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Category: African
Neighborhood: Clinton HillWed-Thu. 6:00 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.
Fri. 6:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.
Sat-Sun. 12:00 p.m. - 3:30 a.m.
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abistro was hands down one of the finest gastronomical experiences I have had in some time. Friends and I were lured in after reading an article raving about the restaurant's "Senegalese comfort food"...because how ridiculously delicious does that sound?
Basically, our dinner experience was completely amazing. This restaurant is tiny but somehow we got seated immediately - a party of 5. No waiting, on a Saturday night. Lucky us! The service was mellow and super pleasant. This is a BYOB establishment, and they were happy to throw our white in the cooler, bringing it out from time to time to refresh our glasses. This also helps keep the price of dinner down, but it's going to be by no means cheap...esp once you taste the food and keep ordering more...
The atmosphere is cozy yet understated - it was the perfect spot for a chill dinner and good conversation on an evening fraught with heavy downpours. But you don't have to wait until it rains - you should probably go there right now actually, whatever the weather.
Because - our dinner was unbelievable. My entree alone makes me smile still just describing it, because the juxtaposition of flavors was that exciting and inventive - Cornish game hen with jalapeno polenta, roasted beets and greens, and peanut curry sauce...sigh...this, my friends, is perfection.
I could also go on at length about the maple chili sauteed plantains, the spicy bread pudding, the coffee served with milk and cinnamon sticks...but I'm getting too hungry.
Obviously I highly recommend this place. I will be craving Senegalese food now until I go back to Brooklyn...unless I can acquire this in Boston somehow??? If anyone knows something I don't, do share!
LADIES NIGHT!!
I had a girl date with Kat H., and decided (guiltily) to drop some dough on it! When she suggested abistro, I was allll for it, as it was in walking distance of work. Nothing like a little exercise before gorging yourself with food and wine!
Since I'm early for everything, I was able to observe the restaurant before there were any patrons (got there 15 minutes before opening). The staff were having a lot of fun prepping and joking around. I think it's great to eat at a place where the staff is clearly enthusiastic about the establishment and the food that they are preparing.
Once Kat arrived, she revealed a GIGANTIC bottle of wine. I had no idea that she was talking about a bottle of such gargantuan proportions. I knew we were going to be in for it.
The menu was definitely interesting, and since I had read so much about the fried chicken, I went for it. When you're faced with so many fascinating options sometimes all you can do is take a leap of faith. Yelp pushed me off the cliff. For an appetizer, we chose the fried calamari, which was presented beautifully. Along with the squid there were fried bits of bell peppers and jalapenos. I was in seventh heaven!
After a couple glasses of wine and picking at the fried crumbs at the bottom of our appetizer platter, our food arrived. Kat's mussels looked, and apparently were, scrumptious. My chicken was delicious, but I couldn't help but think "This tastes JUST like something my dad makes". Which is in no way an insult. He's an amazing cook. I just wished that it tasted like something I had never tried before. I loved the crispiness on the outside and the tenderness within, but the greens it was served upon had a slightly strange taste to them. I think it was the combination of spices. It was interesting, but not my thing.
Despite taking issue with said spices, I think that abistro is an amazing value for the quality of food. It was a little pricey, but the fact that it is BYOB definitely makes up for that. Between the food, the service, the company, and my drunkeness as I left, my experience at abistro was nothing but positive!
If you've ever seen Pulp Fiction, you know what I mean when I say I knew I'd found someone special in my girlfriend, because at Abistro we were able to shut the fuck up for a minute and comfortably enjoy the silence. That is, at least until the baby next to us started screaming its head off as its parents had what sounded like a relationship-ending fight, sobbing and yelling uncontrollably.
But other than that, the atmosphere at this little spot near Fort Greene Park was delightful. One of my favorite aspects of the entire experience is that it's all one room. This means you get to smell all the deliciousness wafting out of the kitchen area as they prepare both your meals and those of the people around you.
The service is stellar as well. Abistro appears family-run, with most of the serving done by a lovely woman and a man in a Kiss Tour t-shirt. I'm not sure whether or not that was a uniform. When we arrived, they informed us it was BYO, and directed us to a nice little wine shop down the street.
Once we got settled with our wine, we decided to start with the calamari. Served in a taco salad shell, the squid was lightly battered and fried with peppers. It was nicely done, especially the dipping sauce. Watch out for the jalapenos hiding in there though. My counterpart was lulled into complacency by the many bell peppers and a bit shocked when she bit into one.
For my entree, I had the shortrib special served over couscous and kale. It was very well-cooked, and pleasantly presented. And although at first I wasn't sure how I felt about its intense, curry-based flavor combinations, it grew on me as I ate it, and I ended up cleaning the plate.
The Senegalese fried chicken called her name, and when it arrived we discovered that it is not breaded and fried in the Southern sense. (Things are done differently in Georgia and Senegal. Weird, right?) It was fairly tender, and I enjoyed the mustardy onion slaw on top. There was also a sweet cake of some kind beneath it, and since I didn't even get a chance to try it before she sucked it all down, I'm assuming it was fantastic.
Abistro allows you to order smaller portions of most dishes, which is convenient because not all of us have enormous appetites. However, I obviously forced her get the large portion of chicken, and since I am always wrong, we ended up taking home a good amount of it. I ended up inhaling it in front of an open refrigerator at 3 am though, so all was not lost.
My only major regret of our meal is that I didn't order the burger. It seemed wrong to do so at a place like this, but it looked so fantastic on the plate of the guy behind me. He left a few bites sitting there, and I would've asked him to finish it, but my girlfriend stopped me. Apparently that's not something polite people do.
If you were to pass in front of abistro on any given day you wouldn't give it a second thought. And you would be wrong.
VH and I tried this small BYOB on a Wednesday night, and it was a wonderful surprise. The restaurant is just one room, kitchen included, with just ten tables. Although there isn't much of a decor to talk about (the orange wall to the left is completely bare), overall the place feels cozy and intimate, very welcoming and warm (perhaps thanks to the super-friendly staff too).
The menu clearly aims to quality rather than quantity, and it's a hit.
For starters we shared the fried frog legs special. I like frogs, and this dish was absolutely delightful: the legs were perfectly dry and crisp on the outside, and moist and soft on the inside. I really loved this dish: I think could have eaten 100 of these legs...
After reading raving reviews on Yelp about this dish, for main course I tried the Senegalese fried chicken, even though I am not a big chicken fan. The chicken breast (btw, it was not deep fried or anything, but simply cooked in a pan in the oven, without any kind of breading or batter) sits on top of a sweet yucca cake, with kale at the bottom. I really liked this dish, particularly the combination of hotness of the chicken and sweetness of the yucca. I wonder what pork would taste in this dish...
VH had the marinated tofu, which was very flavorful, and again served on top of a yucca cake (was it yucca cake night...?) resting on a bed of kale.
For dessert we tried the spicy bread pudding with ice cream, which was not what I expected. I expected it to be hot with chili pepper or something, while instead it was heavy on the cinnamon.
With a shared appetizer, two entrees, and a shared dessert, the bill came down to $37 per person including tips.
From where we were seated I could see the chef at work, which is always fun for me. The guy was really working his ass off whit great composure and confidence. I hope he gets some help during weekends...
Overall a wonderful dining experience. If I can raise a little constructive criticism on the side, I would like to see another strong vegetarian choice on the menu (the mixed vegetable dish didn't sound particularly inspiring), and perhaps a pork dish.
One note: call in advance. The place has only ten tables, and on a Wednesday night at 9:15 pm we scored the last available table.
For a vegetarian,
this place is a no-no.
I found my braised tofu dish to be over-seasoned and the collard greens to be too salty. It comes with a little squash croquet thing-a-mah-jig, which was a little dry.
My brother got the fried chicken dish. He really liked the rice with pineapple but found the chicken itself to be unremarkable.
The limited space does make for a rather super-duper cozy evening.
We sat with two older gentlemen who frequent here.
Dude, they threw back food like there was no tomorrow!
Their appetizer dish of callamari (a favorite past-time of mine...)
looked amazing! Crispy, light, and fresh.
And their salad portion was HUGE.
They ordered the duck confit as their main dish and raved about it.
Eek...I feel so wrong reviewing omni-food...
CONSUMPTION OF MEAT AND SEAFOOD ARE BAD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT!
There...I feel a little better now...
Although the small space on a hot summer day resulted in mediocre Senegalese food (at least for a vegetarian) and uncomfortably warm temps (especially since we were seated RIGHT near the kitchen), their BYOB policy scored my bro and I a glass of red wine each, courtesy of our ravenous neighbors.
I'm skeptical about round 2 but I am a brunchie, so I shall return for breaking of fast one weekend...
PS. They only take reservations for parties of 3+.
"What should we do tonight?"
"Well...I still have that huge bottle of wine."
And so the search for a BYOB-friendly restaurant begins...good thing it ended with Abistro, a solid, adventurous choice even for teetotalers. The space is small but romantic and comfortable, with bright red textured walls and bossanova pouring from the open (and impeccably clean) kitchen. Great for dates or just pleasant conversation. The Fried Calamari appetizer ($12) was so different--mixed in with lightly breaded bell peppers and jalapenos (watch out!) inside a deliciously smoky taco shell. The lava-orange dipping sauce was great change from the usual aioli or red marinara. But the real star was my Moules Frites ($17), the price of which I thought was a little high for a half-order until a gigantic bowl of steaming, spicy ginger and lemongrass broth, with about a dozen perfect mussels tucked within folds of braised kale, mushrooms and tomato slices appeared alongside a mound of herbed pommes frites (the dried greens really distract you from the fact that you are not, in fact, eating something healthy...they also taste scrumptious, so wins all around). How in the world is that a half-order? Is the full order served in a trough?
Enough with the useful information: what you should know is that the hostess is a Senegalese Tower of Babe(l). If she were a president, she'd be Babebraham Lincoln. She's Magically Babelicious. Did I mention she's attractive? Our waiter was also sweet, though the number of times he poked our shoulders was confusing. Shrug. I think New York is making me hard, man...but no matter: you'd better believe I'll be back for some more surprises. One quick suggestion: that the multitude of daily specials be presented either on the print-out menu or on a board near the kitchen instead of being related orally (heh). Hunger messes with my attention span (and maturity levels, apparently).
This was my first try at African food of any sort. And I was very happy I did! What a great mix of flavors! Stopped by on a weekday around 7pm. It wasn't crowded as some have stated here.
SERVICE:
The chef & lady (wife?) were both super nice & courteous. The chef took pains to make sure all of my dishes were properly prepared. There was one dish that he realized an item/ingredient was missing. He made sure the dish was done right first before letting the lady give the dish to me. All the while, both were apologizing for my wait. That's dedication to the craft right there. I totally respect the dude more just for that act alone.
FOOD :
- Senegalese fried chicken with dijonnaise sauce is really good. Great twist on a non-battered, lightly 'fried' (grilled?) chicken breast. The herbs & sauce together made this dish outstanding. Collard greens-like mix was well seasoned & strongly garlicky. Best version of collard greens I've had so far! Jasmine rice-pineapple cake was great. Reminded me of a sweet sticky rice dish that asians would make for dessert. As a combo with the main course, this medley of spices & sweets made the eating experience be all the more explosive in flavors. It totally opens up the tastebuds to have this alongside the spicy, herbed chicken.
- Spicy bread pudding - packed but soft & moist. Having a warm, melt-in-your-mouth bread pudding is oh so satisfying at the end of the meal. I've had bread pudding from various US interpretations as well as in the Caribbean & this one is spiced slightly differently than what I've tried in the past. But that warm spiciness combined with the cool vanilla of the ice cream totally wakens up the senses, as did the other dishes at this restaurant.
I HIGHLY recommend people to try out this restaurant for the great food, both in how it's made as well as how it's prepared. This guy really knows how to mix stuff together. Plus, you can't beat the incredibly attentive & friendly staff. Totally worth the 30 minute commute I did to get there.
Had a plantain appetizer, the steak frites, the sparerib special with polenta and greens, and what was billed as sorrel creme brulee, but actually looked and tasted like pumpkin. Food was very tasty and there was a lot of it. The Senegalese influence was an excellent twist on more traditional bistro options. Cozy, A+ atmosphere, nice people. Great BYO policy. Overall, a very good little unassuming and neighborhood spot. However, overpriced for an above average bistro in Ft Greene ($90, and we brought our own bottle). One thing to note, at least on weekend nights: the place is teeny-tiny. They sat the two of us at a four-top table, and then put another couple in the other two seats at the same table. Fine, but if you're looking to have an intimate discussion, probably not going to happen.
My roommate recommended this place, and specifically the fried chicken. I ordered the fried chicken to go, and when I brought it home I was a bit surprised that it really was just grilled chicken browned on the outside. Even though it wasn't a traditional 'fried' chicken I was curious to see what all the hubbub was about. Of all the dishes I've recently tried in the past year this had the most complex assembly of flavors. The chicken was juicy and the little sides/toppings that it came with were delicious. I absolutely loved it, and will be taking my friends there.
Also, the staff was friendly and helpful.
Once again, yelpers are right-on!! Desperately hungry, however, unable to decide secondary to the choice paradox. Turned to the life advisor...yes you guessed it...YELP.COM. This place had great reviews so we decided to give it a shot.
Wednesday night, 9:15PM and the place is packed. That is a very good sign. We scored a 2-top right away, however, the table was a bit small and we were quite cozy with our neighbors ;-)
Appetizer - fried frog legs (not always on the menu, it was their special), before u groan, let me tell you that this dish was TRES EXCELLENT! Lightly breaded, and very tender legs with a side of greens
Main course - Senegalese fried chicken and marinated tofu. Both dishes came with kale and yucca cakes. The kale was great! This is the way kale should be cooked, flavourful with a hint of sourness. The yucca cakes were an interesting concept, they were great, however, it could have been a bit less sweet. The fried chicken is not what you think. Its spicy and it didn't have a batter. Don't think Southern fired chicken. The marinated tofu was tasty, but, it was a bit salty. Make sure you take your Norvasc before coming ;-)
Dessert - spicy bread pudding. Eh. Just OK, and really $10?
Conclusion - great meal on a weeknight, excellent ambience, service was good, the whole restaurant is all in one room, very cozy, and homely. Can we charge less on the dessert? And oh...this place is BYOB.
I wanted to give it 4 and 7/8th stars, so I gave it a 5. First, MAKE ADVANCE RESERVATIONS, it's a small restaurant and gets full, especially on Saturdays, when we went. However, tables become available quickly, so don't despair soon. Also, the magic words, BYOB, and there is a liquor store on Myrtle avenue with nice wines, so you can dash there as your order gets ready! The best of both worlds!
There is no neon sign to welcome you to this restaurant, but it is next to the fire station on Carlton Avenue. Once in, there is a lovely lady (and gentleman) who acts as the maître d' in the real sense of the word. She goes through the specials of the day, although it can be a bit confusing without some pictorial menu to follow. However, classy restaurants don't have pictures of their menu offerings, which is the standard that this restaurant is willing to follow!
For those who like seeing their food being cooked, it is cooked in the very visible kitchen as you wait! (and observe) We could observe the chef flambé the foods, (without the extraordinary prices in tow!) and the aromas drifted to us as we impatiently waited like Pavlov's dogs for the order to arrive!
For the appetizer, we had their mildly spicy curry soup with zucchini, which was very tasty. We then ordered their signature Senegalese fried chicken, after I quickly checked the yelp reviews on my phone (sorry I cheated!) and I see why so many people recommend this dish! It is very well presented, comes with a rich creamy sauce, and is quite filling despite the 'small' looking portions! You could order the single piece or the double piece chicken depending on your appetite. The diners next to us had ordered a dish with mussels, and they kept on remarking as to how good it was, so that may be a recommendation from my unobtrusive eavesdropping. There was a party that had come for a birthday party there, so it seems that it may be a place to bring in someone for that kind of celebration.
If you don't fancy alcoholic drinks (or you don't want to drink alcoholic beverages while there, although it is BYOB) you should definitely order their ginger drink, which is garnished with a real cinnamon stick or mint! It is a strong sensual drink that should be taken slowly, as it might clear more than your sinuses.
Now, this is more of a fine dining restaurant than a true authentic African restaurant. It has African dishes, but it caters more for the young, discriminating generation Y'ers who want to sample fine foods prepared by the chefs there without paying for the goodwill in Manhattan. Everyone seemed satisfied at both the food and the service, and I would urge you to make reservations before visiting the place, and to have no reservations about visiting the place!
Just about the best restaurant Fort Greene has to offer (you hear that, Yelp? Carlton Ave. is Fort Greene - not Clinton Hill).
First of all, it's BYOB, so you can bring your own wine and save a decent chunk of change. Great for winos - no more worrying about the wine list, just pick up your favorite bottle and go. No corking fee, re-corking fee, pouring fee or whatever other BS other BYOBs like to tack on these days. Boffo deal.
The menu is varied and ever-changing. The food is complex and always delicious. And they offer small portions of each entree so you don't have to feel guilty about ordering an appetizer or desert that you won't have room for.
The atmosphere is relaxed and jovial so you can take your time and enjoy the food. You don't have to worry about being rushed out the door because they're not going to give you your check until you ask for it. It is such a pleasure to come to a restaurant where the main focus is actually on the customer's enjoyment and not just turning tables.
I can only hope that increasing popularity won't diminish Abistro's charm. Although it does have plenty to spare.
Entrees were tasty, service was polite but very infrequently attentive. However, when we received the bill, we were disappointed to find that the lackluster creme brulee was $13. This unlisted dessert was more than either of our entrees, which had listed prices of $11 and $12, respectively. This is unusual pricing device, for sure...and caught us off-guard -- so watch out for this.
I was debating whether or not to write this review. Having only good things to say, I was tempted to keep those to myself knowing that the better the reviews the less likely it is to find a table in this cozy Brooklyn joint.
My wife and I had invited a couple of friends from upper Manhattan so we wanted to make sure that their treck on the unreliable weekend trains was worth it.
Once we saw the menu and heard the specials we decided to each order something and share. From frog legs to ribs to a splendid trout we were all very happy with each other's choices. The warm octopus salad was good but I might leave that for a winter evening. The mussels were alright although the sauce was on on the heavy side (try asking for a plain bread to go with).
And then the desserts. Outrageous.I'm giving them 4 stars here but I'd like to add an unofficial half-star for being BYOB.
By the way, don't worry about not finding good wine. Half a block east on Myrtle there is an amazing wine shop called Gnarly Vines. with all this going on I'm loving this neighborhood.
Fantastic mussels, fried chicken, and bread pudding, and a delightfully convivial atmosphere, Plus the place is BYOB, so you can get drunk for cheap. A great spot for a date or a birthday dinner (the latter was my experience).
If anyone else I know ever makes me come to a dinner birthday party in Brooklyn a good 15 minute walk away from public transportation, I can only hope it's it abistro. I was so pleasantly surprised! Everything made for a such a nice, homey Saturday night.
Not too crowded, not pretentious, BYOB, great quality of food for the price, lovely staff. Even wonderful deserts, & I am usually loathe to even try desert, let alone 4 of them.
Tried 3 appetizers, the best of which were the grilled squid on some zucchini. Fried calamari were just as written, yet it an odd taco shell. But who doesn't love a taco shell! Side of plaintain gnochi were much too sweet for my taste, but I can see others going for that, especially in the rich peanut butter sauce.
I had the 'fried' chicken, which it was not, but tasty nonetheless. Tried my neighbor's tofu dish - nothing I would ever order outright because let's be serious, who orders tofu, but it was good. Many other things on the menu piqued my interest.
Is this leave-Manhattan destination food, no, but that's okay. Actually, with no complaints & a splendid evening, yeah, maybe that's worth leaving Manhattan for.
I've been putting off reviewing Abistro because I don't want the word to get out. I don't want everyone to know how amazing this tiny, inconspicuous restaurant is. How incredible French Senegalese cuisine can be. How brook trout on a bed of butternut squash puree has haunted my dreams. How utterly welcoming and attentive the staff is. Even the brunch is amazing, but don't tell everyone. Shhhhh. So good. Ted Allen dines there for christsake. The black bean and cod fritters? Oh my god.
This place is small, very small, they are practically cooking in your lap. But it's fine. Everyone is so friendly you won't care. Just don't go telling everyone or there will be a line around the block!
5 stars. Friendly staff. Awesome food.
We had the plantain appetizer, snapper and duck (specials) entrees, and the bread pudding. Divine.
Super nice servers. Would love to go back when I save up again!
Just like sex,
Just like love
Unlike Heroin
it's even better the second time
I think that ABistro is actually better once you know the staff - once you know the way things work - once you know the food - once you know the secret passwords and are a part of the cool crowd - this place RULES.
Tonight we had:
The Herbed Fries - so damned good it's mean, they were not special...aside form being the perfect flavored and cooked fry...GET these and forget the cat-soup
The Plantain Gnocci - were ok, a bit gummy and sweet for my tastes, but if you imagine that they are a lightly fried doughnut - then they are perfect.
The "African trout topped salad" was sadly under-described, but amazingly over-flavoured. It had an almost gravy-like dressing and crisp pan seared trout had fantastic taste and texture. one of the best at the table.
The (Special) crab cakes were amazing with an almost marshmallow texture and subtle flavor atop a rubble-pile of greens and veggies.
The lamb shank was AMAZINGLY tender and flavorful if overly intense...as with everything here the thought really is more important than the reality...
Reality?
It's an amazing place for face time. these may be the most genuine people in all of NY and MAYBE in all of the east coast...this is the place if you need some validation....just don't be late and don't eat too long if you are...
This place embodies all that Brooklyn is/was/should be. it a a great open place without pretense… Read more »
Wow the brunch here is incredible.
I got the salmon sandiwch with senegalese salsa (unbelievable); others had the steak sandwich; tofu scramble; a salad with some sort of fish, and the burger, everyone was happy with their food, they also had a baked egg special that I wish I had tried, looked so good, and it's still BYOB, I love this place, just hope I can still get a table after the NY Times write up!
Wow, what an awsome place, was in Fort Greene with two friends on a random Sunday afternoon, they… Read more »
It was kind of like going to a party at someone's house at first. It's BYOB, so I showed up with a bottle of wine (there's great little boutique wine shop right around the corner.) The server cracked that bad-boy open and poured my friend and me a couple of glasses while we waited outside. She checked on us often, topping us off and letting us know the status of our table. We even watched her sprint down the street after patrons who had forgotten their keys.
The vibe inside is cool. Great music, warm people, and the aromas! *swoon*
The plantain gnocchi are a MUST. I dream about these now. The spicy salad with trout was also excellent. I had the Senegalese fried chicken and it was to die for.
I cannot wait to go back.
The chef studied with gourmands and brings his French-African fusion cooking into the hearts and bellies of loyal locals! The senegalese fried chicken blew my mind - amazing sauce, veggies, chicken and potato pancake like onion patty.
The bread pudding with vanilla ice cream was a thick but delicious way to end the meal and the strong ethiopian coffee was an eye opener.
Prices are reasonable, the food is amazing, Brunch is supposedly wonderful and it's BYOB with NO CORKAGE FEE.
There's noo sign and long waits if you come around 8pm but whatever - if you're out for the night, you're out. Drink your wine and shut it.
Absolutely the best tasting food in Brooklyn. We have been to Abistro at least 6 times, and will continue to go. Definitely one of our favorites! Great atmosphere, great chef!
We usually do BRUNCH, it gets crowded pretty quickly. They Have the best Chicken and Pancakes in town. The last dinner we had featured a Duck dish that was amazing. Unfortunately its BYOB, but there is a good wine store nearby on Myrtle Ave. The service is a little slow but the food more than makes up for it.
Abistro.....the food is great.......Salmon, Salads (especially the Trout Salad), the Calamari, the Tofu and the BYOB are all quite return worthy. I brought JB and Hannah from Sweden to Abistro and they loved it. JB just texted me from Sweden (thanks for the expensive text message brother!), where he told me that he spoke glowingly of Abistro to chef Marcus Samuelson (sp?) when he was in Sweden. Not like saying that is going to put anything in my pocket, but still, i like the place, my love works there and Nucomme is always a bit saucy wit it (and she's a great singer/songwriter as well) so i mentioned it just because...
Oh, I took my mother there for brunch on mother's day and when mom mentioned that she really liked the coffe, Nucomme said it's because she stuck her finger in it! She didn't, but it's that kind of place.
Did I mention BYOB? hit up Gnarly Vines around the corner or just hit up TJ (Trader Joe's) before you come and knock your wine cost down to $3!
Really huuuuge FB to the waitress/love Muouna at Abistro!
wanted to love it but it was just meh. akara wasn't very flavorful, greens were indebile bc way too much salt crisis, senegalese salsa was bland, chicken was unremarkable. but i did get to taste some of sydeney t's parmesan grits and they were delicious. probably won't go back. also it was hella loud in there.
One of the best restaurants in the city. Waiters are really friendly and food is fantastic and very unique. MAKE A RESERVATION IN ADVANCE!
Where to start, where to start.....
An essentially unmarked storefront scores some cool points, but the truth is, it doesn't matter. Abistro serves the type of food that legends are made of and what restaurants should aspire to create.
You could call it Senegalese fusion, but then i would call you a twat. The food is good and creative. Spinach side is holy shit.
All of the fish is incredible. I wouldn't change a thing about them, especially the salmon. The plantain gnocchi has a surprisingly complex flavor for little banana balls, though I would say they're a bit doughy (the snob hat is on now).
Then there's the burger. One of the best in the city, period. Please keep this a secret. It makes Resto's taste like McDonald's. Not only is the beef succulent and perfectly prepared, the bun is heaven and the ghostly yet present Senegalese salsa catapults it into the meat stratosphere. You don't need cheese or mushrooms on it, though 'taint bad with 'em either. I would not be surprised to find that the cows that make up these things were brought to earth on silver chariots solely for the use of the awesome chef and his babe wife (they have a rad tot too) who clearly must be grays or even reptoids for cooking so well.
Desserts are rich and capable of being conquered though they are large. I've had them all, and can attest to their excellent character ; sugary gentlemen waiting to sweep you off your feet and into a romantic world of fruit orgies and pie play.
ATMOSPHERE. It's good. Cool music and cool people. You feel comfy and welcome. Shit runs smooth.
And last but not least, it's BYOB! Wasted for cheapz! Huzzah, cause this makes the prices that much more incredible. I would honestly pay 3x what they charge here for this level of food. I have a lot of respect for this restaurant. God bless Clinton Hill for harboring such an oasis amidst the overpriced swill being peddled throughout Gotham.
For the last year I drove past here on my way to the Manhattan bridge, and each time there'd be a cluster of people loitering about outside on this random corner of Carlton & Myrtle. Not exactly scenic. So why are those people hanging out in front of that restaurant without a sign?? I MUST KNOW! YELP, HELP ME!
The answer was "abistro".
Been here twice already in the past month...love love love BYOB's. The vibe is totally friendly and mellow. The braised short rib on qinoa with a curry sauce was amazing. The plantain special (which I liked more than the plantain gnocchi--yes I ordered 2 plantain dishes. Ain't no rule!!) was all caramelized yumminess.
And I am more than a little in awe of the chef who basically does everything himself. Watch him get his culinary groove on and shake his booty to the restaurant ipod. Super nice guy too. Ok this might officially qualify as a crush.
I went here with my besties, and were all very impressed with the brunch meal we had. My 2 friends had the baked eggs special, another friend had a seafood omelet, and I had the West African spicy salad with fish. The waitstaff was super friendly and we ended up chatting with one of the waitresses for 10 minutes or so outside after our meal. It was so comfortable I would go back immediately, I felt right at home.
Yum. Yum. Yum.
Everything I tried, which was everyone else's dish in addition to mine, was phenomenal. We started with the plantain gnocchi.... amazing. I had the Moroccon Salmon which came with Jasmine couscous in a peanut plum sauce....woah. Definitely the best salmon dish I have had in New York City.. Also, the burgers were delicious and came with fried(yum) and a salad. Lastly, dessert: We had the spicy bread pudding and some chocolate cake... the bread pudding is to die for.
The wait staff are beyond friendly & even a bit sassy in a playful way.
Perfect birthday dinner for a special friend - they made the night!!!
Great food, cozy (small) and clean restaurant. What a glorious date place to show her you know all the amazing, little-known local spots. Seriously, if you take a date here, he or she will melt. Theres no sign outside, I only knew it because every time we passed, my friends would say "Jeff, you gotta go here."
Everything we ordered made me say "Woahh!" Such flavor in every bite. French influenced and flourishing with style. You can see the small kitchen in the room you eat in. It's only one man behind the stove. Artists don't collaborate.
Kick, richness, longing. These 3 words describe the eating experience.
I've only been here once, so my rating is shakey. But for that one night, that night in the stars, amongst the planets, where the gods sling their frying pans into the laps of Senagalese chefs; that night, ABistro attained a 5 star yelp rating.
While visiting a friend in New York, he insisted that a group of us go to abistro. When I asked what kind of food they served, he replied "all you need to know is the food is sexually delicious".
I was not let down. I split the special omelet of lump crab meat and shrimp and an order of the french toast. Yes, the food was the truth. If I ever move to New York, I'm moving within spitting distance of abistro.
The interior is very intimate and the owners/staff are very friendly. This place is cute and funky. Loved it.
Very, very small. The food is fantastic, but I didn't have such great service the time I came here. The owner's daughter was jumping around tables and running through the very tiny restaurant w/a friend. Sensing our dissatisfaction, the owner made a comment to one of my friends I'll loosely quote, 'kids are harmless' and 'they shouldn't be bothering you'.
I love kids just as much as anyone else who doesn't have to take them home, but I don't feel like I should have to compromise my dining experience because children are harmless.
BUT...the food is great, and that's probably an isolated incident, so check it out.
4 1/2 stars
After reading the reviews for Abistro, I plotted and planned and finally lured the SO to come here (he doesnt like leaving the neighborhood and is not a foodie). First let me say that if it weren't for the picture posted on yelp, I wouldnt have known the place - so thank you to whoever posted the pic. Walking into this place was like walking in on a little dinner party - it was very intimate. When people say this place is tiny, it is seriously tiny - like the size of my living room tiny. Despite this, I did not feel cramped. The size just added to the charm of the place.
Anyway, onto the main event. I ordered (based on the reviews - thank you fellow yelpers)
Plaintain Gnocchi (as an app) - I wasn't sure what to expect here. I love plaintains, and I love gnocchi, so I went with it. These were breaded fried plaintain (sweet) bites essentially. They were pretty good on their own, but what really did it for me was the sauteed spinach (w/ lots of garlic and mushroom) served with it. Put a little bit of that on the fork with a bite of the plaintain...mmmm....sweet and savory at the same time. The plaintains were served over a curry sauce which was fine - I dont think that was necessary, but I guess having the sauce kept the whole dish from seeming a bit dry.
Senagalese Fried Chicken - the chicken itself I felt was just okay, without the mustard sauce, it would not have been memorable. The mustard sauce was was spicy without being too spicy, and added just the right amount of zing to the dish. I think i must have chased the chicken all over the dish just to get all the mustard sauce. This dish was also served with the same garlicky sauteed spinach - couldnt get enough of it. The highlight of this dish for me was the jasmine rice cake. I had no idea what a rice cake was before this (or rather when I think rice cake i think of those cardboardy quaker oats things). Anyway, what ended up being on my plate was a thick round taste of heaven. It was crispy on the outside, and soft and sweet on the inside. The rice was moist and not sticky at all. Can I get one of these to go? How about two?
Bread Pudding - moist, perfect, slices of heaven served with icecream and two different sauces (one berry and one caramel?) I dont know what else to say. I can still taste this hours later.
Service was fine. The server did not come back to check on us after delivering our food (which usually is an issue, and I deduct from the tip accordingly( - but everything was perfect, so it was a non-issue.
Will be back - next time brunch!
The best restaurant in the neighborhood. My personal favorite.
A tiny kitchen/dining area that seems like you're in someone's studio apt getting served up some delicious food. There's an undeniable personal touch to the place - probably because the chef and his wife run it - I really enjoy it there.
They don't really have a sign and it's tucked in Carlton, so it's very easy to miss. For a good six months while living on the same block, I didn't even realize that it was a restaurant.
Go check it out if you want some cozy dining experience to go along with great food.
Their daily specials are always a great choice, so are the main stays like abistro burger and fried chicken.
Best burger in NYC.
Don't forget to bring your own booze.
i come here for special meals (new years, valentines, etc) or when i have an adventurous eater visit.
the food never fails, the service is great and i love bringing my own wine!
This place is out of control! Sooooo good! For appetizers we ordered the calamari and the coconut plaintains. Both were amazing. For entrees I had the catfish and everything about it was absolutely perfect. The place is BYO which is always nice and the waitstaff is super friendly and attentive. I can't wait to go back!
This place has a lot of good things going for it. It's BYO so I can bring whatever I feel like and that keeps the prices down. The staff is really friendly and provides great service. The food is great and they will prepare many of the meat dishes with tofu instead to please the vegetarians. The menu and resturant are small but that's fine with me. Somehow the bathroom is huge, and you can get a look in the Kitchen if you have to wait for it to open up.
Wow, is the Senegalese food here zippy and spicy!
The fried chicken is served with a fruity tropical relish and mashed. The snapper is also spiced and delicious. Not for the mild at heart though, because these are bold flavors. Adding to the fine dining experience is the warmth of the husband and wife team whose restaurant this is. They know their regulars and are friendly to newcomers. There is a casual neighborhood feel to the small room, but the tablecloths and and plating elevates it.
One of the finer, least fussy and unexpectedly grand meals I've had. Cannot wait to return. Avoid the catfish for the chicken or the tofu; dig the plantain gnocchi.
Neighborhood: Clinton Hill
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