* Moto
image c/o Flickr
Nuevo American
349 Broadway, Brooklyn NY 11211 (Corner of Hooper)
PHONE: 718.599.6895
CARDS: American Express, MasterCard, Visa
HOURS: Mon-Fri, 6pm-2am; Sat-Sun, 6pm-3am
SUBWAY: J, M at Hewes St.
MAP: Click Here
WEBSITE: Click Here
South Williamsburg's hidden surprise. There is no sign on the door so hopefully this jewel will remain hidden from the masses. See some pictures on their website. This place is beautiful and affordable. The food is unique with French flair and the drinks are cheap!
From City Search:
"A fine-tuned cafe fashioned by a pair of motorcycle renovators. The story behind this tiny, triangular cafe was captured in "Eat This New York," a documentary honored at the 2002 Hamptons International Film Festival. Just when its proprietors doubted that Moto would make it, the restaurant ground into gear like a Vincent Black Shadow, beneath the tracks of the elevated J and M trains. Heavily barred windows enclose a comfort zone for artsy locals who crave a taste of the trendier end of town in this low-rent sector. Sample the beer and wine list, but don't miss the food. The inexpensive paninis, made with crusty bread and fine Italian fixings such as sopressata and portobello mushrooms, are worth the trek, and the grilled doughnuts, sweet, warm and indulgent, put Krispy Kreme to shame."
FROM NY MAG
A check-cashing storefront under the rumbling JMZ “el” in Bushwick becomes an artist café in South Williamsburg, and so goes another New York metamorphosis. It’s possible you’d even mistake Moto’s surreal interior, at once both familiar and unsettling, for the backdrop of a Kafka novel: The sepia tones of this apothecary-like setting are sharpened by flashes of futuristic metal (the bar’s taps are refitted bike parts, hence the name) and the pull-chain toilet and musty specimen jars in the shadowy downstairs lavatory suggest a litany of human misdeeds. But not all is doomed: Marble-topped tables, crusty panini, hushed patrons, and $5 tap beers like chocolate-y Corsendonk, dense Guinness, and spunky Stella reveal a more palatable intellectual side.
Comments
The only thing that is worse then the shitty food is the shitty service. One of the worst dining experiences in a while
Posted by: Jim | June 12, 2008 04:19 AM
Busy place.... but service was phenomenal and the food was fantastic! I will return often. Love it!
Posted by: Laura | February 24, 2008 06:19 PM
There is apparently no way to see a menu online. This is troublesome for vegetarians who want to make sure there's something for us to eat before we head into a place and sit down for dinner!
Posted by: Kelly | December 1, 2007 05:14 PM
moto doesn't accept credit cards- very important, since many websites including this one and citysearch say otherwise.
thank you.
Posted by: busy waitress | November 24, 2007 09:57 PM
MOTO is the most unique, magical ambience of any bar/restaurant I have been to in the world (and I have been to PLENTY). This place is a true interior design landmark. When I first was lucky enough to encounter it, I mused that it was like stepping into the bar which Steppenwolf encountered in Hesse's novel. There should be a spectral sign outside that reads: "For Madmen Only".
I have no idea what some of these people are talking about with their complaints regarding the service. Sure it gets crowded and the service is a bit casual at times--but that's pretty much the the god damn point! Slow down a little bit and stop being such a high blood pressure fanatics. Don't think you're entitled to make special requests on the menu and be a fussy little brat. This is a place for adults and one of the only truly "Bohemian" establishments known to Williamsburg.
As I was saying, I love the all the servers, who always treat me with exquisite care and the live music performers are perfectly situated to the intimate yet lively atmosphere. This is the type of place where you can talk over the music and it's acceptable. Part of the genius is that there is no stage and you actually have to push by the performers when entering the door.
Regarding the food, the "Date Cake" sis hands down the best desert I have had in NYC (another bold claim, I realize). I don't have any real negative things to say about this place other than maybe it would be interesting to stock more complex wines for those like myself who want to venture that way with a bottle every now and then. I go there so much, that I would also love to see the menu specials updated more frequently. But then again, the main elements of the regular menu are pretty damn good. I especially love the Gruyere fondue and the deviled eggs with anchovies.
Posted by: Patrick Marckesano | August 17, 2007 05:20 PM
Moto's service is friendly and prompt, and the food and music are something special indeed. As for the supposedly rude waitstaff, perhaps people who fear "strange" accents should avoid Brooklyn altogether!
Posted by: Emily Gordon | August 15, 2007 04:06 PM
The chicken dijonnaise is so good it makes me cry. Service is a little slow. Not recommended if you don't want to dawdle. Never been during live music, but the place doesn't look large enough to handle anything loud.
Posted by: holly | July 10, 2007 10:03 PM
Will the menu ever change? I've been going there for years and I've even had the "specials" many times over.
Posted by: Matt | June 13, 2007 11:50 PM
I saw a show on local new york tv on the construction of Moto. How long, tiring and expensive it is to really get a restuarant started. Well, needless to say, it intriguied me into going and was totally worth it. The interior design is beautiful but as many others have started, it is just horrible, horrible service! NOT intentionally of course but you need more than one server that also plays hostess for a restuarant that could be possible seating 40 plus people at a time. The food is good, in my opinion - great espresso. My boyfriend hates rock hard bread and the menu consisted of an abudance of panini's.
Posted by: ilana | May 24, 2007 06:18 PM
Hmm...just moved to the neighborhood, stopped by Moto. I tend to agree with Ed above. It's not so much that the servers are rude. I've been there twice, and twice the gals were friendly and smiley. However, the "service" was terrible, only in that the gals are simply too busy and have no time to give you proper attention. It good be that they are bad servers, or it could be that they are short-staffed. Either way, it doesn't matter. Just relax, bring good friends, or a magazine, don't go in too hungry, and enjoy what it has to offer. For those of us here on the JMZ and aways from Bedford, it's not a bad compromise.
Posted by: Mr. 2 Blocks Away | November 21, 2006 08:59 PM
hey pepper,
who would want you as a customer, you fuckwad? Please don't come to my restaurant.
Posted by: restaurant fan | September 25, 2006 12:50 AM
The long-haired waitress doesn't deserve her job. She's a right nasty bitch that ruined dinner there, twice. It was especially charming last night (the second and last time that I will ever step foot into this shitty restaurant) when she sat down and listened to the music when she had seven tables. Cunt.
Posted by: pepper | September 15, 2006 03:40 PM
y'all are crazy.
spend every weekend at moto with the paper, an americano, and the baked eggs. love every moment without fail.
never had a single issue with service.
Posted by: milquetoast | August 4, 2006 06:18 PM
One of the best looking places in Williamsburg. Unfortunately, no air conditioning--in the summer, this place is a sauna.
Posted by: steve | June 19, 2006 08:55 PM
i think they have a really fabulous brunch, the eggs in tomato sauce and the donuts are delicious. Unfortunately, I agree with many others and find the service to be positively terrible. However, in my experience it has been that there simply are not enough servers working at a time and, although well-intentioned, they get overwhelmed, frazzled, and forgetful. easy to fix, do it moto!
Posted by: ed | June 3, 2006 09:42 PM
about one month ago i saw a great show at moto featuring a young singer/songwriter named crystal and a guy with dreadlocks who played the upright bass. if anybody knows what name they go by or if they have downloadable music online please send me a link!
Posted by: jason | May 9, 2006 09:00 PM
This place is awesome...trains rumbling overhead....intimate, vintage feel....great klezmer music on tuesdays...food is pretty good too.
Posted by: jo | April 8, 2006 07:13 PM
erica rose campbell mpeg*
ericacampbell*
Posted by: Adgiff | March 8, 2006 06:23 AM
Worst service ever - I live two blocks away from Moto and always liked it as a cozy watering hole that by the way has fantastic sandwiches and a dreamy date cake.
Initially you found the owners behind the bar but unfortunately that has changed and ever since the service has deteriorated to the point of no return.
Recently I went to Moto with some friends from overseas who were simply shocked. Although there were only very few customers the wait staff was rude and inattentive beyond imagination. They felt more like chatting and drinking away at the bar than and made us feel that we were a real burden to them.
We asked for the check for three times, after 15 minutes we simply put money on the bar and left. No - we did not leave a tip which made one of the waitresses run after us in the street cursing us out and yelling at us never to come back again. Needless to mention that I was embarrassed out of mine mind having taken my friends there and I will certainly never go there again.
Thank god I live in Williamsburg where alternatives are plenty...
Posted by: Axel | March 4, 2006 01:36 AM
In the event anyone still reads this ... had dinner at Moto last night, Monday, February 27, 2006. It was perfect. Not crowded, great lighting, cozy, with great service and delicious food. Their version of deviled eggs is divine. The beet salad was superb. And don't miss the amazing macaroni and cheese.
Posted by: Jean Pierrot | February 28, 2006 02:50 PM
This place would be 'eh' if the rude, nasty, unattentive staff could get their heads out of their stuck-up ass' long enough to take an order, much less DO THEIR JOBS!! Jeez. This place is one of the worst in the Burg.
Posted by: noodles | February 22, 2006 05:30 PM
i love the donuts.
Posted by: toddy | December 28, 2005 06:58 PM
Moto is fantastic. What a gorgeous,romantic,Paris-in-the-30's/Henry and June room. The wine is always delicious and the menu, while small,is delightful. Unlike the rudeness we've encountered at The Dumont, we have always enjoyed thorough and attentive service from our waitstaff. It has a different, groovy, really cool vibe and we love it.
Posted by: GreenpointGourmet | November 28, 2005 12:17 AM
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Posted by: real estate investing | July 14, 2005 04:48 AM
Moto is the hugest disappointment in Williamsburg. Great atmosphere and live music, but the worst service I've ever had. If you see a waitress with long reddish hair, and a strange accent coming to your table, take your money to DuMont or Sweetwater. After said waitress ruined my boyfriend's birthday dinner, I wrote a letter to the manager and got no reply. Don't patronize them...especially when they serve 6 small frozen shrimp with some rice for $16.
Posted by: meghan Simons | July 5, 2005 08:47 PM
Their desserts are thee best... the date square thing is amazing and i thought i hated dates. however, the no AC thing in the summer is a bit of a bummer because NO AIR gets in there from the outside. I like it in the winter.
Posted by: miz s | June 19, 2005 04:52 PM
i agree with jack. food is so so, not bad, but ehhh, just eh. dumont wins.
Posted by: ed | June 11, 2005 10:53 PM
the ribs were amazing. the sea bass special was edible, but tasted like spaghettios. the beet appetizer with the anchioves-eww.
the ambience is one of the best around. with a new chef or a revamp on the menu, moto could compete with diner and dumont. until then, you know where i'll be.
Posted by: jack wenner | May 21, 2005 12:47 AM
This is a beautiful restaurant and a great place to take visiting family. The menu is small but quite good. The specials are not always so great. However, there is a real problem with Moto which has made me swear not to go back there after several visits, and that is the SERVICE. It is absolutely the worst I have encountered in the neighborhood. Not only is the staff dismissive and unattentive, they are flat-out rude.
Posted by: Marianne Green | April 15, 2005 12:38 AM
Great food and decor for the money. Amazing artichoke appetizer. Also the eggs stuffed with anchovies are great. The paninis are fine, but less interesting. The decor is excellent however. It gets really crowded on weekend nights and the live music is a nice touch. I just wish they had more vegan options for my girlfriend.
Posted by: John Fewell | March 13, 2005 10:30 PM