Lunch at Savoia

****UPDATE - Savoia has sadly closed. 6/3/15****

I was recently invited to have a meal at Savoia (277 Smith Street, between Sackett & Degraw Streets, 718-797-2727), an Italian Restaurant in Carroll Gardens run by the Nazzarro family.  Savoia offers a range of dishes, from Bruschette, Salads, Pastas and Meat dishes, but perhaps they are best known for their pizzas.  Delicious combinations entice, such as the Pere e Zola, which comes with Mozzarella, Pear, Walnuts and Gorgonzola, or the Pizza Rustica with Mozzarella, Fresh Ricotta, Sweet Soppresata and Sauteed Spinach.  I've had their pizza before, so this time I decided to try something different.

My sister and I went for lunch, which is a slightly different menu than dinner, and I decided to start with the Mozzarella Fior di Latte and Tomato appetizer, which is basically a Caprese Salad.  The mozzarella was delicious - slightly sweet, creamy and melt-in-your-mouth good.

I also ordered the Valtelina Sandwich (with Bresaola, Artichoke, Parmigiano, Arugola & Lemon Dressing), which comes pressed so everything is warm and melty.  This was a fantastic sandwich.  The bresaola was bold and salty, the artichoke & arugola provided a little bite and the dressing added a bit of tang.  A very flavorful and hearty dish.

My sister chose the Fresh Trofie with Pesto, String Beans, Potatoes and Pine Nuts. All the ingredients were perfectly balanced, the pesto garlicky and evenly coated the pasta.  The potatoes were an interesting addition, but the texture made sense and added a nice depth to the dish.

We decided to try the Nutella and Banana Pizza for dessert.  The menu said it came with Hazelnuts but it came with Walnuts instead. I think that worked better than hazelnuts which might have been overkill with the nutella.  I was pretty full at this point, but this pizza was so yummy, I easily finished my half. The nutella was melted, the banana slices were perfectly ripe and the walnuts added a lovely crunch.  Mmmm.

Savoia is a great restaurant with something for everyone.  The food is great quality and nicely prepared, the interior is cozy (there are two rooms, one purely a dining room and one has a bar in it, and there is sidewalk seating as well), and the service attentive without being overbearing.  I highly recommend it!

Brunch at Broken English

I went with some friends recently to Broken English, (68 Bergen St., between Smith & Court Streets, 718-488-3906), one of the newest spots to open up in Cobble Hill, and got a chance to check out their brunch menu. It's a pretty big space, with tables on the sidewalk as well (they need some kind of barrier to separate diners from pedestrians), with mis-matched chairs, exposed brick, and lots of black. We were all a bit disappointed with the offerings, as only three items on the menu were very Brunch-y/Breakfast-y. The service was a bit jumbled too, as it took a few requests for the waiter to bring us milk for our coffee.

I got the Eggs Benedicts (sic) with Prosciutto on Country Bread. The meat was good - slightly thick, well cured and fairly salty. There was only one slice of bread though, and that was chewy and tough to cut with the knife. The eggs were nicely poached and the Hollandiase sauce was good. However, I wasn't a fan of the potatoes, (there was some confusion since the menu listed hash browns, baked hash browns and home fries, but I think all three were the same thing), as they weren't crispy enough.



I shared the eggs and an order of French Toast with my husband. The French Toast was OK, kinda what you might make at home. Thin slices of bread (and only two pieces at that), eggy and fried, with a smattering of fruit on top. Kinda lame.



The only other breakfast-y Brunch item was an Eggs Any Style dish. None of us got that so I can't say how it is, but all in all we were kinda disappointed. Not outraged or anything, but not impressed. I think their dinner menu is better; I walked by one night and saw a delicious-looking chicken dish, so I'll try them again, but not for Brunch. At least for a while.

Brunch at Brooklyn Label

It seems like Brooklyn Label (180 Franklin St., at the corner of Java St., 718-389-2806) has gone through a lot in the last few years. From solid neighborhood spot to mediocrity and back again to reliably excellent Brunch food. I went recently with a friend to see if all the rumors were true. I'm happy to report that it came through on all the hype. The menu was enormous, which made it difficult to choose. So many options - Ricotta Pancakes with fruit, Granola & Yoghurt, various Southwest-inspired egg dishes. Phew.

I settled on the Borderline Benedict - two poached eggs on top of chorizo, cushioned by blue-corn bread muffins. The blue-corn bread was slightly sweet and provided a nice contrast to the spicy meat and creamy, salty Hollandaise sauce. There was a large, quarter-sized piece of eggshell in my eggs that I unfortunately bit into, but it's a testament to the tastiness of the overall dish that I got over that shock and went on to finish my meal. The egg-whites were a touch runny too, but that blue-corn bread...Mmmmmm. There was also a slab of hash brown/potato pancake on the side, but that was neither here nor there.



My friend ordered the Cornmeal Waffle topped with poached eggs and gravy. It's a bland looking meal, all beige and yellow, but it was quite tasty. The waffle was very thick, but a nice change from the regular batter waffles. It was not any less filling though, and half-way through becomes a bit overwhelming. Perhaps it would have been better to share and compliment with a side of fruit.



Brooklyn Label proudly serves Stumptown Coffee, as well as a lovely assortment of juices & teas (Passionfruit Mango Iced Tea, Watermelon Juice), and has tables outside on the sunny sidewalk. A nice and solid neighborhood joint that's worth the trip from other parts of Brooklyn.

Lunch at Chavella's

Near the old Jewish Hospital on the border of Prospect Heights and Crown Heights that was converted to apartments about 5 years ago sits Chavellas (732 Classon Ave., between Park Pl. & Prospect Pl., 718-622-3100), a Mexican restaurant with a narrow, wooden front porch that beckons you to come, sit, have some food. I went recently with a friend for lunch and was happy with what we discovered.

We started out with fresh Guacamole (natch!) and crispy corn tortillas. It was delicious - fresh, with chunks of tomato and cilantro sprigs. And the crispy corn tortillas were excellent. It was a bit pricey though.



I really wanted Horchata, but they were all out. Boo. But they did have Fish Tacos! The Pescado was full of flaky white fish, cabbage, pico de gallo and chipotle salsa. Drizzled with a little lime juice and...perfection! I also got the Carne Enchilada taco with pork, cilantro, pineapple and habanero. Whoo, that was spicy. The pieces of pineapple were a really nice touch and the meat was well seasoned, but the spice was too much for me.



My friend got an assortment of three tacos - the fish, Verduras (with roasted zucchini, squash, mushrooms and peppers, topped with lettuce and guacamole) and the Hongos con Rajas (mushrooms, poblano peppers and crema fresca). The veggies were plentiful and tasty, but the mushrooms and peppers was a bit underwhelming. Overall, very good.



It seems like a decent spot if you're in the area, but I wouldn't go out of my way to get there.

Dinner at Roman's

After getting high marks from some friends, I was eager to try Roman's (243 DeKalb Ave., between Vanderbilt & Clermont, 718-622-5300) for dinner. On a recent breezy evening, a friend and I sat outside on the sidewalk, at one of five tables set up next to the bus stop. It's a bit of a weird arrangement, but it was so nice out it was a shame to go inside. We ordered a bottle of Rosé and awaited our food. The menu changes daily, based on what's in season, available and good.

Our first course was Roasted Asparagus with shaved Pecorino and topped with a Fried Egg. I love when eggs show up in dinner foods! The asparagus were crunchy and slightly nutty, and the egg provided a creamy, yolk-y touch.



Our second course was a Lamb Agnolotti; small dumpling-like pasta stuffed with a tender, slightly sweet meat. It was served in a hearty, clear brown broth dotted with sliced scallions.



We then shared the Special Goat Entree which consisted of three cuts of meat - shoulder, rib and sausage. The goat comes from their local cheese providers, and was incredibly tender, served with a green chimichurri sauce. The shoulder was my favorite, and it fell apart with the touch of my fork. The sausage was nice too, mixed with herbs and fresh-tasting. It was quite pricey though, and took up by surprise as it was a special, and was not listed on the menu. Make sure to ask!



We also ordered a side of Braised Radishes with Mint. They were beautiful to look at but tasted more like Brussels Sprouts, a little funky and stinky. The mint was a nice touch though, and made for a bit of a sweet and refreshing flavor.



I really liked the food, the service and the wine. The interior is beautiful as well - white tiles, dark wood, on the small side. I'll definitely head back next time I'm out celebrating something.

Brunch at Five Leaves

I've said it many times, Brunch may very well be my most favorite meal of the day/week. So many ways to have both savory & sweet flavors. Coffee is usually involved. Also eggs. And so, we made our way to Five Leaves (18 Bedford Ave., at the corner of Lorimer & Nassau, 718-383-5345) for their breakfast fare (having really enjoyed dinner there about a year ago). The amiable host greeted us warmly and seated us at the bar to wait for a table to become available.



We sat and sipped our delicious (and expertly made) lattes while listening to the first album by The Cure.



My boyfriend and I split two dishes, like we usually do, to maximize the taste experience, and to achieve a good balance of the savory and sweet flavors. I started with my half of the Fresh Sage Scrambled Organic Egg Sandwich served on a Panino Roll with Aged Cheddar Cheese. It was terrific. The sage was subtle yet strong, with flavorful eggs, a light & flaky panino roll and strong cheese.



We also split an order of the Ricotta Pancakes served with Honeycomb Butter, Blueberries, Strawberries, Sliced Banana and 100% real Maple Syrup. These were incredibly light, not very sweet, a bit tangy with a face made out of fruit and rich honeyed butter. They were perfectly browned and altogether wonderful.



I love this place. The food is wonderful, the details are attended to and the atmosphere is cozy and comfortable.

Dinner at Thomas Beisl

I once was waiting for a friend outside of BAM when a gorgeous woman ran out of Thomas Beisl, (25 Lafayette Ave., between St. Felix St. & Ashland Pl., 718-222-5800), across the street and in through the doors I was standing next to. It took me a second, but I quickly realized it was Cate Blanchett (this was during the run of Hedda Gabler). It was a very dramatic moment and has been linked to the restaurant ever since. I went there for the first time recently when I was invited to dine there as part of Austria Wine Month and discovered that it's a cozy sort of pub where warm tones dominate with low lighting, dark wood tables and ochre colored walls.

We started with a glass of the Grüner Veltiner Berger, a crisp, dry, grape-y white. There's a Prix Fixe menu special for the month (which ends Nov. 22) which my boyfriend ordered from. For starters he chose the Liptauer Cheese (made with farmer's cheese and paprika). It comes with toasted bread, pickles (that were incredible) & capers and is a chunky, creamy spread with an mild tangy flavor. It was quite good, and quite filling!



I chose the Palatschinken from the regular menu, a traditional thin crepe-like pancake stuffed with sauerkraut and smoked trout. The sauerkraut was fresh and tangy, but overwhelmed the fish so that I couldn't taste the smokiness. The mushrooms were delicious though, in the sauce, and it, too, was a huge portion. By the end of the first course, we were almost stuffed!



For his main entree, my boyfriend ordered the Paprika Chicken with Spätzle. Chicken can be so hit or miss but this dish was excellent. The meat was wonderfully tender and the sauce flavorful and hearty. The Spätzle was on the crispy side and less creamy than I'm used to. It was also on the bland side, and could have used more salt or spice. It was good with the chicken though, and provided a nice mellow flavor in contrast to the strong one.



I chose from the list of Specials for my entree and picked the Braised Pork Shoulder with Savoy Cabbage. The cut of meat was a little bit like a chop, and while tender, didn't break apart quite like the chicken did. The flavor was nice and the cabbage was great. There was also a little tower of shredded roasted potatoes on the side which were good, but could have used more salt.



Even though we were quite full, I wanted to try a dessert so we ordered the Walnut Cake which comes with a caramel sauce on top. More like a tart or dense pie, it was nutty and hearty, yet light at the same time, with a wonderful burnt-caramel topping & side of whipped cream.



I got to meet Thomas, the owner, who was quite charming, and found the staff friendly and attentive. It does get very crowded before shows at BAM, so go around 7:30 instead when there's something playing. There's a small bar as well, if you're more interested in having a pint or a glass of wine. Cash or Amex only.

Dinner at The Farm on Adderly

Taking the recommendation of a number of commenters, I headed to The Farm on Adderly (1108 Cortelyou Road, between E. 11th & E. 12th, 718-287-31010) with my family for dinner and just as I was told, it was excellent! It was warm and cozy inside, with a small bar up front, tables in two areas inside, and a beautiful garden out back where we decided to eat and enjoy the last bits of warm weather. There were four of us, so there's a ton of food for me to describe, so let me get started! (There was also a nice wine list and a good, well-rounded selection of beers.)

My Dad got a squash soup from the Specials menu with smoked apple on top. Smoked apple! Have you ever had smoked apple??? It was like bacon, only APPLE! Amazing. The soup was pureed and flavorful with a sprinkling of black pepper.



My Dad's wife picked the Bibb Lettuce Salad with pumpkin seeds, dried cranberries & goat cheese fritters which were warm balls of creamy & tangy cheese. Gorgeous, and very autumnal.



My boyfriend got an order of Arugula salad with Roasted Duck with plenty of thick slices of tender duck atop a spicy, crispy pile of greens, lightly dressed with a subtle vinaigrette.



I chose the Celery Root Salad with escarole, candied olive, lemon, olive oil & parmesan. The greens were delicious, the olives were interesting - little bits of sweet and salty - and the dressing was tart and refreshing. The shaved celery root, while earthy & rooty, was a bit chewy, and there was a TON of it, kind of overwhelming the salad.



For his entree, my Dad got the Burger with cheese and a side of fries. The fries were excellent - big, pillowy potato sticks fried to perfection, and the burger was juicy and flavorful, a testament to pasture-raised meat.



My Dad's wife ordered the Grilled Trout with green & yellow wax beans, spring onion & portobello. The mushroom was thinly sliced and dried, so they were like mushroom chips; an interesting texture, with the same earthy, portobello taste. The fish was flaky and succulent and the beans offered a nice, snappy counterbalance.



My boyfriend ordered the Pork wrapped in a filo dough-like wrapping over acorn squash & braised mixed greens on top. It was a little bit Asian-inspired, but really complex in a good, savory way - slightly sweet, tangy and rich.



There were two kinds of steak to chose from and I picked the skirt steak which was served over potatoes with a side dish of a roasted red pepper & peanut pesto-like sauce. The potatoes were tender and ever so slightly salted, and the sauce was really unique and delicious.



Even though we were pretty full, we couldn't resist ordering dessert. We got a Buttermilk Tart with a peanut butter crunch layer and concord grapes on top. Amazing! Custardy buttermilk, intense peanut flavor and the grapes! Silky, tart and sweet. Yum!



We also got a Butterscotch Pudding which came in a tall wine glass that was amazing. Thick, not too sweet and ever so slightly butterscotchy.



To round it all out we got the Brown Butter Apple Cake in a Blueberry Sauce and a dollop of vanilla ice cream. The cake tasted great and was served warm, but was a little dry. The blueberry sauce helped a lot and tasted like summer.



This is totally a top-notch restaurant and I look forward to going back during different seasons and seeing their different menus throughout the year.

Brunch at Buttermilk Channel #3

Mmmmm, scrambles. Buttermilk Channel's take on the egg at Brunch. Perfect amount, perfect proportion and perfect combinations. Really, this place makes a good egg. On this visit to a local Brunch standby I picked the Scramble with House-Cured Lox, Green Onion & Cream Cheese. A small white porcelain cup with these ingredients mixed up together so the cheese gets melty and the other extras are wonderfully dispersed amongst the egg - yum. Salty, smoky salmon, just a bit of green onion to provide some fresh zing and cream cheese make for a delicious start to the day. Plus toasted dark pumpernickel bread and a round of excellently browned grated potatoes!



My boyfriend got the Scramble with Roasted Mushrooms, Spinach & Goat Cheese which was also a great combo, wonderfully mixed, melty in a good way, with a side of wheat bread, the round of hash browns and a small side salad.



We also got some sides of breakfast meats. The first time we got the breakfast sausage it was out of this world. It's a bit inconsistent though - still good, but not as amazing as it was early on. The bacon was good too, plentiful and providing that salty, meaty, chewiness that's important with Brunch, but not AMAZING.



I know some people feel like BC is all around an inconsistent place, but for me it's a quality, reliable spot where the service is friendly and neighborly and the food good enough for repeat visits.

Dinner at The JakeWalk

So, The JakeWalk (282 Smith St., at the corner of Sackett St., 718-347-599-0294) has been around for a little while, and I kept walking by and would think, "Have to go there", but it took all this time to finally make it there. Boy, were we happily surprised. Our food was really good, and I really like how they have the place set up, with table inside and tables along the wall outside and a big hole cut into the wall so that it feels open and airy. It's definitely worth checking out if you're in the neighborhood. They have a long list of wines, a short list of beers and a number of interesting cocktails. I ordered the Brooklyn Rumble which is made with Rum, Lime, Framboise and Angostura Bitters. It was refreshing and tart, and ever so slightly sweet.



We started with one cheese and one meat. We picked the Fiore Sardo, a Pasteurized Sheep Milk & the Braesola, which I mentioned in a post last week. I told you it's my new favorite thing. The cheese was crumbly and rich, a bit nutty, and delicious. The braesola, well, it was fantastic. A bit sweeter than at Flatbush Farm, but wonderful with the cheese and fig jam!



We also got a salad of Mesclun Greens with pickled haricot verts. Phew, this was quite a mouth experience! Very vinegary, but I like that, and so tasty, with big croutons that helped cut the tangy haricot verts.



BUT, the dish of the evening was the Pulled Pork sandwich with pickles and Avocado Cole slaw. This was incredible. It was slightly sweet, like it had some maple syrup in it, and not smoky or BBQ-y at all. It was more like something my Italian grandmother would make, a slow, stewed pork, wonderfully flavored, tender, juicy and amazing. The spicy Dijon mustard cut through the sweetness and the pickles were nice but there weren't many of them so they kind of got lost amidst all that falling-apart meat. The bread was crusty and the slaw was really good. So creative with avocado instead of mayo, crunchy and flavorful, it was all eaten up!



I'll definitely go back to try some of the other stuff on the menu, like the venison sausage and maybe the fondue. I was told the meat was from an organic farm, but there was no signage on the menu.

Dinner at Watty & Meg #2

I'm SO happy to say that I gave Watty & Meg (248 Court St., on the corner of Kane St., 718-643-0007) a second chance and had a lovely time, and meal. Having had a not so great dinner there during their first week open, I wasn't feeling too positive about it. But in my aforementioned quest to find Brooklyn restaurants that serve good, organic, grass-fed meat, I read Erin Zimmer's review on Serious Eats, which while not especially flattering, made me decide to give it another try.

It was a rainy Sunday night (when was it not!?), but there were few tables open. The space inside was inviting with low-lighting and candles and pleasant servers. We started out with their Green Salad with lettuce, cherry tomatoes and sliced sweet peas which were so perfectly crunchy! The salad was delightful, with a tangy, British-inspired dressing (think Salad Cream but lighter), we ate it up in seconds.



The burger was great too. A bit on the small size, it was totally satisfying, juicy and clean tasting. The bun was delicious too - a nice crust covering soft dough inside, it was chewy in a good way instead of being complete fluff. The fries were great too - little sticks of potato, lightly salted and fluffy inside.



We also got a side of the Mac & Cheese which was impressively good as well. Made with real cheese, which clung to the pasta, it was so creamy, and had that lovely, slight crust on top from a quick turn in the oven.



For dessert we shared a Mixed Berry Cobbler with Vanilla Ice Cream on top. Bursting with fresh, juicy berries, and topped with a dense crumb crust, this seemed almost healthy!



I'm so happy I gave Watty & Meg a second chance. It's definitely going to be my go-to place for burgers I can enjoy without feeling guilty or disgusted about the meat. They also seemed to have gotten things running smoother and tighter after this first month of being open. Yay!

Breakfast at 'SNice

I met a friend at 'SNice (315 Fifth Ave., at 3rd Street, 718-788-2121) for breakfast last weekend and had such a lovely morning sitting in their garden patio. There are a bunch of wooden picnic tables outside where the sun reaches around 10am. It's a great spot to people watch as well, since it's right on the corner. They're forecasting sunny & warm this weekend, so if you're in the area check it out! It's an all vegetarian, mostly vegan restaurant with lots of great stuff on the menu, but even if you're not a vegetarian, the food is really good and tasty.

I got the Tofu Scramble Wrap with black beans and salsa which was substantial, delicious and fairly spicy. The tofu had a nice consistency very close to real scrambled eggs and the wrap was densely packed with the filling. I ordered an apple juice to wash it down with.



I've written about the cupcakes before which are quite yummy as well, and while I didn't write about it, the Vegan Tempeh Reuben was fantastic. They also have smoothies, salads & other baked goods.