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Category: American (New) [Edit]
Neighborhood: Carroll GardensSmith-9th Sts (F, G)
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The hostess with the mostest! She was super friendly and seated us a few minutes prior than expected. She even called us to let us know the seats were available. We planned for brunch and just made it (sorta) around 2:30 ish (ends at 3 PM). We all pretty much reviewed the menu a few days in advance and had an idea of what we wanted. Fried pork chops/waffles and bloody marys were on the top of the list. We initially ordered the fried pork chops/waffles and short rib hash BUT wait for it....they were out!!!!! Ugh, I guess that's what we get for coming late. I ended up getting the house cured lox, green onion, and cream cheese scramble. I had a muffin prior to coming (bad move) so I wasn't able to enjoy my meal to the fullest. However, I DID order the court street bloody mary and it was tasty! The decor was also very simple, quaint. The little cow located randomly on the brick wall was cute.
One word of advice - get here early for brunch so they don't run out of the all the goodies!
Will def be back to try what was originally planned. A lot of ppl were ordering the maple and bacon roasted almonds so that is a must try next time around. At one point we thought it was some sort of conspiracy to temporarily stop serving certain items off the menu to get patrons to return. I think it's a great idea :)
See ya soon!
All right, y'all. Times are Tough 2009 continues its theme. It's almost been two weeks since I've written a review. I've been crippled by a work project, a dwindling bank account, and exhaustion, so I've barely ventured beyond the compounds of work and home. I have a draft saved for a review of the Union Square Wendy's. And I was giving it three stars.* WHAT IS GOING ON?!
So when Preeti B asked me out to brunch on Sunday, I jumped at the opportunity. Anything to avoid leftover pizza, am I right?** Plus, I've been meaning to check out Buttermilk Channel for a while.
We were extremely lucky to have beautiful weather on the day we went because it's true that there will always be a wait. "Thirty minutes, but be generous with me, please," said the hostess. Of course, of course. Half an hour later we were seated outside, a romantic table for two.
Here's where Buttermilk gains my respect: Your brunch includes your choice of tea or coffee, as well as your choice of orange juice, mimosa, bloody mary, or champagne. THANK YOU. Never make me choose between a mimosa and coffee. I'll skip the caffeine for a buzz in most cases, but I will be Grump McGrumperson regardless.
I ordered the scrambles with mushrooms, goat cheese, and spinach. Dee-lish! I was mainly in it for the additional sides: hash browns, two pieces of toast, and a little salad. It beat paying $4 for an extra side. Preeti, on the other hand, ordered the Pecan Pie French Toast, and after tasting it, I was left slack-jawed. Then we got into it about which is better: Cake or Pie? To which I replied, "Pie!" and Preeti said, "Well, you are from Pennsylvania." Props to my Society of Friends!
The inside layout was a little cramped, and there's only one bathroom (albeit, a lovely perfumed one!) so don't hold it in. Buttermilk may not be a total home run for me (the food was good but I could probably make what I ordered at home), but the ambiance and prices make it worth it.
And heck, it beats Wendy's.
__________
* The review started out as a joke until I realized I was actually reviewing it. Listen, I love me some Wendy's. THERE I SAID IT.
** Let it be known, I still think cold pizza for breakfast is delicious.
Went on a Tuesday night, got seated within minutes.
Good local beer selection, very local. Wish they could include more NE beers other than New York.
Ordered east coast oysters and an autumn salad. Got the oysters but received the almonds. Glad they missunderstood us. Can't go wrong with maple and bacon. Later recieved the salad, also delicious.
Got the fried chicken with cheddar waffles and the duck meat loaf. Chicken was very juicy and well seasoned but was very undercooked.
Duck was good but was more of a burger than meat loaf which was also on the rare side.
Service was a bit off, food was thought right, executed wrong.
I interveiwed @ this place before they opened and did not get a call back, still wish the would have had the balls to @ least give me a call to let me know I was not the right fit. Oh well fuck it.
Was very impressed with everything I had the other night when I was in . No complaints. The best meal I've had in a while. I love a great pickle.
Went for brunch on a Sunday. The fried pork chop & cheddar waffles with maple syrup was amazing. The 'chop was coated in a thick, crunchy buttermilk breading and the waffles had a hearty flavor greatly enhanced by the cheese. I also had some plump little breakfast sausage patties w/ dried pear on the side. Really looking forward to a dinnertime visit. Beware the crowds though, brunch was an hour wait for a table and no reservations for parties under 5 (so we ate at the bar). The place was packed to the gills at 1:00pm on Sunday.
Super friendly and helpful staff. Two big thumbs up.
Hendrick's martini. Maple & bacon roasted almonds. Turnip & roasted crispin apple soup. Chicken liver mousse. Spice-rubbed ribs. Duck meatloaf. Fried chicken. Bacon-wrapped trout. Pint of Kelso Nut Brown Lager. Pecan sundae. APPLE BREAD PUDDING.
This is the meal I want to eat every day for the rest of my life. (If we could just pretend that doing so wouldn't result in me being a destitute, 250 lb. alcoholic sooner rather than later.)
I think Buttermilk Channel is going to fall into that realm for me where I think its a great place but possibly not enough so that I will trek back to Brooklyn just to eat here. Unless of course I have a craving for that chicken again...
The rolls they bring you when you sit down are fantastic. I don't even know how to describe them - they seem to be half beignet (sp?), half potato roll. The drinks menu is good and although I didn't order wine, the stuff they had was reasonably priced and quite good. The food was pretty fantastic and their hostess was really good to our group despite the wait. Quite frankly, call out there 2 hours prior to arrival and put your name on the list. Waiting even an hour or so before may already be too late...
I saw a couple get seated from where they were having drinks at the bar and, as they were headed to their table, the guy turns to the hostess and says, with not a small amount of passive-aggression, "that really was an hour and a half". Okay... We felt bad for her - she was doing her best but the place is really popular and seating is limited.
Buttermilk Channel has been on my agenda for eons. The clean look of the place was calm and sobering after a night of drinking. We sat at the bar which afforded us plenty of space to lay out the Times. Due to my fragile state I ordered the sedate Short Rib Hash, which incidently I'd planned on ordering from as far back as when I first wanted to come here. The hash was lovely and with actual pork bits, and my eggs were as good as over easy gets. My friend's Eggs Huntington was soooo good. It was creamy and the biscuit was ever so buttery. The hollandaise was divine. His latte was good enough for him to order thirds
The downside: to get a seating we had to get there in plenty of time before it got busy (they don't take bookings for parties of less than 5) so we were too early for my much needed hair of the dog.
Next on the agenda: dinner at Buttermilk Channel.
I had the scallops, my friend had the fried chicken. Both were delish! Also got the side of cauliflower, and started with the bacon maple almonds. Both were great as well.
I really wanted to try the desserts b/c they sounded great, but was too full to do so. I definitely will be back again.
Only downside was the hour and a half wait. The hostess took our number and called us when our table was ready. Thankfully it was just an hour and we went to a nearby bar. It was beyond well worth the wait.
Had an excellent brunch here today. The pecan maple French toast with hash browns and a side of housemade sausage. Loved the hash browns. Liked the sausage. Really enjoyed their plating for the French toast. Whipped butter on the side. The French Toast was cut almost like two slices of pie. Drizzled with pecans and syrup. Beautiful.
Service was good. Interior is minimal and clean. Loved their bar and whatever use of light they can get in this part of Brooklyn where that can be challenging because everything is rectangle shaped with windows in the front.
Will absolutely be back for dinner and other brunch adventures.
We came here Sunday morning before the Atlantic Antic,
After reading so many reviews describing how brunch here is fantastic.
This place is always packed on weekends and lines are out the door.
Great food is reason why the locals keep coming back for more.
Most places in BoCoCa are hyped up and overrated.
The ambience here is casual, warm, and understated.
The windows are wide and the interior is bright,
Thanks to the rays coming from natural sunlight.
The wooden bar only has NY beers on draft.
Top shelves hold various bottles of wine & microbrew craft.
Coffee is complimentary and our server kept offering us refills.
I can understand why my friend tipped her in so many dollar bills.
I had the fried pork chop with cheddar waffle and greens.
This is the largest pork chop I've ever seen.
The quality of the meat is superior.
It was tender, juicy, and had a crispy exterior.
I love the waffle in which the batter is mixed with cheddar.
It makes the taste and flavor so much better.
The brunch menu is definitely creative & inventive.
Service is prompt, friendly, and attentive.
My only complaint is we had uneven legged wobbly table.
It made cutting meat with a knife feel so shaky and unstable.
Love! Love! Love this place!
I got a beautiful mushroom, spinach, goat cheese scramble with hashbrowns, a cup of tea, and a bellini for 10 bucks! Everything was so scrumptous. The restaurant itself has a great atmosphere.
Only problem, it gets really loud during Sunday brunch. We could hardly hear each other speak.
This place has a brasserie feel with interesting drinks that were nice and strong. I'm a little Michelin-like lately not wanting to give my stars away so easily... I'd have to say that this place ranks 'A solid place with no possibility for utter disappointment, but not great'.
Knowing I wasn't in Harlem, I ordered the fried chicken with cheddar waffles. Perhaps not the best idea, but nonetheless I was kind of underwhelmed by the batter.
The thing I most enjoyed was the rabbit rillettes. The texture wasn't true to authentic rillettes, but it was delicious and salty in a good way.
I'd go back again to try the rest of the menu.
This place immediately impressed me as I was greeted at the door by the polite and not fake staff. There were no seating issues, as I went around 8pm on a Wednesday. The décor found a great balance between sheik and a neighborhood-feel; and their menu reflects the same style.
The house wines were very good as well as the fresh oysters, but the Squash Tart was flippin' amazing. I was referred to try the Fried Chicken and Cheddar Waffles or the Duck Meatloaf, my friend went with the chicken, so I took a risk with the Duck. They were both incredible.
The feel at Buttermilk was comfortable and relaxed; it could be a date spot, a place for a birthday, or your regular place to stop in for a drink and appetizer at the bar. I look forward to returning and trying out the rest of the menu as well as the brunch.
AMAZING. I was wow-ed by this place. I took a friend for her birthday and boy did they impress.
The staff was super friendly, the food was indescribably delicious and the ambiance was impeccable. I suggest the cheddar waffles and the bread pudding.
After all the rave reviews and reading the awesome menu I figured I'd better manage my expectations or risk a let down... Well it didn't disappoint. Everything about the place was spot on. Decore, servers, menu, food, drinks, everything great!
We had 5 of us so we were able to get a reservation but since we went early we wouldn't have needed it. The place didn't start filling up until around 7;30 and by 8pm it was crowded.
The real benefit of a group of 5 was being able to sample just about every snack and dessert and enough of the apps & entrees to get a real feel for the kitchen's talents. Everyone unanimously loved the Bacon almonds, pickles, flat bread, and the pecan pie and peach cobbler sundays. I disagreed with the group on the bread pudding. I found it a bit dry and as a consequence the burnt edges didn't add a yummy burnt sugar taste but just a burnt taste.
Everyone individually loved their entrees. I had the scallops & mussels with soba in basil broth. The scallops were cooked to perfection. Nicely seared on the outside and plump and juicy inside. The broth was delicious. The only negative was the lack of bread to sop it up afterward.
The wine list had a good range of prices and varietals, mostly domestic, with a couple of NYS's better offerings. The beer list was great for a small place and the specialty cocktails all looked yummy and not overpriced.
Went here for brunch on a Sunday, after reading reviews on Yelp and getting a very enthusiastic recommendation from my roommate.
I guess this place doesn't really need any more enthusiastic reviews - you get the idea, it's really really good! Will just add some points of interest and personal experiences.
We got there at 1, they put our names on the list and took my number so we could wander off and do some shopping. Called about 20 mins later, earlier than expected. They are super-professional about seating, so it makes waiting in line relatively painless. By 1:30, the line was crazy, but I got the impression that if we'd gotten there a bit earlier, we wouldn't have had a problem.
Food: I had the pecan pie french toast, and it's as good as it sounds! My friend had scrambled eggs w/ hot sausage etc. (or something) - she was slightly underwhelmed. We got sides of cheese waffle (what an amazing invention! Do try - I don't know how they get them so cheesy!) and apple cider donuts (also pretty tasty, though not rant-worthy).
(One of the) best part(s): Free coffee/tea AND a choice of mimosa, juice, sparkling wine and something else included - let me repeat that - FREE MIMOSA! That takes it from being an averagely priced brunch place (most items c. $10) to being an amazing deal, at least in my books.
They also have this incredible Bloody Mary menu which had me drooling at the descriptions (they also looked really tasty and big) but which were a bit too pricey for me to justify ($8-10 each).
Note: by the time we got there, they had run out of pork chops, so if you want your Sunday morning pork fix, get there early.
Note 2: There seems to be a couple of noise complaints in other reviews, but we sat in the back and had absolutely no problem hearing each other. Maybe it just depends on your co-diners and whether they've managed the art of the inside voice.
When we read Buttermilk Channel's story and saw their menu, we knew that they were going to take our money someday. We just didn't know they'd take ALL OF IT.
The joint was jumping around 7pm and even though we had their idea of a reservation, we still had to wait fifteen minutes for a table. No big deal because the hostess was cute like Miley Cyrus. That's not a bad thing because Miley Cyrus is kinda sexy, which IS a bad thing because she's 16. I'm confused now!!!!!
Nice table against the wall and damn is this place LOUD!!! I couldn't work here listening to my ear drums slowly disintegrate into powder for 8 to 10 hours a day. LOUD.
Speaking of working there, our waitress was smart and patient and attentive and kept us hydrated. I almost wanted to give her new ear drums as a token of our appreciation but she seemed to hear just fine. For now.
I had the rabbit rillettes, which were SUPER delicious but I can't say that I detected much rabbit. Girlie had the cheese slab which she said wasn't very good, but it came with tasty honey. However, I didn't need that because I'm sweet enough.
The watermelon and arugula salad came with cheese all over it, which if I had known ahead of time, I wouldn't have ordered it.
My entree was the scallops dish and it came with mussels and shredded zucchini. Now, if you have a half-decent chef on payroll it's hard to screw up scallops so they were great. Same for the mussels - I was just glad they weren't shrunken down to lint-sized mussels like at Greg's cafe in Montclair. (BUUUURRRRNNNN!!!!11ONE!11!!)
But the zucchini, being a flavorless veggie to begin with, stayed bland as it drowned in an equally bland green sauce that seemed like it should've oozed flavor. Lousy.
Girlie had the corn pasta. It was very corny and buttery and if that's your thing, bob your head to it. I wasn't convinced. Lame.
I feel like these guys have very good ideas but don't make them come alive the way my taste buds (and ear drums) like it. This is supposed to be a semi high-end place. My girl made me change out of my shorts for this outing - I expected more. But the john was clean and it smelled good.
The best thing of the night was the pecan pie sundae. Good GOD, what a dessert. Girlie tried to put her spoon down and stop eating and that lasted 30 seconds because the sundae OWNED us.
The brunch menu is much cheaper and, in my opinion, the food may be worth that price. The only way I'd ever go back there is for brunch. We don't mind spending tons of cash on great food. Price + Quality didn't = Value.
Okay bye.
Finally made the trek out to this part of BK to check out what the fuss was about. Turns out it's a lot easier and faster than I thought from W'burg!
We came around noon on a Sunday (before the Atlantic Antic) and only waited 15 minutes for a table. Maybe we were lucky? It was loud and the tables were small but that just added to the atmosphere of the bright, welcoming, home-y decor.
I had the mushroom, spinach & goat cheese scramble w/ hashbrown, coffee & a bellini. I also got the $4 cheddar waffle on the side. My friend had the short rib hash w/ the side salad & 2 eggs over easy & a bellini. My scramble was a bit salty but still delicious. The hashbrown wasn't memorable but I ate it all. The salad was extremely salty and difficult even for a self-proclaimed "rabbit." The cheddar waffle, however?? Was absolutely worth the extra $4. It was perfectly cooked, light, slightly cheddar-y & when dipped into the maple syrup...a sweet & salty sensation! Yum!! My friend loved her short rib dish and ate it all up. Her salad was also over-salted. Her meal was $12. Mine was $14. That's a STEAL for the quality of food we got!
As we waited for the bathroom (btw the first thing I thought when I walked in was "mmmm that smells so good" which I can't recall ever saying while walking into a bathroom), my friend spied the fried porkchop that was the size of someone's head...she said we have to go back so she could try it.
Will definitely go back. Can't give it 5 stars yet because to me the only spectacular thing was the cheddar waffles. Will have to review it again after a dinner meal! Everyone is saying their fried chicken is the best...to me, no one will beat Bon Chon! (It's the Korean in me) Oh and another side note, the walk up to Atlantic was beautiful. A lot of shops and places to duck into. Love this area of BK.
Arrived at 8pm on a Sat. night to be told it's a 90 min. wait- but we sat at the bar and got served asap. The hosts/bartenders/servers were incredibly friendly and helpful, wonderful people. But the food was very overrated. I had the sweet potato/goat cheese croquettes, which were bland and greasy (and goat cheese and sweet potato are 2 of my favorite foods on earth!) I was starving and didn't even finish them. The mozzarella was bland on the "snacks" menu, and the rabbit rouilletts (sp?) were great but the pesto was dripping with oil.
For entrees, my hubby got the fried chicken which was also bland (but juicy) and generally overrated (the slaw it came with was great though). He asked for 2 breasts but one was a strange cut w/out a lot of meat on it. One tasted almost undercooked.
I got the duck meatloaf, which was too salty. The onion ring it came with was totally tasteless, and the turnip/parsnip puree was just ok.
Hubby got the root beer float for dessert which was WAY too wintergreen-y. My cappuccino was terrible. BUT my choc/caramel tart was AMAZING. I practically licked the plate.
All that, w/one glass of wine, was $100 for dinner. PLEASE save your money and go elsewhere! It is SO not worth your time (90 mins? Really??) and money considering all the other amazing options in Brooklyn. I mean, fried chicken? How the eff do you mess that up??
Really lovely atmosphere, convenient-ish location and really great food. We shared a bunch of small things to start - the pickles, nuts and the ricotta on flatbread. The pickles were pretty good (I'm not a pickle fan, but the small sliced ones were sweet enough for me to enjoy). The maple & bacon roasted almonds were amazing. I mean, come on - how can you go wrong with 'candied' and 'bacon'. I highly recommend. The ricotta on flatbread was more of a flatbread than cheese, but very tasty. Kind of like a small flatbread pizza but baked rather than charred like your usual thin-crust pizza. I definitely enjoyed it. The popovers they brought were also good, but didn't stand out.
My my main I had the lamb salad which was really delicious. The mix of flavors and textures was very interesting between large pieces of perfectly marinated lamb and big crunchy croutons and fried capers. I was a little unsure of the friend capers and the soft-boiled eggs but everything came together very nicely. Definitely a sufficient dinner salad, definitely delicious. It just would have been nice to have the lettuce cut up a little more - I didn't realize it wasn't which made for a messy first attack.
The rest of the menu looks really interesting and I'm definitely looking forward to going back to try more.
I really hate to do this but I've got to rain on buttermilk channel's parade. I went here with my better half last weekend for brunch and we both had versions of the scramble. i had the sausage scramble which was really disappointing, soggy and flavorless. it was watery to the point that that the eggs needed to be drained.
the service is okay here but not good or great. our server disappeared for 30 mins after we ordered and didnt checkin or inform us that the food would be coming out. i mildly complained about the eggs and she said that they are supposed to be watery and suggested i dump them on my plate instead of the bowl.
ive had better scrambled eggs at $4 breakfast greasy spoons.
Finally made the trek out to Carroll Gardens to eat here.
Went on a week night and it was still very busy so we decided to sit and eat at the bar and since the bartender was so friendly.
As a snack we had to try the maple & bacon almonds. These were really addicting. They also had these amazing popovers with honey drizzled on top.
Then we got the house made buttermilk ricotta on flatbread with squash blossoms.
I, of course, had to get the famous buttermilk fried chicken with waffles and slaw. So much food. 3 pieces of chicken on top of 2 crisp waffles. Impressive.
The lamb salad was novel bc of all the different ingredients they used in the salad.
We really wanted to try their sundaes but just couldn't do it. Too full.
I've only had brunch here but DAMN it was good and super reasonably priced. And by the time we arrived it was late, crowded and the staff more than a bit harried. No matter, they kept their cool, the food was delish and overall it was a great experience. I did notice the main room was insanely packed and really loud. I was glad we were seated outside.
My one complaint: there was one bathroom, am I remembering this correctly? It seemed to be rather large, and perhaps could have maybe been split into two smaller bathrooms?? but y'know, hey, I'll just wait in line and chat up the other patrons and try not to get run over by the bus/wait staff running in/out of the kitchen.
anyways...Can't wait to try dinner! I'll opt for a weeknight so as to avoid the din of the crowd.
A little pricey, but this place is cute and the food is good.
I like the simple decor and service was also good.
Brunch is very reasonable, considering the quality and quantity of food that you get. There wasn't anything that knocked anyone's socks off, but no one was disappointed, either.
Would definitely return for brunch if in the area, but make sure to show up way ahead of time. There are no reservations and brunch will be crowded for many hours. The staff is very good with seating.
Some other reviews said noisy. I wouldn't say noisy, I would call it lively. Maybe too lively for those with a hangover, but I thought it was fine.
Ive been here for lunch and dinner and cant decide which one is better.
Most memorable dinner dishes: maple + bacon roasted almonts, sausgae from espositos, duck meatloaf (classy not classic). Linguini? Pass. Drinks? Strong.
Most memorable brunch dishes: hands down, pecan pie french toast. we both ordered eggs, and shared the french toast. scarfed that down first. rib hash and egg huntington was good, but pecan pie french toast stole the show.
Sunday brunch is yummy! I had the eggs benedict, but they call it something else. Hamilton maybe. I don't like ham so I substituted bacon instead. It was great. Biscuits could have been more moist but the hollandaise helped with that problem.
The manfriend had the short rib hash. Also good, but I think there's something about short rib that isn't appealing to me. He loved it, though.
The one thing I did not get to try-their bloody marys. They claimed they couldn't sell alcohol till noon, and a virgin just didn't sound as good. I don't remember this alcohol law, though. Not sure what the deal was.
Perhaps the best dining experience I've had on Court Street. Admittedly the restaurant is my "go-to" place for special occasions so I have the haze of a beautiful woman and a birthday or two that likely contribute an extra star to what might otherwise be a 4 star review - but hey, the excellent atmosphere is why I pick the place for special occasions to begin with.
Heavy, rich, comfort food in sane portions. Huge windows with natural light, fantastic (no really, I mean it) fantastic staff.
But please, don't go there for brunch, I hate all you people on the line ahead of me.
Actually I take that back, you all have great taste and I'd like to add you on facebook.
See you at the Channel.
I was already predisposed to liking this restaurant because of its name. Butter ..mmmm.. plus milk.... yum. Names aside, this is a pretty ideal restaurant. Love the warm ambiance and simple decor.
Two of us showed up on a Friday night during prime dinner time and were given the choice of either a table or the bar. We opted for the bar. The bartender was pretty friendly and let us try beers before ordering (they have this one Belgian-type beer, I think it's called Liquid Gold. It's tastes exactly like its name).
I got the bacon wrapped trout, which was delicious. My husband got the friend chicken. The chicken was nothing to write home about, but the waffles that come with it were AMAZING. I couldn't get the taste out of my mind even the day after. Maybe next time I'll just order those...
First, the restaurant is beautiful and I am glad they are in our neighborhood. The staff I encountered on my first and only night to eat there was so kind (host, hostess, waitress, bartenders) and welcoming. I felt like they wanted my business and they treated us very well.
My 3 star rating is because we had a few let-downs with our dinner. We ordered the flatbread with squash blossoms and buttermilk ricotta to start. Sounds wonderful and delicate, right? It should have been, but whoever prepared it had a seriously heavy hand with the coarse salt. I'm not opposed to salt and my husband is always telling me that I should add more to my cooking, but we could not eat more than 1 piece. I had the bacon wrapped brook trout and it was good. No complaints, but no real excitement. My husband got the fried chicken. The chicken was great and I consider myself someone that knows alot about the dish. However, the waffle was bland. It would have been better with potatoes. What redeemed the whole meal was the PEAS side dish! Get it if you go and eat them with your fried chicken. We did not try dessert.
It's like walking into a Manhattan establishment. Really. My girlfriend and her mother went here to eat and since they were locals of the neighborhood, they said that you really couldn't walk down this block at night and expect anything good to come out of it.
Well here comes Buttermilk Channel, a newer addition to the lovely sky rocketing (and yet, still somewhat quiet) Carroll Gardens.
Packed to the brim with an awesome Yelper at the hostess helm, we got drinks in the front corner of the long bar, and it's basically a very pristine place. It's old school decor, and seemed like a place that Dillinger would go to for brunch; the soft yellows and extremely friendly waitstaff combined to a great experience. It's a bit rollicking but that's exactly what a gangster would need to get some anonymity going.
It's not a cheap place by any means, but the bacon-wrapped trout was pretty amazing (I love fingerling potatoes). I think our appetizers were nasty good; I had a few oysters which I downed and felt like a million even though I was wearing shorts.
Is it my kind of Brooklyn? Probably not. Like I said it's kind of like you got shot back into Manhattan a bit, either Tribeca but more likely uptown. But if you can do the wait, you'll definitely get the good treatment and most likely have an interesting meal.
There are moments in a person's life in which guilt is washed away and true pleasure reigns. This was the feeling I had, in an instant, when I bit into Buttermilk Channel's Bacon in a mustard sauce. For $5 you were served two pieces of thick-cut, high-quality bacon in a slightly smoky, sweet mustard sauce that brought hosannas from on high as your mouth rejoiced in it. This bacon could stop wars. It could start religions.
Okay, enough about the bacon. (But it was very, very good.) The place is pretty loud, so if possible, sit outside (or just talk even louder than the crowd). I'm not into very loud dinners so I don't think I'd be happy eating indoors.
I had a fantastic time at Buttermilk channel for a number of reasons. My Fair Harbor cocktail was essentially a well-made Dark and Stormy. Delicious, albeit somewhat pricey ($11).
Oysters on the half shell are one of my many weaknesses, and my neighborhood suffers from a lack of places that serve them. So I was delighted to order 8 of the succulent bivalves with the accoutrements of a housemade cocktail sauce and a blood-orange mignonette. At $2.25 a piece they weren't a steal but they were very good oysters and that price is maybe on the low end of standard for NYC.
At the recommendation of a friend from an earlier BBQ in Fort Greene I ordered the Duck Meatloaf, not knowing what to expect. What emerged looked like a large burger patty with an onion ring on top, in a gorgeous vibrant green puree of salsify. The dish was rich, almost overpoweringly so, but flavors that made my eyes roll back into my head at least once.
Service was excellent. Tight, professional, never cloying.
We got there at 7 on a Saturday and were seated almost immediately; by 8 o clock they were quoting over an hour wait.
The only complaint, besides the noise was that the apple popovers (replacing what most restaurants would serve as bread) were slightly burnt and not good.
I will go back, definitely. They have a very good thing going, but know this--eating here will break any and all diets. And that is something to embrace!
Had a great Sunday afternoon here. Very unique and delicious dishes we both loved every bite!
Also visited for brunch a couple of weeks back, very busy but well worth it
Amazing. Absolutely wonderful. Our new favorite place.
The Service: everyone here, from the girl at the door to our waitress, was friendly and helpful. Ask for recommendations on food/drink, as we basically created our whole meal this way. The wine choices were perfect.
The Food: very much comfort food. Simply put: wow. The chicken was so moist and the sauce for dipping was perfect (sweet, tangy, spicy). We got bacon/sugar infused almonds which were out of this world. The burger meat was unreal: moist, cooked, flavorful. The pecan sundae was packed with flavor and yet, simplistic at the same time. Both my wife and I had the perfect glasses of wine, selected by our waitress, that we actually wrote down the names of them (which, to this day, we have never done).
The decor: here is my first negative. It is a bit noisy during busy times. Once things calmed down a bit, it wasn't as bad. But during peak hours, holding a quite conversation would be near impossible. The bathroom is about 10x more comfortable and homey feeling than my own bathroom.
Cost: it's not cheep. But, at the same time, there are reasonably priced items so you don't feel like your getting ripped off (IE: the amazing burger and fries dinner is $11).
Expect a wait during busy times. But, swing by and put in your name.
Also, they do have a big table in the middle. So if you had a big family gathering (like 10-12 people), and you could afford it, this would be perfect.
why arent you open for brunch on saturdays?!
this place is on the moon. seriously. i was soo not prepared for the long ass walk that commenced in DUMBO with my mom - and her bum knee, of course - in tow.* but, what can i say? it was mama o's first night in town and the bro and i wanted to take her somwhere special. and, despite the two dreaded h's - the hike and heat - what a lovely experience it was.
lemme preface that the food is a solid three stars but the thoughtful service more than makes up for it. (plus one.) for example, not sure if it was the best business decision, but the waitstaff held a table for a party of eight that was more than 45 minutes late. instances like that are impossible to find in NYC ... or any other establishment for that matter.
we started off with the sweet potato and goat cheese croquettes for appies as well as the house rolls. the rolls were sweet and doughy but i wasn't a fan of the croquettes. for some weird reason, they tasted and smelled like unwashed, oily hair ... how i know this? don't ask.
as for entrees, i had the lamb salad while the rest of my fam had the scallops. (i would ordered the latter as well, but felt that i needed to add some diversity to the table!) i throughly enjoyed my plate and felt the soft-boiled egg that came with was a nice touch ... until i ran into a huge hunk of fat midway. mmmm, lamb fat. FYI - the scallops were smothered in basil which i loved.
we ordered cookies and the pecan sundae for dessert. i didn't try the cookies - they looked overdone - but the sundae was layers of yummy goodness. in fact, i think mama polished it off which is jarring because i've never seen her do that in my 25 years of being her daughter.
since ma is totally traditional, some call it backwards, the bro - the man of the house (ha!) - footed the meal. however, i'm not complaining - this night was one of those rare instances where i fell into my proverbial baby of the house role, black car home and all.
* - karma sure is a bitch - i think god was punishing me for being a fat brat in my youth. each block she whined, "are we there yet?"
Buttermilk Channel - for some reason, the name makes me think of a viscous-sour-yellowish river with fried chicken floating down... but I am from the south, so of COURSE i'll think of fried chicken, or buttermilk biscuits... ok, enough of the diatribe!
Since we're new to the neighborhood, the top of the list is to find the best food haunts and I read some good reviews on this place. Unlike my interpretation of the name, the place is named after the real Buttermilk Channel http://en.wikipedia.or... - so, i'm not too far off in my imagination!
The crowd is definitely a mix of people grabbing grub after a day of work to young hipsters with kids and then the yuppy crowd too. I tried one of their Signature cocktails; the blackberry something of the other - take my suggestion and skip this one; it's bland and boring.
The hostess was amazing and got us in an hour early, it might have something to do with that we figured out we have the same last name, but regardless, she was super friendly! The menu is simple, american fare with lots of local grub from Caputos up the street. I opted for the Mozz with bread and pesto - it's.. boring and the bread is larger than the mozz - so , skip this. My husband had a green salad with dandelion greens and beautiful turnips - a great summer choice. For dinner, husband ordered the bacon wrapped trout and I had the Beef. It was SOLID good food, not overwhelming portions but after a couple of glasses of wine, set us back a good $100.00 or so.
I'm not really sure the food constitutes paying $100, but you could tell that BC uses great ingredients and they pay attention to the food, which in my opinion is a MUST.
SO, will we go back? Yes, we'll try the brunch one of these days - but the price range definitely makes this a non-regular haunt for us.
Imagine the odeon and lucky strike got drunk humped and shat out an unfortunate looking baby.
Welcome to Buttermilk Channel!
The epitome of what is known as "shabby sheik".
The rich once again trying to feel cool by dressing poor or what they
would call "rustic" or "bistro"
The burger was nothing special and they put the fries in a little cup like I am a fucking baby.
The owner bumbles around the dining room in his $200.00 day glo filas and a
sweatshirt.
If you are running a fancy pants restaurant own it man!
Put a suit on!
I can just imagine the menu meeting."Lets serve chicken and waffles and everyone will think we are cool and have soul!"
Well you are not and you do not.
Douche.
Went to BC for brunch this morning. Tip, we got there around 10:20 and it was already hopping, only tables outside (direct sun) or at the bar. We chose the bar and by 10:30 there was a wait.
The food was very good. We both had egg scrambles, that were delicious, fluffy eggs with the right amount of extras. Both were accompanied by a small hash brown, toast, and salad greens. The portion size was perfect and the price was great. We got out for the two of us with two breakfasts, coffee, juice, and a donut (more like a sweet fried bread) for less than $30, including tip (waiter/bartender was very friendly).
Overall, definitely recommend for brunch on Sundays. We'll be back again to try dinner...
There was a line out the door for brunch yesterday. I found Buttermilk Channel by searching on Yelp yesterday morning and nearly turned around when I got there and saw the crowd on the sidewalk. My friend was a little annoyed that I had made him walk 20 minutes for brunch, though, and made me stay.
Wow! The hostess (are we still calling them that? It sounds so un-PC) was really friendly and had us seated within 2 or 3 minutes when she had told us it would be 20. Very nice.
I had the pecan pie french toast. Incredible. It was like cake, but for breakfast. The sauce was perfect, the coffee was good, the mimosa was about what you expect on a Sunday morning. The server was attentive but not overbearing.
If I were a brunch person, this would be my go-to place. I'm not though, so it's on the short list of places I go when I get the urge every couple of months.
Neighborhood: Carroll Gardens
Category: Italian
Brooklyn, NY
Category: Bars
Neighborhood: Carroll Gardens
Category: Italian
Neighborhood: Carroll Gardens
Category: Caterers
Neighborhood: Carroll Gardens
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