The End of BKLYN Restaurant Week

Brooklyn Restaurant Week is over, and I'm somewhat ashamed to say that I only went to one place, Zipi Zape in Williamsburg. I already knew I liked the restaurant from past experiences (although why do they never have fried baby calamari--the first time I went it was DIVINE and every time I go back now they are out), so I was expecting good things.

ZZ delivered good things (many little plates of good things), and ended up being a decent bargain in the process. ZZ had a five tapas for two people for $20.06 deal. We were a table of five so we got two Restaurant Week orders. We started with olives (tasty but missing those marinated garlic pieces that I love), and moved onto patatas bravas. The little cubed potatoes were dressed in a spicy tomato sauce, and the dish was one of many that had me sopping up the extra liquid with bread. I think we had about four rounds of bread, and every time the last piece was finished, I wanted another slice to soak up another delicious sauce.

Next up: setas con ajo, or mushrooms in a garlic sauce. This dish, and the pollo al ajillo, or chicken in white wine sauce, both come in terrines so hot that the broth bubbles around the edges when it's delivered. The mushrooms are good, but it's the chicken in particular that is so tender. Amazing what will happen to something soaked in white wine (and butter?) and then baked. I was sad when the chicken terrine was taken away--such precious bread-dipping material gone to waste! We also had shrimp with sea salt and lemon. The head-on shrimp arrive artfully plated atop  single lemon slices and sprinkled with  salt and were a nice lighter addition to the meal.

We made three extra orders to finish off the night: a grilled octopus special (around $12), which got gobbled up so quickly I'm not sure what was in it but it was fabulous, a dish of white asparagus ($4) for the lone vegetarian and a Spanish cheese plate ($14). Without alcohol or tip, it was $80 for five people, and since wine is a reasonable $5 to $7 a glass, even that didn't add much to the bill.

There's a couple of reader comments here about their Brooklyn Restaurant Week experiences. Any more to share?

(If I get a moment later today, I'll compile some blog links, but if you have posted something on your own blog, send me the link and I'll add.)

Blog reports:
Petite Pomme at Chestnut
This is too a blog at Royal's, Sette Enoteca, Crave, and Taku.