Did you think to check Julian Casablancas’ Twitter on Sunday? Probably not. But if you had you would’ve seen this. You could have pestered him over a frothy Tørst brew about the new Strokes album, even buying him a pint with the promise that the album would be 1/10th as good as Is This It. North Brooklyn is overflowing with self-important people — and not just Lena Dunham filming Girls — but what about when you want to see the REALLY important people? These four places are on the celebrity heat map in Williamsburg and Greenpoint, and if creeping on celebrities is your game, you may need some hobbies, but be our guest, stalker!
Isa Cringe levels were at an intolerable high upon learning that Brooklyn had been “gooped” by the insufferable Gwyneth Paltrow, for her weekly newsletter. Per Paltrow, Isa’s simple but effective menu and décor are “very cool”, but this is not surprising, as owner Taavo Summer is also responsible for “very cool Freeman and Peels in the city”. Ignoring Paltrow’s poor analogies and reference to Manhattan as “the city”, I will still take the advice of both a friend of Madonna’s and a fellow celebrity when trying to spot other celebrities. Hang around the rustic eatery and dig into the popular grilled skirt steak or Tuscan kale salad while keeping an eye on that sunglasses-wearing figure near the wood-burning stove. She also gives some love to Rye, Parish Hall, Marlow & Sons, and Blanca.
Isa
348 Wythe Ave.
New York, NY 11211
(347) 689-3594
The specials are the dishes to order at Diner (and yes, the servers still write them down on the table). Right now, chef de cuisine Ken Wiss is turning out inventive plates of Italian-influenced American fare, but you can always get the excellent burger and a serious steak, too. In terms of atmosphere, food, and value, Diner is one of North Brooklyn’s best restaurants.
On Sunday, December 2, the Roberta’s crew will host the third annual Beer Masters event at the Warsaw, in Greenpoint. The event will feature twelve teams competing in a beer-drinking competition, plus food from Roberta’s as well as “rad prizes.”
This is your classic super group (Cream?, Cactus?, Velvet Revolver?). The Meat Hook and Roberta’s have joined together to form Rippers, along with Michelle Cortez, who has worked at Savoy and on her own catering events. “Rippers is about good vibes and good times,” says Cortez. The menu will feature burgers and dogs made by the Meat Hook, a quinoa black bean burger and other veggie items, boat drinks and more. There’s a surfing beach at 87th Street, so Rippers will also have a pro-shop co-curated by Chris Gentile from Williamsburg surf shop, Mollusk, where they will sell basic beach supplies like towels, flip flops, sunscreen and Sun-In, for that 80s nostalgia you ordered. Rippers will be open from 7am to 7pm, seven days a week, offering a surfer’s breakfast each morning.
Cortez indicated that Rippers plans to deep fry a number of items, and while she wouldn’t reveal their exact plans, she did say that they have been “experimenting with a fried pickle on a stick.” She also spoke highly of a Mexican wedding shot: a shot of tequila following by a lime wedge dusted with sugar on one side, finely ground coffee on the other.
That’s why we turned to our friends at Roberta’s, in Bushwick, Brooklyn, a pizzeria-cum-culinary-empire whose bold tasting menu recently caused former New York Times restaurant critic Sam Sifton to tweet, simply: “Am rarely speechless. But #robertas #bklyn.” The guys who run the place are whip-smart and wild-eyed, such hard partiers that a night out with them is equal to three nights out with average men. And so they set about designing a threecourse, two-cocktail weed tasting menu that would leave us stoned and sated. We were still high twenty-four hours after eating it [...]
Earlier this month, the “No Reservations” star wrapped up the week-long Kings County taste tour for a final fall show.
The brash New Jersey boy turned celeb chef told The News his trip to the borough was prompted by cooks he’s met from across the globe raving about Brooklyn’s eating scene.
“Brooklyn is the nexus where everything is going on right now,” said Bourdain.
“Brooklyn is a melting pot. There are traditional Jewish delis. Caribbeans are a huge part of the culture.
There was an attempt to embrace the features of what makes the Brooklyn picture.”
Sheepshead Bay got the Hollywood treatment hosting Bourdain and his camera crews at two spots: Jay & Lloyds Kosher Delicatessen on Avenue U and Randazzo’s Clam Bar on Emmons Avenue.
Bourdain also spent time in the borough’s hipster and brownstone pockets eating at Chef’s Table at Brooklyn Fare, the pricy three Michelin-starred restaurant on Atlantic Avenue in Boerum Hill. And at Roberta’s on Moore Street in Bushwick.
