Fort Defiance

The breakfast sandwich is sick! It really is amazingly delicious. I also love the cornbread. I visited (finally) after reading about the their Pina Colada in NYMag’s new list of the absolute best things in New York. The Pina Colada wasn’t on the menu, but the bartender made it for me anyway, and it was quite tasty and well presented.
This is a great brunch spot in Red Hook, and I highly recommend it. The menu is simple, thoughtful, and all of us enjoyed our food.
Will be back.

Worst Servers! Ever! They always seem to be having a bad day! There’s one female bartender who is always nice. but otherwise the ENTIRE staff are thankless rude people, if you smile they frown more. and then it makes me wonder why am I spending my money here, and I come here often. and now I realize eating good food with mean people is not worth it to me!.. I’m hopeful management will change this issue.

What a delight. Fort Defiance has moved to the top of my brunch list for the time being even though its not in my hood. When you can say you had the best version of two things in one sitting, that’s a beautiful thing. One being the Irish coffee, and the other being the huevos rancheros.
I was never a big Irish coffee consumer until I married an Irishwoman and now I have no choice and it’s in the hot beverage rotation. This was by far the best Irish coffee I’ve had if that means much to you and they actually boast this accomplishment in their menu based on a Times review. I think they may add Kahlua to it but not entirely sure. It’s on the sweet side so one is enough.
The huevos rancheros was just amazing, and this isn’t a dish Id ever think I’d say this about. It included two perfectly cooked over easy eggs and a delicious pork hash layered between two fresh, crisp warm tortillas. Looking forward to this dish again.
The wife had your standard bacon and eggs with a hash brown and that was also above average according to her, and based on the piece of bacon I snagged from her.
As far as the atmosphere, chill spot and good service, but could be a bit tight seating wise so be prepared to hear your next tables strange conversations. The table to the left was right on top of us, and it felt like I was sharing the back of a chair with the guy sitting behind us. Kind of seating where you know you can’t talk about certain things and don’t want to hear certain things.
Anyway, as far as food and beverage, great spot. Wouldn’t mind sitting at the bar and eating there next time which was also an option. Definitely recommended. Enjoy.

Delicious Brunch. Hit the spot hard! Had the Barcelona and the All American. Really nice staff and effortlessly cool environment.

Went with my coworkers to this place. Horrible service by the staff during the serving of the food and waiting for the pay check. I will never go to this place again. Not recommended.

Nice local bar. Not worth a trip. I stopped by after taking the Ikea ferry to Brooklyn. Maybe a ten minute walk from the pier.
I started with a very nice Ramos Gin Fizz.
Brunch menu was OK but I need to try more of the menu before adding an extra star.

BRUNCH REVIEW: incredible good! I love Red Hook, and I finally made it here for brunch. I arrived with two friends at 11:30, and we got seated right away. Our server was super nice and suggested what to eat, based on our taste.
I got normal scramble eggs, with on a side bacon, potatoes pancakes, and toasted bread with butter. It could seem an easy meal, sort of the usual, but no. This is the most complicated, and Fort Defiance won my best prize! Eggs were really creamy, bacon was crunchy and super tasty, toasts were freshly baked, delicious and buttered, and the potatoes pancakes. OMG. Similar to the best latkes.
On top of everything the atmosphere is chill; great music in the background, some nice art on the walls, and lovely color tables. I can’t wait to go back. I kind of want to move to Red Hook to eat here more often!

After your warm-​up at Sunny’s you can’t beat Friday night at Fort Defiance. This is the spot where revolutionary militia died so you could have great cocktails in Red Hook. And it worked out pretty well considering. When you are done with your hanger steak and Key Lime Pie you can roll back to Sunny’s for live music.

Four stars purely for the drinks and the smiles. We were there between meal service (which was a little odd on a weekend but I won’t judge even though I really really want to because I was hungry and excited to be here, but ok ok I won’t judge I will only report the experience as it played out). There were some small plates available so we ordered the cheese sandwich and a couple of cocktails to tide us over before seeking out more food elsewhere. The cocktails were fantastic. I mean, they were smooth, well constructed, and the right blend of alcohol and flavor. They were terrific anytime cocktails and I’d sit and sip a cocktail there anytime. The cocktails made up for the lackluster snack food. I want to believe that the food is better during regular meal service, but based on the little I sampled I didn’t get the impression that the food is worth rushing back for. The grilled cheddar sandwich was surprisingly cheap quality. But the cocktails. Yeah, the cocktails really are where it’s at.

Great décor, service, and coffee. Enjoyed the brunch fare. Crowded for a Saturday afternoon.

For years now I have been eyeing this beauty and wanting to go. It has been for such a long time that the menu has changed.
I love the deco and thought that the service was acceptable but I did not like the food. I had the Charleston because it looks so amazing on pictures and was extremely disappointed. The greens were way to salty. The corn bread was on the dry side. With these two components not being up to par there wasn’t much to enjoy. I always take my leftovers home unless like in this case I don’t care for the food that I leave them.
I will admit that when I asked what was most popular the Charleston wasn’t one of the dishes mentioned perhaps I should have gone with a house recommendation.

Great brunch spot in Red Hook Brooklyn. Still dreaming about that cheddar egg cheese on a biscuit sandwich with has brown on the side.
Cute small spot with awesome service.

I must have been here a dozen times for brunch and this place never disappoints!!! The biscuit egg sandwich is to die for and the omelette of the day is usually quite delicious! Service is friendly and prompt. Drinks are great! I love that they serve brunch all week, not just on the weekend…

Came here while visiting Red Hook and saw this place was highly rated. We waited for about 20 minutes for a table and was seated on a nice saturday morning. and then somewhat forgotten. I felt that during our meal, they were a bit slow in serving us. A table that was seated after us was given their food before us I noticed. I guess I can understand because it was quite a busy time for them but found it a bit unfortunate at the same time.
Food though was good for a brunch. I got the Biscuit Egg Sandwich which was good. What made it special was definitely the jalapeño jam. Definitely an unique add on that really raised the bar for an egg biscuit sandwich.
If in the area, I would recommend it but I wouldn’t necessarily go out of my way to Red Hook for it.

A damn fine bartender who did it right and a chef who did it too,
Friendly staff who set you up and down at a table new.
Drinks divine and food high class for a couple or alone,
Now Fort Defiance is the place that I am surely goin’

I like the brunch menu better than the dinner, which has slim options. Only like 3 things on the entrée list. We were walking over to Rocky Sullivan’s for pizza, but decided last minute to go here instead… and it happened to be burger night!!! I got the onion/​bacon relish with my burger… OMG!

Quaint little place with interesting décor choices. seats are quite uncomfortable but the service is good along with the food.

The food is alright … Corn bread has a nice crunch to it. The mustard hollandaise sauce is a bit overwhelming. I can’t say anything extraordinary about this place, though I’m not sure if a 40 minute wait for the food was really worth it.

I walk in on a nippy January afternoon quite hungry. I take the nearest open table to my right. The bar is peppered with many bearded patrons and so are the surrounding booths. The waitress brings me a menus and asks if I would like a drink. She is beautiful; first check. Second check-​read my mind and brought me a perfectly poured sixpoint oyster stout on nitro. I ask what she would recommend for food and without pausing for a breath says the «huevos rancheros.» It’s 13 $ which is expensive but probably the norm for this area of Brooklyn. She brings it out to me and it looks like the devil made it and tastes like heaven. The food melts into my body. Third check.
The place is wonderfully comfortable and the beers are tall. If the other food is anything like the huevos, you would be sorry to miss such a bite.
I’ll be back.

Fort Defiance is one of those restaurants I couldn’t wait to run back home to write a review for (get a life, right? I know.) I want to scream at the top of my lungs to let everyone know how much I LOVE this place.
I’m going to skip right to the part where my knees got weak… that Biscuit Egg Sandwich is without a doubt in my mind heaven sent and I’m not even religious. Now I believe there is a God. It is definitely the best choice I have made to start off this New Year.
At first glance, the sandwich looks unassuming. But as soon as you bite into it, your life changes. I know this also because my boyfriend was watching me take the first bite and he wondered why I never look at him the same way. He’s just no competition to this biscuit.
Everything about it is perfect. The flavorful cheddar biscuit (I love biscuits in general, but this took it to the next level), the perfectly fried egg (not too runny, not overcooked), the ham (honestly, this was probably the least memorable ingredient) and most importantly whatever crack they put in that jalapeño jam. Not caring that my boyfriend was watching this affair unfold before his eyes, I lustfully seduced the biscuit… «I’ll be jalapeño jam ANY day!»
To top this off, my chai latte was BANGING. Most chai lattes are more or less the same. But this was one was silky smooth, not grainy, perfectly warm and not too hot with just the right amount of foam. Also for some reason, it is all white (not that I have preference over color, but a white chai latte is something I consider exotic and hey! I like to try new things).
The collard greens and the gingerade were equally as good. My boyfriend had the Richmond, but honestly, we can’t tell if it is even good or not because it was utterly out-​shined by the biscuit sandwich.
I can’t wait to come back for a second date with this place, looking forward to trying their dinner.

Solid four star place. Great ambiance and good food.
I like jumping on my bike, cruising down to Red Hook and have a wicked breakfast. Fried chicken and biscuits? Why yes please!
Quality coffee (cup brewed stumptown), good cocktails (love the Bloody Mary) and just a good place to spend a sunny morning.
Want to try and come down for Dinner/​Lunch at some point.