Prime Meats

I have a confession to make. I'm in bestie love with the Frankies men. First of all, they own like a bajillion restaurants, and second of all, remember that time they got really high, ate a shit ton of pizza at Roberta's and Motorino and then made meatballs? It's the best thing in the world. Either way, the Frankies men are famous to me and on Labor Day we decided to take a trip to Prime Meats.

Let's start with the staff...they're pretty great! The host was super nice to me when I kept going in there and telling them my friends would be there any second, and then as soon as my friends got there he sat us. Granted, he didn't laugh at my Foursquare joke, but I won't hold that against him. Our waitress was cool, laid back but made sure we were happy. Then when we left everyone said super cheerful goodbyes to us.

PM is pretty damn big, I must say. I'm not sure (because I've never been in there) if part of it spills back over into Frankies Spuntino or not as they're right next door, but there's definitely a lot of space. Decorated with large windows and rustic wood, this is one of the nicest and most homey restaurants I've ever been to.

I'm still not on the "livin' large" side of things, but I decided to get the $5 brunch punch - a delightful combination of BOURBON (WIN!), fruit punch and fresh fruit. It was absolutely delicious. I also ordered coffee, simply because I was exhausted, but I didn't really drink it, because it didn't go well with the brunch punch (and because the soy milk was separating every time I tried to take a sip). They serve Stumptown coffee here, which I'm not the biggest fan of (Crop to Cup is the coffee winner for me).

I ordered the breakfast sandwich on a biscuit with bacon ($9), which is exactly what I ordered at Cafe Pedlar. Why? 1) It's one of the cheapest and heartiest things you can order. 2) It's freakin' delicious. The biscuit is crumbly (which is a slight thumbs down in my book, but that's coming from the South, where "buttermilk biscuit" really just means "butter biscuit"), but the eggs are soft (organic, what up), the cheese is slightly tangy and the bacon is soooooooo good - thick, not too crisp or too soft, just the way I like it. It comes with a side of greens, which I wish you could substitute free of charge for potatoes (actually, you might be able to - why didn't I think to ask that!). I have yet to try the dinner portion, which is mostly German fare, but gotta be honest - one of my best friends is the pastry chef at Blaue Gans, and I'm just not sure you can beat that place. And I'm not just sayin' that because Beth is awesome (and her desserts are out of this world). I really do love ole BG.

BEST PART OF THE DAY? When we went towards the front door, I saw the Frankies themselves standing outside and I got super giddy. If you know a way to make them my besties, message me. - Jennifer

I have this habit of ordering yogurt and granola whenever offered to me during breakfast or lunch. Why I order yogurt and granola at a place called Prime Meats, I don't know. But I did it.

It was good, don't get me wrong, and at $7.50 it's a hefty serving with fruit on top. But as filling as wholesome as it is, it's definitely not the best I've ever had, or even of each component. I have dreams about the greek yogurt at The Breslin (more on that later) which does not have value on it's side, but I'd gladly pay a wad of bills to eat it again. And this leads me to the question at hand-- why don't all nom-worthy brunch establishments serve greek yogurt? Why bother with the regular stuff? I guess not everyone loves it like I do, but after going Greek I can never go back. NEVER.

What was I talking about? Oh, Prime Meats. I love the interior of this place, it feels homey but refined. And as Jennifer said, the staff is sweet. I've been a couple of times, and had a nice relaxing brunch on both occasions. The hashbrowns are tasty, they seem to treat their eggs right (so many places don't), and the bacon is delicious.. but it is Prime Meats-- and I suggest you stick with that theme while ordering. Meat. -Laurel

Address: 465 Court St (between 3rd Pl & 4th Pl)

Website: Prime Meats, Yelp

Payment: Cash, American Express only

Delivery: nope

Open Late: opens at 7am every day, open until 3am fri-sat

Large Group Friendly: yes

Bar/Happy Hour: Full Bar, $5 Brunch Punch is awwwesome

Char No. 4

Char No. 4 is a close walk from my digs, and I had long heard about it being a destination for pork and bourbon lovers. Guess what! I love both of these things.

I met Jennifer there after going to the gym, still wearing my work-out clothes. Probably not the best choice, as it's on the classier end of things, and the waiter even pointed it out. Lucky for him, he was nice and cute, so I didn't punch him in the face with the leftover adrenaline from my intense work out. Totally could have knocked his lights out. Instead, I giggled pleasantly. Anyway, the service was pretty good (not just looks).

The menu here is meat-tastic and a little southern tilted, with dishes often revolving some kind of pork. For some weird reason, I ordered the shrimp and grits instead ($14). I really liked the size of the portion, and I got about 6 plump, grilled shrimp. The grits were pretty good, and my experience with grits in this neck of the woods have been less than stellar. My grandmother could still do better, but you can't have everything. It had a nice flavor, and a lot of greens and chives on top (I happen to love both, but I could see someone thinking it distracting).

I also ordered a bourbon cocktail to make myself appear classier, which was very nicely mixed (Noreaster- $9). I think I just ended up looking like a younger, female iteration of The Dude. Also okay. Overall, it's pretty low-key and low-lit, and the prices aren't too bad. Try it out if you are looking for some smokey drink and meat. -Laurel

BAR-B-QUE. What else can a Southern gal ask for? We’ve talked about Smoke Joint before, but let’s introduce you to our new favorite, Char No. 4 (yes, we do seem to be into No. restaurants lately). Situated in Carroll Gardens, this cute, rustic restaurant has the perfect combination of two things I love: bourbon and Southern food.

The menu offers a wide range of Southern sweetness – from Laurel's aforementioned Shrimp & Grits and BBQ sandwiches to Smoked Brisket sandwiches and Jambalaya.  I’ve gone a couple of times for dinner – not yet for brunch (working weekends makes brunch damn near impossible). The first time I had the chopped pork sandwich ($14), which comes with a side of baked beans; the next round I ordered shrimp and grits. The barbeque is great – a bit different than what I’m used to, slightly spicy and vinegary (they have mustard in their bbq sauce). I wasn't down with the baked beans - honestly I think I only ever liked baked beans mixed with mac and cheese (I was a weird kid). The shrimp and grits were spicy, and delicious – only complaint is it’s not quite enough food. I also can’t say no to the bacon jalapeno cornbread. If anything, just order THAT - it's bomb.

And of course – the bourbon. They offer over 150 American whiskeys - which pretty much makes this place my mecca. Due to a cold, I ordered the Bourbon Insider Hot Toddy (admittedly I ordered it as a Hottie Toddy first, which our server - who totally WAS adorable - thought was hilarious). At nine smackers, this drink went down smooth and strong. We also split the Sticky Toffee Pudding for $8... the cake was moist and... sticky, and the ice cream was fresh and delicious.

Gotta say, it's a little on the expensive side for me (now that I've turned away from my "real" job), but I still love this place. Currently accepting applications for whiskey and bbq loving boys with about $30 to spare on a whiskey and bbq loving girl over at letsgetdrunkandfattogether.com. - Jennifer

Address: 196 Smith Street

Website: CharNo4.com, Yelp

Payment: Cash, Credit

Delivery: Nope

Open Late: Sunday thru Thursday, 12am; Friday-Saturday 1am

Large Group Friendly: Somewhat



Bar/Happy Hour: Full Bar; Tasty Cocktails

Buttermilk Channel

Buttermilk Channel is a classy joint, so I made a classy pose. Shut up, I'm working on it.

But seriously, first off, it's well decorated. The navy exterior, the interior painted the color of buttermilk, the wooden bar and brick wall. Lovely and relaxing. The service is attentive and generally friendly, and the owner is very nice (he chatted with us for some time after he saw my aunt measuring the bar with an actual measuring tape, and then gave her some tips on sconces...yep).


The brunch menu is southern-tilted, with house-made sausage, biscuits, scrambles, pancakes, pork chops, and more. They also offer your usual burger and salad options, and all entrees are $6-15, and include coffee/tea and a mimosa or bellini. One of the better brunch deals I've had, considering the menu, atmosphere and complimentary beverages. I ordered the ABC Grilled Cheese, with apples, bacon and cheddar. It came on grilled bread, and was predictably salty and could have used more apple, but the bacon was good quality and perfectly cooked. The tiny salad that came with it was actually very good.

We ordered a side of biscuits, which I was fairly impressed with and would repeat order. I also sampled a bit of Jennifer's pork chop and cheddar waffles (the pork chop was HUGE), and it was really delicious-- juicy tasty pork, and predictably delicious waffle (how can a cheddar waffle be bad..I'm sure it could happen, but it shouldn't). The tiny bit of Rich's corn beef hash I tried was also good (below) and my cousin Walker gave their fries his seal of approval.

I will note that I had dinner there once, and though this is not that review, it was also good. I will definitely be back for another relaxing brunch (note that it is only served on Sundays) time and time again. -Laurel



One afternoon, our friend Rich and I were going to meet up and head over to Reis 100 in Park Slope, where they have a 100 different types of sandwiches. Since Rich is a sandwich fiend, I thought he would thoroughly enjoy it. However, due to the MTA induced fate we often find ourselves wrestling with, it was going to take forever for him to get there from LIC. So Laurel was kind enough to invite us along with her family to Buttermilk Channel.

To be honest, I might have lured Rich to the restaurant under false pretenses...I promised him Country Fried Steak, as well as biscuits and gravy, both of which they do not have (but hopefully due to us meeting the owner and begging him to add them both to the menu, I'm hoping this might change). Either way, I do not think he was disappointed at the vast array of food we ordered and sampled off each other. I mean, seriously, he looks so happy in that picture above, right?



So, the food. This place definitely takes the first part of their compound word to heart. Everything had a ton of butter. That's what made the porkchops so tasty at least...the coating of butter and crumbs on the outside. The meat inside was less than spectacular - tasted a bit bland in fact. But coupled with the coating and the cheddar waffles, it was absolutely delicious. I highly recommend this dish. It is the most expensive one, although at $15 and including coffee and alcohol, it's not that bad.

The biscuits were good, and I wish I had eaten a whole plate by myself, but alas, I had to share with everyone else. Also, we ordered a coffeecake, which came out in the odd form of a small muffin. Soft and gooey, with great flavor. They also have donuts, which we didn't try, and now I can't remember why...

The wait staff is super nice and very patient. Our waitress was nice enough to give me my alcoholic beverage after we had all eaten, because apparently I can't read and didn't realize a free drink comes with the meal. This place is well decorated, and everything has a very classy feel to it. Before even meeting the co-owner outside, I got the feeling whoever owned the place knew exactly how he/she wanted it to look and feel: homey and inviting. A lot of restaurants don't think it out, and just slap a bunch of tacky crap into a room and wonder why no one comes. This guy really knew what he was doing - he even remembered the name of the paint he used on the front.

Go here and enjoy.- Jennifer





Address: 542 Court Street between Nelson and Huntington (Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn)

Website: ButtermilkChannelNYC.com, Yelp

Payment: Cash, Credit

Delivery: No

Open Late: Open for Dinner, Sunday, Tues-Thurs, 5pm-11pm; Fri-Sat 5pm-12am; Open for Brunch on Sundays only 10am-3pm

Large Group Friendly: Somewhat, they take reservations for 6+ people

Bar/Happy Hour: Full Bar, Drink included in the brunch price

Pane E Vino

Pane E Vino was, quite honestly, not our first choice. As you may have guessed, it was my birthday, and Jennifer and I were meeting up with my aunt, uncle and cousin to eat brunch. We were going for Cafe Luluc for some pancakes, but it was packed, so we wandered up the street a bit and found this place. The decor is a little unusual, with chandeliers and lounge seating up front, but they have a large covered garden space in the back where we were seated.

The menu offered several standard brunch options and some pretty basic Italian fare. It was a nice brunch deal: $10.50 for an entree and a standard alcoholic brunch drink or coffee/tea. Jennifer and I did what we do best-- ordered two things and split them. I ordered the veggie omelette, which came with a few potatoes, and she ordered the french toast which came with strawberries (there was the option of fruit or meat) and a small side salad.

The blob on top of the omelette below was mozzerella, and overall it was pretty tasty. I liked the julianned veggies mixed in, and the potatoes here are mysteriously delicious. I'm not sure that there's anything special about them, but they taste so good. The french toast was the standout this time, just the right texture and flavorful enough on it's own.

The service was attentive, but not overly friendly. We had at least 4 people at our table taking orders, bringing food and bussing, so it was a little confusing. They did notice my inconspicuous birthday hat, though, and brought be a free tiramisu with a candle. I'd come back for some standard brunch fare while other places are over crowded, especially for the french toast. -Laurel

You always take a chance at a place that has an Italian name, but Greek/American confusing decor and a waiting area reminiscent of your grandmother's sitting room.  However, the deal sounded good, and of course, we're always up to try new things - especially when we're drunk or starving (we were starving in this instance). 

Luckily, the food was better than the deal. The omelet was delicious. I always take a chance with veggies, without knowing for sure what veggies are in it, but this was perfect. And the buffalo mozzarella on top was the perfect addition to the already tasty on its own eggs. The potatoes were amazing, definitely. Cooked to perfection - not too soft and not too hard, something that brunch places seem to have a hard time with. You don't want your fork to sink right into your potatoes, or have to try too hard to cut them. And they were slightly crunchy. The french toast was soft on the inside and slightly crunchy on the outside. The strawberries were fresh and absolutely yummy. 

The staff was sweet to give Laurel tiramisu pudding, and it was the perfect combination of a cinnamon light bottom and a creamy middle. I was absolutely full or I would have stolen it from her birthday hands. She was nice enough to let me have two bites though. 

This place taught me to not be afraid of unknown brunch places...however, I've been to enough terrible places to know that you should at least be careful. As long as the place is a good value, you won't be pissed when it's gross. But if it's a good value, it's more likely to be gross...  -Jennifer

Address: 174 Smith St (Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn)

Website: http://www.yelp.com/biz/pane-e-vino-brooklyn-2

Payment: Cash, Cards

Delivery: Yes

Open Late: Midnight on weekends

Large Group Friendly: Yes

Bar/Happy Hour: Full bar, brunch specials

Joya

I have eaten at Joya many-a-times, on account of it being a favorite restaurant of my aunt's and it also being near her house. Therefore, whenever we'd visit and she didn't feel like cooking, we'd often end up here. Upon moving to Brooklyn, I continued to make the occassional Joya visit, as I did this past weekend. To sum up, 'bout time I reviewed this place.

Joya serves Thai food, including fried rice, homemade noodle dishes, curries, spring rolls, and more. The prices are one thing that bring me here for repeat visits, as most entrees are around the $7 mark, and can easily feed two people. You know what that means? Two people can eat fresh and tasty Thai food for $3.50 apiece, plus tip. Nice. The other thing that brings me back here is, as you might have guessed, the food. It's not what I think of as cheap food--it's well made with fresh ingredients, nicely spiced, and generously portioned. I'll review a few of my favorite dishes from here, two of which I had this weekend.

One thing I often order from here is the Pad See Yue ($6.95), a noodle dish with chicken or beef, chinese broccoli, egg and homemade flat noodles in a brown slightly sweet sauce. It's some of the best Pad See Yue I've ever had, and the noodles are delicious. The broccoli gives it a bit of crunch and the sauce is tasty but not overpowering. This weekend I ordered the fresh mango salad ($4.95) and the chicken spring rolls ($2.95). The mango salad has loads of fresh sliced mango, spring onions, lettuce, cherry tomatoes, carrot and a light citrus dressing. So summery and fresh, and really great if you love mango. The spring rolls (includes 2) are hot and crispy and come with a plum dipping sauce, and make a good appetizer.

The interior of Joya is industrial and modern, with a concrete floor and a long bar in the front. There's a good amount of seating and some garden seating in the back, but dinner (especially on the weekends, which I just don't attempt) is often really crowded, and because of said concrete floor, is very loud. That, and they have a DJ at night. Does not good conversation environment make. I'd suggest going at lunch, especially when it's nice out and you can sit out back, dinner on a weeknight (and with someone you don't really like to talk to), or their takeout/delivery is also very good. The service isn't overly friendly but pretty attentive and accurate (and by no means rude).

So try it if you're in the area. You might see me there. -Laurel

Laurel has been talking about Joya since she moved to New York (which would explain why her post is much longer than mine). Let's be honest, Thai food gives me a little bit of a scare. My stomach can't handle curry, and I'm quite the weakling, so I was extremely hestitant to eat at Joya. However, I love Pineapple Fried Rice, probably one of my favorite foods, so I know not all Thai food is scary.

Unfortunately, they don't serve this at Joya. BUT, their regular Shrimp Fried Rice is excellent and largely portioned - I definitely had enough for lunch the next day. Also, it wasn't greasy at all, the vegetables were fresh, and the balance of flavors were perfect - not spicy, but just a hint of soy sauce.

And of course, the outside patio is beautiful and perfect for a nice afternoon lounging in the sun to discuss how excellent Tropic Thunder was. No crazy bathroom stories at this restaurant - but as a warning, they aren't labeled, and unisex. - Jennifer


Address: 215 Court St @ Warren (Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn, New York)

Website: Yelp

Payment: Cash Only

Take Out: Yes

Delivery: Yes

Open Late:

Large Group Friendly: Yes

Bar/Happy Hour: Full Bar

Alma

Alma is situated in Carroll Gardens right across the street from the water, and draws in customers with its three levels and rooftop seating. We came here with some of my family (Jennifer is now a member of the clan) to experience the views.

The menu is heavy on seafood and consists of modern Mexican food like guacamole, fajitas and margaritas. I order the Pollo Fajitas, which came with corn tortillas, beans, rice, guacamole and salad ($15.50). It was enough food but definitely not too much, and the chicken was grilled. Although it was fresh and thoughtfully put together, it was still lacking in flavor, largely due to (in my opinion) the chicken.

David ordered the enchiladas with mole sauce, which were pretty tasty from the bite I had and a ton of food. The general consensus is the real reasons for visiting this place are as follows: the guacamole, the margaritas, and the view. So if you’re in need of these three things, go! -Laurel

I had the pleasure of going to this restaurant in the pouring rain with Laurel's adorable family. While her family tried the tasty food of the day offerings, I opted for something a little more safe - fajitas. They were delicious, not the same run of the mill onions, peppers and optional meat that most Mexican restaurants dish from.

The atmosphere is relaxing and laid back as well - hopefully you'll get to sit on top and enjoy the view of the industrious landscape and a little bit over, lower Manhattan. And even if it rains, it's still an option - they have the perfect shades to protect you from the worst of tropical storms.

Laurel's family has been going here for years. They commented that they used to go all the time, but the menu changed drastically and it just wasn't the same, and they didn't go back for quite a while. However, good news! The menu seems to be back in order, as we all enjoyed it immensely. - Jennifer

Address: 187 Columbia St (Brooklyn, NY)

Website: http://www.almarestaurant.com/

Payment: Cash/Credit Cards

Take Out: Yes

Delivery: Yes

Open Late: Not really, til 11pm on the weekends

Large Group Friendly: Yes

Bar/Happy Hour: Yes, with tasty margaritas!

Le Petit Cafe

Jess woke me up and reminded me of our brunch date, so I started scouring the internet for somewhere that had cheap breakfast in my favorite part of Brooklyn - Carroll Gardens. I settled on Le Petit Cafe, and I'm so glad I did. We went in and were a tad confused - it was super small and looked like a place that you just order at the counter and then sit down and wait. But then the waitress pointed us to the back...to probably one of the most magical places I had ever seen. It was a huge "backyard" patio, complete with an outdoor fireplace, cobblestone floor, a fountain, a garden, and, of course, gnats (which ended up not being a huge deal).

I was craving my standard brunch - french toast and eggs. I was elated to find that they had both and it was cheap ($5.95 for the french toast, and $3.50 for eggs, home fries, and bacon). The french toast was absolutely delicious - soft melt-in-your-mouth egg-coated thick cut french toast. The eggs and bacon were a little weak, but the home fries were absolutely yummy, made with peppers, onions and a bit of thyme. I was also craving lemonade, which surprisingly they had and I was so excited.

My only complaint was the service. It was terrible. There was no one to direct traffic (you seat yourself) and it was hard to get the wait staff's attention. When you finally did get their attention though, they were pretty nice. To be honest, it might not be worth it unless you have a lot of patience and time on your side, and the food isn't necessarily that fantastic. However, it's really pretty in there, so it might be worth it. And there's apparently a Le Petit Cafe in Soho, but I'm not sure it's the same owners (that one apparently sucks a lot more). - Jennifer

I will most likely return to Le Petit Cafe at some point, and for the following reasons: it is standard breahfast/brunch fair, which honestly is what I want at breakfast/brunch time. Also, as Jennifer pointed out, the setting is so so nice. It's a little like eating in a really fancy green house. And lastly, the food is pretty good and so are the prices. I felt like I should have paid a lot more judging by the surroundings alone, but I only paid $3 for 2 eggs and sausage on a roll. Deal!

The menu included all kinds of egg dishes (sandwiches, benedict, etc), french toast, pancakes, a large variety of paninis, granola, soups, salads, and lots to drink-- smoothies, juices, beers, sodas, etc. I will most likely return when I have a visitor, as anyone could find something to their taste here.

The service was slow and sparse, but I wouldn't go here for table service if you were in a hurry anyway. It's much better to sit and enjoy the covered patio in the back. Isn't brunching about relaxing, anyway? -Laurel



Address: 502 Court St. near 5th St (Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn)

Website: http://nymag.com/listings/restaurant/le-petit-cafe/

Payment: Cash, Cards

Take Out: Yes

Open Late: 10:30 Mon-Sat, earlier Sun

Delivery: No

Large Group Friendly: Yes

Bar/Happy Hour: Some beers and such, no actual bar