I LOVE this place!!! The menu is packed full of yummy stuff and it's so hard to decide what to order. Doesn't hurt that they start you out with free corn bread and FREE wine! Last time I ordered the Pulled Pork egg rolls with spicy mayo sauce for an appetizer and they were amazing. My mom got the fried chicken dinner which we were told is their most popular item...now I understand why! I got the skirt steak with a side of mac and cheese with bacon. YUM yum yum! The prices are totally reasonable and the waitstaff was great. I'll be back for sure!!!

Okay, so after reading the really negative reviews for the restaurant I was totally skeptical to try it. However, my roommate is from the South and willing to try a questionable restaurant for the southern food.

I was pleasantly surprised! We had the sweetest waitress who totally put us at ease, and although it's not a super fancy atmosphere, it was totally laid back and relaxed. Kudos to the free wine, that's totally a plus for a cheap williamsburg-ite like me. Oh, and the night I went they gave us some free bourbon ice cream with a raspberry swirl, amazing!

I had the firecracker shrimp and smoked gouda grit cakes. They were totally awesome! My roommate tried the sweet potato gnocchi and porkchop. I'm not usually huge on gnocchi, i feel like it gets too doughy and thick, but it ended up being amazing!

From what I hear, most of these bad reviewers (which are from a while ago) were prior to their new chef. So it's a thought, I'm going back there for brunch this weekend, I hear they have free mimosas on the weekend!

I took my friend for her BD & pre-wedding dinner recently. I was a bit worried about the place after I read bad comments for this restaurant. But it turned out GREAT!! The waitress was friendly, calm, nice, food had great Southern taste. I ordered catfish, my friend had chicken, both perfectly cooked with full flavor. And we brought white wine which was put in cooler immediately by the wait staff. The portion was pretty big, so we didn't order any appetizer or dessert, but they offered cornbread, watermelon, and candy for free!!! We'll definitely come back:-))

AGAIN THIS IS NOT DANTE FRIED CHICKEN...

I would never even try this place.... so don't get confused.. thanks
http://www.dantefriedchicken.com

WORST RESTAURANT EXPERIENCE EVER! I went here the beginning of the year and am STILL steamed about it! Firstly, the restaurant was freezing. The wait staff knew it was freezing and made a comment on it (something like 'oh man, it's cold over here huh? I'm gunna get back to the kitchen!') without offering to turn up the heat. There were only two other tables occupied in the whole restaurant and the servers didn't check on us AT ALL-they were just dancing around and literally napping at the bar. Large tables next to us were filled with dirty dishes and old food that sat there and were never cleaned up from the time we arrived til we left. Only half of the food we ordered came out (and when we asked about it, they said they were out of hashbrowns and beans and that they would bring us fries instead...which never came!). Our coffee had grounds in it-even after we complained and they made a 'new' pot. AND, to top it all off, my toast had mold on it! Never going back there again!

I've been here a few times and the only thing that really kills it for me is the manager breathing down our server's neck and yelling at other staff members. The manager came over to see how our table was doing and definitely outstayed his welcome.
Manager: please chill or get yourself another job, i enjoy the food. thank you.

I really wanted to like this place because it seems sincere in an Austin-y kind of way. The cornbread was good (but then again, how do you mess up cornbread?), but it was downhill from there...all the way down to two in the morning when I woke up with a knot in my stomach and had to vomit. I think I got minor food poisoning from the fried chicken. The mac and cheese was questionable, the collard greens soupy, and my girlfriend's plate came with a foul-smelling pickled something-or-other...was it fennel? We didn't ask. The people seemed friendly in a clueless, stoner kind of way (we smelled weed coming in through the back door as staff went in and out). Definitely won't be going back.

FRIED OKRA!!!!! The only other place I know in NYC that has it right is ACME, and that's all the way in the city. Order the chicken fried chicken not the fried chicken, got that?

The people here are so nice you just wish they had more people to serve.
Brunch was perfect, right up there with Relish. Cornbread is unique, it's sweet with red peppers and surprisingly addictive.

It's sort of hidden which doesn't provide the foot traffic it deserves. As far as everyone bitching about the decor, if you wanna pretend that you're in the 50's (Relish), or a 70's ski cabin from the northwest (Lodge), or the BBQ joint from There Will Be Blood (Fette Sau), go elsewhere. All these places serve great food, Dante's just isn't as focused in the image department, but WHO CARES?

If you want to go to a place that is (what I believe to be) owned by a real Brooklyn local who has an eclectic personality in 2009, go to Dante's. I mean, shit, I have an autographed Night Of The Living Dead photo, a Calder lithograph, and velvet painting of a sailboat hanging on my wall and I can still cook.

>>>I AM THE REAL DANTE FRIED CHICKEN

THIS IS NOT MY RESTAURANT, I DO NOT HAVE RESTAURANT. I TRAVEL THE WORLD FRYING CHICKEN. I AM THE HOST/COOK/CREATOR OF THE NYC SUBTERRANEAN UNDERGROUND VARIETY COOKING SHOW AKA THE DANTE FRIED CHICKEN SHOW. CHECK MY BLOG OUT:
dantefriedchicken.com

hands down the worst restaurant I have ever eaten at!

buffalo wings are hard to find in Williamsburg so i have to say, even tho i smell strange now, i'm glad i went to this place tonight. i ate 2 orders of buffalo wings, i'm not proud but they were good. the place was empty which was weird and i was worried my japanese girlfriend thought i was crazy, or stupid American boy, but it was worth it. and they gave us free wine.... what? so. the wings are good, the chili was good. i didn't try anything else and prolly won't, but i'll be back. Interior vibe tho... strange... skater graffiti mixed with st. louis cards decor and then an Audry Hepurn movie my fair lady? whaaaa? but whatever, free wine, good wings, treats upon paying for bill. by the way some of these postings are fake they must be!

OBAMA 8/4/79

The people who write positive things about the place must either have zero palate or be shilling for the restaurant. The chicken wasn't even really fried, and there wasn't much of it on the bone at all. The second I tried it, I knew why Dante's is always empty.

sorry, guys... there is no longer a union picnic connection... management was just too difficult... i understand that some people think union p. people still work there... not the case... i did my best but crazy politics was a bigger issue than satisfying you all... good luck to everybody, they drove me outta town...

Not sure why it's been so empty here, but this place is really good. Had the chicken fried steak -- something I haven't had for years -- really great. My girlfriend had the fried chicken - also good. Sides were also well prepared and tasty (collard greens/beans/okra). A good addition to the neighborhood.

OVERVIEW:
My girlfriend and I have been to Dante's three times and ordered their delivery food once. Each time the food has been delicious but the service has been atrocious. Not so much rude as "have-these-people-got-any-restaurant-experience-at-all?" bad.

THE DEETS:
My girlfriend had been to a party once that featured Dante's famous fried chicken; I'd heard the buzz. We're both from the South (North Carolina and the Florida Panhandle) and we love trying all of New York's Southern comfort food spots. With the fantastic Pies N' Thighs on hiatus, we're always looking for a new spot with exceptional pulled pork or biscuits and gravy (yes, I conspicuously omit Lodge here).

ROUND 1: Delivery:
The first time was delivery for dinner. It took well over an hour and a half for the food to be delivered (we live a 10 minute walk away) and when it arrived my fried chicken had been silently replaced by catfish. When we called to inquire, we were told that we'd been called several times to be told that they were out of fried chicken. Apparently they had the wrong number. But they begrudgingly offered free fried chicken the next time we came in. Again though, the food was delicious, but we wanted this famed fried chicken. (SIDEBAR: there was a remarkable amount of plastic being used in the delivery: lots of extra cutlery, a separate tiny black plastic container for every sort of condiment and side (ketchup, hot sauce, cole slaw, salad dressing, etc.). It felt unnecessarily wasteful.

ROUND 2: Brunch:
My girlfriend is smarter than I am: she didn't want to go back. She had talked to the manager on the phone and didn't like his tone. But I had to try this fried chicken I'd heard so much about and they were offering a free order to make it up to us, so what the hell. A couple weeks went by and we forgot the manager's name to redeem our complimentary fried chicken. No matter, we said, we'll go for brunch. They have fried chicken and waffles for godssake! Just like Roscoe's in LA!

In spite of all the buzz we'd heard about Dante's--the parties featuring Dante's fried chicken and hip bands--the place was almost empty. Most places in the Burg are slammed on the weekends at brunch and we expected Dante's to be the same. Bad sign. Maybe it's that they still don't have their liquor license, but one would think the exceptionally low prices would make up for that. Five minutes after being seated we were brought menus. Another five or ten minutes went by and we were brought water and our drink orders were taken. But it was another ten minutes before we saw our simple order of coffee and orange juice.

We finally ordered after being in the restaurant almost thirty minutes, and to our dismay, they had chicken but no waffles. Drag. Perhaps they could substitute pancakes instead? Hmmm... odd. One would think if you have pancake batter, you could fake some waffles on a waffle iron, right? No matter; we're flexible and at least we'll get to try that famous chicken! After we ordered, we waited approximately another thirty minutes for our meal to be presumably hatched from an egg, grown in the backyard to adult chickenhood, slaughtered, cleaned, cooked and brought to us. Indeed, it was delicious. The chicken was smothered with a spicy and salty sausage gravy that would make my grandma smile and both our plates were accompanied by a fun assortment of fresh fruit.

We had to flag our server endlessly for things that should be refilled or checked on: coffee, water, another glass of orange juice, hot sauce, the check... please!

ROUND 3:
Brunch was delicious, so we decided to go back again for brunch a couple weeks later. Same situation: only 3 or 4 tables were seated, only one server, painfully slow service, delicious meal. This time there were waffles to go with the chicken and I figured out why they couldn't have just thrown some pancake batter on the waffle iron for me last time: these were frozen waffles, right off the conveyor belt. The chicken this time was a bit bloody and pink. Shame. But the orange juice was fresh squeezed and our alcohol-free check was super low ($20 for two), so that evened things out a bit.

The poor server: she seemed exacerbated by her plight of four tables and a super slow kitchen. But we couldn't help feeling she just didn't have a lot of experience waiting tables (both of us have worked at restaurants before, in our youth). But she was friendly enough and seemed to feel for us when she spilled our coffee, knocked over our cutlery and hurriedly brought out one part of our meal but not the other.

ROUND 4:
This last time we went, we were surprised to find every table was full. Perhaps the neighborhood had finally found out about this place! There was even a host of sorts to seat us at the front while we waited a short while for a table.

When we were finally seated (next to a table scattered with papers, a calculator and pens--presumably a makeshift office), we were immediately given menus. But ten minutes went by before our water- and cutlery-less table saw more service. Were we ready to order? Um, yes. Once again, same situation: agonizingly slow service, one server (but with a full house!), and delicious meal.

While we waited the hour or so for our brunch to be served, we got a kick out of the somewhat comical scene (perhaps knowing it would be our last visit to Dante's). Every table's patrons seemed to be in a state of either frustration, amazement at the incompetence or both. This time, we looked forward to the fresh squeezed orange juice but it had been unfortunately replaced by some stuff in a carton. We know because the host brought the actual carton out to our table. Strange.

CONCLUSION:
Things seem like they could go well for Dante's, provided they get their dire management and service issues sorted out. The food is delicious if a bit inconsistent. But we won't be going back until we start hearing good things from people

This might be the worst place ever! Wouldn't go back there if someone paid me to go. Terrible waitress, awful manager that talks too much and awful decor. There is,literally, EVERYTHING wrong with this place. Stay away at all costs... so you won't have to try their frozen and reheated food.

I've been here a few times and My wife and kids as well as me are quie happy with the food. Personal Fave would have to be the Ribs that just fall off the bone, no knife needed at all and the mashed collyflowwer Rocks. Didn't care for the Mac and cheese but hen i sugjested how to tweek it they went right to it and with a little spice it rocks. They really have a great staff that can't be any more helpful and With Norman looking over everything he makes sure your happy..Im my book
FUGETABOUTIT!! They ROCK

I've been here a few times and My wife and kids as well as me are quie happy with the food. Personal Fave would have to be the Ribs that just fall off the bone, no knife needed at all and the mashed collyflowwer Rocks. Didn't care for the Mac and cheese but hen i sugjested how to tweek it they went right to it and with a little spice it rocks. They really have a great staff that can't be any more helpful and With Norman looking over everything he makes sure your happy..Im my book
FUGETABOUTIT!! They ROCK

We live around the corner from Dante's (and my boyfriend's name is Dante) so maybe we're biased, but we love this place; esp for brunch at 1992 prices. We went in for a working wknd brunch and got fed fast for under $20. The burgers are unbelievable, and all the portions are very generous. Plus, BYOB means its a good place to bring a couple bottles and some friends to take over the couched in area - if you saw a couple watching wrestling and drinking Jameson there last week, that was probably us.

I hate to say this, but I do have a hunch that these reviews might be forgeries.

I've eaten Dante's food twice, once takeout and once inside. The first time was so so. The second time the sides were unbelievable but the fried chicken was perhaps less palatable than PFC.

Though the place was pretty slow, our server seemed exacerbated. This was probably because the owner was breathing down her neck at every oppurtunity. She was nice and helpful and altogether the place was alright. I just really can't see anyone making Dante's part of their weekly routine, as indicated by previous comments

First off, anyone who compares Dante's to the Lodge, most likely works for the Lodge. There is no comparison. If I wanted to eat sweet potato flavored shoe strings, I would go to the Lodge. However, I like my food the way it is.

The food here is fantastic. I've never had a bad meal. I eat here as often as I can, but usually only ends up being once a week. The chicken fried steak is a staple in my diet.

The service is friendly on a level you'd almost believe is fake, but it's all too genuine.

The atmosphere is a thing unto itself, fine art mixes seamlessly with urban graffiti, comfy furniture, and what looks like a Wing Chun dummy.

Now, come the weekends they crack this place open for brunch, and this is where the trouble starts. There's not enough weekends to eat your fill. The pancakes almost perfectly match the pancakes my Dad used to make every Sunday, add in the blueberries, or chocolate chips, and it's game over. Dante's, 1. The childhood idea that my Dad is the best cook in the world, 0.

Bottom line, if you want good food, with good service, at a good price, go here. If you want to waste your money on over-the-top crap, go somewhere else.

First of all, I am dumbfounded by the positive comments on this place. I ate at this place on a whim with friends and all of us were dissatisfied with our food. I ate what I would call tasteless, soggy chicken and in no way was it even "fried" as advertised in the menu. To top it off this plate was $12.50!!! If a self proclaimed Southern resturant can not produce tasty FRIED CHICKEN, i really don't know how they expect to compete with places like EGG, ENIDS, or even PALACE FRIED CHICKEN.

Honestly, the food was such a bummer I couldn't stop complaining about it to people and now I find myself online writing about it because it was that BAD. Maybe there are other things on the menu, like the blackened catfish that could have tasted better, but I guarantee you I will not bother to ever go back to find out. We also found this place in a Williamsburg handguide and I am actually really frustrated that I picked to go to this place over the baked potatoe place on S2nd.

That place is disgusting. A Mcdonalds chicken sandwich tastes better than the flavorless fried chicken. Don't expect real garlic if you order the garlic fries. It's from a frozen bag that gets doused with fake garlic salt. how about the corn? why don't you just take it outta the freezer and mic it because that's what that soggy thing tasted like. sweet potato fries, yea right... just run down to the Lodge if you want good sweet potato fries from scratch, not the freezer.

We order from Dantes at least once a week and the food rocks our socks. It's always hot, fresh, and tastes like you raided mama's kitchen. Plus the staff is super nice and helpful.

I'm crazy about the Big Carolina Club Sandwich and the BLT. And my wife, who's a vegetarian, loves to get a few of their classic sides (especially creamed spinach!). The corn bread you get with every order is the cherry on the cake- not to mention the handful of classic childhood candies (pixie sticks, mary janes ... and they even managed to dig up some root beer barrels which we hadn't seen in YEARS).

Hands down the best home-style food in the neighborhood. It's the kind of place that just leaves you happy.

I've been ordering from Dante's on a nearly nightly basis. The food comes within a half-hour, it's always hot, and everything on the menu has been delicious. I love Lazy Catfish, but Dante's has become my #1 for southern food in Williamsburg.

Personal Faves: Fried Chicken, Meatloaf (although it falls apart a bit, it's still delicious!), collard greens cooked with chopped red chilies, mac & cheese, and creamed spinach. I would have tried the fried okra tonight, but they're closed on Mondays (booo).

Also, each delivery comes with a couple pixie stix and some good corn bread!!

Eat there! Make them open on Mondays!!

HEY!
Williamsburg is TOTALLY sleeping on this one.

THE NEW BRUNCH IS WONDERFUL HERE!

i just had perhaps the best Pancakes and Eggs ever. (Banana-Walnut, with strawberry butter). The eggs are always perfect..
My companion is REALLY picky about the eggs on her Benedict... This was the first "perfect" I have heard from her.
It is NEVER crowded for Brunch so far, but that wont last.
Great food, Great staff, great music and hip, cozy atmosphere.....
Dunno why It is not packed, but i live upstairs..... perhaps I should be selfish and shut up...
;-)

Yum

Went to Dante's for the second time last Friday night and had an excellent meal. The waitstaff was exceptionally nice and accommodating, and the food was tasty. Sure, half of it is fried, but it's a definite reminder of my Southern upbringing and it is done with thoughtful inventiveness. A good place to go when you want a straightforward and tasty meal without any snootiness from waitstaff (also, without a wait for a table). It's currently BYOB, which is great since there's a liquor store a block away on Grand.