The Grocery

Simply superb in every way! Tiny The Grocery was the #1 restaurant in all of NYC according to Zagat reviewers about 3 – 5 years back, and with good reason. They’re still at the top of their game, pouring their hearts out into their delicious cuisine every night. Don’t be surprised if chefs /​owners Charlie and Sharon come out to personally welcome you, and don’t forget to get their advice on wine and beer pairings. Favorite dishes over the years: Charlie’s French fry salad and all the smoked dishes, and Sharon’s chocolate fig cake for dessert.

Loved this place, so sad that they closed

If I was rating this on food alone (taste, quality) it would get a 5 stars. The food was some of the best I have had in the Carroll Gardens/​Cobble Hill/​Boerum Hill area. Also the owner/​chefs brought out the food personally and explained the plates, which was real nice. Small plates that were extremely tasty — especially the BBQ Portabella. The goat cheese ravioli was tasty but hard on the corners (?). The guinea hen empanadas were also very tasty. The chocolate fig cake dessert was divine. However, the service gets a 2.0 if I am generous. The wait staff is, for a better term, officious. We arrived at 5:45 pm on a Wednesday, and there was no one in the restaurant. The waiter seated us but another waitress ran up and told us we had to move because that table was reserved at 8pm (note: we were done with our meal at 7:15 pm and only two more people arrived in the interim). After conferring for 3 full minutes, we were moved to a «walk-​in table» which was right next to the table we were at. Then the wait staff talked over us, interrupted, and made us feel like we were intruding on them, rather than vice versa. That same horrible waitress yelled at another waiter who gave us a dessert menu that we requested of him because she was busy and hadn’t been to our table in 15 minutes after finishing our meal. I cannot say enough about how bad we were treated here. I will not be returning strictly because of the way we were treated. The owners better wake up and watch what is going on inside.

We had an early dinner here on Friday night that was out of this world. The food was incredible and the wines suggested by husband-​wife chefs perfect. Also, the price, for ever-​more expensive Brooklyn, was quite reasonable. We loved the chopped apple salad, the smoked ocean trout (unbelievably tasty), the risotto (perfectly balanced with fresh local organic ingredients including nice little peas). For dessert, we shared an apple cobbler, which was easily enough for two of us. Our favorite restaurant.

Do yourself a favor and go to The Grocery at least once in your life. It’s one of the finest establishments in Brooklyn. A++ amazing food, great service. And located in a storefront, it’s a quirky ambience. Pricey for the neighborhood.

What outstanding customer service!
We recently required a booking for 12 people for a special event and booked an early dinner at The Grocery for 5 p.m. The owners (the chef and his wife), were absolutely incredible and catered to every allergy and food aversion; what’s more it felt like we were having a family dinner surrounded by familiar friends who couldn’t do enough to make the dinner extra special.
They requested that we pre-​select the dishes in advance of the meal to take the pressure off the kitchen. That said, we were still able to order three quarters of the menu and, despite the large party, every dish was perfectly executed.
The joy of The Grocery is the outstanding food served in a low-​key setting that makes you feel at home. It certainly did not disappoint and we will continue to give them our patronage for many years to come.

Had the most amazing experience here last night with my family! The food was to die for and the service was equally as amazing.
We had the tasting menu and it did not disappoint. I loved each course but especially loved the brussel sprouts with pancetta & shrimp dish. The ice cream was also delicious!
The owners of this gem are very involved and it’s obvious they cook with love. Can’t wait to come back :). Enjoy baltimore ;)

Excellent dinner! Sampled the duck, venison, lamb, and guinea hen, and they all were great. I highly recommend the Brussels sprouts and the lamb!
Was also pleasantly surprised when the chefs came out and served our mains and asked how we were doing. Really lovely!

I loved my meal with A here last Friday night! Everything was delicious and I really appreciated how the hands-​on chef (Charlie?) served us some dishes. he also jokingly slapped A on the back after he sprinkled some nuts on our brussels plate after it was served to us because he apparently forgets a lot (his words — funny guy). I do have to say that you must make a reservation because we tried coming the Friday before and were told we would get a call back and never did after trying to walk-​in for a table. We were a little put off that we never got a call back but I assume it’s because they were booked the whole night and not because they are pretentious, as A thought. I definitely recommend this tapas-​style place because the food was delicious and the service excellent. The crispy squid and brussels sprout dishes are must-​haves in my opinion. We also had the duck, broccoli grilled cheese (skip), and squash pasta. I enjoyed their complimentary potato croquette and soup and also their pistachio biscotti at the end of our meal. :)

It’s pricey but a unique dining experience. EVERYTHING I tasted was delicious and fresh. The regulars are very friendly. The atmosphere is like visiting your favorite family member’s home for an elegant but not pretentious dinner with the neighbors invited. Loved it!

I don’t know how it took me over 4 years to finally make it to The Grocery, but I’m so glad I finally did! We made reservations for the tasting menu with wine pairing. I’m a hugeee fan of tasting menus – after a long work week, I want nothing more than to not have to make any decisions at all. In comparison to other tasting menus, they started out by asking if there was anything we absolutely didn’t want and anything we absolutely wanted to try– as my brain was fried and I’m not so picky, I said whatever they wanted was good with me. I appreciated that they actually cared about our likes/​dislikes as most other restaurants just ask for allergies.
We ate so much food and drank so much wine, and it was A-​L-​L delicious. Seriously, there wasn’t a single thing we didn’t like. Some standouts: the beets (roasted beets paired perfectly with the goat cheese ravioli and pine nuts, Mmm Mm), pan-​roasted blackfish, and the slow rendered duck breast (perfection!). My favorite dessert had to be the chocolate fig cake– omg, it was moist, flavorful and delicious and I almost died over the passionfruit sorbet. All of the wines were delicious, expertly curated and you can tell a lot of time and thought went in to each wine with pairing.
It’s not the cheapest dining experience, but it’s worth every penny– tasting menu:$ 85 and an additional $ 45 for the wine pairing.

I’ve been meaning to come here for years, and can’t believe it took me this long! Definitely one of the best restaurants in Brooklyn. Outstanding food, attentive but casual service, and a charming little space. Feels like you are in someone’s living room, and the staff and patrons are unpretentious and mellow.
We lucked out by getting a last-​minute reservation on a Friday night, and there were even a couple tables open which I was shocked by. The owners were very hands-​on and the food just got better and better, with the pork chop and the crispy squid as total standouts.
They call it tapas-​style food meant to be shared, and we ordered five dishes between the two of us which was definitely enough food. We would’ve been just fine with four plates. Good-​sized portions for the price point, and not a cheap meal but worth every penny.
Great spot for a special occasion!

I like the Grocery. It’s always packed and I’m too lazy to make reservations far in advance — but the food is good for the neighborhood. Service/​quality is a bit irregular.

Wow, it is has been a while since I have been floored by a meal and overall restaurant experience, and I have to say that Grocery did just that for us! Since first moving to Carroll Gardens over 10 years ago, we have had the pleasure of dining at Grocery for a few very special occasions (certainly couldn’t afford to eat here regularly). The first two times were really mind blowing and we went all out with the full tasting menu with wines and letting the chef pick everything. Over the next few years we went back and always had excellent experiences, but with so many new options appearing in Brooklyn over that time, it was hard to justify not trying something new. As a result we took about a 3 year break from Grocery.
After an absolutely miserable experience a Dover a few weeks back, we realized we needed to go somewhere that we knew would be spectacular. Grocery did not disappoint.
The first thing you notice at Grocery is the personal attention and really top notch service you get the moment you walk in. Believe it or not, from our experience, this is somewhat rare in the top restaurants in Brooklyn. I am not saying you don’t get good service in Brooklyn, but it is rare to get the kind of service you get at places like Daniel, where the staff knows you have to go to the bathroom before you do (yes, I stole that line, but it is so true). Usually I hate that kind of attention, but when it is done properly you don’t realize it is happening and it really heightens the whole dining experience. The great thing at Grocery is that you can get this experience, typically reserved for stuffy Manhattan restaurants, all while sitting in an incredibly relaxing and casual Brooklyn backyard. At Grocery they hit the perfect balance of having the staff who is there to meet your every need, but only if you want them to be, and applying no pressure to rush or order the most expensive bottle of wine.
In fact we went in expecting to do the tasting menu, but the owner/​chef actually convinced us to do otherwise when we realized they had changed their menu format. Instead of the traditional courses they had had for years, they switched to a smaller plate concept. Not the annoying 2 bites small plates concept that nearly every new Brooklyn restaurant seems to rip you off with these days, but really more like half portions that allow you to try the whole menu and share with whoever you are dining with.
For our last trip it was 4 of us and with guidance from waiter we ordered 9 of these plates which really gave us a full cross section of the whole menu. This was in addition to the excellent amuse bouche the chef started us out with (a chilled leak soup and little potato croquettes).
What we thought was going to be a 1 or 2 hour meal turned into an incredibly relaxing 4 hour experience under the stars. Everything was perfectly coordinated in the way they pace the food we had no idea we had been there so long.
Okay, so this is turning into a novel so rather than breaking down every dish we had, I just have to say it was all perfection. It made me realize what had been missing from the last dozen or so «new» high end restaurants I had gone to in our hood. Our dishes included: toasted farro salad, beets, french fry salad, summer squash risotto, pole bean salad (which the chef insisted we order after overhearing my wife reading the menu and saying that was one we could skip… it was great), crispy squid, rainbow trout, guinea hen, slow rendered duck breast… and a special I am forgetting.
Okay, I need to wrap this up and just say GO! Unlike the many restaurants that have come and gone or went from great to just plain bad and then eventually disappeared on Smith (Saul, Patois, etc) Grocery has stayed perfection and consistent. Another amazing thing is that the owners are always there and always treat you like a VIP (I don’t know how they keep their energy up). Speaking of VIPs we did have one of the Orange Is New Black actresses sitting next to us this last time… not that it matters or we care, but love that in a place like this you get a wide variety of diners yet it is not a scene and there is no attitude.
Finally, I will say the back yard is great, but you are sitting at small outdoor dining tables so it may not be what you are accustomed to for fine dining. This is the price you pay when trying to eat gourmet food outdoors… after the first bite you quickly forget that it may not be the most comfortable furniture. Also, if you do eat indoors, be warned it is a very simply plain atmosphere. Personally, I love the minimal approach (and remember these people were the pioneers of Smith street and this was really original at the time… it is just that now everyone else has copied them).

Food was great. Portions are very tiny. Our waitress was not respectful of our time. She took her sweet time on purpose to bring us our bills and our receipt.

I came here on a random Tuesday night without reservations and they seated us at what looked like the most uncomfortably placed tabled in the center of the restaurant. You walk in thinking it’s going to be super stuffy and all hoity toity, but it was actually a pretty relaxed vibe. Even the center table was not that bad since it seems like you can have a private conversation without anyone paying attention or hearing you.
i’m not a fan of the prices, i mean are these vegetables organic from your back yard? But everything did taste fresh, especially the peas. I really liked the crispy squid and the bass with the spatzel too. I wanted to give it a 5 star, but the prices just seemed a bit unreasonable, luckily i don’t eat that much.

If Helen of Troy was the face that launched a thousand ships, then The Grocery was the restaurant that launched this Unilocal account.
I have to say, it was honestly one of the most underwhelming meals I’ve ever had in my life. I’m not sure what happened to The Grocery, but it seems like the glory days are long gone. We looked at the photos online, read some reviews and were expecting to be blown away. Sadly that wasn’t the case. The food was trite and the prices inflated, the atmosphere, lackluster to say the least.
At $ 25, the halibut was the smallest piece of fish to ever grace a plate outside of Manhattan. I would have sent it back but was too embarrassed to make a scene. The tables are right on top of each other and I didn’t feel like including the neighbors in my plight. Sadly, I ate the fish, all two bites of him, while wondering what kind of pizza I was going to have for desert.
The bill was $ 160 including tip. We had 1 beer and 1 glass of wine each.
I also find it suspect that all the negative reviews have been «Not Recommended» by the Unilocal moderator (and therefore not factored into the overall rating). Clearly, 30+ people have shared a similar experience but Unilocal has silenced them by relegating their opinions to the fine print. Shame on you Unilocal

We didn’t have a reservation but arrived at 8:30 on a Saturday night hoping for the best. The female owner was extremely nice and accommodating and was able to squeeze us in.
Aside from the room being small, crowded and bereft of décor, we were most disappointed by the food. The Brussels sprouts were lackluster at best. The squid salad was ok, but at $ 19 we expected something better. The lamb entrée was decent but served lukewarm. The halibut was jaw-​droopingly small — it must have been 2 ounces. We split it and had literally one bite each. The fig chocolate cake was average at best, the coconut ice cream was the best part.
Other complaints included dirty dishes stacked in a corner visible to all and the chef ringing a bell loudly from the kitchen every few minutes. Server was nice, nothing special.
Overall we would not return or recommend it to others.

Very impressed with the food and service here. You will not be impressed by the décor (there is none), or the size (shoebox). However, if you are coming to eat, this is the place.
They serve only wines, no hard liquor. The staff has extensive knowledge of the wines and pairing. They have a nice selection of wines by the glass, half bottles or full.
We ate a la carte, but many in the restaurant were having the tasting menu, which can be paired with wines. Food comes in small portions and is shareable. They recommend 3 – 4 items each. We had 3 each and were stuffed. The sizes of the portions are larger than most places that serve this way. They served an amouse bouche and small portion of sorbet, fruit and cookies at the end, compliments of the chef.
What we tried:
warm brussels sprouts leaves: soy nuts, shallot & herb ‘ranch’ dressing–
creamy, potent flavor, soy nuts were a crunchy surprise. A must-​try.
french fry salad: hand cut idahos, roasted hen of the woods mushrooms, parsley, capers, lemon juice, olive oil–
delicious blend of greens and fries with a lemony tart acidic dressing. Could have a bit less capers but still lovely.
crispy squid: kale & kohlrabi slaw, pistachio, lemon & parsley gremolata —
fancy calamari with a nice balance if slaw and parsley. Felt like a calamari salad and was very tasty.
slow rendered duck breast: whole buckwheat groats, roasted turnips, caramelized red wine sauce–
The highlight of the night. The carmelized red wine sauce was sweet and buttery. It tasted almost light dessert in a meat dish. The buckwheat groats had a firm consistency and soaked up the flavor of the sauce. Duck was perfectly cooked.
grilled loin chop of lamb: caramelized endive, black beans, herb ‘pesto’ -
My least favorite of the night, maybe because I was so full by this point?
guinea hen: the guinea hen was served differently from the menu. It prepared like pan-​fried chicken and paired with basmati rice with apricots. It was similar to a moroccan dish. The sweet flavor perfectly balanced the fried and salty hen. It was also a highlight.
If you are in a foodie mood, this is a good place to come. I would suggest reservations because the tables are limited.

Maybe I’m just over the whole farm to table movement, but I wasn’t nearly as impressed by The Grocery as I thought I would be.
This is one of those neighborhood restaurants you save for a special occasion (unless you have $ 150 to spare for a dinner for two on a regular Thursday night). My husband and I came here to celebrate our 3^rd wedding anniversary and while I found the restaurant to be lovely, especially on a beautiful summer night sitting in their garden, nothing really blew me away.
They start you off with an amuse-​bouche, I guess to remind you why this place is $$$$. I wasn’t a big fan of mine but I guess these things vary by night.
The food came in small portions and some dishes were more delicious than others. I enjoyed my roasted beets ravioli and bass but felt kind of ridiculous eating my french fry salad with a fork (it’s french fries with greens). The dessert (bread pudding) was a little too rich for me to finish.
On the plus side, the chef here is very personable. He often comes out of the kitchen and greets the patrons, many of whom seem to be regulars and engage him in conversation. The waitresses on the other hand seemed slightly eager to move us through the meal as the place was filling up.
We left the restaurant glad that we had tried it but not in a hurry to return.