Joe's Of Avenue U Sicilian

6 reviews

(718) 449-9285

287 Ave U
Brooklyn, NY 11223 40.5971 -73.9736

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Neighborhood: Gravesend

Last updated 4.01.09

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AWESOME

This place is great. Kindly ignore the previous reviewer. THIS IS NOT A ROMANTIC ITALIAN RESTAURANT. This is a sicilian eatery. You will get a relaxed atmosphere somewhere between a pizzeria and a regular restaurant. However, the food is AWESOME. You cannot get these dishes anywhere in NYC. If you can find one or two of them, they are not this good. The panelle special is excellent as is the vastedde. I don't know where you can get pasta con sarde anywhere and it is great. Everything is really cheap. I recommend starting out with a riceball special (split it). All of their sandwiches will fill you up alone. I am always stuffed and hardly spend anything. If you want to eat some sicilian specialties that you will not find anywhere else, Joe's is the place.

Pros: vastedde, pasta con sarde, panelle special, riceball special
Cons: nothing

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11/14/08

Huge Disappointment

by jlw05

I have lived not far from this restaurant for many years. After driving past it for so long and based on good word of mouth plus excellent written reviews, I decided to try it. Big mistake. The interior of the restaurant was reminiscent of Subway. Formica booths, little atmosphere. However, the food could have easily made up for the lack of decor -- if it had been good. We had a mixed salad. The lettuce had obviously been sitting in the dressing for hours. After our soggy salad we had stuffed chicken - two smallish grisly tasteless pieces. The pasta was OK but nothing special. You had better be a garlic lover because I have never seen so many garlic pieces in a pasta sauce before. Our vegetable fared better - it wasn't awful and our dessert was frozen. True, it was a tartufo, but I have never had one that was rock hard. I felt like asking for a knife so that I could cut it. I will never, ever go back to this establishment.

Pros: Not expensive, good service
Cons: food, atmosphere

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10/13/08

Best Substitute for Sicily

by clowwwn

Joe's of Avenue U is dripping with old-world Italy (not in marketing, as with every forgettable Manhattan clone, but in food and spirit). From the mind-blowing riceballs and panelle roll (chickpeas and ricotta, yum), to the veal involtini stuffed with fried potato (just like in Palermo), pasta with sardines, and even simple sausage, Joe's is one of the great dining establishments in Brooklyn. A carafe of house wine will cost you less than an appetizer at a city restaurant. Get the Manhattan Special, too.