68 Restaurant

 

1

1

Jolene L.

Brooklyn, NY

My date and I stumbled upon this place and LOVED it. My date totally tasted the ocean in his oysters. Super fresh. Apparently they offer $1 oysters for happy hour, which we plan to go back for. The talapia with avacado was amazing ... the risotto was also delish. Great wine selection too. Our server could have been a little warmer, but whatev. The food was worth it and I'd recommend it to everyone.

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Elite '08

49

228

Mark C.

San Francisco, CA

Nice little restaurant for a random Wednesday night. I think pretty much everyone I was with had the rack of lamb, which was decent enough, but was served with a reduced port sauce that was out of this world. I'd come back. Nice wait staff, too.

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3

3

photo g.

Brooklyn, NY

This spot may have a few kinks to work out, but I bet this hidden diamond in the rough is on its way to becoming a GP staple.  My first encounter with 68 was a delightfully tasty and surprisingly cheap brunch . There's a styin' bar up front and skylights in the back room that illuminate a defunct industrial chocolate machine that is far more beautiful than any of the wall art.  This may not be standard, but we got a free drink with our meal.  (Free mimosa or bloody marry anyone?)

The dinner last weekend was fantastic all around.  Appetizers -  my date had very spicy mussels with a rich sausage, olive and pepper sauce , and I had oysters on the half shell.  Entrees - he had dense, rich mac & cheese (yummy) and I had a perfectly cooked medium-rare steak with a delicious salad instead of the fries.  Dessert - the churros have both chocolate and caramel dipping sauces, but have WAY too much sugar on them.  The warm chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream and fresh berries was molten and chocolatey-delicious the first time I had it.  Last night it was cold.  Was craving the creme brulee, but  it has been "sold out" both weekends I've eaten here.  

Sadly, I think the large group (10 in all) we brought last night was too much for 68 to handle.  The food took eons... and when appetizers finally came out, it was 2 at a time.  Our birthday boy got his at least 10 minutes after everyone else.  I took a chance on one of the specials: "pork tenderloin with spinach and fingerling potatoes" which ended up being bland, dry, overcooked (pork) and undercooked (potatoes).  But I tasted someone's tilapia, and promptly  became very jealous.  

To top it off, the live metal band performing at Coco 66, might as well have been in the room with us, and enduring the dueling cacophonies, we pleaded for the ipod mix playing on the restaurant's sound system to be turned off.  twice.

It may not be the most innovative food on the planet, but the staff is warm, and the food is usually on time & delicious.  The space has an industrial- swank, but not too swank, vibe, and the prices are more than reasonable for what you get.

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5

35

David P.

Brooklyn, NY

This is my new favorite restaurant in my neighborhood.  The brunch was outstanding, and they give you a free drink with your meal.  They offer a creative spin on eggs benedict -- making it with a potato pancake and salmon.  At brunch, the back dining room is well lit by the big sky lights.  At dinner, the lights go down and red candles provide the only light for the tables.  

Dinner was also outstanding.  The mussels were unusually spicy, but not overpowering.  The came with olives, peppers, and sausage.  I ordered the mac & cheese for my entree, and at first I was worried about the small-ish portion (hey, I'm a hungry man!).  But, the mac & cheese was so rich and tasty, it was the perfect amount of food.  The warm chocolate cake comes with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and both are delicious.  The churros are very good, too, although maybe over-sugared.  The caramel dipping sauce that comes with the churros is awesome!

Only one little complaint: the music was a little too loud and often seemed out of place -- probably the bartender's ipod mix?  For dinner, considering the decor, I would've preferred a more mellow music selection.

UPDATE: I went to dinner with a large party last night.  Let me say first that the food was really great.  There were a few problems, though.  This was the second time we were there for dinner and they ran out of creme brulee.  So, many of us got the warm chocolate cake and it was served ice cold.  I think they have just one waiter for the whole place, so everything moves slower than you'd like.  You'll get your drink, but it will be a while.  When the food comes out, half the table will be served, then the other half will be served 10 minutes later.  Also, we sat in the back room and there was a loud punk rock band playing in the bar next door.  That was competing with the music from the restaurant itself.  Some people at our table found that annoying.  

But, I still love this place.  I hope they hire more staff and work out the bugs a little!

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Elite '08

87

92

Sadie S.

Brooklyn, NY

Dined here last night.  Overall, the experience was pleasant, the service was fine and the food was tasty (although the vaguely Mexican menu felt slightly unfocused) but it didn't feel special to me.  In Greenpoint terms, it lacked both Queen's Hideway charm and Paloma flair.

We shared some guacamole and then a mussel soup with chorizo, both good. Prices were standard upmarket for the hood ($10-$13 for an entree.) Beer and wine list more than adequate, with plenty of under-$10 by the glass. The space is fairly spare and good for dates; it was mostly couples when we went - the usual Greenpoint mix of normal, hipster and hard-core Brooklyn twosomes in various stages of courtship!  The light was subdued and each table had a little red candle.  

One major flaw was the music, which was, I guess, an ipod mix.  When it was playing Nico, the spot felt cool and Brooklyn-y, but when the next song was Sade, you could have been at any trendy spot in the Meatpacking District!  

So, overall, nothing revelatory - didn't have tremendous personality - and I don't think I'll be back unless it's to try the 12-2 am late-night "supper menu."  But I recognize that it's good for the neighborhood to have more options and I wish 'em well!

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2

3

Katie C.

Brooklyn, NY

68 really exceeded my expectations. I have to disagree with the review comparing it unfavorably with Paloma - the food at 68 was better prepared and more interesting than anything I've had at Paloma. Honestly, the two places have pretty similar vibes and pretty similar menus: slightly safe "American bistro" food in a hipster setting. I would go to 68 over Paloma, no question.

On to the food. The crab soup was delicious: the broth was subtle and delicately spiced. I ordered the bacon-wrapped dates, and they were great too: the goat cheese and sauce (cilantro vinaigrette?) really made that fairly typical appetizer stand out. The tilapia was fantastic, really balanced both in terms of taste and texture, and perfectly cooked. The steak was well above average, and the garlic-butter sauce was just right. The fries that came with the steak were soggy, but that was the only sour note during dinner.

Dessert was another story. We ordered the churros and they were not so great. They were way too cinnamony, and the chocolate and caramel sauces clashed with the churros. The coffee was good, though.

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Elite '08

33

116

Wendy L.

Sunnyside, NY

great atmosphere, great food, and great prices. how can you go wrong with this place?

most notable in my mind -- the spicy crab soup.

the $1 oysters were really good as well.

this is a great place to go when you want to dine out, someplace nice that has the option of being either a cute date night or a casual grab-dinner-and-go spot. and after you're done, head right next door to coco66 for some fun music, pool, darts, drinks, and dancing.

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Elite '08

39

265

Christopher T.

New York, NY

We came to see Something In Spanish perform and arrived a bit early so decided to grab some dessert. I ordered a lame dessert, chocolate cake. I am sadly not that big of a sweets person so when it comes to dessert, if i am still hungry I will get something safe that I know I will enjoy. My cake tasted like it was purchased at a bodega down the street earlier that night, unfrozen, and stuck in an easy bake oven for 10 minutes. Then the glorious touch of a 'Ben & Jerry's scoop of vanilla bean with 3 blueberries.  My friend got what I believe are Chucarros ? They were actually very good sprinkled with some cinnamon on top of them and some sauce.

The service was actually pretty good, just a strange place to have a live band in a corner in the very back. I am not sure if Coco was booked that night or it just wasn't the right fit, but the stage set-up was just a bit awkward.

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Elite '08

7

65

Michelle G.

Brooklyn, NY

The BF and I shared a lovely dinner here last night.  Low-key and without all the Valentine's hype is exactly what we were looking for, and it certainly delivered.  As other yelpers have mentioned, Coco 68 is located next door to Coco 66, and while it doesn't look like much from the outside, the inside is spacious and trendy-looking.

We started off with the walnut stuffed & bacon wrapped dates and seared scallops.  The scallops were crispy on the outside, and tender on the inside, and incredibly fresh.  The dates were very different from anything I'd ever tasted, but they were light and unexpectedly delicious.

For entree I ordered tilapia served with some avocado concoction and a side of mashed potatoes, and the BF ordered steak frites.  Other than the steak being a little too well done to be considered "medium," everything was superb.  Everything was really full of flavor and portions weren't so huge that you felt ill afterwards, but they were big enough to satisfy.  We were so full, in fact, that we just split a single dessert - warm chocolate cake with vanilla bean ice cream - and could barely finish.

One star retracted from my vote because the place was clearly understaffed - one person ran the bar and took orders for the entire packed restaurant, and one guy was bringing out all the food.  Maybe they weren't expecting such a large crowd, but it was Valentine's Day, after all.

Appetizers were in the $5-10 range, entrees around $12-15, desserts were $6.  As far as drinks were concerned, draught beer was $5-6 and bottles of wine were around $30.  But the place feels and tastes so upscale that everything seems like a bargain...except the service.  We'll definitely be back on a night when it's less busy or when they wisen up to the fact that they're a GREAT dinner option in Greenpoint, so they need to hire more waiters!

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Elite '08

58

156

Sarah H.

Brooklyn, NY

Coco 68 is the new little sister to Coco 66 next door. I think it opened awhile back but seemed to have been closed lately. Well, it's open again and is a cute wine bar/restaurant with an abbreviated but delicious-looking menu. I went here for drinks last night and didn't have anything to eat, but there was a forest mushroom risotto on the menu that sounded awesome - I MUST go back and try it.

The place was nearly empty and the bartender was friendly and attentive (probably bored, too). Even though we weren't ordering food she brought us a small bowl of olives to munch on, no charge. The decor is pretty much the same as Coco 66's, but obviously with more of a restaurant structure. One thing I liked better about 68 is the music level, which is a lot lower than at 66. I find 66 overly loud sometimes (maybe I'm just getting too old for loud music!).  

I only gave four stars because I haven't tried the food yet, but I will edit my review once I do. The risotto and a goat cheese brulee appetizer (sounds intriguing, am I right?!) are calling my name.

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Elite '08

28

96

Beatrice W.

New York, NY

Love the ambiance, it is subdued and welcoming. Alex, the bartender grew up in Greenpoint and she is lovely and attentive. It is the little sister of next door's Coco 66, but a more mature version. No loud music, a great selection of wine, draft beer and interesting cocktails, but the five stars is for having a bar menu available until midnight.... Finally a place, I can grab a bite after leaving my own restaurant. I shared the Fried Calamari with an intriguing Orange/Chili sauce, they were cooked perfectly. Light and crispy and the sauce was a great addition. I had the Steak au poivre, a small portion and very tasty one.
I am coming back to try the artichoke and everything else on the menu, thanks guys for giving Greenpoint another option.

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