Enid’s

Restaurant Information:

560 Manhattan Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11222-3913
Get Directions

(718) 349-3859 * approximate times

enids.net

Map:
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Service 9/20 or 45%

  • Hostess(3/5 points)

She was a fairly average hostess that sat us roughly five feet from where we were standing.  She then went off to find our waitress and was never heard from again.

  • Promptness(1/5 points)

There was a forty-five minute wait that turned into an hour wait.  I think we waited another fifteen minutes after we were seated to be asked what we wanted to eat.

  • Alertness(3/5 points)

I would give this a four simply on the actions of the bus boy, but the waitress was no where to be found after she took our order and the food was delivered.  She later reached in between us and dropped the check on the table before walking away to something else.  I actually got up twice to refill my own coffee and that should never happen.

  • Friendliness(2/5 points)

They don’t care; they’re not going to care.  To make matters worse, the bus boy took my plate with out asking if I was finished.  I then had to awkwardly sit with nothing in front of me as my three friends paced themselves through their food.


Food and Drink 11/20 or 55%

  • Price(3/5 points)

The prices were about what you would expect, nothing really remarkable or outrageous.

  • Quality of Food(3/5 points)

I had the biscuits and gravy which was only so so but I enjoyed the sprinkling of paprika for flavor.  My three friends all had the huevos rancheros, which looked tastier but not much than my biscuits and gravy.

  • Quality of Beverage(2/5 points)

They had a station for coffee at the door so you could serve yourself and the coffee was horrible.  Also, there was the water bottle problem.  The only reason this got two points instead of zero was my friends were raving about how good the bloody marys were.  Otherwise, I think they were really unconcerned about the drinks.

  • Presentation(3/5 points)

The food was pretty much served with out much thought to presentation, but like I said the paprika was a nice touch.  The huevos rancheros really didn’t look appetizing at all.

Decor and Space  7/20 or 35%

  • Cleanliness(2/5 points)

This place looks more like a bar that decided to serve food than a restaurant that decided to serve alcohol.  The floors looked disgusting and I would be amazed if this place has been dusted in the past decade.

  • Theme(2/5 points)

If there is a theme to this place it’s hipster posing and indifference.  I think the really sad part of this is that the restaurant is right on the corner of McCarren park and they do nothing to make it a warm environment that it easily could be.

  • Adequate Seating(2/5 points)

I think there is definitely adequate seating, but the tables were arranged in a very awkward fashion with our table probably in the most unfortunate position.  I’d like to blame some of the bad service on the table configuration, but really I can’t.

  • Location(1/5 points)

For those of you not aware, getting anywhere on the G train is the transit equivalent of splitting the tiles and finding the jelly bean.  Yes, you can get here easily when the G train is running, otherwise, you’ve got to get off at the Lorimer or Bedford L stops and walk across the park to get here.

Bonus(5 points)

Two points for having some of the most attractive, but poorly dressed, people you will ever see, seriously.

Total score 27/60, with bonus 29/60 or 48.33%

Le Barricou

Restaurant Information:

533 Grand St Brooklyn, NY 11211
Get Directions

(718) 782-7372

lebarricouny.com

Map:

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Service 12/15 or 80%

  • Hostess(N/A)

If there was one, I blew right past her on my way to meet my friends.

  • Promptness(4/5 points)
I was given a menu right as I sat down and the waitress was ready to take my order after just moments.  Before I knew it, my brunch was sitting right in front of me.
  • Alertness(4/5 points)
We had a party of twelve people and I was amazed at how well our one waitress took care of all the drinks and food.  When we all had finished our meals she was there with a bus boy ready to clear the table and let us enjoy our company.
  • Friendliness(4/5 points)
I really like the waitress and the other people we interacted with there were friendly as could be.  These people clearly enjoy their job and you’ll get that when you visit.


Food and Drink 12/20 or 60%

  • Price(3/5 points)
I would say it was fairly priced for what I got.  Nothing really to push me higher or lower though.
  • Quality of Food(3/5 points)
I got the ham omelet and it was pretty good, but I felt like it needed something more to compliment it.  One of my friends swears this is the best eggs benedict she’s ever had.  I think the portions were just smaller than what I needed that day.
  • Quality of Beverage(2/5 points)
The coffee was horrible and the water was served in absolutely tiny glasses.  I think this is another reason I didn’t feel like the food was enough; I need more water and coffee!  I will say that another friend said that the bloody mary is the best she’s ever had, but I don’t much care for the drink.
  • Presentation(4/5 points)
I was impressed.  Everything was arranged neatly and extra touches were made to let you know they didn’t just throw your food on a plate and send it out to the table.

Decor and Space 15/20 or 75%

  • Cleanliness(3/5 points)
It was as clean as I would expect, nothing more, nothing less.
  • Theme(5/5 points)
I loved the decor and seating in this place.  I really felt like I had just walked into a cafe in Paris.  Part of me really wants to go back here one night and hang out at their bar.
  • Adequate Seating(4/5 points)
I thought this place was okay seating wise, until I realized they have a huge back room for larger parties.  We had twelve people at our table and they had no problem accommodating us.  I dare you to try to get twelve people seated at any other brunch restaurant; it just won’t happen.
  • Location(3/5 points)

The location isn’t great, but it isn’t horrible either.  It’s just a few block from the Lorimer L stop, and you can take a lovely stroll down Grand Street after you eat while your food digests.  I probably would have rated this higher, but the shock from inside(lovely as can be) to outside(dollar stores and miscreants) of this place is what keeps it right in the middle.


Bonus(5 points)

No bonus was awarded.

Total score 39/55 or 71%

Roebling Tea House

Restaurant Information:

143 Roebling St
Brooklyn, NY 11211-3365
(718) 963-0760
Get directions

Map:
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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%

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%

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%

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