Fanny
American Nouveau
425 Graham Avenue, Williamsburg Brooklyn 11211
(between Frost and Withers Sts)
PHONE: 718.389.2060
CARDS: Cash Only
AVERAGE ENTREE: $12
BOOZE: Beer & Wine
DIRECTIONS: L to Graham Avenue
MAP: Click Here
HOURS: Sun-Thurs 11-11; Fri & Sat 11-12
MENU: Click Here
Photo: Federica Paoletti
Fom TimeOut NY: Walk down Graham Avenue between Frost and Withers Streets and you'll see a predominately residential Italian neighborhood. Located far from the Bedford Avenue crowds, this East Williamsburg spot—in one of the borough's quiet, not-so-hip areas—is home to this terrific new pint-sized French bistro. The space is filled with antique-looking exposed-filament bulbs (replicas of the first model created by Con Edison); wood, slate and concrete walls; and cherry-maple wood tables. The owners, both French expats, have stocked the menu with bistro classics: An appetizer of steamed mussels is served in a terra-cotta crock with an addictive buttery and garlicky white-wine-and-shallot sauce (best sopped up with pieces of chewy baguette). Among the entrées, the roasted chicken with mushrooms fricassee and spinach (pictured) was most notable for its delightfully tender and juicy meat and for the way the chef—a French-trained Japanese man named Hiro Kiriyama—cooked the skin to a perfect crisp (the secret: the bird is marinated in lime juice before cooking). The terra-cotta crock pops up again in the monkfish Provençal, which is served, like the mussels, in a hearty, savory and warming stew—this time filled with large pieces of flaky fish, potatoes, onions, tomatoes, garlic and parsley, and topped with buttered crostini. Kiriyama prepares the desserts, too, and his gooey, raisin-and-pine-nut-studded apple strudel with fig ice cream arrived warm and tasted freshly baked. The place does not have its liquor license yet, but there is a liquor store just up the street. If they don't stock good French wines, they'd be wise to do so soon.—TONY
Comments
Starting June, 2009, renowned chef Cal opens the doors of his first restaurant Rye located at 247 South First Street between Roebling St and Havemeyer St. in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Elliot’s menu takes a personal twist on contemporary American fare with reinterpreted rural dishes like House Smoked Sturgeon with boulangere potatoes, pancetta, frisee & horseradish. Whether enjoying a cocktail at the burnished bar or pulling up a chair in the dim-lit dining room, you’ll soon feel at home in this clandestine Brooklyn eatery
Posted by: Katie | June 3, 2009 10:30 PM
Just moved in Williamsburg, I tried a few restaurants on Bedford, fun and full of cute girls but I like Fanny, its close to my apartment, its good and they are super nice.
Posted by: Tony | December 6, 2008 01:45 PM
the owners/staff are really great but the food is soo awful. really, maybe it is just me... i keep thinking this as there are always customers and it is so close to my home. But the food is always over cooked(rubbery fish???) and with too much salt. I try and keep an open mind and this is not a complaint i ever direct at any other establishment.
Posted by: annonie | November 27, 2008 01:44 AM
Fanny is perhaps the best food I've had since moving to New York, mostly because it is the most similar to what I was accustomed to finding in coastal France and Spain. They do now have their liquor license, and in getting it, having a very nice and well-planned wine list to accompany the short, simple, but excellent menu. Moreover, they're very happy to give recommendations. Best of all, it lacks the pretension (and the price) of similar restaurants on Bedford.
Posted by: Betts | September 7, 2008 04:21 AM
You guys rocked our new Year Eve. No reservation but you managed to get us a table after a short wait at the bar, perfect menu and cute service. Thanks and happy 2008 to Fanny!
Posted by: Lilie | January 9, 2008 03:48 PM
Love to push my salad with the fried artichokes, love to deep the fries in the garlic mayo,the fig ice cream, love you Fanny
Posted by: amy | July 14, 2007 02:55 PM
Not kids friendly.
Actually its just not the right place to take kids but where it is. Went there for brunch, the place is kind of small and I noticed others strollers that were definitely in the staff way, they tried to make jokes and worked around but were clearly not happy. We just moved in the neighborhood so I thought it was another Williamsburg attitude place but overall I had a good time and they were nice. The food was good and will for sure be back for a nice evening with my husband when we finally found a babysitter.
Posted by: Tina | July 7, 2007 03:26 PM
Whoever made a bad comment about this place must have been out of their minds. Fanny offers superb food and ambiance at very reasonable prices. We had the pork chop and the braised lamb (special of the day). The meat just melted in our mouths. The carte du vin is compact but has safe options. The Lavender manger with vanilla ice-cream is a white piece of heaven. It's definetely a better deal and less annoying hip crowd than places like The Diner (and we do love the food there) and Dumont. The music is not intrusive and very well picked. Don't miss it.
Posted by: Patricia and Ana | May 6, 2007 10:02 PM
Worst birthday experience ever!
We were only 6 in our party and when I called to find out whether they served wine, they succinctly said NO and prompted me to bring my own with a $10 corking fee.
Not only did they charge us 10 for each bottle we consumed, but they also brought out a dessert we never ordered (for the birthday girl) AND charged us for that!! The nerve.
The highlight was when I found a spit-out olive pit in our bredk basket for which the rude waitress barely apologized! Food was entirely average, service atrocious but boy do they make you pay....for everything!!!! Why even bother going this far when we have the classic cant-fail-us places.
Posted by: Anonymous foodies | December 3, 2006 08:53 PM
One of the more relaxed enjoyable eateries in w-burg. Everything I have tried here was very good and now they have some fantastic wines too. Much better value than diner or du-mont and alot less of the annoying crowd that frequents those places. You know who!
Posted by: reuben | September 8, 2006 10:57 PM
I didn't even think I liked pate until i ate here. Yum!!
Posted by: Katie | August 27, 2006 02:11 AM
worst service ever. went twice for brunch. food was fine, but waiting literally an hour for your check is not. the place was practically empty!
Posted by: Anonymous | July 17, 2006 03:03 PM
Been hanging there for a while, pork chop is my favorite and no more BYOB, congrats, nice Dekoninck on tap. Good job guys.
Posted by: Billy | July 8, 2006 02:21 PM
Went to Fanny last night with some friends and loved it. Don’t expect traditional French food, no regular Manhattan onion soup here or “want to be cool” over pricy like Bedford avenue but good, simple and well-made food. I loved the grilled calamari and can’t wait to go back and check out their brunch.
Posted by: bella | May 18, 2006 04:14 PM
Fanny is my new spot. I’ve been in this neighborhood for years and just love this new restaurant. They did a great job with the renovation, it’s simple but elegant, not pretentious, casual and comfortable. No delivery but they do take out: juicy burger right off the subway, it’s great. The menu is small but not boring, mostly French with a Spanish touch and they have great specials without killing your wallet. Friendly staff. BYOB for now, sad for them, good for us. Go check it out, it’s a real plus on the block.
Posted by: james | May 17, 2006 04:14 PM
Overall pretty good. I wouldn't travel far to go here, it's nothing spectacular, but for the neighborhood it's nice and you can get a good steak frites for a lot less than Dumont (plus, BYOB is always nice). The dressing on their mixed green salad needs a little attention - it tastes something like salty oil with mustard. The dessert menu is pretty disappointing. They only have swiss cheese for their burgers - cmon guys, no cheddar or blue? - a shame, they look tasty.
Posted by: amy | April 18, 2006 12:14 AM