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Anella
Category: Restaurants American (New) American (New) [Edit]
222 Franklin St(between Freeman St & Green St)
Brooklyn, NY 11222
Neighborhood: Greenpoint
(718) 389-8100
- Nearest Transit:
-
Greenpoint Av (G)
- Hours:
Tue-Sat 6 pm - 11 pm
Sat-Sun 11 am - 3 pm
Sun 5:30 pm - 10 pm
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Hipster, Romantic, Intimate
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
151 reviews for Anella
Review Highlights
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"stick with the french toast for brunch." In 10 reviews -
"The best brunch I've had in a long while." In 39 reviews -
"...had delicious warm bread served in a terra cotta flower pot." In 6 reviews
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151 reviews in English
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Review from Tom E.
Long Island City, NY
5/20/2012
This review is way overdue. The owner, the management, and the chef, as well as the wait staff at this "Gem of Greenpoint" are outstanding in every way. The perfect hosts, the perfect food, and the perfect service every time we eat there.
I have been going to Anella for a couple years now and have been there with a party of 2 to a party of 4 and every time its perfect.
I have been there over 30 times in two years and NEVER had an off night or bad experience. How could you at Anella.
My brunch favorites are the BLT and the egg on biscuit.
For dinner, specials / daily menus give you the benefit of having the freshest of everything. it's always prepared perfectly with flavors that are well balanced. Pasta, fish, chicken, and meat all prepared perfectly.
I have spent over a decade in the hospitality industry working for companies such as the Four Season Hotels & Resorts and there is something special about this gem of a restaurant tucked away in Greenpoint. Please give it a try. It's 5 stars to me and all those who I have dined there with and those that I have suggested the restaurant to over the years. -
Review from Karla L.
Brooklyn, NY
5/13/2012
ok so we came here with high expectations given all the awesome yelp reviews especially about the french toast and for me it was a disaster..the french toast was completely drenched in a sauce making it very very... extremely .. soggy!! & I hate soggy bread! yuckyyy!! ..But if your into sogginess then this is your go to brunch french toast!?!?! =/
ummm so why three stars?? because our waitress was soo nice!! & my husband really enjoyed his eggs benedict =D ...sooo I haven't banned this place forever..i'll just stay away from the french toast =( -
Review from Jerry K.
4/23/2012 3 photos
Awesomely great for brunch.
Went here with some friends and ended up ogling each others meals. Poached eggs on veggie hash, flaky fish sandwiches, bacon frittata and a french toast for a table share.
The french toast... My taste buds still have dreams about it. Thick yet moist with a sweet creamy sauce poured over. Warm and filling.
Also a full line of draft beers to quench your thirst. Hurrahs all around. -
Review from Patty S.
LONG ISLAND CITY, NY
3/18/2012
Dinner began with a playful twist from the chef that will bring you back here again and again.
The bread is baked & served in clay flowerpots. It was delicious and sliced just so it looks like leaves of a plant.
The rest of the meal was not as quirky and I'm glad because this food is seriously amazing. The octopus was so tender and perfect. The chicken was beautiful. The bronzino had skin so crisp that it didn't need more than the couscous beneath to complete it.
Anyone who has reviewed this place and didn't like it because of an attitude...maybe you
should have checked yours at the door. Our server was polite attentive and pleasant.
Dessert well...I could have skipped the olive oil cake...it wasn't terrible but just not as good as the rest of the meal. -
Review from Adrian M.
Brooklyn, NY
3/20/2012
This is for brunch:
Reallly Reallly Reallly Reallly good...pretty much all you need to know, but I guess I will expand on this. I brunch, and I brunch hard. I can honestly say Anella is my favorite brunch spot on earth! I'm pretty convinced the sole reason my friends trek to GP to see me is to go to Anella.
When you enter the place you're slammed in the face by the charm of the space. Then you are body slammed by a super nice staff and a caring staff might I add. To make matters worse (and by worse I mean better) you get outside to the back backyard and you get to enjoy the weather.
Okay, so really the 2 things that keep me coming back are the food and that super cute waitress...honestly, if anyone knows her let me know...I fall apart when I see her and just kinda stare, make bad food jokes and spend the rest of the time saying "stupid, stupid, stupid" to myself. Oh and the food...
The french toast might be the most magical thing i've ever tasted, the egg sandwich is amazing, the potatoes...the bread and pasty basket...We literally order everything.
Why did you make me go on and on, why could you just take my word that it was really really really good? "stupid, stupid, stupid"! -
Review from Jeff O.
3/14/2012
Loved the vibe and the employees. Every one of the employees was great, even the chef said What's Up as I passed by. Woah!
The food was fine. I wouldn't order the same things as I did (pear salad, fried chicken, chicken liver tortellini), but I'd definitely come back, no problem.
oh, here's my complaint: If you don't drink alcohol, the options are severely limited. Dude, sometimes I'm on the wagon! -
Review from Arry S.
Princeton, NJ
4/29/2012
They try..., however the dull frittata with slightly off summer squash paired with an soggy rocket salad with, once again, slightly off cherry tomatoes I had for Lunch wasn't their best try. Hey, they are lucky since I' am not the one who gives recommendations for Michelin...
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Review from Scott W.
Brooklyn, NY
4/15/2012
After our dinner experience at Anella, there is a good chance that we will never go back. Restaurants have "off" nights, but having everything "off" at the same time completely inexcusable. I am not a person who gives low ratings, but I wanted to share my thoughts. The breakdown is below.
The Food
As we were starving, we ordered a Fritto Misto with our drinks so that we could get a coating in our bellies. Fortunately, the bread arrived (in a flower pot) to sate the hunger. Unfortunately, there was very little "meat" to the bread. It was mostly crunchy, seemingly stale crust. The butter was rich and delicious, but the idea was to put a little butter on my bread rather than coat the bread with butter to make it edible. When the Fritto Misto arrived, it looked delicious. As I sunk my teeth into the first piping hot bite, I was let down to find an overly doughy coating hiding the flavor of the main attraction inside. I am no Fritto Misto expert, but I have always experienced a light, crunchy exterior that enhances the flavor of whatever is inside. What we got was reminiscent of fried food from a Fair. No big deal, that was just appetizer 1.
Next we ordered seared mackerel over couscous. This one turned out quite well. The fishy mackerel was complemented by the gigantic semolina (we will assume they were semolina) pearls. The red peppers were quite hot, so those who are not into spicy food might want to avoid this dish. The skin was left on the fish to create a bit of a crust. While a crispy skin could be delicious, the flavor is overwhelming (and not pleasing) on such a potent fish. However, things were shaping up, so we were really excited for what would come next....
Over an hour later, nothing arrived (more on this later). When our cicatelli with baby octopus and mussels showed up, we could not wait to dig in. The experience left us in utter dismay. The mussels had soured. Growing up by the coast, I have been eating mussels all of my life, and I have never smelled mussels like this in a dining establishment. I chalked it up to craziness and decided to look further; the crustaceans were actually stuck to both sides of the shell and were literally ripped apart in the crock. Again, assuming I was crazy, I decided to try one. Bad move. Well, again, I thought maybe a little of the sauce would cure any flavor woes. Alas, there was nothing in the bottom of the pot. Ugh. We sent the mussels back to avoid being sick. We might have ordered something else, but by this time we had already tasted the cicatelli. The baby octopus tasted fine (nothing outstanding, but cooked to a good texture, so that there was no chewiness) and went well enough with the pasta. However, the pasta was so under-cooked that it would not be worth eating, had we not been waiting over an hour for the food....
The Service
We arrived at a busy time, and waited until two seats opened at the bar (the wait for a table was too long for our level of hunger). We had a bit of a wait to get our drinks, but, as I mentioned, it was busy. The bartender was very pleasant and took our drink order and first appetizer order right away. After some serious attempts to get her attention again, she took our food order. It's busy, and I am completely sympathetic to the struggles of trying to keep all of the patrons happy at the same time...no big deal. The problem was that after a healthy wait for the Fritto Misto and the mackerel, nothing else arrived. We ordered more drinks, the bartender suggested that the food would be right out, and nothing. After sitting for an hour and a half, we finally inquired about the whereabouts of our dinner. When the bartender went to check, it seems that our ticket was lost (presumably, someone else got our food). There was no apology or explanation, and I only knew what happened because I could see the kitchen from my seat. Not cool.
Okay, so when the food arrived and we sent the mussels back, a waiter came over to ask if we wanted something else. We declined and explained that there had been a long wait. The waiter acknowledged our wait, but offered no apology. A simple, "I am so sorry for your experience" would have been really nice at this point. But, not this time.
Where does that leave us? I am very forgiving of long waits and poor service. We are all human, and people have bad days. But, I am going out to experience delicious food. When someone messes up almost every part of my meal, I am not so forgiving. I am sorry, Anella. I wanted to love you, but you are just not the right one for me. -
Review from Kayla B.
Brooklyn, NY
3/11/2012
Anella is, put simply, a special place. Someone has put a lot of thought and care into creating this experience, and it's enough to make me want to basically marry the place. Which I may look into.
No matter what time you go, the menu will be small. If you like having a lot of options, this won't be a positive for you. However. The limitations allow the kitchen staff to coax the dishes they DO serve into perfection. And who doesn't love that?
Dinner hour visits are rewarded with some of the best complimentary bread you'll ever have. It may have nicotine in it, and I think I'm alright with that. I recommend the Stoic Sage and one of the pasta dishes (so far, the octopus one is my favorite).
Brunch is a transcendent experience. Coffee comes in a freaking BOWL. The French Toast rivals that of the Black Swan, and their Bloody Mary showed me the light that is tomato juice and vodka in the morning. The sandwiches are damn good, too.
I've yet to go for lunch, because I have one of those jobs with normal hours. Feh. I'm sure it's glorious, just like any other meal they serve. But I will tell you this: go to Anella. Seriously. You'll be doing yourself a big favor. -
Review from Fred I.
Brooklyn, NY
10/26/2011
UPDATE: This place has seriously gone downhill in the last 6 months. Service is mediocre at best and, worst of all, they have cut down and cheap-ified their menu. That NY strip dish I mentioned below is now a hanger steak with idaho spuds, no beets, no bechamel, no fingerlings. Pork belly is no longer on the menu. Second to last time I went, we had to wait to get sat, even though we had a reservation, nobody but the water guy approached our table for 10 minutes, we were bummed about the trimmed down menu and walked out. And the host who'd just sat us said goodbye on the way out! Made the mistake of going again a few weeks later, and I'll never go back.
Simple, creative and high quality dishes in a warm, low key atmosphere. I had the New York Strip with roasted beets and their greens. They added roasted fingerlings and topped the whole thing with this pureed onion/Bechamel sauce and a sweet puree sauce made from the beets. Also tasted the pork belly, which was rich and delicious.
I found the prices to be reasonable for the quality and depth of the food. Show me where else I can find a NY strip with a generous helping of fresh veggie sides cooked to perfection for 25 bucks, and I'll check it out. Our dishes could've easily run $40+ a plate at a high-end steakhouse.
This place is on Sam Sifton's favorite 50 restaurants in NY and I can definitely understand why. They also take credit cards now, too.. -
Review from Leanne N.
Brooklyn, NY
3/10/2012
Great atmosphere. Very nice staff (yes I know that's their job but it was well done) and we weren't rushed at all. The food was excellent. We had the Frito Misto special which was branzino, zucchini, caper special as an app. Delicious. The home made bread was great. Also had the chicken entree and the mussels. The portions are surprisingly large, had to bring some home. With a glass of prosecco and a beer it was still under $70. Looking forward to going back soon. Yum.
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Review from Grzegorz H.
Brooklyn, NY
3/17/2012
Went there for brunch, the menu was limited but food was good. I can't decide whether the waitress was just super lazy or she just started working there. I asked for a bottle of water, well they didn't have any. My guest asked for ice tea... they didn't have any. We then asked for any bottled drink, other than wine they didn't have any. Btw, no desserts and you can forget about decaffeinated coffee. Somehow that place rubs me the wrong way; I don't think I'll be going there again. To be fair, food gets 3.5 stars but service gets only 1 star.
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Review from Meghan K.
Brooklyn, NY
10/20/2011
When the bread came out - warm, flaky, and spilling out from the flowerpot it was baked in - our notoriously picky (and vocal) friend took piece and said, "this is really special." The whole meal felt that way. We started with the butternut squash (awesome), calamari (good, but don't waste a visit here on calamari), and pappardelle (unbelievable). My hake could have been a little warmer, but was perfectly cooked with these puffy little gnocchi and a whole artichoke heart. The husband got steak with beets: earthy root vegetables with meat, who knew? He loved it.
It was a great meal and I'll definitely return. Honestly, we went to Babbo a few days later, and I thought Anella was better.
FYI, they now take credit cards. -
Review from Jillian H.
Brooklyn, NY
2/12/2012 1 Check-in Here
Happy to make the Park Slope to Greenpoint trek for Anella. The space is cozy and warm, the staff is friendly, the food is great (and quite healthy when ordered wisely) - and the Bloodys are killer.
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Review from Nathaniel Z.
New York, NY
11/11/2011
The plum salad made me pee my pants, twice. Everything is made with the freshest ingredients and tender, loving care. Great ambiance - the bar is very cozy.
Check it, don't wreck it! -
Review from Irena C.
Brooklyn, NY
2/5/2012
This is a neighborhood gem - the dishes are all carefully crafted and super tasty (even the pastas are not boring), the decor is nice and the staff pleasant. Look forward to going there for brunch.
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Review from Marisa R.
Brooklyn, NY
2/5/2012
We had a couple of friends coming over and wanted to choose a place they would enjoy. Going out on a limb, we went to someplace we'd never been- Anella. The atmosphere was quiet & cozy but not at all dull. The bread was warm and so was the butter. And the food was amazing- I had the gemilli (with butternut squash & Greek yogurt). Delicious- can't wait to go back again!
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Review from Jessica M.
Brooklyn, NY
9/15/2011
OH man. I went to Anella when it first opened and it was good. But I was there on Saturday and seriously had the best dish of my life! I'm still thinking about it!!
Great great place! My only wish is if they'd accept credit cards! -
Review from Heather C.
Hightstown, NJ
4/28/2012
what a lovely lunchtime restaurant. the wooden interior is homey and inviting and the 60s hip hop playing in the background is ironically amusing. and, i think they might have served me the finest fried hake panini with remoulade sauce of all time. i can't be 100% sure...but i'm 99% sure...
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Review from Kendra J.
Brooklyn, NY
7/8/2011 1 Check-in Here
Went on a date last night, she took me to Anella - dayum. Firstly, I was totally impressed that they grow their own herbs in the back yard. We sat next to a mint plant and during our meal some of the kitchen staff would come out periodically to snip for a dish or cocktail they were making. Our waiter was very, very sweet and helpful.
I tried the Pink Darling. it was really good but kind of strong. Which I'm not complaining about, ha. The bread in the flower pot was probably my favorite part of the meal, even though the rest of the food was excellently prepared and tasted wonderful. I usually don't eat bread at restaurants - too stiff, too salty, something's always wrong with it. But this bread was friggin PERFECT. Fluffy in the middle, lightly crispy on the outside. The butter melted right into it, blending a perfect mix of sour and simply sweet. God I could eat that damn bread all day.
We had calamari and cucumber salad for starters. The calamari was perfectly cooked, melted in your mouth, and there was a lot of it for an appetizer. The cucumber salad was absolutely delish - light and tangy with really good vinaigrette dressing. The main course was steamed mussels with bacon and garlic - YUM. So good.
Overall I found a new favorite place I think. Great customer service, excellent food, not too pricey. Next time looking forward to their brunch menu! -
Review from Joan C.
Brooklyn, NY
Updated - 4/8/2011
I tried to come back TWICE (both times bringing Manhattanites with me) and the first time, they were unexpectedly closed due to some problems with their heat. The second time, we'd gone out of our way to make reservations for 7 of us, and alas only 3 of us showed up on time, the rest of our party was lost somewhere in Gpoint. At which point the uber bitchy hostess says, we can only hold your table until 9:15pm and then we're giving it away. We offered to go ahead and order for our lost compadres and apologized profusely, promising that our companions were definitely on their way, but she refused to make any accommodations. She snidely suggested we try to sit at the bar. ALL SEVEN OF US.
Now I've eaten at a lot of hoity toity restaurants, but NEVER have I encountered such a terrible attitude from a hostess. You'd think we were trying to get a table at Daniel. We made a reservation! Fine, give away our table but lose the attitude. This is Gpoint, dude. How do you get off with an attitude like that for a sweet neighborhood restaurant in Gpoint?!?!?! I am never coming back.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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12/16/2010
Yelp and I decided to "take a break" earlier this year.
We both dated around. Had casual sex with… Read more »
Comment from blair p. of Anella 4/8/2011
Below is my original response to Joan, which in the spirit… More » -
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Review from jessica l.
Brooklyn, NY
11/9/2011
Great Pasta. Nice Vibe.
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Review from Malcolm K.
Brooklyn, NY
Decided to give this place a shot after reading the owner's risky and impressive Yelp review rebuttal. As it turns out, wit isn't the only thing Anella has to offer.
The space: what Anella lacks in size, it make up for in charm. The decor puts you at ease with its warmth and subtlety. If the weather decides to be friendly, sit outside - the simplicity of the internal ambiance mingles with pleasant, natural elements.
In terms of service, it doesn't get better. Your mood doesn't matter. In other words, if you're not happy by the time you walk in to Anella, the staff is seasoned and talented enough to get you there in no time. Rarely do service industry professionals so gracefully walk a tightrope between personal space and conversation.
And then there's the food. Like many others, I went for brunch. It was on a relatively slow Saturday, which can be a good mediocrity test for the unprepared. Here, hungover or not, busy or slow, the kitchen gives their heart, churning out top-tier fare. The French Toast alone will remind you of why you live in (or visit) Brooklyn. And if it's a criminal offense to wash down an epic French Toast with a killer bloody Mary, then I'll see you in Sing Sing.
Speaking of Bloody Marys, while it's possibly 'the best in Greenpoint' as stated by the website, it's not the best in Brooklyn. For that, try Sidecar in South Slope. Nonetheless, it's a well balanced take on an easy-to-fuck up recipe. And the pickle, bean, and full stalk of celery make it a conversation piece in itself.
Simply put, if you're considering trying the place, do it. Brave the G train. Pound the unbeaten pavement. Experience one of the better, rare neighborhood restaurant experiences in Brooklyn. -
Review from michael r.
Brooklyn, NY
3/25/2012
I never can why there are not more people in this place because it is amazing. I have never had a bad dish or drink at Anella. I love eating here because I always get what Im looking for.
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Review from Kyle L.
Brooklyn, NY
1/23/2012
My favorite brunch in Greenpoint. I like the atmosphere as much as the food, and both match pretty perfectly. It's low key, friendly, and warm. They make seasonal veggies an important part of most dishes, which is nice for a brunch spot. Their coffee, freshly-squeezed OJ, and pretty killer Bloody Mary's, are all worth having with the brunch pre-fix. Everything I've tried there, I've enjoyed. I'd like to come back during evenings to test out their bar and dinner menu, which I'm sure has just as much thought put into them.
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Review from Abby J.
Carmel, IN
8/8/2011
The back garden area is a must sit. Ambience is great. Service was great. Bread/butter at start was fantastic. Bartender made great specialty drinks :)
My mushroom pasta was perfect. :) great place for a night out to chat with friends over good food! -
Review from Marie L.
Long Island City, NY
Updated - 12/18/2011
I'd been wanting to try this place for brunch and finally got a group together to hit this one up. Yup, just as I suspected... equally as enjoyable as dinner... if not more. We barely waited for a table, the service was great and I had a delicious onion and bacon eggy thing. We got the table right by the window (it's my favorite) and stayed for almost two hours! Yes, go here. It's great.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/13/2011
Just go. You won't be sorry.
It's weird, this is the first place I've seen with such dramatic… Read more »
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Review from Ngan H.
6/3/2011 1 Check-in Here
I am a Jersey girl (North dirty!!). I only know Manhattan - 34th street and above. That being said, I must say this part of Brooklyn is cute! Nothing too mainstreeam and very quiet. And yes, hipster. Though us old people like to call it "indie."
The ambiance is great. We sat outdoors which is pretty much the back yard of a brownstone, which was a lovely/comfy/homey set up. Nice plants surrounded us so you definitely felt like you were in the backyard and you were getting a home cooked meal. The inside was nice, but I didn't get a chance to really look at the bar, which I heard was made from old pianos.
The food was great. The fried calamari (which is what we always get no matter where we are) was awesome and it came with an anchovy mayo dip = YUM!!!
Another YUM factor is that we ordered the Skate and the Rake (both fish) that was tender and perfectly seasoned. They were immensed in peas and beans, so at least it's healthy!
The only downfall is that my boyfriend originally ordered the prime rib but they ran out :(
I definitely recommend this place. -
Review from Sam B.
Brooklyn, NY
8/18/2011
In 3 years of living in New York and lots of eating out, Anella is the one place where everything they've ever put on my table has been great. Imaginative, flavorful, beautiful dishes. Fish is always amazing.
Very cozy place--elegant but unpretentious. -
Review from Caroline L.
New York, NY
5/15/2011 1 Check-in Here
Boyfriend and I dropped in this evening for dinner. We were seated promptly and had a lovely meal composed of the following:
-Bread in a pot
Does it have crack in it? Maybe. After we finished the bread, I just wanted more. Definitely a great way to start off a meal.
-Asparagus Terrine (special)
I was not expecting this to be so delicious. We absolutely loved it. Asparagus terrine... who knew?
-Scallops
Boyfriend ordered this. I got one bite of it because he wouldn't give it up.
-Gnocchi
I've eaten a lot of gnocchi in my life. Look at my face, do I look like I've ever passed on a bowl of gnocchi? It was sublime. I'm still thinking about it. Drooling on my plate.
-Chocolate Bread Pudding
Soft and gooey. Yum.
Boyfriend enjoyed his cocktail. Service was good. Perfect for a romantic date. Definitely going back. -
Review from Meghan C.
Long Island City, NY
4/20/2011
My husband and I went to Anella for dinner after having drinks with a group at t.b.d. next door. We were walk-ins and the staff were really gracious, seating us after 10-15 minutes, which we spent at the bar having a great cocktail.
Dinner was excellent, both the service and food. I had the beet tart and my husband has a special that consisted of a poached egg, chicken skin, and cauliflower. His description? "This is like food crack." A great start to the meal. For our main courses I had a sea bass special that was delicious and seasonal. They got the crispy skin on the fish just right and the juicy simplicity of tangerines and fennel were perfect in the accompanying salad. My husband for the chicken and he definitely picked the winning dish - crazy juicy, flavorful, and just overall a delicious dish, especially with the seasonal ramps.
Anella is the perfect mix of sophisticated, but not pretentious American food in a laid-back elegant (but not stuffy) physical space. We will definitely be back. -
Review from Bobby A.
Brooklyn, NY
8/17/2011
I read Anella tried to have someone's review taken down? We came here as a party of 8 one night and the hostess told us we'd have to pay a flat fee per person to eat. Huh? The place was empty, so we just broke up into two tables and had a kind of miserable dinner experience to avoid being gouged.
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Review from Louise P.
10/13/2011
Went for dinner for my friend's birthday. Loved the backyard seating area. Really cool that they grown their own herbs back there.
They had a nice selection of beer and wine. The Brooklyn chocolate stout I picked was perfect for leisurely sipping.
We shared a chicken liver mousse app. There was SO much mousse, the two of us couldn't even eat half of it. I really enjoyed the bread which was in a funny mushroom shape.
For dinner I had pork belly with mango. It was in a stew, which surprised me, but was still good. My only complaint maybe is that it was a big chunk of pork belly and would have been better with something else in there to go along with the pork since it was hard to get full eating tons of it... it's too rich and needed something more to complement it.
I ordered a white chocolate dessert with raspberry sorbet, which was SO delicious and powerfully flavored that it completely covered the white chocolate flavor so I had to eat them in separate bites instead of combining them on the spoon like I'd usually do.
The food is really good but needs a little tweaking to be totally perfect. Service and ambiance are lovely. -
Review from Amber C.
Brooklyn, NY
12/21/2010
I've only been here for brunch, but man, I can't wait to come back for dinner. Their food is mouth-watering delicious, in that amazingly fresh and minimal way. I can vouch for both the Eggs Benedict and the BLT, as well as the crispy side potatoes (seriously...they're amazing).
The environment is super cozy too, especially when you sit on the right wing of the restaurant. Never been here during warmer weather, so I haven't been able to enjoy the outdoor patio, but I'm sure it's a great spot for summer brunching.
It is cash only, but they have an ATM inside the restaurant just in case. -
Review from Ben C.
Brooklyn, NY
12/22/2010
I just went here for the 1st time. After a 20min wait the friendly waitress gave Us a complimentary appetizer of really good parsnip/carrot/tangerine salad, and we went on to enjoy their delicious Terra cotta planter baked bread. The food here is superb, I got the duck and my date got the homemade pasta special. Both were worthy of savoring every bite. They also have a great craft beer selection, by the way. The music was well selected but not too
Loud to make a conversation difficult. Nice decor too, i like the wood bar and exposed walls. What are you waiting for? -
Review from Sandy Y.
Brooklyn, NY
10/11/2010
After contemplating how to get into the restaurant (it's the entrance on the right, not the metal door duh) and choosing "inside" over the "outside", we were seated in a three-person seating corner, and our date was ON. I had read a review about Anella (mainly about the head chef bringing it on in Greenpoint) and remembered reading that it had a mediterranean" menu. From the reviews, I read "Italian", and now "American". I can say that it's either, but that the food was SPOT ON.
The waitress was amicable and attentive. We had delicious warm bread served in a terra cotta flower pot. It was perfect--toasty, crunchy on the outside, warm chewiness on the inside, AND the butter was room temperature! I had the skate, he had the pork chops. The pork chop was cooked expertly, tender and juicy. The portion was filling. He especially liked the toasted hazelnuts. What a great combination of meat, figs, potatoes, and nuts!
The skate was memorable. It was beautifully plated. It looked like fanned out bird's outstretch on the plate. I don't remember if I had skate before, but it's like sting ray. Each ingredient did not overpower another, which allowed me to enjoy each bite consciously--I was experiencing each flavor.
We ended with the dessert special--apple crumb with vanilla bean ice cream. Again, I savored each bite. It was not only warm and sweet, but tart and fully spiced. The edges caramelized, adding a different texture to other crumbs I've had in the past.
All and all, great meal! And as a note, we DID go to FIVE LEAVES prior to Anella. It was packed, and even though we were seated immediately, the seating was very cramped and you can't have a conversation without talking over someone (or overhearing every other conversation). (We left after a few minutes, they were very understanding.) I'm sure the food there is great (hence the crowd that's always there), but the if you want to have a nice date night, GO TO ANELLA! It's more spacious and cozier at the same time. Prices comparable.
Cash only--they've got to change that. I think that it'll happen soon if the place gets more business. Other than that, can't wait to try the brunch as it's all the rage in the reviews! -
Review from Megan T.
Brooklyn, NY
10/3/2010
Best restaurant in greenpoint. Hands down.
Their specials are always amazing and they used to have a pulled pork ragu that would blow your mind.
Just wish it wasn't cash only... -
Review from Steven D.
Brooklyn, NY
10/6/2011
I came here for dinner a couple of times. They did a good job with the aesthetics. I don't know quite how to explain it. The food was good but each time I felt like I was being ripped off. Almost like I fell into a trust fund hipster trap! The food was good, I had the fish which essentially was just that , a plate with the fish and no side dishes. The same wine I drink at home, was like $11 or $12 a glass (That's what I pay for the bottle at the liquor store). Unfortunately there are not a lot of good dinner choices in the area so they will continue to thrive in the area unless more competition comes about. I did hear from a friend that brunch is good there.
-
Review from anni b.
Brooklyn, NY
8/7/2010
Italian food? You wouldn't know that from their brunch menu. Which is fairly limited, but everything we had was really, really good.
I was sad to discover that Queens Hideway is gone! But they remodeled, expanded, and made the inside way prettier, so that's nice.
The brunch menu is small and kind of standard, but really fresh, quality ingredients. I tried the ham and egg biscuit, which was great, and the BLT, which was also great. Heavy, greasy, fatty farm-fresh goodness.
I sort of hate places where you can't just get a cup of coffee, though. You get an Americano, and then if you want a refill, you have to purchase another one, so before you know it you've spent $6 on coffee. Kind of annoying. And they didn't have skim milk or Splenda, which is a big problem for me.
The service was AWFUL. For no reason. She was just painfully slow. I know she was the only one working but it wasn't at all busy! That being said, it's nice to walk into a restaurant at peak brunch time and snag a table in the back garden. But - we waited for eons during every stage of the meal, and literally had to flag her down for everything. Minus one star for bad service, I'm afraid.
But I'd love to go back and try the dinner menu (and the dinner staff!) -
Review from rc c.
Brooklyn, NY
10/28/2011
Anella is a solid choice for dinner, brunch or a late night cocktail and dessert at the bar. While I wish there was one more vegetarian entree on the menu, the chef has *always* been willing to make a special vegetarian dish, which I completely appreciate, and it makes me love this place even more. We've brought visiting friends and parents here over the last few years and every single time have walked away impressed, full and very satisfied. Also, it seems like this is the only place in northern Greenpoint for a decent cocktail. One of my favorite spots in the neighborhood, and definitely my first choice for a nice meal out.
