Palo Santo
Reviewed by nicalou
at February 4, 12:15 PM
This place is adorable--fireplace, beautiful tables inlaid with assorted designs, stonework, tiles, open kitchen--but the pleasure ends there. I was disappointed with every bite. The host gave off an unbearable slimeball vibe and provided lousy service to boot. The menu was delicious in concept but not in my mouth. The salad had fresh, subtle flavors and a pleasant citrus dressing, but desperately needed a pinch (or more) of salt--it was sweet enough to be dessert. I only took one bite of the plantain; it just wasn't good. My entree, a layered "casserole" had perfectly browned melted cheese on top, a layer of mixed wild mushrooms in the middle, and citrus-tossed veggies (mostly squash) at the bottom. Once I added salt (it had none, and this citrus base was also far too sweet), it tasted nice--until I bit into a sliver of raw garlic. Not just a little undercooked for my tastes, truly almost raw, with that immediate unpleasant edge that you can't get out of your mouth. I fished around in the veggies and pulled out several other garlic slivers (not easily identified chunks, but well-hidden, apparently meant to be there). I kept eating, but nervously, and with the unpleasant taste lingering. We skipped dessert because the three options all sounded overly sweet--and since my salad and entree and the plaintain were already so sweet, I didn't want to be over-sugared. I would give this place a never again except that I so want it to be okay that I might give it another chance for brunch some day. It's pretty, and the food is organic/local--I want it to be delicious.
Miracle Grill
Reviewed by nicalou
at January 11, 08:20 AM
I have only been here for dinner, but it appears to be most popular for brunch. I enjoyed the Southwestern Spring Roll (I'll order almost anything that includes ginger) and the veggie quesadilla, but nothing I've eaten here has memorable. I think Mexican-ish food should be a few dollars cheaper all around. I prefer the food at La Taq (the cocktails are better at Miracle Grill). This place has a more upscale atmosphere--but less character.
Belleville
Reviewed by nicalou
at January 4, 03:03 PM
Cute spot, but not a good choice for vegetarians. I have had some okay meals here, but nothing memorable. Low on the list for where to eat on 5th ave.
Yamato
Reviewed by nicalou
at January 4, 02:56 PM
This place is fine. Totally solid. Looks good, tastes good. But I've never had anything great there. Why go here when you could go to Taro Sushi? (answer: because it's a nicer place to sit and eat in. but if food is your top priority, walk the extra blocks to eat at Taro.)
Two Little Red Hens
Reviewed by nicalou
at January 4, 02:50 PM
This place is adorable. Very limited seating (a few tiny tables inside, and on a nice day you can sit on the benches outside), so get some tea and a scone (preferably a ginger one) to go and eat it while you walk in the park. The Brooklyn Blackout Cupcakes are an excellent indulgence. I'm giving it a Like It instead of a Love It because on the whole the baked goods are too sweet for my taste, and it's just a bit on the pricey side (but now that Sweet Melissa has moved in nearby, that's standard).
Sette
Reviewed by nicalou
at January 4, 02:38 PM
The pasta dishes have gone up in price and I haven't enjoyed the food here quite as much since the chef changed several months ago (the beet salad is still a great choice, but the old recipe was even better. the asparagus dipped in parm fondue dropped from the menu, but it's still offered regularly as a special, and it's excellent), but it has only slipped from love it to an enthusiastic like it. I wouldn't suggest that anyone travel to Park Slope just to eat here (it's no Al Di La or Stone Park Cafe), but it's a terrific neighborhood spot. The manager, John, is friendly and genuine. Waitstaff quality varies, but I have had some terrific waiters here. The quality and prices of the wine list are a big draw.
Chocolate Room
Reviewed by nicalou
at January 4, 02:31 PM
Crowded but yummy. Skip the milkshakes, unless you like them thin.
Cocoa Bar
Reviewed by nicalou
at January 4, 02:29 PM
Cute garden in the back, and fewer babies around than in the tea lounge, so this is a nice place to meet friends. I like to order the teas, and many of the cakes are a yummy treat to split. I have ordered the hot chocolate three times and won't ever order it again because each time it was too thin. Free wi-fi.
Stone Park Cafe
Reviewed by nicalou
at January 4, 02:25 PM
A new favorite. Wasn't all that impressed when it first opened (had a nice experience then, but it didn't seem quite worth the price), and I'm not crazy about the brunch (good but not as amazing as what my boyfriend cooks at home). But we tried it again for dinner a few months ago and have been back three times since. There isn't a vegetarian entree on the menu, but each time they have prepared a different special entree for me, and each time the flavors have been exciting and delicious (and the proportions generous). Good service, too.
Al Di La Trattoria
Reviewed by nicalou
at January 4, 02:17 PM
Yum! I've never had a bad meal here, and I've been going for five years. I don't go more than every few months, though, because the wait can be long and I don't love sitting at a long table with other people. But the food is excellent. Great homemade ravioli and gnocchi. Nice wine menu. The pear cake with bittersweet chocolate is served warm, with the chocolate chunks slightly melty--yum. But the winning dessert is the selection of homemade ice creams and sorbets. Unusual flavors, and always delicious. Yay!
Cousin John's
Reviewed by nicalou
at September 24, 09:01 AM
Cousin John's is a solid brunch choice during the pre-brunch hours (most Slope spots don't serve Sunday brunch before 11am--Cousin John's does). They have nice pastries at okay prices.
12th Street Bar and Grill
Reviewed by nicalou
at September 24, 08:56 AM
You might expect a vegetarian to avoid a restaurant marked grill, but 12th street is a great spot for both dinner and brunch (and for both veggies and meaties). I have been there many times in the past four years and never been disappointed. If you go for dinner, try the wild mushroom and polenta appetizer. Yum. As Ben notes below, brunch is a good deal and you almost never have to wait to be seated.
Applewood
Reviewed by nicalou
at September 24, 08:53 AM
I went here for brunch shortly after it opened and it was good (the hot chocolate was spectacular--thick, yummy, perfect) but they didn't fully have their act together yet. The service was slow even though there were few other customers, and when they brought the food half the dishes were cold. But I'm willing to believe that was a fluke. We tried it for dinner during Dine In Brooklyn week and had a miserable experience, both food-wise and service-wise. So, don't go during Dine In Brooklyn week. But some day I will try it again for dinner on a regular night, since I've heard such great things from so many reliable people and I like that they offer organic food and support local farmers.
Peperoncino
Reviewed by nicalou
at September 24, 08:48 AM
Both the food and the company were mediocre. The latter was not the restaurant's fault...but I'm holding them accountable for the bad food and I won't be returning.
Santa Fe Grill
Reviewed by nicalou
at September 15, 10:01 AM
This restaurant is on my street and seems to do good business, but I would never eat there. Why? Because none of the patrons looks like somebody I would want to hang out with. Snobby but true.
Dizzy's
Reviewed by nicalou
at September 15, 09:57 AM
The food here is fine, but I don't think the quality is as high as the prices. That would be fine if the menu were more creative, but you won't find much on this menu that you can't make at home.
La Villa
Reviewed by nicalou
at September 10, 08:13 PM
I ate here right after it opened and the pizza was a-okay, but the largeness, layout, and decor made me feel like I was eating in the suburbs. Not the atmosphere I want in Park Slope.
Hanabi
Reviewed by nicalou
at September 10, 08:09 PM
I ate here before the renovation and it was nothing special. Now I cross the street just to avoid walking near it--so heinous.
Olive Vine Pizza
Reviewed by nicalou
at September 10, 08:03 PM
This place is cheap and good. It's also right around the corner from my apartment. But I've only been inspired to eat there once--it just doesn't rise above the crowd for me. Go there if you want to--but it's not a must-visit.
Rose Water
Reviewed by nicalou
at September 10, 07:59 PM
Oh, Rosewater--how I used to love thee. I have had dinner at Rosewater at least twenty times in the past five years. The atmosphere is adorable--small, sweet, candle-lit dining room with nice accents and an intimate vibe. The service used to be fine to great. The food used to be yummy to mind-blowingly wonderful. I love that they use local and organic ingredients, have an interesting and affordable wine list, and always offer vegetarian options. But over the past year, I have had so many disappointing experiences there--lousy entrees, inexcusably bad service, inconsistent food quality--that I'm afraid I am finally ready to give up on them. I just can't trust them anymore, and it makes me so sad.
Blue Ribbon
Reviewed by nicalou
at September 10, 07:49 PM
Don't go here if you're a vegetarian--unless you're just looking for a delicious rootbeer float and someone else is paying for it...and you don't mind that the ice-cream-to-soda ratio isn't generous.
Mr Wonton
Reviewed by nicalou
at September 7, 08:11 PM
Ew, crappy Chinese food. Why bother? Go to Red Hot instead.
Convivium Osteria
Reviewed by nicalou
at September 7, 08:07 PM
Not recommended for vegetarians. The atmosphere should have been romantic, but it was just a touch too dark--made me suspicious about how often they dust those pots hanging from the walls. Not recommended for obsessive-compulsives.
Franny's
Reviewed by nicalou
at September 7, 08:04 PM
I went here just after it opened. Appreciated all the organic menu items, but found the pizza disappointing, especially for the price. The service was crappy. But perhaps now that they have been open for a while they have worked out some of the kinks? I would give them a second chance.
Beet
Reviewed by nicalou
at September 7, 07:59 PM
A solid place--my top Thai choice in the neighborhood (though there's definitely room for growth). The fresh salad roll appetizer has mint leaves that make it taste extra fresh and good. The noodle dishes are okay (spicy broad noodle is the best of the bunch), but I've had better luck with their curries. I ask them to steam rather then fry the tofu (it's more healthful and I prefer the taste and consistency), and they are always accomodating. When I order the golden curry noodle I ask them not to include the crispy noodles (they pile on far too many; the dish also includes soft egg noodles). Perhaps this makes me high-maitenance.
Cafe Steinhof
Reviewed by nicalou
at September 7, 07:49 PM
Great food, great atmosphere, good prices. Embla is right--one of the draws of Cafe Steinhof is that it feels so satisyingly neighborhoody (I've met some real characters there). Go for brunch and order the topfen cheese crepes (actually, order those any time). Go for dinner and order the cheese spaetzle (unless you are sensitive to garlic). Please don't skip dessert--get the chocolate custard. Amazing to find an Austrian restaurant that is so vegetarian-friendly. My meat-eating friends and family love it, too.
Song
Reviewed by nicalou
at September 7, 06:56 PM
The food is fine, but not amazing. Go in summer and sit in the garden out back. Avoid eating inside on weekends--it's like eating in a club (loud dj, shouting crowds). Hey, webmaster--shouldn't there be a choice between Like It and Never Again? Like, It's Okay? That's what I'd give Song. (And if you're adding categories, On Probation would be a good one...)
Thai Taste
Reviewed by nicalou
at September 7, 06:52 PM
So bad. Really, really bad. Only went there once, about four years ago. The restaurant was almost empty (snow storm) but it took 45 minutes for the appetizers to come. My soup tasted like someone had peed in it. The entree was no better.
La Taqueria
Reviewed by nicalou
at September 7, 06:49 PM
Big, tasty burritos. Good cheese quesadillas. Not-worth-it margaritas. A great take-out option, but it's better to just show up and order your food (wait: 3 to 15 minutes) than to call ahead and then pick it up (wait: 25 minutes to eternity). Classic rock on the radio (and classic rock stickers on the walls).
Taro Sushi
Reviewed by nicalou
at September 7, 06:39 PM
Since I'm a vegetarian, I don't choose Japanese restaurants often, but Taro Sushi is top notch. Their avocado and cucumber rolls are better than anyone else's...but what you really should order are the sweet potato roll and the tempura asparagus roll. Yum yum yum.
Since the atmosphere isn't great, get take-out and eat it in the park (or on my deck).