Green Canteen Restaurant: Our Very Own Green Zone
Surrounded by some of the loudest, sidewalk-hogging-est places in the neighborhood—Zabloski’s, Sea, Hugs—it’s not a huge surprise that the nearly month-old Green Canteen, on North 6th between Berry and Wythe, has flown a bit under the locals’ restaurant radar. But, like a too timid carbon cap-and-trade bill (I’m looking at you, House of Representatives) the place has something going for it that will either finally get the eco-ball rolling or deter future attempts, depending on its success: the state’s first silver-LEED certification granted to a restaurant.
To snag this not-inexpensive honor, the owners (one of whom used to head Olive Garden and Burger King, naturally) hit all the right notes: 100 percent wind power; low flow faucets and toilets; compost bins out back with regular shipments to a farm in Jersey; and a top-of-the-line HVAC unit spitting out air described by manager Mike Hewitt as “the best this side of the Alps.” The dining room’s long wooden banquets, laid out under gorgeous prints of the neighborhood in its industrial heyday, were even fashioned out of ceiling beams carved out of the original structure, part of the requirement that renovations make use of recovered materials.
Because it would be a tad hypocritical to serve rib-sticking, butter-soaked fare in such a pristine environment, the expansive menu of (mostly) Mediterranean dishes--flatbreads, salads, sliders, chilis, and hummus bowls--errs on the lighter side and items are dished out in portions meant to satisfy without requiring newly-bored belt-notches. Surprisingly low calorie counts are also posted prominently online, and they’re not even seeking a liquor license or offering doggy bags, to further discourage over consumption. Of course, with a few exceptions such as the Hudson Valley duck burgers, this sort of menu doesn’t invite destination dining so much as trusty regulars seeking a light and locally-sourced brunch, lunch, or dinner nearby. Here’s hoping there are sufficient numbers of these people nearby, because, like all those compost-able leftovers, a Silver LEED certificate is a terrible thing to waste.
Green Canteen
106 North 6th Street
718-387-5900
Comments
cheap replica watches
replica watches
Bell & Ross replica
Rolex Yachtmaster replica
replica U-Boat watches
Bell & Ross watch for sale
Tiffany heart tag ring Flower ring
Posted by: Rolex Daytona watches | January 13, 2010 09:32 PM
We walked by the place yesterday, noticing it for the first time. They had the front of the restaurant wide open, with the a/c going. How is that green? hmm...I got a really bad feeling about the place just from that first impression.
Posted by: mollie | August 6, 2009 11:51 AM
meat's not green!
Posted by: neebs | July 13, 2009 11:49 AM
My girlfriend and I really enjoyed our dinner there. Unusual ingredient combos, and flavors I hadn't had before. The flatbread appetizer was topped with some kind of terrific herb pesto (not basil based), and it was my favorite thing there. Likewise, the 'steak hummus bowl' was comprised of homemade hummus served with a skewer of skirt steak, which was terrific and as fork tender as slow cooked pot roast.
Like the food, we found the atmosphere unusual and appealing - it's clean, and stylish with an open feel, with industrial touches. Even the bathroom was clean, although the dearth of business helps in that regard. The service was ok.
Posted by: Steve | July 10, 2009 09:48 AM
Went there the other day with 3 friends and didn't find it to be too bad at all. It was a tad expensive (ok, it was expensive) but I found the flavors to be pretty good. It's worth a try.
Posted by: antiautomation | July 9, 2009 06:32 PM
Green Canteen - feel smug while eating shitty overpriced food. FAIL
Posted by: daniel | July 9, 2009 05:04 PM
unfortunately this place didn't live up to my expectations. The dishes are basically appetizers at entree prices, and they're not even that great. I appreciate the whole being green thing, but let's keep the perspective: a restaurant is about its food.
We had a hummus bowl, very small as a dinner and hummus was just OK, and the salmon mini burgers, which were VERY greasy but tasteless :( sad, cause if the place had a better menu/better prices it would do great I think.
Posted by: yourneighbor | July 9, 2009 01:10 PM
checked the menu, it's ok. the place looks kinda cold and bland...mmm... just like dating a vegan!
Posted by: puffpuffpass | July 9, 2009 12:02 PM
Finally a local business owner steps up and does the right thing. The least we hyper-indulgent, yupster Williamsburg residents, can do is support a business model that considers our future.
Posted by: huntie | July 9, 2009 10:35 AM
you guys really need a copy editor. can i help?
Posted by: emily | July 9, 2009 09:27 AM
It will be delightful to go there and eat after walking through the stinking liquid garbage refuse from Sea and the vomit outside of Hugs.
Yum!!
Posted by: JJinBklyn | July 9, 2009 04:49 AM