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Categories: Diners, American (Traditional) [Edit]
Neighborhoods: Williamsburg - South Side, Williamsburg - North SideBedford Ave (L)
Enjoy complimentary wings with your drinks on Monday nights at the bar.
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I've been twice, for two meals.
The brunch was good -- above average -- probably a solid four-star rating, and the bloody mary's were, if memory serves, quite tasty and fortified enough to get sufficiently morning-buzzed (Is there a two-for-one special? There might be a two-for-one special). Gotta say, though, I could've done without the grimy hip-hop soundtrack at 11 in the morning. Call me old fashioned, but I'm a way bigger Dead Prez fan after noon.
Dinner, well, dinner was a bit of a letdown. Had an uninspired cobb salad -- at least I think it was a cobb salad, it could have been something else. There was chicken in there. See? Not memorable.
But the brunch is worth trying, most definitely. And the place is bigger than it looks from the outside, so I don't foresee ever having to wait too long (it was totally dead for dinner when I went, but full for brunch -- we spent about a half-drinks time at the bar before we were seated. Not bad at all)
Straight up, I never said I wanted to come here. Egg made me do it because they decided they weren't hardcore enough to stay open at 3pm after thanksgiving.
Thus, my children, 'twas from the get-go that Relish was doomed to be worse than the other "I've got a beard, some knife skills, and a bon iver mixtape" restaurants that abound in fair southern williamsburg.
My lady tucked into some corned beef hash and poached eggs - WAIT, what's that cordial of a music playing? China cat sunflower on the stereo?!?! The Dead?!?! Followed by some rippin' tunes from Boston and Blue Oyster Cult? Awesome, my friend's dad from shitty north-shore massachusetts basement timespace must have sent in a custom made mixtape. The food? I forgot about it too. Tasty upon reflection though.
I munched on a blackened tuna sandwich (pretensh, I know, but hey we're in sillyamsburg right?). It was ok but way cold by the time it got to me. This led the pesto to become rather slick and thus morphed a generously portioned sandwich into a stoner slider.
Our friend Zangief (of street fighter fame) got the quesadilla of the day, which was steak. He ate it VERY fast, so it was probably pretty good. The coffee got me pretty jazzed, so the java gets an A+.
Overall, this place is totally fine as long as the waiter keeps his kief-encrusted 35+ yr old fingers off the jukebox. If you can't get into Diner or Egg, this is the next best thing.
i would give five stars to start, but I did not have room for foodstuffs, and I want to be able to revise and up the score after my next visit.
As to my first encounter, we were cruising for dive bars--well, cheap, if not dive-y.
Not a dive, this place is funky, friendly, and eclectic. The drinks were tasty--I had a champagne sangria that was a bit melony for my taste, but still durn yummy. My friend had a jack and coke. With a tip, we left with less than 20.00 invested in a nice warm buzz. The music was fun--lots of Weezer and something a bit like Dead Milkman. The staff was upbeat and willing to offer recommendations for drinks as well as future dinner options.
I will be back!
Dinner here is amazing. We go once a week and the food is consistently delicious and well-prepared. I always get one of the fish dishes: Pan-fried grouper with grits or blackened red snapper with risotto. Always fantastic. They make a good veggie burger as well -- and the best mac and cheese and mashed potatoes for miles.
Not sure what happens at brunch. Someone else must be cooking. We've only been twice, but the items on the menu are boring -- hueveros rancheros is the most adventurous and the best choice -- and not well-prepared. Also- don't get their coffee. It is not even the right color. Ick.
I'm trying to forget that this place serves brunch, as they definitely deserve 5 stars for their truly amazing seasonal dinner menu.
I just came in here becuase I was working nearby and needed to kill some time before starting. I just wanted a bagel but they didn't have any. I ended up with an engish muffin and orange juice for $8.50!! I was sooo annoyed.
I can't speak for the rest of the food, maybe it's really good but $8.50 for an english muffin and juice. I could have bought a 6 pack of muffins plus a gallon of oj for less.
I wish I could give 3.5 stars, but I can't. I don't think it is merely ok, but I also don't know if I'm a fan. I would definitely go back though.
We sat outside in the shade on their patio. The weather was beautiful and it wasn't too busy. I got the chicken sandwich on sourdough and my bf got the tuna melt and we went halfzies on them. The sandwiches were good. The chicken was kinda dry and the tuna had american kraft singles cheese on it. I just love tuna melts on an english muffin. The side salad was just greens but the dressing was good so I was happy. The french fries were a little like mcdonald's fries, but still delicious.
The service was pretty good, although our drinks took awhile to come out. The food came out at an average pace.
The bill came out to around 30, just a little too expensive for what we ordered. But as I said before, I would probably go back.
Relish's medium rare cheeseburger hits me, and it feels like a kiss.
To start, I really enjoy the outdoor seating this place has to offer. The area is a bit of an oasis with birches and hostas.
However, the food and drinks here are nothing to get excited about. Both are overpriced and underwhelming. I was surprised to see so many items on the menu in the $20+ range. Sorry, but I'm not willing to spend that kind of coin on diner food. I had a burger with fries. The burger was a bit sloppy (in a bad way) and a bit too large to eat without getting beef grease all up in my beard. The worst part was the cheddar, which didn't have any flavor at all. The fries were alright but a bit underdone. I've had better burger/fry combos for $4 cheaper.
There wasn't anything exciting on the cocktail menu. I thought I ordered a specialty margarita from the drink menu that was a whopping $14. I ended up getting a plain margarita, a detail I wasn't aware of until we received the bill. In the end I was glad that I had been charged only $7 for the drink which was essentially salty sour mix.
Good place. I would go back. I got eggs and home friends and toast. The toast was nice whole grain bread with tons of butter, just how I like it. The home fries were mixed with onions and red peppers..again great, the eggs were not really over easy, but over hard was ok.
This dinner is a big expensive. My meal cost $8, and a chicken sandwich was $11. For sunday "brunch" at 3:20 - we didn't get served til 3:50. Seems a bit long for a sandwich and eggs. The silverware kinda look not great. Like not polished and old. The water was warm and without ice cubes. On a hot late afternoon, I was not too happy to be inside without cool air and without cold water.
Bloody Mary 8$, no horseradish, no worcestershire. English muffin warm but not toasted, and buttery, when I asked no butter. Friends ordered salad sides, got fries, complained, were promised restitution, and it never arrived - but did hit the bill.
Benedict poach was hard, prosciutto overcooked, service slow (probably because overworked). Scone pushed on me as alternative to English muffin by server; not, in the end, appropriate for Benedict.
Hollandaise upset my stomach, not well cooked. Outdoor patio was mild win, with ample square footage per party. Would attend again only under social duress.
I only go here when others insist. I feel like it's sort of cheap and crappy, but tries to pass itself off as something fancy and hip. The service was not great last time I went.
The outdoor seating is nice and shady. Their cheesy grits and biscuits are good, and the veggie burger looked decent. But really, nothing special here.. Move along.
Like hearing a pretty boring story from a mildly goodlooking new acquaintance.
Came here for brunch yesterday, which was a 90 degree day. Yes, it's totally adorable looking and filled with hipsters and good music, and yes there's outdoor garden seating, and yes the grilled cheese was slammin', and yes the bloody mary didn't come from a mix and was pretty good, but turn on the damn ac, would ya?
Seriously, I was sweating balls and it was not pleasant . It put me in a wretched mood. I ALMOST felt bad for my bud that had to deal with me.
A genuine old fashioned diner with the usual diner culinary fare. The burgers are good and the onion rings are the size of truck tires. It's a diner so you stick with diner food. It gets crowded fast and somtimes the wait is ridiculous. During the evening the lighting gives the venue a distinct Art Deco vibe. The booth areas are quite tight and unless you're a genuine starving and skinny artist or fashion model, it's worse that flying in the cattle car coach class. The adjacent outside garden is spacious. The service, though, is slow and sketchy even on slow days.
What a lovely little establishment we have here!
Begin with the adorable metal trailer with cute interior. I almost wished it were winter and I was ducking in on a snowy evening. Sigh.
Anyhoo, it was sunny so we ate on the patio. Nice big patio with snappy service. The waiter recommended a great white wine and I was very pleased. Our entire party enjoyed their food of burgers and chicken sandwiches.
We shall return!
I'm bumping my last review up a star. In fact, I almost feel bad that I was so nasty before. My recent experience was a positive one. No attitudes from the servers (she was actually very nice) and the food was pretty good.
It was nice and quiet inside since I was eating at a random hour so it made it a lot more enjoyable for me. On the weekends it's usually packed to the brim and is probably the culprit for less-than-awesome service.
I had the goat cheese, spinach and tomato omelette. It wasn't too shabby. Not the fluffiest, but still pretty darn good.
Given the nice outdoor space too, I'd gladly give this place a go again.
Relish always seems to have shitty service. Why does everyone that work here look like they walked… Read more »
I eat at Relish at least once a week. The mac 'n many cheeses is the best I've ever had. And I've had it everywhere. It is perfect here.
Their menu is seasonal, but consistently great. I've never had a bad item here, and I've sampled much of the menu. I'm not a meat eater, but I do eat fish, and theirs is always fantastic, if a little pricy (worth it tho) (ex. the snapper over risotto is like $22 or something and among the best things you'll eat).
Their veggie burger (which I typically sub the wheat toast for a normal bun) is hearty, and filling (with fries for $10-ish).
Also, the atmosphere (think airstream diner with bar lighting and candles) is great and the staff is casual but nice. Oh, and they have a full kitchen till around 1am 7 days a week. Need incredible food at 12:30a on a Monday? Head to Relish! But it's just as good earlier too.
1 star less. Food quality seems to have slid last week when we were there. Service is still good though.
We have been a loyal and constant customer to Relish for over God-knows-how-many years. We went… Read more »
The homey comfort-food plates are large and well-prepared. The interior is warm and inviting with its smartly updated 50s retro style and the waiter service is nothing but friendly.
However, for the price, I would have wanted the (excellently prepared) chicken to be organic/free-range/local/etc/etc and the dessert selection a tad more appetizing than a coca-cola cake (is that even edible?).
This used to be one of my favorite places to get some food and drink in the entire city. Now I avoid it like the plague. The service really fell off...rude and unwilling servers. I always vow never to go again but this time it's true. Goodbye dear relish...it was nice.
Relish is like a diner on steroids. But don't let the stacks of giant onion rings and pudding-thick hollandaise sauce turn you off - there are some real gems on the menu here, and the atmosphere is fun and relaxed.
I've tried dinner and brunch here, and definitely recommend the brunch over dinner. The burgers are great but pricey, and their options aren't exactly vast in the evenin' time, but come morning they've got a rock solid brunch menu and some good coffee to keep up your stamina. With three choices of eggs benedict, Spanish baked eggs, biscuits and gravy, pancakes, french toast, and every other top breakfast pick, this is a crowd-pleaser.
Service is good and the bar, booths, and tables provide lots of seating so you won't be waiting for your hangover cure all morning. Outside and in, this place is diner to the max, but without too much obnoxious kitsch.
This ain't your regular Hot Dog Relish!...
Relish is a great Williamsburg Brunch & Lunch spot! My breakfast dish kicked butt! I am a down south/midwestern type of gal and I ordered the Biscuits and chicken sausage gravy with scrambled eggs (Ridiculously GOOD) and a Vanilla Milkshake. I know... weird combination but the Milkshakes here were very creamy and hit the spot Sunday early afternoon!
I really thought this was a fun comfy old school diner spot to enjoy with a small group of friends. Booths were cozy & the service was on point (from my experience)! Definitely a place you should check out if your in Williamsburg! ;o)
Man, fuck you son.
I shouldve known better that there wouldnt be a regular diner in williamsburg. had to be all fancy with your ahi tuna lunch specials and 13 dollar burger. I saw this place and thought, cool, a diner where i could save some cash and get some good ol bacon and eggs.
pffft.
i bet their special for bacon and eggs is bacon aged in a volcano in italy(i dont think there are volcanos in italy) and tyrannosaurus scrambled eggs for like 50 bucks.
bitch.
I was here yesterday for a late brunch with four other girls and we had a fabulous time. The food was excellent - my friend sitting next to me ordered the biscuits with gravy and a milkshake and enjoyed both thoroughly. I ordered the Spanish baked eggs, a salad, and a couple of drinks and enjoyed everything I had. The Spanish baked eggs were absolutely delicious and a nice alternative from the standard brunch fare (eggs, baked in a tangy tomato sauce & topped with fresh parmesan - delicious!). Everyone at our table ordered something different and enjoyed it.
For drinks, I recommend ordering the champagne sangria - it's like a giant glass of mimosa with some citrus fruit floating in it.
Our waiter was very sweet and very prompt. Even though the restaurant was very crowded, we were seated quickly (it's harder to get a table outside, especially on a nice day - but I found the atmosphere inside quaint and fun anyway).
I found the prices very reasonable - drinks and brunch entrees were mostly under $10.
I will definitely be back here again!
A great place to go for dinner (and breakfast... and lunch...) in Williamsburg! Love the old diner look and how laid back and unpretentious this place is. It's great that it's a little off the beaten path too, because it's not overcrowded.
I like it at night because it's SO dark in there and with all the red lights on, I feel like I'm in a Quentin Tarantino movie or something. The fresh mozzarella grilled cheese with marinara sauce is amazing at dinner! Yummmm! So cheesy and greasy and delicious.
Like Diner, Brooklyn's Relish offers stylized diner fare in a refurbished old diner that seems to have wandered from a New Jersey turnpike back to the city in a reversal of urban flight (white flight). Unlike Diner, however, Relish seems architectural sound, well-lit and boasts an enormous patio (that, somehow and sadly, frowns upon dogs). Relish also differs from Diner in that while it has revised the prototypical diner menu, it is not as concerned with the locavore and seasonal food movement.
These differences do not damn Relish, but having tried both, my diner experience would always be better, I feel, at Diner. You, reader, may find out for yourself.
Relish is still über-Williamsburg. The wait-staff is unanimously tattooed and rail thin. Their disheveled hair speaks to concern for appearance and they flit around the tables in a very hurried but helpful pace. I spent another early afternoon breakfast there recently, again my indispensable sister was my companion. Relish was our second choice this day, but it was secretly my first choice. I wanted eggs and Relish offered four variations of Eggs Benedict, each of which was cleverly thought out and then scaled down into a serviceable and tasty dish. At least my choice, the Italian variant, was, so I doubt the other would have failed me.
Outside the restaurant, an elevated diner whose outer height makes the interior dimensions seem less cramped, I found out that a friend had been in a quick and painful bar fight the evening before. And while I did not want to chuckle, the idea set breakfast with a good jumping off point for conversation (this is a morning necessity for me, otherwise I have to brainstorm a few topics before I can be sociable).
My sister chose a plate of cheesy, grits, Virginia ham and two eggs over easy. The Italian Eggs Benedict consisted of a Hollandaise traditional sauce over (in descending order) two poached eggs, prosciutto and a red pepper and cheese scone. On the side rested hash-browned potatoes mixed with grilled peppers and onions--none of which were burned and were appreciably seasoned. It occurred to me that a simple Hollandaise sauce was inadequate for a dish so far removed from Eggs benedict in every other way. That would be my only suggestion: a little tomato or basil perhaps? The prosciutto was thinly sliced and of good, not great quality, and held up to the Hollandaise well. The scone, however, was miscast in its roll. It seemed plainly un-Italian. It was fine on its own, but lacked imagination.
Knowing I would have so much heavy, creamy food, I ordered a side salad to provide a little roughage in the hopes that I might eventually produce a turd, and the salad was substantial and fresh but lacked any panache or flair. I could have made it in minutes and I do not feel that is braggadocio on my part.
My sisters dish was a little better well cast. The ham was excellent; the eggs seemed like something mom mad, salted and peppered, the whites cooked to a crisp below but the yolk free to roam at the whim of a fork and knife. There was a small lake of grits that would have fortified the Confederate Army and the cheese seasoned rather than dominated the natural flavor.
Our waiters, they seemed to share tables, unknowingly at times, brought my sister a sad looking fruit plate--bananas and strawberries. This was perhaps the greatest stroke of all in the menu. At first it seemed to disappoint, but it turned out to be an excellent banana and some very good strawberries. The two are natural foils and while the perfunctory grape and the out of season melon were missed in presentation, the wholesomeness of the dish was exquisite. If it were brave, hurray; if it was the luck of a lazy dullard, do not fire him!
Again, relish is a diner but not Diner. The two are separated by a few blocks, so head a bit further west and if it is crowded there, this will do. Not a rebuke, more of a compliment to Diner.
Fun place a little off the Williamsburg beaten path. I went here for brunch recently and had a great experience.
-The food was extremely yummy (I had the smoked salmon eggs benedict) and the drinks were even yummier (champagne sangria... mmmm)!
-Busy place (so you know its good) but not loud. Great for a group because there is room a plenty here (though it can be a wait to get that room) and you can still have a conversation.
-Waiter was fabulous! Very accommodating, checked in just often enough and very friendly.
-The prices were reasonable for entrees but I found the drinks a little much for brunch ($10 a pop for mimosas and sangrias). But if you want to drink your brunch, then its probably a reasonable price to pay. :)
Overall a fun place with a Williamsburg atmosphere.
I lived a block away from this spot for about 5 1/2 years. During that time I was in there about once a week. In short, I've been there a lot. Now I admit that my set and I are a group of sarcastic douche bags, but in a 'let's have some sarcastic fun' sort of way, you know? At some point that usually becomes charming, right? Not at this f'ing place. The staff here is the opposite of friendly and remained so for the duration of our tedious run here. I'll just recount an actual story to illustrate my point...
One time I was in there for brunch with my friend who smashed his face had his jaw wired shut. Needless to say he had to eat through a straw. So he asked for a chocolate shake with a banana in it. They wouldn't put the banana in the shake for us. Their reasoning was "we don't do it that here". I mean, really? The dudes jaw was wired. WTF!? But don't worry, they did accommodate us... What they did was give us a peeled banana on a plate and let us smash it up ourselves and dump it in the shake. Now don't forget, we were in there every week for years at this point. These are the kind of people you're dealing with in this place. A real bunch of assholes.
Bananas aside, I had to give it 3 stars for one reason... Buba. He was the food runner for a long time. I'm not sure if he's still there, but he's was the shining gem of their collection. Good man, good man. Actually, he risked his life that day and secretly blended a banana into a shake for us (after the assholes gave us the banana on the plate). Thank you Buba, we love you.
Oh, and I guess the food is actually pretty good. If you can put up with the bad people.
p.s. - I recognize that the obvious question is why would we keep going back... well, I guess because it was close. Hungover people don't like to walk.
The best huevos rancheros I've ever had. The GIANT biscuits served with homemade strawberry jam is great, too. Oh, and the french toast isn't too shabby, either. Quick, friendly service and reasonable prices.
Interesting takes on classics.
Very cozy in the evening.
If you like paying $13 for a burger, you should definitely try this place. The burger was really flippin good, but it's like dang, man. I can't be that mad, though - I got blue cheese all over that grassfed bitch, and I was warned before going there that it was a little pricey. Also, their fries are all the little stubby crispy kind, which really made me happy.
The cutest little waitress came and sat next to us and wrote their amazing-sounding specials on the table. The look and feel of an old-school train car, which I dig. Food took a long time, so it was nice to be in a cool-looking spot.
No offense, but I probably won't go back since it is effing expensive and Williamsburg kind of makes me nauseous sometimes. But it is a good spot to feel awesome in, ball out on a burger, et c. if your parents are in town.
I liked Relish when I ventured there this afternoon with a friend. We were seated immediately in the large, large back room (which I didn't even know existed)-- we both liked the funky gold & silver walls and dark blue velour banquettes and chairs. Very cool.
I opted for the breakfast burrito, which turned out to be roughly the size of a newborn and came with a huge helping of mixed greens in some sort of nice dressing. MM. I forced myself to eat everything and waddled out, stuffed and happy. The burrito was great-- dressed up with cheese and chipotle, covered in pico de gallo. Delish.
The service wasn't terrific-- getting a refill on my coffee was like pulling teeth-- but on the whole, fine.
Relish is fun, a nice place for brunch, and prime beautiful people-watching turf. I recommend it.
I am completely in love with Relish. Precious decor, great bloody mary (and I am picky!), good food and attentive service.
-----
I am updating this to only 4 stars because I was there this past Sunday, and although I loved our waitress, my french toast was barely edible from the overpowering amount of ginger in my syrup and the bloody mary had almost a fishy taste to it. What happened?! I'll still leave it at 4 stars though because other visits and dishes have been good.
Such a shame that a place with such a lovely garden employs rude people with attitude. The last thing I want on Sunday afternoon is to be told off by staff serving my eggs!!! Just serve the food and leave your ego at home. I never want to go there again for that reason.
Also, the worst bloody marry in Brooklyn!
Solid drinks concocted by a knowlegeable and speedy bartender followed up by excellent burgers, steaks , chicken and fish dishes.
Great spot for pre- Music Hall of Williamsburg show.
Plus any place that plays Guns and Roses, The Clash and the Dead is OK by me!!
Meh. I've been here for brunch twice now and fail to see the charm. Sure the whole classic dinner atmosphere is nice, but the food is nothing more than 'meh'. I don't think I'll give this place a third chance.
- consistently good
- service usually on the relaxed side (aka slow)
- well mixed drinks
- recommend pomegranate martini, steak entree, and calamari appetizer
- pleasant outdoor area
- food and music a bit high brow for it to be compared to a regular diner
- hipster trap
During the summers when the outdoor garden is open it generates a great atmosphere - its nice to have a sense of spaciousness when I often feel boxed in living in New York.
Don't be fooled by the name, even though it has 'diner' in its name it really is a quality restaurant that serves a good selection of fish, burgers and drinks. Its usually the first place I think of going when I have guest from out of town visiting (well, maybe also because I live a few blocks from it).
As a few other people have pointed out, it is a hipster trap but if you can look past that it is a good place to have a relaxed meal.
Even during the winter without the outdoor seating the atmosphere is comfortable and warm... the quality of the grub definitely makes its earn its stars.
Relish's cocktails (are greater than) Relish's food
That having been said, the food's not bad. But you should totally get yourself a bourbon milkshake to go with your meal. Or as your meal. Either way.
The ambiance is great & the staff is friendly. Their grits, ham, & eggs were better before they switched to the thick cut hamsteaks (otherwise this would've been a 4-star review). I had their tuna once latenight and it was astoundingly tasty. Their lunch tends to be lackluster with the buffalo chicken sandwich being too sour-spicy to eat.
They're also often closed for film shoots, so don't count on being able to eat there at any given time. Come prepared with a backup plan.
The lady and I stopped here for dinner before a rock show on Kent St. recently and were pretty happy. The diner is cute as hell, but not nearly as cute as the gay hipster waiter we had! And his service was great, to boot.
I had a chicken parm, which to most might be a bit greasy, but I thought it was lovely. She had a the scallop special - she said it was so-so, but the risotto it arrived on was lovely. Skip the michelada (I have a habit of ordering that whenever I see it on a drink menu) - it was lacking body, but did try to make up for it with that healthy shot of hot sauce. (I still can't get over the michelada at Mercadito, btw.)
The weather was lovely, so we had been hoping to enjoy the garden area, but alas - it wasn't open.
A great variety of food on the menu and I'd come back to try others. From other reviewers, it seems the brunch is hit or miss - but I'd be wiling to try it. I always give the benefit of the doubt to a spot that actually makes a vegan brunch possible!
5pm-7pm Monday - Friday
Neighborhood: Financial District
Free Pizza for Yelpers!
Neighborhood: Battery Park
Neighborhood: Williamsburg - South Side
Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: Williamsburg - South Side
Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: Williamsburg - South Side
Category: American (Traditional)
Neighborhood: Williamsburg - North Side
Category: Nightlife
Neighborhood: Williamsburg - South Side
Category: Diners
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