641886 Tue Aug 04 06:40:55 -0700 2009 12 19 Outer Boroughs 0 4915780 Noticed the sign hanging in the window announcing the arriving Bueno, featuring the cuisine of "the romance languages" or something. Although I think they're referring to French, Italian, and Spanish, I'm hoping to see some good Romanian, Wallonian Belgian, and Romansch Swiss dishes ;) Anyone know anything about this place? Tue Aug 04 06:40:55 -0700 2009 12006 lambretta76 1 4916090 Huh. Is "since 1963" the BBQ spot gone already? I can hardly keep up with the shifts and turnovers there. Tue Aug 04 08:35:54 -0700 2009 4915780 96861 jennitrixie 2 4916144 From reading the sign, the way I understand it is that the entire compound is going to be some sort of food mall. It looks like "Bueno" is opening in the former indoor trout area and will use the indoor kitchen behind trout. Both Trout and Since 1963 have their own little contained cooking/ heating areas. I don't have high hopes, but I've been wrong before... Tue Aug 04 08:51:58 -0700 2009 4916090 20346 bhill 3 4916810 Since 1963 is still there, operating out of the area that used to be the "game room". I'm just waiting for a Sbarro and Panda Wok. Tue Aug 04 12:21:25 -0700 2009 4916144 12006 lambretta76 4 4917034 Sounds like this restaurant compound is turning into Babu's Dream Café. Tue Aug 04 13:23:55 -0700 2009 4916810 96861 jennitrixie 5 4919470 I have zero optimism that whatever new incarnation they are exploring will produce anything edible. Wed Aug 05 09:25:39 -0700 2009 4917034 173794 BklnChicken 4 4920276 A Panda Express would probably be better than most of the chinese on Smith st. by a long shot; ) I just can't get my head around a place called "Bueno" not being a burrito shop. Wed Aug 05 12:51:41 -0700 2009 4916810 20346 bhill 5 4923604 "...I just can't get my head around a place called "Bueno" not being a burrito shop." Not to mention there’s a not so bueno Mexican restaurant (with decent drinks) right next door. Thu Aug 06 13:32:08 -0700 2009 4920276 13761 MShapiro 1 5050515 So I finally ate at Bueno, and I'd go back again. The French Onion Soup is seriously killer. Easily the best in the neighborhood. There's delicious stock going on, with sweet onions and tons of gruyere melted on top. Can't wait to hit it up when the weather gets a little colder. Other things tried at our table were solid but nothing to write home about. Burger and fries were above Apt and below Tabac. For dessert we had a kick-ass souflee. Service was attentive, but slightly awkward. The music was a little cheesy. They need to make sure their glasses are checked for cleanliness before going on the table, and while they're at it, get rid of the silly looking place-settings. Though I don't think Bueno is offering anything new or vital for the neighborhood, I think it's a solid addition. I look forward to working my way through more of the menu. Tue Sep 22 16:55:15 -0700 2009 4915780 20346 bhill 2 5051801 I went for lunch the day they opened and I have to say I was impressed enough to go back, but there was a couple of misses. First the good: * The space is the nicest it's been of any of the incarnations of this space * The staff was polite, friendly, and attentive (but we were one of two parties there) * The zucchini fingers (or sticks or whatever) were delicious, served with a great tomato sauce and fried parsley * My wife proclaimed the crab cake to be the "best ever". It was really tasty, mostly crab and corn spiced nicely and served on a bed of avocado salad The bad: * The aforementioned music. Loud, random (sufi chants followed by afropop followed by something sounding like Air Supply), and not very good * The "Cuban". Barely pressed, lettuce and tomato on it (Tampa school cafeteria style?) with too little sliced pork. It was an OK sandwich, but it wasn't a Cuban. I was impressed enough to go back. I've been looking for something like Downtown Atlantic since that restaurant went downhill so shockingly after the first year or two in business, and this may fill the void. Sadly, no Romanian or Wallonian cuisine on the menu ;) Wed Sep 23 07:58:45 -0700 2009 5050515 12006 lambretta76 3 5051888 We went for brunch with our 1 year old last weekend. Our experience was mixed. The staff was very nice to us and to our son. The wait for our food was quite long (much to the displeasure of our little boy who was to try scrambled eggs for the first time......). I had the hash with a poached egg and my husband had poached eggs with bacon/etc and both of our poached eggs were overcooked (yolk was completely solid). When we mentioned the eggs, the waiter didnt really seem to acknowledge or offer to replace (and we didn't ask them to since we didn't want to wait again) but he did graciously take the price of our bloody mary and mimosa off the bill. Nothing was particularly inspired about the food and I have to say I felt a bit off all afternoon after the meal which could have been down to the spicy bloody just not being a good idea that day ;) Not rushing to go back, I prefer the bbq they're doing next door honestly. Wed Sep 23 08:23:49 -0700 2009 5051801 10971 Nehna 4 5053159 May be the first time I've disagreed with anything you've said on this board, Nehna. Spicy bloody is *always* a good idea. (At least the first one.) Wed Sep 23 14:20:49 -0700 2009 5051888 26929 cazique 5 5053643 hahaha....maybe I'm just a lightweight since having a baby. I would tend normally to side with you as opposed to me on this ;) Wed Sep 23 17:30:28 -0700 2009 5053159 10971 Nehna