on Weds
This is the Monday Opening Report, a regular feature that provides the precise status of venues. As per standard operating procedure around here, your contributions are so very welcome.
Inside Rabbithole in Billyburg [Gothamist]
1) West Village: A tipster writes with news that the latest installation of Chinese chainlet, Grand Sichuan is now open. He forwards an email from the owner: "Hi, Craig, yes our 7th Ave location is open for Dinner now. From 6pm-10pm. Thanks!” And there you have it. The website confirms the same and provides the menu which ranges from classical Szechuan and Hunan dishes to "American Chinese" standbys. Status: Certified Open. 15 7th Avenue South; 212-645-0222. [Eater Inbox]
2) Williamsburg: Gothamist reports that Rabbithole from Laurence Elliot opened on Sunday and offers some early pics. The details: “When the full kitchen is running (Elliott says he's a week or two away on that) there will be breakfast, lunch and dinner; for now you'll have to settle for panini, sandwiches, assorted salads, espresso and tea.” The joint is also BYO until the liquor license arrives. Status: Certified Open. 352 Bedford Avenue; 718-782-0910. [Gothamist]
Yerba Buena, Sweet Melissa right this way>>The Plywood Report: Braeburn, Okiba, Lasagna, Uncle Louie G & More!!
1) East Village: From a tipster regarding a gutted space on 3rd Ave: "I live on third and 10th and I've been noticing some heavy construction going on round 60 3rd Avenue. It's still in plywood but last Friday the big door was open and I snuck in a few photos. It looks like a restaurant with the bar. build out seeming to be almost complete." [PLYWOOD]
2) West Village: Zagat reports on the pre-plywood news of Braeburn opening on Perry St.: "This summer, chef Brian Bistrong (The Harrison, Bouley, Lespinasse) goes chef-owner when he opens Braeburn in the West Village with partner John Paul O'Neil. The menu's focus will be New American, with seasonal ingredients – including vegetables from Bistrong's own garden – combined with French cooking techniques." [PRE-PLYWOOD]
3) Midtown East: The New York Sun brings word on Obika, a new cheese bar on Madison: "Obika, the mozzarella bar that has created a furor in Rome, Milan, and London, has its sights on New York City. The corporate Web site says its next opening will be at 590 Madison Ave. (at 56th Street), and plywood...surrounds a space in the atrium of the office building at that address." [PLYWOOD]
Lasagna & Ice Cream ahead.>>Disaster Report: Car Jumps Sidewalk, Crashes into The Red Rose
Carroll Gardens: We have a disaster report coming from a tipster down by the 25 year-old Red Rose at 315 Smith Street: "Car almost broke the front glass of the Red Rose on Smith Street. Miracle it did not! Apparently nobody was hurt. Woman driving the car was rumored to be the woman in the maroon leather jacket talking on cell phone to left of photo. Don't know what was more disconcerting - the accident or the large number of beefy 'undercover' cops wearing Yankee jerseys." Did someone start their holiday weekend partying a little early? [EaterWire]
EaterWire: Jimmy's No. 43 Shuttered by DOB, Randolph's on Broome Expanding, Wolfgang Responds to Wolfgang, and More!
EAST VILLAGE— It was only a matter of time before this happened: "I just went by Jimmy's 43 on 7th Street for their "Beer and Bacon" special and it's shuttered. There's a sign from the Building Department (NOT DOH), dated May 12th, saying the building is unfit for occupancy. There's a few other buildings on the block with the same sign." [EaterWire]
NOLITA— Bottomless Dish is reporting that Randolph's on Broome is getting a makeover: "Co-owner Hari Kalyan tells us he's brought esteemed Milk & Honey mixologist Matty Gee on board as his new partner, and together they'll roll out a new and improved version of the bar that features a pro pianist churning out bebop and ragtime tunes, new seating and other interior renovations. Oh yeah, they'll also be serving up a new menu..." [Bottomless Dish]
News in the case of Wolfgang v. Wolfgang, Chestnut expands.>>Back to top
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