Van Horn

This is a cute spot. Stopped in for lunch on a Tuesday after wandering the neighbourhood. I loved the décor and the friendly vibe.
The menu is super simple, at least for lunch. Like 6 choices? Which is good for someone like me who likes everything and has a hard time choosing. I went with the fried chicken sandwich. Was it EVER good. Crispy, flavorful juicy chicken with a slaw and ranch topping. Fresh bun that was just the right size. The side salad was perfectly dressed and simple. Portions for price were very good.
Service was good — attentive but not too annoying. Meal was ready in a reasonable amount of time too.
This is a great spot to stop in and have a drink or a bite in for sure!

I have been a few times since they changed the menu and I love this place. It may not be as cheap as it once was, but for what you get – a great neighborhood bistro with fairly gourmet dishes – it is a great value.
I have the brocolli every time I am there; love the seasoning on it. Could eat two bowls easily. I had fish once, which was perfectly cooked. A lot of their dishes are pretty fancy; the chef is from Gilt I think.
One of my favorite things is the drink list. They always have interesting beers, the cocktails are really inexpensive, and they have good wines by the glass.
They have a nice back patio, too, and the service is really nice.
I will continue to go in often.

May the former Van Horn rest in peace :(
To those of you browsing for a place to go… 95% of the previous reviews are not relevant. The menu and establishment have changed, so check out the website and blog. There’s a link below. Think «higher quality,» but with a higher price tag.
The food is good, but it’s no longer my type of cuisine. Laid back and casual sandwiches for dinner are no more, this now a fancier feeling romantic dinner-​sort of place. From what I experienced, it’s a «Traditional American» establishment with «farm to table» cuisine.
Fried chicken sandwiches are only available during Brunch/​Lunch now. However, there’s no more delicious pork sandwich, no hush puppies, no frogmore stew. Can you tell I used to love the former Van Horn?
To read more about the changes, check out the blog:
Edit: Review updated to remove some unreasonable negativity and criticisms.

Seriously, if I lived closer, I would be here all the time!
Just finished brunch here for the first time. The food was outstanding! I had the biscuits and gravy, and it is on par with the best of them. The drinks were a great complement to the food. Kitchen and bar — kudos.
Best of all, service was very good, and that outdoor garden space in the back is a perfect way to spend a midday afternoon. I hear from John (the GM) that the dinner has been remade, and just as good if not better than the brunch. So, that is our next foodie mission.
I can’t wait to be back again. Great job guys. You have a fan. Keep up the good work,

Van Horn is a totally cool Cobble Hill brunch spot! It’s got the laid-​back, relaxing quintessential Brooklyn vibe down pact. It has Southern-​influenced sandwiches. And it has the required Bloody Mary, but twisted with a skewered okra and blood red orange slice.
Four of us brunched last Sunday. We planned for a second seating around 1:30, and still ended up waiting over half an hour. The wait was worth it because the Bloody Marys were balanced and excellent! They weren’t overly hot and spicy. I could tell because I didn’t get the hiccups LOL.
Van Horn’s Fried Chicken Sandwich was as anticipated, with excellent batter and moist chicken. The chicken was just a bit salty for me but so tasty that I finished it all! The side mesclun or spring salad had salt ground on top of it. Some people like this but it was too salty for me. Thankfully our waitress replaced it with a huge, fresh bowl of unsalted salad.
Service was great, we weren’t rushed out, and we all enjoyed a relaxing Sunday brunch. Bookmark Van Horn for brunch!

We went here for a Sunday brunch.
It was a bit busy when we came in. We were told the wait would be around 20 minutes for group of 5.
They do accept reservations and I was surprised that they accept credit cards too.
I ordered chicken sandwich as per recommendation. It was delicious but a bit salty as was the green side.
The waiter was sweet (Brooklyn way), and the bar is convenient while we are waiting for our table.
Will I come back again? Absolutely!

I’m gonna stick with four stars for Van Horn. We realized we’d have to come here for brunch if my boyfriend was going to be able to order their chicken sandwich. No issues, although I’m kiiiinda sad they don’t offer their shrimp & grits anymore, and my boyfriend laments having any type of fried chicken sandwich without mac & cheese on the side.
So, yesterday at brunch, I ordered their kale and potato hash with scrambled eggs and I was so happy with my choice. Delicious, simple ingredients. Next time we come for brunch I’ll have to try the fish sandwich, though! My boyfriend said he enjoyed the chicken sandwich even more now since «they are doing something different by topping the fried chicken with a slaw rather than just pickled cabbage.» The rest of the group ordered the french toast, which they said was amazing. All plates were entirely cleaned. Fabulous brunch. The end.

Ugh. Went here on Friday night craving the fried chicken and pot pie only to sit down see an entirely revamped menu with nothing that sounded too amazing. We reluctantly ordered the chicken and the gnocchi, both of which were just okay. Nothing outstanding. And might I add quite expensive. $ 17 for gnocchi! I can go to Frankie’s down the street and get outstanding, to die for, homemade pasta, for much cheaper. So why would I come here?
If it ain’t broke don’t fix it.

I’m not going to lie, I loved the Mac and cheese and the chicken pot pie at Van Horn the Sandwich Shop so I was a little hesitant when I heard they were going to be changing things around.
But, the new food is DELICIOUS. I never even wanted to eat peanut soup — I don’t think I knew there was such a thing — but being adventurous (and a table of four) we ordered one of everything and it was a complete knockout. I’ve already been back for it…
The kale salad and sunchoke fritters were also worth returning for as were the fish, chicken and brussel sprouts with sesame seeds. I thoroughly enjoyed the other items on the menu as well but if I were to run back for things, that’s what I’d run back for.
The wine list has also ratcheted up a few notches and the prices per glass haven’t. I consider that a pretty great plus for a date night spot.
Yes, it’s more of a ‘restaurant’ than it was when we used to go almost weekly for Sunday night supper and sit at the bar but I can see making a habit of doing the same at the new vh — Brussels and a starter please!

After hearing about the new menu, my wife and I decided to give it a shot with an open mind, hoping to be won over to a new spin on our favorite spot.
We split the Amish chicken and the gnocchi. Both were well-​executed enough, but thoroughly unremarkable. There are at least a half-​dozen places doing variations on the same kind of thing within a couple of blocks, and we already don’t go to them.
What used to be so great about the old Van Horn was precisely that it wasn’t one of those places. It was unfussy, honest, and I could always count on leaving full of good cheer and perfectly-​fried chicken.
This time, we left feeling overcharged and slightly empty inside, and not just metaphorically. We walked a few blocks before we admitted to each other that we were still hungry. Casting aside our shame, we headed to Mooburger to split a cheeseburger for dessert.

Cute, small spot in Cobble Hill for some southern fare worthy of a visit.
The service in here is awesome, with everyone emitting a peaceful, earthy vibe. Food was served quick, as were the incredibly strong drinks, and we were in/​out within an hour.
Prices are cheap and portions are good. Nice place for a small party looking to get a quick bite.

Being a newbie to the neighborhood, I was excited to try out all these new little gems that you would not be able to find in Manhattan!
Van horn is a cute, minimalistic, and hipster spot. If you don’t pay attention, you can easily miss the restaurant with its subtle sign. The atmosphere is relaxing and great. We ordered 2 different sandwiches with high expectations of the popular fried chicken, and fried catfish. Both did not disappoint! ESPECIALLY with their 2 sauces on the side that you must add. I kept adding it to every bite of my sandwiches since it was so delicious that I think I could of easily finished the bottle. The catfish was fried to perfection. The cole slaw that accompanied the fried chicken was perfect and delicious. It was not too overbearing with the fried skin, instead it felt light and healthy with its plumpy white meat.
Server was very nice and attending since we were the few ones in the restaurant at the time for a late lunch. It seems like they have an outdoor back patio, which I am sure I would enjoy during the spring/​summer.
Definite recommend if you are in the area! :)

They must have caved to public pressure. That super spicy hot sauce they used to have that want on the side of the chicken sandwich was now served bottled, and watered down to the point where I could almost just drink it. I poured half the bottle over my sandwich… no heat. Sad :(
It’s still a good fried chicken sandwich, but they’ve lost what was the special kick to it.

Sunday brunch:
Restaurant was filled up, even garden seating. The biscuit was perfect, crisp crust with a fluffy inside, with real fruit strawberry jam. Hush puppies were a little too crisp and burnt but the honey butter made up for it. Shrimp and grits can come without bacon and was just as decadent. Although the shrimp were small, the mushrooms compensated. The grits were just right with the right amount of cheese. Scallions rounded out the dish with taste and texture. Fiancé had biscuit sandwich with ample egg and cheese, side salad had delish dressing. Smoked Bloody Mary was strong, not for the weak hearted.

Friendly, friendly customer service. Would love to try them again. The pulled pork sandwich was not that tasty but I heard great things about the crispy bacon on the BLT’s and I haven’t tried the other food they serve.
I would give them four stars if it weren’t for the bland pulled pork and pickles they gave me. I’ll have to try again.

How does deep fried cornmeal sound to you? Disgusting!!! Well there’s a place in hell for everyone. Was looking for some late night eats and after learning that the Van Horn serves hushpuppies, my choice was easy.
Sat down and began to order some drinks and food. Now my only quarrel with the place wasn’t necessarily the service but rather how long I waited to get my drink from the time I ordered it. When I give my food and drink order, that drink has to come before the food. I don’t know who it fell on, because the waitress who was great in every aspect, may have been waiting for the bartender to make it. Who knows. Maybe it was a break down in communication. All I do know is, the drink should come quicker than the food. Now for the food. The hushpuppies were great as expected. The gem of the night though was the pulled pork sandwich. Really really good. Wasn’t slathered with sauce like how most pulled pork sandwiches are, perfect blend. You could taste the spices. Great job.
If you’re looking for a place to grab a bite on Court, stop on in at the Van Horn.

3.5 stars…
Van Horn has evolved from how it originally was. The «sandwich shop» now has more appetizers ($ 7 – 13), sides ($ 5 – 8), and main courses ($ 15 – 20), then they do actual sandwiches ($ 10 – 12). They also have a backyard now. My initial assessment is still the same, the quality of the food and freshness of the ingredients is wonderful. The prices and portions are disappointing though. I ordered their brunswick stew ($ 9 after tax and tip), it was a tiny cup of stew, barely the size I’d consider an appetizer, and I foolishly thought it would be enough for a meal when I ordered it. I saw someone’s $ 19 entrée and it looked amazing, but again, small.
For their sandwiches there current menu has 5 options. fried chicken, fried catfish, pulled pork (NC style), BLT, and BLP (pimento cheese). All sandwiches come with a little salad and a pickle. Fries are $ 5 extra. Amazingly I only saw the option for sweet potato fries on the sides menu.
If I’m in the mood for a really good fried chicken/​fish sandwich I couldn’t think of a better place to go.
UPDATE:
There’s been several changes. Among them is the back patio and the addition of non sandwiches to the menu (a fish entrée and chicken pot pie). The back patio is beautiful and has two tiers. I covered top section that has heaters when it’s chilly outside and an uncovered bottom tier.
This time around I got the chicken pot pie and sweet potato fries. You can tell that both were made from scratch in house. I thought both were delicious but the pot pie was way too small for the money. It’s $ 13 and you get a small soup bowl filled half way with a doughy top to it. It’s not flaky and it’s a bit undercooked, I actually liked it that way as it acted more like a dumpling once torn up and mixed with the rest. I wasn’t a big fan of the inclusion of mushrooms to the pot pie but there weren’t too many so it wasn’t a big deal. Overall it was delicious but I would never drop $ 13 again on an appetizer portion of pot pie.

One of the best Fried Chicken sandwiches in NY.
This is an awesome hipster spot. Very nice atmosphere and great service. Aside from the annoying little hipster kid who is in store for many a beating in his life that was terrorizing the waitress and asking her what kind of catfish was in his sandwich, it was a perfect, relaxing experience. They also have an outdoor seating area, which I imagine would be really nice once the temperature cools off a little bit.
You must get the Chicken sandwich here (
) ($ 12). It’s kind of like a fancier, much much higher quality, much much more delicious version of the Wendy’s Spicy Chicken sandwich (also minus the purple veins throughout).
As far as Fried Chicken sandwiches go, this one is surprisingly refreshing and light. They give you a huge piece of juicy white meat in very crispy skin, served piping hot. It has some «zesty cole slaw» on the sandwich, which is pretty slaw with no mayo, which is what makes this sandwich much lighter and lets you really taste how good the chicken is since there is no mayo to overwhelm it. It is also a nice surprise that instead of some heavy, greasy fries, it comes with a little side salad and pickles, which complement the sandwich perfectly.
I also got the Hushpuppies (
), ($ 4), which were some of the best I’ve had. Served with butter, they were also served nice and hot and were the perfect consistency with a very crispy outside and a creamy inside.
I can’t say enough about how good this sandwich was though. They also had a number of southern-​style specials (e.g. biscuits and gravy), but I feel like I need to come back again just to get that sandwich.

There is a lot to like about this place. From smiling and welcoming ladies who run the place, to the timber used to make the tables, and then over to the exposed brick walls and down to the classy farm-​to-​table theme. They have an adorable backyard for alfresco dining if you do not mind getting some air and sun. I noticed a vintage style bathroom that charms you with its fancy sign and cabinet inside.
Simply arriving at 11 am, we were indeed to the only three people sitting there on an early Sunday morning. Yes, we were the first to make an appearance, and good thing, because we came right on time. We had all the attention that we needed and also we asked questions about spiciness levels and about the portion size. Our waitressed were friendly and extremely helpful with our orders. And I noticed that if you check in on your Unilocal App, you get 50% off the soups. I’m not sure if you are in a soup mood, but it’s always good to know what is more affordable.
After staring at a menu having only one page means that I will not only be able to choose within five minutes what I want to eat, but also does not allow me to be overwhelmed by too many good selections. The front is the lunch specials and the back of the page has pies. The chalkboard has the specials of the day as well as breakfast options.
I had privilege of having their finest North Carolina fried catfish sandwich which I have to say that I almost died and went to heaven – it was on that level of amazingness. It was so scrumptious that my sister and hubby wanted extra bites after their first tastes. My fish was boneless, crispy with delicious breading on the outside, and just simply fresh and delicious. Inside my sandwich was a layer of mustard, pickle slices, catfish and a magically tasty cheese. My meal also came with a huge helping of a salad which was healthy and filling for me.
With that wonderful experience, I would absolutely visit Van Horn again and again. Just keep having the catfish, and I will be back. Promise!

Three Reasons Van Horn Gets That Fifth Star.
1. The BLP (Bacon, Lettuce and Pimento Cheese), eaten in the sunshine of the backyard. It is like one of the best grilled cheeses I’ve ever had, with the addition of crispy, perfect bacon. Sunshine helps.
2. The delicious hot sauce is exactly what the Fried Chicken Sandwich needed to put it over the top.
3. The staff, once again. A smile and a sense of humor goes so much further than people realize. Our waitress, after dropping a knife as she was clearing our table, said, «Oh, excuse me. I was just trying to stab you.»
See? Honesty is the best policy.