Blue Roost to Take Over K-Dog Space

We first heard the news over the weekend from someone who saw Linda post the news on Facebook. We've since heard it from at least three separate friends and, most recently, from a commenter here on the blog. Earlier today our East PLG correspondent Jessica sent us the accompanying photo of the sign announcing the news in the window of the storefront itself so ... having been tipped by virtually everyone I know who lives in PLG, I can't justify putting off posting this any longer:

Blue Roost is moving from their adorable but kitchen-free location on Flatbush to take over the 43 Lincoln Road, site of the late, lamented K-Dog & Dunebuggy.

Good luck, Linda and Billy.

Bad News for Culpeppers

A while back, fellow blogger Plog reported on the closing of Culpepper's for Department of Health violations. When we checked in at Culpepper's location on Nostrand and Lincoln a few weeks ago, they were scheduled to re-open on May 7th, the lights were on and everything seemed ready to go.

Fast-forward to yesterday afternoon, when I was greeted by the bright orange sign indicating nonpayment of taxes and seizure by the State of New York.

Regardless of whether you'd consider eating food from an establishment that's failed its DOH inspection (I admit that I would! The food at Culpepper's was just that good), it looks like a long road back for this Bajan standby.

Sad Farmers Diner Update and Other Restaurant News

It looks like the PLG bloggers at PLOG got the scoop that we couldn't: The Farmers Diner isn't coming to Brooklyn any time soon. While Brooklyn is still part of the long-term agenda, they are focusing on going to San Fransisco first.

PLOG quotes co-owner Denise Perras:

Our hearts are still there, as we fell in love with PLG, and most importantly, the residents. At this time we are focused on the other piece of our expansion project, San Francisco area specifically. Our first location set to open in the spring.

Reading between the lines of her extended quote, it appears that while there was a lot of local enthusiasm about the project, it wasn't backed up with a willingness to invest. I confess that we were among those who were very excited about the project but didn't feel financially secure enough to put our own money into it.

I also have to give credit to PLOG for this: I have a few pages of a notebook full of restaurant Board of Health ratings from the neighborhood but they went out and created an integrated map with ratings, including ratings for some restaurants that I'm pretty sure still have "Grade Pending" signs in the window. I have to remember to send them some of my notes for Rogers and Nostrand, since it seems that they only covered Flatbush and west.

You can also consider this a much-belated Welcome Aboard to PLOG, which has been doing a very good job since they started blogging in November.

Delivery Options: Brooklyn Pita

Earlier this week we stopped in to Brooklyn Pita, an Israeli joint on 7th Avenue in Park Slope, to grab a quick bite. We had very good good falafel and shwarma, and then, after what we considered at the time a frivolous question, found out that they deliver to PLG.

With a $30 minimum order, they'll get on their horse and bring some Middle Eastern goodness to your door. They have the standard assortment that you'll find: falafel, kebabs, shwarma, a mix of simple sides (Israeli salad, beet salad, grilled eggplant, etc.) all done very well. With just the two of us, the $30 target is a bit high for dinner but it is definitely something to keep in mind for when we are having, say, a poker game at the house. (Note to self: have more poker games at the house.)

The number for delivery is 718-832-7482 and the menu is here. Happy eating.

People's Choice: New Face on an Old Place

Though very little else has changed, Exquisite, the steam table Jamaican place across the street from the Parkside Q (218 Parkside (gmap)), has changed its name to "People's Choice."

Actually, I can't say how much has changed inside - I haven't been in since the new sign went up - but I can tell you that nothing else is different on the outside. They better not have changed anything about the saltfish bake, once cited by the NY Times (and confirmed by me) as one of the top sandwiches in New York.

Thanks, Sam.

Mama Louisa, That's a Tasty Sandwich!

I don't get out to New York Avenue nearly often enough because Mama Luisa's Hero Shoppe (609 New York Avenue (gmap)) is, by far, my favorite restaurant in the neighborhood. And you can't even sit down.

The whole not-sitting-down thing, combined with a four-avenue schlep and the prospect of insane waiting time for a sandwich that you then have to carry home or eat on the sidewalk like a savage pretty much sums up why I go so rarely but when I do...

For about $7 you get a gigantic hero and it is a good goddamn sandwich, providing that rare combination of quantity, quality and value. On my most recent trip I got two heros: an artichoke parmigiana and broccoli rabe and sausage. I would recommend either of them for a convicted murderer seeking advice on a last meal. I don't know why I am inclined to give good advice to a murderer.

I expected the shop to be full of Kings County Hospital employees but it seems like much more of a neighborhood place. It is also quirky in that it is kind of a bodega with a random assortment of crap packing every available inch of wall space. I strongly suggest calling ahead because the lines can be long, the staff is lean and it can take 45 minutes for your sandwich to come out. It will be worth the wait, regardless. You can find a menu below the fold.

New on Nostrand: Clubs Gyro

Hawthorne Street HQ is a few steps from Flatbush Avenue, so we admit to a Flatbush-side bias in our coverage. That said, when we get a tip about something going on in the eastern part of PLG, we try to follow up. Which brings us to Clubs Gyro, a new Halal take-out option at 1026 Nostrand between Empire and Sterling (gmap).

It is, as the name implies, a simple gyro joint. Basic fare like gyros, falafel and kebabs. You can't treat the menu as gospel since they have added items since it was printed. The lone Yelp review says that they have added "Philly Cheese-steaks, white fish sandwiches, and fried white fish plates", when I was there, someone ordered fries and there was a sign on the wall for a couple of biryani dishes.

Clubs Gyro is a sliver of a storefront (pic below) and there is no seating. There is about 4 feet of space between the door and the counter, which is set up for the sandwich fixings, Subway-style.

I stuck with the basics on my first trip: gyro on a pita and falafel on a pita. To start with the good, I really liked the falafel (which, sadly, was Carrie's so I didn't get much). Even after the trip back from Nostrand to HQ in the cold, which really cooled down the fried-to-order falafel balls, it was a tasty, filling sandwich. At $4.50 for a falafel with hummus it is fairly priced.

The gyro didn't fare as well. Even though I've been told by posters that "it tastes better when you say YEE-ros," this isn't a Greek joint and the counterman told me "no heros, only pita." Which is fine, I wanted pita for my JAI-ro anyway. There was no rotisserie going to roast the outside of the lamb; it was already roasted, cubed and in a warming tray. It also did not survive the trip home nearly as well as the falafel. Whether it was already cooling in the warming tray or the December air really punished the sandwich, I don't know. It was pretty cold when I got home, though. These are not ideal reviewing conditions, so take this with a grain of salt, but even after reheating the sandwich in the microwave to get the fat melted again, I didn't love this gyro. Still, at $4 it is a pretty good deal. The portions are fair without enhancement, but by the time the gyro is fully loaded, it is pretty substantial. The sandwich fixings include banana peppers, jalapenos, cucumber, green peppers, raw onion, pickle chips and green olives. I'll try it again under better testing circumstances.

This is a lot of writing for two take-out sandwiches, so I'll cut this short here. The printed, though incomplete, menu is below the fold.

Thanks, Diana!

Taste of Hawthorne Shut Down

We've just received word that Taste of Hawthorne, the home-based restaurant on Hawthorne Street, was shut down by the Department of Health shortly after the restauranat was the subject of a profile in the New York Times.

I can't say that I'm that surprised by the bad news. Before we blogged about ToH we made sure to ask if the proprietors even wanted us, with our extremely limited readership, to raise their profile beyond whoever they could flyer. A New York Times article that essentially admitted to operating without a license and made them easy to find probably forced the DOH's hand.

Will a Pop-Up Cafe Come to PLG?

The Department of Transportation is seeking applicants for a pilot program to add more pop-up cafes next spring. Pop-up cafe permits can go to restaurants that aren't otherwise eligible for sidewalk cafe permits and the cafe itself would be set up in the curb lane of the street.

The DOT is only accepting applications through December 3, so if anyone wants to tap, say, the owner of Scoops, on the shoulder to let him know about the program that would be aces. You can read more about the application criteria and process here.

Will a pop-up cafe come to PLG? I don't know. I have no idea if any restaurateurs have any interest and the Lincoln Road restaurants appear to be ineligible anyway because the street is one long bus lane... but I wouldn't mind seeing a few tables outside of Blue Roost or Mango Seed next spring. Then again, I'm not sure how relaxed I'd be sipping coffee on Flatbush Avenue as a dollar van comes hurtling by.

Now Open: Blue Roost Petite Cafe

Linda and Billy began welcoming people to the Blue Roost this morning. I* was only able to pop in, snap a photo, and grab a $2 cup of strong coffee in a classic Greek cup, so I have nothing to share but this photo and these kind words from a commenter. You can see most of the menu if you click to expand the photo, though, so there's that.

Blue Roost gets much more seating in a small space than I thought possible. Color me impressed.