I also saw two movies :-)
Friday: Two pints into our Friday night and wanting a burger, we chose Rare over Keens. Both make great burgers and are similarly priced but Rare won out for variety. Rare's burger menu features between 7-10 burgers. From the Classic burger for a very reasonable $9, to the luxurious Kobe burger for $22, to every variety in between including the Mexican, a Bison burger, a Chicken burger, and the Murray's cheese of the month burger, I've tried most and have always been satisfied. A shared order of shoe string fries and we left pretty happy. The biggest drawback to Rare is its pedestrian, bottle only, beer offering. I chose a Newcastle. Rare is located in the Shelburne Hotel at 37th and Lex. Keens, located on 36th Street between 5th and 6th, is also highly recommended.
Saturday: I've been lucky a few times to eat at great restaurants where friends worked or cooked. Friends of the house really are treated better. From off menu dishes to free and off priced offerings, the experience usually is gut busting and utterly enjoyable. So it was Saturday night at Hibino, a Japanese restaurant in Cobble Hill that a Japanese friend advised me was where the Japanese ate in Brooklyn. With her as my guide and inside connection, we enjoyed the unique offerings of the house. Hibino is known for its Obanzai, Kyoto style Japanese tapas that change daily. Saturday night's offerings included Soy Marinated Grilled Pork Spare Rib, Rice Croquette with Salmon and Shiso Leaf served with QP Mayo, Simmered Atsuage (Fried Thick Tofu) and Nanohana Broccoli Rabe, and Grilled Zucchini served with Special Miso Sauce. These tasty dishes cost a mere $4 each. Depending on how late you dine, some or all of these might be sold out - being insiders, however, a full set was saved for us. Un-ordered but welcomed by us was Beef Kakuni, a slow braised beef entree marinated in soy broth with Daikon and Scallion. Though we were both pretty full, the food kept coming, next a crispy oyster roll followed by pressed Spanish Mackerel sushi. Hibini's Sake list is apparently quite good - we let the chef guide us and did not have any problems polishing off the off-menu bottle he chose for us. Our bill wasn't really reflective of everything we enjoyed that night but because the Obanzai are so reasonably priced (and not that small), I think a very satisfying meal for two with liquor could be had for $75 or so, tip included. Hibino is located on Henry Street between Atlantic and Pacific streets. Go, enjoy!
Sunday: Trab's review on my mind and finding myself in Fort Greene Sunday morning, I happily snagged a pre-rush brunch table at Olea. I make a decent brunch at home most weekends but I don't make homemade chocolate croissants, perfectly warm and gooey, which is what we started with Sunday - Olea 1, Big D 0. For my main I chose the aptly named Green eggs and lamb, cilantro infused eggs served with lamb sausage, mixed green salad, home fries, and warm pita triangles. From omelets to french toast, I can't imagine not enjoying any of the dozen or so offerings in this rustic and charming gem. Brunch for two came to $35 including tip and was worth every penny.
Friday: Two pints into our Friday night and wanting a burger, we chose Rare over Keens. Both make great burgers and are similarly priced but Rare won out for variety. Rare's burger menu features between 7-10 burgers. From the Classic burger for a very reasonable $9, to the luxurious Kobe burger for $22, to every variety in between including the Mexican, a Bison burger, a Chicken burger, and the Murray's cheese of the month burger, I've tried most and have always been satisfied. A shared order of shoe string fries and we left pretty happy. The biggest drawback to Rare is its pedestrian, bottle only, beer offering. I chose a Newcastle. Rare is located in the Shelburne Hotel at 37th and Lex. Keens, located on 36th Street between 5th and 6th, is also highly recommended.
Saturday: I've been lucky a few times to eat at great restaurants where friends worked or cooked. Friends of the house really are treated better. From off menu dishes to free and off priced offerings, the experience usually is gut busting and utterly enjoyable. So it was Saturday night at Hibino, a Japanese restaurant in Cobble Hill that a Japanese friend advised me was where the Japanese ate in Brooklyn. With her as my guide and inside connection, we enjoyed the unique offerings of the house. Hibino is known for its Obanzai, Kyoto style Japanese tapas that change daily. Saturday night's offerings included Soy Marinated Grilled Pork Spare Rib, Rice Croquette with Salmon and Shiso Leaf served with QP Mayo, Simmered Atsuage (Fried Thick Tofu) and Nanohana Broccoli Rabe, and Grilled Zucchini served with Special Miso Sauce. These tasty dishes cost a mere $4 each. Depending on how late you dine, some or all of these might be sold out - being insiders, however, a full set was saved for us. Un-ordered but welcomed by us was Beef Kakuni, a slow braised beef entree marinated in soy broth with Daikon and Scallion. Though we were both pretty full, the food kept coming, next a crispy oyster roll followed by pressed Spanish Mackerel sushi. Hibini's Sake list is apparently quite good - we let the chef guide us and did not have any problems polishing off the off-menu bottle he chose for us. Our bill wasn't really reflective of everything we enjoyed that night but because the Obanzai are so reasonably priced (and not that small), I think a very satisfying meal for two with liquor could be had for $75 or so, tip included. Hibino is located on Henry Street between Atlantic and Pacific streets. Go, enjoy!
Sunday: Trab's review on my mind and finding myself in Fort Greene Sunday morning, I happily snagged a pre-rush brunch table at Olea. I make a decent brunch at home most weekends but I don't make homemade chocolate croissants, perfectly warm and gooey, which is what we started with Sunday - Olea 1, Big D 0. For my main I chose the aptly named Green eggs and lamb, cilantro infused eggs served with lamb sausage, mixed green salad, home fries, and warm pita triangles. From omelets to french toast, I can't imagine not enjoying any of the dozen or so offerings in this rustic and charming gem. Brunch for two came to $35 including tip and was worth every penny.
Posts
3 comments:
Thanks for another informative and interesting food post.
Did you get an idea about what it was like for non-friends of the house at Hibino?
Also, what movies did you see?
traB, b/c the little tapas are so reasonably priced at $4, if you get them all (4 or 5 depending on the night), that plus an entree would probly be plenty for two. Without booze that wouldn't cost more than $40 or so.
Movie wise I saw Slumdog Millionaire at Anglika. Great movie, definitely worth seeing. I also saw the dvd of Planet B-boy which I had seen in the theaters but was happy to see again.
Hibino- they serve more of authentic traditional Japanese dishes, so you may be disappointed if you are looking to have some those special rolls like Dragon or Rainbow rolls..
They change up the tapas menu daily, and they post it on their website everyday, so it would be good to check it before you go...
We were quite the troopers that night!! We gobbled down the dishes one after another... With me having been on the hot seat entire time right next to you, that sake must have tasted even sweeter!! Next time, I'm sitting at a table farthest from the counter and let them cook YOU up!! lol
Post a Comment