Cooklyn in Brooklyn, a Restaurant Review
By Katherine Jacobson
New York is a city full of excitement and new beginnings, which makes living here a joy to most. But every so often, we as humans crave a place where we can get away from the fast-paced hustle and bustle environment and escape to a warm and welcoming space to unwind. Cooklyn, a restaurant located in the Prospect Heights area of Brooklyn, is the perfect example of such a space. You walk right into a place of tranquility where time slows and moods lift. This is a place where laughter comes easily and conversations flow effortlessly. It is a rarity to encounter such a space in a restaurant in New York. This hidden gem has far exceeded my expectations in not only their welcoming environment, but also in the quality and presentation of every dish they serve.
They served us warm, crunchy Garlic Bread made by local Northside Bakery.
We sipped on our cocktails in their back garden seating area lit with string lights.
The Boukman Daiquiri is their newest addition to the menu; so new, in fact, that it was added the day we dined there! It consists of white rum, cognac, fresh lime juice, and homemade cinnamon syrup.
The other cocktail we tried was the Gold Rush, which consisted of bourbon, sage, honey and lemon. Both were phenomenal; however, I am a huge fan of sage, so the Gold Rush would have to be my favorite. If you want something sweeter, order the Boukman Daiguiri.
We started off with the Lamb Bun with feta cream, fresh dill, and pickled daikon. The bun was surprisingly light and the dill paired well with the other flavors.
They also brought out Mussels, cooked with chorizo in a spicy lobster broth. This was my favorite dish of the night. The salty chorizo with the mussels and the spicy broth combined blew me away. I simply could not stop eating them!
The Cooklyn Salad was also a big hit. What makes it so delicious is their house-made vinaigrette. It’s light, and compliments the ingredients perfectly. The salad itself had lobster, shrimp, tomato, haricots verts, dragon fruit, cucumber, and sesame cream tossed in their sesame crème fraiche vinaigrette.
After these light plates, they brought out an assortment of seafood. The first was Octopus a la Plancha served with smoked potatoes, avocado, meyer lemon, and basil pesto. This is where food becomes art; when a chef can make a dish that looks just as amazing as it tastes, you know it’s worth a try. It was cooked and seasoned to perfection and each bite was bursting with citrus.
If you’re thinking of ordering a pasta dish, order the Squid Ink Cavatelli made with scallops, shrimp, and calamari. The best part about this dish is the smooth and crunchy textures combined. Some of their pastas are even made in-house, making the pasta dishes in particular that much more impressive.
Lastly, we have the Sea Scallops, another extraordinary dish. These golden brown scallops are served with sea urchin puree, brown butter and salmon roe. Each bite dripped with warm buttery sauce, making it difficult to stop eating!
During our meal, we were fortunate enough to meet one of the owners, Mike Kennedy, who ensured that we had a pleasant evening. Our server, Leigh Blechman, was also wonderful! We also had a chat with James Stephens, the bartender who made our cocktails. The three of them were happy to introduce themselves throughout the night and each of them made an effort to make sure we were all enjoying our time at Cooklyn.
Towards the end of our meal, Chef Anthony “Theo” Theocaropoulos came to sit with us. It was an honor to meet and chat with such a talented individual. Just from one conversation, I could tell he has a passion and drive that will take his restaurant far and beyond. Already, he has a restaurant opening up in Palm Beach (along Worth Avenue) in November, so all of you Hedonist Shedonist fans in Florida, look out for Cooklyn opening soon!
For an authentic Mexican restaurant in Brooklyn, click here.