[eggcream]

Wow, passed by there earlier and it's starting to look great. Very classy upscale restaurant. I still miss Snooky's.

Someone was trying to compare Tutta Pasta, Sotto Voce and Sette to Elementi. This place is upscale so there is no comparison imo.

[WTGirl]

Just what the neighborhood needs--another upscale restaurant with not so great food. The pretentious name is a problem for me.
All the "regular" businesses are leaving. How many expensive dress shops, overpriced kids boutiques, gift shops, not so great restaurants, phone stores, banks does one neighborhood need? I will miss Snookys and the other neighborhood institutions as they pack up and close.

[caseopele]

I'm not going to lie and say I'm happy about Elementi. I was hoping for something different in the neighborhood, not another version of restaurants we already have. Anyway, here are a few things to consider:

DELETED

I know I'm biased because I liked Snooky's for what it was. Quick inexpensive bar food, they had a nice veggie burger and house salad. It was one of the last PS bars, it was the place I sent people when they asked me where they could go for a beer. Now I have to send them to 5th Avenue. It was a meeting place for alot of the older people, a place they could socialize. If people didn't like Snooky's there were a ton of other places to go.

Another Italian restaurant isn't sorely needed here. Although I'm a vegetarian I agreed with a customer who said a nice seafood and steak house would have been a good addition to PS. At least it would have been something different!
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A man needs a little madness, or else he never dares cut the rope and be free. -Nikos Kazantzakis

[Restless Native]

[Slopehead]

Unless the food is sensational or the prices low, I think this place will have a hard time making it. The name alone almost makes me gag.

[cat]

Elementi is just more of the same. Snooky's was old Park Slope and just a regular type place. How chi chi can Park Slope get? Or places that are *trying* to be chi chi?

I've been reading Jane Jacobs' book "The Death and Life of American Cities" and she talks a lot about how places need to retain the old with the new. I hate to say this about Park Slope but what people really love about it is going - slowly. The Park Slope Civic Council can have forum after forum on this but unless a serious discussion is had... I don't see much hope unless the real estate market takes a different turn.

[cat]

Thanks for sharing this.

WHY did Snooky's close anyway? I remember my old neighbor a few years ago naming about 7 businesses on Seventh Ave that had been there since he got to PS about 25 years ago. Snooky's is the only one I remember.

How come they couldn't 'hold on?'

Was it FOR the money or their rent went up or...??

Thanks.

[Livetotravel]

Wow - I think I'll actually wait and experience it before I decide to give it a thumbs up or down. I've lived here for 12 years and never liked Snooky's or it's not very welcoming older snarly clientele. And just for the record - IMHO - Tutta Pasta and Sotto Voce suck and Sette has gone steadily downhill ever since Amanda Frietag, chef extraordinaire left a year ago. I can't wait for a really good Italian restaurant to open on 7th Avenue.

[WTGirl]

[quote="Livetotravel"]And just for the record - IMHO - Tutta Pasta and Sotto Voce suck and Sette has gone steadily downhill ever since Amanda Frietag, chef extraordinaire left a year ago. I can't wait for a really good Italian restaurant to open on 7th Avenue.[/quote]

Mark my words---you are going to still be waiting for good Italian on 7th Avenue after Elementi opens. It just reeks of one of those places that opens to make a quick buck. Why not just walk two blocks to 5th Avenue and accept that 7th Avenue is a food wasteland--always has been and seems to always will be.

[Livetotravel]

WTGirl,

I spend almost all my Brooklyn fine dining time at Applewood, Stone Park and al di la - I really miss the Sette of old when Amanda was there - so, I'm just hoping beyond hope that something opens on 7th before I give up on it entirely.

[caseopele]

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A man needs a little madness, or else he never dares cut the rope and be free. -Nikos Kazantzakis

[Drano]

Snooky's is gone? Crap. I thought it was just a remodel or something. I was one of the Snooky's crowd, we ate there a bunch. Sure, it wasn't gourmet, but they did what they did really well - I was only disappointed with something I ordered once, and that was more than ten years ago. Hell, I know someone that had her wedding there. Rest In Peace, Snooky. Don't worry, New Place, a schmuck like me won't darken your door.

[cat]

thanks for the background! too bad about jose being the minority owner. but now technically isn't HE the majority?

Snobbishness just doesn't fit in in that way in PS. (I've seen major sense of entitlement from some newer newbies and maybe this is the next level of it.)

Sort of sad. I think it's a touchstone and maybe there's no turning back now that Snooky's is gone.

thanks! keep us posted any new developments. shouldn't there be a snooky's plaque or something of the 'old' left in place?

[caseopele]

Elementi had a private party tonight (they're supposed to open tomorrow). Someone I know said she walked over to look at the menu which is only on the front door. She was stopped by someone who worked there asking, "Do you have an invitation? This is a private party." She was not impressed and I won't repeat what she said.

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A man needs a little madness, or else he never dares cut the rope and be free. -Nikos Kazantzakis

[Brooklyn Dodger]

Wish I had tried Snookys...sounds like a real "Cheers" type of place,,oh well, too late !!

[eggcream]

Thanks for the information. Doesn't sound like a place one would want to dine at. I for one will miss Snooky's as I mentioned in the original post. We went there a lot in the old days but probably not as much recently..2x a year perhaps. A lof of church goers went there. They could have advertised more to get the new Park Slopers involved. I don't think you can compare Italian restaurants since this one doesn't look cheap and one not likely to bring the kids.

Wasn't there a pretentious Italian restaurant a year or two ago around the Maggie Moo area that didn't make it? Soon as I saw the white tablecloths and duck and venison on the menu I knew it was doomed. 7th ave is more family friendly.

If you read Chowhound you see a lot of snobs who wouldn't have dined at Snooky's, heaven forbid. It's Al Di La this and Al Di La that. Snooky's was old school Brooklyn before houses were 2 million and there was a real estate office on every corner. Park Slope is becoming less like old Brooklyn every day. Pizza generally sucks here. Diners are even a little more upscale. The boutiques want to be Saks. Heck, we can't even get safe food or good service at the recently opened Burger Bar. Snooky's had excellent burgers in the basket w/fries and onion rings. Why didn't people go to Snooky's if they wanted a burger so bad? Cause it's not cool. People rather choke down a bad burger in a new Park Slope place than be seen eating an excellent one at Snooky's.

I'm sure most of the influx of new restaurants and the demise of the old is the expensive rents but I think Park Slope snobs have a lot to do with it. Thank God they haven't ruined bagels.

[reader]

I'll miss Snooky's. I went there every few months, for a burger basket or one of their steaks.

The real problem with most of the new resturants that open in Park Slope
now is that they take themselves too seriously. Not every meal in a
resturant has to be fine dining or contain authentic regional cuisine.
People like to eat, talk, have a glass of wine and enjoy the moment.

If Elementi is going to be another resturant that is going to lecture me
that I can't have grated cheese on my linguini with white clam sauce or
tell me that "real italians" don't use butter on their bread, they will
join the ranks very quickly of another empty storefront.

[germfree!]

Yuck. It looks like it took a wrong turn on the way to a Jersey mall.

[8thandPrez]

Caseopele: which store is yours?

[Idlewild]

As much as I hate to see Snooky's go I will be the first to admit that most of their menu wasn't that great. They were a fantastic restaurant back in the '70's & '80's. I mean no one could touch their salad bar or ambiance except Minsky's. Snooky's did go downhill. Except for the bar part which I always enjoyed. My guess is that the new "Italian" place will shut its doors within two years. If not for the glut of Italian fare certainly because of the expensive rent. I guess the only inexpensive Americana place left in the Slope is 7th Avenue Donuts. Like I have said they make a mean Virginia ham on the bone and their burgers are second to none. I also like The Park Cafe.
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I'm a Chain Belt...that's called the "quart of blood" technique. You do that, a quart of blood will drop out of a man's body.

[caseopele]

Deleted
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A man needs a little madness, or else he never dares cut the rope and be free. -Nikos Kazantzakis

[jennitrixie]

[caseopele]

MODS: Can one of you please edit my posts to delete any reference to my place of work? Apparently Elementi's owners said something to my boss about what I wrote here. Since they can't control what anyone else here says, they are trying to control me through my boss. Every single thing I posted here has either been told to me by reliable sources or experienced by me. I did not lie or make anything up, I offered my opinion on a neighborhood business. Something we all do here on a regular basis.

I admit my mistake was putting the name of my place of work in the same thread. I will apologize to my boss for that, it was unprofessional and unfair to him. I will not apologize to the new owners of Elementi for speaking my mind.

Mods, I wasn't sure who to PM to ask about editing this thread. Thanks.
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A man needs a little madness, or else he never dares cut the rope and be free. -Nikos Kazantzakis

[Flexichick]

That sucks, Caseo. Makes me not want to go there even more.

Viva el Snookys!
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Do not taunt Happy Fun Ball!

[Restless Native]

[germfree!]

[turtle95]

If the owners really wanted to be part of the neighborhood (and if they had the least bit of business sense) they would address the issues/perceptions rather than trying to muzzle people who are just expressing opinions. If they want to change the conversation, why not post a reply on here offering an alternative view point (in a non-defensive way) or go to Store "X" across the street and invite the owner and some employees over to see what the place is about. They should read Danny Meyer's book "Setting the Table" which basically shares his philosophy of customer service.

On sites like Trip Advisor and other places where people can post reviews of places, I've always been impressed when the manager of the establishment directly addresses the concern without trying to dismiss it and invites the person who complained to contact them directly to discuss it. I'm not impressed by "adults" who have to go crying to somebody's boss because someone said something they didn't like.

There are enough restaurants in PS with attitude, so I think I'll skip this place and stick to the old reliables in the neighborhood. And I've only turned on my stove one time since February so I eat out a lot! I'm adding Elementi to my list of banned restaurants.

[dw438]

Elementi.
Olive Garden.
Elementi.
Olive Garden.
Decisions, decisions!

[Flexichick]

Just for messing with Caseo, I'd consider Olive Garden before Elementi...and that's a HUGE decision.
_________________
Do not taunt Happy Fun Ball!

[quijibo]

olive garden definitely!


oooohhh i bet you i can score some coupons!
they have them in the sunday papers
the coupons just fly out onto your lap

7th avenue is dead! long live 4th avenue!
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I know that there are people who do not love their fellow man, and I hate people like that! -- Tom Lehrer (1928 - )

[Drea]

Wow, the owners of Elementi must really have their heads up their asses! I'll be sure to *never* go to this establishment. They can't really be that great if they're muzzling people's opinions before they're even open....

[babinsky195]

Was curious, so I tried it. The food is mediocre, and the prices are way too high for what they are serving. The menu is boring and generic. It won't last long in the neighb.

[VerucaSalt]

i agree nothing on the menu wowed me. You can get those types of entrees anywhere else in the hood. Upscale? Not so much.

[daver]

[Mamacita]

[The Chipster]

OK, has ANYONE ever been in there? Ever seen anyone in there? THat woman must have alot of spare time/money to own two crappy businesses.

[filmlover44]

Wow, sounds like the Olive Garden is arriving in PS just in time!
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Ok, now I'm crazy. Another goal achieved.

[germfree!]

[dw438]

owns the myr makeup place on 7th tiny space once held by fratelli ravioli.

[caseopele]

Mods, a Google search for Elementi brings up this thread on the 1st page. Can one of you edit these posts for me? They both quote the posts I deleted. Thanks!

cat 6/24/07 1:44pm
eggcream 6/27/07 12:49pm

I spoke to my boss and apologized for mentioning his business in this thread. And I'm sorry for Jose, he's always been a sweetheart to me. Considering he was always friendly with his neighbors I dont think he had anything to do with the current attitude of Elementi.
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A man needs a little madness, or else he never dares cut the rope and be free. -Nikos Kazantzakis

[caseopele]

I swear this is the last thing I'm going to say about this. It's really sad that Jose is stuck with this guy as a partner. Every person I've spoken to that has had bad things to say about Elementi has not said one bad thing about Jose. He's been a part of the neighborhood for years and has always been a great guy. His partner on the other hand pissed off a good number of people in PS that have lived here for years. Drove business away before they were even open by being very unfriendly. When someone suggested they put a sign up while they were renovating to let people know what was happening he said (paraphrasing here), "I don't want those people to know what's happening." Why would you turn people away when you're starting a new business? The people that considered themselves part of the Snooky's crowd aren't just the ones who went there every day. So by saying they didn't want the Snooky's crowd there, they alienated more people than they thought.

Imagine this scenario: I move into my current apartment in CH, make no effort to speak to my neighbors, show nothing but disdain for the people who've lived here for a while, and basically act like a complete snob. I then wonder why no one is happy I'm here and people are bad mouthing me!

If the owners of Elementi think I'm the only one saying anything bad then they are sadly mistaken. Although there are new people moving into PS every day, this is a neighborhood that's a little more close knit than most people think. I feel for Jose, I really do, he's a nice guy who worked his way up from a bus boy to where he is now. For that reason, I wish Elementi success.
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A man needs a little madness, or else he never dares cut the rope and be free. -Nikos Kazantzakis

[SOUTHSLOPESCRAMBLA]

HMMMM.....I THINK EVERYONE WOULD LOVE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT JOSE AND HIS STORY. CARE TO SHARE, CASEO? MAYBE THAT WOULD HELP REDUCE SOME OF THE DAMAGE FROM THE SLANDER......IT STILL LOOKS LIKE IT BELONGS IN A STRIP MALL THOUGH.
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[nubnu]

elementi sounds god awful.
thanks caseopele.
i have walked by it several times, and it just looks so generic and boring!
no flavor.........just your average vanilla pseudo italian.
Cant anyone open an AMAZING Indian joint? I feel so deprived.

[BrookSignal]

Used to be tons of good gin mills on Seventh, Union, Flatbush all over PS.

Mooney's moved off Seventh to Flatbush twenty years ago, he's still in business, no food just booze.

O'Connor's, still has their regulars.

Time's change, people don't drink like I used to, sit for endless hours in dingy barroom.

Farrell's is still going, cops and retired cops still love the place.

Freddy's days are numbered.

Anyone remember when Kelly McGillis was working at Camperdown Elm?

I wish Jose the best.

[veets]

Caseopele.. Hold your tongue.. do not respond even though this thread goes on and on!!

I say that to remind myself that for various reasons it is better to just read on this forum than always respond..


Oh and I do remember that list of "gin mills" with a fondness but hey times have changed and there is nothing wrong with wanting to eat some fine food with the fruit of the grape (or the potatoe, or whatever)!!!!
For me.... the demise of Snoopy's, which stands out in my "old sloppy" consciousness makes me not want to frequent the new, improved replacement restaurant .. ANd.. it makes me sound like a recently moved in to the Slope person when I say... I think the restaurants on 5th Ave are more interesting..