1015 Manhattan Ave.
Brooklyn, NY 11222
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718.569.0077

Cuisine: Colombian Tapas/Coffee Shop
Our Rating: ★ ★ ★
Cards: Cash only
Price: $
Hours: Mon 8am-4pm; Tues-Thurs 8am-10pm; Sat 9am-11pm, Sun 9am-10pm
BOOZE: Full bar
Subway: G to Greenpoint Ave
Menu: Click Here
Delivery: Yes
City Search says:

In keeping with its Colombian roots, this charming cafe’s takeout menu translates the word Greenpoint into its Spanish equivalent, Puntaverde. Bright yellow walls, local artwork and couches set a festive scene for consuming iced cafe con leche and sampling the arepas–the Alimbar packs ham, queso blanco and guava, while the Medellin appeases vegetarians with cranberry beans and green plantains. Seven kinds of salads and sandwiches made with Petrossian bread provide further fuel for bopping along to DJ-provided beats.

The Village Voice says:

This novel Greenpoint coffee shop and wine bar translates Colombian cuisine into the tapas bar genre, with some success. If you’re a fan of East Village arepas–– the moist, white–corn flatcakes that are a staple starch in Colombia and Venezuela–– you won’t be disappointed here: most of the two dozen or so evening menu choices are centered on an arepa topped with a salad or meat-bearing assemblage. Many are quite good, although figuring out what these warms lumps contain is a challenge in the dim light. We especially liked the Medellin (beans, plantains, white cheese, hogao sauce) and the cordillera (rice, beans, Colombian chorizo). A handful of toasted sandwiches, salads, and skewers round out the menu, but the real treat here is the off-priced South American wines.

Don Pedro's

90 Manhattan Ave.
Brooklyn, NY 11206
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347.689.3163

Cuisine: Classic Bar Fare
Our Rating: ★ ★
Cards: Cash Only
Price: $
Hours: Mon-Wed 4pm-2:30am; Fri-Sun 4pm-4am
Booze: Full Bar
Happy Hour: Daily 4pm-9pm, $1 off everything, $2 select drafts
Subway: L to Montrose Ave., J,M to Lorimer, G to Union Ave.
Delivery: No
NY Mag says:

Shrunken jeans and bug-eyed sunglasses have made their inevitable migration to the hinterland of East Williamsburg, but this local Ecuadorian standout has yet to change its menu to accommodate persnickety hipster taste buds. On weekdays you’ll find mostly locals bellying up to the table for one of the neighborhood’s best deals–$6 multicourse lunches that consist of spicy seafood soups, goat-meat stew, or whatever traditional fare the chefs whip up that day. Platos typicos such as stuffed greens plantains, hen stew, and fried pork beef with rice are heavy enough to require an afternoon nap, but Don Pedro’s lightens things up significantly with their outstanding seviches: Unlike the ultrarare, citrus-cured varieties presented a martini glass across the river, these seafood “cocktails” are served in bowls stuffed-to-overflowing with meaty shrimp and tender fish chunks marinated with red peppers, onion, cilantro, vinegar, and olive oil. Pre-meal, dawdling diners can check out prerecorded concerts with famous Latin musicians on the projection screen behind the bar, but those with a hearty appetite would do well to get eatin’: On weeknights the kitchen closes at 7 p.m. On some nights, Don Pedro’s dining room turns into a DIY venue for an eclectic bevy of Todd P-booked shows; check the restaurant’s Website for details.

El Amacen

Cuisine: Argentinean, Mexican, South American
Our Rating: ★★★★
Hours: Mon-Thu, 5pm-11pm; Fri, 5pm-midnight; Sat-Sun, noon-midnight
Happy Hour: 5-7pm daily
Cards: All Major
Booze: Beer and wine
Reservations: Yes
Delivery: Yes
Menu: http://www.elalmacennyc.com/menu.php
Website: www.elalmacennyc.com
Subway: L to Bedford Ave.
NY Mag says:

The name of this quaint Argentine restaurant is Spanish for general store, a detail referenced most in the old-time-shop décor like the front counter, chalkboard menus, and a glass ingredient cabinet. Wooden tables, mismatched chairs, hanging relics, and bread loaves in wire baskets add to the antique feel, but candles and flowers on every table ensure an ambiance that’s more cozy than museum quality. There’s an emphasis on sharing here, with meat-and-cheese platters and a range of small plates, from an extensive seviche bar to cotija-covered grilled corn or the popular avocado fries. A pepper stuffed with spinach, cheese, and corn that’s served over rice and black beans makes a more filling option. The highlight of the anticipated steak section is the costilla de res, braised for nine hours in maté (a South American substitute for coffee). For dessert, flan comes with a trio of chopped fresh fruits, and churros arrive hot and ready to dunk in chocolate and caramel dipping sauces. Recommended Dishes: Choclo (grilled corn), $5; ceviche de bife, $9; flan, $6

Village Voice says:

Nevertheless, one of the best dishes on the menu is Mexican—chile relleno ($14), renamed aji relleno. A huge poblano pepper, still crunchy, pours out cheese, corn, onions, spinach, and rice, and the entire mess sits atop a bed of tomatoes and beans. It’s ugly, but tasty. Other entrées strike an Italian note. Argentineans—half of whom boast some Italian blood—are notorious for preferring gnocchi to other pastas, and bathing them in a cream-laced tomato sauce. Inundated with a brown oxtail ragu, El Almacén’s papardelle ($15) flies in the opposite direction: The ragged chunks of beef have been braised in coffee by a chef who’s chosen to get creative with a traditional Italian recipe. The only real bomb among main courses is the suckling pig: Lechon asado ($16) has been rendered as a sweet-and-sour salad of baby-pig frags mixed with black beans; in the dim light of the restaurant, you can’t quite tell what you’re eating. The menu has evolved since the place first opened six months ago, decreasing the number of taco options but adding ceviches. Originally, El Almacén was the only Argentine restaurant in town that wasn’t a parrillada, or grilled meat specialist, even though the menu contained a small assortment. But recently, a much larger selection was introduced, with the characteristic meats offered as separate items. Served on a tree stump with chimichurri and an angry-looking knife, the ones I’ve tried have been on the money, especially the hulking beef spare rib ($15 each). An assortment of ribs, steak, and chorizo is also available for $38. It’s plenty of meat for two to share, though you might prefer the lamb chops, pork chops, or squishy blood sausage instead. Really, you can’t go wrong in making a meal of appetizers and side dishes at El Almacén. Among the latter ($5 each), find wonderful avocado fries (crisp-on-the-outside green boomerangs served with a dubious “yerba mate ketchup”) and papas provenzal (steak fries seductively sprinkled with paprika and vinegar). While the place is perpetually expecting its liquor license, you’re not allowed to bring in alcohol, though it was permitted in the early months. This is sad, since the best things at El Almacén scream for a glass of red wine. With the welter of Argentinean, Italian, and Mexican dishes, putting a meal together can be a headache. Accordingly, you might just stick with the stenciled words you saw on the windows when you came in. The cold cuts, in particular, are unimpeachable, swerving in Spanish and Italian directions. The $15 charcuterie assortment is a thing of beauty, including hand-cut Serrano ham with a splendid rim of fat, cured and cooked salamis, mortadella, dill pickles, a few stray olives, a pot of creamy mustard, and, best of all, a couple of slices of matambre.

c/o Thousands Bars

519 Metropolitan Ave
Brooklyn, NY 1121
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718.384.6429

Cuisine: Mexican
Our Rating: ★ ★
Cards: All Major
Price: $
Hours: 12pm-Midnight Daily
Booze: Full Bar
Subway: L to Lorimer St.
Menu: Click Here
Delivery: Yes
NY Mag says:

A restaurant claiming to serve Mexican “style” food usually warns off seekers of authentic eats, but if you hold off on the rush to judgment, first impressions are fortunately deceiving on this corner of an as of yet ungentrified chunk of Williamsburg. Past the slapdash streamers and liquor ads, a few well-chosen pieces of art dot the unassuming space. One sip of a margarita or mojito showcases an able hand at the bar, and a glimpse behind a curtained-off area reveals a comfy lounge, prone to playing contemporary Latin rock come nightfall. The menu proves itself in similarly small, impressive ways. Crunchy, El Paso-style shells on the taco plate are an initial turnoff, but a cautious bite delivers a stuffing of particularly well-seasoned chunks of beef. And while enchiladas Suizas may look sloppy and gloppy, the accompanying salsa verde is agreeably full of cilantro, and crema fresca as a welcome, authentic touch. The real finds, however, are the Ecuadorian specialties: Shrimp ceviche marinated in fresh tomato, lime juice, red onion, and cilantro, and weekend-only specials like goat stew pull out all the authentic gustatory stops.

Blackbook Mag says:

Fronts as Mexican, but actually serves South American versions of staples like salsa, enchiladas, and burritos. Hard-shell tacos and nachos. Probably best if you’re here to knock back a few margaritas and not eat at all. Cheap interior is actually comfy, with mellow wood, crimson walls. Loungey feel near the long bar, cranked volume on the sound system keeps things festive.

Tabaré

221 South 1st Street
Brooklyn, NY 11211
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347.335.0187

Cuisine: South American
Our Rating: ★★★★
Cards: Cash Only
Price: $$$
Hours: Mon-Thu 5pm-11pm; Fri 5pm-Midnight; Sat Noon-Midnight; Sun Noon-11pm
Booze: None
Subway: L to Bedford Ave. or Lorimer St., J,M,Z to Marcy Ave.
Menu/Website: www.tabarenyc.com
Delivery: No
We say:

With the explosion of South American restaurants popping up in Williamsburg, it can be hard to truly stand out. But the recently opened Uruguayan eatery Tabaré on the South Side will have no problem gaining attention.

The interior of Tabaré is intimate and cozy, with concrete floors and soft lighting. The walls are covered in wood planks of various sizes, which the owners found and collected via Craigslist. The shelving above the tables in the restaurant is filled with vintage wine bottles and tea kettles. The tables are concrete, which is a nice contrast to the colorful handmade knitted banquettes. For the warmer months, there is a cute, small outdoor patio filled with tropical plants and tea lights.

Tabaré’s menu is varied with Mediterranean and Italian influences, with pasta dishes aplenty-I’m told it’s a staple of the Uruguayan diet. The owners said they wanted to serve what would be offered at a typical restaurant in Uruguay.

Tabaré uses as many organic and locally farmed foods as possible. The chef buys all the vegetables used in the food from the Union Square Farmers Market. The chicken is organic, and the beef is grass fed from Upstate NY.

Upon being seated, a small baguette from nearby Bakeri Brooklyn was served with a homemade olive oil and olive tapenade. For an appetizer, we ordered the homemade Empanadas Caseras ($7). We had one of each of the two choices offered: the first was filled with caramelized onions, gruyere & fontina cheese, while the second offered Spanish tuna & black olives. Both were amazing, and were small enough to not spoil your dinner. The empanadas were served with two sauces, a traditional chimmichurri and a spicier olive oil based sauce with peppers. Although we didn’t try it, the Ensalada Fresca with romaine, string beans, parsley, chives, & grapefruit salad ($9) sounded amazing.

There were many daily specials to choose from; including handmade potato gnocchi of the day ($14), and Raviolis Caseros (handmade ravioli with chicken and Roquefort cheese). We tried the Pescado Al Papel (fish of the day), tilapia baked in parchment paper served with string beans, carrots in a citrus herb sauce, grapefruit & baked potatoes; along with the Chivito Completo (traditional Uruguayan filet mignon steak sandwich) with bacon, mozzarella, onions, green olives, tomato, lettuce & a fried egg. The tilapia was extremely flavorful and tasty. There were more than enough vegetables, a nice change from the for sad carrots typically offered with fish at most places. The Chivito Completo was served with home fried potatoes, which tasted like homemade French fries. It offered an amazing array of flavors, complimented by the sweet brioche it was served on.

The desserts offer a nice compliment to the dinner. We had the Torta De Chocolate Negro (flourless dark chocolate cake) served with whipped cream and fresh fruit. It was so rich we couldn’t finish the whole piece, but is a great item to share. We also ordered the Manjar Del Cielo (dulce de leche flan). In contrast to most flan I’ve had in the past, this was thicker and less custard like. I actually preferred it.

Tabaré also serves brunch on the weekends. Many of the items offered are the same as during dinner, with the addition of several Brunch specific dishes such as Torreja (Uruguayan “French” toast) served with fruits and organic maple syrup ($7), Huevos horneados (baked eggs) with wild mushrooms ($10), and Revuelto gramajo (scrambled eggs) green peas, julienne fries & Serrano ham ($11).

Like visiting South America, Tabaré is a bit further south than most would venture out in Williamsburg, but it’s well worth the trip. Trust me.