Making a Birthday Wish at Rye

Wishbones, pasta and cocktails, oh my! What better way to celebrate a friend’s birthday than a dinner at one of the hottest spots in Brooklyn, Rye. Opened less than a year ago, owner and chef Cal Elliott is the mastermind behind other legendary neighborhood establishments, Dressler and DuMont. Known for his attention to detail, thought-provoking dishes and carefully selected menu, Elliott is out to make Rye a culinary monument in Williamsburg. And after a evening of consuming heaven on earth, I think he’s well on his way.

I started off with the Wild Mushroom Lasagne ($16). The perfectly cooked mushrooms were beautifully presented in large folds of fresh handmade lasagna noodles. Fortina, ricotta and pecorino cheese intensified the flavor and the buttery mushroom broth made me want to lick my bowl clean.

After feeling like I just consumed a entire stick of butter, I moved onto a simple, much-needed Market Green Salad ($7), which consisted of  baby lettuce, fine herbs and a house vinaigrette. The perfect interlude to cleanse my palate before moving on.

Now that I felt good enough to dig back into something more heart stopping, I ordered the Skate Special and was quite impressed with what was placed before me. One over-sized seared skate fillet, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, siting above a bed of creamy mashed potatoes and garnished with buttery green beans and capers. Absolutely divine!

Dining out with a large group of friends is the perfect opportunity to test-drive a new joint since it allows you to sample practically the entire menu. In this case, my first dining experience at Rye really matched up to its rave reviews. I’ll be sure to come back and sample some of the much talked-about cocktails infused with what else, but rye.

Rye / 247 S. 1st Street, Brooklyn, NY
718 218 8047 / Hours: Sun-Thurs: 6-11pm; Fri-Sat: 6-12pm; Sunday Brunch: 11-4:30pm; Bar open Fri-Sat until 2am