Restaurant Review: Flatbush Farm

Sandwiched between Park Slope and Prospect Heights, Flatbush Farm is an all day dining destination. With a seasonal menu and an emphasis on local ingredients (produce from Satar Farms Long Island, potatoes from Stone Ridge Orchard in Upstate NY, and more) it is a great compliment to the already busy and every-changing dining scene in the area. With a rustic theme throughout the restaurant and the adjacent bar, Bar(n). The dining room offers a somewhat lit setting with a small bar jutting out in the middle of the long rectangular space. The bar(n), where I actually prefer to dine, is much more bar, but offers dimmer lighting, wooden tables and a more friendly and noisy environment. The garden, huge in size, offers a great space for drinks or meals once the weather heats up.

Offering a diverse brunch menu of Toad in a Hole, Buckwheat Pancakes with Vanilla Maple Syrup and Smoked Duck Club Sandwich to name a few. Portions vary, so you may order up a side to really keep yourself full. For meals later in the day, you can find starters such as Pan-Fried Chicken Livers or Spatzle with Wild Mushrooms. Entrees range from Roast Duck with Braised Red Cabbage and Pureed Sweet Potatoes to a tender and juicy French Dip Horseradish Cream and a side of fries. The latter being one of my favorite meals to eat in the area and perhaps one of the better French Dips I have ever had. Although it's a weird menu system, there is also a bar menu, which can be ordered in the restaurant and is available till around 2am. Here you can order addictive artichoke dip that is cheesy with the right amount of briny bite from the artichokes. For those looking for a comfort meal order up the mac and cheese for a blast back to the days of Velveeta, but much much better. Too full for dessert, but promising to indulge next time, the offerings include chocolate bread pudding some days, cream cheese mouse, and other days molten chocolate cake.

Without missing a beat, the wine and cocktail list delivers with some affordable reds and whites (bottles ranging from $24-70 and glasses starting at $6). With wines from around the world, plus a few organic options it will be easy to find something that suits your taste. If you're a beer drinker then settle in, you may be here for awhile. A handful of rotating beers on tap, Sixpoint and Victory being my favorites, as well as 16 bottled beers from the ever popular Miller High Life to one of my favorites Hitachino Nest's White Ale. A variety of cocktails are also available, but wine and beer are my recommendations as the best bang for your buck.

Not everything is perfect as there are some service issues, slow and not always very attentive, and the food can be inconsistent depending on what you get. It may not be the best place for a quiet romantic meal or a place where you have limited time to dine, but overall Flatbush Farm is a great casual dining destination or simply a place to grab a drink (or two). Don't miss their BBQ's where you can find Lamb and Venison Sausage, Spareribs, Oysters and Sixpoint Craft Ale's; generally the last Sunday of every month, but varries due to weather.

76 Saint Marks Ave, Brooklyn, NY, (718) 622-3276, Reservations - Not Necessary, Price - Moderate ($20-$35/person)