232 Bleecker

On a cold spring evening I came to 232 Bleecker seeking a vegetable-forward meal. My friend and I got that and so much more.

We sat at the chef's counter and everyone on the staff was very nice to us. We each had a glass of Lambrusco and ordered the market trio of vegetables and the sirloin steak to share. It was a perfect place to catch up on all the life that had happened in the two years we'd spent apart.

We arrived too early to take advantage of their late-nite deal (available post 9PM): grilled sirloin (or fire roasted eggplant), focaccia, veg, and a glass of wine for $35 but made a mental note for a future visit.

232 Bleecker is part of the same restaurant group as Dig (which I love) and it shows in the many seasonal vegetable offerings and the well-executed proteins. This is a perfect spot for a leisurely meal, with a menu that has broad appeal. I'd happily return!

Made reservations for a Friday evening for 4 - note that if you cancel your reservation, you are subjected for a pretty hefty cancellation fee. The restaurant is decorated very aesthetically and feels like a very nice atmosphere, although there was the occasional mosquito/fly flying around.

We started off with the focaccia of the day, which was zucchini. It was very tasty, but very small for 4 people. After cutting the piece, it was probably 2 sq inches of bread/person.

I ordered the whole eggplant. The flavors were good, and I liked how seasoned the eggplant was. The chickpeas were a little plain and seemed to be from a can, but the dip on top was really yummy. However, the dish was swimming in oil, which was not very appealing to me.

My boyfriend ordered the bbq special which came with barbecue chicken breast, roasted corn, cole slaw, and a watermelon slice. He said it was tasty and moist on the inside.

My friend ordered the burger, which he said was very tender and juicy.

My other friend ordered the hearth fire half chicken, which was most definitely not half of a chicken, more like a quarter of a chicken. But he liked the dish.

Overall, a solid place to get dinner with friends with a nice ambiance.

Review 100!

Got there right at 7 just as the dinner rush was starting and got a seat at the "chef's counter" aka bar, which was a good move as the place filled up quickly. My friend and I each got the summer sangria - which was so perfect for summer. We split the focaccia and zucchini fries, eggplant, and mushrooms. The whole roasted eggplant was perfectly cooked and complimented really well by the spiced chickpeas and was in tough competition for best dish with the marinaded oyster mushrooms which had a nice kick to them. She got the off-menu ice cream of the day, too, and didn't regret it. The staff was absolutely amazing too. Will be back for sure!

Professional and super personable staff awaits your visit at this cute restaurant offering a smart variety of menus. While you enjoy a beautiful playlist of tunes, you can choose between their main menu, a $30 Beat The Rush Special (available every day before 6:30p) and a $35 Sundae Sunday Supper (available for dinner on Sundays). We opted for the latter, which included both their daily focaccia (divine... so soft it literally melted in my mouth) and seasonal vegetables (fava beans with pecorino cheese and bacon), a choice of eggplant parmesan and spaghetti cacio e pepe (we got them both) and a chocolate cherry brownie sundae. A glass of wine (red or white) was also included.

Everything was impeccable. The eggplant parmesan was phenomenal. It was perfectly balanced: not too bready, not too slushy. The crust was delicious! The spaghetti had a different take on the traditional cacio e pepe sauce; yet, they were outstanding. Everything was (again) perfectly balanced... soo creamy it was decadent like a dessert. Then... the real dessert: a huge portion of whipped cream, chocolate mousse, brownie and cherries on the bottom. A meal by itself.

Overall, we're definitely going back. The service was slow (with only two tables being served, you'd expect to wait less than 20-25 minutes between dishes), but with a menu changing seasonally, we can't wait to taste more creations from the inventive talent of the chef.

Ordered the eggs benedict with smoked salmon for brunch. The hollandaise sauce was creamy and perfectly seasoned. The salmon was fresh. Unfortunately, the eggs were cooked well done which took away from the creaminess that the whole bit would have created. The staff is all very friendly and the inside very quaint and cute.

Probably a 3.8.

Waiter was very friendly and good vibe.

Zucchini Squash is more like smashed squash, not much flavor but just some spice sprinkle over the top. Odd dish.

Mushroom was really good. Charred with delicious flavor.

Trout - basic dish acceptable.

Chicken - there's only chicken breast and I don't usually like chicken breast but it was not too dry so surprisingly.

Great spot with great ambience.
I had the steak. Great seasoning and came with a lovely salsa. It came with some greens and carrots that were perfect.

Staff was awesome. Highly recommend.

Love their Seasonal Menu and their Carrot Cake dessert which happens to be a constant! Their Carrot Cake is not traditional whatsoever as the texture is very Indian Gulab-Jamun like, which surprisingly I quite enjoyed and have no complaints about. I loved the use of unsweetened, freshly prepared cream-cheese which helps balance the sweetness of the dessert and the ginger candy and pecan pieces that laid on top enhanced the dish even further!

Loved their menu which although limited had a little something for many pallets.

Definitely worth a revisit especially since they keep the excitement going with changing around their menu every season and the vibe of the place is pretty complementary too!

If you're reading this before the Feb. 28 end of Restaurant Week, the promotional Build Your Own Bento Box is a must-try. 232 Bleecker is using this promotion more effectively than the glamorous-looking places that relegate the bargain-hunters to chicken sandwiches; I never knew 232 before and I'll certainly be back.

Before we proceed, 232 Bleecker is about vegetables. No, don't click the back button. This isn't about Mixed Green Tedium. These are creative vegetables, plus occasional fruits to mix it up. I never heard of a badger beet before. Here's a description from Row 7 Seeds: "All the vegetal sweetness of the beet, without the polarizing earthiness." The beets were accompanied by cara cara oranges that were reportedly so good that my dining companion didn't give me any of them.

Chicory and apple salad had a killer crunch. Other impressive components on the bento boxes included the winter squash and pepper lasagna, potatoes with aji dulce hot sauce and spicy pimento cheese. And the sticky carrot cake reinvents an old-time dessert with ginger and pecans.

232 Bleecker was my first outdoor dining experience in NYC, and what a perfect first it was! I was a little apprehensive when my friend first mentioned 232 Bleecker, as it didn't have that many reviews, but my fears were quickly put to rest when we were seated at their outdoor Covid seating, which is tables partitioned off by curtains. Each table alcove had a little space heater that kept us toasty warm. Even on a chilly January day, we could take our jackets off and somewhat pretend the world was normal again and we were eating in a restaurant. I actually loved the partitioned tables, because the curtains provided a very intimate atmosphere that allowed my friend and I to have a lovely conversation about NYC dating culture, reminiscing about college, and how New Yorkers eat brunch at 2 pm???? completely uninterrupted and uninhibited.

When it came to food, I was tempted by the Farmer's Breakfast and the Curried Cauliflower Pot Pie, but I ultimately went with the Bacon Jam, Egg, and Cheese, and I have zero regrets!!! My sandwich was DELICIOUS (although a lil messy - I ate it eggs benny style with a fork and knife) and accompanied by a lovely light salad. My only complaint was that the salad pieces were a little large, causing me to get dressing all over my face. My friend ordered the Farmer's Breakfast, and it looked delicious as well -- he seemed like he really enjoyed it as well. We polished off our meals, full and satisfied.

Thank you for a great first outdoor NYC dining experience, 232 Bleecker!