Review :: Brucie

This casual Italian restaurant cum gourmet grocery store is sure to give visitors to Carroll Gardens plenty of reasons to return. Authentic and adventurous, the daily updated menu brings homely Italian-American favorites to life with well executed contemporary twists. Crostini with house made goat’s milk ricotta, botarga and walnuts is designed to be shared but you will be forgiven for not wanting to. The spaghetti, the only pasta not to be made at the restaurants focal point pasta bar, arrives with meatballs infused with an irresistible lavender and lemon zest. However the tagliatelle with perfectly crispy Brussells sprouts and house made creamy burrata proves to be the standout dish of the night. After dinner, if you can endure the backless stools at the communal tables for just a little longer, don’t leave without trying a piece of the ricotta cheesecake with apricot marmalade.

3.5/5

234 Court St, Brooklyn, NY

Review:: Rouge et Blanc

Follow the waitress in her French maid uniform past the bar with silk draped ceiling and transport yourself back to 1940’s French Colonial Saigon. Sit at your table with mismatch of lamps overhead and shielded from other diners with oriental screens and get ready to explore Oriental-Parisian cuisine from chef Matt Rojas matched with an exclusively French wine list from owner and sommelier Thomas Cregan. Vietnamese flavors dominate the starters of imposing whole rouget (mullet) standing in a pool of robust lime and chili sauce and tower of whole prawns over fragrant papaya salad. The entrees are decidedly fusion, lamb lovers will salivate at the fatty mustard marinated ribs served with Malaysian inspired roti. The rich foie gras dessert with poached pear and Chinese peach might not be for everyone but chocolate lovers will not be disappointed with the refined chocolate gateau with roasted cashew ice-cream encircled in a drizzle of sage oil.

4/5

48 MacDougal St, New York, NY