Thirstbaràvin – Wine Bar on Classon Ave

I have been there-I enjoyed it. Here is my take:

1. Very friendly and helpful staff. They gave us several tastes of wine so we could decide which glass we wanted.

2. The food was good. (we did only have the leeks as we were just having drinks) The other dishes they were serving looked very good as they came out, and the whole place smelled great

3. It's a little bright...i know that seems critical, but i think they can make it more cozy if the lights are dimmer

4. The menu is very limited if you are looking for a full diner, or have more than 2 people. There were only 2 entrees the night we went.

5. They need more diversity in the wines by the glass. I felt like all 4 of the wines I tasted were medium bodied, and i would have liked to seen some bigger reds on the list.

As most new restaurants, it is a work in progress, and I look forward to this place finding itself and improving. I think it has a lot of potential.

oh wow congrats to emilia and michael...I'm headed over asap!

dailyheights - Sorry I missed your question. I had Leeks Vinaigrette that was $8, my friend had Pork Belly that was $18.

Off their wine list I tried Dubost Gamayleon that was $8 and she had Trinquevedel Tavel that was also $8 a glass.

We both were very satisfied with our meals. I don't drink, so the light beverage - that the server recommended - was wonderful for my delicate palette. As I find almost all wines to be impossibly rich, heavy and "alcoholic".

I really love the place and would be there every week, if the days and hours of operation were expanded. I tend to want to wind down at a wine bar on a quiet Sunday evening, or to head out later on Friday or Sat evening.

Unfortunately, they are not open on Sunday's and close at 11PM on Fri.'s and Sat.'s. If you haven't already, you must stop in.

Have been to Thirst several times. Food and wine selection are excellent. Proprietors and staff are very friendly. I've never seen it packed, but on weeknights there has been steady traffic.

Couldn't help myself - here's my latest take: http://ilovefranklinave.blogspot.com/2011/01/classon-rising-four-corners-new-housing.html

What's really interesting to me is the way the "Four Corners" (is that the next hot real estate destination?) has shifted from a light-industrial area to a residential one over the past few years, and may now be becoming a commercial area as well. A lot of what's happened so far has been the development of vacant/empty properties (hard to see the downside to that, I think) but eventually, might auto-body shops and wine bars cease to co-exist (or to describe the process more accurately, might landlords decide they prefer the former)?

To your point ILFA, I can't remember my source, so don't quote me on this, but I recently was told that there is some activity going on at 945 Bergen (at Franklin). As I understand it will be converted to residential building.

I looked at the city records, but didn't see much new activity - the place was purchased by "Crow Hill Development" in early 2008. They applied for the permit to construct a fence in 2009. Nothing much since so who knows...

There is also Big Sue's green building on Dean Street and the relatively new and beautifully renovated Kai Studio so there is definitely activity in that section of town. I think it just goes under the radar.

So, I finally made down to this place last night.

When I arrived around 7, there were probably on 3 other couples in the place. When we left at 9, the place was pretty full.

To my surprise, all of the folks there were eating. ...I had expected much more of a wine bar type crowd, but was among diners instead.

A large group of about 8 people occupied the table by the door.

I'm not a very talented writer of food reviews, so I'll keep it basic:

-One chooses from a variety of appetizers, but only three entrees.

-I had the slow roasted pot roast.

-Mrs. Whynot had a pasta dish.

-We shared a bottle of white wine.

Service and food was good, but the wait staff seemed a little casually dressed (jeans) for what could have been a more formal experience.

We might be back, but will probably stick with Cheryl's (on Underhill at EP) when we are in a similar mood.

Side note, We are of the variety that usually finds Beast on Vanderbilt to be too crowded and noisy.

whynot_31 said:

We might be back, but will probably stick with Cheryl's (on Underhill at EP) when we are in a similar mood.

Side note, We are of the variety that usually finds Beast on Vanderbilt to be too crowded and noisy.

I like Cheryl's but I don't think the service comes any more "casual" than that. And while Cheryl's has a very competent wine list considering how limited it is... it doesn't hold a candle to Thirst.

I would definitely go to Thirst if I was looking to spend an evening drinking yummy wine in a quiet, relaxed atmosphere.

I think this is where Thirst fell short in my mind: I think they could do more with their space than they are.

...whereas Cheryls is so small and packed with people, in my mind it "can't do more" to create atmosphere.

Full disclosure: Cheryls is also much closer to where I live. ...and I have developed what may be a reviewer's bias toward their yummy, double thick porkchop.

We almost crossed paths! I was in the group near the front door (for my birthday). Thirst is an interesting mix of restaurant and bar. I was very impressed how they handled our group. It's hard staggering all those small plates. They even let us put our bill on different cards, a rarity around here.

I believe the wait staff are the owners?

The food is amazing. Smaller portions but the quality is high. One thing I really appreciate is that they can do many items vegetarian on request, like the lentil salad and potato/chorizo soup, because the meat is added at the end of cooking. Although I usually just get the meat

Happy Belated Birthday Ridonkulous!

Why, thank you!

whynot_31 said:

Full disclosure: Cheryls is also much closer to where I live. ...and I have developed what may be a reviewer's bias toward their yummy, double thick porkchop.

I agree, that pork chop is awesome!

Yes we are definitely going back. After a mediocre overpriced "French" meal in Manhattan tonite in the East Village, we can do better back in Crown Heights at Thirstybaravin. I would have never imagined this just 3 years ago......Really worth checking out again

I checked it out last night for the first time and thought it was terrific and a great addition to dining options in the neighborhood. But, I am worried about the location. I was there until about 8 on a Saturday night and it was empty. If people like it, they need to get the word out especially to people in Prospect Heights, Clinton Hill and Bed Stuy. It was as good as anything on Vanderbilt.

I suspect that the owners were aware that the location would present some challenges.

So I infer that they may be betting on the local neighborhood to grow wealthier, in additional to bringing in people throughout the larger brooklyn area; The area around the restaurant certainly offers lots of on street parking to customers who are willing to drive there.

"in additional" should be "in addition"

Only annoying people say "in additional"

I was just talking about this place with the onwer of an establishment around the corner - who didn't even know it was a wine bar --- or what kind of food was served....I tell you they really need to get the word out ! It is such good quality but in an odd place, so the owners should make an effort to let people know about it. When I walked passed it - across the street - a few minutes ago, it looks like a nice garage -- or something in the process of being renovated. You would never know there was a restaurant/wine bar inside. Shame they are not open Sunday evenings as Id definitely drop by....

The NYT has discovered Thirstbaravin:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/06/dining/reviews/06dinbriefs.html?ref=dining

nice - they got a small mention in New York Magazine too.

The letters of the name all run together like that make it look like it is in Norwegian or something.

I missed this thread the first time around - look forward to checking it out.

Went there for an after-dinner drink with friends on Saturday - very nice, very chill place, extremely friendly waitstaff. Will definitely be going back there to try the food as well!

http://nymag.com/listings/restaurant/thirstbaravin/

NY Magazine reports this place continues to turn out a fine dining experience.

....for my budget and tastes, this will continue to be only a special occasion place.

another fine review in a fine magazine

http://www.newyorker.com/arts/reviews/tables/2012/05/14/120514gota_GOAT_tables_goldfield