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- Nearest Transit:
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Bergen St (F, G)
Carroll St (F, G)
Borough Hall (4, 5)
- Hours:
Tue-Sat 12 pm - 3:30 pm
Tue-Thu 5 pm - 10 pm
Fri-Sat 5 pm - 11 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:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Hipster
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
- Dogs Allowed:
- No
95 reviews for Brucie
Review Highlights
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"...get the tagliatelle with the tomato butter, unbelievable." In 11 reviews -
"...have a variety of great ice cream sandwich combinations." In 5 reviews -
"...Zara's amazing creations (menu changes daily based on local..." In 4 reviews
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95 reviews in English
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Review from Andrew T.
Brooklyn, NY
4/8/2012
I debated between four stars and five stars... I decided to go with five stars because I genuinely enjoy the food here that much!
It's a quaint/small space, and your seating won't be super comfortable, but you wouldn't come here to be pampered in comfortable chairs for hours, you come for the well-made, reasonably priced food - and it really is very, very good.
Recommendations:
- Appetizer/Small plate: bread w/ tomato butter
- Big plate: Tagliatelle w/ brussels sprouts and tomato butter (notice a trend? get anything in tomato butter)
- Big Plate: Scallops w/ bacon and.... something - I'm sorry, this isn't something I saw on the menu before but I ordered it last time I went and it was amazing... the best I can do in telling you what the dish was is that it had scallops, bacon, and a green soup-like sauce... if you see something with scallops find out if it has a green sauce, if it does, get it! -
Review from Peter D.
5/25/2012 2 Check-ins Here
Brucie is a charming Italian spot that offers excellent food, a relaxed atmosphere and casually attentive service. They combine the old-world Italian feel of Court Street with an updated hip-hop vibe,* and they do it in style.
Having previously only been in for lunch (they make an excellent meatball hero), I knew I had to stop by with a few friends for dinner. The tables in the back are communal, which can be a problem if you get sat next to the wrong people. We, however, sat next to an interesting older gentleman who offered excellent advice on our upcoming trip to Berlin.
After starting off with a little bit of beer (Sixpoint cans are always welcome) and a little bit of wine (my friend recommends the sparkling red, which I've never experienced), we shared a deliciously simple crostini topped with fresh ricotta and strawberries which was as good as such a thing can be. The stromboli was also very well-done. After a misunderstanding, we almost ended up with the lard bread from Caputo's down the street, which would've been an excellent decision. If you've never had it, you should.
All of my companions opted for pastas as their main, and all were nicely executed. I had my eye on the tagliatelle with burratta, brussels sprouts and tomato butter (which did turn out to be tasty judging by the bite I had) but the waitress recommended the lamb breast so highly that I couldn't pass it up.
This lamb dish was unlike any I've had before. I'm about to butcher the recounting of the ingredients because I might've had a few too many beers that evening, but I believe it came out with a creme fraiche of some kind, a savory panna cotta, and what I can only describe as some sort of berry and granola mixture. It was weird, to say the least. Individually all the ingredients were odd, and together they seemed so disjointed. And yet, when I put together a bite with each element, they formed an odd harmony and somehow...it worked.
If you've ever had lamb breast before, it is very fatty. My girlfriend does not like lamb, and she does not like fatty...and yet she kept stealing bites. This is a testament to Brucie's kitchen. This is no ordinary red-sauce joint. They've got some very talented people back there, with interesting ideas about food.
And I'm going to come back and eat more of it.
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*I heard nothing but classics all night, and the menu is divided into Biggie and Smalls. Get it? It's not that difficult. -
Review from Ben L.
5/6/2012
Brucie is the real deal.
Upon eating here again months after we first tried it, it's clear that Brucie's quality, service and charm are unshakable and authentic. It appears Brucie is here to stay.
Highlights were the tagliatelle with brussel sprouts, the baby octopus, and the stuffed artichoke.
A few things I would change. Work on the desserts. The chocolate cake was too rich even for this guy. Tasted like it was made with 90% cocoa dark chocolate and wasn't sweet enough. Also, a larger selection of draft brews would be nice. This neighborhood is spoiled with all the good beer offered virtually everywhere.
Overall a very satisfying experience that we will undoubtably attempt to relive. -
Review from Joshua B.
Brooklyn, NY
4/24/2012
A well rounded, pleasant experience. Took my sister here for her birthday. Although very busy, we still managed to get a table. The food was near and dear, got the scallop starter, lamb ragu entree which were both impeccable.
Service is a litttttle spotty, not bad, just spotty - like having to ask for bread (shouldn't really have to do that at an Italian restaurant); forgetting my drink. Not deal breakers, but distracts you from the experience of enjoying a good restaurant.
I will definitely be taking my wife here sometime very soon. Be forewarned that their menu often changes, which in my opinion, is great; but may throw patrons off that had viewed their menu days or weeks before on their website. -
Review from Lucy M.
Brooklyn, NY
4/19/2012
I spotted Brucie on L Magazine's best new restaurants list this winter, and have since stopped off for dinner twice now. So far, it has not disappointed.
The lasagna (which when I had it had kale and sausage I think? it might change a bit seasonally) was delicious and comforting, without being too heavy. I would also definitely recommend the beet/kale salad, which has the perfect balance of citrus tang for those earthy veggies.
On top of good food, the service was really friendly and attentive, none of that NY attitude I've come to expect.
The only things that keep me from giving 5 stars are that the wine list is quite limited, and I don't love the seating style. Lots of high tables & chairs, or immovable stools at counters. -
Review from Raffi M.
4/2/2012
I'm really sad to be giving Brucie 2 stars, because it's so obviously an ambitious and well-meaning restaurant. However, we had a poor service experience, and that colored the entire meal. There really isn't much of an excuse for an hour wait for main courses, and no excuse for the wrong food emerging from the kitchen entirely. My kudos to the wait staff, who eventually realized how badly it was going and started to shower us with free stuff; the problem is, I don't usually want free stuff when I go out to eat. I ordered what I ordered because that's what I wanted to order. Eh. When we finally got our food, it was fine; competent pasta with mussels and ramps (yay, spring), and a very good, thai-spiced lamb bolognese (for lack of a better word) topped with crunchy peanuts. But not good enough to salvage the evening.
We'll try again, but not with as much enthusiasm as I had hoped. -
Review from Daniela F.
New York, NY
3/8/2012
For some reason I'm obsessed with Brucie and I've actually only officially been there once! BUT five stars none the less because I was treated like a queen! I wanted to take my family to Brucie for my mom's birthday and the owner was SO nice about holding a table for me as I corralled the guests from around the neighborhood. I also was not disappointed by the food. Amazing apps to share - including fried mozzerella which is just as delicious as it sounds - and the entrees were great too. I especially liked my ravioli and my sister's tagliatelle with BURRATA (code for "this is going to be good").
Fab neighborhood joint. Clearly I need to go more often. -
Review from Spencer S.
Brooklyn, NY
2/8/2012
First the good: The mortadella appetizer was great and the rainbow cookies and coffee made for a nice light desert.
Now the bad: The main courses took an oddly long time to come out (it's not even that, just that the app came out so quickly and then the pacing was all off) and when they got there, well...
GF had the Chicken Parm sandwich which was... nothing special, just a regular, slightly dry, slightly too rich chicken parm.
Didn't particularly stand out from what you'd get at any of the jazillion other Italian places on Court or Smith. Eh. I ordered the gnocci, which was so oddly low on pieces of gnocci that I was convinced for a moment that it was actually the eggplant special they had that night (I was assured it wasn't as I discovered one of two pieces of gnocci in the dish...). Anyway, it was OK regardless but i had expected to be blown away based on many of the reviews.
Also the service was, not bad, but weird. I dunno', the whole experience was just weird, I can't quite put my finger on it. Everything was a little out of synch I guess...
Maybe we ordered the wrong things? Would try once more and get the salads and the meatballs... worth it? We'll see... -
Review from sniff n.
Brooklyn, NY
3/4/2012
Sometimes all you want is that perfect plate of spaghetti and meatballs and every single time, Brucie has delivered.
No nuts or raisins in these perfectly sized bad boys, just a hint of lemon rolled within which perfectly complements the perfectly dressed and perfectly cooked spaghetti.
And what's even more perfect is that I can get it for lunch. -
Review from Kathy L.
2/4/2012 1 Check-in Here
Yum, yum, yum - worth a trip to Brooklyn!!
Came here on a Friday night around 7:30pm - there was no wait but by 8pm there was a small line inside the restaurant. Fret not though, the line moved fast and everyone was seated within 15 minutes
First let me start with the cocktails - I had the Prosecco with Pear and Rosewater. When the waiter brought it over in a tumbler with ice rather than a champagne glass I was a bit put off but after I tasted it, I was SOOOOO glad he did because the tumbler held ALOT more of the drink than a champagne glass would - it was delicious and when i got to the bottom, i poured water into the ice so that it would mix with the remaining rosewater. Beer selection also good - the hubby had Smuttynose
Given all the rave reviews, we decided to have FEAST!
To start, we had the arugula salad (how can something so simple be so good???), stromboli (I was licking up the tomato sauce at the end) and the crostini (which was ok, but not nearly as good as anything else we had that night)
For mains, I had the taglitalle with tomato butter and brussels sprouts which is just as good advertised but the star of the night was definitely the Pulled Pork Fried Chicken special - what an innovative dish!! The chicken was fried using pulled pork as a batter - it does not get any better than that. Interestingly enough, it was not greasy at all and perfectly crispy. Served with mashed potatoes and a delicious homemade biscuit
For dessert we had the Coolhaus ice cream sandwiches. Hubby had the double chocolate, I had the Maple sandwich and the Maple was hands down our favorite. Def ask for it to be cut in half to share.
We can't wait to go back! -
Review from Ziggler M.
Brooklyn, NY
2/28/2012
Just getting started on the yelp tip. Had to give Brucie some love! Dude this place is awesome! I've been here for dinner a few times and it honestly just keeps getting better. I went the other night and had some of the best tortellini i've ever had in my life (home made of course)! filled with mortadella and home made goats milk ricotta! With pistachio broth or something...what??
super chill atmosphere as well, although it can get quite loud during their busiest hours. But no one ever rushes you out or makes you feel unwelcome. me and my girlfriend sat there and got mini tanked after dessert (old fashion cheese cake with bourbon and orange peal...come on!) on yummy wine and did the girl talk thing till the restaurant was practically empty.
Eavesdropping around (as I like to do) it seemed like there were tons of repeat customers. Which in my mind is a sure sign of a quality spot. I heard like three people near us tell their friends they had to try the tagliatelle. Also our waitress told us they have a backyard in the summer so I am fully prepared to become a regular myself as much as I can. keep up the good work Brucie! DOin it! -
Review from Cara M.
Brooklyn, NY
4/30/2012
I would eat at Brucie once a week if I could convince my husband. But then I'd probably be a fatter person today. I love their spaghetti & meatballs, but now that it's my husband's go-to, I branch out. Sometimes I get the tagliatelle with brussel sprouts, a solid choice if you're still feeling the urge for pasta. I've taken friends here and no one's ever been disappointed. It's fun to get take-out and peruse from the small selection of take-away extras like Cool Haus ice cream sandwiches and lard bread. Full disclosure, the Cool Haus sandwiches are better off the truck, but they aren't why you'd come. Be prepared to wait awhile if you come on a weekend night. But they serve lunch too and so if you're in the 'hood, get the calories from one of their sandwiches. You won't be sorry. What are you waiting for? Like hipster-style, red-sauce Italian? It's tasty, you'll be happy. I wish it was open Mondays, that's always when I remember I want it.
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Review from Lizz H.
Brooklyn, NY
11/23/2011
After numerous recommendations from friends, my fiancee and I took our parents here on a Thursday night. We were (luckily) seated right away at the communal table in the center.
Our waiter was very attentive and took our order by memory (for 6) which was quite surprising considering the amount of sides and small plates we ordered in addition to our entrees.
I had the tagliatelle which I found to have very creative and elegant touches such as fried brussel sprout leaves and homemade burrata but also felt grounded in tradition. It is a dish that could be found on any higher-end Italian menu and would receive rave reviews at any price.
The guys in the family all had the spaghetti and meatballs and all loved the dish but commented that the meatballs didn't particularly stand out.
Both our mothers ordered the butternut squash tortellini and were over the moon. I swear at one point I might have noticed my mom lapping up the leftover sauce on her empty plate with her fingers. Yeah. That good.
All in all, recommendations were most definitely warranted and I am glad I had a chance to visit Brucie. I will be going back soon. -
Review from Veronika B.
Brooklyn, NY
Came here with my boyfriend for a special New Years Eve dinner and I was reminded that I seriously need to come here more often.
Tuna tartar, mussels, and oysters appetizers were so DELICIOUS!!
No details were spared with the entrees, really good food. The freshness of the ingredients is so obvious and all flavors are balanced really well!
Good vibe and great people!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/28/2010
Very delicious assortment of fresh baked breads and tasty cheeses. As my appetizer I had the Burrata… Read more »
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Review from Barbara C.
Huntington, NY
5/5/2012
We like to consider ourselves "foodies". What we mean by that is we love great food with great ingredients that is made with care & love. We have been to Brucies now many times as our children live in the area and have never been disappointed What impresses us most is the creativity - the menus changes daily and the imaginative conceptual aspects of each dish are worth 5 stars! We find ourselves craving certain foods we have tasted and are often dissappointed not to find them on the menue when we return only to find something new and even better to dream about! We give the owner/chef so much credit for creating a restaurant that not only delivers delicious flavors but keeps us curious & excited about what is coming next.
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Review from Emily H.
Brooklyn, NY
2/20/2012
Brucie is such a great restaurant and has such. good. food. But. I was very disappointed this week when they did not accommodate my desperate plea for a reservation for four (including my older parents visiting from way out of town) and me, for my birthday that night, on a Saturday night at 6:45 (they normally get packed around 7:30 so figured this was early enough). Despite my request and plea and honest flattery of the goodness of their restaurant they were not able to work with me or accommodate my request.. They did email me back a nice email but again, were not able to help with a reservation. It bummed me out big time. I love the restaurant and am obsessed with their food but a restaurant that is unable to take a reservation under these circumstances is not one I'm likely to frequent.
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Review from BK Wizard S.
Brooklyn, NY
12/21/2011
Went with friends and we were there early, so no wait for a table. In fact we had to wait for the restaurant to open...net yet serving at 5 pm. We were there early as the kids were with us and they needed to eat then. I must say that the food is wonderful, super delicious - had the arugula salad and the tagliatelle and the egg nob hazelnut ice cream - all very yummy -
Reason for the low rating is the service, which was colder than any I've ever received in any restaurant I've ever dined in...and especially for a fairly-new comer to my little cozy hood that generally has some of the best food in all of NYC with gracious and friendly service.
So until they get a bit more professional and drop the snobbish attitude, I'll not be returning.
Sorry Brucie, your staff really failed the test. -
Review from Jessica H.
New York, NY
10/30/2011
Yum. YUM YUM YUM. Butter poached lobster? Yes. King mushrooms with a fried egg on top. I'll take two. Warm, cozy, reasonably priced Italian fare? Yes.
Sorry Frankies, Brucie has got you beat... on all counts but one: the music. Seriously, Brucie? I don't get it. You are so cute, and your food its so good, and your waiters are awesome! WHAT THE HELL IS UP WITH THAT PLAYLIST? I dont want to listen to rap whilst I indulge in the most heavenly buttery lobster with shaved fennel I've ever consumed. I don't want bad 90s pop hits getting stuck in my head while I'm sucking down creamy dreamy tomato sauce.
Still you are a winner in my book. But that music took you from 5 stars to 4. Lets try some prohibition era jazz... or event some just ambient indie circa M83... anything but Biggie Smalls while Im slurping noodles (not that I dont love me some Biggie). -
Review from Rubina M.
New York, NY
10/22/2011
Definitely one of the best Italian places in Brooklyn. We took other Yelpers' advice and ordered the tagliatelle, which was great. The best part of the dish was the fried brussel sprouts, some of the best I've had.
All three appetizers we ordered (tomato butter bread, lard bread and arugula salad) were delicious. The lard bread should've been called the pecorino bread, because my husband said that was the predominant taste. The arugula salad was fresh and had a lemony kick to it.
The only not-so-great part was the wine. Most of the bottles are in the $50+ range, which is a bit much for a casual spot.
Definitely ask to see the dessert menu. They have a variety of great ice cream sandwich combinations. We tried the sweet potato ice cream between maple walnut cookies.
They don't take reservations, so it's a bit of a wait on a weekend night. Just put your name in and grab a drink down the street. I'd recommend Strong Place for that if you're into craft beers. -
Review from Jenny H.
Brooklyn, NY
3/22/2012
As a one-time LOVER of Brucie, I have to say...we are now officially on the outs.
I'll do the pros first because, like I said, there was a time in the not-too-distant past when I was obsessed with Brucie.
Pros: 1) The Baguette with tomato buratta. It's like a loaf of tomato-y, bread-y heaven. 2) The menu changes daily, and the staples are all VERY good. 3) Every once in a while, a new dish that pops up on the menu is an absolute grand slam. When they get a dish right, they really hit it out of the park.
Which is a nice segue into the cons--the two reasons that Brucie and I are on a serious break.
Cons: 1) When a Brucie dish is a miss, it's really a miss. I've never had anything that's actually tasted BAD there, but a few times I've had a meal that left me so unimpressed that I thought I should have stayed home and cooked...and I never think that. 2) I'm tired of the "service" there. The last two commenters to give them 3 stars seem to have had the same experience. The attitude I get from the Brucie staff does not jive with the casual, laid back, grandma's kitchen vibe of the whole place. The staff isn't very friendly or welcoming. The servers aren't excited about the dishes they're offering, and every little thing seems like a chore. Last time I was there I asked how one of the new dishes was and the server told me "One of our other servers' moms just had it...and she seemed to like it." True story. You're a restaurant, and some of your food is SO GREAT. You should LOVE serving it, and tasting it, and bragging to all of your customers about how amazing it is.
For now, at least temporarily, I'm off Brucie because I've gotten the eyerolling, the sighs, the slow pace, and "the wait right now is about 5 minutes" when there are 4 tables open too many times to continue to leave thinking "Ok, maybe s/he/they were just having a bad day."
But I do hope they cheer up over there, and start loving their food and their customers, because I'll start craving the spaghetti and meatballs in no time. -
Review from Erica K.
Brooklyn, NY
10/10/2011
Hm, I'm surprised that Brucie is still getting such high reviews. I'll admit when it first opened I did think it might become one of my regular spots, but after enough meals there, I've come to realize my first delicious experience was more the exception than the norm.
First things first - the good stuff. The meatballs are delicious, truly wonderful. Be it the meatball sub during lunch or spaghetti with meatballs for dinner - amazingly tasty! Also when they first opened they were BYOB, which made it a nice evening out, a sweet urban pastoral decor and cute ambience (when it's not packed to the jowls and loud). Unfortunately they got their liquor license and instituted a surprisingly expensive wine list. I'm not saying that a $30 bottle of wine (their cheapest) is crazy money, it's just that the vibe and the simplicity of the menu led me to expect something different.
Beyond meatballs and cuteness, there just doesn't seem to be much else. Portion sizes are small, and nearly everything I've had there (besides meatballs) has been meh. If you are considering the menu and think to yourself, "I wonder if this dish might be a little bland.." chances are that indeed it will be. Also, the best service I've had at Brucie was disinterested ambivalence during a lunch where we were the only patrons. Dinners ranged between harried and rude.
I've only eated at Rucola once, but it might be a good alternative if you get tired of Brucie. It also has an sweet decor if you're into that kind of thing (and I can't lie, I am), and I had a lovely fresh pasta dish there that actually included some flavor.
Sorry Brucie, I truly wanted to love you. I'll be back for your meatballs but you've lost me on everything else. -
Review from incognito m.
New York, NY
1/30/2012
this is exactly the type of dinner i always wish for: looking forward to returning as soon as the meal ends.
the hostess was a little smug and unwelcoming, but the great food, nice waiter and good music made up for that. it's the just the type of food you want to eat over and over again (if you love italian as much as i do).
we had the crostini with pimento cheese to start. perfect little app. i didn't want to share it to be honest. i hope pimento cheese starts popping up in more restaurants. i feel like i only eat that at home during cocktail hour on the holidays.
my dinner was the tagliatelle with tomato burrata and brussels sprouts. great mix of decadent flavor that went surprisingly well with beer and didn't leave me disgustingly full (though i didn't quite finish the entire dish). NOTE: No full bar, so no mixed drinks.
the highlight of the table was my husbands' pork bolognese. we were literally addicted on the first taste and i'm not much of a pork fan.
our group of 4 split one of the ice cream cookie sandwiches. i'm not huge on desserts, but this was a really good chocoloate cookie with salted caramel chunks and butterscotch ice cream that went perfectly, but wasn't too strong with the butterscotch or caramel taste.
i'd give it 5 stars, but the hostess was quite off putting. -
Review from Stephanie C.
Brooklyn, NY
10/10/2011 1 Check-in Here
Loved every bite!!
Must get the tagliatelle with the tomato butter, unbelievable!!
Also, order the bread, it is soaked in the sauce as well!!
Top it all off with a coolhaus ice cream Sammie!!
Can't wait to go back!!
Definitely a court street highlight! -
Review from Aidan L.
New York, NY
8/17/2011
This is a really nice space. The staff are friendly, helpful and cheerful staff make you feel welcome. It is very easy to feel at home here.
The food is really good. I had the crostini with tomatoes The cherry tomatoes were so fresh and bursting with taste.
For an entree I had the brisket cacciatore. The brisket was wonderful.
Definitely will go again. The outdoor space looks really nice and relaxed. -
Review from Semuteh F.
Brooklyn, NY
10/9/2011
Ate here last night for dinner! Such good food :)
Tagliotelle= perfection
Baguette w/ tomato butter= to die for (we actually bought a container of it from the chef)
Beet salad w/ pesta=complex flavors
rice balls= sauce on them was amazing
foccacia= really yummy though the portion size was small
Great ambiance (though a bit loud). Food came out REALLY QUICKLY and wine list was limited but good picks.
Only complaints were that the prices were about $1 or 2 higher than I think they should have been and the food was not as HOT as I would have liked (temperature wise not spice-wise).
Overall, great dinner and will definitely be back! -
Review from Patale M.
Berkeley, CA
2/1/2012
It's been mostly very good. I go there whenever I need a greens fix: great arugula salad. I can't wait for the calamari to be back. AND, I am still trying to track down that Moscato d'Asti. I ordered it without checking the price because it was a bit too dark in there and I could not see. That is so unlike me. Anyway, at $12, or was it $13, the Moscato was totally worth it.
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Review from M A.
Brooklyn, NY
4/5/2012
I ate here for the first time tonight with my good friend. As we walked down Court street we decided to give Brucie a try, both new to the restaurant. We shared the fried Mozzerella and then she had the Lasagna and me the Tagliatelle. Everything was delicious. Our server helped guide us on our choices and he was spot on!! All the way to the Maple Cookie Ice Cream Sandwich with Sweet Potato Icecream. So glad we stumbled in and were surprised by a wonderful meal!
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Review from Matt P.
Brooklyn, NY
5/8/2011
My boyfriend & I ducked in here after signing a lease on an apartment around the corner. And our meal at Brucie made us that more excited to move into the neighborhood! Just what my fat ass needs!
We started with the toasted baguette with tomato butter & grated cheese on top. The tomato butter is actually one of their sauces. And it was delicious. We practically inhaled it. Not bad for $2.50 either.
For dinner I got the fusilli with some kind of artisanal cheddar, peas & black pepper. My boyfriend got the tagliatelle with brussels sprouts-- the Yelp special, apparently-- which ended up having the same tomato butter sauce on it (not a bad thing). They were both delicious. Mine was very rich & because of that, a bit of a smaller portion. His was awesome. I know why everyone orders it now. (Being such a fatty, I love looking around to see what other people order & at least one person at every table seemed to have ordered the tagliatelle.)
We splurged & ordered the caramel cake for dessert, which was huge, dense & so decadent. Thank God we split it. But it was great-- there was a salty caramel sauce slathered over a huge slice of cake.
Bonus points for them selling local groceries & some of their own products (homemade pastas & sauces--- a container of the tomato butter sauce will run you about $10). Also, a huge plus for apparently being one of the first storefronts to start selling Coolhaus ice cream sandwiches. I stocked up on 4 of them (at $7 a pop), which was totally worth it!
Excellent dinner. The staff was super nice too. We will be back again & again! -
Review from Bob B.
Easton, PA
1/24/2012
I had the pork belly sandwich with egg. It was good, but there was something on it - peppers if I recall - that was jarring. It didn't work well at all and there were way too many on there. I kept picking them out, only to bite into another one. Friend had the mozzerella sticks and liked them. Also liked the salad she got. I liked the atmosphere a lot. We went at lunch and found the service friendly.
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Review from Andrew D.
4/16/2011 3 Check-ins Here
Every time I leave Brucie, I wonder what I did before, you know... for food.
The people who run the place really love food. The menu rotates constantly with seasonal ingredients, but they keep a few trademark dishes (roasted pork shoulder ragu!) as a main ingredient. If you can cram in there and get some food, please do. You'll love it. And bring me, and pay for my dinner... I don't order the most expensive things...
Also, the garlic bread is a meal unto itself. Not for the weak of constitution. -
Review from mike l.
Brooklyn, NY
2/20/2011
In a neigborhood of old-fashioned (and bland) Italian food, Brucie definitely wants to be something more. It wants to be authentic but still relevant. Williamsburg cool, but also old-timey and real. A grocery store but also a restaurant.
From the moment we walked in, got looked over but not actually acknowledged, the staff never seemed to care more about us than they did about their beards or black tshirts. One waitress must've been having a bad night because she was hacking away at a loaf of bread like it called her fat. Our waiter was...fine. That dress looks...fine. Nothing particular wrong, but also totally uninterested. Another chubbed out, bearded dude only wanted to gossip. Hey hipster, you're distracting my waiter, go back to Twitter.
Someone put a lot of work into Brucie's ambiance. Everything felt perfectly cozy and neighborhoody until I noticed the Ball jar lights. That totally cracked the fourth wall for me and everything started feeling fake. And the music. The wife nailed it when she said it sounded like a college house party. Brucie, what are you - a warm neighborhood restaurant or pasta night at a Tappa Kegga Brew?
Speaking of carbs, I had the spaghetti & meatballs. The pasta was definitely fresh, but the dish as a whole was unremarkable. Not terrible, just fast and overpriced. The tagliatelle with ricota, brussells sprouts & burrata was fantastic. BYO has been replaced with a pricey & limited drink menu. A $12 glass of something next to a Bud tallboy. At least it wasn't PBR.
I think Brucie is the guy that can't grow up. It's 8th yr senior, still hitting on sophomores. Basically, it's Will Ferrell's career. Just like you can't carry two conflicting thoughts without getting a migraine, Brucie's contradictions left us feeling unsatisfied, confused and reaching for the Excedrine. -
Review from Megan I.
Brooklyn, NY
7/2/2011
This is our favorite place in the neighborhood right now. EVERYTHING we've had is amazing.
Anything stuffed (jalapenos stuffed with chicken sausage, zucchini flowers stuffed with ricotta and mortadella) is amazing. The sauces on every pasta are wonderful and it's great that the menu changes daily but there are always good staples (spaghetti and meatballs, tagliatelle).
The portions are huge too! My boyfriend and I always want to each get an app and an entree because it all sounds so good but we can never finish all the food.
On top of that the staff is so friendly and welcoming. They always remember us and the chef even comes out and says hello to the patrons.
They JUST opened a great backyard space which is very cool. -
Review from Chris S.
Brooklyn, NY
4/1/2011
My wife and I came here for an impromptu dinner after seeing a movie up the street. It was our second visit, and the food was as good as the first time! We had the tagliatelle with brussels sprouts and housemade burrata, as well as the lasagna. Both dishes were excellent, and the tagliatelle was outstanding. On top of the great food, Brucie offered excellent service. The last time we came was probably three months ago, but our waiter remembered us! Now that is impressive.
All in all, Brucie offers a wonderful evening out. Very comfortable without being too casual. We recommend it highly.
....oh, and if you tell them you are a dog person, they will love you! -
Review from Fuzzy L.
Brooklyn, NY
7/12/2011
Such a contribution to the neighborhood; Cobble Hill is really establishing itself as a culinary mecca, just love this place.
Just about anything you can possibly order ends up being disarmingly good. It's often on the heavier side, but it's totally worth it.
It's as though they're borrowing fantastic ideas from Michelin-star caliber restaurants, and rendering it unpretentious and homey.
It's obviously working: the place is packed just about any normal weekend night when they decide to be open, and I wish them all the best for the future.
Just remember the number of nights I pull up their webpage and get excited choosing plates to order, then realize the menu is not from today, and they are indeed closed. Bummer. -
Review from Sarah B.
Brooklyn, NY
4/27/2011
I ordered the tagliatelle with brussels sprouts primarily because everyone here on Yelp mentioned it and OMG SO GOOD. Amazing, amazing flavors; perfect portion size. My friend and I ate at the bar, and the bartender/server was super-friendly, responsive, and patient with our pestering him about ingredients.
Here's why I'm not giving it the full five stars: the mark-up on the wine is ridiiiiiculous. I mean, that's always true when you eat out, but I was sitting at the bar staring at this bottle of Fusa I actually have at home, which was like $18, and then a glass is like $10.
...You know what, the hell with it, I'll just give it five stars. Court St. rents are a bitch, and Fusa is actually damn good for a screw-top, so good for Brucie Inc. Anyway: delicious entree, sweet staff, fantastic coffee. Maaaaybe knock the by-the-glass prices down like a buck? But other than that, A+. -
Review from Saskia S.
Updated - 8/15/2011
ORDER THE LASAGNA (the one you can take home in the big pan). End of update.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/12/2011
Another great addition to the neighborhood!! Came here with a large-ish group (5 people) at 7:30 on… Read more »
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Review from Grant Maud C.
Santa Barbara, CA
10/29/2011
This place is excellent. I was very pleased with my halibut that was perfectly cooked. my only complaints are that my cream soda was not very creamy. Also be prepared for a loud Saturday night dinner.
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Review from Maia D.
2/23/2011
I would go back for the Housemade Ricotta & Green Pea Arancini
with red sauce (rice balls!!) In fact, I will most likely crave them.
The Tagliatelle with brussels sprouts were really good. The flavor of the brussels were unexpected - fried?? Think so!
I wanted to like the goat cheese and mushroom lasagna - I did - but it was a tad too dry and not something I would order again. It was also a $16 dish which I think was a little spendy - considering.
Overall I had a good meal at Brucie. I would definitely return and continue to taste through the menu for more favs.
*bonus* I really liked the music which ranged from LCD Soundsystem to Bob Dylan. The selection of music, paired with the great ambiance, encouraged my friend and I to loiter around and order another glass of wine long after our meals were finished. -
Review from Victor S.
10/5/2010 8 Check-ins Here
Brucie - a canine portmanteau -- the name comes from the owners' two dogs.
The food is a diverse mix of Italian. I was told by one of the owners that prior to opening, they had all gone on a culinary research trip to Italy for the restaurant (note to self - open Italian restaurant so I too can go on a "research trip."). Soaking in the food from many of Italy's regions -- Bologna, Parma, Sicily, etc.
To start, yes to start, we had some ice cream since there was an ice cream tasting a bit earlier (I forgot who made the ice cream). Goat cheese / caramel. Yeah. It was interesting, but I dunno if it's a flavor I would ever get again! BUT, the key lime ginger cookie ice cream. Yeah this was quite delicious and I'll have to get some of this for dessert the next time I stop in.
We were also given a little savory app -- a chicken cacciatore empanada / pastel sort of thing. It was heavenly friend goodness with a delicious cacciatore filling.
For lunch, I had their meatball hero. It was damn tasty. The Caputo bread. The meatballs were made at Brucie -- they had a nice citrusy zing to them. And it was topped with some fresh mozz. I guess my one complaint was that for the price, 10 bucks is a bit steep given the amount of meatballs you get. But either way, it was great.
GF had the panelle sandwich. Panelle is fried chickpea flour -- a Palermo delicacy. And it's not very common around here, which is ironic given the amount of Sicilian-Americans in BK. I know it's a common thing to get over in Ferdinando's on Union Street. But my GF liked it -- even I did, and I don't really stray from my meat and potatoes mantra.
Liquor license is still pending. Maybe November.
The space inside is gorgeous. Sometimes the shabby chic decor in a restaurant or cafe fails. It does not here. The fans, the lighting, the cool scale against the wall. I think it all looks awesome. There are a lot of stools along the main counter as well as in the front. And there's a communal table in the main room, although I found the table/stool combo to be a bit uncomfortable for someone of my size. And in the back there's a bunch more seating too. The patio might be open eventually -- of course, you need a billion permits to get that set up.
And at least in the area, there really hasnt been a restaurant / market combo. And I think Brucie really has hit it out of the park here. The menu too is dynamic, with daily updates which can be found on the website. I can't wait to return! -
Review from Rebecca A.
Brooklyn, NY
10/21/2010
What...what? What is this I hear? A new Cobble Hill resto that DOESN'T SUCK?!?! and doesn't have shills!!!
First of all, the fact that this place doesn't suck and that anywhere else that opens in this area usually does (e.g. River Deli, all the places on Smith except for Saul and Grocery, etc etc) already gives it a thumbs up in my book.
We have a laundry list of wonderous qualities:
-nice proprietors who stop and take time off to talk to you (and give you free things like yummy chicken empanada type things...I could have had 10 of those)
-Good panelle sandwich. Seems like panelle is coming into fashion these days, oddly enough, but that little chickpea fritter was delightful, light, airy, and not at all dry or chalky tasting. It was also very nicely paired with some honey.
-Cute decor, great for lunch or casual meal, got that shabby chic vibe but very well put together. Only thing is that the benches have no backs, so my back ends up screaming by the end of the night. But alas, this is due to my old-lady issues.
-A rotating menu that basically is comprised of food that meets the lovely chef's fancies.
Will certainly return for dinner one of these days.
