Other Half in April

Has anyone tried Droppin' Millibars? Completely forgot I picked up a bottle and I don't think I've seen any notes on here yet.

 

I had a pour at the tap room, it was pretty good, definitely a pastry stout if that's your thing. I'm not sad that I missed on bottles though.

 

Coming into town on the last Friday of June for a bachelor party. Thinking I’ll travel directly from EWR to Other Half to get a head start on everyone while the team is assembling. Had their anniversary beer a little while ago and thought it was delicious.

I’ll probably arrive before noon - any thoughts on the best place to grab early lunch / late breakfast around there before I start drinking through their taplist? Bonus points if there are breweries with food menus that open early nearby...

Any other tips or tricks would be appreciated!

Also, if anyone needs Chicago goodies and will be around there / park slope, shoot me a message!

 

Not a ton of drinking to be done pre-noon, folksbier nearby may be open at 11? Buttermilk channel is your spot for fancy amazing brunch, there’s also a McDonalds across the street and a decent bagel/deli type spot nearby if that’s more your speed.

 

There's a new-ish Creole/Cajun spot right at Smith/9th I've heard positive things about and they serve breakfast sandwiches, as well as po boys and whatnot. Court Street Grocer is also a local favorite that would be open at that hour.

 

Would a deep dish from Pequod's be asking too much?

 

No love for hometown? Not a bad walk, great bbq, and usually a good draft list!

 

Second Buttermilk to get a filling lunch before hitting OH. Fried chicken sandwich or pork/waffles would be a good base to layer some milk sugar on.

Alas, Folksbier opens at 2 PM on Fridays.

 

That is the only BBQ restaurant I'd take out of towners to (with all due respect to Fette Sau), and I'm a huge believer that you can get world class BBQ in NYC (Hometown is exhibit A). However, if you're visiting here from another great BBQ town (and Chicago's got it), there's just no reason to seek it out here. The price of admission is likely higher than your local comparable spots.

 

Cafe Booqoo is the previously mentioned cajun place, and though I cant speak for their breakfast sandwiches, their po-boys are amazing.

 

Suggestions have been great so far, but feel a need to give a shout out to the local old school Italian spots like Defonte's and Ferdinando's Foccaceria. Defonte's has incredible chicken parm and meatball sandwiches (they're huge), Ferdinando's has more Sicilian offerings like a panelle sandwich (ricotta + parm + chickpea fritter on a fresh roll), croquettes, arancini etc.

Also don't sleep on the sfogliatelle at spots like Court Street Pastry Shop, Caputo's Bakery and Mazolla's. Carroll Gardens has the best bakeries in brownstone Brooklyn, imo.

 

Also Esposito & Sons

 

Oh man, I haven't been to Esposito & Sons in way too long. It might be the most legit pork store I've been to. Their sausage, fresh mozzarella, stuffed olives, and homemade sopressata are all excellent.

 

Yeh while we're being comprehensive let's throw Caputo's Fine Foods in there (housemade mozz and antipasti, connected to the bakery) and F. Monteleone's for... more baked goods (cannoli!)

 

This thread is the best its ever been right now. I live in the neighborhood. All the hits are being represented.

 

im also going to throw in Lucali, which is somewhat nearby (unless i missed anyone else mention it). By far the best pizza in NYC (fight me.)
its BYOB limit 1 bottle per 2 people, and you need to go put your name down 45 mins before they open if you want a seat, but it will change your life.

 

The wait has gotten significantly worse since that new David Chang show aired on Netflix. Very annoying. Hopefully things cool off a bit soon.

 

FUCK. the thing i always bank on, and maybe its a huge mistake to share it publicly, is that people assume they dont take names until they actually open. my game is to show up before they are "open" and give my name while theyre setting up, its worked for the last 3 years, i bring a beer to drink out front while a wait... hopefully it still works.
youre also talking to a guy who gets on the difara line an hour before opening, and im always first.

 

Lucali's pizza is very good, but the five cheese calzone is to die for.

 

Worst ever? Or like back to how it was 10 years ago when a lot of the hipster places weren’t around, and it was all about Lucali, Di Fara and a handful of others