Vinny’s

295 Smith St
Brooklyn, NY 11231
(718) 875-5600

Menu

This utilitarian restaurant serves up large portions of well-prepared home-style Italian-American classics for around $10.00 a plate. No matter if it originated from land or sea the generous portions will easily serve two, maybe even three people (depending on their girth).

The food is pre-prepared but always fresh due to high demand. This would be next to impossible to achieve in any place less desirable. Vinny’s literally has a menu that is alive. Your feast is right there in all its glory, offering itself to you (creepy).

The food is great and the red sauce is nothing short of amazing. It always fully satisfies my thrust for some great pasta (I may lick the plate when I think no one is looking). Vinny's is unique do to its reasonable price, grand proportions and traditional clientele. I look forward to trying something new each time I walk into this classic Italian restaurant.

Apartment 138

138 Smith St
Brooklyn, NY 11201
718-858-0556

Menu

Apartment 138 is an escape from the shiny restaurants that litter Smith St. Upon entering you’re taken back to a seaside establishment you’re not sure you’ve ever really been to. Cozy, candle-lit two tops scatter the dark wooden floors, while the bartender pours strong drinks from his fully stocked, homey enclave.

Although the interior of the restaurant is a great place to spend the evening making googly eyes at your companion, not all is romantical at 138. If you choose to move down a narrow staircase, you’ll be dumped out in to a game room of sorts. Arcade games, pool and Foosball tables are provided for your, probably by now, tipsy entertainment.

If dimly lit rooms and a game of pool aren’t your bag, have no fear because Apartment 138 provides one last surprise. . .the always elusive patio. And what a patio it is. A continuous bench lines the dimensions of this overly large for Brooklyn outdoor space. Tables and greenery are scattered along the benches as well as throughout the elevated wooden floor. And a water wall adds a bit of serenity to the bustling activity of the servers and patrons. Parties big or small are welcomed with a smile.

But enough with the atmosphere. It’s time to get down to the food. I was in the mood for a burger but not ready for the guilt of what a beef burger would do to my body. I opted for the turkey burger, sided with greens and seasoned fries (don’t judge). Before my meal arrived I had a chance to peek at a few other plates from the surrounding eaters. The portions were gigantic and every one seemed to be enjoying their meals. During the comfortable wait for food, drinks were always replenished and bread was put out as a pre-meal tummy pleaser.

The food arrived, visually appealing. The burger sat atop a juicy slice of tomato and crisp Bibb lettuce and all was nestled between a fresh English muffin. A few bites of mesclun with house balsamic accompanied the burger while a generous portion of fries demanded almost as much attention as the main attraction. I’d give the appearance an A- (given the ingredients) but the taste a C. The burger had that great fresh off the grill taste but lacked flavor and individuality. And although the burger lacked oomph, the lightly seasoned, crispy fries and the slightly sweet vinaigrette salad helped to boost the meal’s delish factor.

I’d definitely go back but I’ll probably try another dish (with a side of fries, of course).

By Saint Ramsey Von Spinkle

Bar Tabac

128 Smith St
Brooklyn, NY 11201-6258
Phone: (718) 923-0918

Menu

Every time I walk past Bar Tabac, it is packed. I always assume there will be a wait, and I never have the patience to even try for a seat. From the sidewalk I can hear upbeat music and often a live band jamming while folks eat or just hang at the bar.

I had the fresh calamari brochette for an appetizer and the truite amandine (almond trout, string beans, steamed potatoes, lemon, brown butter) for my main course. Why would someone kill calamari with hot lard I asked myself when my appetizer arrived? You deep-fried calamari lovers should be ashamed of yourselves. Nothing beats fresh calamari with a light sauce or maybe just a bit of lemon juice. The calamari brochette was a perfect summer appetizer.

I love fish and chips but often feel the same way about calamari as I do all seafood. If it is fresh then keep that shit out of the lard…tubby. The truite amandine at Tabac was definitely up to par, cooked and seasoned well. The string beans and steamed potatoes were a nice addition.

I have read reviews of Bar Tabac that criticized the service, but my server did a fantastic job. Maybe peer review and blogging makes a difference. After reading about their lackadaisical servers, Tabac decided to upgrade staff. In the age of technology, accountability is certain. Hint, hint…COMMENT!

Lastly, Tabac does not make the mistake of sacrificing food quality for décor and atmosphere.

Amazon Café

227 Smith Street
Brooklyn, NY 11231
718-852-5948
718-852-7860 fax

Menu

“A Chipotle burrito minus the heart attack” says the Daily Burrito

They make amazing wraps, fresh salads and smoothies. I enjoy the wide range of vegetables and other fillers they offer. They are all about food that tastes good and is actually good for you, weird concept.

The online menu seems to be missing some items that exist on the in store menu. It would be helpful for them to post the full menu online for all to see…

I have always been pleased with the staff and have been accommodated when ordering special items. The chairs and tables are pretty comfortable, especially the arm chairs in front. They are perfect for people watching and booty staring. A little known secret is that there is a patio outback, who knew.

They also have free WiFi and I have seen people hanging out on their laptops without bother. They also take debit and credit cards with no minimum, big plus!

Zaytoons

283 Smith St
Brooklyn, NY 11231
(718) 875-1880

Menu

This is from another one of our many guest posters here on Best Street Brooklyn. It comes from a person whose critique of Middle Eastern cuisine is one of the best on the stoop. Check it out…


One of my favorite things about Middle Eastern restaurants is that
they tend to be BYOB, a plus for any New Yorker on a budget. With a
six pack in hand to split with my dining companion, this Zaytoons in
Carroll Gardens was already a step ahead of the game (note that
Zaytoons on Smith & Sackett is BYOB while its sister restaurant on
Vanderbilt in Prospect Heights is not, once again proving that Smith
Street = Best Street).

We selected a table in the back of the restaurant (probably a bit too
close to the bathroom for my taste, but not worth moving for). While
Zaytoons is almost always a bustling scene, with the cooks hard at
work in the open kitchen and a handful of people gathered around the
register waiting for their take-out orders, our candlelit table in the
back was surprisingly calm and almost romantic. To top it off, the
service was prompt, and the waiter happily opened our Heinekens.

To start, we ordered a plate of grape leaves. These came quickly and
hit the spot, though the leaves were a bit tough for my liking. For
dinner we selected the 10" vegetable pitza (pita + pizza). The pitza
was loaded with tasty vegetables -- green peppers, spinach, scallions,
and mushrooms -- especially heavy on the spinach, which I like
personally but does result in making the middle a bit soggy. But
otherwise the pitza was delicious, with a chewy pita crust and just
the right amount of sauce and mozzarella. Not to mention it's the
perfect size for sharing.

All in all, you can't go wrong with this Zaytoons order. I would also
recommend staples like the falafel wrap and the salad combo plate,
which is perfect for those
who can't decide what to order and/or vegetarians (and make sure to
try the Turkish Salad as one of the 5 combo items, which is sweet and
spicy without the overpowering quality that sun-dried tomatoes usually
bring).

Caserta Vecchia

221 Smith St
Brooklyn, NY 11201
(718) 624-7549

Menu
Website

Dear Pizza, I love you....

Caserta Vecchia offers a spacious indoor dining area with a romantic feel, perfect for a hot date. The wood fired brick oven reminded me of a restaurant around the corner from where lived in Sicily for two months. This was a bit of a nostalgic meal for me, but I did not let it influence my judgment, to bad.

Caserta Vecchia has a nice outside patio with a mix of chairs and wood benches for all ass types. I ate outside and usually do if offered. It is nice when a place puts money into landscaping and decking. Eating on gravel is a drag, unless you are at the Astoria beer garden.

After the seemingly authentic wait staff sat me I noticed I felt a bit sober. So I reached for the the menu and perused the drink selection. Do I try the Basil Mojito or just get a beer? The Basil Mojito is going to be really good or fucking putrid I thought. I rolled the dice and won, it was a great reinvention of the traditional. Highly recommended.

After sipping a whole drink on an empty stomach within seconds I started to feel a bit inebriated. An overwhelming cornucopia of options on the menu and a slight buzz was making it impossible to focus.

When I go out to have a nice Italian meal I often look over the pizza section all together and sprint to the pasta. Since I could not focus (by the way I was half way into my second drink at this point) I decided to keep it simple. Pizza and mixed greens it was.

I ordered traditional mixed greens dressed by the house. The salad was crisp and the dressing was excellent. I tend to enjoy dressing on the more acidic side and have been know to just eat vinegar on my greens, but this was a perfect balance of acidity and sweetness. This meal was off to a great start.

Now for the main event. When I looked down to order I noticed something quite amazing. They offered whole wheat home made dough. You do not see that to often in any pizza or pasta joint. This excites those of us who love to enjoy pizza while avoiding type II diabetes.

When the pizza came out it was topped with the perfect amount of cheese, a bit of sausage and a couple well-placed olives. It not only looked and smelled fantastic, it was a damn good pie. Dare I say best pizza in Carroll Gardens?

The crust had good flavor, the sauce was seasoned well and the cheese was not overpowering or excessive. The three main pizza components where joined together like a three piece Voltron of perfection

Oh, and they took credit cards! I wanted leave, puke in the street and come back for another meal.

Elote (Williamsburg)

Elote. The good, the bad, the tequila.

366 Union Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11211
718-599-2655

This is the first of many guest posts here on Best Street Brooklyn. It comes from a person whose opinion is level headed and her literary skills are only exceeded by her wit. Elote is in one of NYC’s hippest hoods, so the bar is set high!

Enjoy…

This predominately Southwestern style restaurant is fast becoming a neighborhood staple thanks to its flavorful creations and outdoor patio. Formally known as Santa Fe, Elote boasts an impressive tequila list (35 + choices) and some of the best muddled margaritas a girl could ask for.

In addition to it’s overstuffed drink menu Elote carries a loaded dinner menu Some local favorites. . .

Sandwich de Barbacoa

Slow roasted pork shoulder pulled and slathered in a sweet-spicy sauce on challah bread, topped with fried onions and sided with slaw and refried beans.

Dia de los Puercos Mole Negro

Plantos Machacados topped with slow cooked pork cubes in peanut, chocolate and chile sauce.

Taco Salad

Lime-marinated, spiced steak served throughout a bowl of greens, corn and tortillas chips. Mixed with a light, slightly sweet creamy dressing.

Although some of these listed are among the fave of the pack, I’d have to say the a la carte chicken or pork soft tacos take the Elote crown. Warm tortilla shells encase some of the most delicious stewed chicken or pork I’ve ever given my tongue the chance to taste. This perfectly tender meat sits on a slather of beans and is topped with lettuce and a drizzle of sour cream.

But with all the raving going on, one would wonder whether Elote has its faults. Don’t worry pessimistic ones, it does. . .

Elote seems to overall lack the spice gene. Yeah the taco salad has a little kick but not enough to require a flushed “ooh that’s spicy” reaction. If I’m eating Mexican or Southwestern cuisines, I want me some spice!

The prices are nothing to brag about either. Although Tecates run a cheap $2, the margaritas will cost you $5 a piece. And if you’re like me with tequila, you’ll always want just one more. As far as dinner, the prices will run an average of $15 a plate. A little expensive for Mexican food and the neighborhood it calls home.

The décor is okay, although with an open kitchen and bar seating it’s hard to be boring. There’s a slew of tables to choice from and the waitstaff is always accommodating, no matter your party size.

One thing I must mention is the outdoor patio. Outdoor patios in NYC are like people with foreign accents. Attractiveness increases ten fold. Nicely flooded with greenery, Elote’s patio holds a sea of wooden picnic tables and a sprinkling of kitschy, plastic two tops.

As I bid adieu, I’ll leave you with these thoughts. At Elote, waitstaff is your friend, the food always smells great and you’ll probably walk out satisfied, if not a little more than tipsy.

By Saint Ramsey Von Spinkle