Carroll Gardens Archives - Adventure, baby!

Southern Comfort & Biscuits: Buttermilk Channel, Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn, NY

November 25, 2014 / Brooklyn Bites, Carroll Gardens, New York, New York Food / 0 comment

What is possibly the most famous brunch spot in Brooklyn, Buttermilk Channel, has always eluded us as a brunchery with our child. The thought of a long wait has been too daunting to even try it. One rainy weekend, however, my desire to eat well (and potentially run into Beyonce, who apparently loves their chicken and waffles) got the better of me, so we grabbed our obliging neighbors and headed on down to Buttermilk Channel. The doors open at 10am on the dot. We arrived at 9:55 and were the 2nd in line. By 10am, there were over 10 other people behind us. So lesson learned — the early bird gets the waffles.

We were seated at a great table straight away, and had very attentive service. I particularly liked how our waitress brought the toddlers tiny glasses of water and crayons without being asked, and did ask us if we wanted to order anything for the kids while we were looking at the menus for ourselves. (And yes, yes we did.)

I ordered Buttermilk Biscuits ($4) for the toddlers to snack on while our meals were being prepared. I ordered the most exotic sounding dish on the menu — the Pecan Pie French Toast, with Bourbon, Molasses & Toasted Pecans ($11). It was outstanding. One of the best brunch dishes I have ever eaten. Thick bread generously soaked in egg, and covered with a thick, sweet molasses . . . absolutely incredible. The entire table had food envy so I had to share it so that everyone could enjoy its glory. That being said, every dish was delicious: Eggs Huntington with Poached Eggs, Buttermilk Biscuits, Benton’s Country Ham & Hollandaise Sauce ($11), Short Rib Hash, with Sunny-side-up Eggs, Toast & Organic Greens ($13) and the House-cured Salmon Platter, with Fried Peppers, Green Onions, Cream Cheese, Pumpernickel & Organic Green Salad ($12).

Buttermilk Channel does not disappoint. Its reputation is completely well deserved as one of the best brunch spots in Brooklyn, and the restaurant is an absolute must for anyone who loves fine, Southern-inspired food (and celebrity spotting). Their kid-friendliness is just such an added bonus that enables parents to enjoy top-quality food without feeling like pariahs for bringing small, noisy children with them.

Last Bite: Buttermilk Channel is worth the effort, even if you have to wait in line. Arrive early to avoid the throngs of New Yorkers also hankering for a divine brunch with their families.

Highchairs: Yes.
Stroller storage: Minimal. Bring a stroller that folds and be prepared to leave it outside.
Easy access: Yes.
Change tables: No.
Kids’ menu: Yes.

Buttermilk Channel
524 Court St,
Brooklyn, NY 11231
Phone: (718) 852 8490
Prices: $$
Hours: Mon-Wed 5pm-10pm, Thur 5pm-11pm, Fri 5pm-12am, Sat 10am-3pm, 5pm-12am, Sun 12am-3pm, 5pm-10pm
Get Directions

The Best Pizza In NYC? Lucali; Kid-Friendly Restaurants, Carroll Gardens, New York

July 16, 2014 / Brooklyn Bites, Carroll Gardens, New York, New York Food / 0 comment

The famous Lucali’s is reputedly home to one of the best pizzas in New York City. As such, there is always a line to get in, and it’s always seemed to us like too much of a hassle to try to get in when we’re paying a sitter so that we can potentially stand in line for an hour. When we recently flew back from Australia however, we had a week with jet lag where Missy E was awake every night at dinner time. Since she wasn’t sleeping anyway, we all headed down to Lucali’s in Carroll Gardens to FINALLY try this pizza we’ve been hearing about all this time.

We arrived right before the restaurant opened, and were not that surprised when we saw a big crowd of diners who had the same idea that we had had. Turns out that getting there right when the doors open does not beat the crowd: the smart thing to do is to reserve a table over the phone, or arrive at least 15 minutes before the restaurant opens, guaranteeing you a seat in the second seating of the evening — so about a 30-45min wait. Missy E was napping in her stroller when we arrived, so we strolled around the neighborhood for half an hour until we got the call that our table was ready. They do not have high chairs. Our table was right next to the pizza-making station. The staff couldn’t have been friendlier toward our slightly crazy toddler. The wait staff gave her a fresh flower to play with, and then a piece of pizza dough with which she could “make” her own pizza. When she started to get antsy, I took her to watch the chefs hard at work making the pizzas from scratch. We watched as they rolled and threw our pizza’s dough, covered it in fresh toppings, and finally, removed it from the oven, piping hot.

And about those pizzas. There are two menu options at Lucali’s — pizza or calzone, with your choice of meat and vegetables, which are listed each night on the chalkboard outside the restaurant. The only beverage they serve is water, but you can BYO wine. The much-hyped pizza was absolutely amazing. It had the perfect crust, thin and crispy on the edges, with a rich tomato sauce, a generous amount of cheese and giant clumps of fresh basil. One pizza was just the right size for two adults and a toddler to share (they do half-and-half if you want different toppings to your dining companions).

After our pizza we still had room for dessert, so we dropped by our nearby fave, Brooklyn Farmacy, for a banana split.

Highchairs: No.
Stroller storage: No.
Easy access: Yes.
Change tables: No.
Kids’ menu: No.

Lucali
575 Henry St,
Brooklyn, NY 11231
Phone: (718) 858-4086
Prices: $$
Hours: Mon-Sat 9am-8pm Sun 10am-6pm
Get Directions

Brooklyn Farmacy
513 Henry St,
Brooklyn, NY 11231
Phone: (718) 522-6260
Prices: $
Hours: Mon-Fri 11am-11pm, Sat & Sun 9am-11pm
Get Directions

The Treats Truck: Kid-friendly Cafes, Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn

June 25, 2013 / Brooklyn Bites, Carroll Gardens, New York Food / 0 comment

With recommendations from several locals on The Treats Truck as an incredibly kid-friendly cafe (including a shout-out from our fave photographer and mama, Raquel Frechette, thanks Raquel!), we absolutely had to take a trip down Carroll Gardens way to check it out.

Treats Truck, Carroll Gardens, kid-friendly cafes Brooklyn. — Order and pay at the counter.

With a tag line like “Not Too Fancy, Always Delicious!” you know exactly what you’re getting into with this neighbourhood fave. Local families love the cafe (yes, it’s not actually IN a truck, but the do HAVE a truck) for its delicious brownies, rice crispies and cookies—they come back over and over again because it’s one of the most kid-friendly cafes or restaurants that you’re going to find—anywhere. No hyperbole.

Entering the “truck”, it looks pretty much like any other quaint little cafe. Tables, chairs, counter. Walk to the left of the counter however, and down the narrow hallway, and you’ll find yourself in a little back room, stocked with a toy kitchen, books and more toys and games for kids. One wall of the room backs on to the kitchen, with a huge glass panel running across it, so kids can watch their treats being made in person.

This quiet little back room just for kids means no-stress dining for adults—yay! We had a large group of kid-friendly cafe testers with us on this occasion, and, after blocking off the hallway with a stroller (sorry, we know, fire hazard ), we were able to let the toddlers run freely while we actually sat and held brief conversations with each other. Miracles do happen!

It’s not a huge area however, and I think we were pushing the limits with our group of crazy toddlers (we had six or seven toddlers under the age of two. After you hit five toddlers in one group, it’s impossible to keep track of them all). Older kids who sit still can fit in larger numbers.

The service is fast and friendly, the food a solid hit with mamas and kids and nobody sweats a big mess left behind. Tip big to show your appreciation to the hard working and kid-friendly staff.

Highchairs: Yes.
Stroller storage: Yes.
Easy access: Yes.
Change tables: Yes.
Kids’ menu: Yes.

The Treats Truck
521 Court St,
Carroll Gardens, New York
Phone: (718) 330 0200
Hours: Mon-Thur 7:30am-8pm, Fri 7:30am-9pm, Sat 8am-9pm, Sun 8am-8pm

Get directions.

Brooklyn Farmacy & Soda Fountain; Kid-friendly Restaurants, Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn

March 30, 2013 / Brooklyn Bites, Carroll Gardens, New York, New York Food / 1 Comment

We often end up at the Farmacy on a Sunday afternoon when we’re craving a grilled cheese and shake, and want somewhere close, low key and extremely kid-friendly. I have an obsession with finding the perfect grilled cheese sandwich, and Brooklyn Farmacy has the best grilled cheese I’ve found so far.

Brooklyn Farmacy, Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn, NY.

The shakes at Farmacy are phenomenal – we always order a vanilla malt thick shake to share. It arrives in an old fashioned glass, so thick that it’s hard to slurp up through the straw.

Sharing a shake, Brooklyn Farmacy, Carroll Gardens, NY.

What makes the grilled cheese so special? The cheese is plentiful and sharp, and oozes out the sides of the bread. The bread is crispy but not hard, and is toasted in a sandwich press rather than being fried, so it’s never oily.

Grilled cheese glory. Brooklyn Farmacy, Carroll Gardens, NY.

One more reason why we keep coming back to the Farmacy – it’s one of the most kid-friendly, baby-friendly, and, thankfully for us, crazy toddler-friendly restaurants in Brooklyn. No one minds if your toddler, like ours, spends their entire time there running around the store and playing with the old fashioned scale in the entrance. Bless you, Farmacy, we love you.

Highchairs: Yes – but only one. There is, however, plenty of room to keep your baby in their stroller at your table.
Stroller storage: Yes – if it’s not too busy you can leave your stroller in the back room or by the front door.
Easy access: Yes.
Change tables: No (there is a large bathroom where you can change your baby on the floor if needed).
Kids’ menu: Not a special menu, but most of the food is friendly for bigger kids.

Brooklyn Farmacy
513 Henry Street (at Sackett st),
Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn, NY 11231
Phone: (718) 522 6260

Winter/Spring Hours: Mon-Thur 10am-10pm, Fri 10am-11pm, Sat 8am-11pm, Sun 8am-9pm

Get directions.

Le Petit Cafe: Kid-Friendly Restaurants, Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn

November 16, 2012 / Brooklyn Bites, Carroll Gardens, New York, New York Food / 0 comment

This sweet little cafe/restaurant is an indoor wonderland, filled with whimsical flowers, trees and fountains. During a long, dreary winter, it’s a haven to escape the bitter cold and pretend spring has already spring.

The food is good, solid French fare, and the omelettes in particular are amazing. The drawbacks to this otherwise great little place are the cramped interior and slow service. Expect to wait for a table for brunch on weekends, particularly if you have a group of people.

Highchairs: Yes.
Stroller storage: No – bring a carrier or umbrella stoller.
Easy access: No – stairs down into the main dining area.
Change tables: No.
Kids’ menu: No.

Le Petit Cafe
502 Court Street,
Brooklyn, NY 11231
Phone: (718) 596 7060
Prices: $$
Hours: Mon-Sun 6am–10:30pm
Get directions.

Additional image thanks to Yelp.

Brooklyn Farmacy & Soda Fountain

November 13, 2012 / Brooklyn Bites, Carroll Gardens, New York, New York Food / 0 comment

The Farmacy (as the locals call it) is a beautifully restored 1920s pharmacy in Carroll Gardens, well-known for their amazing grilled cheese sandwiches and egg floats. They’re also a haven for neighbourhood families to bring their babies and kids of all ages to enjoy lunch, sundaes at the counter, or musical jam sessions with kids’ entertainers, the Jitterbugs, on Thursdays at 11am. Don’t let the lack of highchairs put you off. If your tot isn’t happy sitting in their stroller or on your lap, they’ll be in good company running around the store.

Brooklyn Farmacy Jitterbugs — Floor space only left during the weekly Jitterbugs show.

Highchairs: Yes – but only one. There is, however, plenty of room to keep your baby in their stroller at your table.
Stroller storage: Yes – if it’s not too busy you can leave your stroller in the back room or by the front door.
Easy access: Yes.
Change tables: No (there is a large bathroom where you can change your baby on the floor if needed).
Kids’ menu: Not a special menu, but most of the food is friendly for bigger kids.

Brooklyn Farmacy
513 Henry Street (at Sackett st),
Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn, NY 11231
Phone: (718) 522 6260
prices: $
Fall Hours: Sun-Thur 10am-10pm, Fri-Sat: 10am-11pm
Get directions.

Buttermilk Channel

October 26, 2012 / Brooklyn Bites, Carroll Gardens, New York, New York Food / 0 comment

Carroll Gardens is the epicenter of kid-friendly Brooklyn, so it’s not surprising that Buttermilk Channel caters not just to brunch-loving foodie adults, but also their equally discerning offspring. Of note is their awesome kids’ menu. With a fixed price of $10, it features a main, such as a grilled cheese, buttermilk fried chicken or pasta, a side (you can choose fries or a healthy option like broccoli), and, the best part, dessert such as Lily’s Clown Sundae.

It’s also really great to hear that the staff are accommodating of children, making sure their meals come out first when needed.

Reservations for parties of five or more. For smaller groups, the wait for a table for weekend brunch can be a while.

Highchairs: Yes. They also have booster seats.
Stroller storage: Minimal – bring a stroller that folds up.
Easy access: Yes.
Change tables: Yes.
Kids’ menu: Yes.

Buttermilk Channel
524 Court St at Huntington St,
Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn, 11231
Phone: (718) 852 8490
Prices: $$
Hours:
Dinner
Sun-Wed: 5pm-10pm
Thu: 5pm-11pm
Fri-Sat: 5pm-12am
Brunch
Sat-Sun: 10pm-3pm
Get directions.