Back Forty

My favorite bar, drink, and burger in New York!
The bartenders are nice, have good suggestions, and know exactly what they’re doing. I’ve become an addict of their eponymous drink. There’s also an eclectic beer selection that rotates often (Gulden Drak was a nice surprise). The burgers are juicy and flavorful.
I LOVE the atmosphere here. Never too loud to have a conversation.
Update: Jan 2015: AAAAAAAAAND it’s gone. RIP Back Forty.

Stayed here for literally 5 minutes. There was no hostess to greet us upon arrival. We sat ourselves and let the bartender know that another two people may be joining us.
After we told him that, he walked away and appeared with a woman who appeared to be the manager. She was very rude in telling us that four people needed to be present. We get that, no big deal (a hostess at front would have been able to tell us that). Then we proceeded to ask her if they had happy hour and she quickly snapped to say ITS AT THE BAR. Nobody proceeded to come back and take our order. I rarely write bad reviews, but never again will we return.

Sometimes their service is terrible, but this times fibrin have service was good (go at an awkward time so you don’t hit meal traffic). We got the biscuit, beef hash and shakshuka. Really delicious. I just wish the service was consistent

Here is my problem: I would love love love to love this place but for some reason the brunch has always been a bit disappointing.
I went there a couple of times and ordered the french toast, actually pretty good, and then the brisket with eggs and yuka: they had litteraly no brisket in it. It was just a lot of yuka purée with two eggs on top, very sad. The Israeli baked eggs were also just ok, a bit on the dry side and nothing really good about it.
I think dinner is great though. Brunch is A-​ok.

Came here for brunch with friends, the place was not swamp so we got seated really quickly. There seems to be a lot of flies which kind of bothered me.
The menu was easy to navigate which was good since I’m very indecisive. For appetizer we got donuts and for the meal I got the chicken and waffles while my friends got the burger and the Israeli baked eggs. It took awhile for the food to come out and the place was not really busy. Once the food came out we were all trying each other’s food and having a good time. I have to say the food was really good but since I got the chicken with waffles I decided to move the chicken to an empty plate so I can have space to cut my waffles. Once I started to spread the butter over my waffles I noticed something was sticking to the butter and when I pulled it out it was a piece of HAIR! That was such a mood killer because the food was so good. The chicken was so juicy and the waffle was fluffy. I had to send the dish back. The waitress asked if I wanted a new dish and I said yes because my friends just started on their dishes. I felt the waitress handled it well because she apologized and offered to make me a new one. So they took my dish away and they ended up taking the clean plate and my utensils but forgot to bring me back new utensils and plate. I was sitting there while my friends were eating their dish so I decided to ask for new utensil and plate so I can try the donut appetizer we ordered. When I got the new utensils I picked up my fork and what do you know another piece of HAIR! This time it was longer too. That really dampens the mood. I decided to let it go. They brought my newly made dish and this time there was no hair.
Honestly despite the two incidents with a piece of hair and ruining the mood, the food was really good. I really enjoyed the chicken because it’s so juicy especially the chicken breast because it’s hard to keep the meat juicy and flavorful.

I’LL NEVER GO BACK TO ANY PETER HOFFMAN RESTAURANT (and neither should you). Never do the crab boil, IT’S A SCAM. The crabs are crap and the price-​tag is high. The sides were crap and everything about my experience was sub-​par.
I loyally ate at Savoy for twenty years, and I’ve been going to Back Forty since they opened on ave B, but after the last few nights, I’ll never go back.
Bought tickets to the annual crab boil ($ 150), and when I showed up expecting to sit out back, I was shown to a table indoors, in the back. I asked to sit outside and received nothing but attitude in the form of «that’s your table, that’s you’re lone option» (there were five open tables out back, and it was late).
I walked out, they could keep my money. I lost my appetite after being spoken to like that. At least the manager called me and asked me to come back another night, so I did.
After eating two buckets of soft, mushy crabs (I know nothing about crabs, I just assumed if they were served that way, then that’s how they should be), the manager walks out and asks «how was everything». I ask if the texture should be mushy like mashed potatoes, and he says no, they should be firm and meaty. He then starts weirdly cleaning the table, accidentally sends a glass shattering at our feet, looks angry, then disappears… having not even apologized for breaking the glass (there was shattered glass everywhere).
Fifteen minutes later, he returns to tell us how it’s our fault for not being crab experts, and not flagging him down upon first bite. We just ate two buckets of bad crabs add this guy had the nerve to blame us. WHERE’S THE QUALITY CONTROL? DID ANYONE CHECK EVEN ONE CRAB FROM ANY BATCH? I’m confident they checked the receipts for the expensive tickets!
So he made sure to tell us just how sorry he was, and then did absolutely nothing. No refund, no discount, no nothing. Just pay full price for bad crabs and have a lovely evening.
Additionally, the corn was way overcooked, the potatoes were under-​cooked and basically inedible, and the green beans never even appeared, despite my inquiring. Peach cobbler was served cold, I don’t know if this was intentional or not. Admittedly, it was pretty good, of course peaches are in high season, so it’s hard to mess up a juicy ripe peach (but if anyone could do it, it would surely be the keystone cop run back forty).
Total rip off fail. I’ll never go back, and I will only speak badly about back forty; not only for the bad food, but also for the lack of taking responsibility for serving bad food to loyal, trusting patrons.
Goodbye back forty, and shame on you.

Been wanting to try this place because I’ve heard so much about the back yard which is definitely one of the loveliest in NY.
Didn’t have very high expectations for the food, but it was surprisingly great! The mezze plate is perfect to split while sipping wine in, again, such a lovely outdoor space. The vegetable forward dishes are quite delicious and they’re light but just flavorful enough for a summer meal outdoors.

This was one of the few places within the four block perimeter between the Avenue B and Avenue A, which was not swamped with brunch crowds on Sunday at 2 p.m. It wasn’t a bad sign at all, just don’t come in starved and impatient. The chalkboard on the sidewalk said «Farm to table» and there were plenty of veggie options to choose from on the brunch menu (it wasn’t all eggs and Bloody Mary’s). My friends and I didn’t get the shpiel about the «farm-​locavore-​sustainable» bit, but be warned, the service is attentive enough but lackadaisical. Water was refilled; we were checked upon, we got the extra ice and a little paper cup of jam we requested. Nobody was hovering or rushing us out. We could have easily stuck around for dinner.
The food: the french toast came with home-​made mascarpone (subtly sweet, creamy, a little grainy in texture) and ripe peaches and cherries. It was sweet enough, but not overly so, comforting but light. My friends had fried eggs and bacon as well as eggs with brisket and yucca hash. Both seemed happy. The raspberry jam that comes with their biscuit tasted so fresh and fragrant, like your Mom just made it in the kitchen on a hot July afternoon. There was serious flavor there! The coffee (organic) was strong and smooth. I feel like the prices are typical of the neighborhood.

I almost never write bad reviews, however never has an experience warranted such a bad review.
We started by sitting and asking to order appetizers, we were told the chef doesn’t allow for just appetizers to be put it, you must put in an entire order… Okay fine, 15 minutes later she comes back and we order. 40 minutes later after not having visited for drinks or anything, she returns to take a drink order and we ask if the foods almost done, she replies, annoyed, «I don’t know I haven’t been in the kitchen» uhhh alright can ya check? 15 minutes later she returns and apologizes and says I forgot to put your order in. She then asks, would you still like me to put your order in, well yeah we have been here for an hour and half so we really just want to eat.
Also in this time I ordered a club soda 2 times, never got one. The hostess now comes over to apologize, asks if we need anything and I say a club sofa… Never brings it.
The food finally arrives and it’s fine. The chicken sandwich was totally flavorless, but the other stuff was okay.
To top it all off, when another waitress went to clear the table she shattered a glass all over a person at our table. It just couldn’t have been worse.

The staff is great in this deceptively spacious spot that can accommodate parties of 6 easily. We have sampled the baked eggs and the chicken n’ waffles, as well as the donuts. The food at brunch was a cut above the ordinary food between the LES and Union Square, but not as good as the best.

I have to agree with my sister and Unilocal friend, Megan D., in that reviewing Back Forty presents you with your classic Sophie’s choice — 3 or 4 stars? I’m paraphrasing of course…
Positives:
–LOTS of seating — perfect place to bring a large group on short notice
–Cool atmosphere
–AWESOME back garden area during the warmer months
–GREAT brunch spot when the back garden is open (gotta go with the hash or the chicken and waffles)
–Good bar selection
–Friendly, efficient service
Negatives:
–Aside from the brunch, the rest of the food is always just kind of OK — I honestly usually end up going with the burger
–It’s over-​priced — and I’m not saying that in a ‘middle-​aged woman visiting from the suburbs’ kinda way, it’s just flat-​out too expensive for the quality of the food… I suppose you could make the argument that you’re paying for the atmosphere
At any rate, I’ve decided to round up my 3.5-star review to 4 stars, simply because it wouldn’t be fair to give this place anything less than a 4-​star review based on the sheer number of times I’ve chosen to dine here.
Bottom line — a must try for Spring/​Summer brunch in the East Village and a pretty safe bet for any other meal. Keep your expectations at a reasonable level and you’ll have a fine time.

I’ve probably been to Back Forty about a times in the last two years. And I have been a big fan until my last couple visits. Sadly, time to update my review.
Each of the last two times both the food and the service left a ton to be desired. Previously, I’d never had anything I didn’t enjoy at Back Forty. The pasta I had recently changed that. It was an oily mess with gummy, undercooked noodles, and a bunch of vegetables that though tasty, didn’t provide the seasonal excitement their food usually does.
That selection of vegetables brings me to my first service complaint; when I asked him what the «winter vegetables» were, he said he, «whatever the chef has available» (not a great answer for a locavore restaurant) and that he didn’t know because he had been off for 3 days. Fine, but would have been nice if he offered to find out, or asked whether I enjoyed it, or noticed that I had barely eaten it when he cleared our plates.
I could go on, but I think my dissatisfaction is clear. I also didn’t have a great experience last time I came in, about a month ago: our server stopped in the middle of telling us the specials because one of her other tables was leaving and she wanted to say goodbye. They’ve also changed the menu, which always changes seasonally, but some structural; changes, and not for the better.
To end on a positive note, the drinks are still great, and I like Happy Hour… but I will go to Westville, Ducks Eatery, or Northern Spy for dinner instead next time.

Holy crap is this place awesome. I’ve been here twice now and I’ve officially put in on my list of places to take people to when they visit. I came barging in here with a group of 5 that metastasized into 9. Our server didn’t even bat an eye and she didn’t even blanch when we all asked for separate checks; that alone is worth a repeat visit. They bring in a weekly steer and make-​well I know they do steaks, burgers and have beef tongue and oxtail nuggets, basically. For some reason I end up going there when they just have those cuts. Regardless, they’re delicious and on my first visit they had a beef short rib that I devoured, and oxtails that I also ate up and was still in the mood for beef so got the beef tongue. If you don’t like eating the weird stuff, then that’s fine because it’s more for me.
In addition, they have a kick ass beer selection that rotates all the time and is never boring. This is how locavores should really do it.

It’s interesting how many restaurants like Back Forty are popping up these days. Restaurants that promise local, organic ingredients, a «twist» on homemade comfort food, and a bunch of microbrews and spirits you might not find at your average New York restaurant. Unfortunately, only about ¹⁄₃ of these restaurants execute correctly. Back Forty is not one of those restaurants.
First, the bartenders and waitstaff here have a pretty terrible attitude. Mistakes always happen, regardless of one’s best efforts and the best thing you can do is apologize, try to set it right, and move on. However, when our orders were made incorrectly, the waiter was unapologetic and gave us some snark about how we made the «wrong choice.» Also, the other time I’ve been here for happy hour, the bartender was pretty unattentive, despite only having 2 – 3 other people at the bar. You’ll see that I’m not the only one with these gripes, from the other reviews.
Moreover, for a «burger place», the burger was pretty average. Nothing quite special about it. Decent size, comes with fries, but nothing to go out of your way for.
I’ve heard good things about the crab boil and the reviews seem to rave about it, but I can’t see myself coming back here. Too many other good places in the area, like BLK MKT and Westville, that have good service AND good food.

Yum yum yum! That’s what I recall when I think about what I consumed (um…inhaled) at Back Forty.
This cutesy place can get quite crowded at breakfast brunch time, but if you wait, you’ll see why. The food is amazing! I came here with a friend on a Saturday and it was quite crowded. I wasn’t a fan of how close we were seated next to folks, but it is what it is. We’re in NYC and we live on top of people everywhere we go.
Anyway. The food, was great! The biscuit was mouthwatering, eggs, cooked perfectly, sausage was AWESOME! And my test for all brunch places is the bloody mary. This place totally passed that test, it was that good!
If you are around, go in and eat – you won’t be sorry!

Came here with a group of six on a Friday night for dinner. It wasn’t too busy when we came in and we were seated promptly. Front of house staff was very friendly. It was dimly lit for a romantic feel, great for a first date! The décor is a little odd, but it’s meant to have a farm to table rustic vibe. at least I think that’s what they were aiming for.
We tried almost every drink on their specialty cocktail list, but the signature Back Forty was the best by far, especially if you like bourbon. The food was fantastic. I had a few too many drinks, so I can’t quite recall what I got, but I know it was excellent! Our server had a great sense of humor & joked around with us, which is always a plus with my group of friends. I will definitely come back!

As Brian L. aptly said, «Who needs a birthday cake [when you’ve got a whole hog]»?
Some people have a birthday cake with lit candles walked over to their table; we had a whole suckling pig with a flaming bouquet of herbs paraded and proudly displayed before us, before bringing it back to the kitchen be deftly portioned and prepared for our ravenous consumption. Delicious and filling overall — love the fact that you get to snack on the tasty bits of the head as well, although I am more of a fan of the Chinese-​style roasted pig skin; but overall, very satisfying.
My favourite started was the fried oxtail: crispy, savoury, and balanced nicely with a Thai chili sweet and sour sauce. The grilled beef hearts was a bit deceptive, as the huge chunks you initially see are actually pieces of potato, on top of which the chopped-​up pieces of beef heart are set. Winner of the two? Fried oxtail, for sure.
The PB & J is also a fun and delicious dessert option to choose. It’s made up of a peanut semifreddo, concord grape sorbet, and a milk chocolate ganache. All components nicely balanced, and a great interesting choice I’d have again.
BTW unexpected crowd pleaser of the evening? The Founders Breakfast Stout! A perfect blend of strong, bold chocolate and coffee notes, this beer quickly made its way through many people, with lots of repeat customers throughout the night.

This review is for the Back Forty crab boil at Rockaway Beach!
For $ 30 you get a bucket of crabs (I’d say there were about 8 or 9 in there), deliciously buttery corn on the cob and a couple of potatoes! Not a great deal honestly, but you can’t beat the fact that you’re hammering away at crabs in a beach setting!
The 2 workers at the stand were pleasant and worked as fast as they could to get the crabs ready for everyone. I will note that there was a slight shortage of hammers as they had to hover over people to grab those who were done, rinse them, and rush them over to the people waiting for them.
The crab boil was a great way to pass a Saturday and if you are there late enough in the day, a live band starts playing!

Sometimes you have a smattering of favorite things that you might never think to combine in your mind for a meal. Fortunately on my visit to Back Forty, the chef did it for me. Man, we picked the right night…
And what might those things be, you ask? Well. Wax paper slicked with oily sauce, the kind you have to lick from your fingers to keep it from spilling off the woodboard and all over the table. Charmoula (hence the oily sauce) so bursting with lemony garlicky herbacious delight that you want to tip up the sauce cup to sip it. But then you’d have less for the sweet succulent fish you’re eating mostly with your fingers as you deftly pick out the little bones and stop, every so often, to sweep with your tongue the tiny slivers off your fingers as you save the cheeks for last. Because, my friends, it’s whole. And there was a head. The fish with a thousand names; sometimes sea bream or ovrata depending on where in the world you are. At Back Forty: dorade.
Sorry: it was a special, so don’t think for a second you’ll have as good of a time as I did.
But you just might, given that this is kind of chill, creative farm-​to-​table place that is bound to have something new all the time, just in line with whatever’s growing or fresh in at the markets. The menu’s low-​key, with burgers and a fried chicken platter (with a beer too!) alongside plenty of enticing vegetarian plates and sides; I wished fervently for more nights and stomachs after my visit. And there’s always something good on tap, like Avery or Sixpoint: not too exotic, but solid and just-​right, and by the pitcher if you please. Add in a back patio, and there’s no reason not to put Back Forty atop your list if you’re out for a good night and wanting to relax in informal seasonal style.
And for those of you who still miss Savoy (as I do) and somehow didn’t know that Peter Hoffman is the thoughtful and prescient talent behind both operations (and of course the Savoy space’s new inhabitant, Back Forty West), now you know. I’d forgotten this until after my dinner, and the connection was a nice reminder of just why I felt so at home in such a different spot for reasons I wasn’t sure of, but knew in my bones nonetheless.

Back Forty has some pretty excellent options for brunch.
The place is pretty hopping, and we had to wait for a table for two for about 10 minutes on a Sunday around 1:30 PM. We got seated in the back, near the area that opens out into open air seating in the backyard garden. I’m glad we were inside though, since it was really hot out, but actually not much better inside. It would’ve been much nicer if they had some A/​C going.
As for the good, everything was really good, EXCEPT for the Pork Jowl Nuggets. Sorry, food snobs, I just don’t get the appeal of pure pork belly fat (
). That’s what these were — $ 4 for 3 little bites of nasty jiggly fat surrounded in some batter. Gross.
Back to the positives: the Fresh Doughnuts are the right way to go to start off the meal — nice and hot and slightly crispy and delicious. We also got the buttermilk pancakes and the buttermilk fried chicken and waffles. I’ve never had so much beige and so little water. But both of these entrees were awesome. The pancakes had a nice smattering of walnuts and crème fraîche on top, which were an awesome combination with the hot, fluffy pancakes. The fried chicken was pretty good too, and the waffles they came with were amazing — nice and crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside.
So I think as long as you don’t order the fried fat, I think you will have a very pleasant and satisfying dining experience.

We went there for a brunch. We were a big group and if you arrive early you can manage to be outside they have big tables.
Everyone chose one different dish so we taste almost everything.
The pancakes are really good, as well as waffles and fried chicken.
The cheese plate is really small.
We enjoyed our brunch, even if it was kind of expensive with a drink.