Chez Oskar

The variety of eateries in the Fort Greene area can only be described as gentrification for your palette and affordability for your wallet. With so many places to choose from restaurateurs have no choice but to offer specials. Whether it be happy hour, pre-fixe or unlimited mimosas for brunch, everyone has something special to offer! On a recent Saturday stroll through downtown Brooklyn, I stumbled upon Chez Oskar. This cozy eatery with outdoor seating is also referred to as "Le Funky French Bistro de Brooklyn". Whether its a family night out, a dinner date or lunch with your favorite group of friends its undoubtedly difficult not to find a favorite amongst this cater-to-all menu! For brunch I decided to go with the saumon grille served with french beans and parmesan grits, I also ordered a side of roasted potatoes and I can assure you this meal did not disappoint. The lobster crêpe was the best I've EVER had, filled with spicy lobster meat covered in a mouthwatering, creamy lobster bisque and topped with lemon and fried leeks. While I savoured every bite in a delightful bliss I couldn't help but notice the many other dishes that poured out from the kitchen like clockwork. Some dined on spinach and goat cheese crepes accompanied by mushroom, tomato and mesclum salad, while others decided to go with beers and shucking oysters, some were ushered lamb burgers topped with goat cheese, fries and salad while others settled for a simple chicken salad or challah french toast served with a fresh fruit salad. The options were endless and it seemed the brunch was as well because it doesn't end until 4:30. For the health conscious diner sugar free syrup, organic eggs and vegetable burgers amongst other things were there to suit your every need. We dined outside however because the inside was cooled by a few fans on this muggy August summer afternoon but the waiters were very attentive and polite. If you're not much of a brunch person find your way down for dinner on any Monday - Thursday from 5:30-7:30pm for the "Early bird special" which features 3 courses or 2 courses and a glass of wine for $28 per person (cheaper than restaurant week). Stop by on a Monday night for live music by the Blue Vipers of Brooklyn or on a Tuesday for Moules a GoGo aka All You Can Eat Mussels. So whether you bring a friend or your kid (kids menu also available) and whether you choose to dine inside the approx 30-seat dining room and enjoy the view of various wall art and decor or outside under the decorated lights for that moment in time you'll be able to escape the hustle and bustle of the Brooklyn streets and dine as the french do!

Original Vegetarian and Seafood Restaurant

No meat served here but at Original Vegetarian and Seafood Restaurant you can get a hefty plate that's worth its weight in dollars! No salt added, only natural ingredients and EVERYTHING is vegetarian even the macaroni and cheese. However, if it is breakfast that you are stopping in for there is a Caribbean menu waiting for you including porridge, ackee, saltfish and even soy patties. They open early morning to get started so you can stop in before work or for lunch. All the drinks are also made fresh whether its Irish moss, carrot juice or beet root juice, these all natural juices will boost your immune system as well as your energy! My favorite however is the fish dinners! You have the option of either sliced or whole snapper or king fish which is stewed down when you order. The small dinner consist of sliced fish (or fish steak) served with calalloo, macaroni and cheese, rice and peas, fried plantains, pasta and stew peas all for $10. Enough food to fill you for an entire day and maybe even too much to finish eating in one sitting. The larger plates with whole fish will run you between $12-$15 but is enough for two people to split. Not a long wait, polite service, fresh ingredients and there is a small bar table alongside the wall if you just want to dig in right away.

Royal Rib House

If you have the taste for some down home Soul Food you've come to the right place! Unfortunately, if its not Thursday, Friday or Saturday the Royal Rib House won't be open to serve you. Locally known for classic ribs and their original fantastic barbecue sauce Calvin's Royal Rib House has been a neighborhood favorite for years. The lines are always long so be sure to have at least 30 minutes or more to spare when visiting. Although they only do take out the phones are rarely answered so calling ahead is out of the question. One of my past time favorites (back when I ate pork) used to be the chopped barbecue sandwich, served on a soft sandwich bun and topped with cole slaw. However, nothing compares to the fall off the bone ribs and the ALWAYS tender and fresh rotisserie chicken. Dinners at this 3 day work week BBQ pit will run you between $10-$13 plus tax. The dinners include two sides: mac & cheese, yams, collard greens, string beans or cabbage, rice & peas, potato or macaroni salad and a cornbread or dinner roll. The meat serving of the entree is always filling, the downside is that you'll run out of sides before you run out of meat. Seafood availability varies by the day and even when they do have it they run out quickly. If you're looking to top off your meal with dessert the banana pudding is THE BEST! Be sure to get your order in at a reasonable time because closing time is whenever the food runs out. If you're a health conscious hippie or vegan looking to try something new this might not be the spot for you seeing as they only have one vegetable plate on the menu, which basically consists of any three sides and they don't sell any steamed fish or veggies. Don't have time to wait in lines and prefer to cook your own chicken and sides? Well luckily Calvin's Royal Rib House Sauce is sold in stores and online for shipping directly to your door! Be sure to walk with cash because cards are not accepted!

VODOU BAR

This new addition to the Nostrand Ave strip has brought a little extra class to the already up and coming area. The happy hour menu is available everyday and there's a party almost every night at this modern day melting pot. I've been surprised to even see stars drop in like Hill Harper. People of all ages and diversities flock to this cozy but hip hangout whether it be to dine outside for brunch, catch a drink at the bar or dance the night away to the ever changing genres of music played by live DJs. However lets not stray from what this is all about, although Vodou maybe a great spot to enjoy the nightlife we came to eat! When I used to eat from Vodou the jerk turkey burger sliders were delish! The bite size burgers were made from lean turkey meat pepped up with jerk seasoning and your regular fixins' (lettuce & tomatoes). Another classic dish was the baked macaroni cheese which you had the option of adding bacon to and chiliyaki wings which are marinated and tossed in Asian spices and a sweet chili sauce. The menu at Vodou bar has something for everyone from mixed olives and curried deviled eggs to veggie quesadillas. Which is why it was unfortunate when I saw a GRADE PENDING sign posted in their window. After doing some research I learned that VODOU BAR received a C grade in their last inspection which was 03/15/2012. Some of the violations which totalled 32 points included: not keeping cold food items at the necessary temperature, food workers cross contaminating food by touching with their bare hands instead of using proper utensils, evidence of mice or live mice present in facility's food and/or non-food areas and lastly the contamination and failure to discard raw, cooked or prepared food that had been adulterated or cross-contaminated. I understand that dinning out is a risk but this is definitely an unnecessary one. Still a go to for drinks and a little excitement but until things get corrected in the kitchen this is not the place to dine.

Island Salad

Who said salads had to be boring? Island Salads offers a salad bar with lots to choose from including homemade salad dressings to give any salad that extra kick! Salads include any add ons you can think of: different cheeses, chic peas, avocado, turkey breast and even sunflower seeds (to name a few). The pressed wraps and burritos, like everything else are made fresh when you order. One of the downsides however is that you cannot get a pressed wrap or burrito unless its pressed on the panini grill, meaning it has to be hot, unless you opt to get a salad in wrap. Island Salad also makes fresh signature drinks (non-alcoholic) my favorite is "Jamaica Me Crazy", this drinks plays on layered colors which makes the look of the drink more intriguing then the taste. Two of my favorite picks are The Caribbean Cobb Salad which is made with romaine lettuce, roasted chicken, tomatoes, carrots, hard-boiled egg, smoked turkey bacon, blue cheese, avocado and a jerk Dijon dressing. My second favorite would be the "Buffalo Soldier" wrap named after the famous song by the late great Bob Marley. Not only is the wrap delish but if the song is actually on or comes on while you're ordering you get 50% off the price. Most salads and wraps start at $7 and up, which may be a little pricey for some but with Applebees just across the way selling dry chicken Caesar's for $13 its almost half the price and you'll be more then satisfied. The salads are very filling and so big that you can actually share with your spouse or even children. This particular location does not serve pork and they have different fish salads which either include: salmon, tilapia, tuna or shrimp. The customer service in Island Salads is great but they could use a boost of energy, or because this restaurant is modeled after west indian tradition and Jamaicans in particular, the workers should "lively up themselves"