236285 Thu Apr 12 16:41:51 -0700 2001 10 19 Outer Boroughs 0 1252710 Does anyone know anything Rose Water resturant on Union Street in Brooklyn? Thu Apr 12 16:41:51 -0700 2001 0 apalmer 1 1252713 Yes, my family and I have been there a few times for brunch, lunch and dinner. It is a small but well-run restaurant that offers very nicely-prepared food that can be creative. It is well worth a visit and may be one of the better restaurants in Park Slope (of which there are very few, regretfully). Thu Apr 12 18:28:06 -0700 2001 1252710 0 Mike 2 1252715 I posted a report (positive) a couple months ago, and I think a few others did before that. Try doing a search. Thu Apr 12 20:37:36 -0700 2001 1252713 0 Leslie Brenner 2 1252720 I beg to differ. I only went to Rose Water once, but based on that visit won't return again. The cuisine seemed to typify the relentless, misguided creativity that haunts so many new restaurants. The bread basket was full of flavored breads that called way too much attention to themselves. My "fattoush"--ordered before the bread basket arrived and revealed to me the absurdity of the house pita--was a bizarre watercressian thing that bore little relation to that classic chopped salad. Everything was weird and overthought; I've blocked much of it from my memory. For dessert I orderd the black-out cake which, the waitress told us, was based on a classic Brooklyn bakery recipe--I assumed she meant Ebingers--but what showed up was a strange almost flourless confection that bore no resemblance to any blackout cake I'd ever seen. I should have been wary to start with since I was told the owner was the same guy from Oznot's dish, a Williamsburg eatery that uses the phrase "Morroccan influence" to justify all manner of sweet sauces, compotes and garnishes to infect the plate. This approach always reminds me of the Bobby Flay phrase Big Bold Flavors. To me, Rose Water is 180 degrees away from Convivium, a restaurant that respects tradition and, occasionally, humbly, improves upon it. Fri Apr 13 10:56:20 -0700 2001 1252713 0 Erica Marcus 3 1252724 I hardly ever write on the boards, but read most everything. However, Erica's posting was so on the money I have to add my comments. My wife and I eat out more than we should and have been to many of the Bklyn Hts, Ft.Greene, Park Slope, Cobble Hill, Carroll Gdns, Boerum Hill, Williamsburg, etc. places that have opened. We're regulars at Henry's End, Noodle Pudding and used to love Acadia Parish and Rustic. We travel to Queens for Indian food, we go to all the Chinatowns. We're not fussy eaters and consider ourselves open to new, good food at all price ranges. We finally went to Rose Water last week. It's a nice place. They were very friendly. They were interested in what they were doing. They care about their food. You'd think this would be a match for us. We liked just about none of it. It started with the breads: they didnt taste, well "good". And, unfortunately, this was carried out throughout the meal. Interesting ingredients to list, sure: enjoyable tastes, no. It's funny; when we left, I felt almost sorry about it. My wife summarized it by saying "its like being back in college in the late sixties, early seventies and experimenting with ingredient combinations and discovering that sometimes it just sounds better than it tastes". We're not going back. Sat Apr 14 22:40:07 -0700 2001 1252720 0 Steve R. 3 1252734 Wow. 180 degrees away from my three great experiences at Rosewater. From the extra-friendly owner and staff, to the creative and flavorful food, I would recommend it to anyone who can stand to wait a bit for a table. I am normally a lower-budget diner so Rosewater is a special occasion place-- but well worth it! I would rate the food, service, and ambiance much higher than Convivium (I know it's not a contest--but I can't help comparing the two as the newest "better" restaurants of Park Slope). Mon Apr 16 10:44:11 -0700 2001 1252720 0 Fern C. 4 1252736 I completely agree with Fern. I have always had wonderful experiences at both Rosewater and Oznot's, and consider them in the top tier of newish restaurants in Brooklyn. Mon Apr 16 10:49:15 -0700 2001 1252734 0 Snaxxx 4 1252739 They are friendly; they bother to get topflight ingredients; they have a good winelist and reasonable corkage. I never imagined their exotic touches were authentic to the originals, and I don't see why it matters: Union Square Cafe is an odd amalgum of Italian, French and New York, with Indian notes now and then; Tabla isn't remotely Indian, but I certainly like the food. Bobby Flay is hardly a model of subtlety, but enough people like his food to keep several restaurants busy. If you like Oznot's, you should try Rose Water. If you don't, "de gustibus non est disputatum." [more or less]. Mon Apr 16 14:16:51 -0700 2001 1252734 0 Alan Emdin 3 1252904 What? The owner of Oznot's has no connection whatsoever to Rose Water. I know this through direct experience, not hearsay. Also, in regard to the former's alleged "Morroccan [sic] influence", restaurants change. One of the former chefs was Moroccan. He has long since left and now the cuisine is based on both contemporary and historical dishes from Turkey, the Mediterranean, North Africa, Persia, the Levant, Kurdistan, Georgia and beyond, but--note the word "based"--this is only a starting point. Oznot's makes innovative dishes, which make good use of the many ingredients that are available in this melting pot. And the chef does his research. Thu Oct 04 19:36:58 -0700 2001 1252720 0 MR 1 1252864 My experience with Rose Water was unmemorable. The service was indifferent. It was impossible to get a refill on coffee. Three of the meals arrived together - our fourth friend did not receive an omelette until the other three of us had practically finished our brunches, and when we asked the server about it she seemed put off by us. The overall atmosphere was one of pretentiousness. It was not fun. Give me the Shienna Cafe on 5th Ave any time! Tue May 08 11:25:47 -0700 2001 1252710 0 David Stearns 2 1252866 Ditto for me. We went once...that was enough. There will not be a second visit. Bread basket was the best part of the meal. And the folks who work there are a drag...unfriendly, unhelpful, unfocused. As David says, "it was not fun." I say, give it a miss. Wed May 09 21:51:31 -0700 2001 1252864 0 Peter Krass