Results tagged “fivefront”

We always thought that to drink right under the Brooklyn Bridge you had to either go low and sip homemade concoctions discreetly through straws in constant fear of the cops, or plop down large sums to cover a bill for two at the River Cafe. While nothing is particularly wrong with either, we were happy to find another option.

Gothamist received an intriguing email from reader S.:

Thought you might be interested in hearing that the Dept of Buildings posted signs on most of the doors of restaurants on Smith Street during business hours last night, ordering them to close their gardens immediately. It seems that there are conflicting laws regarding the use of back gardens at restaurants and bars in Brooklyn, and the Dept. picked one set and is cracking down. The restaurant owners have no clue where to start as far as getting some sort of permit so that their main revenue builder in the summer can stay open. Some restaurants are ignoring it for now until their hearing date so they can get due process, others are scared of getting fined and have closed their gardens. That's all the scoop I got, but it sucks for Brooklyn residents!

Does anyone know what's going on? There's a reason why the Smith Street restaurant scene exploded - great chefs were attracted by lower rents/operating costs. City Councilman David Yassky will have to work on a referendum to have the DoB ease up on outdoor dining, because that's one of the purest joys of warm weather months.

June 13 - 26: Festival de Helados

Foodies have been flocking to DUMBO for quite a while now. It's no surprise. Who can resist the siren's call of the spicy, New Mexican-inspired breakfast burrito at Superfine? Or a piping hot pizza pie with house-roasted peppers at Grimaldi's. Or the Curried Mussels at Five Front? And, then there is the biggest temptation of them all - Jacques Torres Chocolates, chocked full of decadent, Wonka-like confections for children and adults alike. But is Jacques really the biggest foodie draw in the 'hood?

The menu was equally disjointed, running the gamut from a ceviche of big-eye red tuna in a spicy cilantro, jalapeno salsa, purple pickled onions and plantain chips ($14) to spicy tuna maki ($8), and grilled skirt steak with chimchurri salsa, avocado, tomatoes and wild mushroom tapenade ($28)to sea urchin sashimi ($5/piece). It all sounds a little too odd for us - but the proof is in the pudding. Or in this case, the ceviche and sushi. We hope that Toro's food, drink and service will win us over, beyond our initial responses to the restaurant's concept.

Gothamist doesn't smoke. And yet, we can't help but feel compassion for the puffing masses that huddle outside of New York's bars to get their hit of nicotine before they shuffle back indoors for a hit of alcohol. And so, it seems the outdoor bar has been lifted to the status of tavern treasure within the whole five boroughs. The East Village seems rife with options in this category - from DBA to The Boxcar Lounge. But where, oh where, is the smoking barfly to go in the glorious borough of Brooklyn?