Juliette
image c/o NoahKalina
French, Bistro
135 N 5th St, Brooklyn 11211
(Btwn Bedford Ave & Berry St)
PHONE: 718-388-9222
FAX: 718-388-9221
CARDS: American Express only
BOOZE: Full bar
ENTREES: $18-25
HOURS: Dinner: Mon-Thu: 5pm-12am, Fri-Sat: 5pm-1am, Sun: 5pm-11pm
Brunch: Sat-Sun: 10:30am-4pm
SUBWAY: L Train to Bedford
MAP: Click Here
MENU: Click Here
WEBSITE: Click Here
FROM THE EATER: Taking over the former Red and Black space on North 5th Street in Williamsburg, this is Juliette. It's going for bustling neighborhood French bistro to be sure: Chef-owner Thierry Rochard comes to the restaurant via Tartine and owner Alexandra Drozd last did scene-in-rapidly-gentrifying neighborhood at The Delancey. (To get to that elevated goldmine status, however, they're eventually going to have to expand to at least a continuous 16-hour day.) The food, which is getting good buzz is along standard bistro lines.
From NYTimes: This sweet French bistro has a menu that takes tradition to heart with dishes like steamed artichokes, steak frites and fish done niçoise style with aioli. The few Mexican notes, like chicken soup with cilantro and chicken with guacamole, are a trifle jarring.
From NY Press
t the current rate, there will be more restaurants in Williamsburg than asymmetrical haircuts by the end of the year. And roof decks--who doesn’t have one? What’s notable about Juliette, the new bistro that just went up on North Fifth Street, isn’t its novelty or the possibility of drunken Sunday afternoons overlooking the East River, but the attention to detail and the high quality of the dishes served.In a space big enough for a nightclub, the former tenant was once the local band lair Black & Red. Now, completely transformed, Juliette has more room than your average local boite, and it’s tastefully filled with plants and antiques as well as enough tables to accommodate an army of hungry, hung-over hipsters looking for some grownup grub.
Open for breakfast only on the weekends, Juliette offers a French-style menu that’s nothing if not decadent but at a reasonable fixed price of $13. The French toast, made with homemade brioche, arrives topped with lardons (cubes of bacon), and all the dishes come with a side of potatoes topped with a thick hollandaise sauce. Breakfast service includes top-notch coffee and fresh-squeezed orange juice in addition to one of the 10 entrees--from a burger to gravlax (thin slices of cured salmon) made in-house. This isn’t the rowdy brunch crowd that packs the Bedford corridor hoping to cure last night’s vodka tonic with this morning’s Bloody Mary. And while there’s an air of calm and reserve, which is definitely refreshing in the land of unlimited mimosas for the legwarmer set in last night’s makeup, it’s not so stuffy that you’ll mistake it for the Upper East Side.
For dinner, the dining room at Juliette opens at 5 p.m. seven nights a week with an impressive selection of apps and entrees. Starting with classic French onion soup ($6), the meals are well conceived and prepared. Specifically, standout dishes include the Indian curry moules frites (steamed mussels) with coconut milk and fresh cilantro ($15), the grilled Cornish hens with Roquefort polenta ($18) or the classic steak frites ($19). Portions remain substantial--more American than Continental--though you may have to dredge up some of your high school French to pronounce the menu correctly. But don’t think Juliette’s gone overboard with euro snobbery: Guacamole shows up whenever possible, including in a standard grilled chicken sandwich--with smoked mozzarella, arugula, tomato, Portobello, roasted garlic mayonnaise and guac ($13)--as well as in something called Tartine’s Spicy Chicken ($16), which also comes with a side of fries--very French.
In addition to the broad dinner menu, there’s a respectable wine list to match. Strong selections of red, white, rosé and champagne all show up, and while none of them would qualify as terribly inexpensive—the lowest-priced bottle clocks in at $22--there’s no reason not to splurge. If you’re a cheap date, however, all of the beers are priced at $5 and can be used to wash down dishes from the escargot ($7) to any of the classic fruity desserts (poached pears, pear crème brulée and orange soufflé glacée all go for $6.50 a piece).
While late-night spots serving upscale cuisine are still few and far between in these parts, Juliette does its best, staying open until midnight most evenings and 1 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. With rumors of a movie theater being built on Berry Street--and the unstoppable construction of apartment towers along the waterfront—the area’s quickly sprouting dining spots to match its fancy new image, and Juliette is one of the best in the bunch. It might not be “vintage Williamsburg,” but if this is the future, it doesn’t look too bad.
Comments
featherlight gnocchi, great wines and helpful service make this a nabe winner
Posted by: robert bell | August 9, 2008 12:38 AM
I am writing to commend Juliette for finally hiring a professional hostess (at least for their brunch hours). She was a great relief to us last weekend. Now if only they could equip her with a bull whip to get the rest of the clueless downstairs weekend staff in gear! Were in not for her, we were going to walk out (as if my order isn't solicited within 20 minutes, I assume my money is no good).
Oh, the food? Totally decent. This is that automatic default neighborhood restaurant for those nights when you lack imagination, but in fickle Williamsburg, this is a compliment. Consistent dishes, if overpriced for their usually light level of attention to guests' needs.
Posted by: Skoa | June 3, 2008 11:03 AM
I have had dinner there twice and it was absolutely exceptional both times. Best damn snails I have ever put in my mouth. The burger was perfect as well. I could go on about the rest of the food but there is no need; It was all perfect. I am so taken with this place, I implore anyone who didn't like there experience to give it one more shot. I wish Juliet the best. P.S. The waitress was really nice to us.
Posted by: boogabear | December 11, 2007 05:59 AM
After hearing mixed reviews, my girlfriend and I tried this place.
Per other reviews, the space was inviting, however the food was bland, menu choices underwhelming, and service quite poor.
There are much better higher end dining options in Williamsburg. Untill Juliette tightens up its kitchen, I would recommend dining elsewehere.
Posted by: sw | December 2, 2007 04:24 AM
I've gone once, not going back. Black burnt pancakes, what server in their right mind would bring out black burnt pancakes?! And then have me wait forever for new pancakes that weren't burnt but still tasted like sh**
Posted by: fingerlickingkitten | November 26, 2007 04:03 PM
I have been there at least 6 or 7 times so far and I always had a great time. service is very unwilliamsburg, food is great and the place fab!
Posted by: pamela | June 10, 2007 11:02 PM
What is it with these Williamsburg restaurants that have exceptional decor and mediocre food? Worst poivre sauce I've ever had, it was like eating raw peeper and cream. Not to mention the horrible management. There's no hostess so they literally have dredges of people waiting by the entranceway. Perhaps their business would be more lucrative if they wrote down a seating list and ushered people to the bar rather than having them irritatingly wait in the hallway.
Posted by: ilana | May 24, 2007 04:11 PM
After months of passing by and thinking I wanted to try Juliette, I finally did last night and I wish I had gone a lot sooner. YUM! The server was very attentive, the ambience was nice and the food was perfect--steak frites and burger cooked just how we asked.
Posted by: rita Naman | May 13, 2007 02:42 PM
great looking place, good vibes. sub mediocre food and horrible horrible service
Posted by: dana | May 12, 2007 07:49 PM
i really love the look of this place- it's more french than a lot bistros in Paris! i think the service is lackluster however and the food- just "ok". it also doesnt really match the vibe of the neighborhood- for lack of a better description, it's very Park Slopey with an older (40 something)crowd whenever I am in there- which is fine, just odd. I am looking forward to the roof in spring/summer- the whole place could change!
Posted by: tellsie | April 13, 2007 05:55 PM
love this place!!!! i love the food the ambience, the service...i am not much with words but i love this place - i was pleasantly surprised!!!!
Posted by: sofia | April 6, 2007 07:32 PM
I love this place. The spicy chicken is great. Nice decor too.
Posted by: mikey | January 29, 2007 09:13 PM