* Rye
image c/o NY Mag
CUISINE: American Nouveau
ADDRESS: 247 South First, Brooklyn NY 11211
between Roebling and Havemeyer
CARDS: All major
BOOZE: Full bar
MENU: Click Here (this menu is temporary)
SUBWAY: L Train to Bedford or Lorimer
MAP: Click Here
WEBSITE: http://ryerestaurant.com/
NY PRESS SAYS: As far as soft openings go, Cal Elliott’s debut of Rye snuck in with barely a murmur.Situated at 275 S. 1st St. in Williamsburg,Rye’s lovely wood, and glass doors give no indication there is food and drink to be had behind them. And given the sparse crowd last night, the former Dressler and DuMont co-chef has kept it low key.
As they work out the kinks, Elliott’s menu isn’t set in stone. Though, he is off to a good start with his appetizer choices like the tender seared sea scallop ($10), roasted beet salad ($9) with an amazing butter sauce, and Berkshire pork belly ($12) with salty beluga lentils. I wasn’t too impressed with the entrée options, but did settled on a tender, well crisped piece of wild striped bass ($24) that came with succulent cockles, mussels, a lone grainy little neck clam and a pile of bland risotto.
The cocktail list is fun, but after a tequila drink made with a touch of absinthe, I decided to stick to a lovely, slightly spicy bottle of Hudson Valley pinot noir from Millbrook Vineyards. Given, Rye is so new it doesn’t warrant a true review yet, so, while they add finishing touches (like hooks on the long, dark bar or some sort of decoration to the blank wall across from it) the large, high-ceiling, and low-lit space will flourish as word of mouth makes it the next hip place to dine.
image c/o NY Mag
image c/o NY Mag
Comments
Rye is a great restaurant. If you are not satisfied with the portion size go to Benny's Burritos. Y'all know what I'm talking about? That's right, beans.
Rye serves great cuts of meat and they are done consistently to perfection in my experience.
Ask your waiter if you are hungry. There are plenty of "gut busters" on the menu. I have a meal a day and I can get filled on a beer a meatloaf sandwich (which is actually very good - made with veal among other things) and half a plate of fries (3 dollars and as large as a large at McDonalds = 2 dollars right? sheesh) (which are very good as well - crispy on the outside and soft on the inside)
But aside from the food and drinks (the old fashioned is as good as you are going to get) The crowd is great - festive, happy, and not uptight. Anyone can come in and the restaurant attracts the "right" crowd - native New Yorkers, professionals, intellectuals, musicians, yadda yadda yadda. Thats right, people.
Get off the internet. do it now.
Posted by: aaron | September 18, 2009 07:57 PM
Went there yesterday and I second that it's overpriced and a very bad value.
Their french fries are 6 bucks and they are an annoying plate of shoestring! How can they do that especially in such close proximity to Dumont Burger?
The Meatloaf sandwich at 14 dollars is executed poorly, tastes fine, but meatloaf at a nice restaurant should be an indulgent and rich experience. There's no sides, and while the portion isn't tiny - it's not satisfyingly gut busting - which is the norm for haute comfort food. There was no gravy or sauce on the meatloaf either.
At first I thought the lamb chops were a great deal, but then I realized why - the cut was mostly fat, which is basically poorly butchered.
The sides with the lamb were tasty - roasted tomato was the best part.
Red wine served in a white wine glass with a whimpy pour.
Even the water glasses are annoyingly tiny - maybe a style choice but it's not enjoyable.
The grossish location doesn't help either.
Don't see this place staying in business until they have satisfying - make you happy- portions, and more friendly prices on the sides.
Posted by: anon | June 24, 2009 04:57 PM
yet another spot you're supposed to be seen at if you want to talk about where you've eaten and not actually have a good meal that you didn't feel taken advantage of when you left. $14 for a meatloaf sanwich...just the sandwich. $6 for shoestring fries that are "DELICIOUS! sea salt and herbs on top..." no thanks. you're better off going to walter, dumont burger. just another place going for more of the same thing- making money off unwarrented buzz.
Posted by: adam | June 24, 2009 04:45 PM
expensive and slow service, nothing else than the usual hipster restaurant, french-brasserie-wanna-be. fucking fed up of new york now. brooklyn in particular.
Posted by: Jenny | June 22, 2009 12:43 AM
fucking overpriced, i wil go there never again!!
Posted by: ned | June 22, 2009 12:17 AM