Seersucker

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I went to Nightingale 9 in Carroll Gardens not too long ago, and loved it. But wouldn’t you know, this Vietnamese restaurant has a sister who hales from the South? Since Nightingale 9 was so amazing, I had to check out this other spot. A few doors down, you’ll find Seersucker in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn.

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Focusing on a seasonal menu, this lovely and inviting restaurant serves Southern cuisine with a bit of a NYC twist. The service is awesome, and everything on the menu looked great. To drink, I had to go for their Smokey and The Bandit (chipotle infused white pile whiskey, smoked brown sugar syrup, lime juice). This drink was incredible. The glass is served out to you, upside down, on a mini cast iron skillet, filled with smoke. Once the smokiness is infused in the glass, it’s lifted up and in pours your drink. It’s not particularly spicy, but has such a great smokiness and warmth, which is balanced out with the slight sweetness of the brown sugar syrup.

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Then, before your meal, you’re served some complimentary little biscuits with a salted molasses and apricot jam. The biscuits are unreal, and honestly don’t even need any spreads. They’re light, flaky and buttery and melt in your mouth. But, if you add the spreads, the apricot is my favorite. It’s fresh and sweet and really compliments the delicate savoriness of the biscuit.

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To start, I had the Bibb Lettuce Salad (radish, celery seed vinaigrette, NY butternut squash oil, toasted benne seeds). It’s deliciously fresh and light and the perfect start to your meal. I especially loved the celery seed vinaigrette, something I haven’t had before.

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For my entree, I ordered Grilled Pennsylvania Trout (morels, pickled collard stems, pea shoots). I really loved this dish. The fish bathes in this deliciously savory broth, soaking in the flavor. It’s tender and light, and complimented nicely by the delicate, plump morels and collard stems.

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With such an amazing meal, I had to get some of their dessert. I had a Rice Pudding (rhubarb compote and brown sugar crumble). This was the perfect little finish to the meal. It’s not too sweet, but the rice pudding is rich, creamy, and the compote is sweet with a light tartness. Together, they’re a match made in mason jar heaven.

The Shorts:
Name: Seersucker
Location: 329 Smith Street, Brooklyn
The Long and Short: Would I go back? Without a doubt. The whole experience was great and the food and drinks are no joke.
Would I recommend it? Absolutely. Everything was amazing, so, you can’t really go wrong here.  

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The Smile

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Tucked away, down some stairs on quiet Bond Street in NoHo, you’ll find the warm and cozy restaurant, The Smile. 

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The environment is relaxed and inviting, where you’re surrounded by like-minded people who are there for a great meal and good service. Melia Marden, executive chef, also has a cookbook available, which you can conveniently buy at the restaurant itself.

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I started off with a cocktail, Smoke On The Water (tequila, ginger, lemon, agave, mezcal float). This drink was amazing. It was absolutely smokey, in the best possible sense, and had a really refreshing and light sweetness to go along with it. It was pretty much like drinking a mezcal and citrus bonfire. 

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Then, I had some snacks to go along with my delightful beverage. First, I had their Trio of Dips (roasted carrot, almond, yellow split pea) served with sliced French Baguette. I honestly wish they sold these to-go in mason jars, they were so good. My personal favorite was the roasted carrot, it has a great creamy, yet thick texture, sweet and a little savory. The almond and yellow split pea, which could be a dead ringer for hummus, are really delicious as well. 

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Next, I got the Raw Brussels Sprouts Salad (currants, pickled red onion, parmesan, citrus vinaigrette). I really loved this salad. First off, I’m obsessed with brussels sprouts, so, there’s that, but everything here just went together so nicely. You have the crunch from the raw brussels, and the savory saltiness of the parmesan, the slight bite from the picked onion, and the sweetness from the currents and dressing. A true festival of components. 

The Shorts:
Name: The Smile
Location: 26 Bond Street, NYC
The Long and Short: Would I go back? You bet. This place really did make me smile (awwww). 
Would I recommend it? Absolutely. Turn that frown upside down.