Arthur on Smith

What’s that, you’ve never heard of Joe Isidori? Well that’s your loss. Joe is one of the truly unheralded stars of city dining and we are luck to have him give his Midas touch to a small place in BK.
the décor is simple by design. The servers are knowledgeable. The drinks are well crafted and affordable.
And the food is top notch. Not pretentious at all. A great first date place.

Tried to go here last week but when we got there, there was a sign on the door saying they were closed! I reported it to Unilocal but since their voicemail is still on and the website is still up, I guess they couldn’t verify it.
Their menu sounded great, I was pretty sad. And then we went to Vinny’s as a consolation «prize». Review to come.

My partner and I kind of just stumbled in here, after spotting the private but sophisticated look of its store front. The highly acclaimed and more established «The Grocery» looks very similar to Arthur, but it did not have a copycat or unoriginal vibe. We do eat dinner early, so it was probably 6 or 7 pm, and I was quite surprised to see that the establishment was so empty. There were probably only two other tables being used. I hadn’t realized that this place was so new but when I actually inquired with the server about its emptiness, she did explain that the restaurant was only about a year old and thus they were still in the midst of developing any buzz, so to speak. All around, I found the atmosphere to be lovely — the lighting was perfect, it was what I’d simply call pretty, and did not have any kind of stuffiness. It was a case of simplicity being executed impressively.
The quality of the food was pretty good, although both of the dishes we had, had a bit too lemon of a taste than I preferred. However, i think my less than enthusiastic experience of the lemon was more of a personal preference than it was anything id say would concern any layperson. For example, my partner completely enjoyed both dishes, not having experienced what i did regarding the excess of lemon. It was clear that the pasta was completely homemade and it’s quality was one of the best pastas I’ve ever had.
As for service, which is generally important to me, the server was very attentive and seemed really down to earth, luckily lacking what other similar restaurants present like — servers who are trained to look and act overly «professional» to the extent that they don’t seem like real people. Feeling at ease with a non-​stuffy server in a «classy» restaurant is an attitude I appreciate greatly.
I have not been back since this first visit, but I’d highly recommend it, and am sure that I’ll be there for a second time in the near future.

I’m surprised this place doesn’t have more reviews! It’s a prime spot on Smith Street with an elegant front façade. We went on a Saturday evening for an early dinner and with the nice fall weather, they had opened up the windows and let the planter boxes on the sills get some sunshine. We were running late to a broadway show but wanted to have a nice dinner beforehand anyway. The wait staff at Arthur was very accommodating at getting us in and out quickly without sacrificing the dining experience. They have delicious fresh bread with honey and butter to start. We ordered some drinks — I got the watermelon cooler and my friend ordered the habanero margarita. Mine was so good I was chugging it like juice but hers was almost too spicy to drink — to be expected since it had habaneros in it!
We ordered the mussels appetizer to share and they were good but maybe a bit too tomato-​ey for my liking. For the mains, my friend ordered the littleneck clams and I ordered the day’s pasta special, which was some kind of thin rolled potato pasta, kale, and lardo. I loved it! You could tell they made the pasta in house with such care, and it was unique in that it was made from potatoes but rolled thin unlike a gnocchi. The fresh mint on top was a nice touch, and the chicken broth brown butter sauce was divine. I tried a bit of my friend’s clams and they were good also, served with some broccoli rabe and thick cuts of sausage.
Delicious and carefully crafted food here, so I will be back!

I literally just left this restaurant after having Sunday brunch and was so infuriated I had to immediatley write a review. This is a cute brunch spot with a hip vibe on Smith street. The menu is short and expensive, but nothing special. The staff however, is the worst I have ever experienced. And by staff I am referring to a particularly ditzy, overly hip waitress. Anyway, I digress.
Our food took over an hour. The only two other tables filled in the restaurant both received their food, and finished it, before us… even though we had ordered before either table arrived. Twenty minutes after we placed our order, the waitress asks us what we had ordered, as she clearly had forgotten. Only to return to our table five minutes later with the news that they «had just run out of bacon.» Ok, its 11:30AM (you opened at 11) and no one else is here. How did you just run out of bacon! Anyway, not to worry our food is coming. Twenty minutes later, it’s still «coming». She apologizes «Sorry, the kitchen is backed up.» BACKED UP? Jesus christ. I would hate to see what would happen in this restaurant if even half of the tables were filled.
After we finally received our food, she apologies again and says «there is a new chef in the kitchen.» No responsibility taken for the fact that she forgot our order. Get your story straight, gurl.
Terrible, terrible service. And our two entrees and a bloody mary left us with a $ 51 bill. Spend your money else where, Unilocalers. So many other options on Smith St… all of which are much better.

I recommend to everyone in the hood.
The pasta with sausage is one of the best I have had and I almost crave it regularly. The butter, bread and cucumbers that they offer to everyone at the table is amazing. Very comfortable spot and one not to miss.

3.5 stars– I had a nice dinner with my family here. They liked how «Brooklyn» it was and we all liked the food. The space is cute and the staff was friendly, though did forget a round of drinks until my dad reminded them and took a while to bring things out that we requested.

Nice place, nice staff, but the food missed the mark. The escarole, caesar style salad had too many bitter elements in it that weren’t balanced out by anything. The ricotta gnocchi were dense, and the pork ragu had the taste of an overcooked tomato sauce with an unnecessary sugary element to it.
On the plus side, the bread at the beginning was delicious. Overall, though, I can’t recommend Artur on Smith. My impression is that they’re trying to do too much with the food, rather than let fresh ingredients speak for themselves.

An awesome experience, I went there for a friend’s birthday dinner and was impressed with the level of service, the cozy ambiance, and the food of course. It’s one of those places where you eat and don’t mind hanging out there until 1 or 2 in the morning drinking.
The handmade buratta with fig was an interesting combination as a first course.

I don’t really write very many reviews but wanted to get one down for Arthur on Smith. Everything is exceptional… food, drinks, service, ambiance.
Oh, they also had the best carbonara I’ve ever eaten.

Not good food, good everything else.
Went here last night for the first time and sat at the bar with my wife. Service is good, place looks nice, drinks are great, but the food was simply not (except for the bread and butter which was awesome).
We had Sardines, Chicken liver mouse, smoked octopus, escarole, and peas. Everything kind of tasted the same, many of the ingredients were in every dish. We usually eat everything but here we left most dishes half eaten and left over 100 $ later. Disappointing.

I was super excited when Arthur opened – a nice place where I can grab a wine and a snack, before committing to a dinner. What we’ve gotten lately has been overpriced and a bit twee.
Service has been… terrible. I’ve been left the check 2X times now when I’ve still had a full drink… and have been checked on («are we splitting it?») before I’ve checked the check. No, we haven’t looked at, because we’re chatting and drinking our drinks. Leave me alone! Everyone is saying the same thing. When I’m spending $ 100+ a person on an uncrowded Friday night or at a late Sunday brunch, don’t rush me, please. It’s basically ruined the restaurant for me.

Attentive, considerate and friendly staff from the initial encounter throughout the closeout of the tab. The thick bread quantity was ideal; not to fill you up but to get your taste buds in for what’s to come. In addition, the warm spreadable butter and honey was a strong contribution to the deliciousness. They even provide homemade pickled cucumbers for the savory folks.
We had ordered the following items: (in the order listed below)
1) Crispy Black Kale /​Sheep’s Milk Blue /​Pickled Red Onion /​Lemon Vinaigrette
I personally love kale. I’ve yet to try a Black Kale. As our wonderful waiter, Ken would say «it is herbaceous,» indeed it was. Not an acquired taste. Meat lovers will equally enjoy.
2) Spelt Pappardelle /​House Ground Lamb Sausage /​Black Pepper /​Pecorino
Had a couple of bites of this pasta as it was not initially mine. The lamb sausage was a tad flavorful for my taste. Not a judgement on the chef, just my personal preference. The pappardelle pasta was fresh and thoughtfully proportioned to the meat and sauce ratio.
3) Hand Made Ricotta Gnocchi /​Hudson Valley Pork Ragout
Allow me to take a moment and remember each tasty morsel. This dish was out of this world. I’ve had «Fresh Off the Boat» Italians prepare this for me and theirs was pale in comparison. Order this with mediocre expectations and prepare to be blown away. Yes. It is that good.
4) * A special dessert, not on the menu * Flourless Chocolate Cake /​Pistachio Icecream /​Glazed Cherries
Strictly out of my glutton’s perspective, I initiated the dessert movement. So glad I did. The ingredients paired well with the dessert wine Ken gave us. Apparently, it had «pained him to see us wash it down with beer» Good call, Ken.
If you’ve read this far and haven’t ventured out to this fine Brooklyn establishment; or at least add it to your itinerary of restaurants to go to, in the near future… well, you’ll just be lacking some fine dining.

Having been back to Arthur several times since my initial visit, I feel obligated to update my review. Let me first reiterate that I couldn’t have been more right in my initial three [obviously brilliant] observations:
–The restaurant is gorgeous. I love the bar, and am never upset about dining there.
–The service is excellent; staff is both attentive and knowledgable about the menu.
–The bread basket is amongst my favorites in the city. Hearty, toasted bread accompanied by spreadable butter covered in honey and sea salt, as well as slightly spicy new pickles.
Also still true is that this is not a price point at which I can regularly dine. That said, I do feel as though the quality of the food is now matching up with the cost, particularly with respect to a few favorite items on the menu:
1. The chicken liver mousse. Served with dried cherries and Marcona almonds (the fanciest trail mix you’ve ever tasted), it is easily among the best versions I’ve ever had. Recently it seems they’ve swapped out the jar for the highly questionable and somewhat smaller «smear across half a plate» presentation, but the flavors are still impeccable. I can report that it is much easier to lick a plate than bottom of a jar (and incidentally, I’m happier looking like a barbarian than an imbecile).
2. The carbonara. Perhaps it is not a traditional preparation, but I am no traditionalist. Nestled directly in the center of the bowl is a flawlessly poached egg, and very little is as satisfying as puncturing it and swirling that oozing, yellow yolk all around the bowl as it coats the al dente spaghetti, combining with the Pecorino, breadcrumbs and chopped parsley to form a thick, deliciously addictive paste. The generously sprinkled bits of guanciale punctuate each lemony bite, and the overall effect is sublime.
3. Truly, any other pasta, because Arthur does them all right. Most recently, I had the absolute pleasure of indulging in a butternut squash special that rivals any dish in recent memory. It was a generous portion of lemon ricotta agnolotti swimming alongside chunks of squash in brown butter. Thrown in were a few leaves of fried sage and the genius touch of bits of cookie that lent the perfect textural element, along with a touch of sweetness to match the squash. I would eat this dish until I burst, and since I –unbelievably — prefer it to the carbonara, I hope it receives a home on the menu.
Again, this is not the cheapest of meals, but I find the pastas especially to be well worth the price. Especially considering you can make a meal of one and the very generous bread basket, provided you don’t mind inhaling nothing but carbs.
I know I don’t.

I was in Cobble Hill meeting a friend for a drink and found this perfect spot for meeting my husband for dinner afterward on Unilocal!A wonderfully cozy place perfect for intimate conversations and amazing food. The only complaint is that the menu is limited. But everything on the menu is fresh and well executed, so I should not complain.
We started with the octopus appetizer and I wanted to lick my plate and order another! The spelt pappardelle with house made sausage was perfectly charred and some of the best sausage I have ever had. Pasta was fresh and luxurious. Seafood risotto had more seafood than risotto with some inventive flavors. Wine list is small too (once again they have done the editing for you) and we chose a carafe of the chianti which was not disappointing. A flourless chocolate cake topped off the meal with a dollop of pistachio ice cream. Brilliant. Strong points seem to be the appetizers and pasta dishes. Enjoy.

I absolutely loved all things about Arthur on Smith — our waitress was really helpful and kind, the octopus appetizer was delicious (although one piece was on the tough side), and the bread, honey butter, and pickles were a nice touch. I enjoyed my cocktail, some vodka/​grapefruit concoction, which was delicious, but I think I’ll try some of their wines on tap next time. I can’t wait to come back!

This place was AWESOME. From the moment we walked in, the hostess was extremely accommodating and we were seated in much less time than we thought. The cocktails are incredible and varied, and while we waited at the bar they brought us some fresh-​out-​the-​oven bread, served with a butter/​honey combination that I’ve never seen before — it was just delicious!
Once seated, things continued at the same level, both service– and food-​wise. We shared a bunch of stuff — the octopus appetizer and buratta salad were DELICIOUS. The heirloom tomato salad did not disappoint. And the homemade gnocchi w/​pork ragout melted in your mouth.
I could not recommend this place more. I think this has become my favorite restaurant in Carroll Gardens

Solid. My lovely wife and I spent many an evening dining at Po/​Bino when they were in this space and were sadden when they finally left. Arthur, so far, seems to be a pretty good replacement. It was soft shell crab time, so we had those and haven’t tried their pasta yet, but we intend to come back and work our way through the menu.
Oh, the butter has honey on it and the bread is quite good = don’t fill up on bread.

Brunch review… I loved this place. Not the hustle/​bustle of some mediocre Brooklyn spots and framed by true brunch generosity. A nutty cranberry loaf, peasant bread comes with butter drizzled with honey and sea salt (yum) and rasberry preserves. A housemade pickle too! Now this is brunch. Brunchy & lunchy items abound.
Went with BLT– amazing… Brioche bread, Tansworth bacon (hot), escarole, heirloom tomatoes, pimento aioli– $ 12. Absolutely flavorful, unique, BLT!
Next was the butterscotch budino w/​vanilla ice-​cream, and duck fat popcorn a bargain at $ 6 for brunch– delish. There is alot of value here and the service could not have been better. They were super nice and attentive. Spaghetti carbonara on the next go round…

Ok — I can be stingy with stars and maybe I am being a bit liberal with the 5^th but some times the total is greater them the sum of is parts. The food was great the service friendly, welcoming and attentive. I had forgotten [I hate to admit it] how good homemade Italian food could be. It also give me a chance to wrap my tongue around some cool words with «GLs» and «GNs»
They were happy to share the names of some of their local meat and bread vendors [ Ask them !]; and if you can name all of the herbs growing in the window box in the front window I will send you an official « Unilocal Compliment»
I am going back !!