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Larry Lawrence - Hidden Bar on Grand Street

Unless you look carefully, you're likely to walk right past the entrance of Larry Lawrence, a chill bar on Grand Street in Williamsburg.  The entrance has a simple sign that says bar. Once through the speakeasy-esque wooden door, you walk through a long dimly hit corridor to get to the main space.  Its a big space, with exposed brick walls, wood panels, modern furniture and a long bar. The vibe is chill, and the crowd is mixed (not another hipster hangout).  Drinks are cheap, and even smokers are treated well - there is an elevated outdoor smoking area. The bar is also used as a space for photo shoots, weddings, and other events during the day.

What makes it good:

- There's something satisfying about "discovering" a hidden bar

Larry Lawrence Bar

95 Grand St Brooklyn, NY 11211-4406 - (718) 218-7866

Hotel Delmano - Cocktail Bar on Berry Street

Good restaurants and bars tend to cluster together, and that is exactly whats seems to be happening at the corner of North 9th and Berry. On one corner you have Silent H, on the other Miranda, and then there's the Hotel Delmano, a cocktail bar that shares the intimate and classy vibes of its neighbors.

From the outside, the Hotel Delmano does not call much attention to itself. With oldish looking frosted glass windows all around, and a simple sign by the door that says "Bar", it would be easy to walk by this place, if not for the usual steady flow of patrons coming and going. When entering, you feel like you are stepping into another era, like someplace out of the Great Gatsby. The lighting is low and dim, the furniture is vintage brasserie style, and the bar is long with plenty of seating, and backed by shelf after shelf of bottles reaching to the high ceilings. The crowd here is a little older and a little cooler than your usual Williamsburg hipster hangouts.

While there are small snacks available like cheese and meat plates, patrons seem to brave the waits (yes there can be wait to get in on the weekends), mainly for the cocktails. In addition to the dozens of types of rums, whiskeys, brandys and other liquors on hand, the Delmano makes some killer cocktails. On my last visit I tried a concoction that included rum, egg whites, chartreuse, amongst other things. Between the taste and the beautiful presentation, you can tell that these bartenders take pride in their craft.

What makes it good:
- Intimate, classy vibe
- Well made cocktails

Know before you go:
- Friday and Saturdays can mean a wait at the door
- Drinks range from $12- $14



Hotel Delmano 82 Berry St (at North 9th), Brooklyn, NY 11211 (718)-387-1945

Egg- Southern Brunch in the Burg

One of the nice things about eating out in Williamsburg, is that you rarely have to wait in line for a table. You especially wouldn't wait in line for a table for brunch. But every Saturday and Sunday, rain or shine, without fail, there is a line of people outside of Egg on North 5th Street.

Egg is set in what could be mistaken for a garage. In fact it may very well used to have been a garage. Its a long, narrow unadorned space with small wooden tables, squeezed together and an open kitchen on one end.

If the atmosphere isn't that exciting, its the food that doesn't disappoint. The brunch menu has tasty traditional southern breakfast dishes like Biscuits and Gravy, Eggs and Cheese Grits, and Country Ham. The sides are just as good, with crisp bacon, sausage and crunchy hash browns.

For good, hearty southern food Egg is worth the wait.

What Makes it Good:
- Theres no health food on the menu
-Sometimes you just have to have biscuits and gravy for breakfast

Know Before you Go:
- Egg has just extended their hours- From 9am on weekends and open for lunch and dinner.
- Breakfast is available all day

Recommended Dishes:
- Cheese Grits
- Eggs Rothko

Egg 135 North 5th Street, Williamsburg Brooklyn (Between Berry and Bedford) 718-302-5151

Walter Foods - Williamsburg Raw Bar

As much as Bedford Avenue is the street for pizza joints, coffee shops, and other hipster hangouts, Grand Street is developing into a serious destination for those looking for good restaurants. Walter Food, at 253 Grand Street, just recently opened, and offers a raw bar, seafood and meats. It is rare for people in Williamsburg to actually agree to wait for tables, but here customers endured 30-40 minute wait because the place looked that good.

With large picture windows facing Grand Street, the newly renovated space has classical feel. A long wooden bar with fifteen or so high stools lines one side of the restaurant, and comfortable booths and tables fill up the rest. When I went last Friday night, the place was filled, with many drinking at the bar waiting for tables to open up. We started at the bar and enjoyed cocktails from a drink menu that contained many classic American cocktails. I started with a very stiff Tom Collins and we had some fresh oysters from their raw bar.

As an appetizer, the grilled shrimp was perfect. Just the right mix of crisp outside and juicy inside. For entree's, we went big and had the Surf and Turf and the Filet Mignon. The lobster in the Surf and Turf was very tasty and juicy, though the portion could have been bigger. The lobster came with a strip steak that was good, but would have been better if I had ordered it cooked more. The dish was served with a side of "crushed potatoes" - think slightly crispy mashed potatoes, and various greens. Overall a very good dish.

The Filet Mignon was the best. It was served with similar sides, but was so soft and succulent that it just melted in your mouth. The pepper sauce on top gave it an extra kick that put this over the top.

Walter Food had all the right elements to make it a restaurant that will keep people coming back. Stiff drinks, a comfortable but classy atmosphere, fresh seafood and savory steaks.

What makes it good:

- Fresh seafood and great steak

- Classic retro restaurant atmosphere

Know before you go:

- The bill can add up
- There can be a wait, but you can eat comfortably at the bar

Recommended dishes:
- Shrimp appetizer, Oysters, Filet Mignon

Walter Foods 253 Grand Street, Williamsburg Brooklyn (between Grand and Roebling) 718-387-8783

Persimmon - Neo-Korean

Located on 10th street near Avenue A, sits a quaint restaurant named Persimmon - Kimchi House that serves a tasting menu of modern Korean food. It has a long communal table that seats 20 people and a counter with 4 seats facing the open kitchen. The atmosphere is nice and clean, nothing over the top.

The appealing aspects of this restaurant come from the chance to taste a lot of different Korean dishes in a less chaotic atmosphere than the places you will find in K-Town. The modern aspects applied to the Korean food didn't come through when tasted. However, if you like Korean food, Persimmon definitely delivers on flavor.

The friendly servers liked describing the food in great detail. During busier times, the staff may be overwhelmed, but the slow night that we went, the service was great. If you like Korean food and live in the area, this place should definitely be checked out.

What makes it good:

- Great value for a five-course tasting menu
- Enthusiastic service and nice atmosphere

Know before you go:

- The restaurant consists of a communal table of 20 seats and 4 counter seats.
- Only two dining options, $39 single portion tasting menu or $69 shared portion menu. Two people cannot share one single portion.
- The tasting menu courses consist of an appetizer, a mid-course, a main course, a soup, dessert, and tea. The menu changes frequently.
- No longer B.Y.O. due to lack of liquor license (They didn't know you needed one, even for B.Y.O.), but they are in the process of obtaining a beer and wine license.

Here's what we ordered as an example of the types of dishes Persimmons serves:

Appetizers- Salmon Sashimi, Chilled Sliced Beef (rare) with a Melon Sauce
Mid- Braised Pork Belly, Jap Chae (stir fried glass noodles and vegetables)
Main- Soybean Stew with Pork, Salmon and Salmon Roe Rice in a Stone Bowl
Soup- Tomato Gaspacho
Dessert- Watermelon Balls in Syrup, Sesame Cookies
Chilled Cinnamon and Ginger Tea

Also recommended: the fruit juices- Korean Pear, Grape, Tangerine, and Aloe. They taste similar to the Asian drinks have pulp or bits of fruit in the can.

Kasadela - Japanese Small Plates

On 11th Street, near the corner of Ave C., is Kasadela, a neighborhood Japanese that does not disappoint. With its subtle entrance and simple sign, its easy to walk right by.  Once inside though, you see why there is always a steady crowd.  The waiting area is centered around a small sake bar, and the dining area is made up of around twenty tables in a warm and homey brick lined room with a glass front looking out onto 11th street.

The food follows the comfortable feel of the restaurant and is comprised of Japanese home cooking meant to be shared as small plates.  Dishes range from bite sized portions of tofu, tar-tar, and salads to larger portions of fried dishes such as potato croquettes and tempura, to donburi's (meat or fish over rice), and grilled meats and fish.  My favorite dish, and the perfect combination with a nice cold beer, is the Tebasaki which are sweet and crispy grilled chicken wings.   In addition to the extensive regular menu, there is a printed special menu as well as additional specials on several chalkboards. With the wide selection of dishes, it can be difficult to judge what to order all at once, so if you have time, take the meal slowly and order one course at a time.  The restaurant encourages this and usually will leave the menu with you even if you don't ask. 

No Japanese izakaya can be complete without an extensive sake selection, and Kasadela definitely delivers on this as well.   I've yet to master selecting sakes, but the few times I went, the friendly staff was able to steer us to a good sake to match the food.

What makes it good:

- Tasty Japanese home cooking

- Comfortable and casual atmosphere

Know before you go:

- Its not a huge restaraunt and the portions are small to share, so its best to go in a small group

- For two people -  1 salad, 2 small appetizers, and 2 larger dishes (chicken wings and unagi) was more than enough food

Recommended dishes:

- Tebasaki (the best chicken wings) 

- Buta Kimchee (daily special)

- Snow crab and arugula salad (daily special)

- Miso Cod

- Potato Croquette

Kasadela 647 East 11th Street, (At Ave C), New York, NY 10009  212-777-1582

Nicky's Vietnamese Sandwiches

I've been told that any true vietnamese sandwich shop has to sell other goods to be considered "authentic". Some of the most authentic in the city are apparently located in the back of jewelry shops, or sell their sandwiches alongside offerings as varied as as bootleg dvd's, fake watches and lingerie. Nicky's (fortunately or unfortunately depending on your viewpoint) keeps it simple and all about the sandwiches. Located in a little shop on 2nd street, just around the corner from Avenue A, Nicky's is a consistently popular spot for those looking for a quick five dollar sandwich fix. There's nothing fancy about the place, and I would have avoided it if not for the raving reviews from my friend. Its mostly a takeout joint, but if you can snag one of three tables, you can sit and enjoy your sandwich while watching The Simpsons (they've had it playing every time I've been).

What makes it good:

- Soft french bread and the perfect combination of ingredients.

Know before you go:

- If you're hungry, go for two sandwiches. You'll regret it for sure if you don't.

- You can order the sandwiches spicy, but I think it takes away from the taste (they use very spicy jalapenos).

- They are closed Mondays, and only open to 9 on other days. Also they sometimes sell out of sandwiches before 9.

Recommended dishes:

- The classic and the pork sandwich

Nicky's Vietnamese Sandwiches 150 East 2nd Street (Bet Ave A and B) , New York, NY 10009 212-388-1088

East Village Soba #1 -Soba-ya

I know my soba series is out of order, but in my mind there is no doubt, Soba-ya is hands down the best soba restaurant in the area and deserves to be number one. Located on 9th street between 2nd and 3rd Avenue, this casual, traditionally decorated Japanese restaurant always has a crowd. Both for lunch on the weekends and for dinner all week long, a sizeable crowd of Japanese families and twenty-somethings will be waiting. Don't be daunted though, as the hostess usually overestimates the wait time (she'll say 30-40 mins, but it will really be 15) and they'll give you a call when your table is ready.

The soba is hand made in the front the restaurant, and on many weekends you'll see the chefs pounding and stretching the buckwheat into noodles. I prefer to go to the restaurant for lunch on the weekends to get the lunch box sets. You'll get a serving of soba (either hot or cold), various appetizers, and an entree portion of a don buri (meat, fish or vegetables over rice). The don buri's and sides change, but include salmon sashimi, oyako, tempura, and my favorite combination- unagi. You won't be disappointed with the combination of cold soba and warm unagi over rice.

What makes it good:
- The soba lunch sets always leave you satisfied
- Good food, nice casual atmosphere, quick service
- The variety of dishes you can order with the soba are more appealing than Soba-koh

Know before you go:
- Soba by itself can leave you hungry. Go for the lunch sets.
- There is usually a wait, but it goes quick.
- If its just two people, sit at the bar - it'll be more spacious.
- The sets are not available for dinner so you'll have to order a la carte. You can order a serving of soba and small don buri separately.

Recommended dishes:
- Soba cha cold tea
- Cold soba and unagi lunch set

Soba-ya 229 East 9th Street (bet 2nd and 3rd Ave.) 212-533-6966

East Village Soba #2 - Soba Koh

The second restaurant in my east village soba series, is Soba Koh, located on East 5th Street. A mixed crowd of Japanese families and east village locals, filled the row of ten or so tables along the wall and separate counter this sunday night. The restaurant is set in a tastefully decorated space, with beautiful art on the exposed brick walls. The menu has a long list of special appetizers, along with a set menu of about 10 cold and 10 hot soba combinations. I've been a big fan of soba for sometime, and have always felt that it tasted healthy and refreshing. But from the Soba Koh menu I picked up these health benefits of soba: 1) buckwheat (from which soba is made) is officially classified as a fruit, 2) buckwheat is high in protein and minerals such as rutin and glutamine, which are good for the heart.

Aside from being healthy, soba is the perfect seasonal food, and for me nothing beats cold soba in the summer. Most of the cold sobas come with a dipping sauce on the side, and a small entree such as tempura (anago - sea eel, softshell crab, shrimp or vegetables). I have heard from many that broth at Soba Koh is better than that served at Soba Ya. While overall Soba Ya is my favorite east village soba, I agree that the broth at Soba Koh is better. It is very strong and flavorful, and you feel like you've gotten your fill of minerals when you drink it at the end.

What makes it good:
- Authentic soba
- Small with a neighborhood feel

Know before you go:
- Service can be slow
- A soba only meal can leave you hungry, so order appetizers as well.

Recommended dishes:
- Cold Soba w/ Ground Duck and Deep Fried Eggplant
- Hot Tofu Clay pot appetizer

Soba Koh 309 East 5th Street (bet 1st & 2nd Ave.), New York, NY 10003 212-254-2244