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Rose Water Restaurant
Categories: Restaurants Canadian (New) Restaurants Breakfast & Brunch Canadian (New), Breakfast & Brunch [Edit]
787 Union St(between 5th Ave & 6th Ave)
Brooklyn, NY 11215
Neighbourhood: Park Slope
(718) 783-3800
- Nearest Transit:
-
Union St (D, N, R)
7 Av (B, Q)
Grand Army Plaza (2, 3, 4)
- Hours:
Mon-Tue, Sun 5:30 pm - 10 pm
Wed-Thu 5:30 pm - 10:30 pm
Fri-Sat 5:30 pm - 11 pm
Sat-Sun 10 am - 3 pm
- Parking:
- Street
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner, Brunch
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Romantic
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
213 reviews for Rose Water Restaurant
Review Highlights
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"Brunch for prix fixe $14 was very reasonable." In 28 reviews -
"Tilefish cake w/ poached eggs & salad." In 21 reviews -
"oh, that pear/ginger juice is sublime." In 4 reviews
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213 reviews in English
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Review from Pamela T.
Brooklyn, NY
4/24/2012
I took advantage of Dine in Brooklyn week to try out Rosewater. This small cozy restaurant lived up to my expectations.
I had the Fried Goat Cheese as appetizer and Sauteed Fluke as my main course. The blueberry cobbler dessert was the best part of my meal!
Hubby ordered Grilled calamari salad which was delish and Yellowfin tuna (meh~) I think he liked my entree better. -
Review from Soo Jin K.
Alameda, CA
4/16/2012 1 Check-in Here
Brooklyn, where you at?
This place is so cahute! First of all, they have little blankets on each of the chairs, so that you can be nice and comfy and warm, while eating your brunch. Such a thoughtful idea. Me likely.
They have pre-fixe menus and you have to order at least $15 dollars worth to eat there...which was a little different from what I'm used to. But, it forced me to order (even though I had already eaten prior)...so I went for the breadbasket (small muffins, scones, biscuits, etc) and seasonal fruit. Okay, why is the bread so good? Um-um-good.
All I can say is "ground hog's day." ahahaha-- sorry, inside joke. ;) -
Review from Agz C.
Brooklyn, NY
3/21/2012 1 Check-in Here
Went for Dine-in Brooklyn, but it was so good that I would definitely recommend coming here to eat anytime.
Sit outside if you can...such a cute patio area.
Food- goat cheese balls with proscuitto were yummy and the grilled calamari salad was equally yummy. Swordfish entree is great, but you need to like swordfish and curry. But it's not the Indian type curry- more like Japanese curry. The flavors went really well together! If anything, the pieces of swordfish could have been bigger. My friend had the roasted chicken. The skin was so crispy! We both like it that way. Meat was juicy. And dessert was delish- chocolate bread pudding is more like a chocolate cake. The lemon cheesecake was a nice surprise since I'm usually not a cheesecake fan, but the lemon zest they put in there was magical.
Overall, great great dinner! Highly recommend it. Food is delicious, FRESH, and being local and sustainable is a huge plus. Also get the wine pairing if you're there for dine-in Brooklyn. -
Review from S C.
Brooklyn, NY
5/25/2012
This place had shockingly poor service and aggressive staff. As someone who has worked in restaurants, I was appalled at the rude and obnoxious attitude of the staff. For an expensive meal, which was fine, not great, I was completely turned off by the atmosphere and treatment.
There are too many pleasant and enjoyable places to eat in Brooklyn to eat here. Don't be fooled by nice reviews, go somewhere else. -
Review from Alma E.
San Diego, CA
5/1/2012 1 Check-in Here
I went here for brunch on Saturday, there was about an hour wait so when our group sat down we were all ready to eat. We started with the bread basket, which I highly recommend for the scones alone! I ordered the french toast and enjoyed it but was expecting an amazing dish considering how much I enjoyed the bread basket. I sampled some of the grilled polenta which was really delicious. I have to say that the most amazing part of brunch was the cardamon hot chocolate, that's the take away from this and the super cute ambiance.
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Review from melissa z.
New York, NY
3/13/2012
DAMN SON! delicious! Rose Water's brunch is soooooo good, the only downfall is that the wait on the weekend is pretty rough. get there before 11am on Sunday and you should be better off with the wait.
the polenta with poached eggs is sooooo good. my love-muffin got the prosciutto sandwich and loved it more than he loves me.
If in Park Slope you have to check out Rose Water. Thumbs up to the chef! -
Review from Andy V.
Manhattan, NY
2/26/2012 2 Check-ins Here
Prix fixe was only $15 here. The food was amazing! (no booze drinks included or even available).
Friend and I went halvzies so I had the roast Chicken sandwich and she had the apple pancakes and we split them. Both meals were great. The service was a bit glacial... Took forever to get our coffee and juice while the table next to us got their drinks almost immediately (we ordered at the same time with the same waitress). However we got our meals first and they wait a long time for their meal.... Fair enough, bitches! Great food, slightly slow service, nice atmosphere, and lots of cute gays. -
Review from Alan Z.
Bayside, Queens, NY
4/16/2012 3 photos
Came across this brunch place on yelp and stopped by to check it out. Very cozy little place with tight seating. It has a small outdoor seating area. Very simple pre-fixed brunch menu for $15. I ordered the bass cake, which was very good. It came with 2 amazing tasty fried eggs and a fresh oil and vinaigrette salad. For drinks, you can get ice tea, lemonade, or OJ. We waited approx 25 minutes before we were seated. Overall, a nice place.
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Review from Mariana S.
Brooklyn, NY
12/16/2011 1 Check-in Here
It's crazy how good the food is here.
The Chef really knows what he is doing in that kitchen.
I love that they switch up the menu seasonal based off what food is on season.
I can always count on a good meal and impressing who ever I take to Brunch.
Dinner is a little on the pricey side for me. But Brunch is always amazing for $14 a head
Worth the 45 minute wait! BTW, not a kid friendly environment. Parents think twice before bringing in the strollers. -
Review from Lauren T.
Wayne, NJ
5/9/2012
went with family and put my faith into yelp! and we LOVED it :) very good bruch not one compliant will def. be back! thanks for the amazing food
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Review from Jin Y.
I wanted to come to Rose Water for brunch because this restaurant has such a beautiful name. Not only does it have a beautiful name the food is so good. We had:
- Housemade veggie burger (this was okay, a little mushy, but the fries were great!)
- Pulled pork (OMG! This was delicious! Their ketchup seems homemade and very good)
- Pear ginger juice (this is a must try!)
Brunch for $14 is a pretty good deal. We were lucky to get a seat immediately upon arrival and this restaurant was a full house. -
Review from Eliot B.
New York, NY
5/9/2012
The lady who evidently thinks she's the boss was just plain rude. So much so that although we live 75ms away, we ain't never going back.
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Review from Tony M.
Brooklyn, NY
2/13/2012
Been here a couple of times, both for dinner. menu is simple but excellent:
pumpkin soup is fantastic!
the grilled calamari salad was very good...grilled pork chop and the roast chicken all well presented and welcoming to the palatte.
creme brulee for dessert is a winner!
I have tried to get a seat at brunch many times but It is always packed. -
Review from Sara J.
Brooklyn, NY
3/3/2012
We had the server in the patio initials AM and she was the snottiness waitress we had ever experienced. Ever.
And this is coming from a couple who are restaurant people; we've worked in restaurants we understand bad days. But this one was over the top; she practically yelled at us when we asked for our coffee after waiting for quite sometime. It was a bit shocking. And was quite condescending when I asked abt the three egg breakfast.
As my husband said its such a shame because the food is so good. We won't be coming back. We always tip 30 per cent and I am not ashamed to state we tipped ten due to her unapologetic slowness and snobbiness. -
Review from Janet C.
San Diego, CA
12/28/2011
This little restaurant has warm inviting vibe for dinner with a cottage quaint yet updated feel. The place was dim but not so dark where you can't see what you're eating (hate that). We were seated for dinner right away on a Sunday night.
Fried brussel sprouts were nice and crispy. Griiled yellowfin tuna in curry cream sauce was really good. Friends got the arctic char and duck breast. Everyone was happy. I guess everyone comes here for brunch, but the dinner was pretty good. -
Review from J S.
Brooklyn, NY
3/28/2012
Great food, but sadly Rose Water has one of the rudest, most unprofessional servers I have ever encountered and unfortunately I've encountered her on two separate visits.
I've read that Dine-In Brooklyn is not a favorite among the local waitstaff (bad tips, packed tables, etc.), but at Rose Water it appears the waitstaff use this as an excuse to let their pent-up frustrations out on the paying (and possibly good tipping) customers.
As a former waitress, I understand the challenges of a busy night/week, but our server was incredibly rude: eye rolling, huffing, tossing menus, grabbing. It was a bit like being served by a surly teenager.
I love the food at Rose Water, but will not be returning until the waitstaff learn some basic manners-- or at least this one particularly rude server finds a new career path. -
Review from Massive T.
Brooklyn, NY
1/10/2012
I'm honored to be the 200th person to Yelp about Rose water, I really am. I feel special and unique.
Unfortunatly I feel more like a canned sardine in a can that has way too many sardines in it, when I'm seated in the middle of Rose waters' cramped dining space.
The food is executed rather well and the service is good. But if you are a server and you come to my table bearing the bad news that you have three items currently unavailable, shouldnt you just give me a more current menu?
After having brunch here, the N train in rush hour will seem like a sunday afternoon drive across the country side in a coupe deville.
Loose a few tables and gain a few more fans please Rose water. -
Review from Ileana S.
9/8/2011
As I slowly enter into a food coma after eating at Rose Water for a Thursday night dinner, allow me to unbutton and unzip mis pantalones.
Picture a humid September night. It is the end of your first week at your new job and you want to treat yourself to something special in your new 'hood. Enter Yelp to the rescue. :)
I skip the outdoor seating to avoid a.) pedestrians gawking at your food (hate that), b.) mosquitoes (you are not my friend), and c.) the humidity (the horror!). I enter the cute restaurant and am greeted by a hostess with an accent (French?). She tells me I have a few options but suggests that I avoid the loud party of four at the end of the restaurant. (Thank you! I could clearly hear them from across the room. I can't imagine what it would be like sitting next to them.) I sit against the only wall that has a brick exposed wall. Score!
I order the grilled swordfish with the sweet corn succotash, summer squash and green goddess. The chef suggests it is cooked rare. I had never tried a Rosé wine with fish. The server suggests it and it is a nice change. It is the Groulleau/Gamay.
The server cleverly teases me with a shot of the cucumber gazpacho, which is absolutely delicious. I will have to order it when I am more hungry.
My swordfish comes. Beautiful presentation. Lots of colors. I cut my swordfish, soak and mix with the corn, squash and goddess. Place it all in my mouth and I melt. Willie Wonka, please shrink me so that I may swim in this plate full of tastiness.
I wipe the plate clean. I finish the Rosé. I order the cherry cobbler for dessert, which comes with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. I can't finish it all but it doesn't mean that it isn't good. I am just full. I am having a swordfish/cobbler baby.
The bill comes to about $45. It's well worth it, believe me.
Conclusion of the night:
1.) The fact that this place is very close to my new pad is very very VERY dangerous.
2.) I must hit the gym tomorrow morning. -
Review from Cara N.
Manhattan, NY
9/5/2011 1 Check-in Here
So I'm new to Park Slope, and upon exploring the neighborhood, my Dad suggested we try Rose Water today for brunch. We got there at about 11am, and we had about a 45 minute wait. The whole time, two things were happening; a) I was hoping the food was worth the wait, and b) I was checking out the plates leaving the kitchen, just to get an idea of what I wanted. Well, let me inform you that it WAS worth the wait, and everything I saw looked extra yummy!
My entree selection came down between the lamb burger and the peach pancakes, and the pancakes won. We had to wait a bit for our food, but when it finally arrived, it was SO worth the wait. The peach pancakes were deliciously light, fluffy and full of flavor. They soaked up the syrup nicely without becoming too heavy. The side of bacon I ordered set the pancakes off perfectly. I tasted my mom's polenta and my dad's ribs, and both entrees were delicious, as well.
The prices are just fine for the amount and quality of food received ...oh, and the music was fantastic! They played Digital Underground, Johnny Gill and a few other faves...can't go wrong with those guys. Needless to say, I will most definitely go back to Rose Water, and I'm thinking this just may be my go-to brunch spot here in Park Slope. -
Review from Emily H.
Brooklyn, NY
2/20/2012
I love this ethereal and cozy little restaurant in Park Slope. It feels like you've joined a family in their fairy-like warm home for an inventive and delicious meal, made with love. From sustainably sourced ingredients to the care with which they treat their customers (reservations highly recommended) makes you feel like a treasured guest. I just love this spot. Have never had a bad morsel of food or unsatisfying drop of wine, coffee, juice or tea. Favorite dish most recently was a grilled rectangle of polenta - crispy, toasty and firm yet crumbly - topped with a braised mushrooms, a toasty/smoky African spice rub, goat cheese and sitting on top of stewed collard greens. Delicious.
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Review from Kris T.
Brooklyn, NY
12/7/2011
I ate here last night after reading other reviews here on Yelp and I must say the positive reviews really tell it! What drew me into the place is that I LOVE restaurants that get their ingredients from local/regional farms. I think it's great for the economy and the quality and freshness of the food is uncomparable.
Firstly, I need to say that the focaccia bread that they have for the table is the best bread I've ever had EVER in my life. It's dense and moist and melts in your mouth. The salt and rosemary are just enough and not overbearing. I was so impressed I meant to ask if they sold it by the loaf, but I completely forgot.
For an appetizer I had the grilled calamari salad that was dressed perfectly and was the perfect size for an appetizer. For an entree, I had the sautéed wild striped bass...It was cooked perfectly, not dry....and the side accompaniments were perfect, mushrooms and escarole...perfectly wilted!
Now, the dessert...I had the sorbet...pear, cranberry, and apple...Apple was by far my favorite...the pear tasted like it had a hint of ginger in it and I'm not a fan, and the cranberry was a little too sweet for me. My fiancé had the apple fritters which were delectable. If I weren't on a diet, I would have eaten his dessert!
The service was on point! Friendly, informative, and knew exactly how the chef recommended that each dish be cooked!
Overall, my experience here was unbelievable. I would definitely go here again. Everyone I went to dinner with was extremely pleased with everything they ordered! -
Review from Christine B.
Berkeley, CA
8/8/2011
Came here for dinner on a weekday night and partook of the summer prix fixe menu.
Appetizer: watercress salad (I wish I could use another word, to be more versatile, but I can't think of another one so I just have to say it ... DELICIOUS!!!)
Main: I got the baked polenta, which was very delicious, but I couldn't help but covet my friend's swordfish. I highly recommend the swordfish.
Dessert: blueberry cobbler (THE BEST BLUEBERRY COBBLER I'VE EVER HAD... granted I haven't had many blueberry cobblers in my life, but from the ones I have had, this one takes the cake. The blueberries were so fresh - it wasn't too tart nor too sweet... It's just PERFECT). -
Review from Bonnie P.
Manhattan, NY
11/9/2011
I came here for brunch and was told it would be a 25 min wait which ended up being 45. The service was ok. We had to ask for milk for our coffee twice which didn't get to our table for 15 minutes.
The food was great! I had frittata which came with pumpkin bread, sake bloody mary and hot apple cider and only paid $20. The entree comes w/ a non-alcoholic drink for $14 so not bad. -
Review from Julia H.
Brooklyn, NY
8/3/2011
What they do with vegetables here will blow your mind. The quality of the ingredients and overall attention to detail were outstanding, and the service stellar.
This is a great place to come if you are vegan or have vegan friends. Although none of the current seasonal entrees are vegan, the chef was more than happy to make us a special vegetable plate, which was phenomenal. Also some delicious already-vegan appetizers (cucumber gazpacho = yum!) and an unbelievable sorbet made in-house. Plus a great wine list and delicious, original lemonade (with, you guessed it, a touch of rosewater). -
Review from Gary B.
Brooklyn, NY
2/19/2012
Would gladly give a 4.5 if I could. A clean and delightful dining experience. Girlfriend and I were looking for a new place to go and happened upon this one based upon the reviews. It did not disappoint at all. We both had the prix fixe and it was delicious. My pumpkin soup was super and the char was perfect. I was stuffed for dessert but had no problem enjoying it all. Enjoy!
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Review from Claire F.
6/2/2011 2 Check-ins Here
A girls dinner is the kind in which you end up sharing everything, which is good if you plan on writing a review about it, but bad because girls notoriously under-order each other. She'll just have an entree; and she'll just have an appetizer; that one? Fine with bread and water. Thanks.
The asparagus soup with mushrooms and garlic croutons ($8) was divine and almost completely unsalted, such that I had to add some (I can count on one hand the times I have ever added salt to a meal). My friend's strawberry and fennel salad ($10) was light and fresh, earthy and aromatic. I had a the tilefish ($24) that was light and flaky and prepared with mushrooms, asparagus, spring onions and dusted with caper butter.
And of course, four dainty lady spoons dug into the delightful chocolate pot de creme ($8) and split the accompanying cookie in four pieces. It was just rich and creamy enough that the 1.75 bites we each got really hit the spot.
They have half bottles of wine, for those who can't quite finish a whole bottle between two or who want a different wine from a companion. Why aren't there more half bottles on restaurant lists?
I like that they use fresh, local ingredients. I liked the mostly attentive service. I will surely be back. I hear their brunch is really popular. But you'd better believe I am going back to eat like a man.Listed in: Eat here., It Ain't Easy Being Green, in the Slope
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Review from Gillian F.
Brooklyn, NY
7/26/2011
The roast chicken was amazing!! They were very accommodating to food allergies.
Eating here, I feel like I'm eating in a special letter-pressed cotton paper card from Lion in the Sun. -
Review from Dennis C.
8/7/2011 2 Check-ins Here
DE-FRIGGIN'-LICIOUS!!!
Easily, one of my new favorite restaurants. Try to take advantage of the summer prix fixe deal.
The food: fresh, local and delicious. It makes you wish you could prepare food like this. Cucumber gazpacho is fresh, vibrant, tart, and creative. I'd buy it by the gallon if it was available. The roasted chicken was juicy, tender, and savory. I picked the blueberry cobbler for my dessert and it was warm, crumbly and a perfect end to the meal.
Service: just right. They were not too overbearing, always smiling, refilled our water promptly, just perfect.
Decor/ Space: Cute. Simple. Spacious with high ceilings. Just right for a local restaurant. If I could only find an apartment like that.
I wish I lived closer! I'm in Manhattan, but I'd definitely make the trip over just to eat there again. Nice job, Rose Water. Hope you guys stick around for a while. -
Review from Amy C.
Brooklyn, NY
6/19/2011
A super cute spot in Park Slope! Came here for brunch around noon and barely missed the mad brunch rush. Brunch for prix fixe $14 was very reasonable. I recommend the Spring Frittata and the rose water lemonade, which was very refreshing on a warm summer day.
Tried this place for the first time during Brooklyn Restaurant Week, and ordered their roast chicken - delicious and moist! You can't really go wrong with any of their dishes.
Service was slow but friendly. -
Review from Andi P.
Brooklyn, NY
2/11/2012
Love this place. Love the food, Love the staff. Am always surprised at how good the food is here. I think the portions are perfect -- not too big, not too small, and the 3 course market menu with wine pairings is a great deal. The staff is knowledgeable about the food and the preparation and the wines. Have had recommendations for wine from the servers, and have not been disappointed. Menu changes seasonally and there is always something new and exciting. If you haven't been GO! and if you haven't been for a while GO!!
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Review from Gwin v.
New York, NY
Updated - 9/11/2011
Sadly, another bad brunch experience today.
We had the same waitress as last time - this in and of itself should've been a sign. We got a bread basket for the restless 2-year-old in our group, then waited and waited and WAITED for our food. In the meantime, a table seated 15 minutes after us got their food and were almost done by the time we got ours (40 minutes after ordering). The waitress actually came over at one point and explained the reason it was taking so long was because we had gotten a "first course" i.e. the bread basket. I'm sorry, but are you kidding me??1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/18/2011
I love this restaurant... great food, great ambiance.
HOWEVER, my boyfriend and I had a not-so-great… Read more »
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Review from Allison B.
Philadelphia, PA
5/26/2011 2 Check-ins Here
What a lovely spot to brunch.
I was taken to Rose Water by my bff M.O., who lives up the street. There was a 30 minute wait around noon on a Saturday, so we put our names in and went to find some iced coffee. Great trick if you can't decide between coffee/fresh juice in your prix fixe meal! Getting coffee beforehand let me choose a lovely strawberry rhubarb concoction to drink with my breakfast.
We shared two items. One savory, one sweet.
The goat cheese crepe with pine nut brickle, fresh fruit and rhubarb compote was perfect. I could eat this all day, everyday. It was not too rich at all- fresh and light.
The latke special was tasty at first, but ultimately the toppings were too heavy. There were mushrooms, broccoli rabe, poached eggs and a thick smoky spicy sauce that drenched it all. I'm anti-smokiness, so maybe that's why the dish didn't do it for me. I couldn't even taste the potato, let alone tell there was a latke underneath all the mess.
Next time I'll stick to sweet over savory at Rose Water.Listed in: Wake up, I'm HUNGRY!
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Review from Lama B.
5/5/2011
I definitely am a fan!
We came for brunch on a lovely Saturday morning and waited an hour, but unlike some other brunch experiences that end up a disaster, this one was well worth the wait. We were hungry, so we sampled the pita bread and dips, as well as fruit and yogurt. We then had the turnip soup and yummy poached eggs. Everything was spectacular, and the sweet stuff landing at the tables next to us looked equally delectable, but we were, helas, full.
Tonight we tried the dinner, and sat down outside for an early 6 pm meal. We opted for the $26 market menu and it was simply fantastic. We started with asparagus soup and the fennel and apple salad. The fennel and apple won, with the asparagus lacking flavor and being too creamy. For mains we had the goat cheese polenta and the mackerel. The mackerel cooked rare actually detracted significantly from its fishiness, and surrounded by freshly sauteed and perfectly salted veggies, was a perfect dish. For dessert we tried both the chocolate pot au creme and the rhubarb cake. I loved this meal beginning to end, and even their bread is perfect. The hostess speaking immaculate French rounded out the experience and we will definitely be back! -
Review from Adrienne R.
Brooklyn, NY
6/14/2011
Hate to say it, but I was disappointed in my Rose Water experience. It had been one of the few restaurants in Park Slope that I'd heard was amazing but had yet to try, so my expectations were a little high.
First, the restaurant is teensy (which I knew) so at 8 pm on a Thursday we had a 20 minute wait -- and I would've been fine with that if the food was as fantastic as I'd hoped.
Things started out fairly well with appetizers; I loved my asparagus soup, the soft bread they brought to the table was outstanding, and the strawberry salad was nothing extraordinary but nice and refreshing nonetheless.
It was the pricey entrees that did little for us. My steak was chewy and the vegetables a little soggy; my husband's chicken dish was okay but seemed to lack flavor.
All in all, for their menu prices, this wouldn't be my first choice for this type of food in the area. I will say that the service was absolutely excellent and the atmosphere and presentation very nice -- the food, however, just so-so. -
Review from Nathalie H.
Brooklyn, NY
9/11/2011
After hearing good stuff about Rose Water Restaurant I finally decided to give it a try and it definitely lived up to the hype. We had the calamari salad and cucumber gazpacho to start and the swordfish and sirloin steak for entrees. All were simply prepared and cooked perfectly. Not overcooked or dried out like can often happen. My favorite thing about Rose Water is the extensive wine menu and our waiter's help to pick out a wine that we would both like. There were a number of good dessert options as well but I highly recommend the cherry cobbler, which was freshly baked and served right out of the oven. I cannot wait to go back to this place!
If you are planning to try Rose Water on a typically busy Friday or Saturday evening, I highly recommend making reservations as it's a small space with limited # of tables. -
Review from Jonathan C.
Brooklyn, NY
6/13/2011 1 Check-in Here
Came here for brunch on a Saturday (like most of my fellow yelpers).
The place has really nice decor. Unfortunately, like most of the dining in Park Slope, it's tiny. The hostess was really nice though. We got seated and ordered from their brunch menu.
So, it's 14 bucks for an entree and a drink. Unfortunately, no alcoholic drinks. I had the lemonade and my GF had their Strawberry Rhubarb. My GF liked her drink, but this is my review not hers. I tried both and they tasted pretty bland to me. Not sweet enough.
I ordered their bread basket (7 bucks for bread!?!?) It was really really good bread!! There were 3 kinds of bread and a scone. I wonder if they freshly baked it because it tasted that good. Everything was warm and didn't even need butter or jam. Best bread I ever had. It did come with their rasperry jam which was really good too. I didn't need it though.
Our dishes came much later. I had their three eggs your way and my GF had the blueberry crepes. The eggs were a little overcooked for my tastes, but the bacon and roasted potatoes were really good. Bacon was crispy and potatoes had some seasoning or something. Crepes were good too, you can taste the blueberries.
Overall, really good experience! Plan to come back for dinner one day.
Pros: Great food for $14.
OMGOSH DO YOU BAKE YOU BREAD WITH CRACK!?
Service is friendly!
Nice Decor
Cons: Slow service (I think is the small kitchen)
Small (like most good places)
No Mimosa or bloody mary included!?!?
Drinks are BLAND -
Review from André C.
Brooklyn, NY
12/31/2011
Redemption is what Rose Water accomplishes for New American cuisine. Just when you thought that all the US had to offer gastronomy was the cheeseburger and hot dog you discover this gem on Union Street off 6th Ave in Brooklyn. To define the dinner experience as "pleasant" or even "delicious" is a gross understatement to the sheer spectacle on the palate that the dishes accomplish. I went with a friend who is a very finicky eater and I have only heard of the restaurant. I've passed by on previous occasions but have always found the tight quarters to be filled to capacity with a line waiting.
This time, I made a reservation and the service was overwhelmingly polite which is sort of discomforting for a native New Yorker. From the moment we walked in for a 6pm reservation the attention didn't stop. There was constant water refills, regular check ups from the waitress and even --and this really impressed me-- we were offered a table in the outdoor portion when a noisy baby made his wailing appearance for dinner. We politely declined and enjoyed the bread and oil.
This is not your typical restaurant. It is a narrow establishment on a corner but it is well lit and cozy. Cozy is not to be confused with cramped. I noticed that the wait staff took extra pains to ensure that customers were not elbowing each other and there was still ample room between tables and chairs to allow clearance for the wait staff to pass. Do not commit the same mistake I did and appear in jeans and sneakers. Although no one appeared to notice, I did feel a little out of place since everyone else was in slacks and shoes. Don't expect a Coke or a Corona either. They only serve very froufrou drinks and a lengthy selection of wine.
I was very charmed by the hostess who went through great lengths at demonstrating her hospitality. I've read previous reviews and it appears this may have been an effort on her part to redeem her reputation (or that of her predecessor). Hospitality is a mild description but it was very Non-New York, which is fine. As a matter of fact it was refreshing.
Our waitress was very nice and more mild mannered. She brought us the wooden menus and noted that all their dishes changed seasonally and all their ingredients were grown in local organic farms. Kudos to Rose Water for jumping on the organic bandwagon.
The meal was sensational, in the truest definition of the word: it appealed to all the senses. I had the baked polenta. OMG I was savoring every bite. It was a complex layering of flavors and textures that created an exquisite perichoresis of a flavor profile. When the waitress approached the table with the dish I was left a bit puzzled. The image was not what I expected the polenta to look like. I had to reassess my understanding of what polenta should be. The waitress explained to me that the chef reduces it to an extreme and out comes a succulent cake that begins as savory on the tongue, evolves to sweet and ends with a salty kick. While you bit there is a crunch then a soft warm center and finally a sweet sauce to enhance the natural sugars. I detected so many herbs that I was overwhelmed but the slow release of flavors made the brain approach a near hallucinogenic state. I didn't want the polenta to end. I took small modest bites and allowed my mouth to have an explosion of joyful yummyness.
The pumpkin soup was a wonderful starter. It is a pureed pumpkin with creme fraiche and it was good. It had a mild cinnamon taste to it and the creme fraiche added an enhancement to the texture of the soup. My experience with anything made with pumpkin is that it is gloppy, and gelatinous but this was smooth, creamy and reminded me of the texture of whipped cream. This is not your mother's thanksgiving pumpkin soup. It's a very hoity-toity home style dish.
Dessert was good, not great, just good. I had the apple fritters and it was delicious. Honestly, it didn't measure up to the rest of the meal but that's alright, you can't expect exponential greatness across three courses.
American food has a reputation of being fattening, unoriginal, prepackaged and flavorless. We are known for putting a sauce, salt or cheese on anything and everything and then microwaving it. If Rose Water is the New American fare that everyone is talking about then thank God. It makes sense, after all every dish I ate there was like the 4th of July in my mouth. Explosively good. -
Review from Jimmy w.
12/13/2011
Rosewater- the place was too cramped. The hostess wasn't too friendly. I had the brunch special which was $15 dollars each. I had the duck sandwich with French fries and my friend had the veggie burger with fries. It also came with complimentary drinks. I had an apple ginger which was really smooth. the duck was great but the condiment that it came with didnt enhance the sandwich. i really liked the tomato sauce that came with the french fries the most.
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Review from Joe B.
Brooklyn, NY
Updated - 1/4/2012
Done brunch here 3 times now - it's one of my faves for brunch as well - try the Wasabi Bloody Mary and the polenta dish.
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11/21/2010
I'm giving it 5 Stars based off the tasting menu my wife and I had here about a month ago. We have… Read more »
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Review from Peter F.
Brooklyn, NY
8/20/2011
I've been to all the top rated restaurants in the Slope and Smith street and Rose Water's my favorite. I think for me what gives it the edge over some of the others in the neighborhood (Al di la, Applewood, Grocery) is that they use more butter and cream (although I loved al di la and applewood too). I could be wrong about that, but regardless, the food just tasted a bit more luxurious to me.
My only knock against it is when I've gone they tend to seat us close to others, even when the restaurant is empty, and you feel like your sitting on top of others and it seems a bit strange and uncomfortable being clustered in a corner with others while the rest of the restaurant is empty.... So while the food has been great, the ambiance felt a bit claustrophobic.
