El Pollo (with Guest Reviewer Amy)

I must confess that I love black beans. After seeing that all of the dishes on the menu at El Pollo were accompanied by rice and black beans, I couldn’t say no to this cute little place in Park Slope.

While browsing the menu Laurel pointed out the fried plantains, which I had never had before. We decided to order them as an appetizer and they arrived piping hot. They were delicious but not too sweet. It reminded me of something you might order at the State Fair and the three of us didn’t even get the chance to finish them before our food arrived at the table.

I ordered the chicken stew which was more than enough for one person. The chicken was very tender and arrived in a seasoned red sauce that contained potatoes and carrots. It was especially good paired with the rice and beans and I soon found myself feeling very full.

Aside from the food, I also loved the fact that the restaurant kept crayons at the tables for customers to doodle on paper sheets draped over the tablecloths. The three of us entertained not only ourselves but also the waitress while waiting.

The service at El Pollo was excellent and I definitely recommend this restaurant to anyone who loves Peruvian food or is looking to try something new. –Amy


While in search of some dinner in Park Slope, we nearly passed El Pollo by. Luckily we spotted it, and as soon as I read Peruvian food I was sold.

I’ve liked all Peruvian food I’ve ever tried in New York (which, granted, isn't that much), and El Pollo is no exception. The menu consists of roasted chicken, stews, black beans and rice, plantains, and vegetables. David and I split a half roasted chicken (like a rotisserie chicken) with black beans and rice, and split an order of fried sweet plantains with Amy.

The plantains came piping hot and were very tasty, but then fried plantains are a favorite of mine. They were a little oily, but I pretty much burned my mouth stuffing them in, so that obviously didn’t stop me. The chicken was moist and tender, with great flavor from the spice rub. And the black beans and rice were also and could make a meal on their own.

The prices here are very fair ($9 for half a chicken with rice and beans, $3 for a plate of “maduros,” or sweet plantains).. a bargain, even. The half chicken was plenty of food for two people, especially with the plantains, which were plentiful. The service was fast and friendly, and the crayons were a major bonus. Who doesn’t love to doodle? Stop in and grab some delicious chicken and scribble to your heart's content. -Laurel




Address: 291 5th Ave, between 1st and 2nd St (Park Slope)

Website: http://www.yelp.com/biz/el-pollo-brooklyn

Payment: Cash, Credit Cards

Take Out: yes

Delivery: yes, free with $10 minimum

Open Late: ?

Large Group Friendly: when they aren't busy

Bar/Happy Hour: no

Perch w/ Guest Reviewer David

The Perch Café is a nice little eatery nestled along Brooklyn’s Fifth Avenue, a hotspot for pubs and brunch. Despite the bright red theme, the décor is as unassuming as eateries come in Park Slope, with plenty of seating (tables in the front, a diner counter in the midsection, and a lovely garden patio) and a warm, tender atmosphere – the perfect Sunday brunch atmosphere. We opted to sit outdoors, but there was no room at the inn when we arrived, so we sat in the comfy lounge area behind the diner counter chit-chatting. Within minutes, a table opened up and we were seated at an umbrella-shaded patio table.

The Bird in a Nest (Perch’s name for eggies in a basket) came with two slices of bacon, and while quite tasty and crisp, was not as hearty as I was hoping for. The bread was a simple slice of white which could have been better replaced by a slice of sour dough or ciabatta to make the meal more substantial. To supplement, I ordered the croissant with strawberry preserves, which was everything that it should be – crisp, light, buttery and flaky. If I had not been so famished, the meal would have been absolutely wonderful, but it seemed to me that the Egg & Chicken Apple Sausage Sandwich that Laurel ordered (of which I sampled, and it was delicious) was the better value of the two.

Before ordering I had been considering the Huevos Rancheros, and after finishing my light breakfast, I unfortunately noticed a patron with a ravenous appetite quickly consuming said order. The sight of this made my sense of fulfillment completely wilt. It looked so good that I almost walked over to ask for a bite.

The wait staff was quite courteous and friendly - and not the kind of fake, snobby friendly that you see so often in NYC. They were also attentive and quick, which is a big plus in this town.Overall, The Perch Café is a great place to have a relaxing mid-day meal with some friends, but if you’re especially hungry, make sure to order something that’s obviously going to be thick and hearty. -David




Perch is a delightful place. Now, there are many factors that go into me saying that: the weather was beautiful and we sat outside. I was hungry for tasty brunch and that's exactly what I got. The service was friendly and two waitress complimented my attire (I'm easily pleased by such things).

To elaborate, the cafe is cozy with a few tables, a couple of couches in the back, and bar seating with a some pretty cakes and goodies along the bar. The decor is fun, with their iconic white bird on a red background popping up throughout the restaurant. There is a good amount of additional seating out back (where we sat), each table covered by a large yellow umbrella. The atmosphere is relaxed and the staff is cheerful.

The menu ranged (this being a Sunday early afternoon) from breakfast choices--french toast, egg dishes, breakfast sandwiches, granola--to lunch fare--sandwiches, salads, soups, etc. They also offer dinner options and appetizers. Perch serves up some classic dishes, but with some nice touches: a roasted pear salad with candied walnuts, a BLT with mesclun on rosemary focaccia. Prices range from $1.75 for a bagel, 4.50 for a cup of soup, and up to $12 for a full dinner.

I ordered, as David mentioned, an egg and chicken apple sausage sandwich. This was, quite possibly, the best breakfast sandwich I have ever had. It costs $7 and includes a generous portion of split chicken sausage, a piece of 3-egg frittata, melted white cheddar, and some homemade bread. All of this was sandwiched together and grilled like a panini (see picture). It was a fairly large sandwich and totally delicious. Amy ordered their house french toast, made with the same bread and sanwiched with strawberry preserves, which was heartedly approved.

I would like to come back here on a nice day for brunch or lunch and sit outside. I'd also like to come here and try it out as a bar. FYI: check out their website and see the events calendar for lots things going on all week long. -Laurel

Address: 365 5th Ave (near 5th Street), Park Slope, Brooklyn

Website: http://theperchcafe.com/

Payment: Cash, Cards

Take Out: Yes

Open Late: Yes, 1:00 AM on the weekend

Delivery: Yes

Large Group Friendly: Yes, fairly.

Bar/Happy Hour: Yes (bar)

Sotto Voce

Laurel and I headed to Park Slope without an exact destination in mind. All we knew was that we were hungry and 7th Avenue had many restaurants to choose from. We had only walked a block when we stumbled upon Sotto Voce.

The restaurant looked very upscale, but once we saw they offered a prix fixe lunch menu we had to try it. For just $7.95 the restaurant offered: a choice of soup, salad, or a mozzarella and tomato salad; an entrée; and hot tea or coffee. All of this also came with a complimentary basket of bread prior to the meal. I ordered the fusilli primavera, which was excellent. The garlicky pasta was full of fresh vegetables like summer squash, zucchini and mushrooms. The lunch sized portion was just enough and I had trouble believing the meal cost just $7.95.

The cozy restaurant was full of couples and small groups that appeared to be regulars. Given the value, I can see why they return. -Amy

Sotto Voce was a pleasant surprise. It was cozy, had pleasant service, and all of the amenities of a restaurant we should have been paying more for. The salad was mixed greens with vinaigrette, and I ordered Rigatoni Siciliana: rigatoni pasta with tomatoes, roasted eggplant and mozzarella. It was flavorful and tasty. Only downside: a little oily. All this and hot tea.

It was uncrowded when we went, and we sat by the windows and did some people watching. I'm sure it is more crowded during dinner and brunch and the tables are pretty close together. Speaking of brunch, they have a pretty big menu and unlimited drinks (mimosas/champagne/Bloody Marys), pound cake and coffee/tea for $12.95. I will be trying that.

The lunch special was an especially good deal and definitely satisfying, but the dinner and brunch menu look equally appetizing and pretty reasonable priced. I would recommend Sotto Voce as a reasonably priced (especially at lunch) place to get some pretty tasty Italian food in a cozy setting. -Laurel


Address: 225 7th Ave & 4th (Park Slope)

Website: http://chatnchew.ypguides.net/

Payment: Cash, Cards

Take Out: yes

Open Late: 12:00 am on weekends

Delivery: yes and catering

Large Group Friendly: they take reservations for groups 6 or larger

Bar/Happy Hour: bar, with brunch: unlimited drinks and an entree for $12.95

Cocoa Bar

Amy and I stumbled upon this fun little place after having lunch in Park Slope. Cocoa Bar is cozy and bigger than appearances-- a couple of tables up front and bar seating lead to extra seating in the back. Several tables were occupied by customers taking advantage of the free WiFi and sipping hot chocolates. We picked what we wanted and sat at the bar to stare at the chocolate treats.

Cocoa Bar offers truffles, chocolates, cakes, pastries, brownies, coffees, teas, hot chocolates and wines. We decided upon a coffee, chai latte, and a few chocolates: banana cream pie, cookies and cream, and mint leaves.

My coffee was good (Sumatra was featured that day) and balanced, Amy's chai latte was "the best ever!" and we enjoyed sampling the chocolates. The banana cream pie was a little too sweet, the cookies and cream was sweet but tasty, and the mint leaves was just to our liking-- dark and subtle. They had colorful patterns on top and would make a fun gift for a chocolate lover.

Prices are about average here and the service was good. It's a fun place to stop and hang out if you're in the neighborhood, especially on a gloomy day and you need need some chocolate. -Laurel

Address: 228 7th Ave b/t 3rd and 4th (Park Slope)

Website: http://chatnchew.ypguides.net/

Payment: Cash, Cards?

Take Out: yes

Open Late: 1:00 am on weekends

Delivery: no

Large Group Friendly: medium-sized groups should fit

Bar/Happy Hour: wine (becomes wine and dessert bar at night)