Like it
Reviewed by embla
at May 20, 08:13 AM
I get the impression that this restaurant, which specializes in Oaxacan cuisine, took some time getting on its feet. The first time I went, I had a great mole and tasty ceviche, but my husband was less than thrilled with his enchiladas, which cost more but didn't seem substantially better than the offerings at La Taqueria a few blocks away. Overall, we weren't impressed enough to go back for quite awhile. After my second visit, I have a much more positive impression. The space (which was outrageously packed the first time) turns out to be cozy and pleasant, suitable for a date. The pico de gallo that came while we were waiting for our order was fresh and delicious, with great heat, and in general, I felt like the quality of the ingredients had been elevated since our first visit, with generous portions of dark crisp greens where previously we had had iceberg lettuce. And while the price of entrees is still a bit higher than in some other Mexican spots, it is certainly not unreasonable for the portions and quality of the food, especially considering that it is BYOB, and they are thus not profiting from beverage markups. I'll definitely be back.
It's ok
Reviewed by embla
at February 10, 08:55 AM
Evaluations of restaurants serving regional or ethnic cuisine tend to hinge on the "authenticity" of the food, but my impression of the NoNO Kitchen is that its Louisiana cuisine might suffer from a surfeit of authenticity, rather than a deficit. The greatest-hits-of-Cajun menu is executed competently but straightforwardly, without the flavor innovations and other niceties one would expect of a more ambitious neighborhood spot. Hush puppies and etouffee both seemed to use the same mildly spicy flavoring. The absolutely massive portions were generally presented unceremoniously, with scatterings of iceberg lettuce the only garnish, although the enormous half-rack of ribs came with tasty and attractive sides of green beans, carrots, and sweet-potato fries. The food at NoNO feels as if it were prepared in large quantities and served cafateria-style at a busy family restaurant, even though it's being served to a dining room that on weeknights rarely has more than a few full tables. There's nothing wrong with that, but I'm not sure there's really a place for it in this neighborhood, and I was a bit disappointed that this stretch of 7th will continue to lag behind 5th in dining options.
On the other hand, while the decorative window treatments and tall mirrors suggest an attempt to recreate the French Quarter, the somewhat incongruous flat-screen television behind the bar is a more accurate reflection of the unfussy food. The selection of beers, including two from Louisiana, was very nice, and the fried okra satisfyingly crispy. If only the bar were a little bigger, it could be a great place to watch a game.
Love it
Reviewed by embla
at December 5, 05:34 PM
I initially assumed that this was a typical bakery with baked goods and hot drinks at the counter. It does have counter service and a small bar where you can sit to have a quick coffee and croissant or muffin (they usually offer one or two sweet choices and one savory), but the rest of the surprisingly large cafe is devoted to table service, with the menu offering pastries, beverages, light lunch options and afternoon tea. There is a tarragon chicken salad sandwich with golden raisins on a croissant that is out of sight.
Never again
Reviewed by embla
at November 15, 06:48 PM
Walking into this strange restaurant transports you from the shabby chic of the Slope's quirky restaurant row to the pompous pretension of the self-consciously fanciest eatery in a mid-sized, mid-western industrial town. From the entrance, where the maitre d' imperiously demands that you leave your outerwear at the coat check, to your bread plate, which is replenished by the hovering busser every time you take a bite, to the antiseptic, corporate decor, this is a place designed for self-importance rather than hospitality. Until recently, there was even a flat screen television outside showing a loop of food-porn shots of menu items. It all seems expensive, and it is, but is lacks charm; it is a long way from the cozy, casual restaurants that generally typify Brooklyn dining. The food was fine but not memorable. One side dish in particular was typical of the whole experience: the suddenly-de-rigeur polenta "fries" which were uniformly square and golden, smooth, evenly textured, and nearly tasteless. Tempo seems like an odd fit for the nieghborhood, but someone must like it, because it's been open for over two years. The restaurant also has two takeout outlets, one on 5th and one on 7th, which served overpriced panini and gelato in the oddly depressing atmosphere of a national chain.
Love it
Reviewed by embla
at September 15, 06:50 PM
Just went here again tonight, in fact. In this part of the slope, this is without a doubt the best place to go for quality food of European extraction. Perhaps of any ethnicity, actually (the only place of comparable sophistication is Yamato, and it isn't my favorite. The 20 wines for 20$ are a great gimmick, but more than that, the wines are actually good and interesting, and for that price you can afford to try something new. Service and ambience are generally of a high, date-worthy level, and the menu covers a fair amount of ground, making it possible to do meals at different price points (i.e., salad and pizza, if you are feeling modest (though the brick-oven pizzas are billed as appetizer-sized, they are perfectly adequate for an entree if you have an appetizer_, or a more traditional antipasto-pasta-secondi and contorni-dessert route if you are feeling more ambitious/flush. They have a brick oven, which is put to good use in the foccaccia served (with very tasty olives in herbed oil) gratis, and in various entrees, such as whole fish. I've yet to have anything bad, though some things have been more impressive than others. My favorite dish so far is a grilled calamari salad with watercress and chick peas. The calamari is ccharred but unbelievably tender, and contrasts nicely with the lemony vinaigrette. There are a few other flavor flourishes that get overwhelmed my the strength of those two flavors, but that's fine, because it's a wonderful, tasty, homey dish with those elements alone (it used to be on the menu, but today it was just a special). That criticism could perhaps be made about some other dishes as well (that the five notes in their menu descriptions turn into a domninant two or three on the palate), but that's just quibbling about what is well-cooked and interesting food at fair prices.
Like it
Reviewed by embla
at September 11, 07:49 PM
As Colin Farrell once (imortally) said, "I'm a fiend for mojitos." One of my favorite memories of this summer was a summer Friday I spent at home, and a long walk culminating in tasty mojitos at the turquoise-tiled bar here. It would be stupid to say that the ambience was just like being in Havana, but it really does feel like being somewhere other than Brooklyn, with its bright pastels, pleasant clutter, laid-back atmosphere and open-to-the-street layout (though the quintessentially Brooklyn activity of people-watching is another one of its attractions). The food is good, filling stuff, nothing fancy, and the prices reflect that. Unfortunately, the downside of cozy-good drinks-inexpensive is that the place gets really packed during conventional mealtimes, and the seating is cheek-by-jowl.
Love it
Reviewed by embla
at September 7, 07:54 PM
I walked by this place a thousand times and never gave it any notice, assuming it was just one of the dozens of mediocre sushi restaurants on this strip. A shame, because all this time I've been missing out on a cozy and convivial sake bar serving a menu of Japanese small plates (it describes itself as a Japanese tapas bar). The dishes are mostly between 4 and 7 dollars, and portions were large enough to permit sharing; 3 of us ordered 6 dishes and were happy and sated. The Age Dashi Tofu ($4.50) was a particular favorite of the table, and an excellent example of its kind, with crisp-fried chunks of tender tofu in a fantastic sauce that was ultimately slurped like tea by one of our party (the beer and sake contributed to this). The nice thing about this sort of place is that you can either have a meal's worth of food or a small snack while boozing.
Never again
Reviewed by embla
at September 7, 07:11 PM
Dismal, like most of Park Slope's South Asian offerings. I made the mistake of going when I was new to the neighborhood and didn't know any better. Everything was brown and bland and had a canned feeling about it. Honestly, I don't know how this place and Amin on 7th survive. They are both perennially empty, and with good reason. After this meal, I swore off Brooklyn Indian food for over a year. then I discovered Kinara, and began to heal.
Like it
Reviewed by embla
at September 7, 07:03 PM
I've only been here once, but it's one of those places I keep meaning to go back to. The service was friendly and attentive, the atmosphere pleasant and relaxed. Our food was very tasty; the menu is Pan-Latin in the fusiony sense of offering dishes employing "Latin" flavors and ingredients, like cilantro mashed potatoes or fried plantain, rather than taking a greatest-hits-of-regional-cuisine approach. The most memorable part of the meal was dessert: hot, cinnamon-y churros with hot chocolate for dipping.
It's ok
Reviewed by embla
at September 5, 08:41 PM
This is an interesting upscale pizza joint with a decidedly non-hipster vibe on a decidedly hip section of 5th avenue. The pizzas combine the classic Italian brick-oven crust with classic American supersizes and copious toppings (the un-Franny's, if you will). A small is more than enough for two people. The service was friendly and attentive and the crowd an interesting departure from the usual be-spectacled and be-toddlered slopesters, but I prefer a bit less self-conscious formality with my pizza. I think we'll use them mainly for delivery in the future; the pizza is at least as good as delivery standby Two Boots, and the prices are much, much better..
Like it
Reviewed by embla
at September 5, 08:27 PM
Good coffee. Fast, free internet connection. Truly delicious biscuits and scones that are actually soft and fresh-baked and buttery (I'd nearly forgotten why people even bother eating scones, since in most coffee shops they are bland, days-old rocks). And some nice wines at night. Unfortunately, the chocolate is nothing special -- though I am quite partial to the tragically overpriced "I like it spicy" bar. You can't win 'em all, I guess.
Like it
Reviewed by embla
at September 5, 08:13 PM
Okay, so I've never actually been in the dining room. But I love the tiny, cozy bar in the back (entrance on 4th street). The drinks are on the pricey side, but it's the best place to have a cocktail and conversation for blocks around. There are two outdoor tables in the summer, where friendly bartenders will bring you drinks, and you can order from the restaurant menu (the fries, sprinkled with fresh rosemary and oregano, are fantastic).
Like it
Reviewed by embla
at September 5, 08:08 PM
One of my favorite ways to end a walk in the park is by stopping by Cafe Steinhof on this quiet stretch of 7th avenue for a beer at one of the sidewalk tables (they have great happy hour deals), and every time I come here, I end up wishing I lived closer. The kitchen serves very well priced, serviceable renditions of Central European cuisine every day except Monday, when the kitchen is closed except for 5$ goulash or fish. You can get food served in the bar section as well, which is nice for post-movie snacks (the Pavilion is around the corner). But the thing that makes the place great isn't its food or its (admittedly meager) beer selection; it's the atmosphere. It's a real neighborhood place, complete with resident drunks on barstools, feisty tranny waitress, and weekly movie nights.
Love it
Reviewed by embla
at August 14, 08:45 PM
This may not be the most authentic Mexican food around, but it is tasty and quick and inexpensive. On evenings and weekends, the left-hand side becomes a full service restaurant, with more complex offering like enchiladas and fajitas and steak and fish dishes, but fewer burrito and taco options. I prefer the food on the taqueria side, where you wait in line to order tacos and burritos at the counter. There are a few self-serve tables in the back, and you can buy beer. My personal favorite is the Venice burrito: spicy marinated chicken, pico de gallo, beans, rice and sour cream or yogurt. They also deliver, but I usually just stop by on my way home.
Love it
Reviewed by embla
at August 14, 08:45 PM
I completely agree with Ben. This place looks pretty inauspicious from the outside, but they serve buttery, melt-in-your-mouth fish in portions small enough to eat gracefully and in good proportion to the rice. The bento box lunch is a great deal, and we've really enjoyed everything we've ordered from the specials list. This is my go-to place for pre-BAM and post-shopping-on-5th-ave meals.
Love it
Reviewed by embla
at August 14, 08:45 PM
Great atmosphere for brunch and lunch and a nice garden in the back. Coffee is good but not great, but sandwiches and fresh-squeezed juice are excellent.
