New Food & Drink Openings Round-Up

Bistro Petit

Here’s your regular food & drink openings round-up. This round-up brings a new coffee shop, great new French food, and various Mexican joints.

Bistro Petit: Time Out New York says: “Jean Georges alum Seung Park combines his French training with his Korean background at this diminutive Willimasburg takeout spot. Expect East-meets-West crossover dishes, like kimchi bouillabaisse, made with local, seasonal ingredients.”
774 Driggs Ave. Brooklyn, NY 11211, 718.782.2582

c/o Gothamist

Mercado on Kent: Gothamist says “Wood-fired cooking, as seen at hot spots Tertulia and Mas (la grillade), is having a big moment: This Spanish market-style restaurant brings three more tinder-fueled ovens to Williamsburg, less than a block from Isa’s own flaming hearth. Chef Peru Almandoz, a native of San Sebastian, Spain, works two wood-fired ovens in the open kitchen, while Johnny Peralta (Balthazar) uses one to roast his loaves in the downstairs bakery. Diners can perch at zinc-topped bars and choose from pintxos—Basque tapas, like croquettas and Padrón peppers—or settle into a communal wood table for large-format Northern Spanish fare, including suckling pig and a two-pound grilled rib eye called chuleton. To drink, choose from biodynamic and organic Spanish wines, hard apple cider and creative cocktails, like the Urumea (rum, Averna Amaro, clove syrup, lime juice) and the Duke (cognac, Carpano Antica, dry vermouth, served over an Earl Grey ice sphere). In a few weeks, a market, inspired by the retail-restaurant hybrids of Spain, will open in the back of the 80-seat space to sell charcuterie, cheeses, oils, homemade breads and churros with hot cocoa made with grated chocolate, milk and cream.”
291 Kent Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11211, 718.782.8810

Santos Anne

Santos Anne: At first we were a bit skeptical about the French/Mexican fusion, but after our meal at Santos Anne we can safely say that it’s one of our favorite new places. We had veggie tacos and steak, both were amazing and the prices are hard to beat ($15 for a full steak meal)! The ambiance of Santos Anne is cozy with turquoise walls and lit candles scattered across the room. There’s live music on the weekends, and if you’re lucky a free tarot card reading.
366 Union Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11211, 718.486.6979

St. Austere

St. Austere: Thrillist says “An “honest, unpretentious, and laid-back drinking and dining experience” that somehow isn’t Red Dog and leftover pizza on your couch, Saint’s narrow, industrial, al fresco-able space is outfitted with a slim metallic bar up front and communal wooden tables in back, where international small plates of Wahoo tartare, and porchetta- & sweet-pickle-filled Cubans can be paired with vino by the glass/half/bottle, and Euro-suds including St Feuillien Triple and Pinkus Mueller Pilsner.”
613 Grand St., Brooklyn, NY 11211, 718.388.0012

WhirlyBird

Whirlybird: Gothamist says “The legions of Brooklynites who travel to Austin for South by Southwest every year have come across a distinctly Texan (and distinctly delicious) specialty: the breakfast taco. Breakfast tacos (which involve some combination of scrambled eggs, chorizo, cheese, and peppers) have sadly been in short supply in Yankee territory, until now: meet Whirlybird.

Opening up shop in—where else?—Williamsburg, Whirlybird is the brainchild of musician Jeff Bailey, who’s played in indie mainstays Phosphorescent and Virgin Forest. Having toured through Austin many a time, he decided that Williamsburg, rife as it is with musicians and hungover people, would benefit immensely from the addition of organic breakfast tacos and locally-brewed coffee. If the above photo is any indication, he’s probably right.

Whirlybird will be open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends, with tacos going for $3-4 and coffee for $2-4. Stop by their grand opening tomorrow (Saturday) from 4-7 p.m. for a taco and solo sets from members of Deer Tick, Phosphorescent, and Virgin Forest. Early reviewers have praised the cafe for having “Zero bullshit, great taste, and a tiny framed portrait of Andy Kaufmann by the milk station to boot.” What more do you need, Williamsburg?
254 S 2nd St., Brooklyn, NY 11211, 718.208.8555

BlackBrick

BlackBrick: Beautiful new coffee shop serving Stumptown coffee, Jacques Torres hot chocolate, and coming soon-fresh baked goods.
300 S. Bedford Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11211

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Fushimi

With two other locations, Bay Ridge and Staten Island, you just KNOW this place is gonna be exquisite. Probably as good as Sea! Just ask Valerie De Lhomme:

[via]

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Goods Food Truck taken over by Mesa Coyoacan

c/o L Magazine

We’ve been wondering what was to come of the abandoned airstream trailer that was once occupied by Goods Food. Eater has the latest news on the trailer’s newest reincarnation which will be led by Mesa Coyocan.

The owners of Williamsburg Mexican spot Mesa Coyoacan plan on opening the spot at Zona Rosa, serving tacos, margaritas, and other Mexican specialties. They hope to open the venture in April and keep it open from 8 AM until 4 or 5 AM. Unlike in its previous iteration, this time around the cafe will have running water and bathrooms.

We’re excited for this news, and hope the new venture will be more successful than the previous owners. Will the Margaritas be to go?

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Food & Drink Openings Round-Up

Brooklyn Wok Shop

It’s time for your regular food & drink openings round-up which includes healthy Chinese food, a dumpling shop, an alien cafe, Latin American small plates and a few new places to drink (!).

Brooklyn Wok Shop: Chef and owner Edric Har and his wife Melissa wanted to open a healthy take-out Chinese food in North Williamsburg that had “a menu of standards incorporating hormone- and antibiotic-free meats, as well as stocks and sauces made from real bones and scratch, not powders and bases”. Brooklyn Wok Shop is currently only open for dinner, but will open next month for lunch, delivery, and a dim sum brunch.
182 N 10th St. Brooklyn, NY 11211, 347.889.7992

c/o Flickr user Maggie Hoffman

Vanessa’s Dumplings: East Village favorite Vanessa’s Dumplings has arrived in Williamsburg with an expanded menu including veggie items like “noodles sautéed with vegetables or a four-mushroom roll in tofu skin.”
310 Bedford Ave. Brooklyn, NY 11211, 718.218.8809

Alien Cafe

Alien Cafe: We are not a huge fan of the name, which is a bizarre choice, but Alien Cafe actually offers a pretty good selection of American Traditional dishes such as eggs, sandwiches, and a variety of meat, fish, and vegetarian options for dinner. Alien Cafe is owned by Robert Sandoval who also owned the former Grand Street Grill space. He decided he wanted to re-invent the place, and brought on L’Artiste menu creator-chef Luis Santos. The result is a varied menu with prices that aren’t hard on your wallet. Blue Bottle coffee is also served at brunch, which is always a plus.
812 Grand St. Brooklyn, NY 11206, 347.294.4288

Cayler

Cayler: “The owners of Anella in Greenpoint put one of their chefs, Gabriel Moya, in charge here. He adds touches of his native Puerto Rico in small plates like salt cod with a Scotch egg and plantain chips. Wines are from Spain and Portugal.” We’re also looking forward to their new brunch menu which launches this weekend “which features such creative hangover-busting fare as a Southwestern Benedict riff made with masa cakes and shaved veal tongue, a duck confit tostada, or a steaming bowl of caldo gallego, with pork belly and root veggies in bacon broth.”
92 Calyer St. Brooklyn, NY 11222, 347.899.6323

c/o Zagat

Basik: Opened in the former Phoebe’s Cafe space (RIP) by alums from Gallery Bar & The Breslin, Basik serves 40-oz cocktails as well as “individual-sized tipples—like the Poppa’s Pride (bourbon, ginger, mint, lemon, soda, Angostura bitters) or the Mea Culpa (tequila, Punt e Mes, Velvet Falernum, lime). There are also a variety of dishes made with seasonal ingredients, including a roasted beet salad with Greek yogurt and a Wisconsin dog with house-made mustard and aged cheddar, which form the menu of elevated comfort food.”
323 Graham Ave. Brooklyn, NY 11211 347.899.7599

The Shanty

The Shanty: Cheers to Brooklyn’s first cocktail bar–distillery hybrid: the Shanty. “The 40-seat saloon looks onto the manufacturing floor of the newly operational New York Distilling Company through a large bay, and brings some hard-to-find spirits to the American market, like the once defunct Rock and Rye, a young rye whiskey flavored with rock candy. The laid-back joint is decorated with a 19th-century moonshining still and hanging wood-and-metal lights carved to resemble old whiskey bottles.”
79 Richardson St. Brooklyn, NY 11211 718.412.0874

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Nitehawk Cinema December Happenings

It’s no secret here at FreeWilliamsburg that  Nitehawk Cinema is one of our favorite new places to open in the ‘hood in a long time. We loved them even without booze in the theaters, but the addition of a beer or cocktail while watching a movie makes the experience that much better.

We were lucky enough to attend the Brooklyn Brewery: Directors Cut event which was awesome (full menu after the jump), but while we were there we spotted several other cool screenings and events that are worth mentioning.

This weekend they’ll be screening INNI, the Sigur Ros concert documentary and live that has had a pretty limited release this Friday & Saturday at 12:30am.

Check out their “Spirit of Xmas” series if you love Holidays and want a chance to watch bad holiday movies starring Billy Bob Thornton (Bad Santa) as well as a few classics like Rare Exports and A Christmas Story. To see the full line-up click here: http://www.nitehawkcinema.com/weekend.php?wsID=6.

Read about the Brooklyn Brewery: Directors Cut event after the jump.

The Brooklyn Brewery event consisted of a variety of Brooklyn beers paired with food from Chef Saul Bolton. The premise of the event was:

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away (Boston), Garrett Oliver wanted to direct for the silver screen. He went to film school, and then started working for HBO and making independent films. But he soon discovered that the pursuit of a life in independent film would require his maxing out 150 credit cards. Or, worse, moving to Los Angeles. It was not to be, but he soon discovered a new calling….beer! Now, together with our old pals the film buff John Woods and the acclaimed chef Saul Bolton, we bring you “Brooklyn Brewery, The Director’s Cut”, a never-before-seen compendium of our favorite beers matched to both great food and brilliant film clips.

The food and beer was excellent, and we love that each course centered around a theme with film clips to support it. Below is a breakdown of the beers, food and film clip themes.

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