Sason Grill

[Jim Leff]

Sick of the lines at Difara's? Try Sason Grill 1012 E 15th St (between Avenue J & Avenue K) [phone]) right around the corner.

Old-timers may recall my writings about the Hall Street Kosher Cafe, a trailer set up across from the Brooklyn Navy Yards where an Argentinian Hassid named Mario made Jewish soulfood just like your grandmother. Even great kugel and latkes....stuff you'd never find great in restaurants!

Hall Street is still there, and still good. But Mario has split off to open this more Sephardic joint. He has a stupendously limited menu (falafal, shwarma, salad, and I think that's about it). But wait till you see the crazy things he puts in those sandwiches, and the degree of work he goes to. He peels and cuts whole potatoes to make the accompanying chips, for example.

It's a gastronomic point of light, and I'm thrilled to be back in connection with Mario. Go and be happy. He's closed Friday nights through Sunday (sometimes opens late Sunday afternoon, but weekdays are a better bet).

Great guy, too. You definitely want to talk to him while he cooks (imagine a South American hassidic version of Ali from Kabab Cafe). Naturally, the food is mega-glatt-hyper-kosher.

Some pretty good photos in this kosher blog (thanks to Barry Strugatz for the link):
http://kosherscene.wordpress.com/2010...

[Jim Leff]

He's out of business. I'm heart-broken. Should have gone more often. Should have mentioned him here earlier. Argh.

[missmasala]

Is Hall Street still there? Or is that out of business too?

[Jim Leff]

Still there. And I suppose there's a chance Mario may have gone back here. I'll be checking.

[DaveCook]

The word at Hall Street is that Mario has returned to Argentina.

Dave Cook
http://www.EatingInTranslation.com

[jen kalb]

this sounds like just the kind of food I love - sorry its not open on weekends - although, are they open late on Sunday or not? Do they have lamb as well as chicken shwarma?

thanks for swinging by to point it out!

[Jim Leff]

As I said, it's sometimes open on Sundays. You can call ahead to check. And the menu is extremely limited. No alternative shwarmas. But Mario's open to special orders (if you ask ahead, he might make potato kugel or latkes).