Rye

Went to Rye for bday/​graduation celebration and had the best meal and sweetest waitress (shout out to Megan! – who is a phenomenal person and will go on to do great things in this world)
Food was amazing: creamiest, non-​briny oysters from MA and the short rib (OMG the short rib with garlicky broccoli rabe – nuff said) and out of this world tender lamb shank! I’m not a ham/​bacon eater but the little bits in the mac & cheese and brussel sprouts were perfect!
Drinkwise – mine was a hit. the old cuban was delicious. my best friend had something with whiskey and we dubbed it «fire water» and the watermelon-​tequila something was refreshing especially with the oysters
Thanks to everyone there for making a special night absolutely perfect!

3.5 This place is cute and intimate, perfect date, anniversary, valentine day dinner spot. The food was OK but not quite memorable. The doughnuts were a nice treat though. Pricier than some places but worth checking out.

Great candlelight ambience! I don’t know what era the theme décor portrays (i wanna say 1920’s but im not to sure). Only way to describe it is that if you ever experienced «Sleep No More» it this place would have been an appropriate pairing for dinner and a show. Totally love the romantic, old school, yet trendy warmth the place gave. Service was good and welcoming. they didn’t go above and beyond my expectations but im not discrediting them or anything. I felt welcomed and our requests were accommodated appropriately and timely.
Now onto the Food: Starters
1. Oysters served with the usual– decent cocktail sauce, freshly grated horseradish (that was new at least for me), and some type of infused vinegar which was great, oh and of course lemon. The oysters were fresh, light, and sweet. I was in a party of 2 so I ordered 6 oysters. I could had just had that for dinner and i would had been as happy as a clam.
2. Scottish egg: Served on a bed of fresh greens, a creamy sauce and was already cut in half for you. This was ok. I wasn’t disappointed but i had better ones. I wish that the egg was cooked medium instead of fully cooked. I like cutting the scottish egg and seeing the yolk ooze out. But then again maybe i could had gave them my preference but oh well, next time i could ask. Still a good order non-​the-​less.
Main
1.Berkshire Grilled Pork belly: amazing! very rich and cooked to perfection. It made me close my eyes a little bit just because i was pretty impressed on good of a job they did. They get a pat on the back for this dish. served with some cooked veggies (looked like broccolini) and fava beans. Added a side of fries. Fries were average but good. It wasn’t seasoned with anything special but that was a good thing to cut the richness of the pork belly.
2. Braised short rib: also great. Cooked perfectly, full of flavor. served with looked like collard greens (i think, i forget), and whipped mash potatoes. Very rich. My and my boyfriend shared our dishes. Favored the pork belly a bit more tho, he agreed as well. I would had appreciated some freshness like a bed of fresh greens to cut the richness of both meals.
No dessert just because we both were so full. Oh and for drinks, i just had a suggestion of red wine which was fine. My boyfriend had the old fashion. The place looks like it would serve an amazing old fashion but he had said that he had better ones elsewhere.
Overall, it was great dining experience. I would come here again and recommend this place to others. It was a good place to have a intimate and quiet dinner with my boyfriend which was his birthday too. This place did not disappoint. =)

THE BRUSSEL SPROUTS ARE EVERYTHING.
overall the food is delicious, service was wonderful, and the seats are really comfy. Had the ribs, Mac & cheese, and brussel sprouts. Portions were pretty big and they also give you rye bread and butter to start solid place for a date night.

Great food, great service, great atmosphere…
Our experience was top notch last night!
Started out with small double cheeseburgers $ 5 between 5 30 and 7, may I add, Oldfashions also $ 5 until 7pm… Great juicy burgers! We also had chicken which was one of the best I’ve had in the city. The grilled ceviche was awesome and we ended our meal with a huge Banana Split… yummm!
We will be back very soon!

Last night, a few missteps occurred at Rye Restaurant in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, but after General Manager Shevawn Norton stepped in, she did something that few GMs can do well in the restaurant business: Shevawn turned around the situation and surprised us all by exhibiting the very best that Rye has to offer.
The Grilled Artichoke dish was so tasty; the Asparagus Platter had us all agreeing we had never before experienced asparagus like that; the Spring Ravioli vegetarian pasta dish was prepared to perfection; the Roasted Beet Napolean appetizer dish was simply scrumptious; and the Vanilla Crème Brûlée, topped with fresh raspberries and the Warm Chocolate Cake à la mode left us yearning for more.
A restaurant like Rye can prepare simply anything to the highest standards, and I must say that when excellent food is paired with over-​the-​top service, you have a winning team.
Waitress Megan wowed us with her genuine warmth and kindness. Nothing we requested was too much.
We will return soon to Rye, because they really earned our admiration, respect and loyalty.
AJC

This review is for Abdul the best busboy we have ever encountered (it would have probably gone unnoticed if it hadn’t been for my girlfriend). He was so on point that we did not go 5 seconds without a full glass of water and took away empty plates and glasses in a heartbeat.
The restaurant was great and we really enjoyed the experience but what made me want to write a Unilocal review was this guy who’s hard work probably goes unnoticed. I hope his manager reads this

I’ve been wanting to eat at Rye for a while now, and maybe that’s why I’m left feeling disappointed. Well, that and the $ 30 per entrée prices that I would be more than willing to pay for an incredible meal. Nope, they were mediocre.
I had the Grilled Berkshire Pork Belly. The pork belly was great– no complaints there. But the sauce it was in seemed to be watered down soy sauce and the broccoli rabe was just meh. I wasn’t wowed at all. My date ordered the Lamb Shank special. The risotto that came with the lamb was the best thing on the table, hands down. But the risotto alone couldn’t carry the dish. As for the lamb, I’ve had way better, sadly. It wasn’t juicy or tender, although it wasn’t dry either. Just, average. In fact, average would sum up the whole experience.
The atmosphere was cool, which is what you’re probably paying for. Service was average but better than most places in the neighborhood.
If I go back it will be to get a drink at the bar during Friday night 6 – 7 happy hour!

If you are on a date, this is the place to go! If you want to have a brilliant drink at a bar, this is the place to go! If you want a casual night of dancing in a basement, this is the place to go! If you want to eat, this is the place to go! I think I covered most occasions but seriously Rye is a staple in Williamsburg. The menu has something for everyone and it’s all outstanding, especially the old fashion. The servers are very very experienced and the wine list is so unique. You can’t go wrong if you visit.

Great atmosphere, friendly and attentive service… and DELICIOUS food! Will definitely return!

Great delicious food. Oddly, menu is still set to a Fall cuisine. I asked the server why that is, but he had no idea — Fall Ravioli, really? 3 seasons ago guys. But still, food is great — the duck was outstanding, as was the braised short rib.

Rye is our neighborhood go-​to for just about any gathering. Friends in town? Take them to Rye. Family in town? Take them to Rye. Hungry for a good meal? Go to Rye. Craving a perfect cocktail? Go to Rye.
You really can’t go wrong here. The food is fantastic, the cocktails amazing, the staff quirky and the ambiance cozy.
Now, I have to admit, I have a hard time trying anything new when I go, because quite frankly, I’m addicted to the meatloaf sandwich. It is SO GOOD. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. But everything I’ve had was delicious. Oh, definitely start with the brussel sprouts. You won’t regret it.

Rye has a very comfortable atmosphere and overall great service. A great place for friends (larger tables) or romantic date. Food was tasty, with a classic new American menu– fancy Brussels sprouts, Mac n cheese, prime rib, etc.
We started off with the Brussels sprouts which were very good and covered in bacon fat. I had the meatloaf sandwich. The meat and bbq-​type sauce was very flavorful and the toasted bread (ciabatta I think) held up well. There was also a side of pickled vegetables that complimented the sandwich.
They also had a nice drink selection. Had a taste of my friend’s old fashioned (with some nice aged whiskey, so I was told) and it was pretty strong.

I would rate Rye four and a half stars.
I started with the scotch egg. The crispiness of the scotch egg and the creaminess of the mornay sauce were high points of the dish; it amplified textural contrast between the egg and ground beef with the crispy exterior. In addition to the textural contrast, I also like how the bacon and the frisee expanded the flavor profile of the dish.
For my main entrée, I had the Porcini and Parsley Pappardelle. Like the appetizer, the entrée exhibited a wide ranging flavor profiles. It was a quite a hearty and earth dish which was manifested by the porcini mushrooms, tender beef chunks, and the parsley leaves. The pappardelle was absorbent and adopted the essence of the dish.
For dessert, we split the molten chocolate cake with pistachio ice cream. Like the other dish, contrast was a huge impetus in the dish. This time it was the contrast between the hot molten cake and the cold pistachio ice cream. The cake was decadent and the ice cream was creamy. It was a very rich dish.
The service at Rye was superb. The entire staff was friendly, knowledgeable, and accommodating. It was refreshing to experience such exquisite service.

I can only speak to my bar experience, which is likely frowned upon, but will update when and if I actually consume food here. Drink special (I believe it was after Happy Hour) was about as custom-​made for me as it could possibly be: A draft beer and a shot of bourbon, rye or… scotch, I believe?.. for $ 6. I went with the Southern Tier 2XIPA (a straight-​down-​the-​middle hop bomb) and the rye, which happened to be my go-​to for rye old-​fashioneds and neat drink alike, Old Overholt. This little combination set my night up well, and though my friends and I decided to head for a slightly cheaper dinner offering, I made it a point to return here on the principle that if the bar experience is good, the full shebang has to be right there as well. Also, bartender had a very cool and wise air about him, almost like The National’s Matt Berninger.

Had a lovely experience here last Sunday morning/​early afternoon for brunch. Party of 3, seated right away. We were all hungover so it was appreciated that water glasses were filled immediately and constantly. Also enjoyed a good «cup of Joe» and a mimosa made with fresh squeezed orange juice. We ALL ordered the Rye Benedict after seeing it brought out to another table. Pork belly eggs Benedict served over a homemade soft biscuit with perfect poached eggs and hollandaise sauce with some greens and a fried potato cake on the side. The pork belly melted in your mouth — hangover gone. Perfect brunch — ready for round 2!

Elegant and moody interior perfect for a date night especially if your date likes wine and cheese.
Came here a few weeks ago and had a nice dinner, we shared the cheese plate which came with a few interesting sides such as pickled watermelon and a delicious homemade jam.
The plate is enough for a tasting between two and the cocktails they serve are also top notch. I ordered their version of a gin and tonic and loved it.
(I would have also ordered their pickle plate but apparently I was the only pickle lover at the table!)
For entrees they have a few classics and nothing really stood out to me so I stuck with the fall ravioli which was filled with butternut squash and severed on a mushroom broth. It was nicely presented but I have had much better versions right in Williamsburg.
My date ordered the pork belly and he said it was tender but would have liked a bigger portion for the price. I mean. who wouldn’t? We enjoyed everything we ate but three still isn’t anything that made me go «wow that was good» like I usually do at places that are this highly rated.
I’m giving Rye a downgrade only because they could have more options on their menu especially for people who are tired of seeing pork belly and brisket everywhere. The restaurant has amazing potential to do so much more since you can tell the food is made either care.

I came here with a group at 630 PM on a sunny saturday, which admittedly was the wrong time of day to come. It’s a very dark bar (which would be great late at night), and there is an interesting minimalist farmhouse vibe going on. The music they play is really funky – almost like avant garde house music like nico jaar. I thought to myself that maybe Tarantino would like the grungy, Elvis-​y vibe to this place, but figured he probably wouldn’t even be too impressed by it.
I had an old fashioned, which the waitress said the NY Times said the bar made the best old fashioneds, and it was good not great.

Rye is good! solid good w its food, service and dessert! I’ve been here couple of times, the first time we came here for dinner after being turned away from Traif for an hour wait. Gladly there was no wait on a sat night, it was dimly lighted and its got rustic yet chic decors, elongated bar to the right upon entrance, love the antique silverwares, the wooden chairs were not the most comfortable but they also got some booth seats. however, after few sip of their killer old fashioned, everything’s better!
Mac and cheese was creamy and delicious.
meat load was rich and flavorful.
Duck breast was tender and juicy, gf’s entrée and she really liked it, was ok to me
Short ribs was superb, esp w the greens
The ribs were lean, sauce was thick, abit too sweet to my taste
I really like to flow of the service both times I was there, professional yet attentive, friendly and unpretentious. I will definitely come back for more old fashioned and meals!

My dinner mates came from Manhattan and raved the whole time about how amazing the food was. I have to agree that the Brussels sprouts, duck and ceviche were all top notch. The Brussels were caked with Parmesan and cooked to perfection– slightly charred, still soft and melt in your mouth goodness. I got a nice sized portion of duck (had to bring half home), whereas normal nyc duck portions could be only a few bites. We also had ceviche and it was flavorful with several kinds of seafood (shrimp, scallops, octopus and fish) plus grapefruit and mild spices.
The banana split was huge, with 3 kinds of ice cream, caramelized bananas and toasted pecans. My only complaint is that the banana wasn’t totally ripe :(. The donuts are hot, crispy and soft in the middle and went really well with the ice cream. We had cinnamon and vanilla.
We had awesome drinks here. If u like a Manhattan or and old fashioned, this is a good choice for you. I can see why Rye is a popular choice outside of «mainstream» Williamsburg.