Mode

Hate this place. Oh boy, do I hate this place.
1. They’re banking on the fact that everything they serve will taste good with ratatouille and mashed potatoes. I’m sorry, scallops with ratatouille, steak with ratatouille, lambchops with ratatouille and salmon with ratatouille do not count as 4 separate entrees. Get a little creative.
2. Their wine list is ONE SINGLE giant chalkboard they lug around to all the tables. «oh i’m sorry, you can’t look at the wine list right now, that table over there is looking at it. Then those guys over there asked, and then that nice couple on their date are waiting for it next.» Lame. Plus you feel like a goose if anyone wants it and you want to linger with it. Double lame.
These last two could be specific to my visit but STILL
3. THEY PLAYED THAT GIPSY KINGS ALBUM ABOUT A MILLION TIMES IN A ROW. You know, that band that plays that song «BAMBOLEE-​OOO, BAMBOLEEE-​OOOO!!!» and does the salsa cover of Hotel California from The Big Lebowski? Yeah. Over and over. And it only appeared to have maybe 6 songs on the whole thing. We heard those songs probably 8 times each. Ouch.
4. We waited for our food for probably an hour. It was not very busy. We watched people get seated, eat and leave before we saw our food. I hate this place.
I’ll give them a star because I can’t give zero and I’ll give them an extra because aside from how unbelievably boring the food was, it was well cooked. And the wine was decent. But JEEZ. This is New York. For all the wonderful, amazing, daring, creative, interesting, delicious restaurants that we have at our fingertips, WHY DOES THIS PLACE MAKE MONEY?

Out of the 8 things we ordered last night (drinks included) only one was subpar (the crabcakes were a bit fishy) but the rest was all superb. The caprese salad has a little pesto kick to it (awesome) and the seared scallops were pretty much perfect.
Service was awesome. Food was good. Stoked about this place.

Excellent food. A crackling wood fire in a real hearth. Service is still getting things sorted out and Mode definitely feels like a new place.
My only recommendation to the owner: GET REAL MENUS. The hanging chalk menu thing was baffling, and we sat around wondering why the server forgot to bring us ours. My friend couldn’t read the hanging menu and had to stand up and hover over another table of diners while deciding what to eat. Towards the end of our meal, a couple on a first date sat down next to us and had the same experience. While some may find it charming, a good 20−30% of diners will feel the opposite. Either get real menus or greatly enlarge the ones you have.

Very laid back atmosphere, the bartendar/​waiter was awesome. He served us drinks he «invented» including a blackberry martini with fresh blackberries and a cucumber one. Dinner menu was delicious as well. People in our party ate lamb, the burger, some appetizers and desert (crème brûlée). I enjoyed the special myself (apple and mushroom bisque) which was very delicious.
Only reason it did not get 5 stars– service was long. It was probably 40 minutes to an hour before we got our food and the place was no where near crowded. Although everything I tasted was fresh so perhaps the wait was because of the good quality of the food. Also, the menus are written on chalk boards on the wall, so if you have poor vision like I do, you have to squint to see them, and of course it was behind someone’s head so I spent a good deal of time squinting in the direction of other people.

A non-​descript exterior (as seems typical for Williamsburg places) opens into a very ambient space, warm from the reds and woods, and miscellaneous decorative items adding a nice touch of eclectic. There is seating in the entry level at and across from the bar and also an upper level at the back, loft-​style. I planned a group dinner here and the phone reservation went great (although they, like other places I tried, don’t bother to check emails). We had a great table in their upper level and seating was comfortable.
The menu was posted on a hanging chalkboard, and cocktails on a chalkboard floor easel. Fun to read and choose from. While not extensive, the menu still has plenty of diverse options.
Here comes my major criticism: the service. I’ll admit that our group arrived piecemeal but aside from a drinks order taken from the first few who arrived together, no one checked on the group at all as people showed up, and even after everyone was there. It didn’t help that the wait staff tended to stay downstairs. When our waitress finally came, it was to take our dinner orders. Unfortunately, she was woefully unprepared to handle orders from our group of 8. While we didn’t make it easy (i.e., each person just knowing exactly what they wanted), I didn’t think we were difficult to work with either. She got confused several times and could not keep track as she went around the table taking the orders, and got visibly distressed about it. Frankly, we did our best to accommodate her. Asking her to take drink orders would be too overwhelming so we finally flagged down another person later. Water was refilled fairly quickly, a plus as the air conditioning at the upper level could have been much better. Once the food was served, our waitress was mostly absent.
Cocktails were interesting, although not all equally well made. I liked the bramble and pisco sour.
The food, overall, was generally good to very good. I most enjoyed the escargots and scallop and shrimp ceviche. Good were rib-​eye, mussels, seared scallops, chicken aux tomates, and lamb chops. Sauteed calamari were overdone. I wouldn’t consider this place a foodie destination, but the food was decent, especially for a party.
As an entire experience, this is a great place to relax or spend time with friends. The owner did come by and he certainly seems to care. I hope that our wait staff experience was not a norm, or just a growing pain. Note, cash only.

Phenomenal. The food was PERFECTION. (Chicken, mussels, salmon tartar) The service couldn’t have been better, what sweet and adorable waitresses. It’s summer, but that fireplace upstairs is screaming cozy romantic winter dinner to me, and I can not WAIT to take «the one I’m with» come the next chilly NY evening…
Also, great and super affordable wine list. Well done.
Thank you Olivier for the dessert on the house, when we couldn’t choose just one… I know it’s terribly rude to lick your plate, but we just couldn’t help it.

GREAT place. GO. Read more if you must.
Food: Excellent. Simple, concise, and extremely tasty menu. Ordered the caprese salad, peppercorn tuna, and roasted scallops. All three were delicious (scallops were perfect).
Service: Excellent. As everyone else on here says, the owner really cares. We ordered a bottle of pinot noir, he refused to give it to us. Instead brought out a much more expensive French cab and said he would give it to us for the same price. Also brought out a side (on the house) of spinach with our entrees. And then also brought a crème brûlée (on the house) as we were finishing our bottle, post-​meal.
Price: Regardless of the freebies, this place is very reasonably priced. I feel totally content paying $ 70 for a bottle, 2 entrees, and an app of this quality. I’d happily pay more.
Also, our waitress was a cute, smiley, broken-​english frenchie. Liked her.

I think this restaurant has quite a bit of potential, however, I was not impressed when we went.
The food was delicious and we did appreciate it when the owner stopped by. However, our waitress was not equally attentive. She took our orders and disappeared, not to return until the end of the meal. She didn’t refill our wine or check on us. When I finally had to go chase her down to get our check, she was hanging out downstairs, looking rather bored.
Also, the air conditioning upstairs is not exactly strong. When we went it wasn’t even that hot (evening, not a record breaking day) but we were DYING. Finally, I asked a server if there was a fan and he turned it on for us, but why did I have to ask?!
The cash-​only thing is also an issue.
To sum up: I enjoyed my food (I had the scallops) but was really disappointed by the service and the environment. And the food wasn’t so amazing that I’m willing to overlook it: just average for the neighborhood.

I love this place
These people know how to run a restaurant
The food is always perfectly prepared and delicious!
I got the salmon tartare the other night… wow, strangely good
And they also have great cocktails! Try their martini with cucumber and dill. Perfect for summer.
love love love!

While looking at Mode’s menu online, I had the hardest time deciding between the peppercorn tuna and the roasted salmon. When my friend and I arrived at the restaurant on a Sunday afternoon, I found that I didn’t have to make that decision. It was a weekend brunch menu and they wouldn’t be serving the regular entrees until after 3:00.
I was a little bummed at first, but after looking at the brunch menu I got over it. There were salads, pancakes, omelettes, and generally brunch-​y things, but everything sounded yummy. I settled on the crab cakes Benedict, since I’m such a seafood aficionado. After much deliberation and a few recommendations from the waitress, my friend got the goat cheese omelette.
My dish consisted of two perfectly cooked crab cakes each topped by an egg and Hollandaise sauce, sitting on two English muffins. This was heaven on a plate. Cutting a piece of the crab cake together with the sauce, the egg yolk, and the English muffin… everything meshed so well together. (On a side note: I admit, I had a little too much fun breaking the egg yolk and seeing it run down.)
Both my friend’s and my dishes had a lightly dressed salad and nicely seasoned cubed potatoes on the side. My friend really seemed to love her goat cheese omelette, and the potatoes were an especially big hit for her.
At the very beginning of the meal, the owner, Olivier, had come over and introduced himself to us. He visited our table throughout the meal to see how we were enjoying things, and even gave us a little dish of sauce for the potatoes. The chef also came out and asked us how the food was. Everyone that worked there was so friendly and personable and they wanted to make sure we had a great dining experience. That, ladies and gentlemen, is how service should be done.
When we’d finished our main courses, we were happily stuffed. But we couldn’t pass up the chance of getting dessert, so we split the Chocolate Love (chocolate cake with molten chocolate fudge in the middle and a scoop of vanilla ice cream) and the crème brûlée. The desserts were, of course, nothing short of amazing.
As we were leaving, we assured Olivier that we’d be coming back again for the regular entrees. And I’m a girl who keeps her promises.

Deliciously intimate. Everything from the food, to the drinks, and of course the ambiance of Mode were carefully crafted to make dining there an experience to remember.
As a lover of tasting as many items as I can dig my fork into, I was very excited to be dining with a group of people, all of which ordered different dishes. Though all of the dishes were fabulous, the roasted salmon and fusilli pasta were my favorites!
Ending the evening with the Chocolate Love sealed the deal. It was one of the most delicious deserts I’ve ever tasted and I am still dreaming about it!
Next time you’re looking for a great go-​to restaurant, give Mode a try. I promise you won’t be disappointed and Owner Olivier will make sure that you feel welcome and have the most memorable dining experience!

I was exhausted.* All I wanted was a seat at the bar, a burger and a drink. Mode’s owner, Olivier, made sure I got everything I needed and more.
He is the most hands-​on owner I have ever seen. He was moving this way and that, running food, clearing tables, pouring wine, and doing what I expect he does best: making sure everyone in the place felt welcome.
Olivier sat me down at the bar, took my order (approved strongly of the medium rare temperature), and brought the bartender over because he wasn’t sure he himself could do a Hendrick’s martini justice.
As I sat at the bar, basking in booze, beef** and blue cheese, I reflected on Mode, and how the only downside to this experience was that the fan kept blowing my napkin off my lap. And then my napkin flew off again.
After I picked it up, I’ll be damned if Olivier didn’t get up from the other side of the bar where he was enjoying a drink with a friend, come over, take the dirty one out of my hand despite my protests, and bring over a new one. This is a man who takes customer service seriously.
When I left, I said the same thing to Olivier that I’m going to say to you now: Mode was exactly what I needed, and I’ll be back. Soon. With friends.
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*I spent all day trying to come up with excuses to skip work so I could watch the World Cup. It takes a lot out of a man.
**Easily one of the best burgers around. Juicy, flavorful, and a perfect medium rare. And the fries are awesome as well.

Every time I’ve stopped in whether it’s on my own or with a group of friends Mode has consistently offered superb service and quality cuisine. Olivier, the owner always greats his patrons to make sure everything is satisfactory. Which is a nice touch. A little personal attention goes a long way. Eventually Mode will becomes so successful that Olivier cant possibly great everyone. I’m glad I get to experience Mode before it turns into a mad house; while its still this low key spot that, for some reason, hasn’t caught on yet.

I’ve had several great dinners here; the interior is beautifully done, the staff is thorough, thoughtful and awesome, and the food is some of the best French fare I’ve had outside France.
Last time I had the crab cake, which was spot on, and the burger, which I’ve had before and comes with amazing truffle-​scented fries (apparently cooked with truffle oil).
The menu changes often but I have yet to be disappointed: roasted salmon, scallop carpaccio, mashed potatoes; the chef knows what she’s doing.
Falls short of five stars only because I’m not that impressed with the wine selection.

Mode covers all of the bases for a great night out. It has the food, the atmosphere and the location. The food is fantastic. Try the cheeseburger, its one of the best in williamsburg, and it has stiff competition. The scallop carpaccio and roasted mussels are also expertly prepared. And while the prices are more than affordable (entrees between $ 10-​$ 20) it seems like no cost is spared, for example the french fries are made with truffle oil and you can definitely taste the difference.
The atmosphere is upscale while laid back, which seems like a fine line to walk, and one that can have disastrous results at a majority of restaurants. But the combination of open space, great décor and paintings makes it work.
This place is such a great addition to the neighborhood!

My best friend brought me here for my birthday brunch and I’m very grateful for that. It was their first time opening up for brunch on a Saturday and I’m glad they did or else I might have missed out on this place.
Initially, I was a bit concerned because they were located off of Bedford but I think I prefer it this way. It was a quiet spot, smell of wood burning probably from the night before, a very personable owner and may I add DELICIOUS food. We took his recommendations on choice of food. We had the tuna tartare and a goat cheese lightly fried on a salad I believe for appetizers, scallops, lamb chops and a chicken dish for entrees and a yummmy crème brûlée for dessert. This is how you know they care about what they serve, the owner sent a dish back to remake because he said it was overcooked. To top it off, they had brooklyn breweries summer ale on tap.
I see others feel the same way, I just hope there will be seats available the next time I go.

4.5 stars, damn shame this place wasn’t that crowded yet because the food is killer. The Salmon Pasta special at $ 11 was redonkulous, the peppercorn tuna at $ 16 was pretty nice too. Short menu, but lots of interesting options including a decent little drink list.
Classy/​partyway pimp place just a block off Bedford, definitely worth giving a shot. Wait staff was really nice, the free dessert we got when we mentioned Unilocal (proliferoles) were tasty (bring a printout!), just a good place for good money. My only knock was that it was too hot upstairs with the fireplace running in 80-​degree weather — ummm yeah, I’m sure they are proud of the fireplace because of all the wood near it, but not during the summer.

A great spot off the beaten and weathered path of Bedford Ave. Beautiful fireplace in the back mezzanine, cozy seating, subdued and comfortable lighting, and excellent food and music. Prices are affordable and the staff and owner are a great group of people. The open kitchen is a nice touch and seeing your food being made gives it a much more «home-​cooked» feel.

We live pretty close to Mode and hadn’t realized it was open. We decided to check out the place and support local business, and boy are we glad we did.
I have lived in New York for many years and I can honestly say this is some of the very, very best food I have had here. The flavors were superb, presentation simple yet elegant, and the menu is just perfect for a bistro. The prices are all very reasonable, and I really liked the wine selection too.
The staff were all very attentive, friendly and knowledgeable. Oliver (the owner) was the true host, and Jenny the chef. well what can I say? she is VERY talented .
All in all, this was one dining experience I am truly happy to rave about. I will most definitely be revisiting Mode, especially if they do brunch.
Bravo to all concerned!!!

Best French restaurant on Bedford! When you arrive there, talk to Olivier, he will take you the through the menu with his French je né sais quoi; not only he is the charming men who just started this business. He also transformed the former Noodle Studio in a cozy venue with a fireplace and selection of Art that create a very homey ambiance.
So many great deals on the menu. Here was my selection Endive salad $ 8 followed by Chicken aux Tomatoes $ 14. The crème Brulée $ 5 is to die for. As far as wine, the selection is of wine by the glass is good, I tried the merlot and was pleasantly surprised.
Honestly if you are in the neighborhood, just stop by for a crème brûlée. They will make you happy.