Immaculate Infatuation

Cookshop, like Five Points, is a review that was long overdue on this site. There aren’t many restaurants in New York City that you can count on for an excellent meal regardless of circumstance, and this one is certainly among the few. Chances are that you, a dedicated Immaculate Infatuation reader, already know all of this, and have either recently dined at Cookshop or confidently sent a friend on a recommendation. Then again, maybe you haven’t.

In that case, we can simply tell you that breakfast, brunch, and dinner are all amazing, and that Cookshop needs to be on your list. Or, we can put it into our own terms to help you really understand how we feel. How good is Cookshop? So good that you won’t give a damn if you are the only person in the house not on a really intense date. So good that you will swear to never waste another dollar on trendy let downs like Permanent Brunch or The Standard Grill. Cookshop is so good that you’ll want to take your leftovers home and bury them in a time capsule.

Yep, we back this place pretty hard. Find yourself some time in the near future to visit. And make sure to bring something along worth burying.

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You might remember a review/rant we wrote about Tipsy Parson and the so called “comfort food” there that really isn’t comfort food. In case you were wondering where all that anger came from, it has built up over time from repeated dissapointment. The bottom line in most of these cases is that if you want real comfort food, skip the trendy new spots and go to Harlem or Charleston. Or maybe just go have dinner at grandma’s. We’re sure she would love to see you.

But there are some exceptions to the let downs, and Buttermilk Channel is one of them. It exceeded our expectations, not only when it comes to the menu of classic American guilty pleasures, but also the restrained and tasteful decor. No antique phones or kitschy mugs on display here. This is simply a true Brooklyn Neighborhood Hang, and it’s equally popular among young hipster singles and the families that fill it for Sunday dinner. The fried chicken is one of the best you’ll find in town, and almost everything else you’ll eat here is fantastic. Just don’t over do it – this food is rich and we suspect that it’s not entirely healthy. Then again, we’re not doctors, so who’s to say it isn’t? Oh right. Doctors.

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Believe it or not, people used to live in Williamsburg because it was cheaper than Manhattan, not because it was cool. Before the hipster invasion began in the late 90’s, the South side belonged to the Hasidim and Peter Luger. Sure, there were always artists, musicians and .com hopefuls living there, but it was nothing like it is today. Hipster idealism has spread through Brooklyn like wildfire since then, and the outbreak isn’t contained within the borough. It’s become a nation-wide epidemic. Rappers in tight pants and fedoras. PBR on tap in Oklahoma. Meatheads in Ray-Bans and artists like MGMT and Grizzly Bear blasting from frat house speakers around the country. This is getting ridiculous and The ‘Burg is to blame. The initial source of the breakout? Diner. That’s right, one little restaurant that opened back on new years of 1998 started a domino effect felt around the USA. Didn’t you read The Tipping Point?

Diner has been a Williamsburg institution for a decade now. Originally built out of necessity by two friends in need of a place to eat, drink and hang out – it soon became not only their home base, but every other recent settler’s home as well. It’s like the hipster Plymouth Rock. As expected, Diner takes the form of, well, a diner. It’s basically a hole in the wall, and if it weren’t for the constant crowds, you’d probably wonder how a place that looks like this stays in business. Everyone inside is most definitely cooler than you, but they don’t think they’re better than you. Both the clientele and staff are friendly, and generally seem to be enjoying themselves. There are no hard copies of the menu, your server personally writes the daily specials by hand on your table.

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Do you want to know my favorite thing about Caracas Arepas Bar besides the food? I’ll assume the answer is yes since you’re reading this review. It’s not the tall, funky looking waiter who’s got crazy hair and wears sunglasses inside … though, that guy is indeed the man. It’s the fact that once you get inside this tiny eatery, the table you’ve been awarded is yours until you want to leave. Unlike most small restaurants where people vie for seats, Caracas doesn’t rush you. They actually encourage you to order little by little and keep eating until you’re happily bloated and full. Caracas is literally a zoo – people crowd outside the glass and watch as the hungry animals inside inhale food to their heart’s content. There is a 30 to 45 minute wait all day, everyday. Even when you try going at off hours, it’s packed. Luckily Caracas “To Go” is next door, so you can get your fix for the road if you don’t have the patience to wait. Caracas takes pride in being one of the most authentic Venezuelan restaurants in the city. Who am I to disagree? This is by far and away the best Venezuelan food I’ve eaten here. So what if it’s also the only Venezuelan place I’ve ever been to.

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We’ve been spending a lot more time in Brooklyn lately, and it’s not the indie music scene or girls in ironic glasses drawing us in (please god let that trend end soon). We know we aren’t exactly breaking any news by telling you there are outstanding restaurants all over the borough, but now that some ground has been covered in Manhattan, we’re ready to start expanding the Infatuation empire. It’s business time in BK.

Prime Meats has been on our list for a while now – we love Frankie’s Spuntino (owned by the same people), and we love meat. We also happen to be big fans of old timey things, and Prime Meats was meticulously designed to feel like it came from old timey New York. There’s a beautiful antique bar, the staff all look like extras from Gangs of New York, and you should know that, just like in the 1890’s, they only take cash. The menu is heavy and meat-centric, but most everything is incredible, especially the steaks and anything that sounds German, which is pretty much everything. Before you go, know that this is the kind of place you make a night of. You will likely wait a long while for your table, will likely drink far too many vintage cocktails, and will more than likely want to die from eating so much. As long as you plan accordingly, you should come away happy.

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