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Hewes St (J, M)
Marcy Ave (J, M, Z)
Broadway (G)
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I went here with a small group for a friend's birthday and had an amazing time. It is literally right off of the J train, so for someone not familiar with the area it is very easy to find. The ambience is great with the (live) music at the perfect volume where I can enjoy it but I don't have to yell over it. There is not much space with only a few tables and a bar that can seat about 10.
So the ambience gets an 11 out of 10. There were a few negatives though. 1) only beer and wine...not a huge problem, but sometimes you just need some vodka. 2) on a random Tuesday, they did not have 3 items on a fairly brief menu including a bottle of wine, an appetizer and one of the entres. No big deal, there are plenty of other outstanding options. We started with a number of appetizers, all of which were delicious. For the main course, I ordered their apple macaronie and cheese which was surprisingly delicious, other than the random potatoes they included.
Overall, I had a great time, enjoyed the food and the service, and again the convenient location next to the J train is an added bonus!
3.5 stars.
If you don't pay attention, you will miss the entrance to this place. The clue? Look for the "moto" hanging above ;-)
I will have to agree with fellow yelpers that this place is all about the ambience. The food needs some work, but the aura of this place will draw you in.
We stopped in around 10PM, and the place was teeming with people. Every single table was taken and the bar was at maximum capacity. Although there were a lot of people, it didn't feel that loud and it was quite cozy to have the place packed. We put our name on a waitlist and went for a cocktail down the block.
Came back about half hour later, and the host told us he tried to call us, but no one answered. "Bullshit" cough cough. In any case, there was one free table left, and we were the lucky winners!
The place is pretty small, so if you have personal space issues, I would suggest NOT coming here. Luckily, I have been in therapy for years for my personal space issue, and had good coping skills when placed in a can with other sardines ;-)
Might I mention that the shape of this restaurant is wonderful. Its triangular! Its more narrow when you walk in, and by the time you get to the base of the triangle, thats where the bar sits. Great architecture.
The inside feels like 1930s bohemian. There was live music with a woman singing 1930s classics, very nice to have entertainment while eating.
OK. The rundown on food. The starter was probably the best course. It was bulgarian feta, with sopressata, tomatoes, cucumbers, radishes, drizzled with olive oil and vinegar. Fresh, light and flovourful. The mussels were really bad. Not the sauce, but the mussels. They were small, and shriveled, and not the best quality. Steer clear of mussels. The pork ribs were decent. A nice rosemary rub, but the meat could have been a bit more tender. A side of salad only good for one bite. And good mash potatoes. The date cake was really really good but they could have gone lighter on the caramel sauce. Very very sweet.
Great place to take a date and have some date cake too ;-)
This is one of the most unique Brooklyn establishments--totally cozy, quaint, and dare I say romantic?
They have a bunch of decor that reminds me of the days of when Hitler destroyed Czechoslovakia--1938.
I don't know why they chose that date--it is a popular date and when Italy beat Hungary 4-2 to win the World Cup. Yay, good times! It is also the year that Porky the pig and Daffy duck made their debut!
Oh, back to the depression era restaurant (October 31st!)--the food is delicious, but found out that they haven't changed their menu in over 7 years so don't expect an innovative or constant change when you visit.Expect the same dishes you had 7 years ago!
You may think that I may be a little bitter, but nah--you're looking a little too much in it. I am just a core-to-the-bone hater! I playa-hate and hate to participate.
Back on a serious note--the food is delicious (not innovative, please read the aforementioned information) and remember to tip the band when your there!
3.7 stars
Yea, another neighborhood restaurant to walk to and judge! I was definitely taken back by the unique ambiance. It had an obscured urban location with such an antique decor, every chair was packed with hip diners on a Monday night. There was a singer-songwriter performing in a tight corner, and it was dim with candlelights. I was excited to be there, but found dinner not so exciting, and a bit pricey. The best part was cappuccino and the date nut cake was the most sinfully delicious dessert I've tasted in a while. I'd definitely recommend going, if not for dinner, at least dessert or a drink. If you're in the neighborhood it's definitely a cool place to check out.
Very cozy and quaint. Totally the type of Brooklyn joint you'd take out of town guests to - if they are down w/the not-Manhattan vibe, of course.
Some friends were visiting from Toronto and we rolled in late on a chilly Sunday night. The band was doing their thing and the place was packed. We sipped some beer and wine for about 20 mins until a table opened up.
The menu offers a good selection of appetizers, salads, entrees and deserts.
We all started w/a selection of apps which were all extra fresh and satisfying. My entree, the dijonaise chicken was fantastic. Initially, I was worried it might be a boring piece of baked breast meat, but upon seeing the waiter serve the dish to another table, I was reassured this would be a good option. The leg/thigh piece was cooked to perfection - moist, tender, and extra flavorful over a heap of tasty mashed taters and some greens on the side. Very nice.
The date cake is something memorable. Mmmmm.... Do it.
I haven't been here in a while. But i was dreaming about the date cake the other night. It is the single most amazing desert i have EVER had.
When i lived in willyburg I came here for dinner or brunch about once a month. The food is pretty good and the live music is lovely on weeknights.
I really love the atmosphere of this place, and the bathrooms are super cute.
even if you make a trip out there for the date cake you will not be sorry.
the only reason i gave the place 4 stars instead of 5 b/c i remember one time i went there for dinner and it was kinda late, they told us they didn't have any date cake left, but i suspect it was because they wanted to close and didn't want us lingering another 30 min over desert.
I'll admit that the decor and the *feel* of Moto is what really draws me in. The food is good but the decor is awesome. It feels like you're in some underground bar circa 1943 and when the subway rumbles up above you, it helps to steep you even further in the warmth of the restaurant. It's dark inside and their are quirky little furnishings all over. They even have live music. I love that it's the size of a small apartment and they have live music. So so cool.
The food? The food is pretty damn good too. I'm a big fan of their steamed artichoke. It's done perfectly - nice and tender, so juicy that when you bite into the it, the juice/broth always runs down my wrists and arms. The aioli that accompanies it is yummy too.
I've had a few of the mains and I have to say that I prefer the starters, in general (the lentil salad is also great). One of the times I ordered the mussels they were quite shriveled up and I felt like it was because they weren't the highest quality of the freshest ever. I think it might best to order stuff other than seafood. The chicken is, well, chicken-y. I'd say it's a little on the dry side but still good.
While the starters are good, they pale in comparison to the date cake. Wow. I'd say it's top ten favorite desserts I've ever eaten. Yes, it's that good.
In short, go to Moto for the vibe, ambiance, starters, booze (beer and wine only) and the cake.
VH and I came here on a Saturday night at 10 pm, and we could only get a table at 11 pm. Perhaps because there was a jazz band playing live, the place was absolutely packed.
Cafe' Moto's website says "circa 1938", and that's what this place feels like: a nice, warm, cozy, welcoming, and busy Parisian cafe' from the '30s. The decor and the ambiance are, in fact, wonderful: together with the jazz band playing classic tunes from the '30s and '40s, I felt like I was in the movie "The triplets of Belleville"!
Now, regarding the food: it is sub par to say the least. We shared an appetizer of Bulgarian feta, soppressata, tomatoes, radish, and cucumber that was very good: simple, fresh and flavorful; exactly what I was hoping for. I then tried the mussels, and they were a major disappointment: small and flavorless. They definitely need to change supplier for their mussels. But it was not all mussels' fault, to be fair: the sauce was also pretty bland. VH had better luck with her pork ribs, that although not exactly meaty were at least flavorful. We tried their date cake for dessert, which was excellent, although it was floating on a sea of caramel, i.e. ultra-sweet.
Bottom line: come here for the atmosphere, not for the food.
Cash only, and no reservations.
GF and I wanted to bike out to Wburg and have a meal at a new place. Arrived and immediately loved the decor and location. Live guitar picker playing by the door. The prices were reasonable. She started with Marinaded Mushrooms which were too spicy/salty for her and would've been better if served with bread - Moto does not appear to serve bread with dinner. My Roquefort salad was on pointe as was my Black Velvet - Guinness and Champagne. My pork ribs had very little meat, and there were three of them - my neighbor had two beautiful looking ribs. The mashed potatoes were so so (buttery and smooth with no skin) and the 'green salad' was about two bites of mixed greens with balsamic vinaigrette.
The GF's panini - honey, brie, and pear - was safe, but the bread was not particularly great, and she said it somehow reminded her of Frosted Flakes. It gave us a great recipe to try at home with a softer-on-the-inside bread. We both ordered the port with hazelnut fudge. A nice pairing, but the port was not chilled (which is no crime), nor was the portion what I would have liked it to be. We followed up with a creme brulee (cold on the bottom, hot on top, softer than I prefer but delicious) and a capp. About $110 with tip.
The place itself could house some really amazing nights, but the menu felt lacking - a problem I find with many restaurants in this area. Here, the one special seemed as uninteresting as the menu items, and my usual problem of deciding what to order was this time only because nothing really grabbed me.
I would go again mainly for the ambiance and because I feel that I might be missing something - the place feels pretty good despite 'meh' service and an uninspired menu. Plus, the beer list is pretty strong and reasonable. Wine list also fairly 'meh' by my judgment.
To give you an idea of a French place I really love , I would say AOC Bistro in Park Slope - authentic French food and service in a Modern setting and R&B music. My preference for AOC doesn't stop Moto from being good and reasonably priced for what it is, and where it is. But I probably would only meet some one there for the ambiance rather than the food. That said, Moto has strong appeal.
Mussel's are phenomenal!
Wine list is delectable
People watching is engaging.
Building & Decor's *super* cute. Transports you back to to the early 40's.
A neat place to dangle in front of your out-of-town friends so as to try to lure them to the outskirts of hipsterville. [As the "out-of-town friend", I can vouch that it is quite an enticing spot.]
Golly, it's pretty old timey in here. I go here for brunch a lot. House Eggs, Baked Eggs are as far as i've gotten. The breakfast beer: better than it sounds (espresso and guinness). As for dinner, it's pretty good too, maybe just a little too pricey.
Oh yeah, the warm date cake, you should have that no matter what time you go.
Moto earns each of its three stars from me because:
* Its super cute.
** Its super cute inside and out, its a flatiron (which I heart); and its managing all this fun cuteness in a black hole of other businesses of its genre.
***the menu sounds about right.
However, even though the menu looks just right and the ambiance is charming ...at the end of the day the food isn't that awesome; although it is overpriced, as are drinks both of the alcoholic and non alcoholic varieties. Not to mention this place is always crowded. If it were less hyped-out and less overpriced it'd fare better in my estimation.
Manchego with quince paste was good; but they'd have to try to make that bad; coffee was acceptable; the overly tangy saffrony mayo accompanying an artichoke did nothing to compliment it. A panini was tasty, but no better than what I make at home.
However, if I am in the neighborhood I wouldn't mind stopping by to try the infamous date cake, or brunch "house eggs".
I have fond memories of eating breakfast in Paris. While my traveling companions were all grumbly and jet-lagged, I was all, "Croissants! Pain au chocolat! I think I've died and gone to heaven, and heaven is delicious!"
Moto's brunch is good, but it's not Paris-good. Is it fair to be measuring this Brooklyn establishment against the croissants of my nostalgia? Maybe not. But our waitress was snobby enough to be French, so I don't feel like cutting Moto any slack. She seemed completely dumbfounded when I asked for coffee. Perhaps I should have asked for "un café americain," but she probably would have just laughed at my accent.
The baked ham and cheese eggs I ordered did help redeem the experience; they were remarkably fluffy and quite flavorful. And when the coffee finally arrived, it was strong and hot, served with a tiny pitcher of steamed milk. (The bread, however, was nothing to write home about.)
I wouldn't mind going again, but next time, I'll know just how to order--and I'll practice my français ahead of time.
Moto was extremely reluctant to serve me coffee. The people next to my girlfriend and I were served their entire meal with two rounds of coffee before we got our coffee. The waitress came by to ask if we ordered "drinks" an unusual amount of time after that, and was almost sort of surprised that we said "coffee" again, and corrected us: "Oh, you mean American coffee?" - as if she was admitting she ignored our order just because we didn't apply an unnecessary prefix. Oh, how silly of me, I forgot that when I entered your establishment, everything stopped being American by default!
We then received our brunch and I had to ask again for the coffee. It finally came when we were more than half way through the meal (which, admittedly, wasn't too much longer because the portions weren't terribly satisfying).
I tried to get a mortgage on the house eggs but the bank had no interest in them; the creamy tomato sauce didn't really taste like anything until I got to some mysterious cheesy looking stuff near the leafy greens. I admired the breadsticks that were served with the dish and they did end up making a nice compliment to the sauce. My girlfriend's ham and egg thing tasted much better to me than the house eggs, though. We also had the baguette with apricot jam at the end, which was pretty delicious and helped me finish the meal on a good note.
The pricing was fair. I would say that the dishes were only slightly overpriced for the portions and quality, but I think that charging $4 for just a couple pieces of bread and jam at the end was a little much considering a lot of places include bread with the meal. It doesn't really matter much to me that the bread was a baguette though, and maybe some people who are more fanatics for anything French would think it's "tres worth it!"
Other notes: this is obviously a hipster hangout, but I guess the same could be said of Brooklyn in large. They also had a lot of steampunk stuff going on, like cogs in the front step, photographs of old airplanes, and some kind of engine part sitting next to me on the shelf. Good for you if that's your thing.
Moto is the perfect place for a weekend NYC adventure. If you live in Manhattan, it's a bit of a trip , but is certainly well worth it. Venture over to Moto and you will find yourself underneath the buzz of a loud train, staring at a VERY unassuming, decrepit wedge shaped building. But open the large metal door and peel back a heavy velvet curtain, and you will be transported back the the roaring 20s. With classic jazz standards in the background, you will find yourself in one of the most charming restaurant atmospheres of all of Brooklyn, maybe even all of New York City. Fortunately, the food is equally appealing as the ambience. I went here for brunch and had the delicious, warm, cinnamon covered doughnuts, and the pancake, which was baked more like a cake than your standard pancake. If you're looking to stray from the norm, eat some fantastic food, and listen to a little Ella, definitely check out Moto!
I love the ambiance of this place! Dark atmosphere with live music, it surely feels like you are going back in time. The date cake was the highlight of my meal, though the mussels were also good and the brie panini not bad. My sister had the mac and cheese which was very interesting with potatoes and onions on top. I'm still surprised to find restaurants that are cash only, but if they can manage to pull it off I guess I can deal with it, too.
It was a perfect Spring day. The weather was dryer and temperature was around 70's and less Pollen in the air. When we finally came to the restaurant. The sun was going down and we were right front of the flat building (see the photo). Although Hewes St Station (J, M train) was right next to Moto's sign of where bicycle above, we walked from one station before Marcy Ave Station. The area reminded me of Jackson Heights Queens. The trains are running above and cars are running under and many small busy stores of all kinds (interesting ones) offer interesting stuff. Even people were interesting....melting culture of mostly Spanish and African American and few hipsters among day walking. What wonderful about New York were there. It gave me a huge smile when I was stepping down the stairs of the station.
The location was 5 minutes from the station. More we were closer to the restaurant, less people we saw on the street. I loved the first sight of the building. It was very special. It was little before 8 PM. We were seated to round table right next to the door and huge window. It was packed! Energy was young and curious. The space is not that big. There is a huge round counter seating at the bar that you can also enjoy dinner or drinks but mostly they were eating.
Marinated Beets with smoked herring & sour cream - Complexity of how beets tasted with smoky and chewy Herring with the red pickled onions with sour cream worked nice when I had all together at once with saltine crackers. Do I want to come back for more....no.
Bulgarian Feta with Soppressata (Italian salami), cucumber, radish, black olive & mint - The cheese tasted very close to good Greek feta. Salty and creamy but this feta has grainy texture. The thin shaved salami was rolled and placed on the top of sliced cucumbers and radish. The thin sliced veggies complemented well with salami but it was nothing special. There should be a mint but we did not get a mint so I could not find how it's tasted with some mint unfortunately.
Steamed Mussels with fresh fennel, garlic & cream - This was my choice for main that night. I wasn't hungry but wanted to check this place out. The muscles were heavily drenched with creamy butter so I could only taste butter in my mouth and it was warm. The muscles were over cooked and were served severely lacking in seasoning. I didn't taste any fennel. This was total failure.
Rotisserie Pork Ribs 'Herbes De Provence' with mashed potato & green salad - Much delicate flavored ribs were bland and boring...definitely lacking salt. The mashed potato were tasty. The salad is there as garnish without any dressing.
Homemade Honey Hazelnut Chocolate Fudge - It might be the reason why we did not like this dessert was that we didn't have it with the paired dessert wine. Tiny pieces of sliced chocolate with nuts gave me nothing. I know it sounds funny but I have no vocabulary for it. I am sure it would work well with sweet dessert wine.
Someone concluded as "Moto needs a dose of inspiration to achieve the culinary experience it once fancied itself providing." but the place is definitely has its charm. The movie set like interior and under the train station rail way outside makes this place very special. I saw a young couple dressed like their fist date were shined in this Brooklyn set. It was beautiful!
If you are comfortable sharing a bunch of outstanding starters/small dishes then I strongly recommend doing this and skipping the sub-par entrees. I brought my mom and sister here at 7pm on a Saturday night; the dining room was already full but there was still plenty of space to pony up to the bar for a drink while we waited. Waiting for a table took all of 20 minutes, but diner was an exceedingly lengthy 3 hours.
The CHILLED ASPARAGUS with boiled egg, olive oil & lemon ($7) is outstanding! It's a flawlessly balance of salty chopped hard boiled egg, piquant lemon and sweet tender sunny asparagus. But I might be a little bias since this is exactly how my dad makes it. http://www.yelp.com/bi...
The WARM LENTILS with fig & walnut crouton & queso fresco ($8) is an equally shrewd composition. The hill of fresh ripe chewy lentils and vegetables sits at the foot of an aromatic crouton and dazzling white cheese. http://www.yelp.com/bi...
The PANINI with BRIE PEAR GREENS and HONEY ($9.5) is delicious but lacks that certain je ne sais quoi to draw me back to this dish. http://www.yelp.com/bi...
The AEPLER MACRONNEN with onion & homemade apple sauce ($12) is a substandard take on mac'n cheese. The overcooked noodles drift in a dewy cistern of disappointment. The cheese has all the pungency of unsalted butter, the dull slimy onions offer no help at all and the applesauce, which should be this dishes saving grace, is a lazy cup of nothing. http://www.yelp.com/bi...
Being a vegetarian I'm not sure what was wrong with the CHICKEN DIJONNAISE with mashed potato & cabbage ($17) but my hungry sister would barely touch it. http://www.yelp.com/bi...
The dinner was wrapped up in the WARM DATE CAKE with toffee sauce and fresh cream ($6) for which I must send a thousand merci mes amis to the Yelp community. This magically delicious cake is truly insurmountable, notoriously difficult photography and must simply be experienced in person. http://www.yelp.com/bi...
A few tips: Keep your party small (4 or less), bring your cash, there is a car service right next door to get you home, and the menu on menupages is (currently) accurate http://www.menupages.c...
Had a dessert craving so we walked in for good coffee and dessert. The warm Date Cake in a chocolate sauce with a side of cream was absolutely amazing. I'll have to go back for a meal but will make sure to save room for the Date Cake! The donuts were good but not the highlight of the show.
Since visiting Moto for the first time, I have been plagued by the following dream. Tim Burton and Helena Bonham Carter move into the apartment next door to me (preferably the one with the smelly parakeet). On Sunday nights, we go on double dates. Tim wears a prince nez, Helena a dirty slip. We amble in the literal shadiness of the JMZ, stopping to smell the falafel. We quest for nothing, but questing nothing, find Moto. Tim and Helena immediately feel at home and begin discussing how they will Motify the riot of filth and sea foam green that passes for our lobby.
"Will you be Motifying the staircase as well, dear?" asks Helena. "Natasha has such a long walk up it every day."
"I shall Burtonify it," he says.
We order drinks then food based on Yelp reviews. Conversation touches upon Victorian sex toys as the warm glow of candlelight plays upon Helena's bosom. A klezmer band enters and encourages us to don goggles (the aviator kind). Tim announces his intention to bankroll any business on Broadway between Marcy and Hewes willing to take aesthetic gambles. I imagine a steampunk version of the falafel place. Helena and I excuse ourselves to use the bathroom downstairs. She begs me to kiss her but settles for a dirty limerick.
I had a great evening at Moto last Sat. Cant say that the food was that spesh...but that really didnt matter given the great ambience, live music and a general feeling that I was a Paris. The asparagus was ok but actually the date dessert was FAAAAAAAAAAAAAB
We even took the JMZ over Willi Bridge and we felt like we were in an 80's Madonna vid. Alomost 80's prices as well.
GO MOTO!
Came here for dinner on a Tuesday evening. The subway runs right next to the restaurant, which gives a decent rumbling every 5 minutes. I guess this really was the only negative to this place. Super cute interior, rustic, worn-in. See picture.
Highly recommend the lentil appetizer with fig toast. I loved the marinated mushroom as well although my lady friend didn't like the capers. Both dishes were well put together and reflected the thoughtfulness of the chef. I for one never ever order lentils when I am out to eat but I was blown away. Never should you consider 'just a salad' as a starter again after getting these two plates. I think I agree with some of the other reviews that sharing a slew of starters might be the better way to go then app + entree, but we had good entrees anyway.
I had pork ribs rubbed with herb de provence and roasted. Very fatty (the way I like it), not overcooked, deliciousness. Girlfriend had a saffron vegetable risotto. Not extraordinary she said, but again made just right, with good flavor of all the veggies and herbs and best of all, not too heavy.
Service was great, attentive without being invasive.
Restaurants like Moto or Fore Street in Portland, ME (see review), are what LA is lacking (for now) in terms of its entire food scene - mid-class restaurants in terms of price that nonetheless make top-notch, thoughtful dishes. A foodie I am not, but I eat my fair share of good food and I definitely recognize something as magical when I come across it, and I did with my experience at these two places. I love serious food without the pretense, and when was the last time you put 'without pretense' and 'LA restaurant' in the same sentence?
As a side note I went to Canelé in Echo Park 3 weeks after visiting Moto thinking they might be quite similar. It was alright, Canelé is not quite there yet.
Not so much to say: just go.
I went to Moto for the first time tonight, and it was great! My only complaint that it was a bit of a walk from my apartment. Me and friend sat at the bar and only had drinks, but the place is great. They had a good wine and beer on tap selection, and the food people around us had looked delish. While me and my friend had great conversation, I caught myself looking around at the decor and people every few minutes, great atmosphere. The place was small and dim, with lots of candles, perfect for a date spot. The bartender was friendly, reserved our spot at the bar with a cute sign while we stepped out for a minute, and remembered our drink order throughout the night. Over all a great experience. I will be going back soon... just hopefully on an empty stomach to try the food, and on a non-rainy night since it was a little bit of a hike home.
My BF and I enjoyed this place. It's small but has a good vibe. I was told that the cheese fondue is great there. Not big fan. But other than that, everything what we order (Pork rib and some today's special veal cutlet) was excellent. Great live music. I'd definitely go back there!
House eggs bro
This is my favorite restaurant/bar in Brooklyn. Love the food, love the beer/wine selection, almost always love love love the music.
Some things that get me down:
its cash only
the host can be a pain
no liquor is served
However, none of these things really get me down (except the rude host thing, that almost ruined my evening last time I was there), I put them out there more as suggestions for how Moto could be even more awesome.
This place never fails me for dinner or brunch. Most definitely the best paninis in the area. The bread is so crusty and delicious...two words I would not normally pair together. The trio fish cakes that they sometimes have on special are the best dish I've had there, but the grilled donuts are a close second.
The only downside about this place is that the bottles of water are never cold. They are almost warmer than room temp.
Went to Moto after a photoshoot with my band last Sunday. Had been wanting to go there for a while.
The staff at Moto is great. The bartender was awesome and helpful with picking out wines. The waiter was super sweet and attentive. He told us what he liked and eats off the menu and patiently answered all our food questions. Even the busboy/runner was full of smiles.
The place is gorgeous. Perfectly sized and laid out. I love the lighting fixtures, unwashed windows and drawn gates. Hooks under the bar and drink rail, always a big plus. Super cozy and obviously well thought out. Even the bathroom is charming.
The food, my oh my, the food. Everyone at the table was very happy. I had the chilled asparagus and warm lentil salad. I want to go back and order exactly the same thing, but this time eat it even slower, savoring every bite. The lentil salad came with this fig walnut crostini thing that was just killer.
We are a very smart bunch so we ordered the warm date cake with fresh whipped cream and some kind of awesome sauce, think it was toffee. yeah, toffee. Holy fuck. Go there. Eat this cake. I beg of you.
I loved it, my friends love it. I will be back and I don't even live in the hood. A great date place in my opinion. No liquor, only beer and wine. And I think it might be cash only.
Just got home from my first dining experience at Moto. This place rocks!!!
We ordered the artichoke to start, which was a bit undercooked and rubbery(probably my only complaint of the night) . I figured i would start with that and then finish off playing nice in the sandbox. For my main course i had the mussels, which were really awesome, cooked perfectly! My friend actually found a baby starfish in a mussel, which we thought was really funny, i guess its like finding a pearl in an oyster!?! Another friend had the spicy tomato soup, which was amazing...im definitely going to get that next time. For dessert we had the amazing Date Cake, wow I may go back just for that. We took the starfish home with us, he is a new pet now, his name is fred.
My heart melted on the first bite. Moto, je t'aime. French food served with love. Mouth watering entrees and soothing dining experience. OH MY, do not change. I had the organic chicken special with fig sauce and mashed potatoes in a huge, low bowl. I wanted to sit in a corner with my bowl and avoid all conversation. If I had more time, I would have tried additional glasses of wine. Chilled asparagus was fine, though I thought it could have been either served warm with more flavor, or just crunchier. The appetizers were delicious, though I mainly honed in on the starter plate of marinated mushrooms and capers, while my friends finished up the lovely fondue. Unfortunately, sadly, I could not order or consume any dessert. I would like to return just for the infamous date cake. Are there rooms available here?
After the raving reviews on yelp, I figure I give this place a try. So I did, just came back 2 hours ago.
My trusted GPS navigated me to Moto and when it said "You have made your destination!" -- I stopped, looked around, and said "WHERE?" Stupid navigation led me to the boondocks. After my girlfriend pointed out, "Is that it?" -- pointing to a old-style motorcycle fixture adjacent to a building that looks like a rented caged warehouse. Oh yeah, that's it.
The price is pretty good. I spent $75 including a $10 tip, pretty good, no? considering I got:
= drinks =
- pellegrino & beer...
= appetizers =
- spicy tomato soup --- 3/5 stars
- stuffed egg w tuna & anchovy -- 3/5 stars
= entrees =
- mussels -- 2/5 stars -- nothing special here
- chicken w mashed potatoes & cabbage -- 3/5 stars
= dessert =
- date cake - 4/5 stars
- grilled donuts - 4/5 stars
- americano - 3/5 stars
= other notes =
You have to go to the bathroom. Seriously, it's the coolest thing in there. Why? Because the girl in front of me went in, and if you look on the side there's a stain glass window. I saw her drop her pants, albeit it was very blurry and couldn't make out anything except how pale her legs/thighs/ass were. When she came out I swiftly looked up at the ceiling while whistling. I'm so slick
Also, after I pee-peed I looked around..."Where the hell is the handle to flush?". Look up, you'll find it. Lastly, when washing your hands. There are two faucets. One faucet spews hot water, the other cold. So when you wash your hands properly, your left hand gets burnt to hell while your right hand gets hypothermia-frozen. I recommend clapping while you wash your hands to get it just right.
Overall, try it. It was a new experience for me and wish I hadn't seen the pale girl's ass through a stain glass window, other than that --- it's worth it
Great breakfast. Reasonably priced. I love the atomosphere.
One of the best brunches in BK. Beautiful atmosphere. Unique experience. Quality ingredients.
Oh. my. GOD. I am in LOVE with Moto! This is my new favorite restaurant. I don't even think I had a favorite restaurant before... But now I do!
Eat the stuffed boiled eggs, the spicy tomato soup with goat cheese crouton, the vegetable risotto, the alps mac & cheese, and the warm date cake with toffee and whipped cream and you will be in absolute heaven, I promise! They have a good selection of wines and beers too, but I like to have an Orangina because I don't see them in restaurants often! Not only is the food amazing, but the atmosphere is one of a kind. You feel like you're in the 1930's in some kind of hidden underground restaurant for well-dressed gangsters and their pretty ladies to hide out for awhile. The decor is kind of my idea of how my heaven would be. The service is friendly and attentive. And they have live music most nights, which adds so much to the experience. Come with your significant other, a date, or a friend or 2 but don't bring a large party - this place is just too small for that.
Note: Cash only.
Went here with my girlfriend on Valentines Day (first visit).
FANTASTIC.
First, we knew that we had arrived by all of the rose petals scattered about on the sidewalk outside. Upon entry, the romance of the place would drive any woman wild.
We split a bottle of mid-priced wine, 2 delicious appetizers, 2 entrees, and the "date cake" to finish it all off. Total bill? $112!!!! (Did I say Amazing!?!)
This place gets 5 stars for the waitress' integrity alone. She actually admitted to a mistake and came and apologized that our food order had not been made. I've had this happen before in Nyc and never has anyone actually admitted to it and apologized like she did.
In addition, the food was reasonably priced and tasty. The atmosphere is intimate and laid back. Although I would have enjoyed my ribs a lot more if the drama queen at the next table hadn't started ranting to his friends about his obvious eating disorder. So if you're going to call people who eat real actual food disgusting and gross, why don't you do it when you're NOT in a restaurant. I should have given you the number to a good therapist instead of trying to hide my meal from your vision.
I will go back and hopefully have the same waitress. And order my own cake and enjoy it sans the queen!
Went here based on yelp reviews. Disappointed.
Did not enjoy the experience going to this place. it was in the part of the Burg that's very dark and seedy. We almost missed the entrance since it bearably recognizable. We were seated next to the door which frequently kept being opened, drawing that cool air in. We had a live band rehearsing in the back facing our table .Good thing they were not too loud with the music. Another thing, the decor was super gloomy..and dirty. I mean it's ok to be from the 1930s but you can't be dusty from the 1930s. I mean my bf pressed his finger by the wall rand it came out black! LOL
Ok on to the food . I had the steamed artichoke. Didn't really like it. I wish i just went straight with an entrees since they all seemed to come w/ a side of veggies. Had the pork ribs. they were good. My bf on the other hand raved about his appetizer (Tomato soup) and the dijon chicken. He gave the food 4 stars. I woulda given it 3.5..had to bring it down based on the decor. I guess I'm just one of those types of dinners. I need my decor to match my food!
I just wanted to update that I brought my BF when he was in town and it was JUST as perfect as I hoped it be (well, except for the fact that he refused to order the date cake. "I don't like dates," he told me. "Buuuut you don't actually TASTE dates," I sputtered, but to no avail. And I wasn't about to tackle that on my own--my hips and thighs wouldn't appreciate it very much). This time I tried two new things: the scrumptous fondue (one minor thing: the bread isn't terribly exciting, nor is it bite sized) and the tasty risotto.
Oh, Moto, YOU ARE THE ONE!
I can't believe it has taken me THIS long to go to Moto, but as it's tucked deeeeep into… Read more »
Came here 5 or so more times since previous review. food is always incredible. house eggs with a creamy tomato sauce for brunch is spec-fucking-tacular. i could literally put that sauce on wood chips and be content.
it's a real intimate kind of place. very devoid of pretense like you'll tend to find in places of… Read more »
Biere de Garde: Beer Dinners!
Neighborhood: Nolita
Live Music and Drink Specials!
Brooklyn, NY
Neighborhood: Williamsburg - South Side
Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: Williamsburg - South Side
Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: Williamsburg - South Side
Category: Italian
Neighborhood: Williamsburg - South Side
Category: Italian
Neighborhood: Williamsburg - South Side
Category: American (Traditional)
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