Dining Out: Kitchen at Cobble Hill

On our third morning in Brooklyn we decided to get up, eat a quick breakfast (bagels, of course) and then head out to explore the neighborhood. We walked up Smith Street in Carroll Gardens, all the way into Cobble Hill and then back down on the parallel street, Court Street. 

We did some serious window shopping and I actually wound up buying a dress (that is perfect for wedding season) at Neda Boutique. Ladies - if you live in Brooklyn, Neda has locations in Cobble Hill and Park Slope and has a beautiful dress collection. 

After all that walking and bopping around, it was time to refuel. My sister and brother-in-law had recommended a cute spot on Court Street called Kitchen at Cobble Hill.

The restaurant used to be named Karloff and served Russian food, but the owner decided to completely redesign the place and launch with a new concept. Read this blog post about the amazing physical transformation. 

I had a good feeling about Kitchen because they had a large sandwich board out front advertising that they serve ice cream. These are my kind of people. 

Inside, the restaurant had the most adorable hostess stand, decorated with an eye-catching copper vase.

I was obsessed with the light fixture over the bar seating in the center of the space. Don't they look like jars you would use to catch fireflies? 

We were seated right away. Though we arrived at 12:45pm, they were still serving brunch, which is my favorite meal of the week. 

I noticed right away that Kitchen individually stamps each one of their paper napkins. I love those kinds of small, personal touches. 

After walking around for a few hours, we were in need of hydration and were excited to quench our thirst with ice cold tea. Our waiter provided lemons and limes for garnish. 

Despite the later hour, my dad was still in the mood for breakfast so ordered the potato latkes and eggs. He also added lox to the order.

When his two plates arrived, he was completely shocked by how much fish they had given him. My dad is a coupon clipper and bargain hunter, so he is very aware of price and he said, "This is a huge portion of lox and is extremely generous for just $7 dollars." 

He added that, "The potato latkes were nice and crispy. As the latke fry master in our home for Hanukkah every year, I know a good latke. These had sautéed onions on top too, which was tasty."

He was disappointed that his eggs were a little overdone, but promised it didn't detract from enjoying the dish. 

To his left, my mom decided on the salmon burger with a side salad (she resisted getting French fries). It came topped with lettuce, tomato, red onion, pickles and tarragon aioli. 

After a few bites, she commented, "This portion is quite large. The salmon burger itself was moist and flavorful. The bun was perfect and the pickles were an unexpected delight." Yes, she said, "Delight." 

Our friend went with the quinoa bowl, which was topped with slices of avocado. 

He described, "This bowl was packed with the freshest ingredients, respectfully dressed with lemon, which really allowed the food to shine." 

Next to me, his wife selected the avocado salad with grilled chicken. When the plate first landed in front of her, she was worried the portion size might be too small, but it wound up being just right. #Goldilocks 

Once her plate was cleared, she explained, "They let me substitute arugula for kale, which I really appreciated. The arugula went perfectly with the lemon dressing, which was not too tart or too sweet. The avocado was wonderfully ripe and the chicken was excellent - nicely grilled and moist."

I chose the egg salad sandwich, a very uncharacteristic order for me. I don't know why, but at that exact moment it just seemed like the perfect item for those hours in between breakfast and lunch. 

The sandwich was advertised as coming with lettuce, tomato, mustard and lemon zest, but what was placed in front of me also had red onion. Normally I wouldn't mind that, but I'd already had some red onion on my bagel that morning, so I was worried I would slay fellow pedestrians on the sidewalk just by breathing. 

The toasted bread with the creamy egg salad created an ideal juxtaposition of textures. The lettuce also added another level of crunch. I was a bit worried about ordering the French fries because I saw them on a nearby table and they looked thick, but they turned out to be crispy and sprinkled with rosemary. Yum! 

When our lunch plates were cleared, I begged my dad to share an ice cream with me, but he was stuffed to the brim with lox and latkes. 

If you live in New York or are planning a visit to Cobble Hill or Carroll Gardens, Kitchen is a must. The food is excellent and the decor is a West Elm dream.