Bussaco lost their chef?
According the Eater, Bussaco's already lost their chef. That would be a crying shame. The guy had a Le Benardin pedigree. I've been there three times already, once for the dinner menu, once for the bar menu, and once for brunch. Stellar every time. This place and James are absolutely fantastic editions to the neighborhood. Let's hope that, with the changes, this place continues to put out great food and doesn't go the way of its predecessor in the space.
Comments
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I thought the food was pretty unremarkable and overpriced. They were smart enough to hire a good PR firm; favorable reviews in the Daily News, decent threads on Chowhound, New York Magazine review and a glowing review on Gothamist. I don't think their food ever lived up to the hype. Tough time to open up and their prices are expensive compared to other spots in the neighborhood.
Their location is tough and every time I walk by they are empty (as a lot of places in the North Slope are these days). In the coming months look for a bunch of restaurants to close...the Thai place on 7th and Carroll, Moim, Elementii, and a handful of Asian fusion spots on 5th and 7th. Barrio's food has gone from special to average. Wouldn't be surprised if they close up shop. -
I had the WORST meal there. totally overpriced, and service was amazingly pretentious. Food was erratically seasoned. They get snaps for their PR effort, though.
James, however, is a gem. -
new2hood wrote: I had the WORST meal there. totally overpriced, and service was amazingly pretentious. Food was erratically seasoned. They get snaps for their PR effort, though.
wow. that was absolutely not my experience. i found the wait staff down the earth as hell. fish was great. burger up front was great, and as good as the one as James. didn't think the white clam pizza was all that special, but everyone in NYC tends to overrate their own pizza anyway.
James, however, is a gem.
different strokes, i guess. -
Daveon8th wrote: I thought the food was pretty unremarkable and overpriced. They were smart enough to hire a good PR firm; favorable reviews in the Daily News, decent threads on Chowhound, New York Magazine review and a glowing review on Gothamist. I don't think their food ever lived up to the hype. Tough time to open up and their prices are expensive compared to other spots in the neighborhood.
T's been around longer than dirt. They should do fine. Moim was doing good business last time I was there. The Asian fusion spots probably do very good take-out and delivery business. Picasso just has to, or else they wouldn't have lasted more than a couple of months since I agree there's never one or two people eating there.
Their location is tough and every time I walk by they are empty (as a lot of places in the North Slope are these days). In the coming months look for a bunch of restaurants to close...the Thai place on 7th and Carroll, Moim, Elementii, and a handful of Asian fusion spots on 5th and 7th. Barrio's food has gone from special to average. Wouldn't be surprised if they close up shop.
I might agree with you on Elementi, though. Definitely a letdown after some good press.
My hope: they all stay open. -
I disagree as well, I had three successful visits there. The meat courses (beef bavette and duck) were superb, while the fish was a bit bland. Appetizers like the scallops, fresh mozz and salmon gravlax tartare were delicious. The space is a bit big and it makes it feel empty even when it is not. The addition of the bar menu and brunch should help them out and they should stay afloat, the folks there know what they are doing. Interested to see where the food goes with a new chef though, especially this early in the game. Good luck to them, and every restaurant for that matter.
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Per Food & Wine Editor Kate Krader:
For all the years that I’ve overseen F&W’s Best New Chef project (a lot) there’s never been a winner in Brooklyn, where I live. So I’m excited to announce… no, not a preview of our 2010 list. But I am excited that Katy Sparks, who was a BNC back in 1998, is now co-owner and executive chef at Bussaco in Park Slope (as a point of reference, it’s across the street from the vaunted Park Slope Food Coop). Sparks will use the restaurant’s high-heat stone oven to do things like roast fish on sea salt, and she’s adding a bar menu with items like deviled eggs with cider-glazed bacon and cremini mushrooms cooked a la plancha with chiles and Cabrales blue cheese. Bussaco’s co-owner is master sommelier Scott Carney, and his versatile wine list includes everything from a 2007 Evel Douro white from Portugal ($22) to a 2005 Armand Rousseau Charmes Chambertin Cote de Nuits ($350).
http://www.foodandwine.com/blogs/mouthing-off/2009/12/1/An-FW-Best-New-Chef-Comes-to-Brooklyn
This could be huge for the restaurant, assuming people haven't written it off completely. -
Katy Sparks is enough for me to give it another try.
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heard great things about katy sparks....
that kinda changes everything now.
she might actually put bussaco on the map!
and even better, maybe the food will be GOOD now!!
will definitely give this place another try now. thanks for the info, ginsbera. -
Full menu can be found here:
http://newyork.grubstreet.com/2009/12/what_to_eat_at_bussaco_now_tha.html
It is more expensive than previously which I think will be a draw back for the restaurant, but the menu has a completely new direction along with a fun selection of bar snacks. Only time will tell! -
well, plus that street is becoming a little more vibrant now....
laytner's linens just opened across the street, which i imagine will eventually draw some serious foot traffic once people realize it's there, and then there is a new place called "lucas fine foods" with a sign that says coming soon just a few doors up from bussaco too. -
FYI...after dining at Bussaco last night I discovered that Katy Sparks is no longer affiliated with the restaurant. It seems there were some differences in opinion regarding the direction of the restaurant and the split was amicable.
With that said, the new redesign of the interior and menu is positive. A warmer more inviting decor and a much more pleasant bar area should help increase the appeal to the neighborhood. The food was good, not great, with flashes of creativity, but also a few stumbles. I found the bison mushroom ragu quite tasty, although it needed a little salt and lacked a little moisture or fat for my taste. The roast chicken was missing a key element (crispy skin), but was seasoned perfectly and amazingly juicy. Apps were ok, wines were great. Hopefully they can stick with one direction now and just push forward. Oh, also the $26 3-course menu is a steal of a deal (plus you can add $16 wine pairings) -
jeez, that was fast.
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Something is up with ownership to lose talented chefs so quickly. I stand by my review above and I'll pat myself on the back for being pretty solid with my restaurant closing predictions from a year ago.
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Went there with friends last month. The WORST dinner ever. Started with having to send salads back as they were so over salted, and it deteriorated from there....entrees were inedible...service was inept....What a shame
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In the coming months look for a bunch of restaurants to close...the Thai place on 7th and Carroll, Moim, Elementii, and a handful of Asian fusion spots on 5th and 7th. Barrio's food has gone from special to average. Wouldn't be surprised if they close up shop.
What makes you think MOIM will close? Always seems to have a crowd.
And always mighty tasty when I've been there.
Is anyone going to the Wine Bar next door on 7th & Garfield? -
In the coming months look for a bunch of restaurants to close...the Thai place on 7th and Carroll, Moim, Elementii, and a handful of Asian fusion spots on 5th and 7th. Barrio's food has gone from special to average. Wouldn't be surprised if they close up shop.
What makes you think MOIM will close? Always seems to have a crowd.
And always mighty tasty when I've been there.
Is anyone going to the Wine Bar next door on 7th & Garfield? -
nitcomb wrote: In the coming months look for a bunch of restaurants to close...the Thai place on 7th and Carroll, Moim, Elementii, and a handful of Asian fusion spots on 5th and 7th. Barrio's food has gone from special to average. Wouldn't be surprised if they close up shop.
What makes you think MOIM will close? Always seems to have a crowd.
And always mighty tasty when I've been there.
Is anyone going to the Wine Bar next door on 7th & Garfield?
I wrote that 01/26/09. All those spots were on my thrice nightly dog walk route. The food at Moim is ok...I thought it was a little pricey both times that I ate there. I think I read somewhere that the owner owns the building which makes it easier to operate a half full restaurant.
My predictions for this year's closings (I've moved down to 5th ave.) Reis 100, Corner Burger, and SPvino. -
Well, Daver got Reis 100 right and if you bet on Bussaco too, your might be able to collect soon according to Eater (and the bouncing checks are never a good sign)
http://ny.eater.com/tags/bussaco -
Flexichick wrote: Well, Daver got Reis 100 right and if you bet on Bussaco too, your might be able to collect soon according to Eater (and the bouncing checks are never a good sign)
I feel like Oscar the cat. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/02/01/health/main6162157.shtml
http://ny.eater.com/tags/bussaco
Can I also get credit for my previous prediction of Elementii and the Thai place closing?
It seems as though Corner Burger has been temporarily saved due to their marketing of their "not anywhere near as authentic as it claims to be" poutine and a lot of signage on their windows. -
^ I love Oscar the cat. I just don't want him visiting me any time soon.
I think partial credit is due for Elementi - although people have been calling their death since the minute they opened their doors
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