Gwynnett St.

The DH and I celebrated our two-year anniversary at Gwynnett St., which has been on my radar for a while. We tried to go earlier this year--on a weekend--but reservations were in short supply. However, this year our anniversary fell on a Wednesday--always a good get-a-table night--and we had no issues getting a table, even pushing our reservation by about twenty minutes after running a bit late.

Gwynnett St. is smack in the middle of hipster Williamsburg, and as such, is ironically and fancifully nestled on a rather unremarkable street off Metropolitan. The decor is warm and inviting and the staff are equally as unpretentious, which I appreciate. Cocktails were also yummy but I didn't come here to drink. Also, the chef is on Chopped, apparently. Now for ze food:

We opted for the tasting menu, $85 per, which got us five savory and two sweet courses. We started with the whiskey bread (see below). This is basically a biscuit type loaf (but better) and came with a cultured butter (also pictured) and a finely whipped lardo, as well as an additional type of spread--I think a mascarpone (not pictured). These were all amazing. I would go back for this like I've gone back to the John Dory Oyster Bar for drinks just to get their parker house rolls.

Next course was a "stinging nettle" soup with razor clams (see below), which I was sadistically intrigued by, having spent many a summer nursing my own nettle welts in the English countryside. However, a resounding "meh"  for this one (YAY irony!). Lovely presentation but not worth the space in my belly. This was followed by another light dish--a crudo of fluke with cucumber, green almond and horseradish. Aromatically this dish was delightful, but only so-so on the palate.

The bigger dishes started with the lamb's tongue with smoked feta, fava greens and beans (see pictured). This was almost like a smoked chorizo, and the fava beans were in two forms, a paste and a crostini--very good and unexpected.  The filet of beef with a ramp puree, broccoli rabe and flowers, was juicy and tender and the poached salmon with black lentils, leeks and pickled onions was light, yet, complex in both taste and texture. All were delicious (the salmon was my personal fave) and cooked perfectly.

Dessert courses were one strawberry sorbet with an elderflower meringue; and then a hazelnut gelato with fennel. The former was far and away my preferred dish.

Overall, the tasting menu experience was pleasant. The service was prompt and friendly, and the food was elegantly presented, fresh and of high quality. But aside from the lush, warm whiskey bread and its small array of elegant spreads, no single dish will drag me back here.

BTW, the whiskey bread is $5 and available a la carte. GET IT!!!



312 Graham Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11211