Gothamist: The Hungry Cabbie Eats The Outer Boroughs: Brennan and Carr

Henry Bula OBrien

Tue, 06 Feb 2007 05:28:57 -0500

Interested if you can provide Assian & Itilian cook food samples, believe its easier preheat and serve to the hungry family. Also send pictures of other food products you are now serving include beverage and desrt.

Antoine Berrios

Sun, 12 Nov 2006 08:36:36 -0500

YouLikeThat

Sat, 05 Aug 2006 23:27:48 -0500

Yano, Before you start slinging distasteful comments around regarding peoples' waistlines and complexions, post a photo of yourself. I highly doubt you've got: 1. A whiter than white Rembrandt smile 2. Thick, shiny, gorgeous hair 3. Lance Armstrong's body fat percentage 4. A modeling contract with Elite 5. A flawless complexion Put up or shut up. All you have going for you is your moderate intelligence backed with a college degree or more. That's not impressive. Neither is your taste in canned beef broth.

Vee

Tue, 01 Aug 2006 12:08:52 -0500

I wonder what the benefit is of steaming the roast beef over using conventional cooking methods. I had a roast beef on bun last night, however, the roast beef was cooked on a stove. I asked if they every heard of steamed roast beef (and explained where I got the idea from) and they said "Must be a New York thing". The roast beef on my po-boy was cooked in the oven, sliced, and then cooked a little longer in a pan on thick gravy. It was served on a bun, dressed, and was so sloppy I was able to sop up the drippings with a slice of bread for an after meal snack. Anyway, THC, if you're ever in New Orleans I'll be happy to take you on the Best of The Big Easy Tour.

THC

Mon, 31 Jul 2006 03:29:12 -0500

Vee, Agreed. But Brennan and Carr is totally different ball game. If I could get gas at 1997 prices, I'd drive to Verti Mart in N.O. right now with you.

Vee

Fri, 28 Jul 2006 16:45:15 -0500

The best Roastbeef po-boys are in New Orleans. I've never tasted better.

Greenhouse

Fri, 28 Jul 2006 13:04:11 -0500

Hungry Cabbie usually has great taste in food but Brennan & Carr is total garbage—one of the nastiest places I've ever gone in NYC (and I am neither a germophobe nor a clean freak). Not at all sure why it's listed here.

11229

Fri, 28 Jul 2006 12:09:29 -0500

brennan & carr is great. don't be discouraged by the color of the meat. it's regular roast beef, it just turns gray b/c it is cooked in the broth. it's delicious. i always get mine with cheese. not RNR style cheese wiz, but 2 slices of american that melt from the heat of the hot broth. it's lunchtime, i'm hungry, and i wish i wasn't at my desk in the city and could get one now. add a side of mozz stix and a coke for a fantastic lunch.

THC

Thu, 27 Jul 2006 17:45:53 -0500

MMJ: Sorry I haven't written about SI. I'm a yellow cabbie and I have NEVER gotten a fare to there. I've done some exploring on my own though, and I'm impressed. I HAVE written about the Bronx a few time. Yano: I'm hurt. You know I'm sensitive about my waistline. nyc320: You are right, that is NOT New York Hack. But I've known her since before she was a cabbie, we've eaten together many times, and she would NOT be afraid to taste a B&C sandwich. Everyone: I warned you the meat is gray in the FIRST paragraph. Glad some of you enjoyed the food porn.

kim

Thu, 27 Jul 2006 16:12:56 -0500

B&C is Brooklyn NATIVE comfort food. I love RnR too - the cheese fries have cured many a hangover, but don't let the pictures fool you - B&C is seriously good. Also good is Joe's of Avenue U for some more Brooklyn comfort food.

B

Thu, 27 Jul 2006 15:37:15 -0500

People who are real New Yorker's (native or not) will love B&C's hot beef. I use to live in the area and it's a highlight and def a destinartion for a foodie looking for something off the beaten path in the borough's...for everyone else...why don't you move back to ohio or florida in time to order your domino's pizza and ruin another presidential election...Germophobs are usually undersexed people born in boring places! THC...trust me...gho to john's deli on stillwell avenue a few blocks away from the infamous L&B Spumoni Gardens...i grew up in the area and it's the best deli ever! There use to be lines practically out the door for their fresh roast beef and mozz...

MMJ

Thu, 27 Jul 2006 15:27:27 -0500

Any chance THC might find those long lost outer boroughs of the Bronx and Staten Island?

yano

Thu, 27 Jul 2006 15:12:49 -0500

And just what's wrong with Campbell's beef broth? You're the one that sounds stuck-up to me. If you can't appreciate it's simple pleasures, then to hell with you. Look, you can call it elitist or call it stuck-up if you want. I don't eat at Le Cirque, but I certainly wouldn't eat meat that looked like THAT or any of the other pictures of meat that look like they were shot by Diane Arbus. That is not good meat. Good, delicious meat does not look like that. Cleanliness DOES matter--you can't avoid having a fly in the kitchen, but there's a line. He's clearly content to stuff his face with anything--and his waistline and his poor complexion and color show that. There's better food out there, that's all I'm saying.

Josh Ozersky

Thu, 27 Jul 2006 14:57:32 -0500

Way to go, Hungry Cabbie. I am with you all the way. Stuck-up types like Yano don't deserve the brothy, infantile pleasures of Brennan and Carr's roast beef sandwich. I think that picture is pure food porn. But I'm still not convinced that they aren't just opening cans of Campbell's beef broth for the jus. Brennan and Carr could really be a classic if they had better broth, a la Tony Luke. Mr. Cutlets

C.H.U.D.

Thu, 27 Jul 2006 14:48:54 -0500

who cares what a fat hack eats?

nyc320

Thu, 27 Jul 2006 14:15:53 -0500

that's not NY hack. and, that sandwich really does look disgusting.

Brightliner

Thu, 27 Jul 2006 13:35:46 -0500

Yeah, that looks pretty gross. Colorless meat and soggy bread -- ew. Is there any reason (other than "tradition") why they couldn't just serve the jus on the side, so you can dip the sandwich before each bite without having to hold a soaking wet roll, which is the next worst thing to holding the bare meat?

FormerFan

Thu, 27 Jul 2006 13:33:46 -0500

B&C has fallen off in a bad way. It used to be the gold standard in roast beef sandwiches. I'm not sure what happened- but the grey steamed meat was not always the norm. I had three of four bad meals in a row and have not been back since. Maybe I'll give it one more chance for nostalgia's sake.

Sloane

Thu, 27 Jul 2006 12:56:48 -0500

Look, I'll say THIS. I think that THC has great taste in food. I've tried his picks from Gothamist and his blog, and most are amazing and in fact slightly addictive.(Note: Pistachio Soft Serve at Ray's Deli on 7th St and Ave A ) Those who are germophobic/scared of "dirty" food establishments(scroll up to 4th comment) should only eat in the comfort of their own home. When you're on a quest for the best tastes around, cleanliness cannot and should not be an issue yet I see people whining about it all the time. You could go to Le Cirque or Nobu and still have some kind of critter feces rotting in the kitchen next to your $200 meal before it is placed before you.

CrazyL

Thu, 27 Jul 2006 12:38:39 -0500

This sandwich looks incredibly unappetizing, but if there are people out there going back for 30 years straight, it's worth a try. Yeah, that last pic def looks like NY Hack getting some hot beef.

nowimstarvin

Thu, 27 Jul 2006 12:23:20 -0500

Is THC giving her the ol' Hot Beef Ingestion? Seriously, that last pic may be worse than the second one.

Rocknrope

Thu, 27 Jul 2006 12:10:05 -0500

Holy cow, never in a zillion years would I think Brennan and Carr would make it into the Internets. I too grew up in the area, and in my 36 years, I never ate at this place. It kinda creeped me out as a kid, this low brown building in the middle of that Avenue U/Nostrand intersection. I would glance at it on the way to KFC or Mickey Ds. Roll N' Roaster, however, still rocks.

DavidK

Thu, 27 Jul 2006 11:50:31 -0500

I grew up a few blocks away from Brennan & Carr and have beenn eating there for 30 years (I'm 37 by the way, not 82. Oy!). I can certainly say that not one thing has changed about this restaurant (except the TV hanging by the ceiling, but that's been there for 15 years). Anyway, just about everyone I've ever dragged there has fallen for the very hot, very, very wet roast beef sandwich. My girlfriend, however, disapproves, citing a childhood fear of squishy, soggy sandwiches. But everyone else should try it! It's right up there with Brooklyn institutions such as Nathan's Hot Dog (though I don't think anyone could survive a roast beef eating contest. You need an extra wide gullet for such daring feats!)

yano

Thu, 27 Jul 2006 11:45:37 -0500

Look, I'll say it. I think the Hungry Cabbie has awful taste in food. Just because a person loves to eat doesn't mean they know what they're doing. I've been to several of those places and many times they're dirty, the food is many times bland or unappetizing. I realize its a subjective thing. But most of this stuff is just garbage.

o

Thu, 27 Jul 2006 11:41:24 -0500

i love meat. but that is the nastiest looking sandwhich i've ever seen.

mickster

Thu, 27 Jul 2006 11:36:03 -0500

Good thing my office cafeteria has Roast Beef on a Garlic Roll as a lunch special today... Anyone who reads this and doesn't know how to get to Ave. U & Nostrand is definitely not a native New Yorker and even if not native, then is no New Yorker in my book. The furthest they've ever ventured into Brooklyn is probably Williamsburg, Park Slope, Brooklyn Heights- (sarcasm) and for the daring and adventerous, Coney Island.(/sarcasm)

asdy

Thu, 27 Jul 2006 11:20:20 -0500

I always make the mistake of reading Hungry Cabbie's stuff before lunch. And is that Ms. New York Hack he's holding the sandwich for?