Henry's End Restaurant

Doesn't Recommend

sf6

Joined 6 years ago

Not what it used to be. I've been eating at Henry's end for over 10 years, and the quality has steadily gone down a lot over that time. They used to be consistently excellent, cooking up simple, robust food centered on meat and game. They still have a game menu in winter, but even that's not what it used to be. And the regular menu is basically diner level now. Decent for a diner, but not for the prices they charge here. They're also getting stingy, removing some side items that used to come with dinner, and their Prix Fixe menu is a false economy - you're just getting a plain plate of meat, no side anything. Want potato? $5 extra! Seriously, I think they've fallen upon hard times, but they're making things worse. The quality of the meats has taken a nosedive too, which leaves no good reason to come here anymore. The only thing that remains the same is the crowd - many politicians come and bray loudly. I don't think they're too concerned with the food, as long as the drinks keep flowing.

I'm quite bummed about this, because I live in the neighborhood and there aren't that many good restaurants here.

Looks like we'll be making the walk to Carroll Gardens even more often.

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tyrex3

Joined 6 years ago

Is falling down careful. Times are getting bad here. Prices are up, vegetables are still awful, no more salads with dinner. prix fixe being eliminated on fridays through Sundays and there is a revolving dor chef policy. At a ime when Brooklyn is coming up in the world this place is running a great risk of losing its client base. Wake up Marc et al.

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rs695

Joined 7 years ago

Food, Wine, Service, All Top Notch. The previous reviewer's experience seems suspicious to me. Henry's End has been around for an eternity, and the staff never seems to change. Without exception, I've found them to be accommodating, friendly and helpful, and their recommendations for wine and food pairings are without exception spot on. The atmosphere is casual, but as one of the city's truly best restaurants, I can easily understand why they might refuse to seat a complete party, and especially one with attitude. It just isn't the kind of restaurant where being a nag yields results -- remember, this is Brooklyn, which probably has more in common with SF than Manhattan. The vibe here is very chilled, and the fantastic food and wine have a way of keeping it so. These guys don't really prepare anything they can't stand by, so the menu is really pretty good from top to bottom, with most entrees being outright exceptional. I've never had a bad meal here, or walked out in any way less than satisfied. It's a little pricey, but definitely worth it once in a while.

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Katie Heffernan

Joined 10 years ago

Hearty winter-friendly fare on Brooklyn Heights' northern restaurant row.. In Short
This casual neighborhood restaurant is happy in its skin--the simple, painted wood-and-brick space is decorated in artwork of the nearby Brooklyn Bridge, and the witty group of waiters will practically sit down with you if they're not joking amongst themselves. The hearty American dishes have a sentimental place in the collective local heart: Those who grew up on the restaurant rave about the classic steak diane, lingonberry duckling and signature crab cakes; those who didn't may find them overpriced.

Doesn't Recommend

lunesse7575

Joined 6 years ago

Reservations don't mean a thing. I will not be going back to this restaurant, nor will my mother, who came all the way from Texas to visit what was once her favorite place to eat in the city. I made reservations for Sunday, June 17 at 7:30, approximately two weeks beforehand. I got a confirmation phone call that afternoon, and called back to confirm the reservation and let them know we would be one less person. Two of us arrived on time; I gave the host my name and let him know we had a reservation and that our third guest was running late. He asked if this person would be more than 10 or 15 minutes and I said i didn't think so. So we waited. 10 minutes later the host came back and asked if we would like anything. When we said we'd like to sit, he offered us the bar table by the door, and indicated that as soon as a table paid, he would seat us. A family of four walked in, without a reservation, and they were seated immediately. Then, ten more people came in, all without reservations, who were seated immediately. Not once did the host say to us, "I can't seat an incomplete party." Instead, he left us standing there for 40 minutes, and ignored the fact that we had reservations and were merely waiting for one other person, who had run into subway trouble, to arrive. In all my years in New York, I have never met a more unaccomodating host. I can certainly understand a restaurant policy that won't allow incomplete parties to be seated, but I usually find that at restaurants that are packed to the roof with a line out the door. Also, that policy is pretty clearly stated by the host from the beginning. Our host said no such thing. Henry's End, you lost our business.

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onefortheroad

Joined 7 years ago

Great atmospher when the restaurant is full. Been a few times, always enjoyed the food, and the atmosphere but went recently and the place was very empty and the whole experence lacked engery, although the staff were very friendly and funny. Also we ordered steak medium rare but they can out over cooked and the waiter didn't agree with us. Which put another dampener on the night.. But othertimes I have been there it was good.. Go at the weekend...

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caraya

Joined 7 years ago

Terrific in every sense. This place is one of my favorite places in Brooklyn OR manhattan. The food is first-rate, the service is attentive, and the ambiance cannot be beat. Their game festival in the fall is specatacular-- don't miss the elk chops, venison, pheasant, ostrich or any other special they have on their menu. The specials menu is always inventive, fresh and delicious.

The regular menu is extensive, eclectic and delicious. I highly recommend the roasted vegetable appetizer with polenta (sounds boring but is amazing), the duckling (any style), and crabcakes. You can't go wrong with pretty much anything on the menu, however. In between the appetizer and main course, you are served a green salad, and every entree comes with 2 sides. It does get crowded on weekends, so come early or be prepared to wait. The wine list is very good, although I am disappointed in the decision to only serve American wines. The beer list, however, is better than many upscale restaurants in NYC.

It's a cheerful place with a great old-New York vibe. this place is a gem!

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lcaldwel

Joined 7 years ago

Always enjoyable. Henry's End is small, so it can seem a bit crowded. That's the downside of being a favorite though. The food is delightful--well prepared, tasty, and a great variety. The service is attentive, but not rushed. We've never been disappointed. It may seem a little pricey to some, but it's worth it. They only take reservations for parties of three or more, so go early if it's just the two of you.

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goldesq

Joined 11 years ago

EXCELLENT dont hesitate. I went one week ago and I was very pleasantly surprised. There were 4 of us and 2 had the pre-theater. With dessert, the pre-theater is a great deal/meal. Not one meal, dessert or appetizer was anything less then perfect. The veal lemonese was out of this world as was the rasberry duck (better then the 4 seasons). The blackened veal was tremendously good. The mud pie was also excellent. The wine selections are not to be beat. I would not hesitate reccommending this place at all.

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dahl01

Joined 10 years ago

On of my favs. I highly disagree with the person who gave this place a 1. I have been to this restaurant many times and have never been disappointed. They're seasonal specialties are spectacular, especially their soft shell crab in the summer and game dishes in the winter. In addition, I've always found the waiters helpful with the wine selection, and there is always a good selection of wines by the glass. Also, many of the appetizers can be served as main courses as well, which is quite nice. The deserts are also very good, of which the Creme Broulee Napolean is the mouthwateringly good, with the Mrs. Mud Pie runnig a close second.

Sidenote: If you fill out a card with your birthdate, you will receive a card in the mail to use within a week of your birthday for a free entree.