On a mobile device? Try our mobile site, optimized for faster browsing.
Bergen St (F, G)
Hoyt-Schermerhorn Sts (A, C, G)
Mon-Thu. 6:00 p.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Fri. 6:00 p.m. - 1:00 a.m.
Sat. 10:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Sat. 6:00 p.m. - 1:00 a.m.
Sun. 10:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Sun. 6:00 p.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Loading...
I went here with some co workers that live in the area, we work in midtown. at first, mostly given my corporate attire, i didn't feel "brooklyn hip" enough for the place, but that faded as we drank some of the many, many whiskeys they have available. i tried a whiskey cocktail, which was fine with the first few sips, but i wasn't able to finish. i guess my colleague was right - whiskey should not be mixed. with dinner we had a red wine which was nice considering the amounts of meat we ate.
for apps we had the pieces of bacon that come in servings of two. never again will i enjoy peter luger's bacon, this was a million times better. pork nugguts, just ok, the BLT, which was amaaaazing, these little cheese nuggets, probably the only veggie friendly item on the menu and they were fantastic.
for entree we had BACON wrapper QUAIL. yes. it was heavenly. and the ribs. i could have been back in texas according the my taste buds. they were fantastic. AND beans that had tobasco sauce. put tobasco on anything and i'm a happy girl. by the end the bourbon drizzled ice cream was overkill but of course we ate it anyway.
i can't wait to bring more manhattan friends to this awesome bk spot.
Beautiful bar with shelves lined with every whiskey imaginable (or at least more than I can imagine). Friendly wait staff and a delicious prix fixe that was $16 for a poached egg, slice of ham, delicious onion and chive potatoes, homemade chunky apple sauce, biscuit w/ cranberry jam, coffee and a juice. Yum!
Will be going back to try the other food and post about it soon.
Kitchen closes at 3:30p for brunch.
I ate really well this week, and it's another reason why I might need to cross borough lines.
Char No 4 is absolutely wonderful. Again, great beer selection and atmosphere - altho it was a little loud for a birthday dinner. The service more than made up for it tho.
As far as the food, please please please get the lamb pastrami and bacon. Mmmm the bacon. Sweet dreams.
I ordered wrong w/ the entree by getting the brisket sandwich, which was good, but the ribs were soooooo much better. That corn bread? Yum.
We tried the ice cream with bourbon for dessert and wowza. I am definitely going back. Soon.
People thought this was:
Char no. 4 biscuits benedict with house smoked ham, poached eggs & bacon gravy......OMG. I loved this dish. So much that I ate it all - and let me tell you, this ain't no dainty dish. It's heavy and there's a lot of it. It's awesome. Along with a bloody mary (the most excellent that I've had) and two cups of coffee. So maybe it was a little excessive, but whatever, I had a great brunch. If I wasn't too embarrassed to pick up the plate and lick it clean, I would have. Try the hot sauce - it's homemade and excellent.
I was going to eat here but after spending a while looking at the menu, the waiter came over to take my order and informed me that they'd run out of several things which put me off eating.
My husband enjoyed his food.
I'm from the South so service with a smile is a big plus for me. Our waitress was attentive and gave great suggestions. The food was fabulous and the whiskey cocktails were punishing. All in all, a great find on a street that offers a lot of options. I recommend the pastrami appetizer and the BLT entree. And the kale with the bacon was crazy good! Ask for hot sauce! (We used the hot sauce from the cheddar appetizer on it and it was really tasty!)
People thought this was:
My family was in town, so we did dinner in my sister's part of town, and brunch in mine. We walked around the corner to Char No. 4, since my dad loves bourbon, and we all love brunch. We were seated immediately, even though there were 6 of us, which was pretty great. We were given water and coffee, by our waitress who came upon us kind of suddenly and started rattling off the specials, but that didn't matter, because the specials sounded delicious.
I ended up ordering the beef brisket hash, with scrambled eggs and the horseradish sauce on the bottom, and it was greaaaat. My sister had the fixed price, which I ended up stealing quite a bit of, the applesauce was to die for, and the biscuit and hash browns were amazing. And the fresh squeezed orange juice was also awesome. Also of note, that I tried - the biscuits benedict with bacon gravy. I will definitely be returning here for brunch, and I can't wait to try their dinner. If only I drank bourbon - but for this place, I might try it.
People thought this was:
An adventure trip to brooklyn brought me to this place that i bookmarked.
We walked down the Smith Street, as I was talking I really wanted to try Char No. 4. The second I said it.. we were standing right in front it. IT'S THE FAITH!
We sat down right away. the place was pretty packed, they have a backyard garden( REALLY COOL DECOR). The food was FANTASTIC, fixed menu as well as standard menu. I ordered Benedict.. allow me to say amazing !!
I'm so glad that i made the trip to brooklyn and randomly found Char No 4.
People thought this was:
this place makes me want to move to Brooklyn! and as a loyal Manhattanite, that means a lot.
We sat at the bar on a Sunday afternoon and was attended by a ver attentive bartender. I ordered eggs over biscuits and gravy with chicken sausage, hubby ordered the eggs benedict and we split an order of bacon that the bartender insisted we had to try. and we both had bloody marys. oh.my.god. the entire meal was delicious! i ate the entire fatty goodness. the bacon, which is like 5mm think smoked and with maple dipping syrup was like 2 bucks a tiny slice - but... actually worth it. my dish was smothered in what I think was sausage speckled gravy was so good. the chicken sausage was like nothing I've had before. not only was it not dry, but it tasted more like pork.
I'm dying to go back, but it's probably a good thing it's far away because it will probably kill me if I eat there often.
But I do need to go back to try dinner...
People thought this was:
Amazing! Really truly fantastic - Loved the food, loved the cocktails, loved the atmosphere. Not one complaint from the whole group I was with (and it was a picky crowd), ok so Char No 4 is not a place you are going to go every week - (your arteries may not forgive you) but for a once in awhile decadent (Whiskey, Meat, Cobbler) treat its hard to top it.
Side note, It specializes in all these types of whiskeys that I can't claim to have the slightest clue of knowledge of - so will leave that area of critique to other yelpers...
Came for the famed BLT, stayed for the sweet sauna-style outdoor patio in back. Thanks to this wood cave, I enjoyed my meal outside in pouring rain, surrounded by the cozy aroma of cedar.
Inside, the place oozes sex appeal. The glowing cylinders hanging from the ceiling and spacious booths lend a swank, but not stuffy retro vibe. A great choice for that crucial third date.
Anyplace I can consume luscious pork belly and wash it down with a whiskey/maple syrup concoction is A-ok in my book. Extra star for being so close to Cobble Hill Cinemas. Great place to stumble over to after a few cocktails.
People thought this was:
I have never seen so many different kinds of whiskey. This place had a tremendious selection and the bartenders were very friendly. Great cocktails. The waiter actually knew how to make a Manhattan.
I really wish the food tasted as rich, woodsy and smokey as the smell of the place. The smell lured me in--on tippy toes, Toucan Sam-like--and then the food... just sort of didn't live up that amazing, amazing dense and heady aroma. It's so good, I will continue to frequent the bar just to soak in it.
People thought this was:
Char 4 is treat - I love their bar with the huge overhead shades casting a most enticing glow, the beautiful wall of bourbons and whiskeys that I could stare at for hours and the menu, while pretty meat- and dairy-heavy, still has just enough "healthier" options I can enjoy. I don't even mind the slight smokey-smell that lingers a moment on my clothes after leaving, normally something that would totally bug me, in fact doesn't. It's part of the Char 4 charm.
Great place for a date, a get-together with friends or entertaining out-of-town guests.
This is one of those places I always gripe about going to but wind up loving it when I actualy get there. I usually think of it as kind of pretentious but that's so far from the truth. They have my cheapie bourbons, amazing bloodies, and pork fried nuggets. All the makings of a good night. I like sitting at the bar - place also seems amazing for meeting people (since it's so clearly not that kind of place)
I thought Char No. 4 was going to kill it as a whole, merely based on the fact that they have an extreme collection of bourbons and whiskeys that tower over you as soon as you enter and your nostrils are drunk (you too) by the time you leave.
I should have known better, if the booze is that good, the food will suck.
Touting itself as "Southern Fare" I was expecting the Grande Dame of the South making her debut, but really honestly all I got was a bunch of soppy tasteless appetizers and some really unappetizing duck sausage.
1. Fried Cheese Curds - deep fried colby cheese. deep fried wax.
2. Smoked & fried pork nuggets - where's the pork?
3. House cured lamb pastrami with coriander aioli and rye-carraway toast - I am not a fan of pastrami, but I tried anyway, a little dry I was expecting an explosion of flavor and juice.
4. House smoked thick cut bacon with peas and carrots - how can you fuck up bacon? It was thick cut, but it was cold. But the peas and carrots were actually a nice touch.
5. Oysters - they know how to serve them, they were TOPS! No residue or grit, fresh and delicious!
6. Duck Sausage - left my taste buds confused, bored and pissed that I hadn't chosen another entree.
7. Grilled Hanger Steak - the steak was tender and wonderfully seasoned, the black bean and blue cheese action was weird with the steak but tasted good.
I do not like giving such a low rating, but money was spent. The staff in no way reflects my opinion as they are very lovely, helpful and attentive.
Seriously though Char, I know my southern food and this just wasn't it.
People thought this was:
Service was great and, as previous reviewers have pointed out, the bourbon selection is pretty impressive. But bourbon is not really my bag, so I was hoping that the food would at least be good.
Well, I seem to be in disagreement with just about everyone else here, but I thought it was pretty overwhelming, and not in a good way. I got the pork belly BLT, without thinking about what a sandwich's worth of pork belly might do to me later. There were consequences, let's just put it that way. I sampled my friends' appetizers and was similarly put off. There IS such a thing as too much of a good thing.
I'm from Texas so I'm all for southern food, deep fried things, etc. But it seems like this is the kind of place where the menu descriptions sound better than the food actually tastes.
Great place for bourdon and BBQ. I split the special -- BBQ chicken, ribs, pulled pork and two sides, beans and something else I am forgetting. We also ordered the BLT, very good, and oysters, excellent. The special came with a beer and bourbon.
I will go again. Excellent service, food and atmosphere.
Its all about the Bourbon here, Whiskey, not so much even though there is a great selection. Contrasted with another vanguard of this culinary style, BlueSmoke (Manhattan), the Bourbon selection here is more extensive, so I expected the menu would be less diverse - always seems to work that way. My bourbon connoisseur buddy from NC gives the booze menu a thumbs up.
The bacon slab appetizer was yummy, but there could have been a bit more of it. It was a bit peculiar to see a bologna on the menu, but being adventurous paid off - delicious. Ribs were cooked just right to melt off the bone, but with a bit too much sauce. Finishing off with the homemade bourbon-pecan ice cream - just about worth going for that alone - enjoy its rich flavor with a cup of coffee.
Staff getst a solid thumbs up.
This place was great! A group of friends and I split the BLT, oysters (my first time trying oysters!), bacon, a salad, ribs, and some cornbread. So worth it! Great whiskey and beer selection. Our server was super energetic and hilarious.
People thought this was:
Went with friends on July 4th and there wasn't a wait. Yay. Ordered the smoked fish on top of a potato cake with a fried egg on top and egg remoulade on the side. So delicious. Really loved the contrast between the crispy potato cake and the smoked fish. Egg remoulade was amazingly refreshing.
My friend ordered the crispy potatoes with green onions & garlic side and gave me some. Man were those yummy. Other friends ordered the bloody mary and loved it. Definitely recommended for brunch. Only thing is that it's a little expensive but hey, it's only a ten minute walk from my apt so I'm not gonna complain. Loved the decor too.
People thought this was:
Amazing, awe-inspiring, admittedly overpriced whiskey selection. Bloody Marys are good although not as stellar as they're reputed to be. Friendly and helpful bartenders will help you pick the right bourbon or scotch. A must-visit for any self-respecting whiskey drinker.
I like pretty much everything that begins with 'B'. Fairly high on this list are Brooklyn, bourbon, bacon, brunch, and boobies. So brunch at Char #4 (in Brooklyn), known for its bacon and bourbon, with seven ladies (that's 14 boobies for those of you keeping score at home) had to be fantastic. Right?
Well, let's take it B by B, shall we?
Brooklyn. It's in Brooklyn. 'nuff said.
Bourbon. Chipotle Bourbon Bloody Mary. Solid. But...and I know it might be blasphemy (another B favorite)...it would be better if you just dropped some vodka in there instead of the bourbon. The Bloody Mary is a breakfast drink. For hangovers. You don't want to taste the alcohol, and you can't mistake the bourbon in it.
Bacon. We started with a few orders of it, which is always a good decision. I definitely liked it. Be warned though, it's thick cut, and the fat turns some people off. (And those people turn me off.)
Boobies. It was the exact opposite of my Luger's dinner (this was a woman activity). Perhaps it's due to my hyper-nonmasculinity, but these girls gossiped like I wasn't even there. I saw behind the curtain, guys. And it wasn't pretty.
Brunch. I generally like to try as many different things as possible. The prix fixe brunch of one poached egg over smoked ham, crispy potatoes, apple sauce, fig jam and a buttermilk biscuit sounded like the perfect way to sample a lot of what Char No. 4 had to offer.
When it arrived, I gazed at it so long that someone asked if I was saying grace. I wasn't. I was marveling at the lack of cohesiveness. It was just a bunch of random things assembled on the same plate (see picture). Have you ever seen a poached egg just sitting there? It looks naked.
This hodgepodge didn't look or taste nearly as appetizing as it had sounded. The ham was dry and mediocre, the fig jam was nearly inedible, and the apple sauce was adequate, but forgettable. The potatoes though, were WONDERFUL. The saving grace of the meal. They tasted like sour cream and onion chips, in delicious, crispy, homefry form. Salty and fantastic. If you get anything here, get these potatoes.
I also had the good fortune to try the pancakes, which were tasty. However, they definitely could've used some more pecan butter and marmalade. Our waiter just lied straight to my face when he said he would bring us some.
So despite the bevy of boobies, the bourbon Bloodies, and the bacon banquet...this Brooklyn brunch cost the big bucks, and was basically...blah.
People thought this was:
I can't get to this place enough. I have dragged my friends so many times, no one will listen to me say the word 'bacon' anymore. I'm not a bourbon fan, so for me this restaurant is all about the food. Whatever you do, get a side of bacon. Just a few bites will keep you coming back. And although this isn't the sexiest menu item in a pork-based restaurant, try the pancakes. They are easy to miss, but with a coating of marmalade and butter, you won't need any syrup.
People thought this was:
Char No. 4 was featured in Time Out New York's Brunch issue so I thought I would give it a shot for Brunch last Saturday. I wasn't disappointed but I am not sure it was something I'd run back to.
I had the featured "Char no. 4 biscuits benedict with house smoked ham, poached eggs & bacon gravy" for $14. It was a lot of food. I think the benedict could come with meat missing in something. Having bacon gravy WITH a slice of smoked ham really put me "over the edge" and I was digesting for about 4 hours. It was also pretty salty (duh, it has all that ham in it) and that made me extra thirsty (I'm not complaining).
The bloody mary was good (I had three). Tangy, spicy, with just enough salt and tomato. Very easy to drink. I'm not a huge fan of drinking whiskey (it's a whiskey bar so they don't sell any other liquor except whiskey) at noon on a Saturday but I LOVE bloody marys. I took the risk and it paid off... althought the tomato and whiskey flavor reminded me of a few all-nighters of the past.
(sort of like the beer and tomato juice deal at the mexican brunch spots)
Char No. 4 was followed by a visit to Studio Square and then a nice afternoon nap.
It's probably appropriate that my hundredth review is for an evening of dinner and drinks that was so great, I don't totally remember the end of the night. Especially at a restaurant that prides itself on its bourbon and whiskey selection, I think that's a sign of a happy customer.
Before you even walk in the door, it smells like bacon. This is a wonderful thing.
There's a small bar in front and a small dining area in back. It's not huge, so reservations are definitely recommended. The largest tables can fit six people tightly, I think. We were a group of 8 and they added a small table to our banquette to accomodate us. Initially my res was for a group of 12, which they said they could accomodate, but I'm not totally sure how they would have done it. It may have required two separate tables.
There is a big long list of whiskeys, since that's their specialty. There's a small handful of whiskey-focused signature cocktails, too. My drink of choice was the Whiskey and Rye -- a play on the song, but it's a pint of Six Points Rye beer and an ounce of whiskey. Hello, trouble! Yes, I'll have another. (If whiskey isn't your thing, they also have a full bar.)
For food, we shared the cheese curds with a pimento dipping sauce -- very tasty and good food for sharing. We also got the house cured bacon. They're thick cuts of bacon, super tasty, and served with a salad with yummy black eyed peas.
I got the scallops served with a very rich butternut squash puree and decorated with bits of ham. (If you don't do pork, don't do Char No. 4 -- it's in everything. For me, though, that's a good thing.) The shrimp and grits were also well-liked at the table and the beef link was outstanding. I may get that next time. There also was a special of a pork chop which was truly the best pork chop I've ever had before... too bad it's not a staple on the menu!!!
All in all, it was a great meal and I look forward to coming back. I hear their brunch is good, and there's a chipotle bloody mary that I am intrigued to try.
What I probably DIDN'T need to do, though, was go across the street for more drinks after this dinner. Lesson learned.
People thought this was:
Looking for a place for a lazy brunch on Sunday, we went to Char. No 4. The restaurant was very cute, but definitely small and not the most accommodating for larger groups- they had a little trouble seating a table of 7. The wait for a table wasn't long but the foot traffic to the restaurant definitely picked up around 2:00-2:30. While we were waiting though, the bartender was super friendly and their bloody marys were absolutely delish- made with bourbon instead of the usual vodka. It was smooth and spicy and served with a homemade sweet pickle.
Once we were seated, our server was very knowledgeable about both the huge selection of whiskeys and the menu. I had the shrimp and grits and a few bites of their biscuits with bacon gravy (slab bacon..mmmm) and I was in love. All my friends were completely silent as we ate because the food was so good. It wasn't anything fancy- just good ol' comfort food. The menu was very fairly priced and I would definitely go back there again.
Loved it!
People thought this was:
pork nuggets? good sign
but its 1 oz whiskey tastes
that'll get me back
People thought this was:
I came to Char No. 4 with a group of 8. Although the restaurant is on the smaller side, they did a nice job accommodating us quickly and smoothly (we did have a reservation). As soon as you walk in the door, you are hit with the yummy smell of food cooking. The restaurant is bustling and overflowing with whiskey and stick to your ribs Southern/ American food.
Whiskey is the drink of choice at Char No. 4, which I believe the name alludes to. Now, I am not typically a whiskey drinker, but as they say "when in Rome"... So, I ordered the Horse Drawn Carriage cocktail (ancient age, sparkling pear cider, ginger). This was perfectly mixed and nice and fresh. You could taste the whiskey for sure, but it was not overpowering. Many at my table ordered the Whiskey and Rye, which was an ounce of Whiskey (sadly, I cannot remember what type) and a Six Points Rye Beer . They have a very extensive Whiskey menu, so it would be great for a connoisseur.
The menu is relatively small, but provides a nice variety. As a table, we started with the Crispy Cheddar Curds with spicy pimento sauce and House Smoked Thick Cut Bacon wit black eyed peas. Both were flavorful and decadent. It was nice to share with a large group, so everyone got a small amount.
Since we were there with a large group, several of the entrees were tried. Some winners were the Shrimp and Grits, Seared Scallops with butternut squash, smoked chanterelle mushrooms and house ham, and Pork Chop, which was a special that night.
Overall, Char No. 4 was a really good time. We all enjoyed our cocktails and meals very much. I would definitely go back for another meal, and look forward to having the opportunity to do so.
People thought this was:
I've never been to Kentucky, but I have been to Char No. 4, located on Smith Street in Cobble Hill and perhaps the best place in NYC to drink bourbon.
I'm giving Char 4 stars and my rating breaks down as follows:
1 star for the sophisticated, warm decor, featuring a long L-shaped bar with plenty of seats and funky art-deco light fixtures shaped like bourbon barrels.
1 star for the pastrami appetizer, made in the in-house smoker and served with fresh bread, watercress and onions, which rivals any Jewish deli in the city. The shrimp and grits were also quite tasty.
1 star for a soundtrack that featured The Pixies and Wilco, two of my favorite bands. Good call, bartender.
And most importantly, 1 star for a whiskey menu with more 120 options. This place takes Southern spirits seriously, as it should. Jim Beam, you can kiss my ass. I'm gonna try some Pappy Van Winkle, aged 23 years.
Bourbon, bourbon and more bourbon. Hell yeah.
People thought this was:
Unnnnnhhh pork belly BLT NOM NOM NOM
(sorry, it defies coherence)
(whiskey is good too!)
Char No. 4 is a new bar/restaurant on Smith Street in Brooklyn- right off the F train at Bergen.
While Char No. 4's claim to fame is its extensive list Whiskeys and Bourbon, I come for the food.
Deliciously simple, inventive comfort food with a modern twist.
Now I love sitting at the bar to grab a bite to eat- I find it more social and entertaining.
For those of you deuces who prefer a table to dine, one caveat with Char No. 4 is that the main dining room appears to be primarily for larger groups- several long booths await parties of 3 or more.
On a recent night my boyfriend and I came in and were told there was a 45 minute wait for a table but we could eat at the bar. Right after us came a party of 3 who were seated immediately in one of 3 large booths which were empty. Just a warning for those planning on bringing a first date...
As for the food - it is delicious. Portions are on the small side, so while prices are definitely reasonable, it might take several dishes to fill a hungry tummy.
The BLT was filled with thick slabs of fried fatty pork with a kicker of pickled jalapenos and peppers lending it an almost Asian feel.
The Shrimp and Grits were smoky, spicy, with a fresh hint of cilantro to give it that extra crisp.
As a side dish- I recommend the cauliflower gratin with almonds. Creamy and cheesy, its a perfect way to get daily dose of veggies. The almond topping adds that extra crunchy texture that elevates the dish to another level.
For dessert you have a choice of chocolate cheesecake or homemade butter pecan ice cream with bourbon.
As you can guess most of the diners seem to go with the butter pecan ice cream. The strong bourbon is a perfect accompaniment to the sweetness and buttery flavors of the ice cream. The combination is simply to die for.
Everything about my experience was off. I have a hard time describing how, why, but my friend agreed.
The food was fine. There are probably a dozen places in the neighborhood that I would go to first. And if whiskey and meat is your thing, you should go to Fette Sau up north, though it might not be "nice."
One positive - the 1 ounce whiskey pours. I appreciate that.
People thought this was:
I have been a fan of the evenings at Char 4, but never yet experienced brunch. This rainy Sunday, I did , with 3 friends in tow.
The neighborhood is know for great brunch, but I have to say - I could not be happier with Char 4.
My boyfriend and I split potatoes, sausage and vanilla bean pancakes. Both the potatoes and pancakes were incredibly unique and flavorful. Delicious.
The sausage needs a kick to fit in with the other delicious items.
I was incredibly happy with service, food and atmosphere. I'll go again.
I am going to start my review here in the context of a question you would find on the S.A.T's. Eric S (God I hate referring to myself in the third person) is to bourbon whiskey and scotch as:
a) a fat kid in a candy store
b) chocolate and peanut butter
c) sex and a ciggarette
d) all of the above
If you answered D then you my friend have advanced to the next level of drinking. This is the Harvard and Yale of scotch and bourbon bars, with over 100 bourbons on display. My drinking buddy and I who are always on the hunt for new versions of this liquid truth syrum counted them all and concluded we had only tried 16% of what they had on display. With that score we both concluded considering alcoholics community college for a couple of semesters.
On top of what is on display, there is a menu for countless other imbibing blends to choose from. I felt speechless to be honest with you, my eyes were on sensory overload as I parsed through an array of sweet cask produced rye's, single malts, and grains.
People thought this was:
One-ounce pours of whiskey! (We'll get back to this in a little bit.)
Some mean food in that dining room, I tell ya. You wouldn't expect it, either, considering that half the space is a bar and the dining room is split by the kitchen. Nevertheless you should try the appetizers before you dive into a main course. The pork nuggets (yes, nuggets of pork) are delectable, and the cheese curds are like crack. Once you pop you won't wanna stop.
You'll have the urge to have another drink by the time you finish, so go ahead, get another pour. The whiskey can range from $2 to over $100 for one ounce -- giving you lots of options and wiggle-room, depending on what kind of night you're planning on.
The entrees will come and they will be beautiful. Trust that the service won't let you down, they never do. The barbecue stuff is great, the seafood, surprisingly better.
Don't miss the bacon.
People thought this was:
Walking off brunch is pretty much one of my favorite delusions ever, and one unusually balmy Saturday, I was strolling down Smith St trying to walk off the approximately 62 lb of mac & cheese I'd just consumed at Patois. Suddenly, four words on an easel chalkboard caught my eye:
Chipotle Bourbon Bloody Mary
I turned to my cousin and, channeling Office Space's Lumbergh, said, "Yeeeaaaah...I'm going to have to go ahead and go in here ASAP?" "Here" was Char No. 4, somewhere I've been meaning to visit since before it opened, primarily because of its rumored 300 whiskeys collection. OK, not primarily. Exclusively.
If it weren't for Bloody Marys I'd probably never drink vodka, and with the CBBM, Char No. 4 has now made it possible for me to eliminate it altogether. Absolute daytime drinking perfection--spicy at first, followed by a sweet bourbon kick, and garnished with a tasty pickle. Also, the potent horseradish is hand-grated, as I was informed by the bartender, who proudly displayed his bandaged fingertips. Talk about really pouring yourself into your work! OK, that was a little gross.
Char No. 4 is warm and welcoming, and if you sit at the bar you get to stare, mouth agape, at all that amazing bourbon. I mean seriously, there are so many bottles they completely fill your field of vision. Apparently there are public tasting events in the works, and I tried my best to plant a little seed in the management's head that the next Yelp bourbon tasting event should be held there. I'll keep you posted!
People thought this was:
Smoked meats + whiskey = Jesus, if He were a hillbilly. Which he is.
Appetizers are It: bacon, cheese curds, the lamb thing (forgive me, I spent an hour at the bar before sitting down to eat); steak was tiptop, and their house-made sausages are smoketastically good. And butter pecan ice cream with bourbon topping was the belt-popping sucker punch that did me like Ned Beatty in "Deliverance".
The whole thing was like mainlining melted butter and the whiskey selection is, frankly, insane. Do we need that much whiskey in the world? Probably, yes, but just looking at the wall behind the bar gave me a headache and made me dread what's next: A fancy gulash emporium with 200 different types of slivovitz?
Crazy busy on a Saturday (most days, actually), but I imagine that will pass.
People thought this was:
We were pleasantly surprised with the southern comfort food. The decor comprised a cross between pub and urban contemporary design (a nice bar with interesting lighting over it). On the Sunday evening when we visited, the atmosphere was casual, with groups of locals enjoying each others company.
Appetizers: We shared one appetizer-- fried cheddar cheese curds with spicy pimento sauce. The curds were crispy, salty, light and addictive. The pimento, served in a side dish, had a mild kick, and the tangy sauce complemented the curds well.
Entrees: We tried the shrimp and grits. 6 large well-seasoned, grilled shrimp served on a dish of grits (grainy with lots of cheese). On top, crisp corn, scallion slices, and lots of microgreens drizzled with lemon. The microgreens and acid from the lemon cut the heaviness of the grits, making a well-balanced dish. We also had the house made pork sage sausage with beer braised red cabbage, onion, apple, and fried shallot. The apples and braised cabbage were quite sweet. The sausage was a little dry and lean, but we asked for some spicy brown mustard to go with it after seeing another table do the same.
Sides: Cauliflower gratin-- a puree of cauliflower and cheese; sliced almonds on top and broiled. Good but not a strong flavor.
Cost: $55 (with one glass of beer, not including tip)
As many others have mentioned, upon entering you are seduced with a smoky smell that is both bacony and bourbony. Sadly, I'm not really a bourbon or whiskey fan (or do I thought...) so in looking at the drink menu I tried to find an alternate libation..but the thing is, getting a bourbon or whiskey based drink is really essential, as the smokiness lends itself so well to the food. My advice is the noreaster..SO DELICIOUS! Bourbon, ginger beer, maple syrup and lime. a perfect balance of tangy and sweet.
We got the cheese curds with pimento-was kind of a no-brainer-hello, FRIED CHEESE? Sure! The pork nuggets were an obvious sidekick , both for content and the cheap price of $4...they were fried as well, smoky and savory but the hot sauce-BEWARE! It's HOT!!
As for the entrees, I had the shrimp and grits while my friend had scallops over butternut puree. My shrimp had scallions and microgreens strewn prettily over the top, and though the shrimp had a beautiful caramelized char over creamy and nicely textured grits, it was lacking on seasoning. I had to ask for salt. Was lovely but needed a little kick. My friend's scallops were delicious, but she too felt a little salt was in order. We got a side of beer braised cabbage topped with little fried shallots, which had the most delicious balance of earthy-smoky-tangy sweetness and were the perfect foil to my slightly unexciting shrimp.
For dessert we shared the homemade butter pecan ice cream-creamy with the old-fashioned-homemade bits of ice crystal, the pecans were divinely enrobed in praline and a shot of bourbon over the whole thing capped the meal just perfectly.
2for1 happy hour and 3.50…
Neighborhood: East Village
15% off for any bottle of…
Neighborhood: TriBeCa
Neighborhood: Carroll Gardens
Category: American (New)
Brooklyn, NY
Category: Lounges
Neighborhood: Gowanus
Category: Wine Bars
Neighborhood: Gowanus
Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: Carroll Gardens
Category: Italian
I like to get my food and drink on. You can find…
I'm working on this list! This is my personal list…
for best results, be sure to nap soon after…
