Posts tagged williamsburg

Lady Octopus

Sam told me how he used to go to Lady Octopus for fried seafood in the neighborhood –until the older Korean lady insisted that he will get a Chicken Cutlet Sandwich next time he comes in. Sam hasn’t been back two years since, because he really didn’t want a Chicken Cutlet Sandwich …or perhaps he didn’t want to be forced what to order.

He’s not the only one that has had odd interactions with Lady Octopus. The Yelp reviews are hilarious …calling the her the “Soup Nazi of Williamsburg.” A must read.

I finally went to try it …for the experience. Every time I had gone before, it was Sunday and they are closed. I kept forgetting that. I wanted Sam to come along to see if she would make him buy a Chicken Cutlet Sandwich two years later, but he wouldn’t answer me.

I went in with a smile, but anticipating the worst. Then I was totally surprised how nice and cheerful she was. No problem at all. She offered me condiments and made sure I had everything I needed. She was even humming a song.

I ordered the Fried Fish Sandwich ($4) and the Fried Vegetable Dumplings ($1.75). The sandwich was alright. It was like a more plumped up Filet-O-Fish. There was a small bone in it, which makes me think it’s not some processed frozen patty. So that was reassuring.

The dumplings were pretty good. Crispy skin. Although I’m not sure if it was really vegetarian. It kinda seemed like pork filling, but that didn’t bother me. I would have ordered pork dumplings if I saw it on the menu. Maybe they have both kinds and I did get a pork. Or maybe that pork isn’t really pork.

The Fish Sandwich was even better when I dipped it in the dumpling soy sauce.

People started coming in when I was finishing up. I thought “Oh shit. Here’s some hipsters and some black people. Okay, now something crazy is gonna happen.” But she was so nice to them …maybe because they were nice to her. It was the total opposite of the Yelp reviews. Maybe it goes to say that a smile goes a long way.

Lady Octopus - 495 Lorimer St (btwn Grand St & Powers) Brooklyn, NY 11211

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Handsome Hank’s Fish Hut @ Smorgasburg

I went back Smorgasburg (foodie flea market) after being stuffed at Rosarito Fish Shack. A pretty big crowd of young folks soaking up the beautiful day on the East River Waterfront. It’s pretty funny. I heard several people around me throw around that dirty word, “hipster”. …”So many fuckin hipsters here!” Then I’d turn around and they looked exactly like everyone else. Same thing happened at the table next to me at Rosarito …hipster girl acting like she hated hipsters. Even if they don’t think they’re hipsters themselves, don’t they realize that they’re at a crowded foodie flea market in the heart of Williamsburg, Brooklyn? They didn’t realize hipsters were going to be there?

Hipster is a good thing. Hip, young, cool looking. People should want to be like that. Let’s be proud of ourselves.

Anyway, I met up with Mar in line at Handsome Hank’s Fish Hut. First, I was hesitant about most of these food vendors, because some seemed overpriced or under-portioned, like Dumont’s $6 puny little burger slider. I love Dumont, but I couldn’t believe what Mar’s friend’s Smorgasburg slider looked like (see photo below). However, there were some big portioned food, like the Cemita sandwich stand and Handsome Hank’s Fish Hut. $10 for a big thing of fried fish and fries. I was thinking people would get maybe 1 filet for that price at a thing like this. I was impressed. That looked to be one of the better deals I saw. I had some of it. Well seasoned and fried.

The biggest line I saw was for Mighty Quinn’s BBQ Pulled Pork sandwich. Never heard of it and can’t find too much info on them, but that line went almost half the length of the market.

Now that I’ve finally experienced Smorgasburg, the lines still scare me, but not the hipsters. A great place to watch people. It’s also good to have your friends give you their food that they waited so long for.

Smorgasburg – East River Waterfront (btwn N 6th & 7th St) Williamsburg, Brooklyn 11211 (Saturdays/seasonal)

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Rosarito Fish Shack’s Brunch

I was at Smorgasburg (Food Flea Market) this past Saturday and really couldn’t decide what to eat …plus the lines and crowds were too much for me. So I went back to Rosarito Fish Shack that I saw on my way there to the waterfront. It’s right where Williamsburg Cafe used to be. I loved that placed years ago. But now Rosarito Fish Shack is there and it stands out like a fake Disney-esque touristy restaurant. I think that looks cool.

I ordered a Bloody Mary with tequila, which I don’t think is as good as with vodka. But it does the job.

I had the Chilaquiles con Camarones (Crispy tortillas, tomato-chile de arbol salsa, garlic shrimps, two fried eggs, queso, crema $12). This plate was big. The shrimp were frickin’ huge. I tend to describe Chilaquiles as plate of soggy nachos, but these were the best soggy nachos I’ve ever had. There were still plenty of crispy and crunch to it. By far, better Chilaquiles than from Grand Morelos.

I just read the Yelp reviews for this place and it’s funny how many people hate Rosarito. I had an excellent brunch with excellent service. The plates next to me all looked awesome, with the exception of the crab cake sandwiches. I had a nice and easy experience. A lot less hectic than Smorgasburg down the street, which I did go back to meet up with my friend (I’ll post more on that soon).

Rosarito Fish Shack - 168 Wythe Ave (@ N 7th St) Brooklyn, NY 11211

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Crif Dogs in Brooklyn

Last night went to see my friends, Ape School, at the Music Hall of Williamsburg. They got a cool new 7″, Blame Mark Griffey —sort of an inside joke I take it back to my college days. They were great and play another show tonight (April 7th) at The Middle East in Boston with The War on Drugs, who were also really good last night.

Ape%20School%20 %20Blame%20Mark%20Griffy Crif Dogs in Brooklyn

I had a bad case of recognizing people last night. I met this guy Brian and the whole time I thought he was from Philly. We talked for a while, then it occurred to me that I’ve met him many times before, he lives in NY and we’ve been Facebook friends for a couple of years. I’m so stupid.

After the show, David took me to Crif Dogs (in Williamsburg?). I didn’t know there was one here in my backyard. Got the Good Morning Dog (bacon wrapped dog smothered with melted cheese and a fried egg). Did good after several beers. I kinda want one right now.

Crif Dogs - 555 Driggs Ave (btwn 7th St & 6th St) Brooklyn, NY 11211

Back to not being able to recognize people –We went to my friend, Sam’s birthday at Grand Victory (formerly Bruar Falls). Dance party! I saw a cute girl that my friend had just posted of her at DiFara’s pizza on FB. I Liked the photo and was bold enough to ask “Who that chick?” My friend said I already met her recently and had a long conversation about my White on White Rice video. Oh yeah. So this girl comes up and starts dancing with me after I smiled at her. I said, “I just saw you on Facebook with a big pizza!” And she was like “Nah, I’m not on Facebook”, then proceeded to rub her booty on me. Turns out pizza girl was there, but that wasn’t her. Anyway, this whole time all I needed to do was smile at girls?

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Williams & Bailey’s Chicken & Waffle

Sam and I went to this bar nearby, Williams & Bailey, to watch Jeremy Lin and the Knicks on Valentine’s Day the other night. A couple of HDTV screens, happy hour and bar food. Right on.

I got the Buttermilk Fried Chicken and Waffles ($10). Pretty good. The onion gravy was like homemade style using grease and flour. It went really nice when mixing it all up with the syrup.

Sam got the Spinach Artichoke Dip. Cheesy and stringy. We both got caught on the same piece of stringy cheese. It was almost like Lady & the Tramp with the spaghetti noodle.

They also had a 3 Tacos for $5 during happy hour deal. Maybe Taco Tuesdays. Looked like a good deal. The happy hour was also $3 drafts and wells until 8. There’s also a $3 cheap beer draft all the time.

When I came back from the restroom, Sam had already paid. The bartender probably thought we were on a Valentine’s date.

Williams & Bailey – 507 Grand St (btwn Union Ave & Lorimer) Brooklyn, NY 11211

Exciting basketball game. Jeremy Lin blew it up at the end. Sam and I knew it was Tebow time when it got down to it. I feel like I’m in Linbow. Me So Hungry, time for Linner. Shaqueef O’Neil. I told the bartender that we were rooting for the Asian guy. She probably already knew that.

Jeremy%20Lin%20Dreamcast%20NBA%202K Williams & Baileys Chicken & Waffle

On another note, I think I created Jeremy Lin in NBA 2K1 over 10 years ago. I plugged in my old Sega Dreamcast to check. I think he came out of the video game like Mannequin. I’m like a young Anthony Michael Hall.

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Gourmet Guild Williamsburg

After our nice brunch at Marlow & Sons, we passed by this new grocery –Gourmet Guild Williamsburg inside a new building. The sign said “Free Demo”. We checked it out because I didn’t know what that meant.

They had free samples –smoked sausage, bacon, pizza, kimchi, hot sauce, soap, granola, raw milk cheese. All really good and are made locally. That’s their deal –local products.

I liked the pizza and the smoked meats. At first I thought I ate raw bacon, because I don’t think before I put stuff in my mouth. Luckily it was smoked/cooked.

Dang those smoked meats are so good, I took home some bacon, chorizo sausage and jar of kimchi. I slightly pan fried the bacon and dipped it in sunny-side up egg yolk when I got home. Dang.

Gourmet Guild Williamsburg – 110 Broadway (btwn Bedford & Berry), Brooklyn NY 11211

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Marlow & Sons Brunch

I met Todd and Elisa this past Saturday at Diner in Williamsburg. The place was packed and there was an hour wait. We got on the list, but went next door to Marlow & Sons for a quick and easy table. We ran into Todd’s old friend Sean who lives in Tokyo. Someone he used to hang out with everyday in college, but hadn’t seen in years. It’s funny how NYC is such a small world.

We couldn’t decide what to get. Everything sounded pretty damn good on the menu, but I just wished I knew what they looked like. Sometimes I think all restaurants should be like Denny’s with pictures on the menu.

Todd got the Fried Chicken, Elisa got the Pork Rillons and I got the Beef Stew. Everything was good, although different than what I expected. Things were smaller and fancier. The beef stew for instance was not thick with gravy, but clean and liquidy.

There was one thing I saw people getting that looked big. I think it was the grilled cheese. That looked good because it was big.

It was weird. Our food looked small, but we were stuffed.

I wasn’t sure if we needed to go back to Diner to tell them we already ate.

Marlow & Sons - 81 Broadway (btwn Berry & Dunham) Brooklyn, NY 11211

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Lorimer Market’s Meatball Hero

On my way to yesterday’s Brooklyn Comics & Graphics Festival, I stopped by Lorimer Market for lunch. Todd’s been raving about their sandwiches. Even goes so boldly to say it’s WAAAAY better than Graham Ave Meats. I’m thinking of ordering a Party Sub from Lorimer Market for next week’s party, so I figured I’d try it out first.

First impression: nice and clean place. The meat section looks really good and clean. I’m definitely going try my next steak there. Sorry, Mario.

I ordered Todd’s favorite, the meatball hero (named filomena on the menu). Yeah, great big meatballs! You can see the herbs.

$6.95 exactly for the sandwich. I would have been satisfied with half, but I stuffed myself all the way. Way to get fat.

Lorimer Market - 620 Lorimer St (btwn Skillman & Jackson St) Brooklyn, NY 11211

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