Milk Bar Brooklyn

Milk Bar Brooklyn is not to be confused with David Chang's new sweet tooth: Momofuku Bakery and Milk Bar. Milk Bar Brooklyn is a corner storefront located in Prospect Heights; a neighborhood that has been overshadowed by the partiality of neighboring Park Slope. An Australian inspired cafe-eatery where you can order to-go or dine-in: serving caffe lattes, panini all day for lunch; brunch and selected days for dinner. Very unlikely can Milk Bar put Prospect Heights in the food map. But Milk Bar has its own interpretation on what it wants to be and how it fits uniquely in the less-chartered neighborhood.

The brunch menu is simple and straightforward: toasted artisan countryside sourdoughs with poached eggs; fruit granola parfait; ciabatta sandwiches; fresh salad; over-the-counter pastries and cafe varieties. Very practical and basic--nothing on the brunch menu requires intense cooking over the stove top--at least not for Brunch. Think of Milk Bar as a hybrid of a cafe and restaurant; offering sit down service as you are sipping on a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice and enjoying the morning paper.

Unlike many brunch places, the cafe opens modestly at 9am to accommodate weekend early birds.

20 Vanderbilt Ave, Brooklyn, NY‎ - (718) 230-0844‎ www.milkbarbrooklyn.com

Strip House

As steak occupies center stage, the Strip House atmosphere is just as noteworthy. Vintage photographs of bygone era strippers cover the seductive rouge walls hanging over the polish quilted red leather banquettes. If Strip House has a mantra it would be: if sex sells then steak will come with that too.

The steak was much straightforward than the lusty décor. The filet mignon and New York strip was up to standard. Perfectly cooked as requested: medium rare. The New York strip is more charred and has burnt marks—as strips can take more flame than a filet. The steaks can stand alone and acceptable without the side sauce. Sides are worth mentioning: served in a petite copper tin measuring cup is the creamed spinach, perfumed with truffles adding a greater depth of flavor; goose-fat potatoes shaped in a golden crust dome as the taste resembles precisely like a pizzeria croquette.

And if you can stomach dessert, I do prefer the caramelized banana tart with vanilla ice cream tucked with whole pistachios drizzled in brown sugar hard sauce.

Strip House has its own theme parting from the old-line steakhouses. It’s highly conceptualized, playful and evocative which evokes a naughty taste bud for the red meat.

Strip House Steak House 13 E 12th St New York, NY 10003 (212) 328-0000 www.striphouse.com

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Petite Abeille

Having had Petite Abeille’s Belgian waffles in mind, I thought it would marvelous to go for bunch. My waffles with strawberry sauce was far from marvelous; the presentation was nice-looking but the technique was basic and straightforward. Not inspiring or captivating for the palate. If it wasn’t for the rainbow color of fruits bedded on top of the waffle I don’t think the waffle would survive on its own. The waffle itself can be made from the box at home by a teenage. The texture was stale-like and missing a moist component; the taste was bland and minimal. The dish scores points in presentation—it will wow your kids. But if you’re looking for a daring, bold and new taste you will not find it here.

Everything made sense when I realized that Petite Abeille was a chain. For the serious eater who frequents Prune in LES, Petite Abeille would not come close to be on the to-eat-list. It’s a fun and appropriate outlet for children and their parents to eat and be uninspired.


Petite Abeille 401 E. 20th Street (between 1st Ave & N Stuyvesant Loop) New York, NY 10009