Roebling Tea House

Restaurant Information:

143 Roebling St
Brooklyn, NY 11211-3365
(718) 963-0760
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Service  10/20 or 50%

  • Hostess(1/5 points)

I was baffled at how bad this hostess actually was.  She would wait for people to come in and put their name on a list then walk away completely.  She’d then return and tell them their wait time.  Once she thought she had a table for you she would then wander off again to figure out which table to place you.  I really think she had no concept of how to do her job.

  • Promptness(2/5 points)

Once we were seated we were instantly approached by our waitress.  We were left to ponder the menus for mere moments before she was back asking for our order.  My friend scrambled to order something she had no idea what it was.

  • Alertness(4/5 points)

I will say our drinks were refilled with out a heart beat being missed and I wouldn’t have noticed her if it weren’t for the giant bottle of water plopped down on our table.

  • Friendliness(3/5 points)
I want to say they were friendly, but really I think everyone that works in the waitstaff was just trying to act friendly but really trying to appear like they just don’t care.


Food and Drink 8/20 or 40%

  • Price(1/5 points)

This place was so ridiculously overpriced for what you got that I was kind of insulted.  I felt like my meal probably could have cost 3-4$ less than it did as could have my friends.

  • Quality of Food(3/5 points)

My chicken fried steak was delicious but the steak definitely wasn’t cooked all the way through and I could have done with a bit more of the gravy.  My friend’s dish was basically glorified mixed vegetables with scrambled eggs and bland as bland can be.

  • Quality of Beverage(2/5 points)

My friend said the coffee was nothing to write home about but they did have an extensive listing of teas.  I stuck to water which was served to us in an used wine or champagne bottle.  I was completely unsurprised that the waitress plopped a bottle down on our table, but it seemed like a pain to her to do it in the first place.  This is exactly why I hate The Water Bottle Problem, it turns the simple task of serving water into something that annoys you.

  • Presentation(2/5 points)

If they put effort into the presentation, it wasn’t on the two dishes we ordered.  Everything just looked kind of slapdash.

Decor and Space 15/20 or 75%

  • Cleanliness(3/5 points)

The plates, glasses, and flatware looked about as clean as I would expect, but nothing remarkable.

  • Theme(5/5 points)

I LOVE LOVE LOVE the decor.  This place would be amazing if the waitstaff, price, and food selection didn’t blow.  Personally, I really want to take my camera and do a photo shoot in the restaurant.  The wood tables and patterned wall paper comfort you and the lighting from the large windows make everything feel much warmer.  I didn’t get a chance to sit outside as it was raining, but that option is available if you want it.

  • Adequate Seating(4/5 points)
This I had a hard time grading, I’m not going to lie.  I think this place is actually perfectly designed seating wise, but because of the hostess’ incompetence interjects an unnecessary delay which in turn creates the illusion that there is inadequate seating when really she could split a four top in to two two tops or the other way around and be fine.  I don’t think though she had the capacity to figure that out on her own though and thus the place looked far more packed than it should.
  • Location(3/5 points)

The restaurant is just a short walk from the Bedford L stop or a bit further of a walk from the Lorimer L stop.  The wide open sidewalks make for a pleasant post brunch stroll.  The restaurant is just far enough away from the hipsters that you don’t run into a ton of them, but enough of them gather at the restaurant for it to be annoying and that comes with the Williamsburg location.


Bonus(5 points)

If I could give negative bonus points, I would.

Overall score 33/60 or 55%

Egg

Restaurant Information:

135 N 5th St # A

Brooklyn, NY 11211-3214

(718) 302-5151

pigandegg.com

Map:
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Service 13/20 or 65%

  • Hostess(4/5 points)
I was impressed by her, I really was.  She was friendly, you knew where you stood in line, and she gave an accurate time estimate for our wait.  She also was very respectful when she asked us if it would be okay for us to split a table with another group of two.
  • Promptness(2/5 points)
Do not come here expecting to get seated right away because it’s just not going to happen.  We were told a forty five minute wait and that’s exactly what it was.  We headed around the corner to a bar for a beer and chit chat before coming back to the restaurant; I suggest you do the same.  The wait for our food was short, but chasing down a waiter to pay the bill was a bit trickier.  They took our dishes right at the perfect moment when both my friend and I had finished our meals.
  • Alertness(3/5 points)
I’d say they were about average when identifying our needs.  I do, however, feel that a lot of their responsibility was shirked off to us due to The Water Bottle Problem compounded by the individual French presses our coffee came in when served.  I couldn’t give them a higher rating because of those issues.
  • Friendliness(4/5 points)
Every one we interacted with were quite friendly.  You got the feeling that the people that worked there really cared about making their little restaurant thrive.  Other waiters and staff were happy to stop by and help out when we needed so it felt like we had more than one waiter.


Food and Drink 15/20 or 75%

  • Price(4/5 points)
Considering the high quality of all the food products put into our meals, I want to say this was definitely a deal, especially when compared with some of the other places I’ve reviewed.  I’ll probably go back here and try something else when I get the time.
  • Quality of Food(4/5 points)
The biscuits and gravy were perfect.  They had just the right amount of spice, came out steaming hot, and the biscuits sopped up enough of the gravy for you to not really need a spoon.  The cheese grits I had were as close to the right consistency as you can get with out being there; I don’t know if it was the way the grits were cooked or the cheese that made them a bit too mushy for my taste but I devoured them any way.  My friend’s eggs and bacon were over cooked, which is a bit ironic if you think about it.  Overall the quality of food was very good, but not good enough for five points.
  • Quality of Beverage(4/5 points)
The coffee was exceptionally good, but not amazing.  My friend said her juice was really good as well; I’m sure it was fresh squeezed from their farm or at least with organic oranges.  I also should note that they suffer from The Water Bottle Problem AND your coffee is served in individual French presses.  This meant no refills on coffee and I don’t even think I was asked if I wanted more when I finished my mini-carafe; it was large enough for about one and a half cups of coffee, not nearly enough for me.  Also the French press annoyed me for the same reasons The Water Problem annoyed me.
  • Presentation(3/5 points)
Nothing really impressive here in the presentation.  You got what you ordered and it was arranged in a decent manner on your dish.  Plenty of room on your dish to move things around, so no worries there.

Decor and Space 11/20 or 55%

  • Cleanliness(2/5 points)
I found crumbs on my cheese grits dish.  They either came from the toast of my friend or from somewhere else; I don’t want to know, but minus one point.
  • Theme(3/5 points)
I’m probably being generous giving this a three but everything was very simple and that’s what they were going for in their theme.  There were fresh flowers in a vase on the table.  Also, there was a brochure about their farm and crayons to color on the paper table cloth if you wished to do so.
  • Adequate Seating(2/5 points)
We split a four top table with two girls that had to be the most vapid people I’ve run into in a while—one of  them didn’t know what the word lexicon meant and the other couldn’t explain it.  This place is popular and packed.  I also think it is a converted garage which doesn’t help.  They really probably need a bigger place for the number of people that get packed into here.
  • Location(4/5 points)
A short walk from the L at Bedford and you’re there.  Also, it’s a block off Bedford Avenue so it’s far enough from the foot traffic and cars that it’s not annoying to be there.


Bonus(3/5 points)

One point for having home made biscuits. One point for having cheese grits on the menu.  One point for growing their own materials and using free range chickens.

Total score 39/60, with bonus 42/60 or 70%

Bar Breton

Restaurant Information:

254 5th Ave

New York, NY 10001

(212) 213-4999

chefpiano.com

Map:
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Service 11/20 or 55%

  • Hostess(3/5 points)
The hostess was friendly and promptly sat me at a two person table.  Her service was what I would expect but nothing more.
  • Promptness(3/5 points)
The food didn’t take too long to get to us nor did we wait forever to order.  Everything was about average timing wise.  Alertness was more of an issue, though.
  • Alertness(2/5 points)
The waiter was fairly cognizant of our need for water, which I appreciated, but other than that he was kind of oblivious.  We asked for more milk for our coffee twice and it never got refilled.  Also, we asked for more coffee and each of us got only half a cup.  The next time I asked for coffee I got three fourths of a cup.
  • Friendliness(3/5 points)
The people there seemed to have good intentions just did a poor job of much of anything else.  I don’t really see them as going out of their way for any customer in the near future as our service was barely acceptable when the restaurant wasn’t that busy.


Food and Drink 9/20 or 45%

  • Price(1/5 points)
I was going to give this a two, but then I remembered I was charged six dollars for the bacon that was advertised as being five dollars.  Coffee was three dollars and worth maybe one.  My “french toast” was ridiculously priced at twelve dollars.  I left this place feeling like I was ripped off completely.
  • Quality of Food(2/5 points)
At no time during a brunching experience should I ever think, “I should have just paid five dollars at Dunkin Donuts,” but I did.  My “french toast”—I’m using quotes because no part of it tasted/resembled french toast—really tasted like a icing filled donut.  Also, there was really only one square of it.  My bacon was slim, crumbly, and otherwise unremarkable.  It’s truly sad when the best part of my dish was the fruit that garnished it.  On the other hand, my friend’s Madison galette was a surprising mixture of flavors; I’d order one of their galettes if you find yourself stuck here in the future.  Although I found it odd that a dessert menu was offered, the Nutella crepe was fairly tasty.
  • Quality of Beverage(2/5 points)
The coffee was kind of bad, which I’d normally just write off as having a bad cup.  But then I had another cup and got coffee grounds at the bottom of my cup.  Gross.  It really wasn’t that good.
  • Presentation(4/5 points)
Everything did look quite wonderful when it was presented to us.  However, I think only the Nutella crepe lived up to expectations; the rest was a total wash.  Each piece of our meal was presented on an adequately sized dish, some more decorated than others.

Decor and Space 11/20 or 55%

  • Cleanliness(3/5 points)
All the tables, flatware, dishware, and glassware look as clean as I would expect, nothing out of the ordinary in either direction.
  • Theme(3/5 points)
I can’t really say this place had a theme.  Maybe it was a wine bar, maybe it was a restaurant; I couldn’t tell.  I liked the use of color but not the bench seating.  It really felt like they had two totally different interior designers come in to work on the place: one for the walls and ceilings, etc. and the other for the tables and chairs.
  • Adequate Seating(2/5 points)
I’m 6’5” and my friend is 5’8” yet our knees kept bumping into one another at the incredibly uncomfortable booth we were seated in for our meal.  I think they probably could have lost a table or two and easily made the seating far more enjoyable.  By the end of the meal both of us had just swung our legs out to the aisle and leaned back against the wall as we talked.
  • Location(3/5 points)
It’s a very short walk from the subway in a very odd part of Manhattan.  The neighborhood makes me feel like Chinatown tried to open a second section of town on 28th street, but made it even shadier.


Bonus(5 points)

No bonus points could be awarded.

Total score 31/60 or 51.67%

Gottino

Restaurant Information:

52 Greenwich Ave # B

New York, NY 10011-8309

(212) 633-2590

ilovegottino.com

Map:
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Service (10/20) or 50%

  • Hostess(2/5 points)
I’m not really sure if the woman that I spoke with was the hostess, a woman that was some how involved with the restaurant, or just a customer.  Also, the time estimates were vastly inaccurate.  When I first got there I asked how long it would be to get a table outside and I was told 30 minutes; fair, but what bothered me was I heard the same estimate given out repeatedly even though no one left in the time I was there.
  • Promptness(1/5 points)
I shouldn’t ever have to ask for my coffee twice.  Also, it took near half a hour for our food to be presented.  Our coffees actually got served at the same time our food did which spells major issue in streamlining to me.  The waitstaff clearly had food assignments as well as their regular duties and I think in trying to balance out the two they ended up being sub-par in both which was disappointing.
  • Alertness(3/5 points)
I’d say the wait staff was about as alert as I’d expect, but then again they were right in front of me at the bar so there wasn’t much of a chance for them to miss anything.
  • Friendliness(4/5 points)
Every one I encountered there was quite friendly, almost surprisingly so, considering how mismanaged everything else was service-wise.


Food and Drink (14/20) or 70%

  • Price(2/5 points)
This almost got a one on price, but I decided that the coffee was worth far more than the three dollars I paid for it.  I probably would have paid four dollars for it.  But, the food was way overpriced.  Expect to get about half the portion size of other places.  I’m pretty sure that the dishes were served on saucers or at least small plates, so you get an idea of what I’m talking about here.
  • Quality of Food(5/5 points)
Amazing.  The food was so flavorful.  Clearly the focus of this establishment was the quality of their food and they nailed it.  I had the over easy eggs with bacon, which might be the best bacon I’ve ever had.  It was served with two small slices of bread that proved a bit tricky with the flatware I was using.  Also, the food was incredibly rich.  I wasn’t full when I was done eating, but it sat heavy in my stomach.
  • Quality of Beverage(4/5 points)
This would have gotten a five, but the water was served in essentially shot glasses.  Also, the water bottle problem reared its ugly head here, but in the form of a giant bottle of water that was shared amongst several people at the bar.  The coffee was probably the best cup I’ve had yet.  It was rich, flavorful, with a hint of sweetness and bitterness, i.e. the way coffee should taste.
  • Presentation(3/5 points)
The waiter did an excellent job of presenting our food and drinks, but when I saw the small sized plates I instantly thought, “that’s it?”  The small plates were overflowing and I think that contributed to make it look kind of a mess.

Decor and Space (10/20) or 50%

  • Cleanliness(3/5 points)
The place was as clean as I would expect.  I didn’t notice anything especially clean or dirty.
  • Theme(4/5 points)
It’s a wine bar with a focus on fine food.  Marble bar with wine stacked along one wall make it glaringly obvious what they’re after in their clientele.
  • Adequate Seating(1/5 points)
I’m pretty sure the bar takes up the vast majority of their seating area.  Their indoor seating and outdoor seating looked cramped.  I’m not exactly a fan of them asking us to sit at the bar after misquoting wait times to me.  If you’re going to have that many people sitting at the bar at least give us stools that are comfortable to sit in while we’re there; I felt like I was sitting on a converted school desk.  Also, they could have taken advantage of their large sidewalk space like their neighbors did and fit a few tables there, but they didn’t.
  • Location(2/5 points)
I was going to give this three, as it is about a medium walk from the subway, but it’s located on Greenwich which means 10th Street intersects 4th Street and things get wacky if you’re not careful.  Also, it sits next to a restaurant that looked like it did a better job at seating and pricing items reasonably.

Bonus(5 points)

One point for playing Beethoven the entire time I was there.

Total score 34/60, with bonus 35/60 or 58.33%

The Water Bottle Problem

I know the last two places I reviewed served the water in one big bottle and I have problems with this that I’d like to expound upon so you may have a little insight as to why it bothers me.  I have two main problems with this: the water bottle takes up real estate on the table and it shirks the responsibility of the waiter off to the customer.

My problem with the water bottle taking up real estate is relative to the size, shape of the bottle and to the size, shape of the table.  On a small table, that bottle is taking up space that could be used for something else.  On a bar, it just looks awkward.  I know what you’re going to say, “But that’s how the French and Italians do it.”  Yes, it is in some of their restaurants, but this is neither Paris nor Rome.  Also, it’s not high quality water that I’ve specifically ordered that we’re talking about here; it’s regular cold tap water put into a clear bottle.

My problem with the shirking of responsibility is a bit of bigger deal than the real estate issue.  Your job as a waiter/waitress/bartender is to serve me, the customer.  When a water bottle is placed on the table/bar it says to me, “I can’t be bothered to watch over your beverages like I’m supposed to do so why don’t you take care of it yourself.”  Beverage service is a large part of the job.  I shouldn’t have to stop my meal at any moment do anything other than talk, drink, and cut my food.  Now, what happens if I run out of the water that was stored in the water bottle? You don’t notice, because you haven’t been paying attention to my beverage needs.  Imagine walking into court after paying for a lawyer and the lawyer just slaps a stack of papers down on the table, then sits down in his chair for the remainder of the case while he says you have to defend yourself with the papers he’s prepared; you’d be livid, or probably beyond livid; I feel the same way about the water bottle.  What if I’m drunk or just clumsy and I knock over the bottle? You, the waiter, have to come over and clean it up, I feel embarrassed, and we’ve both waste more time that could be spent doing something more enjoyable.

It’s just not worth it.  Give me a glass of water, refill it when it looks low, and be a good waiter/waitress/bartender and I’ll tip you well.  That’s all there is to it and it’s not hard.

Northeast Kingdom

Restaurant Information:

18 Wyckoff AveBrooklyn, NY 11237-2635
Get Directions

(718) 386-3864

- north-eastkingdom.com

Map:
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Service (6/15) or 40%

  • Hostess(N/A)

There was no hostess that I saw.

  • Promptness(2/5 points)

The bartender/waiter took my order but after that he couldn’t be bothered to follow up with anything.

  • Alertness(1/5 points)

On my seventh attempt to flag the bartender/waiter that was not more than two feet away from me, he finally noticed that I wanted something besides my initial order.  I almost threw my fork at him.  Also, this place gives you a giant bottle of water, which I is major pet peeve of mine.

  • Friendliness(3/5 points)
The people were just about as friendly as you’d expect.


Food and Drink (10/20) or 50%

  • Price(3/5 points)

I’d say the prices were fair for what you got.  That being said…

  • Quality of Food(2/5 points)

My french toast was crunchy?!?! CRUNCHY!! @#%$#.  The only thing that stopped this from getting a one point rating was the bacon; the bacon was fantastic and close to the best I’ve ever had.

  • Quality of Beverage(2/5 points)

The water came in a bottle that was filled with tap water and a very small glass.  The coffee was so bad I thought that I had just gotten a bad cup the first time, but no, it was just bad.

  • Presentation(3/5 points)
The french toast looked nice until I cut into it.  Everything else was just kind of slapdashed.  I get the feeling that not a lot of effort is put into anything at this restaurant.

Decor and Space (11/20) or 55%

  • Cleanliness(3/5 points)

Everything looked as clean as you’d expect.

  • Theme(2/5 points)

The theme really threw me: 90% of the restaurant is a campy hunting lodge theme, but tasteful enough not to offend the hipster locals, and the 10% that makes up the wall to the kitchen looks like a bad attempt at Mondrian art.

  • Adequate Seating(3/5 points)
The seats were placed not too close to each other but not too far either.  I saw a waiter squeeze through behind people a few times, but that’s not out of the ordinary.
  • Location(3/5 points)

It’s a short walk from the L stop, so not too bad.  It’s a bit of a trek out this way, especially if the L isn’t running and you have to take a shuttle bus from Lorimer, which will be continuing until August.


Bonus(5 points)

No bonus points could be awarded.

Overall score: 27/55 or 49%

Back Forty

Restaurant Information:

190 Avenue BNew York, NY 10009-3600 (212) 388-1990
Get Directions

backfortynyc.com

Map:
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Service (15/20) or 75%

  • Hostess(5/5 points)
I don’t think I’ve ever been so impressed by a hostess.  My friend had arrived shortly before I had, but the instant I got there the hostess came up to us and then asked us if we’d like to sit at a table or stay at the bar.  We were then instantly seated at a table near the window.
  • Promptness(3/5 points)
We were served in an adequate time frame.  Our main dishes came out just as our starters were being finished, but maybe a little early by a few minutes.  I hurried a little through the last half of my donut, because of this, but soon those dishes were removed.
  • Alertness(4/5 points)
There was a very alert and attentive wait staff.  At one point the hostess actually started checking on people and their coffee then went back to her normal duties when needed.  I don’t think my coffee ever got below halfway empty before it was refilled again.
  • Friendliness(3/5 points)
I couldn’t really get a feel for the friendliness of the waiter, he was just kind of there then disappeared.  He did seem a little hesitant to tell me what the jam was though, when I asked him.  The hostess was super nice and I kind of wish she’d been our server.


Food and Drink (12/20) or 60%

  • Price(2/5 points)
I felt like it was a little more expensive than it should have been, but not by much.  The three dollar cup of coffee was what sealed this as being a two instead of a three.
  • Quality of Food(3/5 points)
I wanted this to be better, I really did.  When the biscuits came, they were tasty but complemented with butter that tasted off and a rubarb jelly that was almost flavorless.  When the donuts came, they didn’t have the volume or sweetness that I would have wanted, a little brown sugar and flour could solve that easily though.  Also, I wish the raspberry sauce had been served on the side as a dip instead of drizzled all over the donuts.  I did love the hint of cinnamon flavor in them though and overall they were pretty good.  I ordered the “Eggs Southern Style” which were good, but the gravy needed a little black pepper added for spice.  They looked far better than they ended up tasting, which was disappointing.  My friend ordered the shrimp and grits with side salad, which she was hesitant to do.  I think she inhaled the shrimp and grits but lazily picked at the side salad.
  • Quality of Beverage(3/5 points)
I only had water and coffee here.  The coffee was good, but not impressive.  They served us water in a bottle and then let us serve ourselves, which I have an issue with always.  This almost was a two, but the creative coffee mugs made it a three.  The wine and beer list was notable and unexpected, though I didn’t care to use it.
  • Presentation(4/5 points)
Everything looked so good when it arrived at the table.  I could hardly wait to take a bite.  The problem with this was when I actually did take a bite.

Decor and Space (15/20) or 75%

  • Cleanliness(4/5 points)
I was quite impressed with how clean the dishes were.  The restaurant itself also looked quite clean.  I doubt you could find a dust bunny in this place if you tried.
  • Theme(2/5 points)
The entire time I was here I felt like there should be a plaque somewhere that said “Western Wall Theme by Ralph Lauren, available at Macy’s and other fine department stores.”  Also, there was a hook for a picture to be hung on the wall exposed.  To add to the confusion, they were blaring alt-rock from the 90s, which I love but it made discussion difficult.
  • Adequate Seating(5/5 points)
Very spacious seating arrangement with plenty of room for the servers to come and go as they pleased.  I think this actually helped the service ratings a bit.
  • Location(4/5 points)
It’s located in the East Village and a short walk from the 1st Avenue L train.  I think I gave this higher marks simply because it’s quiet enough and nice enough in the neighborhood that you don’t mind the walk.

Bonus(3/5 points)

One point for having home made donuts.  One point for having home made biscuits. One point for having perfect consistency in the grits.

Overall score: 42/60, with bonus 45/60, or 75%

Life Cafe 983

Restaurant Information:

983 Flushing AveBrooklyn, NY 11206-4792 (718) 386-1133
Get Directions

lifecafe.com

Map:
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Service (11/15) or 73%

  • Hostess(N/A) (optional)

If there was a hostess, I didn’t see her.

  • Promptness(4/5 points)
The menu was in my hand before I even got a chance to sit down at the bar and my meal was infront of me before I finished half a cup of my coffee.  There was absolutely no wait for seating.
  • Alertness(4/5 points)
My coffee and water stayed filled up constantly.  When I ran out of cream more was brought to me with out me asking for it.  The bartender/waitress even balanced out making several drinks in addition to the regular duties.  She was like a hawk.
  • Friendliness(3/5 points)
I would say there was just about as much friendliness as I would expect, no more, no less.


Food and Drink (15/20) or 75%

  • Price(5/5 points)
I don’t think it’s possible for you to get more for your money than at a place like this.  My waffles, two eggs, and bacon were 9$.
  • Quality of Food(4/5 points)
The waffle was amazing.  The bacon was a little flimsy and not as tasty as I would have hoped.  The eggs were, well, eggs.  The home made biscuit was delicious and even better with the apple butter from the waffle.
  • Quality of Beverage(3/5 points)
The coffee was okay, kind of middle of the road coffee, nothing special.  I didn’t have any alcoholic beverages here, but I’m curious about the cajun bloody mary.
  • Presentation(3/5 points)
The waffle, eggs, and bacon were all crammed on to one plate that really didn’t afford you much room to work with while cutting your food.  The biscuit came on a small saucer .  Everything was fairly generic.

Decor and Space (12/20) or 60%

  • Cleanliness(3/5 points)
All the flatware, glassware, and dishware were about as clean as you would expect, nothing extravigant, but nothing gross either.
  • Theme(4/5 points)
It’s a laid back place, but the art work changes frequently as artist present and sell their works.  I like it though, as it really works as a venue for any artist, or anything for that matter.  The restaurant is a place of comfort and their take-a-book/leave-a-book policy means you’ll never be bored while you wait, if you have to wait.
  • Adequate Seating(3/5 points)
There’s plenty of room at the bar to sit, but some of the tables are a bit squished together.  Also, there is one random table in the back that I’m sure is there just as an obstical to the waiters/waitresses and to make people coming out of the bathroom feel awkward.
  • Location(2/5 points)
It’s on Flushing Avenue, but a bit of a walk from the Morgan stop on the L train.  It really kind of sneaks up on you when you’re walking toward it.


Bonus(3/5 points)

One point for having apple butter.  One point for remembering that I like biscuits. One point for having a trivia question that wins you free food or drinks.

Overall score: 38/55, with bonus 41/55, or 74.5%

No.7

Restaurant Information:

7 Greene Ave Brooklyn, NY 11238(718) 522-6370
Get Directions

no7restaurant.com

Map:

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Service (17/20) or 85%

  • Hostess(4/5 points)

She didn’t seat me—I chose to sit right at the bar—but what she did do was deter two obviously crazy people from pestering the patrons.  One of the crazy people was an approximately sixty year old woman that stood next to me looking at my meal asking “That looks nice, what is it?”  Creepy, really creepy.

  • Promptness(4/5 points)

It wasn’t a busy point of the day but the food did come incredibly fast.  I think I was half way through my first cup of coffee when my food was delivered.  Everything else was just as I would expect otherwise.

  • Alertness(4/5 points)

Every time my beer, coffee, or water got to the half way mark I was asked if I wanted more.  This was carried out for all of the patrons that I observed.

  • Friendliness(5/5 points)
It was slow and every one I spoke with that worked there were quite friendly.  I can easily see why people come back to this place again and again.  This was bumped up to a 5 by the combination of the waitstaff and the hostess’ handling of the two clearly crazy people that walked in while I was there dining.


Food and Drink (16/20) or 80%

  • Price(3/5 points)
I feel like I got exactly what I paid for here.
  • Quality of Food(5/5 points)

I think the omelette might have been the best I’ve ever had.  The eggs were fluffy.  The ham was of the highest quality.  The cheese was melted just right.  The greens balanced it all out perfectly so it wasn’t too greasy as most omelettes tend to be.

  • Quality of Beverage(4/5 points)
The coffee was excellent, but what bumped this up to a 4 was the beer I had.  They keep mainly local micro-brews on tap and I got the chance to try a rye based beer which was surprisingly good, not too hoppy, but not too sweet either.  It really complimented the omelette well.
  • Presentation(4/5 points)
The omelette was presented on a lovely white modern dish with far more than enough space for you to move around your food as needed.  The extra garnish and decoration to the omelette is what bumped this one up to a 4.

Decor and Space (16/20) or 80%

  • Cleanliness(4/5 points)
Everything that was served to me was quite clean and I was particularly impressed with the shine on the dish my omelette was served.  The bar itself was also quite clean.
  • Theme(4/5 points)
It’s clearly got a very new restaurant feel but with hints of vintage that welcome you.  It’s comfortable and inviting.  I think the door signs, the sign behind the bar, and the high windows in the back room are what stand out in my mind the most.
  • Adequate Seating(5/5 points)
The seating is divided into two main sections: a small room with a large bar and the much larger formal seating area in the back.  I sat at the bar where most of the other patrons at that time were sitting, but there were far more than enough tables for people to sit in should they choose to do so.  I don’t think any one could ever be cramped in a place like this.
  • Location(3/5 points)
You can get to this restaurant from several trains with the closest probably being the C.  I’d say it’s about the right distance from most of the stations but a bit of a walk from others.


Bonus(2/5 points)

One point was awarded for the fact that they make their own hot sauce in house, which is quite tasty, but not too hot.  One point was also awarded because my cousin-in-law works there so I know it’s cool.

Overall score: 49/60, with bonus 51/60, or 85%

An introduction to the blog

Why did you start this blog?

In January of 2009, my favorite brunch location closed its doors forever; it was the unfortunate end of a twelve year run for the restaurant and a new beginning for me.  I put off starting my journey to find the perfect brunch location and instead brunched at various places nearby where I lived.  I soon grew tired and unimpressed.  Now, with this blog, I start my quest.  I live in a city obsessed with brunching and brunch culture, but I’ve yet to find a solid replacement for the restaurant I loved and lost.

Aren’t there other sites like yelp, city search, and zagat that do essentially what you are doing?

Well, yes and no.  Most of those sites and others break their reviews in to fairly simple elements and don’t really delve into their reasoning for what the metrics they use are and why they were rated the way they are.  Also, sites like yelp, though helpful at finding popular locations, can’t really be trusted for completely accurate data because one person that gives a place three stars could be another person’s two stars, and how different is a three versus three and a half star place?  You don’t know because it’s just one giant popularity contest.

What qualifies me to review food?  What separates me from other people?

I love food.  No, let me say that again: I love food.  As many of you know, there is a direct correlation between your sense of smell and your sense of  taste.  Before I was sixteen, my nose was completely nonfunctional.  Imagine living sixteen years with one set of tastes then having a door to a whole new world of flavor open up for you.  That’s exactly what happened to me.  I’m hyper-sensitive to smell—Macy’s perfume department makes me sick—and with that comes a more sensitive palate.  I don’t savor moments of flavor, I bask in them.

Will I let restaurants know I’m coming or alert them to the fact I’m reviewing them while I’m there?

No, absolutely not.  I want my experience to mirror exactly what you would expect to get if you were to walk in right behind me.  I feel that if you alert the restaurant or let them know you’re reviewing them while you’re there you run the risk of them trying to go out of their way to impress you and thus taint the experience.

What are my metrics?

Good question and here they are:

Service

  • Hostess(5 points) (optional)

I realize not all locations have hostesses but they do play a part in your dining experience.  They’re the first person you see at a restaurant and generally your first impression as well.

  • Promptness(5 points)

Are my requests met in a timely manner?  Does the waiter/waitress meet me shortly after I’m seated?

  • Alertness(5 points)

Is the waiter/waitress checking up on her customers or does he/she seem to be unconcerned?  Do my water and coffee get refilled when they start to get low?

  • Friendliness(5 points)
How nice are the people that I interact with while in the restaurant?


Food and Drink

  • Price(5 points)

Is the price fair?  Do I feel like I’m getting enough for what I paid or are they overcharging?

  • Quality of Food(5 points)

How does it taste?  Have I had better?  Could it be better?  Is it cooked well enough? Is it cooked too much?  If I specified cooking directions were they followed?

  • Quality of Beverage(5 points)

Same idea as above, but for coffee, water, and other beverages.

  • Presentation(5 points)

How does the food look when it arrives at the table?  Is it all slopped onto a plate or is it arranged neatly and nicely?

Decor and Space

  • Cleanliness(5 points)

Does all the flatware, dishware, napkins, and glassware look clean?  Are there spots or food bits on anything?

  • Theme(5 points)

Does is seem like there is a constant theme to the restaurant decor or is it a giant mess of things here and there?

  • Adequate Seating(5 points)
Can I sit comfortably in my seat or am I jammed in like a sardine in a can?  Does it look like they’re using their space well?
  • Location(5 points)

Is it easy to get to or is it hard to find?  Is it clearly marked?  What trains do I take to get there and how far from the station is it?


Bonus(5 points)

Up to five points based on something that I find interesting or particularly rewarding that can’t really be accounted for in the other sections, i.e. they make their own hot sauce, or the guacamole was made in front of me, and so on and so forth.

All metrics are added together and averaged both in individual catagories and cumulative.  Bonus points are added to the cumulative only.

What’s my ideal brunch?

The honest answer is that it varies from restaurant to restaurant.  I like a balance between sweet, salty, and savory.  I don’t believe that sour or bitter tastes have any place in a brunch, but that doesn’t mean I’m not open to trying something with said flavors.  What do I mean by sweet, salty, and savory?  Think pancakes, bacon, eggs with coffee and maybe juice or some other beverage.  The problem with going too sweet is that you’ll get a carbohydrate crash.  The problem with eating too much protein is that you end up feeling lethargic and heavy.  The problem with going too salty is that you spend all your time drinking water to rehydrate yourself instead of eating.  Like I said, I seek balance in the three.

Can you suggest locations to me?

Absolutely.  Just leave me a comment telling me where you think I should visit and I’ll put it on my list of places to try.

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Themed by: Hunson