Brook 23

I cannot give this place a full 5 stars because I have not yet had the food. I have sat at the bar and sampled their bourbon list. The prices were reasonable and the diversity ensured that everyone’s pallet could be sated. The bartender was knowledgeable in his scotch’s and bourbons and was great talking to. Will definitely be back to try the fries.

Stopped in for a bite with the wife last night on a whim. We will definitely be coming back. The drinks are well crafted with fresh juices, the food was cooked to order and tasty, and the staff is wonderful.
The peach bulleit tea is a delicious addition to any meal, but when we bellied up to the bar after dinner and actually saw one put together, my level of respect for this place increased even more. Martin the bartender is a true mixologist and enjoys what he does, and the drink menu reflects that. I can’t wait to try his bloody Mary. We will definitely be back.

A group of us came to Brook 23 last Friday. We were seated promptly. We were then served spiced popcorn.
Our waitress came over and quickly took our drink orders. She didn’t introduce herself or explain the menu. 1 star off. 2 of us had beers, 1 a sangria.
We shared the duck fat fries which were really good as well as the tuna tartar which was the the smallest portion I’ve ever seen. Another star.
My husband and I shared a ½ slab of ribs (it was a special) and the Bacon and Egg Burger. The «bacon» on the burger was all fat. It was really hard to chew (last star). The ribs were not cooked well, but the sauce was good.
It has potential to be great, but it just isn’t.

Very late with this review. Night before Mother’s Day went to Brook 23 because we saw it on Unilocal.And because of the bourbon menu.
For starters I dove into a bowl of the baked potato soup which had an awesome kick to it.
Now I’m a sucker for hanger steak and if it weren’t for the mushrooms, which I really hate, I would gave had it.
Then I saw the short ribs. Phenomenal is the word. The spinach, I needed to use a knife on. The short ribs? Cut with a fork. Flavorful, tender, juicy.
I have never seen a bar with a special bourbon menu before and some of the selections were common place names. But it was suggested I try the Blanton’s. It was the original single barrel and was better than expectations.
Brook23 is fairly new but will certainly be around for a long time. Staff was pleasant and informative and easy to talk to.
On a funny note, I was watching three televisions in the mirror over my co-​diners head. There was a hockey game, a baseball game, and Scooby Doo was playing on the third. How cool!
Definitely recommend Brook23.

Pretty good! They have the potential to be REALLY good, but I don’t think the kitchen or wait staff are nailing it just yet.
The décor is great, ambiance was nice (love that the rear room isn’t overwhelmed by the obnoxious TVs at the bar), booths are suuuuuper comfy. But the food lacked the subtlety that I would expect from a place trying to do this kind of food. And the wait staff, though friendly, seemed like they were winging it a bit. Or maybe just new to the job?
Awesome beers, though we were served beers in pint glasses that should have been served in 10 oz glasses. We will be back!

I’m including an update to this review to mention that I received an abhorrent message from Richie S, the listed owner of Brook 23, in which he told me to go to other restaurants, that I am an ignorant know-​it-​all, and even included a veiled threat in which he suggested that I review the food there in front of his face.
He had also mentioned that allowing users to post their reviews is wrong since it may affect his business. I find it enlightening to be able to read reviews from fellow users and I think that a good business should welcome all reviews to allow other users a glimpse into their own experience. Reviews also give valuable feedback to the management of the business so that they may have the opportunity to improve. The best and most successful restaurants know how to please customers with splendid service, delicious dishes, and alluring atmosphere; unfortunately for Brook 23, it is found wanting in all 3 of these crucial requirements
I find it completely reprehensible and inappropriate to respond to a customer in such a way. I am completely flabbergasted!
Be warned that if you do not like this restaurant and write a review based on your experience that you may receive a nasty message as well.
My suggestion is to pass on this place if you are a fan of good customer service and a consistent experience.

Meh, i had higher expectations for this place. The place itself is nice, the service is fantastic, but the food is just mediocre. The duck fries for appetizer were good, not great, same with the pretzel and pork sliders.
For meal, got a burger that was lacking a little bit, my mom and dad seemed to enjoy their meal. I wouldn’t come out of my way to this place, but, if in the area, probably worth it.

Although the menu is extremely modern and inventive, the dishes are unfortunately poorly-​executed.
The warm pretzel is accompanied by a Kentucky beer cheese that simply misses the mark in terms of both taste and texture. The oysters «BLT» lacked the «B», which may be the intent, and was served with a lemon aioli that was indiscernible. The pork belly was rubbery to a point where it could not be cut with the knife with which we were provided, nor could it be pulled apart by fork. It was overly-​fatty and virtually inedible.
The duck fries was one of the more flavorful appetizers, although the gravy was thin and the duck was overcooked.
As for the entrees, and mushroom mac and cheese would have been adequate were it not for an overdose of leeks. The smoked gouda grilled cheese was served as something more akin to an ham, cheese, and apple sandwich. The cheese was not fully melted, and the apples, detracted from, rather than enhanced, the sandwich’s flavor.
The bacon and egg burger was served with a thick cut bacon that resembled the pork belly appetizer, and tasted only slightly better. The burger was served alongside fries that were roughly as crunchy as potato chips.
The two stars is primarily a reflection of the inventiveness of the menu, combined with an inability to execute properly at this time. While the extensive drink menu and gastopub-​esque dishes are reminiscent of, for example, Station House (Forest Hills), the food quality simply does not match up – not by a long shot.

This is a solid 3.5 in my book but not quite a 4. Went here with friends and personally tried a blood orange cocktail, the pretzel with pub cheese, string bean app, blue cheese burger and the bacon & egg burger.
The cocktail was good, the string bean and pretzel apps were an A+, but the burgers I found to be mediocre. It drives me crazy when I go to a place and the burger is served on a white, sesame seed bun that you expect to have at a family barbecue. The burgers here meat and topping-​wise were tasty but they could definitely benefit from a nice brioche or club roll.
Another small gripe I had was that the oil in the fryer seemed like it needed changing on the night we visited. The fries that came with the burgers were mediocre as you could smell and taste the oil.
That being said, we really enjoyed the appetizers and the drinks were on point. This has the potential to be a 4 with some minor tweaks and it is a good spot to have locally in the area.

Out of the many choices in the area, we chose Brook 23 to have Easter dinner. I felt compelled to write a review because of the ups and downs of our visit.
First, the place was pretty empty so you would think someone would have come right over to our table. Nope! Took the waitress about 10 minutes or so. Ill be nice and not mention her name, but I will say she had dark hair and an attitude. Maybe she didn’t want to work on the holiday. We ordered drinks which took a while to come. I mean really? There was hardly anyone in the joint.
As for the food, we ordered the potato chips with blue cheese as an appetizer. That was very tasty. I ordered the braised short rib which was just ok, kinda tasteless, not much seasoning in the sauce that came with it. My husband ordered the hangar steak which was very good and cooked well.
So in the end, service sucked, food was ok and again service sucked! No professionalism at all, they were all hanging out by the bar chatting… no wonder why we couldn’t get drinks at a reasonable time our entire visit. There were employees hanging out sitting at a patrons table in front of us. I would consider going back if they upped their game on the staff. If it wasn’t for that issue, I would have given 4 stars.

I read very good things (thanks Unilocalers) about Brook 23 so I was excited to finally make my way here and try it all for myself. My boyfriend and I came here over the weekend for some drinks, burgers & dessert — I was blown away! The food was excellent and very filling and the 1000 Island burger which was perfectly cooked and put together. For dessert we had the chipwich which was salted caramel ice cream between two double chocolate chip cookies. It was also amazing and fortunately big enough to be shared. Brook 23 has a great selection of beer and libations to choose from which is a always a plus in my book. The ambiance was wonderful and lively and the people were extremely friendly. I can’t wait to come back and try more items from the menu — it all sounds so delicious!

I’m torn between 4 and 5 stars… gonna round down until I can go back and try some other menu items.
I grew up in Lynbrook, and Brook 23 is a welcome addition to a town with very little to offer as far as restaurants are concerned.
Décor is simple but cool, large bar area and main dining room, and a separate party room/​dining area in the back.
We shared the kale salad, short rib sliders, salt and pepper squid, duck fries, and overall everything was great. Duck fries were actually better than great, they were pretty damn amazing.
General consensus around the table was that everyone was content.
Service was good, except one entrée came out much later than everyone else’s.
Here’s my complaint: Misnomers on the menus. For example, I ordered a «Vanilla Old Fashioned» and got a jelly jar of what tasted like simple syrup, vanilla, club soda, and a dash of whiskey. Not a bad drink, but 100% NOT an old fashioned. I ordered «Salt and Pepper Squid» (with shishito peppers and grilled pineapple) and got fried calamari. It was very good and fresh, but I was expecting something different. Misleading.
Moral of the story is that I will definitely be back for more.

Pros:
1. My waitress Tessa. I loved her energy and her eagerness. If we needed something she would return in a jiffy. True waitress!
2. Duck fries. Oh man the duck fries. Pulled Duck Confit, Duck Gravy, Cheddar, and Cripsy Garlic Crumble. It was delectable! The duck was tendered, and the garlic crumble made the dish an entrée. I should of ordered some to go.
3. The environment. Western décor, and big screen TVs!
4. The Lamb Burger. My friend ate the burger like it was the last day on earth. From visuals it was delicious lol.
My Issue:
The Pork Rib Eye with Stewed Black Beans and WaterCress
The meat was not seasoned and the sauce overpowered the whole meal. You know when you eat something banal but you add some crazy sauce to make it better? Thats what they did. I don’t come to restaurants to regret the food I ate. Also with the prices they charge? Come on this is not Garden City, and you are not Chris Ruth.
Dessert:
Seasonal Fruit Plate aka Whats Left In The Fridge.
Why did I expect something interesting to come to our table? Tessa placed the dessert on the table and my friend started laughing at my reaction. So… Strawberries and Blueberries with Whip Cream. $ 7.00 for this?
Will I come back?: No. Unless there is a a big game to watch.

Went to Brook 23 with a reservation booked, and the receptionist was bringing us to our table. Then there were these two agitated women who were angry cause they didn’t get the table that they wanted. As the receptionist was showing us to our table, the «ladies» just hovered over her, placed their bags and coats on our table, and literally stole our table. The receptionist then said that the table was for us, but after two more sentences of harassment, the receptionist+boss just gave them our table. So, we ended up with a tiny table instead of a proper booth. I wasn’t the happiest camper but I wasn’t about to create argument with them and ruin the mood for my Valentine’s dinner. However, service overall, was pretty friendly and diligent.
We ordered the duck fries, cause of course… who can resist duck… on fries?! C’mon. The duck confit was cooked perfectly to tenderness but still meaty. The fries had a super crunchy outside. Topped with duck gravy and cheese, it was literally like heaven. Plus, the crispy garlic crumble added a crunch to every bite. One word: Awesome.
Next up was the kale and mushroom salad. This was definitely needed to balance our meal out a little bit. Greens make you healthy. The dish was well executed – with the kale and mushroom, plus the shaved cheese for just a tad of indulgence, and lemon emulsion for good acidity.
The lamb burger was ordered to medium. It came perfectly cooked and was really delightful to eat. The taste of lamb was very apparent and beautifully rendered. The goat cheese and charred onions added a nice note to the burger. Yum.
Last, but not least was the roasted salmon, which was also ordered to medium. It’s been the longest time since I’ve seen salmon cooked so wonderfully. The skin was crunchy and the salmon wasn’t overcooked at all. Instead, it was very tender and the flesh fell apart. The veggies were grilled well also.
Brook 23 was an amazing experience. I think it really makes up for the lack of gourmet restaurants and food in Long Island.

A welcome addition to the south shore!
My friend and I went to dine at Brook 23 on a Friday evening at 7ish. The place was booked and we didn’t realize it would be so busy since it was right after the holidays. Oh well, we got a cozy spot at the bar, near the guitarist of the night. He was great– took requests and made it a cool vibe to hang out in.
For dinner, I had a red pepper soup which was nice and thick puréed with a good kick to it. Finished off with a little bit of goat cheese on top. Good stuff
Had the truffle Mac n cheese as my entrée– really great taste! It had large mushrooms in it and a nice gooey cheese– perfect consistency and large serving!
Wish I saved room for the ice cream cookie sandwich I saw here on Unilocal– next time for sure!

This is a great new place and they have some really good food. They would blend in better in RVC or Huntington. With that said, they really stand out in lynbrook where they are surrounded by nothing but boring restaurants. The concept is nothing new, but for lynbrook it’s ground breaking!
We started with an order of duck fries. I have heard of this dish being done elsewhere, but I haven’t tried it until now. It was awesome! So savory and delicious!
My wife had the mushroom Mac and cheese, which she absolutely loved. They used tiny elbow pasta, I generally like larger pasta with more chew to them in Mac and cheese. Either way the dish was still excellent.
I tried the veal and broccoli rabe with provolone sandwich. The sandwich is served with cherry peppers which I had to take off, I can no longer eat spicy foods due to acid reflux. I love spicy foods so this really stinks! Unfortunately, I didn’t enjoy this sandwich. The sandwich needed the brightness and the spice that the cherry peppers would have added, without them the sandwich was just one note. To sum that up; this would have been a very good sandwich, but I ruined it.
For dessert we shared a chocolate chip cookie sandwich with salted caramel ice cream. This thing was freakin heaven! It was a perfect mix of salty and sweet. The cookie was so soft, it was literally melting apart. The ice cream was rich and creamy, but not overly sweet.
It’s clear that this place has it together. They really know how to create dishes that work. They know how to contrast flavors and textures to create great food.
As for the bar, they have a good selection of beer on tap. I enjoyed the IPA that I had, though I forgot what it was called. It was $ 8 which is priced right. They have a strong list of bourbon, whiskey, and scotch. I’m not sure if they have any happy hour deals, but I plan on investigating that.
The service was fantastic! Our waiter was very polite, knowledgable, and delivered our meal flawlessly.
As for the five star review, I feel that this place is a 4.5 star. I am rounding up because they stand out so much where they are located.
I’m looking forward to returning here soon.

Brook 23 is a cool, little gastropub on Atlantic Ave in Lynbrook. My girlfriend and I have been looking for a local spot like this for awhile. The menu was pretty unique considering other neighborhood options. We started with the duck fries, which was basically an updated version of poutine. It was probably the best french fries dish I’ve eaten. My girlfriend had the lamb burger and I had the wild boar ragu with cheddar grits. The meat was very tender and the grits were perfectly cheesy. I drank a rosemary bourbon sour which was very good and $ 10. The prices are a little bit higher than whats in the area ($ 18 – 30 an entre) but overall, I am looking forward to my next visit.
Also anybody know anything about the painting class going on in the back?

Loved this place! So cute and great atmosphere and bar! I would give it 5 starts except for two things. I was not very impressed by the lunch menu and didn’t think there were enough options. Especially healthy ones. And as for dinner, lots of options but very pricey. Otherwise, great service and food was good but not amazing.

Came here with 2 friends on a Saturday night. At first the restaurant was empty but it got packed quick. Despite the crowd service was still good. Our server was attentive yet gave us our space as we were talking alot. Everyone ranted about the duck fries so I had to try them and they didn’t disapoint. The Siracha wing special also was very good.
Would definitely come back here if I’m in the neighborhood. Lots more on the menu I’d want to try.

As we were walking down the street looking for dinner, we saw this place finally opened up so of course we popped in! Brook 23 is in the old J. Mags/​Village Square spot on Atlantic Ave. The décor is very Americana, and it feels clean and fresh.
We were sat at our choice of table or booth, so of course we chose booth. There were quite a few people considering the soft open, but the noise level of the music and the people was very comfortable. Our server, Rob, was friendly and walked us through the menu — a great touch considering they’re brand new. Overhearing other servers they’re all on the same page… everyone had recommendations for their tables and something they loved on the menu. They’ve got a wine list, cocktails broken down to mason jars, up, and rocks — and a nice list of bourbons. The specialty cocktails are focused around bourbons, and it feels like bourbon and wine are the go-​to here. As for food, they’ve got «bites» and small plates, salads, a few sandwiches (lamb burger, grilled cheese, chicken sandwich), burgers and a short entrée list that covers meat, seafood and vegetarian.
For cocktails, we went with the peach julep (Bulleit Bourbon) and the vanilla old fashioned (Woodford Reserve). Both were very bourbon-​y, so an excellent choice for someone who appreciates the spirit! As an app, we decided on the duck fries. Yeah, that’s duck confit on thin French fries. Oh man, it was great. It reminded me of poutin, but thinner gravy and with duck all over it. I could definitely see eating that during a night of testing the cocktail menu, or maybe even with eggs for brunch (hint, hint!). Fab start for sure!
For entrees, we decided on burgers — the 1000 Island and the Chili Burger — both medium. First thing first, they actually came out medium. Stellar. Shouldn’t be so shocking but it seems so rare that it actually happens! The 1000 Island tastes like the million times better version of that fast food standard with the special sauce. On the other burger, the chili wasn’t spicy, and was made with cinnamon. Super flavorful and not even a little bit dry.
Although we didn’t save room for dessert, we went for it anyway. They have boozy milkshakes (dubbed the 21-​and-​over shakes)! After some debate and leaning toward the Coffee option, we ended up settling on the Peach Bourbon shake (you know, keep with the theme). Holy cow, this thing was great. Excellent consistency, roasted peaches blended in with the skins still present (which might be weird to some people but man that flavor was worth it) and a thick whipped cream and cinnamon dusted over the top. Didn’t really taste the bourbon, but it’s not like I missed it either. I took a shot in the dark ordering this one, but I’m so glad that we did!
TLDR: ambiance is good, service is attentive, staff knowledgeable, delicious food and some surprising choices. Definitely glad it’s open and we will absolutely be back.