Black Betty

Anyone know what happened to the chefs here? Or the owner? Did they open up a new restaurant? This was my favorite restaurant in the neighborhood!

With Black Betty gone, I no longer know where to get my spicy Moroccan paella of perfection. Meh.

Oh noes! I’m so sorry BB is closing.
I danced many nights away here back in ’02 and ’03. There was always a nice mix of dominicans, puerto ricans, hipsters, and once in a while a hasid would grace your presence. All of us doing shots and getting wasted. Anyone and everyone was on the dance floor and the Saturday night DJ was amazing.
Sigh. Even though I haven’t been in years, I’m going to miss you BB. You were an institution.
PS — Don’t hate, but I have the painting that used to be over the women’s bathroom.

Wahhhhh.
I just moved here and they’re closing the joint? Sultry gypsy atmosphere, diverse crowd (read: people of color /​folks over 30) plus curvalicious girls who can actually find the beat.
It took every ounce of self-​restraint not to Shazam each song that came on (a mix of beat box-​y and piano-​y funk that had me craving Biz Markie with my coffee this morning.)
Can only surmise that yesterday’s party was uncharacteristically hot… otherwise, how could a place this good go bad?

I’ve always loved going to Black Betty but last night required me to Unilocal about it. I went with my parents, grandfather, uncle, and boyfriend for some family dinner time. We ordered the red pepper hummus (my fav!), sauteed spinach, tomato and cucumber salad, and feta cheese salad (my 2^nd fav!) for apps. As soon as we got these, I think my family was in love. They couldn’t believe how fresh everything tasted and how delicious it all was. My father claims he doesn’t like feta cheese but he absolutely loved the feta cheese here. Drinks were awesome (margs, mojitos, beers) and they have a good happy hour until 8PM every day.
We had a mixture of vegetarians and meat eaters and Black Betty has plenty of options for both at extremely reasonable prices. For entrees, we had falafel platters, the steak entrée and salad, lamb burger, and the mousakka. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed their meals and had fun tasting each others. Not one complaint was made and let me say, that is a rarity in my family. All I heard was praise and yumms from everyone around the table.
We all had a great time, the service was impeccable and to top it all off, my parents said that this is now their favorite restaurant in Williamsburg. For what I consider a priceless family meal, I think Black Betty deserves even more than the 5 star max.

While I did have a rockin good time coming here after Spuyten Duyvil up the street, I firmly attribute that to the company I was keeping (and perhaps our tipsy nature), not the venue itself.
It was ok, I guess, for what it is– a dancy, clubby, get-​yer-​groove on kind of place. We did have fun… But I’m just not convinced I can warrant a rating of over 3 stars to anyplace where I am consistently grabbed and groped.. .. even if it is on the dancefloor.
It was pretty crowded on a Saturday night. Music not really my speed– A lot of jamaican-​y sounding steel drummy music– which is fine, just not really my thing when i’m in the middle of williamsburg. (although, they did mix in some jackson 5 which i give them props for)
So yeah, despite the randoms trying to feel me up, I still managed to have a pretty great time. Yay awesome friends!

I usually don’t like places with dance floors. I know its silly to go there knowing that I won’t like there because dance floors are places for people who like dancing. I guess I am too shy or something to feel comfortbale dancing in front of people who I don’t really know.
I am giving this place 4 stars because of the location, people who hangs there, and of course the music. Something about the people there was very pleasant for me. I felt much more comfortable than going to one of those sleezy clubs in the city where people just start grabbing you and all.
I don’t know if I would become a regular, but I felt some kind of warm vibes from the place which would make me say that I would come back sometime in the future again.

found this restaurant by accident~
during the trip to NY, my friend told me about this place across street from black betty call spuden duvil… they had good hot red wine… supposingly
but they stop serving on the first day of spring
and we were hungry from all the walking…
i have to say… brklyn is really scary at night time for a LAer like me…
so we went across street to black betty’s
it’s also pretty ghetto from the outside
but the food…
MAN it is sooooo good
we had the North African Paella $ 15
Shrimp, merguez, mussels, salmon with cous cous
and Lamb Lamajoun $ 15
Home made flat bread stuffed with spicy ground lamb and feta cheese. Served with grilled beans and salad.
very very good.
minus one star cuz the service wasnt all that great
the girl there looks bored and she looks like she hates her job.
but the food is really good

I think one of the best things about NYC is that every type of cuisine is represented. I had never eaten Middle Eastern/​Moroccan food before, so I definitely was up for trying that type of cuisine. Since I had planned on meeting a good friend in Williamsburg, Black Betty was the obvious restaurant to visit. We got there at around 6:30, and were promptly seated. Although the dining space is quite small, since it was the early evening, there were only two other people dining.
I like the way the interior is decorated. I think the blue and yellow colored walls combined with the candles that line the space helps effectuate a subdued atmosphere.
While the menu does have some interesting options, it certainly isn’t an extensive list. With that being written, we ordered the sauteed spinach and lamb samboosak. While the portions for the appetizers are quite small, they were delicious. Obviously, I’ve had spinach many times, and it was one of the best spinach dishes I’ve had in a while. And, the topping on the lamb samboosak was quite flavorful. As for my entrée, I ordered the falafel platter, which consists of falafels, flat bread, hummus, babaganouj, feta, olives and taboulleh with tahini dressing. The entrée was filling and flavorful. I definitely enjoyed my entrée. And, for dessert, we split the chocolate mousse, which was quite good.
Overall, we definitely enjoyed our first visit to Black Betty. The atmosphere was subdued, the service was okay and the food was tasty. I do recommend going here for recession-​friendly and nicely prepared Middle-​Eastern/​Moroccan food.

I found Black Betty on the Sunday before MLK day after barhopping in the area. Accompanied by two party-​willing friends, we walked straight to the bar and were immediately thrown into Brooklyn Brazilian Beat, a weekly dance party unlike anything I have ever experienced in New York.
The drinks were cheap, the space was small, the air was hot and sweaty and, most importantly, the music was phenomenal. I’m not usually the dancing type but the vibe in Black Betty (on a Sunday night!) was enough to make anyone groove to the Brazilian beat.
At one point, my friend danced with a sixty year-​old Brazilian woman while I move rhythmically with her aging daughter (her husband was yet to arrive).
If you are down for getting dirty on the dance floor on a Sunday night, Black Betty is truly the only place you need to be.

It was… overwhelming. With many annoying folk in there. And these five girls were completely oblivious to the amount of room they were taking up, the drinks they were spilling on our shoes, and how to dance. That basically made me cranky and I left without even bothering to get a drink.
Also, there were some creepy men-​folk that made me feel uneasy.
However, I hear good things about Sunday night so I’ll have to check that out and come back.

I never imagined this place would have good food. It really looked like a bar I wanted to have drinks in though. Unfortunately I have not had a chance to have drinks here yet. After my friend got her tattoo at Tattoo Culture we were all starving and heading here since it was close by. My friends had already eaten here before and said the food was good.
Almost everyone ordered the falafel plate and so did I. I like it a lot! A large dish that should be shared with two people. You get a variety of hummus, olives, cheese, salad, and flat bread. It all tasted good but honestly the falafel could have been more crispy and hot. The price kind of sucks, I think $ 9 is a bit much.
I can’t wait to come here for drinks.
*They take credit card thank god!

I’ve been coming to Black Betty for about 10 or so years now. A true neighborhood staple, when you have all kinds of comings and goings in the area, not to mention shitty trends, ten thousand mediocre Thai & those annoying «home cookin’» places that cater to hipsters who, let’s face it, probably don’t eat, but have been known to scarf down a plate of fried chicken or, worse yet, Frito Pie, from time to time. BLARGH to all of that.
Black Betty has a lovely atmosphere, my favorite bathroom, ever, possibly, a well-​stocked bar with interesting cocktails (THE FEZ!!!) and a good wine list, and tasty Mediterranean fare. I LOVE the Moroccan rice & beans, truly the heartiest thing you could ask for on a freezing cold winter night.
I’ve had better hummus, falafel and babaganoush, for sure, and their Mediterranean Platter for $ 9 seems rather overpriced (my flat bread was tasteless and cold).
Service can be spotty, but is not terrible. The waitresses are at least always very nice, even if there is a fuck up in the kitchen.
Lovely outdoor space, comfy and warm indoor space.
One caveat: avoid this place like the plague on Sunday nights unless you like Brazilian music and don’t mind being shoved out by tons of whiny idiots looking to be all like Bosa Nova and shit, begging for your table because it’s their «special occasion.» People tend to show up early for dinner, the place gets packed and you may never get served. Then the beats start happenin’ and people like me have no business being in there.

I had one of my more negative restaurant experiences in NYC when I came to Black Betty.
To be fair, I came to the restaurant with high expectations (after reading Unilocal and also, hearing two different people passing by outside the restaurant seperately rave about it simultaneously– it was odd).
The hostess was rude and left us standing around while a perfectly good-​and set table was waiting for us– for at least 4 min. The restaurant’s interior was well decorated but smoke poured out of the kitchen and had us coughing at the table. Even worse, the men’s room didn’t have any soap (pretty gross when you think waitors etc… probably use the bathroom as well).
The food was mediocre– at best. Good hummus (but how hard is that?) Also I had the grilled calamari and it was wayyyy overcooked and burnt.
Overpriced with overrated food and TERRIBLE service, I might go for a drink but I would never recommend anyone to eat here. You’ve been warned.

If they have the artichoke appetizer special, get it.
Everything else I’ve tried has been very good.
As for the bar, I’ve been a little disappointed in new dj’s of late, but this dance floor will always have a special place in my heart. It used to be you couldn’t go on a Saturday night and not hear The Message. Oh well, things change. I’m awaiting Black Betty’s next Saturday night incarnation…’cause they’ll get it right again. Brazilian dance party on Sunday is fun whether it’s overcrowded or sparse.
But come on, don’t order ten caipirinhas! I just want a beer. Give the lady a break. That sweet and lovely bartender has to mash mint constantly on Sundays and I feel for her.
The Brooklyn lager here is very nice — cleaner tap? I don’t know.

For drinks and a little dancing, Black Betty has a great atmosphere, particularly on Sunday nights when they have Brazilian night.
I can’t technically salsa dance but I can fake it real well, especially after a few cocktails.
I haven’t eaten here, so no comment on the food. But the drinks, thumbs up! The crowd (of beautiful people) is good too, very relaxed, not obnoxious at all. Good spot in the neighborhood. Always a good time.
— — –
Sucks so bad that this place closed… even if it was falling off a bit. So many good times.

My favourite restaurant in the area. Ive never been disapointed.
Amazing drinks, and reliable food.
SOmetimes not the best waitstaff but its usually just fine, nice quiet garden seats in the back!
Love the Mojitos, the HUmmus and warm pita bread and the salmon salad… really deserves an OMG it is SOOOO good. from me anyway

This place was perfect for my first night in Brook-​to-​the-​lyn (sorry). First we had dinner outside, which I believe the Italians call «alfresco» (said in snooty, Comic Book Store Guy voice). This activity, while native to most regions of the continental United States in summer, will yield you a blank stare in San Francisco, unless accompanied by heat lamps.
But I digress, onto to the food. Creamy, smooth hummus that melts in your mouth, crispy falafel goodness, and who knew calamari was so good in a salad. And tequila cosmos! Danger Will Robinson! Not only were the edibles delectable, but when dinner was over, the DJ was packin’ the dance floor with OPP, Delite, and Money Love! It was 2 am, and the night was just gettin’ started. When the DJ yelled «Is Brooklyn in the house?» I waved my hands like I just didn’t care. Sorry. My whiteness is showing.

Fresh, fragrant, flavorful food. Mmmm. I will keep returning until I have worked my way through the entire menu. Then I’ll start all over again. Yummy without breaking the bank.

Just got back from Black Betty 10 minutes ago, stuffed to the brim with lamb burger and drunk on Reverend Vince Anderson’s crazy love preaching. It honestly is a good night to be alive.
Update: Okay I think there needs to be more info here. Try the hummus, its absolutely delicious, salty creamy fragrant goodness, served with the softest pita. They have a $ 4 column, and a $ 5 column of such plates, and you can do 2 from each column for $ 15, or 3 from each column for $ 21.which is a damn good deal for 6 plates of food, recommended by the waitress for only if you are «really really hungry, for 2 people.»
Its hard to find a place with such decent live music and bar, and food, without one compromising for the other. Oh the hummus…