No. 7

(Photos by Davis Cox)

In the past, I’ve always been fond of dive bars. But lately, as I don’t want to meet a dude who’s crashing on his pal’s couch and smoking a ton of weed in lieu of say, working and I’m going more for an employed guy who wears clothes without holes in them and has well-kempt hair, I am also going for a bar that doesn’t smell and looks nice. I guess as my taste changes in men, so does my taste in bars.

No. 7 in Fort Greene is the perfect place to go for a nice hybrid of non-divey, non-yuppie vibe, complete with laid back dining and drinking. The dimly lit dining spot is, dare I say, handsome, with a long bar leading into a few large bar tables and some quieter tables in the back. They have a small menu, that changes with the seasons, but always includes their famous fried broccoli (broccoli deep-fried, stuffed with cheese and served with slices of grapefruit and onions) – a crowd favorite among my friends. They always give bread, amazing pickles (everyone who hates pickles loves these), and white bean dip (creamy, tastes a bit like cheese). They rotate out different types of sandwiches on their bar menu and larger meals and appetizers on their table menu, always including some sort of tofu concoction, as well as some asian fusion and heartier options, like their chicken fried steak sandwich (below - it’s the BOMB, but unfortunately was taken off the menu for a while. I’m praying steadily for its return).

Their drink menu rotates as well, and my favorite one was taken off last I checked (was my lucky number - 21), but yet again, praying for its return. They have a nice wine selection, and the bartenders are knowledgeable. However, I ignored their suggestions and picked the bottle I liked the most and fell in love with a wine that cost $11 a glass (I discovered later an entire bottle is only $12 from Astor Wine & Spirits, but it doesn’t stop me from getting it on occasion anyway).

Now – the service. I absolutely love all of the wait staff in the back, they’re always helpful and nice. But as a warning, if you want to sit down, get there early. If you want to drink only…get there early. They are always quite busy.

BTW, you might remember my writing partner mentioning No. 7 in her TONY interview (that’s right, Laurel, I’m bringing it up) back in February. This is the perfect place to take her on a date, just don’t do it on a Friday or Saturday night because it’s so crowded it’s almost hard to breathe (also because she’s probably hanging out with me!). - Jennifer

Since the theme of this post seems to be dating, then yes. Take me here on a date. If you don't, I might be here anyway, having a cocktail and eating bread and cheese. YOUR LOSS.

If you didn't know No. 7 was there, you would likely pass it by. It sits behind a subway entrance, and the facade is painted black and dimly lit. The front has a small sitting area with couches in the window, and the bar lining the left wall and proper seating beyond. It feels dignified, but inviting and relaxed at the same time. The crowd ranges in age (but no kids/strollers during my experiences, which is a plus in my book), with an overall neighborhood-y feel.

The menu is small, but big enough for options, and changes slightly with the season. Be sure to order a cocktail, and ask for a bar menu. You can order from it anytime without being at the bar, but they don't provide the menu unless you request it. It has roughly half a dozen more options, all smaller plates but very affordable. My favorite items are the plate of free bread, dip and fresh pickles, and the fried broccoli. The fries (below) are also good, and a hefty portion to share.

Jennifer covered it pretty well (it can get crowded), so I'll leave it at that. Try it out! And take us with you! -Laurel

Address: 7 Greene Avenue at Fulton Street (Fort Greene, Brooklyn)

Website: No7Restaurant.com

Payment: Cash, Credit

Delivery: No

Open Late: 'Til 2am

Large Group Friendly: Not gigantic, but can accommodate large groups

Bar/Happy Hour: Full Bar, Wonderful cocktails

Madiba

Simply put, this might be one of the coziest and most satisfying restaurants I've ever been to. Unsure of where to dine on a recent Monday afternoon, we stumbled upon Madiba quite haphazardly. We decided to walk to Dekalb Ave in search of some brunch - Autour du Monde was closed, and most of the other restaurants were crowded. We went into Madiba because it was considerably less crowded and the tables and umbrellas outside were cute and inviting.

Unfortunately all the umbrellas were taken, so we had to settle for inside. Luckily, however, we got to enjoy two musical artists warming up for that night's performance. They were absolutely fantastic and very nice. Also, the inside of the restaurant is adorable, with its wooden tables and old glassware, as well as the awesome coke bottle chandelier hanging from the ceiling. The restaurant is named after Nelson Mandela; Madiba is the honorary title South Africans gave him. Therefore, the entire restaurant is decorated in his honor.



As for the food, the restaurant has quite a collection of comfort food and spicy delights such as curry. A few of us jumped at the offer of Sangria, while Laurel went with coffee. Laurel and I both went for the Meal in a Pie - chicken on bottom, mashed potatoes and gravy in the middle, and a flaky crust on top ($10). It definitely lived up to its name. I was unbelievably full afterward. Davis went for the Fatcake with the savory mince. Yes, it looked as unhealthy as it sounds (pictured above). He seemed to really dig it, although I didn't get to try a piece.

Definitely give Madiba a taste if you're in the neighborhood - or take a special trip out to Fort Greene just for this little South African gem. - Jennifer



I have to agree that Madiba is super cute and from my experience, pretty tasty. I ordered the same thing as Jennifer, which we don't normally do, but it looked too good. And it was good, the mushroom gravy was especially delicious. I practically licked my plate and was pleasantly full.. but not too full to pass up dessert. I ordered Koeksisters to share, twisted little buttery pastries with a sugary lemon-ginger sauce. They were rich and light at the same time, and deliciously sweet. My coffee came with adorable little jar containers of milk and raw sugar, and was nice and smooth. My stomach was happy when we left, as was the rest of me.



The prices are reasonable for brunch (standard), and can get a little pricier for dinner, but I would be willing to venture that the price fits the quality. The wait staff is friendly and the atmosphere is airy and festive. They have lots of events and music, so I'm sure we'll be coming back to check that out as well as more of the menu. You should too. -Laurel

Address: 195 Dekalb Ave. between Carlton and Adelphi (Fort Greene, Brooklyn)

Website: http://www.madibarestaurant.com

Payment: Cash, Cards

Delivery: Yes

Open Late: Yes

Large Group Friendly: Yes

Bar/Happy Hour: Yes

Loulou

We went to Loulou for Easter brunch and they happily accepted our reservation for seven about 30 minutes before the fact. The interior was small-ish and homey, with another small outdoor space in the back. We opted for inside since the wind was crazy.. think moving to Oz crazy.

The options were pretty standard for brunch but with a French twist. Per usual, Jennifer and I ordered a savory item and a sweet item and split. This time it was the French Toast, which came with some fruit and nuts and syrup, and the French Burrito, which was a crepe stuffed with egg, chorizo, and veggies. The french toast was solid, reasonably fluffy and the fruit was a nice touch. But during our many brunch excursions, I've had better. It was not melt-in-your-mouth, melt-in-my-shoes good.

The burrito was interesting, and pretty tasty. It was a hefty portion, more than enough for one, and the balance of the burrito, potatoes and salad was nice. Like most things, it could have used more chorizo. Overall, the prices were standard for a NY brunch.

The service was attentive, and refilled our coffees pretty often. Although he only refilled half way every time. Seemed like he could have saved some trips by being a bit more generous, but no biggie. He was nice and we all left full and satisfied.

Loulou is a good option for brunch if you're in the neighborhood, and the atmosphere is relaxed. I'm not sure it's my favorite around, but I think I'll be back, perhaps to try dinner. -Laurel

Davis and Amanda have been raving about this place for weeks, so I was excited to try  it. As Laurel said, we called 30 minutes before we decided to go. Normally, we just wing it, but it seemed like a brunch day (you know, it being Easter and all), so I figured it would be full. Luckily, it wasn't so much.

Our sweet/savory split proved successful yet again. However, if I had gotten the French Toast alone, I would have been disappointed. See, it was good French Toast, thick cut, egg soaked, and grilled to perfection, but it wasn't great French Toast. Great French Toast, in my opinion, has a bit better toppings or maybe one more piece of toast. Something about it was just off. Not taste wise, just overall satisfaction wise. The burrito was good, but seemed a bit...overrated. No offense to my lovely friends, but their ravings about that burrito just didn't live up to expectations. It was good, and filling, and the potatoes were delicious, but the chorizo (as small a portion as it was, as Laurel mentioned) was...not very good. It was a lot of fat, rather than a lot of meat. I've had lots of chorizo, so while I was not an expert, I do feel like I can say - it just wasn't up to par.

However, I will say, the place was absolutely delightful and very cute. And the waiter played along with me when I made my usual terrible jokes (I can sometimes be an embarrassing uncle when we go out to eat). Either way, I would love to try Loulou again some time, and maybe try something different. They have a lot to offer, and everyone else seemed to really enjoy themselves.

Worth a try, if you're around the neighborhood. - Jennifer

Address: 222 Dekalb Ave (Ft Greene, Brooklyn)

Website: http://www.louloubrooklyn.com/

Payment: credit, cash

Delivery: no

Open Late: midnight on weekends

Large Group Friendly: yes, they take reservations

Bar/Happy Hour: yes-- no corkage fee on Mondays (BYOB) and 20% wine list on Sundays

General Greene

Laurel found the restaurant on Yelp after diving through some other choices. Across the street from Loulou, a place our good friends Davis & Amanda like to go and we will soon try, General Greene is the kind of place I can get behind. It's in the centralized Fort Greene area, features some southern options, and had a short wait. The only downside is that it's slightly more expensive than other places.


The menu offers a number of choices, including everything from smoked trout pressed sandwiches and cobb salads to sides of mac & cheese, candied bacon or a ham and gruyere bread pudding (which was tempting). Or you can get what I was most excited about - a three-egg skillet, filled with your choice of sausage gravy and a biscuit, or chorizo, zucchini, and chickpeas, or blood sausage and apple, topped with creme fraiche, among a number of other options. Laurel and I immediately decided to get the 3-egg skillet with sausage gravy and a biscuit ($13). Normally we try to get something different to share multiple opinions, but we couldn't resist the urge of sausage gravy. And boy was this gravy smooth - with chunks of sausage and the right amount of pepper, and a big thick biscuit to soak it up. Honestly, I expected more of a scrambled egg as opposed to them just cracking three eggs in a skillet and was perhaps a little unwelcome to the fact that it was slightly crusty. Overall however, it was a nice balance. Our dining companion decided on the skillet with blood sausage, apple and creme fresh (pictured below). He seemed rather satisfied with his choice as well.


General Greene overall has a nice light to it, with a majority of the walls being windows, and the wait staff is somewhat attentive. Granted, when we got there, a couple decided to get up and leave after only ordering water because they had apparently been waiting so long. We didn't have that problem. And there was a little boy in there who was playing with dinosaurs, and then started pretending to be a dinosaur, stomping around and growling. He was the best kid ever.


If you are in the neighborhood and the mood for a slightly different approach to brunch, check out General Greene. -Jennifer



General Greene is a place I've read about multiple times and have made many-a mental notes to eat there one day. The stars finally aligned and we went for some Saturday brunch.

There was a short wait, but we were there at prime brunch time. Our server was cute and friendly and reasonably attentive. As Jennifer pointed out, the menu has a nice range of options, and I need to try to the ham and gruyere bread pudding for my life to be complete. They also have a bar and featured on the board above were fountain floats. The skillet (as seen below) was pretty delicious, but too freakin hot to eat upon arrival. And for about 10 minutes afterwards. And being me, I was too hungry to wait, and therefore blew on each bite repeatedly and lightly burned my mouth.. repeatedly. But according to the tastebuds that were not too singed to taste, it was pretty delicious. The sausage gravy was very good, and the biscuit wasn't bad either. The eggs were a bit overcooked, but not terribly so, and all of it together tasted comforting.

I will be back to General Greene to try some different options and different meals. The space is nice and airy and the atmosphere is relaxed. They have some moderately priced, comforting options that have the potential to keep me coming back. -Laurel

Address: 229 Dekalb Ave. at Clermont Ave. (Fort Greene, Brooklyn)

Website: http://nymag.com/listings/restaurant/general-greene/

Payment: credit, cash

Delivery: no

Open Late: til 11pm

Large Group Friendly: Yes, I would say so

Bar/Happy Hour: Yes

Cake Man Raven Confectionary

Cake Man Raven is a legend in Brooklyn, and for those in the know, in all of NYC (see celebrity photos). He's know for one thing: red velvet cake. That's practically all his shop offers, and that's what they are famous for. And boy, do people love red velvet cake.

I am certainly not as big a fan as many of the die hards out there, but I can't deny liking it, and living so close I knew I had to give it a try. Multiple times upon walking by the storefront was closed, so contrary to the hours listed on their website catching them open seems to be a bit of a gamble. So when I was walking by headed to Target and I saw they were open, I had to go in and try this place out.

The interior is small and taken up almost entirely by a glass bakery case, and it was filled with big slices of red velvet cake, packaged and ready to go. Two options: with or without nuts, both costing $6 even. I got a no-nuts and went on my merry way. As you can see below, the slice was huge and the cake was definitely that distinctive red color. The cake was fairly moist with a slight cocoa taste, and the cream cheese icing was very creamy and in perfect proportion to the cake. Upon taking a couple of bites I was fairly impressed, but not wowed. After a couple more bites, I was more impressed. After eating half of that slice, I was hooked. I don't know if he puts crack in that cake or what, but it's delicious for no specific reason other than it just is. I would definitely recommend for red velvet lovers in the area-- and make sure you check out their annual parade down Fulton Street. Last year featured free cupcakes. -Laurel

One of my mother's best friends makes a to die for red velvet cake. So rich and creamy, everything is made from scratch, and she puts lots of cocoa in it, to where it looks like chocolate sauce between the cream cheese icing and the red cake. And that cream cheese frosting is absolutely delicious. I've had my mother order it for me more than once (they're so good she sells them). Therefore, my expectations for red velvet cake are rather high, but I still love it no matter who makes it.

When Laurel first moved to the Clinton Hill neighborhood, she mentioned this Cupcake Parade, and I was inherently interested, however, I was immediately disappointed that we missed it. And as she said, every time we subsequently passed this bakery they were closed, so I was even more disappointed.

So when we finally got this infamous red velvet cake, my hopes were really high. Luckily, they weren't completely dashed. Their red velvet cake is good, not great, but good. The icing was absolutely delicious, so rich you know it can't be good for you. The cake was not overly moist as I like my red velvet cake - in fact it was a touch (just a touch) too dry for me, but the flavor was delicious. I only took a few bites as I couldn't pry it from Laurel's hands (kidding - she left half for me, but I opted out). Honestly, I think the cake was only a bit dry because it was sitting in a cardboard box behind the counter with a ton of other cakes, which means who knows if it was made that day, or another day. I'd like to try it again fresh, but who knows when I'll get that chance again. - Jennifer

Address: 708-a Fulton St. (Brooklyn)

Website: http://www.cakemanraven.com/

Payment: Cash for in-store purchases

Delivery: no

Open Late: Mon-Sun 9-10pm (not entirely true..it's a gamble sometimes)

Large Group Friendly: no, unless you're taking them cake to another location

Bar/Happy Hour: no

Pequena

We decided to try Pequena one night on the way home, especially since they deliver to us (for future reference). The space is small with just a few tables and fairly cramped, but the mood was festive and the decor interesting to look at (as in, I don't get it, but it's shiny and colorful so I don't need to). We ordered our food to go and sat on a bench in the covered area out front.

It took a while, but there seemed to be only two girls working the phones and the tables and a couple of people in the kitchen. By the time we got home it the food was room temperature so we had to do a bit of reheating, but it was still tasty. We ordered some stewed pork tacos (appetizer size, which was two tacos with guacamole and salsa, $5) and a full order of black bean and sweet plantain quesadillas (two with cheese, rice and beans, $12).

We split everything, and even with us being ridiculously hungry we couldn't finish it all. The pork was good, flavorful although not overly tender, and was a nice combo with the salsa and guac. The quesadilla was also good, but lost a little in transport, since the crispiness from the grill was gone and it was a bit dry.

The food was fresh (when we got it) and filling and we'll no doubt be going or ordering again. If you're looking for some Mexican-ish food in the area, especially if you need delivery, I suggest you try it out. -Laurel

This night I was really craving Mexican food, and since Habana Outpost is closed until it gets warmer, I was excited when Laurel took note of this place one day when we were walking around the neighborhood. We were greeted by two nice but slightly flustered waitress/hostesses who were running around so much it took a few tries before we could get out that we just wanted our food to go. Not to mention the fact that the phone was ringing every five seconds so it was hard to get their attention. 

After we ordered, we stood/sat in their waiting area with some people who seemed to be pissed about how long they had been waiting. We heard almost the same two conversations by two groups of girls, basically saying that the food was worth the wait, so I was pretty excited to get my food. However, after waiting for 30 minutes, I started getting that same level of annoyance. When I walked in to ask if there was any hope (Lost was coming on and seriously -  we needed to get home), our food was there.

As Laurel said, it was lukewarm by the time we go home and a bit soggy, but still tasty. And for whoever reads this on a regular basis probably knows our shared love for plantains and black beans, so a quesadilla as such was an amazing thought. The guacamole was super spicy and kind of overwhelmed the sweetness, so I think next time I'll get it without, but otherwise the quesadilla was delicious. The pork tacos were quite spicy as well, but the pork was full of flavor and the salsa was unique in its own right. The best part of the tacos  were quite larger than I expected so I was really full by the end of it all. 

We'll definitely be back to this place, and order from there a lot. If anything, I know I'm going to be wanting a margarita soon. - Jennifer

Address: 86 S Portland, b/t Fulton and Lafayette (Ft Greene)

Website: http://www.pequenarestaurant.com/

Payment: cash only

Delivery: yes

Open Late: midnight on the weekend

Large Group Friendly: no

Bar/Happy Hour: yes, 2 for 1 margaritas, M-F 12-6

Habana Outpost

Habana Outpost is a crazy looking fixture in the heart of Fort Greene, and is extremely popular in the summer. Jennifer and I squeezed our way in one lovely summer night and enjoyed a picnic table outside and some dinner.

The inside is tiled-up and festive, and the outside is the definition of the word festive-- it sports a good amount of picnic table seating and an old painted shell of a truck where the food and drink are served. After standing in line inside for a short while, I ordered a steak quesadilla ($8.25) and a Six Point draft ($2.50). We scored a picnic table outside (it was packed on a weeknight) and dug in. The beer was a deal. The quesadilla was really pretty good, and the steak tasted very smoky, obviously grilled. It was a little pricey, but hey, it was steak.

The atmosphere is a fun one. Habana shows movies outside certain night during the summer, and holds various other events when the weather is right. That's the cool thing about the Outpost location-- it's a gathering place for the community. It also takes a very eco-friendly stance, with lots of recycling, environmental building practices, and you can ride a stationary bike to blend your own smoothie! I'm going to try that one day.

I'd recommend it, especially on a nice night. I could sit there forever. Be aware that other people will have the same great idea as you, though! -Laurel

This place was packed: line going towards the door, people everywhere. When you order (inside) you have to take your order to the cook (outside in a trailer), and then they make it, call your name, and you get your food. Seems easy enough, but when you also get a beer and would like to snag a place to sit, it gets complicated. For some reason, I felt the need to get up about 20 times, and every time I shoved my ass between this couple who were sitting on separate benches but were meeting in the middle. Granted, I have no ass to shove (despite how much disgusting food I shovel into my mouth) but it was still really annoying. Eventually they stood up and moved somewhere else to talk, but by then, I was done with the ass shoving.

Oh yeah, the food. By the time I ate it, it was a little cold, but still delicious. I ordered a veggie burrito. It wasn't huge, but it was definitely filling. It was grilled like a quesadilla, which was different (and welcome). I wouldn't say it's the best thing I've ever eaten, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. What I really loved (as per usual) were the grilled sweet plantains. I can't get enough of those things, and they're better, and sweeter, and plantain-ier...everywhere we go.

Like Laurel, I'm down with their recycling efforts. Pretty righteous. I really dig places who care about the world around them - especially with how much waste restaurants produce per day. If anything, it's a great reason to at least give them a try. I know it's a tad out of most people's way, which I understand, but here's another selling point: there's a lot of really hot people that dine there. Just sayin' - Jennifer

Address: 757 Fulton Street (Fort Greene, Brooklyn)

Website: http://www.ecoeatery.com/

Payment: Cash Only

Take Out: Yes

Delivery: No

Open Late: 12pm to 12am, closed Tuesday

Large Group Friendly: Yes, but can be packed on weekend nights when the weather is nice

Bar/Happy Hour: Full Bar, Six Point (local) beer is $2.50 all the time

Food at the Brooklyn Flea

So, we've brought you one review from the Brooklyn Flea--a fab flea market with all sorts of goodies in Fort Greene--Kumquat Cupcakery. Those delightful little treats are tasty goodness, but Brooklyn Flea offers a few other options--a couple of which I tried out this past weekend.

A few notes for beginners: The Brooklyn Flea is a Sunday-only event, open from 10-5. It offers items like jewelry, antiques, furnishings, clothes, records, original art, food, and other random things. The market is outdoors and is located on the track field of a high school, but, barring a major storm, is rain or shine, since vendors are under tents. Food-wise, the flea regularly has waffles, ice cream, french food, sandwiches, cupcakes, and best of all.. some vendors from the Red Hook Ballfields.

If you don't know about the Latin American food at the Red Hook Ballfields, google it, for it will be covered in a later post. I decided that this Sunday warranted a pupusa, a thick corn tortilla that is stuffed with different ingredients. The pupusa stand offers several different variations, of which I have tried the pork and cheese and the bean and cheese, and they all cost $2.25. Bargain. Two would easily make a meal.

These tasty creations are topped with raw shredded cabbage, red chili sauce (much like an enchilada sauce for you Mexican food fans), and sour cream. Pickled jalapenos are optional. They make the pupusas right there in front of you--patting then out and tossing them on the grill. And they are delicious--a little crisp on the outside from grilling, with a tasty bit of filling in the middle. The cabbage adds more crunch, the chili sauce adds some nice flavor, and the sour cream adds a little cool to the mix. Tasty combo indeed.

The other item I tried this weekend was a chocolate chip cookie from Wanna Hava Cookie (http://www.wannahavacookie.com/). They offered samples, which I am a total sucker for, and had various kinds of whoopie pies (chocolate cakey cookies with vanilla, mint, chocolate or peanut butter filling) and your usual cookies, like chocolate chip, oatmeal, and snickerdoodle. I went for the classic chocolate chip cookie, of which I am a big fan, and have yet to master in the kitchen.

It was definitely a good one. A little crispy around the edge, chewy in the middle, with both milk and dark chocolate chips. I was satisfied, and would eat again. Cookies are $1, or 6 for $5. A wee bit steep if you're not buying 6, as they aren't huge, but they use quality ingredients.

So if you haven't been flea'ing, you should go! Find a bargain, and stuff yourself. Two of my favorite things ever. -Laurel

Address: Lafayette Ave b/t Vanderbilt and Clermont (Ft Greene)

Website: http://www.brownstoner.com/brooklynflea/

Payment: Cash Only

Take Out: Yes

Delivery: No

Open Late: Nope, and only open on Sundays

Large Group Friendly: Yes

Bar/Happy Hour: Nope!

Smoke Joint

After a day of unusually good weather and wandering around the park, we decided we must have some barbecue. Odd craving considering where we currently reside, but we found a way. Smoke Joint was pretty busy but we waited in the ordering line and slobbered over the smells. They smoke their barbecue on site here, and they offer it a few different ways-- pork or beef ribs, "hacked and stacked" (pulled as we know it), and smoked chicken. They offer it in sandwich or plated form, along with lots of sides.

Jennifer and I both ordered hacked and stacked pork sandwiches and a couple of sides (mine included mac and cheese and barbecued beans), and our counterparts ordered roasted corn, barbecued hot wings and beef ribs. The sandwich was really very good-- the pork was piled high and moist. It had a nice smoky flavor, but definitely benefited from the kick of added barbecue sauce. The mac and cheese was pretty good, but I can't say I'd recommend the barbecued beans. They were a big mess of meat and beans and barbecue sauce that just didn't quite come together.

I will be back for the pork sandwich, and if you aren't extremely hungry it might be enough to fill you up. Don't order two sides unless you're ravenous, and the beer list is interesting. One nice thing was the owner was working and they were out of seating, so he sat us at his restaurant next door (Lil Pig) and brought our food to us there. -Laurel




This place is completely and totally 150% everything I miss about the South. The food is extraordinary - yummy sweet cornbread, pork sandwiches with mayonnaise slaw (and no one judging you for it for putting it on top of your sandwich except for one of your fellow dining companions...), perfect sweet tea, and some good old fashioned southern hospitality.



The place was packed, and considering our party was 5 people, it was hard to find a seat. The owner came over to me, without us even having to ask, and told us we could sit in his other restaurant. We went through a back adjoining hallway and came into the 'Lil Pig. This place was cute too, but much more New York. There were real plates and fancy looking food, rather than our huge portions and paper take out "baskets". Let's be honest - it was everything I liked about New York, too - including the overly snobby old ladies and gay men.



Either way - the food is perfection here (minus, of course, those unsightly baked beans. There was huge pieces of meat in them, which is fine, but they had no flavor.) Oh yeah! And one more thing I miss and love about the South, FREE REFILLS! GO and when you do, call me. I'm game. - Jennifer




Address: 87 S Elliot Place (Fort Greene, Brooklyn)

Website: http://www.thesmokejoint.com/

Payment: Cash, Cards

Take Out: Yes

Open Late: I couldn't find the hours anywhere.. possibly 9pm.

Delivery: no

Large Group Friendly: yes if they aren't too busy.

Bar/Happy Hour: serve beer.

Kumquat Cupcakery

It's no secret I love cupcakes and eat them pretty much whenever the opportunity presents itself. I had heard good things about Kumquat Cupcakery, and just so happens I was also pumped about a new flea market that started in Fort Greene where these mini cupcakes were to be sold.

The cupcakes are bite-sized but only a dollar, and cheaper if you buy 6 or more. Kumquat is limited to 2 Brooklyn flea markets on weekends and special orders and deliveries. At the flea markets, different flavors are offered each week and announced ahead of time on their blog.

By the time we made our way past all of the interesting goodies at the flea market, the tiny stand had run out of red velvet, so we sampled the remaining varieties: peanut butter, banana and honey; coffee; and black and white. If you like the peanut butter/banana combo, this cupcake is a deliciously dense and flavorful treat. The cake was moist and the icing was creamy. The coffee cupcake was also tasty, but strong-- recommended for dedicated coffee-lovers only. The black and white was a great combo- moist chocolate cake with white chocolate filling.

I liked these enough that I stopped by the next week to try a couple more varieties. The strawberries and cream cupcakes were, well, gone before I even got home. They were simply put: borderline amazing. This is coming from a big strawberries and cream fan, and these flavors were perfectly encapsulated in a moist white cake with strawberries mixed in and a creamy vanilla frosting. I will be eating these again whenever I have the opportunity. I suggest you do the same. -Laurel


Bite sized cupcakes from a flea market? Sounds strange, I know, but it's absolutely fantastic. I only had a chance to try the honey and peanut butter one, but it was unbelievably delicious. Strawberry and cream cupcakes are my absolute favorite, but I opted to watch Forgetting Sarah Marshall instead of going to the flea market (btw - the movie is awesome!), but I KNOW I'll be back for those awesome cupcakes. They're just too cute to pass up!

Also - as a note, I love that these cupcakes are only available at flea markets. Especially the best flea market in New York, the Brooklyn Brownstoner Flea Market. And by the way, I know saying this is the best flea market in New York is a stretch because I've never been to any others. But this one does have an awesome vintage postcard stand, homemade charm necklaces (I got a cutsie whale), and some sweet furniture. However, what makes this one the best and makes me think you should 100 percent go, is that Kumquat is there. - Jennifer

Address: Brooklyn Flea Markets-- Artist and Fleas Market and Brooklyn Brownstoner Flea Market (weekends), OR you can place special orders.

Website: http://www.kumquatcupcakery.blogspot.com/

Payment: Cash

Take Out: that's the only option!

Open Late: flea market hours, or special order

Delivery: yes