08/29/09

Very Disappointed

by My2Cents

I visited this establishment on a recent Thursday evening by reservation. The Brooklyn is a good restaurant. Having said that, there are many things to bear in mind when you walk through the door. Every effort is made to present an upscale appearance; from valet service, to full oyster bar, extensive wine and liquor menu and smartly dressed staff, elaborate plate presentations and high prices. Despite the facade, however, I was disappointed at every turn through the evening. The waiter, who at first was affable, attractive and accommodating, became less and less so through the evening, even spilling the better part of a scotch sampler all over the table. I ordered a Basil Gimlet, which was surprisingly good, and felt it a good omen for the meal; I was wrong. The restaurant was loud, making comfortable conversation difficult. The appetizers (caprese salad and Ahi Tuna Tar Tar) were elaborately presented, but were difficult to share (small). Moreover, the Ahi Tuna was of poor quality (tough and stringy). This did not bode well for my dinner entree, for I had requested for their seared Ahi Tuna, which had been described as "sashimi grade" by our waiter. However, the fish I received was of the same poor quality as the appetizer, and was attended by an underwhelming sauce and vegetable side and a strange, not entirely appetizing herbed noodle. I chose their creme brulee for dessert, which was good, but the price was inconsistent with the quality. I guess this is the underlying theme to the entire meal, mediocre quality for gourmet pricing. I was not paying the tab, so I felt it inappropriate to complain, but I would have given the manager an earful if it had been my onus. There are too many good restaurants in Seattle to waste your evening and your paycheck here.

• Pros: good cocktail (basil gimlet)
• Cons: mixed service, mediocre food, high prices, loud

02/13/09

Beware: They think having crawling things in your oysters isn't nasty, it's natural!

by ameezy

The Brooklyn was a long time favorite -- so much so that I brought all my friends and family there and even went for a few of my birthdays. No longer. Tonight, there were creepy crawlies on the oysters. (Can't post any words that would alert the authorities on this website.) Once we complained, we were told they are "natural". They eventually comp'd the check -- but that was after my mother and girlfriend were pretty visibly disgusted. I don't think they even inspected the oysters to be sure they could continue to serve them to the rest of the guests. So, if you ate there tonight -- you might have gotten some unexpected protein...

07/06/08

Excellent service and the best steak I've had in ages

by marnid

We were unprepared on a recent visit to Seattle and did not have reservations on a Friday night, so we decided to take our chances sitting at the bar for dinner. It was actually a delight to be sitting in a place where we could people-watch while still absorbing the ambience, and also be able to take advantage of our bartender's (Cheston)conversation. He was very attentive, helpful and personable providing sound recommendations on what we should do on our visit to Seattle. We both had steaks, and the New York Peppercorn was a standout. It was tender and flavorful and I thought about it for days later. I am extremely happy that we took our concierge's recommedation to give The Brooklyn a try.

• Pros: Attentive service, ambience, steaks
• Cons: None