Le Barricou
Categories: French, Breakfast & Brunch [Edit]
Neighborhood: Brooklyn/Williamsburg - South Side533 Grand St
(between Lorimer St & Union Ave)
Brooklyn, NY 11211 (718) 782-7372
- Nearest Transit:
Metropolitan Ave-Lorimer St (G, L)
Hewes St (J, M)
- Price Range: $$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Good for Kids: Yes
- Takes Reservations: No
- Delivers: Yes
- Take-out: Yes
- Waiter Service: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: No
- Good for: Brunch, Dinner
- Alcohol: Full Bar
26 reviews
Neighborhood: Manhattan/Chelsea
"i go here a lot because the crepes are so simple and delish, the salads are gonzo, and they have nice wine by the glass. Also, you can't…" read more »
20 Reviews for Le Barricou
Go for the bouillabaise. It's what they do, and what they do best. The rest of the menu is cute and all. But the bouillabaise is outstanding. I had it the first time I went here, and it was great. I tried something else, while my fiance had the bouillabaise the second time. The cod was good, but I had serious ordering envy. Nice decor, good service, good (and not overpriced) wine list.
this is my favorite restaurant right now. the food is always solid, the staff has been great, helpful, funny, cute. There is a lady who must be the owner who greets you, and makes you feel comfortable when you sit down, and is just sweet all around. the decor is lovely and the music is always really solid electro background jams (think ratatat and hot chip).
crab bisque is so good, i love it and i dont even like fish!
goat cheese raviolis are delish.
coq au vin was solid as well.
wine of the day was really good, dont remember what it was. let the waiter sell you.
This place is so solid, my bf and i keep going back even though we have high falutin' ideals of not eating at the same place twice.
I feel compelled to write a review becasue I would really like to see this place succeed. The food at Le Barricou is really good, and yet there never seem to be enough people in there for dinner service (they seem to get more of a crowd for weekend brunch). Restaurants--good or bad--never seem to last more than a year on Grand Street, which is a tough location. I am still mourning the loss of Cafe Mexicano, which used to be on the same block of Grand St.
I have been to Le Barricou three times. Once for brunch, and twice for dinner. The prices are reasonable, and reflect a nice mix of lower cost options and more special spluge dishes (they have some very well priced items--burgers, sandwiches, large salads etc.,--though the seafood specials are more expensive, but a good value in terms of quality and portion). It seems possible to eat well here and not spend a lot of money if you don't want to.
The brunch menu is great and brunch is served with a basket of warm croissants. The eggs florentine were great, and the potatoes were really nicely spiced, browned and not at all greasy.
For dinner, I second the recommendations for bouillabaise. They really do a nice bouillabase. The seafood mix changes based on the fish specials each day, and the night I ordered it the special was cod--and the stew was chock full of large, delicous pieces of cod. We also shared a fantastic beet salad. My second dinner there I ordered one of the specials--a fish sandwich with fries. The portions were generous, and the fish sandwich was fresh and really tasty--served with a very nice small salad and excellent fries.
I also find the atmosphere to be really nice--maybe a little too faux "distressed" french country for my taste, but well done. The place is spacious and airy. It is a neighborhood place and still has an off-the-beaten path feel that is becoming rare in Williamsburg. Too bad there is back yard patio! (but they do have outdoor seating in the front of the restaurant).
Good, solid cooking, good prices, good wine, super friendly staff. If the friendliness is an act it still works, because I'd rather go here than Dumont now.
I've been meaning to big up this place for a long time now. The food here is fantastic, the staff (especially Connor) is super sweet. It's my favorite restaurant in Brooklyn right now. I've only been for dinner so far. The first time that I went was with a group of 10 for my husband's birthday. They were super accommodating and my steak was cooked perfectly. We went back a few weeks later and again amazing service, fantastic food. I highly recommend this place.
This place has recently come into it's own, after an obvious management changeover. The atmosphere is good even if the faux patina is laid on a bit too strong. The music is strong especially during brunch (which I believe should be largely South American or African in nature).
The food tends to be satisfactory with little touches that go a long way. Ever have the fries/potatoes vs salad dilemma at lunch or brunch? Not to worry you get a bit of both! The Coq au Vin is a bit dark for my taste as if they use beef stock (not chicken) and dried thyme as opposed to fresh, but it's comfy and filling. I've had an undercooked risotto, but was thankful for the jaw workout.
The staff has been a chronic, if mild issue. The first group was nice, but slow and uninformed. This new crew is peppy and pro. But today they got 3 strikes:
First, I asked for a coffee warm up and never got it. Not a big deal, but you shouldn't have to hunt these things down. Second, I asked for a bit of Gruyere topped on my Florentine. The response was a very enthusiastic "Yeah, why not!?" with no indication of an extra charge, but they added $2 to the bill. For a couple shavings that's an offensive price and requires a warning. Lastly, I did not receive correct change, a major affront (it was 50 cents not 5). It's money, get it right! Never smart to chump your patrons. This is something I've come to expect from delivery people standing in the rain, but that won't fly with me here.
I've had nothing but good things to say until today - so take it for what's it's worth.
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To be honest, good restaurants with no waits for brunch on a Sunday in New York City are impossible. Because of that-if I had a logical bone in my body-I would not give Le Barricou the greatest review on earth because it just happens to be one of the greatest brunch spots in all of Brooklyn.
We were all hungover and after sort of half-heartedly wandering into a few places before seeing that they were ill-equipped to handle the ten of us at noon on a Sunday, my friend suggested Le Barricou, a wonderful little French bistro just a block or so away.
We walked in and they immediately sat us. They immediately sat ten people for brunch on a Sunday at noon in Williamsburg. Ten people. At noon. On a Sunday.
The nice and friendly waitress immediately came around and took our drink orders, which naturally included a handful of mimosa's ($6) and bloody mary's ($7). I like my mary's hot and fresh with none of the unnecessary olive and mini carrot accoutrements.
In my opinion, the bloody mary was close to perfect, thick but not too thick; spicy but not too spicy with the perfect amount of pepper mingling around in the bottom of the glass. The only thing I could have asked for was a bit more vodka.
As the waitress set down a mimosa in front of one of my tablemates, one of my other tablemates began to gesticulate wildly-it was his birthday and he gets a little excited-and toppled her tray. She valiantly tried to grab the mimosas, but the tray rocked back and forth until one flew off dousing my friend in Mimosa. To her credit, she succeeded in saving one.
I would have paid to see it over and over again. The splash, everyone's surprised looks mixed with a hint of horror followed by raucous laughter. We were all in tears shortly. The waitress-who's fault it obviously was not-was wonderful, apologetic and also had enough personality to laugh along with us.
Things went downhill from there but to be honest we were having so much fun none of u really cares. Our order was botched-they still use the archaic pen-to-paper-system-and only about half of us got our food. The waitress was again very apologetic and figured out who was missing food and sent the orders back. Unfortunately she missed two people who still hadn't eaten.
But she apologized profusely and then brought out two trays full of mimosas and I can't really say anything other than that we're pretty easily pleased and at happily once all of our food finally arrived.
She comped a bunch of things and the restaurant manager even came over and apologized sincerely.
But I've glossed over the best part: the food.
Maybe I'm a sucker for cheese or a sucker sandwiches or a sucker for crispy cheese or for delectable slices of perfect ham. I'm probably a sucker for all these things combined but despite my preconceived love for the aforementioned ingredients, I have to say this was the best ham and cheese sandwich I've ever had in my life. Oh the gruyere! Oh the country bread! Oh the ham! The crispy layer of cheese surrounding the bread and lastly, that little delicious over-easy egg popped in the middle. It was served with fries-though I suspect largely because the kitchen ran out of home fries for a while-and a salad which could have used a bit of dressing. They called it the Croque-Madame and at $8.75, it was close to the most expensive thing on the menu, most other items rang in at the $7 mark.
I love Egg on north S6th for their similar Toad-in-the-Hole sandwich but it could not even come close to comparing to this feat of sandwich-ery.
I ate some homefries off a friend's plate and they were tasty too. The French fries were crispy, the hollandaise sauce delicious. With ten of us we pretty nearly tried everything on their extremely economical brunch menu. All the tables are topped with croissants-in both chocolate and the regular variety-and easily helped stave off hunger while we waited for our food.
Although some of our food took ages to come, I think it was likely an aberration from the way things normally work at Le Barricou. We all said we'd go back, even my friend who walked out the door, still picking orange flecks out of his hair.
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this place is REAL good but not perfect.
-first dinner there was amazing. absolutely no complaints. SO GOOD.
-second dinner was just okay. we ordered the same things as the first visit, but they were not prepared nor did they taste the same. one of my biggest pet peeves is when a restaurant is not consistent.
-first brunch there was good. VERY reasonably priced...well, aside from the orange juice. the juice was listed on the board but no price was given, so when we got the bill and almost HALF of it was attributed to two glasses of OJ at $6 (!!!) a piece, we were feeling very keanu reeves ("woah.").
-second brunch was good and we steered clear of the juice this time. however, the table next to us had some people who were clearly friends with the waitress and they received their food a good 10 minutes before us, even though they sat down AFTER we did. tsk tsk!
oh and they also have what my boyfriend has declared the Best Dessert Ever: a braised pear on ice cream with chocolate sauce. so good.
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I've only been to this place once. Me and my friends went there for brunch last Sunday. Food was good, service - outstanding!!! We've never been treated so well before. We are in love with our waitress: funny, great personality, and cute. We thought she was French or Eastern European, but we will find it all out next time. We will be back!!!!
Standard brunch menu with a few french-inspired dishes. Great, large space and a friendly staff with no 'tude. No wait for a table either.
I really wanted to like this place, but I have to say that my brunch experience was not that great. The spinach and goat cheese omelet I ordered came with so much salt on the top that I think it must have been an accident because it rendered the top of the omelet inedible. The fatal lapse however, was the watered down bloody mary that arrived after my food did. And with there being so many decent brunch places in the area that include the whole brunch for under $12, I won't be going back.
I have been dining here since they opened(its the closest place to my house) and every time it gets better! (not to mention more crowded.)
The guys running the place are sweet and this is hands down the best treatment I have gotten in the hood. They even remember what I got last time I was there. True at the beginning it did seem quite confused but I am enjoying watching it find itself. They have toned down on the quirky thai influences and are now focusing more on the down home french cooking. I don't know anything about France or its food but I LOVE this place. Even the seemingly standard items, like penne with tomato sauce or eggs Florentine, taste better than any you have had before. They also always have great specials and it is obvious that they put a lot of thought and love into everything they serve. Great wine, great food, great desserts, great service, great prices...I could go on.
Their seafood dishes are great and the Bouillabaise is to die for!
My only complaints: The chef tends to be a bit heavy on the salt (isn't that why there are shakers on the tables) and I really really miss the sea scallops with scallion and sweet potato ravioli. That was one of the best meals I ever had and I am very sad that it is no longer on the menu.
This cute restaurant is right down the block from my apartment. It's dark, simple and romantic. The menu is very simple, with a mix of American fare ( a burger or pulled pork sandwich) and French bistro (coq au vin and steak-frites).
The hanger steak with french fries was so good - tender and juicy and the fries were so crispy.
This place was quiet for a Friday night, so the service was pretty fast, but not rushed. We definitely could have sat there for hours after dinner if we felt like it (this is one of the many things I love about French restaurants.). I can't wait to go back for brunch, and try the basket of croissant and pain au chocolat.
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i don't even know what to say.
i had one of the best meals of my life here last night, and i am nearly speechless.
i had no idea what to expect... it's in a weird location and i'd never heard of it. my husband picked it out after seeing an ad on freewilliamsburg.com. i told him i wanted french food for my birthday, and he was convinced we should try this. HE WAS SO RIGHT.
everything we had was screamingly good. our waitress amy was so so so so nice and helpful and sweet. she helped me pick out a wine, and she helped me decide on my entree. (why am i in need of so much help?)
we shared the onion soup, then both got specials. he got the duck confit and i got a seared scallops dish. they were hands down the most perfectly prepared scallops i've ever tasted. they were soft and so juicy and beautifully seared. the duck was amazing - not greasy and so wonderfully flavored. the sides were all great too - perfect potatoes, delicious green beans, sauteed mushrooms... yum. i'd agree that things were a bit oversalted, but it honestly didn't affect me at all. also, who the eff cares if they've got a hamburger on the menu.... i'm sure it's delish! we're in brooklyn. not france.
oh and wait, for 2 drinks, a soup, and 2 unbelieveable specials, the bill came to $60. go there now. really.
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so a block away from my house i realized i did not have my keys on me. i freaked out. i searched high and low on my person, in my bag to no avail. finally i decided to give my roomie a call; who also happens to work with me. he was able to find them at my desk. thank god. however, it would take him a little while to get home. i decided to go for a walk and find a drink.
as i was walking about i passed by several bars, first of which was not open. the second was too rustic for the mood i was in. the third, well i just didnt like the third. finally i found myself in front of le barricou. i stood out front checking out the take out menu wondering if there were any happy hour specials and decided to take the plunge. PUSHed the door to get in (usually you PULL, right?) i know. im weird i notice these things. and as soon as i got in...well i realized that it was the right choice. it had the right feel. plus i have an affinity for most things french.
went ahead and hopped on the bar. an older woman came almost immediately filled a bottle of water, set me a glass and a small dish of olives. i took a look at the wine menu. and im new to this wine thing but i love it. the list looked pretty extensive, however, they only had three by the glass. i ended up going with a carafe of the red spanish wine which name i forget. it was a bit dark for my taste. earthy. i prefer my wine a bit sweeter and lighter. but after i was done with the first glass and my palette had adjusted, i enjoyed it. i talked with the guy that served my wine and found out he was the owner. real nice guy. got a little bit of his background and found out what his place is all about. not going to share with you but im sure if you go there and ask he'd tell you. all the staff was very friendly. they almost forgot my change which i asked them to break, but its okay. they were nice and that means more to me than being forgetful. the decor, atmosphere and music was certainly something that i liked. lounge, un-presumptuous, not over bearing. the little glasses at the bar with fresh sunflowers and candles made me happy while drinking wine and eating olives. the wine lounge in the back was cute with the little piano back there. i definately want to make it back for food and am also happy that they deliver. might return to this entry to write more once i've eaten.
four stars for being a place i want to go back to after only a carafe of wine and some olives.
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I've been to this place twice now and have been pleased both times. I live nearby and I have never seen it packed. Sitting in the back section is cozy though and the decor is cute. There is a foosball table too, although I'm not sure if anyone plays it or if it's just for decoration.
Brunch was served with complimentary chocolate croissants. I had the steak sandwich, which was cheesy and delicious.
I liked the atmosphere for dinner. It was quiet for a Saturday night, but it also was during the holidays. They played good music and the server was pretty decent. He described the restaurant as "french home style country cooking". Not sure what that means exactly. I had the skate which was served with grilled vegetables and au gratin potatoes. It was really flavorful with lemon and capers. My friend had the seafood caserole, which was interesting. It was basically their crab bisque with more seafood in it and covered with melted cheese. We shared a bottle of wine. I got a little annoyed with the server constantly refilling our water and wine glasses. Especially since my friend was drinking faster, and therefore ended up drinking more of the wine.
Been to this new neighborhood bistro twice so far. Quite pleased. Their brunch menu offers traditional fare - eggs, omlelettes, pancakes, etc - all with a distinctly French touch. Stand-out dishes are the chicken and steak sandwiches, and their pancakes.
Warning - The coffee hasn't been very good either time, both the regular coffee and cappuccino. I would suggest a visit to Gimme Coffee beforehand for any necessary caffeine intake.
The decor is really quite good. Skylights in the ceiling make the large back room relaxed and sunny, and the yellow, distressed painting technique, in addition to the French comics plastered all over the walls, give it a very old-world feel (despite it being newly decorated).
The service is slow, and the staff is clearly brand new and untrained, but give them time! Very friendly.
Oh and their prices are extremely good.
Can't wait to try them out for dinner! Oh, and don't let the fact that it is directly across the street from the slummiest, most disgusting-looking buildings. Ah, the confusion of urban development and gentrification....sometimes I just don't get it.
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I think Le Barricou has the potential to be a very good bistro, and a solid brunch site. The hanger steak cheese steak is the highest-end cheese steak I'ver ever eaten, with all the trappings of a Philly-style cheese steak (onions, peppers, cheese) but with quality cheese, bread, and sliced hanger steak instead of whatever that stuff is that goes into a regular cheese steak.
If you show up early enough for brunch, you get a basket of croissant and pain au chocolate. Hopefully it's just recent-opening issues, but if you show up too late in the afternoon, you get no tasty bread snacks.
Unfortuantely, the coffee is very disappointing, which will make me think twice before I return for brunch anytime soon.
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Le Barricou is a delicious yet VERY confused restaurant. I was expecting a French bistro menu but the menu is filled with things that are more likely to appease neighborhood people looking for american fare. For instance, the first three items on the menu were: A hamburger, a chicken sandwich, and a pulled pork sandwich. The menu rounds out at the end with a pasta dish with basil and parmesan. I ordered one of the only french things on the menu coq au vin and my date got the lamb shank. Both were extremely delicious with the lamb shank coming right on the bone with wild mushroom risoto. Mine was served traditionally with bacon lardons, pearl onions, mashed potatoes and the chicken which was drowining in the delicious red wine sauce. It wasn't a traditional coq au vin which you could tell was braised for hours. I think they cheated and pan cooked it, but regardless it was really good and hit the spot with the wine we ordered. The menu is limited and you basically order by region rather than by what the bottle is, but what do you want from a place on Grand Street on the east side of the neighborhood?
I wish they'd go more French, but like Juliette, they really are trying to appease everyone's pallets.
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A delicious addition to the neighborhood. Who doesn't love a French bistro when it's done right? From the bright open lighting, yellow and red decor, to the perfectly al dente pasta with mushroom and cream sauce, Le Barricou offers a complete dining experience. The burger is just what you'd expect from a bistro-- quality, flavorful beef and perfectly salted bistro fries-- though they could have put in a bit more originality and cheese choices (just cheddar was offered). With the eclectic mix of background music and the extra cold Coronas, LeBarricou is rightfully attracting early crowds. We still smelled the fresh paint when we first walked in, but it didn't detract from its pleasantness. More spacious than Dumont, there is nothing lacking in this new addition on Grand Street, East Williamsburg. Looks like this place would be good for having drinks also with extra space and a an old school foosball table in the back. They even have a couple of high chairs.
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