Cobble Hills, Brooklyn, NY Restaurant Review: Downtown Bar and Grill

In Cobble Hill, if you have got some money to blow, try Downtown Bar and Grill. This place has got a Manhattan air...and Manhattan prices, but the portions - for the most part - are huge. My first time there, starving, I ordered the Beef Tostadas as an appetizer and the Mussels and Fries as an entrée. I was almost sick by the time I finished the Tostadas, but the bucket of Mussels looked and smelled so good - and was so large, some of the bar patrons were silently daring me to attempt to tackle the thing. So, of course, buoyed by a shot or two of Jameson, I dug in. A couple of drinks, an appetizer, and an entrée can easily set you back $50 or $60 dollars, for one person (with entrees ranging from about $15.00 to $27.00 dollars), so approach the food and drink menu with care. Speaking of drinks, they have an absolutely absurd number, something like 800 different drinks available: click here for their complete list.

It is located near Cobble Hill Cinemas and Regal Court Street Stadium, if you are looking to get some food and drink before a flick (though I would not recommend either theater). It has got a kind of laidback East Village bar kind of feel; and there's a decent mixture of college kids and residents.

Bar service is a bit slow - I am constantly amazed at the sluggishness of some bartenders to refresh a drink, especially when a bar is not crowded. I have rarely seen Downtown Bar and Grill crowded, but then again owing to the price, it is not one of my regular haunts. The wait service is even slower, and most of the waiters simply do not seem to like working there. I mean, you have to really be soused to overlook the rather unfriendly service, and the food, while very good, may not be worth the poor service to you. If it is, beyond the Mussels, I would recommend the Fish N Chips (a bit overpriced at $14.00 dollars for the average sized portion), or the Baby Back Ribs with Homemade Barbecue Sauce, which edges out nearby Dallas BBQ.

Downtown Bar and Grill is open seven days a week from noon until 2:00 a.m.. Located at 160 Court Street between Dean Street and Pacific Street, they are near the following subway stops: Borough Hall, (2, 3, 4, 5, N, R, or M), Jay Street-Borough Hall (A, C, or F), or Hoyt-Schermerhorn (A, C, or G), and they also have outdoor seating.