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Bubby's Brooklyn
Categories: Restaurants American (Traditional) Event Planning & Services Venues & Event Spaces American (Traditional), Venues & Event Spaces [Edit]
1 Main StBrooklyn, NY 11201
Neighborhood: DUMBO
(718) 222-0666
- Nearest Transit:
-
High St (A, C)
York St (F)
Clark St (2, 3)
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Brunch
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Very Loud
- Ambience:
- Trendy, Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
189 reviews for Bubby's Brooklyn
Review Highlights
-
"Only down fault is that its a CASH only place." In 20 reviews -
"The brunch is always fresh and delicious." In 67 reviews -
"The Peanut Butter pie is to die for." In 4 reviews
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189 reviews in English
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Review from Cheryl M.
Brooklyn, NY
4/13/2012
I have to say, if I would have gone with the reviews alone on this site... i would probably have chosen a different venue for my boyfriend's surprise birthday dinner. I'm glad I didn't...
I first heard about Bubby's while searching the internet for restaurants in NYC that would be able to easily accomodate a large group of people. I stumbled across a newspaper article outlining a bunch and Bubby's was on that list. After seeing their menu and noticing all food was hormone and antibiotic free and butchered IN HOUSE, it piqued my interest. ALSO, I'm planning a birthday dinner for my boyfriend, king of all that is manly and masculine... barbecue and bacon-wrapped meatloaf had be be noted. I called and they were more than happy to set the reservation for 12 people and I could add to that as the guestlist grew larger, no problem. I asked a friend if she had heard of this place and she said yes... she had attended a few company dinners there in the past. So it was settled... BUBBY'S IT IS.
When we arrived, and after the accolades of my successful surprise and the plethora of hugs and kisses two italians MUST do upon greeting people subsided, we sat down. The cocktails are pretty expensive but ALL were delicious. I ended up getting my standard Maker's Mark and Ginger after a few of the pre-made ones and to my surprise they used what tasted like homemade candied ginger something or other and it was fantastic.
The food was excellent. I had the fried chicken.
It just so happened that there was a band there and they sang happy birthday to my man and then proceeded to play instrumentals of quality hip hop like tribe called quest, the roots, and common to name a few. they were excellent, as well.
The waitstaff was helpful and attentive, the photobooths near the bathrooms were crucial for lulz.
All in all, I had not ONE thing to complain about. Stellar venue for what I needed it to be. I will be returning again, no doubt.
THANK YOU, BUBBY'S. I will be referring people to your establishment from now on. -
Review from Lucy M.
5/23/2012
I was at Bubby's Dumbo this afternoon for lunch with a group of 11 out of towners. Since my friends are from out of town, I wanted them to have a nice lunch at a restaurant that I really enjoy. Well, everything about our lunch turned out bad leaving me doubts on if I would ever return or recommend it.
First of all, no one greeted us at the hostess area or acknowledge our presences in the restaurant for at least 5 minutes until I finally flagged someone down. It's really hard to miss a group of 12 people standing there especially since the restaurant was not that busy. I had made reservations for 12:30pm and when someone finally decided to acknowledge us, our table had not been set up yet. I thought reservations meant tables would be ready when you arrive at the restaurant, but I guess I was wrong.
Upon sitting down at the table, our waitress, Emma, was made aware of our time constraints because we only had about an hour for lunch. We promptly ordered our food which took at least 30 minutes to arrive and when it did arrive, only 10 of us got our orders. Three people had ordered the exact same sandwich, but for some reason the other 2 people's orders did not show up. We had to flag down our waitress at least twice to let her know that not everyone had received their food. When we complaint, she seemed more annoyed than like she really cared if our orders were complete. When my two friend's Pilgrim sandwiches finally arrived, the turkey was burnt so it definitely was not worth the wait. How disappointing!
I had ordered the chicken club sandwich which was quite good. However, I noticed there was no avocado in the sandwich even though it stated on the menu that avocado was in the sandwich. When we asked Emma our waitress if the sandwich comes with avocado, her response was unbelievably rude. She said and I quote "if it does not say it's included on the menu then it's not included." I then asked to see the menu and there was avocado listed as the first ingredients in the sandwich. I pointed this out to her just to make a point.
Normally, when I have bad service at a restaurant I usually do not tip the customary amount to make a point. However, I couldn't do that at Bubby's today because the 20% tip was automatically included for parties of 6 or more. This really did not sit well with me because our tip to our very rude server was over $50 which she clearly did not deserve.
There are so many good restaurants in Brooklyn and Bubby's used to be one of my favorites. After today's experience I doubt I will ever return. Good food does not make up for terrible service, ever! -
Review from Monte B.
New York, NY
5/22/2012
Dear Bubby,
We visited your Brooklyn outpost last weekend. Your menu is interesting. Your location is great. I was really optimistic you could deliver a nice end to a beautiful day.
I ignored the disoriented hostess. I didn't complain about the bathroom. I didn't ask for the check when the tables around us began comparing war stories about how they'd been waiting for their food for over an hour, when people started walking out or sending food back, when the manager refused to speak to the restless hordes, etc.
PROTIP: if you ever find yourself in this situation cut your losses, pay, and leave. Unless you have a video camera. And a twisted sense of humor.
I really hope you get it together Bubby. Being completely lost on a weekend at dinner time has to be near rock bottom, right? Next time I'm leaving the hungry family at home and bringing the video camera. -
Review from Michael L.
Brooklyn, NY
5/15/2012 1 Check-in Here
Heard good stuff about this place, sorry I listened. Sloooooow service, asked for a burger medium rare, it was dry as s bone. Beer is served in a small mason jar and only filled 3/4 of the way up, it seems cool until you realise your being charged way too much. Won't be back. Especially at the prices.
-
Review from LULU H.
Brooklyn, NY
5/9/2012
BYE BYE BUBBYS
Will be avoiding Bubbys brunch. Used to be devotees but last 2 times were painful.....the final straw came like this: we all ordered the same bubby's breakfast 3 exactly the same orders eggs and all. Out they come with: 1 with no grits and no sausage, one without grits but with 3 sausages, and one with grits and 1 sausage....is the staff that uninvolved that the chef can't count and the runner didn't even notice the idiotic plating? Done with paying $4 for a cup of coffee on top of the outrageous brunch price, done with the zombie service and crappy food. Bye Bye Bubbys Bye Bye -
Review from Sunao S.
New York, NY
5/12/2012
I have been here only for Brunch. They serve solid brunch menu and food. The problems are the service can be spotty (we've had really snotty waitstaff - really bad...) and a bit pricey for brunch.
-
Review from Angelica Y.
New York, NY
5/20/2012
Walked in to kill time before a shoot. We're very easy going, but when I'm at the bar and the bar tender can't hear you or hear him messing up other people's orders, maybe it's to time to take off the earphones pal. Yes, he's wearing earphones and can't hear what people are saying. Plus he doesn't even know what beer is available since every beer my husband order is not available. Maybe no one here cares since the restaurant lost its lease. Still, lots of empty seats and yet there's a long line to wait...with no reservations! On another matter, told the hostess we'll be at the bar. The 2nd hostess put our names down. After awhile I went to ask how much longer. Of course my name was crossed off! The darn hostess just looked at me. A third hostess who didn't know anything was caught in the middle and it wasn't her fault. Sad that what used to be a gem is now just an overpriced dive with an expensive real estate and filled with incompetent staff who doesn't care, who doesn't know how to communicate, and should not be in the service industry. Although at least our server has been nice and follows up. Hope this place gets better.
-
Review from David C.
Brooklyn, NY
3/11/2012
Not so much Bubby's, not so much at all.
Bubby's - Sunday NIght - Dinner -
DUMBO - first off, our expectations were fairly high of a place basically right Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass, with a menu serving nearly 20 dollar fried chicken (ok, 19), a 15 dollar Burger, and a solid array of tasty sounding sides, that also had been rumored to be Kid Friendly. Having a 20 month old, we felt this was the perfect spot for a new Sunday night dinner destination. A quick ride from Prospect Heights, rock star parking - all looked like it was going swell...
...Until we stepped into this hugely underwhelming establishment. The first thing my wife thought to herself was - 'not clean', and I concur. Crumbs on the ground, windows were all filthy, - not nasty, just not clean. There were kids there, but what made this place 'kid friendly' was a mystery to me. No play area, depressing uninspired down tempo music playing over the system, and we literally went through 4 high chairs before we found one that had a working belt. Oh....about half way through the meal a waitress brought over a piece of paper and a crayon - thanks for that.
I'm being negative..., sure, but it's mostly because I like good food - and this was really not good food.
The wife had the Steak - ordered Medium. She loves really rare steak ( I don't) - and even she was freaked out by how RED and RAW the inside of the steak was. Oh and it was room temp at best... She had fries with the steak too, which had an oddly intense spiciness to them - which I decided was likely necessary to make them even slightly palatable.
I had the Roasted Chicken. Some bites were pretty good, other bites were like eating an actual salt shaker. The brussels sprouts made me want to cry. For anyone who lives in Prospect Heights like we do - ever had sprouts from Beast, the Vanderbilt, Dean Street, Cornelius, etc... - delicious right?? I've even tried my hand at some roasted brussels sprouts a at home which were thousands of times better than what Bubby's made...(and I am NO cook). Bland, room temp, gross. The mashed potatoes (how do you mess those up??) gross.
We ordered a few sides for our son to munch on. Black Eyed Peas and Mac N' Cheese were acceptable. Waffles were good (yes I gave my 20 month old waffles for dinner, don't judge).
I guess there were other things like - one of the bussers brought out our plates and literally pushed the large hot plate of my chicken with a sharp knife on it over my sons black eyed pease on the table in front of him, smashing his peas and leaving the dangerously hot plate of food and dangerously sharp knife well within his reach - then he did the same thing with the steak. Also, there were little things like my rootbear came out as a coke.... You know...stuff like that...
Why leave prospect heights at all? Why even leave the house... These people did not deserve our money, and our tummies did not deserve that disappointment. Bubby's gets one star - and that star is because our waitress was cool, and didn't make us pay for our root beer or lemonade.
We went for ice cream afterwards at Ample Hills Creamery on Vanderbilt which completely saved the night. -
Review from Mark R.
Brooklyn, NY
1/4/2012
I think I just had my last meal at Bubby's.
I've lived in Dumbo for 3 years, and have eaten there every few months, usually w/ family (and their kids). But it has steadily gone downhill with each successive visit.
The waitstaff is more checked-out than ever. They don't enjoy their jobs or take pride in taking care of you. You'll sit there for 15 minutes before they even come by for a drink order. They're inattentive to your empty water glass, they forget your request for ketchup until you've asked the third time, and if you point out that your chicken salad had a bone in it, they'll just yawn and make no effort to apologize. They're not rude, they just don't care.
But the worst part of it all is the prices.
A completely ordinary brunch for two there will set you back $60 after tax and tip, and that's WITHOUT bloody marys or other drinks (which would be more like $100). Just your basic omelets, coffee and oj.
There are too many other great places around the neighborhood (esp the new Brooklyn Heights Wine Bar on Henry st!) that are a far better experience for nearly half the price.
Sorry, Bubby's, but you're becoming a symbol of Dumbo's growing arrogance. -
Review from Marc L.
1/2/2012 3 Check-ins Here
I used to like Bubby's Brooklyn. I really did, I swear! The space and location is absolutely beautiful as it is located in what I imagine is a restored warehouse along the Brooklyn waterfront.
The last few times I've been there however, the experience has been nothing but complete disappointment.
Take yesterday for example. I met my girlfriend's brother and sister-in-law for New Year's Day brunch. We were a bit late getting to Bubby's, so the brother and sister-in-law had ordered some of Bubby's famous biscuits (which used to be free but you now have to pay for -- points off for that) as something to nosh on while they waited for us. More on the biscuits later.
Well when the GF and I get there, the place is crowded and noisy as always. Kids running around the place unsupervised. I don't criticize Bubby's for that. Its actually part of the place's charm --- if you don't like to eat brunch in that type of atmosphere, then this definitely isn't the place for you.
We find the GF's in-laws and join them at their table. The waitress finds us quick enough and takes our order. Everyone in the party orders eggs or pancakes, except for me. I've had breakfast here before, and I know the dishes are usually quite good. I just wasn't in the mood for breakfast that day.
I ask for the matzoh ball soup and BLT sandwich. Conventional wisdom on that should be the soup comes first as an appetizer and the BLT sandwich would come later as an the entree. Our waitress even confirms this when she takes the order. So far so good.
After an average wait the entrees for everyone show up .... except for mine! And I still haven't received my soup either. So let me get this straight, I'm the only one who actually orders an appetizer and everyone gets their entrees before my app arrives? What gives? And if everyone else is receiving their entrees, where is my BLT?
A few moments later, both my soup and BLT show up. Thanks Bubby's!
So I taste the soup. It is luke warm and luke tasteless. There is absolutely no flavor to the thing. I usually refrain from adding salt to my food, but this soup would have been inedible without it. So in goes the salt before I can really get any flavor out of the broth or the matzoh ball.
The average diner knows how to make good matzoh ball soup. This place is charging me $ 9.00 for the soup and its horrible. Go figure.
The BLT is pretty good. No real complaints there. It is extremely tasty. But the price.... $ 14.00 for bacon, lettuce, tomato and mayonnaise? COME ON!???
Oh ... and remember those delicious biscuits which the in-laws had ordered PRIOR to my GF and me arriving in order to have something to nosh on while they waited for us???? Well, those famous biscuits show up at the table AFTER our entrees had. The in-laws are way too nice, because I would have definitely sent them back at that point.
I would chalk off this entire experience as a one time aberration, but it isn't. Variations of the above story and lack of good service have awaited me at Bubby's the last few times I have been there. The previous time we were there for example, another member of our party didn't get his entree until almost everyone else had finished theirs. Inexcusable.
I sooo want to like this place. The breakfast is usually pretty good.... but at the prices they are charging you, both the service and food should be pristine, not just good. The average egg dish costs somewhere between $ 15 to $ 20. Just too much.
So, if you want a good meal in Brooklyn, this isn't any place I would recommend. If they bring down their prices and improve their service, I might consider revising this review. Until that time however, my feelings about Bubby's are as described above. -
Review from David S.
4/7/2012 1 Check-in Here
I rolled in here for Happy Hour with a friend. The space is enormous. The bar seats face away from the stellar view, which kinda stinks. The bar happy hour menu has all the charm of that of a TGI Fridays: nachos and cheese sticks. The whole decor seemed odd and the place was empty at 6:30 on a Tuesday...so it seemed odd all around. Maybe if there were people actually here and I sat by the window and had real food, it might be better.
-
Review from Anoush H.
New York, NY
4/14/2012
Despite the fact that I dine out frequently, I have never been a huge fan of writing restaurant reviews. But, today's brunch at Bubby's in Dumbo was so horrible that I felt compelled to write this review. First, although there were numerous empty tables, we were forced to wait, which is fine, but then they sat several people who had arrived after us, before us. I'll accept that this was a mistake, as I prefer to give people the benefit of the doubt.
Second, and the most disturbing, when the food expediter brought our plates, the towels he was using to hold the hot plates were touching our food and the towels were filthy!!!. When I say filthy, I mean filthy! I honestly felt disgusted. I worked in the restaurant business many years ago, and I never saw such a far deviation from health standards. If this is what's happening in front of the customers, I'm afraid to know what's happening behind the scenes.
Me and my girl frequently go to the Bubby's in TriBeca and I can honestly say that the sour cream pancakes are the best pancakes in New York! Even better than the pancakes at Clinton Street Baking Co.
Bubby's Dumbo, today was a huge let down! I don't know what's going on over there, but you won't find us there anytime soon! -
Review from sugarplum p.
Glendale, NY
4/1/2012
This is a very organic place that is very tasty! even the ketchup. I just went there on a sunday and had a 40 minute wait time which was spent outside since it has a beautiful view and park near by. It is a cash only place and everyone was super nice knowledgable with the menu. The food is delicious i had the philgrim with the pressed lemon juice yummy! it is loud so its not a romantic spot and the food is anywhere from 7-14 dollars .
-
Review from Leslie D.
11/21/2011 1 Check-in Here
Eh I was so not a fan of this place. My aunt took my cousin and I here with my grandmother to have Sunday brunch to celebrate my grandmother's 89th birthday. While the view was spectacular of the Brooklyn Bridge, the food was just blah. My cousin and I both got their Huevos Rancheros. I thought hey, that sounds good.... 2 eggs with black beans, tortilla, salsa and avocado with a choice of breakfast potatoes or French fries. Wrongo! The black beans tasted like they were straight out of a Goya can and the salsa was just awful.
I guess my expectations were different but I really had to force myself to eat half of the meal... otherwise I knew I would get asked 10 million questions by my female family members on why I wasn't eating and then they ultimately would get insulted because I didn't love with a fiery passion the restaurant they chose. Ugh, women. I'm sorry but the food was just not happening! I even tried a bite of my grandmother's pancakes and I thought those were bad too. They were very thick and doughy and tasted uncooked and rubbery.... they were like the pancakes kids try to make at home using Bisquick pre-made batter and fail miserably at. Call me crazy but the best pancakes are on the thin side, light and airy.
The environment wasn't that big of a deal to me as some others might have noted. There were a few kids but not a lot while we were seated so the noise level was acceptable. However, had it been a full house of families with their babies I could see why some people hate this place. I give credit to our waiter who gave my grandmother a free Mimosa for her 89th birthday. I could easily forget the rest of my dining experience here at Bubby's and would be very annoyed if I ever had to come back. -
Review from M. N.
New York, NY
Saw a review of Bubbys on Unique Sweets on Food Network...the pie was just as delicious as described. We had the Pecan Pie and the orange zest in the filling gave it a unique kick. For our main meal, we went for a savory option- roasted vegetable chili and huevos rancheros. Yum!
Location has gorgeous views and is very spacious- great for larger groups and families.
Overall, a very relaxing, satisfying brunch experience. -
Review from Rachel W.
Brooklyn, NY
2/15/2012
Dear Bubby's,
What are you THINKING?? We used to visit you every couple of weeks for your heavenly brunch. The outstanding food. The impeccable service. The free and delicious biscuits. And best of all, the kids play space- which allowed us to sip our coffee and enjoy the view for a few peaceful minutes before the food promptly arrived, while our kids played happily with your toys.
We returned recently after a many-months-long hiatus, to find you morphed into some new, hipster nightspot that also serves food sometimes. First of all, when we walked in the door at 9:30 AM (30 minutes after you allegedly opened for the day), what appeared to be your entire staff was lounging at the new, um, lounge tables you installed on the main floor where tables used to be. Despite that fact that the restaurant was empty, it took 10 minutes for us to get seated.
We asked for a seat near the play space, only to discover that YOU NO LONGER HAVE THE PLAY SPACE! Seriously, what are you thinking? You do realize DUMBO- nay, all of Brooklyn- is home to armies of stroller-weilding, multiple-kid-having, money-spending parents, right? And that that your play space was a genius way to keep those parents returning, again and again, every weekend for brunch? Why oh why would you ever think about getting rid of the play space?? Stupidest. Decision. Ever.
We waited an inordinate amount of time for our waitress to get up from the lounge table and take our order. We requested a basket of biscuits, only to be told that we could have them, but they're not free anymore. Um, no thanks. Then, after another unbelievably long wait, our coffee arrived. I asked for cream, only to be told they don't have it. Really, Bubby's? Cut back on the old cream budget? Wow.
More time passed. Our kids were getting restless (did I mention there's no play space anymore), and we were getting hungry. Finally, the meal came (did I mention the place was empty), however our brunch plates lacked a crucial ingredient: grits. You know, the reason we came to Bubby's in the first place.
The waitress explained that the grits "weren't ready yet." I mean, REALLY, Bubby's? The restaurant *is* open, right? Because it sort of feels like we're making outrageous demands on you, after hours. Your food is good and all, but it isn't great. Maybe it used to be, but our memories are so clouded by lack of grits, we can't remember.
The final assault came when the check was delivered. $180 dollars for an alcohol-free brunch for four adults and two children (one of whom is a baby who shared my meal). Outrageous!
Bubby's old friend, you won't see us again. Whoever you're catering to these days, it ain't us. And by "us" I mean loyal customers who like to eat good food and experience acceptable levels of service. Good luck.
-The W. Family -
Review from Geca S.
Brooklyn, NY
12/3/2011
Clearly, Bubby's, I'm missing something. Your Manhattan location is fine, not bad, pretty creative. But this one?
Are you serious?
It's in an ENORMOUS loft, the tables are spread ten feet apart. How this restaurant can afford that much real estate in DUMBO and still stay afloat is very surprising.
They manage it because they charge a pretty penny for basic diner food, albeit cooked better than you'd expect from a greasy diner. Eggs, sausages, pancakes, grits, ok. $16-$20, do you JOKE?
And then the waitress gave my friend a hard time for wondering if the above dish came with a side of toast. She was rude and strange (ok, we all have those days) but then tried to play it off as "cha, of course we wouldn't, isn't that weird to have toast AND pancakes, chaaaa."
Lady, a diner would. And this is diner food.
My bottom line is: come here if you're bringing tourists new to the city who would appreciate the gorgeous view of lower Manhattan and of the Brooklyn Bridge Park. There's no other reason to pay so much for so little. -
Review from K.F. M.
Brooklyn, NY
2/13/2012
Recently I informed the manager Sean why that it seemed to be Bubby's policy not to give coin change back to customers, to which he said was the case... but you can ask for your change once you don't receive it?!? I told him how dishonest & in poor business this was and he called me a _unt.
Pretty great huh?
I had been going to Bubbys Brooklyn as long as they have been open, no longer. You can imagine the money they make by not giving people coin change, always rounding in their favor... couple thousand a week I'm sure. This is an illegal practice, and the manager should be fired. -
Review from Sasha N.
11/21/2011
John... was it? The easy-peasy bartender who made the evening just right. I've lived in Brooklyn for three years... one would think I would know my way around bars and neighborhood specials but I don't. The girlfriend works in DUMBO and honestly, I can't think of a nicer after-work spot to meet her for drinks at.
Make sure you let the bartender recommend stuff to you... it's wunderbar! Right across from Galapagos as well... and my secret New York "Jane" x -
Review from Dusty N.
Brooklyn, NY
2/13/2012
I like Bubby's the food is always good but man sometimes this place is a like a playground. I know there are a lot of people with kids in the area but have some consideration for the people around you. Not all of us think your kids are as adorable as you do..
-
Review from Monda W.
Rockville, MD
2/28/2012
Heaping food portions - GREAT pancakes - wonderful coffee and excellent fresh squeezed orange juice. The biscuits are fantastic - and the atmosphere is jovial. Very family friendly. Really nice views of the bridge. I would get there early. Although the place is huge - they get really crowded. I tried a sample of their apple pie during some kind of pie festival - tasty!
-
Review from Deb B.
Suffolk County, NY
12/9/2011
Keep the sentimental charm.
Paying $40 per person for brunch is ridiculous.
You could still smell the beer that was spilled on the wood floors from the night before. The ladies room was a mess. Graffiti and holes in the walls. C'mon. Young parents enjoying their much needed hangover mimosas and bloody mary's while their kids were screaming for their attention got better service than we did.
Our table had a great view, but we would have been better off sitting on the curb with our eggs and pancakes.
I Visited August 2011 -
Review from Tracy B.
Los Angeles, CA
1/5/2012
Really thought I would like it but it was terrible. It was a 30 min wait which was fine, and as soon as we sat we ordered -since we has time to read the menu at the bar that no one helped us at so we couldn't even order a drink. Then it took an hour to get our food. An hour! And or waitress didn't even let us know- we had to ask where it was. Then the food was cold. The veggie chili was bland, the huevos rancheros was average, the Mac and ch was just ok, the bacon was fatty. Everything was just bland- nothing special! I would not come back ever and do not recommend it for you!
-
Review from Matt E.
7/15/2011 1 Check-in Here
Visiting NYC and a friend that lives in town insists we try Bubby's. She generally goes to the location in Manhattan, but we decided to try this one since we were bumbling around DUMBO anyhow. When we first walked in I was quite excited, as it's really a beautiful restaurant, with a view of the East River and the Manhattan skyline to match. We went upstairs, found a table with the best view, and we were in love with this restaurant and it's neo-rustic charm.
Then everything went downhill. Fast.
I have never had as laughably of bad service as I received here at Bubby's. The place was dead and for the vast majority of the time we're the only table that our server has to worry about. Still, it manages to take 15 minutes to get our cocktails (which in all actuality were delicious). That was essentially the last time we saw our server. We had to flag down bus boys to get refills of water, and nobody ever offered us another round of cocktails...a BIG mistake with my group.
Meanwhile 2 things happen. 1) a group of 30 sits next to us and 2) we see our server downstairs at the bar chatting up a female employee and playing on his phone, I can only imagine trying to beat the latest update to Angry Birds. I mention both of these because the group of 30 is not his table, and he's obviously not helping out.
After finally getting a different employee to clear our table and get us desert, I've had enough. I call over a manager. I tell her how the food was great but how awful the service is. She apologizes, but then also spends 10 minutes telling us how she KNOWS that he is terrible at his job, and that he was once a manager but got fired and hired back as a server. She apologized that we had to deal with him as our server. It was nice to get confirmation that it wasn't just us that he sucked with, but c'mon, a manager sitting down to gossip with us about how awful a staff member is rather than fix the problem? Weak.
The icing on the cake? The server comes back up, and apologizes for not being with us enough. He said it was just so swamped in there due to the 30 top that he didn't have time to appropriately serve us. LIAR! YOU LYING LIAR! We all watched you flirt and play Angry Birds (again, just an assumption. He could have been checking in on a sick grandparent or something). Don't bullshit me dude. No tip for you.
This place only gets 2 stars because the view was pretty and i didn't get some awful form of food poisoning. Beyond that, dodge this place. -
Review from Claudia C.
Brooklyn, NY
3/31/2012
Hands-down, absolutely the worst service in all of DUMBO. I can't believe this is related to the wonderful Bubby's in TriBeCa, this place gives "Bubby's" a bad name.
-
Review from Ben B.
Brooklyn, NY
12/11/2011
I decided to have brunch here with out of town guests. Then I read the reviews and nearly changed plans . . . but am glad we stayed the course.
The food was excellent and reasonably priced for the area, though the ambiance was rather loud (lots of children). We had zero problems with the service. The layout is curiously inefficient, but that had no effect on our experience other than to provide another topic of conversation during the meal.
I'll definitely give Bubby's another try. -
Review from ReviewHaiku F.
Manhattan, NY
10/2/2011
Fuzzy memories...
Beer in mason jars and some
Photobooth hotness
(b) -
Review from Alisa P.
Brooklyn, NY
11/20/2011
I came here over the weekend for brunch. The restaurant was packed, and so loud that it was hard to enjoy conversation. It took 15 minutes for someone to serve us water, and another 10 minutes on top of that to take our order, let alone get coffee.
The food was mediocre at best. The eggs were slimy, the homefries were cold, the sausage was overcooked and hard. The pancakes were good, but seeing as maple syrup wasn't served along side, they were cold by the time the syrup bottle arrived.
Disappointing to say the least. Not worth the wait and definitely not worth the cash. -
Review from E H.
Brooklyn, NY
2/11/2012
Could be better, but it's okay. It needs some help. Nothing is really bad - it's just that nothing is amazing. I reccomend the fried chicken. It takes 20 minutes, but was rather tasty.
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Review from Melissa B.
Brooklyn, NY
2/19/2012
Absolutely NEVER AGAIN!!!
After a handful of OK experiences at Bubby's, my sister and I decided to go there for brunch since we were in the neighborhood. Mind you I should have known better - fabulous experiences are right down the street but open slightly later - Today, I wish to god I had waited another 15 minutes and went somewhere else.
We started with a muffin and pastry basket - half of which was quite good, half of which was stale, hard and tasteless.
My sister's Huevos Rancheros were slathered in a low quality Ortega-ish type of salsa, had barely any cheese and was WAY overpriced for what it was, even for DUMBO. It was fine I guess, but nothing to write home about.
I however ordered the "sauteed banana pancakes" as I had a sweet tooth and was in the mood for an indulgent breakfast. What I got were dry, doughy pancakes, with 3 small slices of overly cooked, rubbery bananas on top. I was dissapointed.
I apologized profusely to the waitress but ultimately I told her I didn't like the pancakes and I wanted to send them back and very politely asked for an omelet instead. She was very combative, and was awkwardly and rudely inquisitive - "Why didn't I like them?" "What did I expect?" "What was I hoping for in my pancakes?" She was also squirrely and had blood in her nose and was frankly grossing me out, so to make her just go away, I told her I was maybe thinking the pancakes would come with a bananas foster type of sauce or at least would be something a little tastier, richer or more moist.
I soon realized her questions were to soften the blow - She would order me another dish but the pancakes would not be removed from my check because there was nothing wrong with them. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. It's not like I ordered a Fillet Mignon here. 40 cents in food cost for eggs and a better attitude could save them a scathing review, but alas, such was not the case. I've waited tables before at a variety of restaurants and I infrequently send things back even when warranted to keep a low profile, but I've NEVER heard anything like this before. If a customer is being pleasant and polite, but they are unhappy and they are willing to let you fix it, you just do it. PERIOD!
I asked to see the manager thinking that maybe he could offer me some glimmer of customer service but he stood by this ridiculous policy, was rude, used profanity, and insisted I should have asked the waitress more finite details about the richness of the pancakes and whether they were of a bananas foster type of variety. I couldn't believe I was actually participating in this conversation. I JUST DIDN"T LIKE THEM! Please bring me an omelet, charge me $22, and let's move on!
After a few minutes of pointless banter, he finally agreed to remove the pancakes from the check but still wanted to prove his not existent point by going as far to further define Bananas Foster, accused me of interrupting him and leaving him feeling unheard (as if we were dating) and told me the owners would normally say "F*cK no" to my exchange request but that he would make an exception for me and really - I should be grateful. Are you KIDDING ME?
Bubby - I get it. You have some insanely self righteous customers and you try to coach your staff accordingly but keep in mind, you are NOT the best brunch in town. You teeter on mediocre at best and with this experience, even your good view does not make you worth my time. Brooklyn - do yourself a favor.... go somewhere else and walk along the water afterwards. A water front view does not mean you should have to settle for a sup bar food and the possibility of a ruined Sunday morning experience. -
Review from Tucker H.
7/29/2011
I can't comment on the service since we were here for a wedding, not regular service. The food and location were excellent though.
The location is really beautiful, the huge windows look out across the East River, with the Brooklyn and Manhattan bridges framing Manhattan. Particularly at night, this view is stunning. The interior is definitely Brooklyn, with a faux-retro hipster vibe. The only issue we had with the location was that our cabbie didn't know where it was, and then we ran into a bunch of streets that were closed for construction. In the end we just got out and walked two (very hot) blocks, but none of that is really Bubby's fault.
The food was delicious, and while it wasn't the regular service menu, I think it was a good sign for the place that their wedding food was so tasty. The grilled sea bass was good enough, but the grilled/barbecued chicken was excellent. They served an entire half of a chicken, which had been smoked and grilled, and had just a hint of barbecue sauce on it. It was tender and delicious, as were the sides. All in all, an excellent meal and a great place for a wedding! -
Review from Jose D.
Cypress Hills, Brooklyn, NY
1/29/2012 1 Check-in Here
First of all I love the view definition of Dumbo. Now the wait for sitting was about 35 mins just what the girl at the front said although noticing a few empty table while we waited. Drinks arrived quickly but the food took a bit long. Very good food had the Bubby's Burger...deff would return and add a walk across the street.
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Review from Greg W.
Los Angeles, CA
9/12/2011
I really wish Bubby's would get its act together. Stunning views of the East River, the bridges, and the Manhattan skyling. Delicious BBQ and comfort food.
With all that going for it, Bubby's manages to disappoint. The staff never seems to give a crap. The vibe is confused. The space is used poorly. The food comes out slloooowww (business lunch? forget it.)
They opened a little 'coffee window' on Main St., which was a great idea. For a week or two, they were serving delicious Blue Bottle. While they still advertise Blue Bottle, what they serve at the window has gone way downhill. It's definitely no longer Blue Bottle, and it's really bitter, overbrewed, and yuck. In typical Bubby's fashion, they took something good and ruined it.
You can still go inside and get Blue Bottle espresso, which I highly recommend if you want to be treated like shit by 3 different employees, still to have them forget to make an entire coffee that you ordered.
I have tried so many times, and I'm running out of steam. The food continues to be good, but Bubby's is a bad experience. -
Review from Yan F.
9/2/2011
I came here on a weekday after a long day with my friend who really loves this place. I'm not exactly very thrill with the food per say and while the decor was nice and the ambience was classy/romantic, it wasn't enough for to really say I actually enjoy this place. At least, not the food anyways.
I ordered three things: vegetable chili, veggie enchiladas and biscuits. The vegetable chili tasted alright but they put way too much sour cream on top which got in the way of the chili since I don't eat sour cream. That was mainly my mistake for not asking for "no sour cream." I didn't even know they put sour cream in chili these days.
The veggie enchiladas were okay. The ricotta cheese inside didn't compliment well with the rest of the dish. The melted on top only made it worse. I could barely swallow this one.
The biscuits were by far the worst biscuits I've ever had. :-( They definitely were not homemade. They are the super dry version of the Pillsbury bake-at-home biscuits you buy from the grocery store and even those are better. The biscuits were hard, dry and tasted like cardboard. It wasn't fresh like the waiter told me it would be when I ordered.
I wouldn't say I wouldn't recommend this place to anyone. It just wasn't my cup of tea. Sorry, Bubby's! -
Review from Adelaide S.
Brooklyn, NY
11/30/2011
Someone told me I had to try this place for brunch for the grits. I should have known better than to listen to someone from Ohio about grits, which taste like gruel unless properly salted. The service took forever, the wait staff was rude, and I am not in the least bit surprised that they were recently shut down for several days by the health department, because I thought I would give it one more shot and walked out as soon as I walked in, because the whole place smelled like a bucket of dirty Pinesol that they probably use to "clean" the place.
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Review from Sara B.
Long Island City, Queens, NY
11/27/2011
Held a half-birthday party here, and they were fantastic. Served 50+ people swiftly and with great customer service. Incredibly delicious food. I want to marry a rando just so I can have the freaking wedding here.
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Review from N L.
New York, NY
2/18/2011
I work near Bubby's, so for a variety of reasons I have gone there a handful of times. Each time I have been disappointed, but each time I have allowed myself to be burned again. Never again.
Let's get this out of the way; the view is amazing. You can walk in Brooklyn Bridge Park without going to Bubby's - so just do that and save yourself the trouble.
I've only been to Bubby's for lunch, but despite the midday lull, waitstaff can be hard to find. Meals often drag on as waiters disappear, food comes out cold, water never gets replenished. I have rarely felt so trapped in an open room.
The food is mediocre. The selection itself is bizarre - a smattering of boring sandwiches, two kinds of soup, some plain sounding burgers, and oddly placed Tex-Mex. The quality is thoroughly shruggable. The three sandwiches I've tried all were bland, the fries were over salted, the onion rings contained more ring than onion.
My last straw came at today's lunch. I ordered the salad and soup combo ($12 with a choice of side). I chose BLT, matzoh balls, and onion rings. Though marked as $12, the total came to $20. While my waitress admitted it is marked nowhere ont the menu, the matzoh balls only come in bowls (+$2), and for reasons unknown they charge extra for it twice (+$1), and the side has to be french fries - so my onion rings were extra (+$5). The meal was overpriced as marked - but absurd as I was charged.
Bubby's. You have a photobooth. This is your one redeeming quality. Other than to take cute pictures and stroke my own vanity: Never again. -
Review from Anna N.
Jackson Heights, NY
3/27/2011
My family has been going to Bubby's brunch for a few years now, about once or twice a month. While its pretty expensive ($20-25/pp for bunch), the quality of the food, child-friendly atmosphere, and location (across from the bridge and a playground) made it worth it.
Sadly -- not anymore.
The place is apparently under new management (as of 2-3 weeks ago) and everything has changed, for the worse. First and foremost -- the food is considerably worse (new chef). My toast was burnt, the bisquits were different and less flavoreful, my husband's grits and eggs benedict were mediocre at best.
Additionally, the new management is apparently very anti-children. Gone are all the toys and books in the playarea, no more crayons at the table, and there are signs posted everywhere that suggest that "children need to stay in their seats". Every single table with kids was complaining and were disappointed. Also looks like their weekend brunch crowd has diminished by at least half.
Bizarrely they got rid of all the tables in the large bar area on the first floor and are turning it into a "lounge" space.
All in all, its extremely disappointing that one of our favorite weekend brunch places has to be taken off the list. But, alas, this is NYC and I am sure we'll find many excellent alternatives.
More then anything, its just sad to see this place turn away loyal customers with their new "atmosphere" and "mediocre food". -
Review from Jules D.
Brooklyn, NY
6/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
I've been coming in on and off for the last couple of years and since the increase in the amount of tourists in DUMBO the quality and price of the food has definitely changed to reflect the increase in tourists
$18 for a bacon cheeseburger
$7 for a pint of beer.
The quality has completely dived it seems in direct proportion to the increase in prices, plus, wtf is going on with the amount of salt they use?!
It's almost like they have a contract with a major salt supplier, I thought my body was going into shock after I tasted the burger (forget about the fries, you can actually SEE that they are coated in salt).
Service was absolutely fine, very friendly and attentive I must say.
DUMBO has been unfortunately overrun with tourists and sadly it seems like all the restaurants down there have gone into full "get em in and get em out" mode, with no concern for getting repeat customers, and what for? They'll be another busload along soon.
And it's like Chuck E Cheeses in there, so if you're not a huge fan of screaming running kids everywhere you've been warned.
Superfine is a great case in point, it's turned into a complete joke. -
Review from Jaime J.
2/4/2011 1 photo
Bubby's seems like a Brooklyn institution. The kind of place where a family goes for brunch every Sunday where everyone tries food from everyone else's plate and the conversation flows as freely as the (delicious) coffee.
I love the venue -- open, vast and airy but very cozy and homey at the same time. When we visited, the upstairs had been cordoned off for a bridal shower and the pastel balloons dancing in the breeze made the atmosphere that much more charming.
BUT, all the charm in the world can't help a restaurant if the food is barely edible. Luckily, my meal at Bubby's was pretty good.
Keeping on my quest to find the world's best, I ordered the veggie burger and fries. While Bubby's made a solid effort, I don't think this one can be considered a contender.
The patty was homemade - thin, crispy, crunchy and served with lettuce, tomatoes, onion and pickle on a whole-wheat bun. Tasty? Certainly. Spectacular? Meh, not so much.
However, I can't rave enough about the fries -- they were delicious! Crispy shoestrings that were well-seasoned with salt and parsley (love parsley on my fries). I could have eaten obscene amounts.
As much as I enjoyed the food and the atmosphere, I have two complaints about the joint. Both related to money. The first being that Bubby's only accepts cash. If this was some dark hole-in-the-wall doling out dinner in Styrofoam boxes, this policy makes perfect sense. Bubby's is a big place (with a second location in Tribeca) that seems to do pretty well. Also, it's 2011.
My second complaint was the price. My burger was good, but I don't know that it was worth $15. In fact, if my bubby heard I spent $15 on a burger and fries, she'd probably clobber me with a wooden spoon (my bubby's a tough ol' bird).
If you're in the DUMBO area with a little cash in your pocket and looking for a good spot to grab brunch, check out Bubby's. Just don't tell your bubby how much you spent on your meal.
