07/01/09

Don't Believe the Hype!

by BROOKLYNEATER

Chestnut seems to be living off years-old reviews and word-of-mouth referrals. The place is a Gordon Ramsey show waiting to happen. On a recent visit for brunch, my friend's poached eggs came out hard-boiled and my burger was cooked well-done, not "medium," as I had asked. We would have sent our food back, but we'd waited 45 minutes it and we were very hungry. The only thing good at this place is the mimosas and the Bloody Marys.

• Pros: Location, Outdoor Seating Area
• Cons: Bad Food, Slow Service

03/22/09

Woua !!! And I am not easily impressed...

by sixoune

For some odd reason, I have lived not too far from Chestnut for the past 3 years but had never eaten there. On Saturday night, four of us went there and had the tasting menu ($60) with wine paring ($30).

It was simply put.... superb. I truly did not expect such innovative cuisine. The tasting menu was around 10-12 different small size dishes (we stopped counting), all of them innovative and soul filling. The Hanger steak (yes I know hanger steak) was amazing, the small chocolate cake to die for. Even the wine pairing (which I usually avoid because it tends to be either expensive or low on quality) was not only plenty (10-12 half glasses of wine but matched each dish perfectly. The somelier (owner?) described each wine with passion. Great sign, i did not even feel lousy the next day (which says a lot when you mix 10-12 diferent wines). Service was friendly but not imposing.

Eventhough the dinner lasted over 3 and a half hours, we truly did not see time fly and were almost begging for more surprises. My wife and I go out a lot both in Brooklyn and Manhattan and it has been a while since we both had such a great culinary experience at such a reasonable price.

Keep up the great work...and see you on Friday !!!

• Pros: Some of the most innovative food I have tested in a long tim
• Cons: I should have gone sooner

11/30/08

Ridiculous food

by andifeirr

Ridiculous food. They have something for everyone and it all tastes good. Sauces are rich but not too oily, the meats were perfectly cooked. Great wine list. Service was outstanding: waters were refilled quickly and the wait staff was unobtrusive. It is expensive but perfect for a special meal.

• Pros: food,menu

The beloved Carroll Gardens restaurant of the same name cracks open a tiny bar next door.

by Rebecca Behan

In keeping with the adjacent restaurant, Chestnut Bar champions a bevy of influences, dividing its rotating wine list into solid basics ("themes") and more exotic "variations." Part rustic hearth, part modern wine bar, this petite 20-stool nook of red brick and rough-hewn wood hugs close neighborhood 30-somethings looking for a lingering late night. A small, classically skewed cocktail menu delivers hefty 12-oz. doses of rum, gin and Sazerac rye, starting at $9, alongside the complimentary house-made maple caramel popcorn.

Hits: Seasonal appetizers, small plates and entrees fly from Chestnut's next-door kitchen, bringing Chef Daniel Eardley's locavore offerings--including a prix-fixe menu, chef's tastings and wine pairings--to the bar.

Misses: Though bartenders dutifully wait on the tiny round tables, which are stacked single-file against the raised wall banquette, the close proximity is not for the shy--or the broad shouldered.

10/26/08

Average....

by tommjn

I found the Chestnut to be average. The service was pretty good but our main courses did take a long time. It would have been nice if the server let us know how long we would be waiting to eat. As for appetizers, the calamari, and the schrimps were my favorite. I had the pork as my main dish and it was a tad too salty. The wine list was nice and the mark up wasn't that bad. Overall, It wouldn't be my choice to go back. I would go back if my dinning companions were set on trying it. It wasn't bad but wasn't that great either.

08/09/08

happyjuice 8000 couldn't be more wrong!!!

by gnosisnyc

I really think your review should be put directly in the trash. Every time we go we have a wonderful meal. The service is casual and friendly. The food can be a bit inconsistent if you go very often but never bad like you are describing. The thing that makes this place special is if you don't enjoy what you ordered and you say something they take extra care to see that you are happy with everything. I've never heard them say no...the last time I had something I didn't like (wine) they got me another selection without "attitude" or "condescending" me. You really couldn't have gotten it any more wrong.

• Pros: great neighborhood joint!
• Cons: tourists

07/13/08

Once Great, Now NASTY.

by happyjuice8000

I used to love this place. They used to have good food and good service. However, this place has gone downhill very fast. I suspect there is new management or new kitchen staff. The usual winners on their menu have rapidly turned into losers. Their pasta dishes, once excellent, are now mushy messes. They taste like re-heated over-cooked pasta that's been sitting out all day. Their veggies are now over-cooked and over-salted. Their chicken is now so dry you have to choke it down with their off-tasting tap water. Their wines by the glass, though pricey, often taste like they've been poured out of large economy-sized bottles or boxes sitting in the fridge for weeks. They taste completely oxidized, like when you open a bottle of wine, keep it in your fridge with a poor fitting cork and try to drink it again a couple weeks later. The floors and tables are sticky and smell shockingly foul, like they've been washed with filthy mops and rags (the same ones used to clean the bathroom). Needless to say, the bathroom is dirty, and the thought of the kitchen staff washing their hands in there is revolting. While most of the waitstaff is pleasant, the manager is dismissive, and there is one waitress who is pushy and rude and condescending. Don't waste your hard-earned money at this place.

• Pros: Used to have good food and service.
• Cons: Food and cleanliness has gotten really bad.

06/04/08

Love it!

by segale

This is one of the greatest meals in Brooklyn. The service is great, and the food is creative and always amazing. The ice cream dessert is by far the best in the city.

04/20/08

Fabulous All-Around

by woodhull

I love absolutely everything about Chestnut -- the food is amazing (and though not inexpensive, worth every penny!), the Tuesday/Wednesday prix fixe is an extraordinary deal, and the service is casual and just right. The hanger steak, free-range chicken, and buckwheat crepe with gravlax are fabulous, and the ice cream they have for dessert borders on divine (and I don't even love ice cream). Thus far, the only dish I haven't been wild about was the salt cod appetizer. That said, I plan on sampling every last thing on their amazing (and seasonal) menu.

09/06/07

great brunch!

by laneykiralt

i went to chestnut last valentines day and i thought it was great, but not worth mentioning. popped in for brunch last weekend and it was such a pleasant surprise. cute outdoor space, quiet and relaxed, fabulous oatmeal pancakes and fries. overall, a nice brunch menu that has something for everyone.