Anniversary Dinner tomorrow (Tuesday) night in Brooklyn - No Reservations Yet!

[swisloc]

Looking for a place to eat for our anniversary tomorrow evening, would like it to be in Brooklyn near(ish) to Park Slope to cut down on travel time, but looking to eat someplace interesting. Was considering Vinegar Hill House and Roberta's but am scared about wait times... suggestions for a last minute but really good option?

[Miss Needle]

If you're willing to consider Roberta's, I'm assuming you've got a car. What about Dressler? Lots of openings tomorrow night. Next to Brooklyn Fare, I've had my favorite Brooklyn meal there.

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Dressler
149 Broadway, Brooklyn, NY 11211

Roberta's
261 Moore St, Brooklyn, NY 11206

[Vesuvius]

Convivium Osteria? I ate there for the first time this past weekend and it exceeded my already high expectations.

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Convivium Osteria
68 5th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11217

Saul
140 Smith St, Brooklyn, NY 11201

The Grocery
288 Smith St, Brooklyn, NY 11231

Locanda Vini e Olii
129 Gates Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11238

[bobjbkln]

The following take reservations:
Applewood
Convivum Osteria
Loconda Vini E Olii
The Grocery
Saul

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Applewood
501 11th St, Brooklyn, NY 11215

[famdoc]

I guess not everyone's idea of an anniversary dinner is the same. Although Vinegar Hill House is wonderful, I would not call it special-occasion wonderful. As for Roberta's, I waited more than two hours for a table on a Thursday night recently. To me, hipster sensibility (and the attitude from hosts/hostesses and servers that implies) does not make for a romantic dinner.

I would suggest Applewood as the restaurant-of-choice for a pleasant, somewhat romantic dinner in Park Slope. As an alternative, I'd suggest Ici in Fort Greene. I haven't been to Palo Santo in ages, but that would also qualify as the type of place where you could get a fine meal and enjoy your spouse's radiant glow, charming conversation and common enjoyment of good food.

The advantage of the above three suggestions, unlike Al di La, which remains my favorite Park Slope restaurant, is that you can be reasonably certain to get a table for tomorrow with a phone call today.

And, finally, a real out-of-left-field suggestion: call The Chef's Table at Brooklyn Fare after 10:30 today and ask if there have been any cancellations for tomorrow. Be aware that the price is now $222+tax, including a mandatory 20% gratuity and is BYO. But, you'll have an unbelievable meal that you'll never forget.

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Ici
246 DeKalb Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11205

Al Di La
248 5th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11215

Applewood
501 11th St, Brooklyn, NY 11215

Palo Santo
652 Union St, Brooklyn, NY 11215

Roberta's
261 Moore St, Brooklyn, NY 11206

Vinegar Hill House
72 Hudson Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11201

Brooklyn Fare
200 Schermerhorn St, Brooklyn, NY 11201

[swisloc]

I do like Applewood, Ici (although less-so), and Palo Santo, but have been to all of them almost too many times at this point (you know the feeling of just knowing exactly what to expect?). anyway, we are young(ish) and not afraid of something loud, but really just yearning for something new.

[famdoc]

Why not travel into Manhattan? I'm a big fan of SHO Shaun Hergatt, which does a fabulous 5-course meal for $80 (less 30% if you use savored.com to make your reservation) and is in a elegant, yet casual (think business casual) setting. Outstanding wine list, with many values.
You could certainly get a table tomorrow night, unlike Le Bernardin or Eleven Madison Park.
Corton would be another good option, with a table very likely for tomorrow.

And, again, if finances permit, don't rule out calling for a cancellation at Brooklyn Fare.

[swisloc]

Mainly because of annoying 1 year old/babysitter induced time limits, but if it was in close proximity to an F train manhattan might be doable.

Any ideas on wait times at Vinegar Hill on a Tuesday?

[famdoc]

I'm sure the one year old is adorable, not annoying. I'm sure the babysitter is nurturing and attentive, not annoying. Therefore, the time limits placed on you by having a one year old and a babysitter must be what you're referring to as annoying.

Given that you've been a regular at each of the places I suggested, I would either do Convivium Osteria (I've never been, but it get consistently great comments in this forum) or take a car service to SHO, which is 15 minutes or less from Park Slope by car service. Have the car return to meet you at the conclusion of your meal, as the yellow cab situation in lower Manhattan at that hour is a bit annoying.

In any case, as a parent of grown children, let me assure you that the dining out situation will, eventually, improve. In the meanwhile, enjoy your kid: they grow up very quickly. And, happy anniversary!

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Convivium Osteria
68 5th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11217

[cazique]

If you haven't been to Convivium Osteria, I'd suggest that. I've never had a problem getting a reservation, and though I was a shade underwhelmed the first time I've been nothing but really impressed every time since. No gimmicks, just solid, really good food in a darkish, nice setting.

Also, not too close to the F but consider Good Fork (Red Hook) if you can get a reservation. At or near the top of my list.

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Convivium Osteria
68 5th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11217

The Good Fork
391 Van Brunt St, Brooklyn, NY 11231

[cazique]

Whoa - $220? That's like a 35% increase from August, if I have my numbers right. Yikes.

[famdoc]

BF is $185 plus tax and tip. At the present time, they require payment of the gratuity at the time you pay for the meal, which is in advance of your seating. Thus, it's $220.