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    Cafe Kestrel

    4.7 (16 reviews)
    Open 5:00 pm - 10:00 PM

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    Chicken liver mousse
    MIranda M.

    Wow. This was a terrific meal. Started with the chicken liver mousse, shrimp with aioli and pickles - a nice salad with radicchio. We moved on to the delectable crab cake - small but wonderful. Then beef short rib with a braised fennel garnish, braised chicken with carrots in a sweetish sauce, pork with sauerkraut side if kale. Lots of good wines by the glass - chocolate dessert yum. Ice cream ok. Service was friendly and quick but our server really could not describe the preparations of the dishes - like what the sauces were made of etc. But that was ok. We still ordered. The place has a very casual vibe. Portions on the smaller side but that's fine. Next time we will try the burger we eyed at another table.

    The tuna crudo
    Franny A.

    Delectable dining!! Michelin starred spot at the Brooklyn waterfront creates food that is sooo special & satisfying. We went on Sunday night for dinner. It's a cute room, almost too cute like Zimmis in the village, but here every dish was culinary magic. Ate: Baguette $7 with seaweed butter Tuna crudo Scallop appetizer Bonito with asparagus Pork loin Pineapple upside down cake Total $161 The fatty tuna with tomatoes was incredible. A crudo above all others. The scallop with pineapple also delicious. While my bonito with Chermoul was great my boyfriend's pork loin was outta site. The pineapple upside down cake well priced at $12 was a modern masterpiece. One of the best dessert in recent memory. My only thought is about the bread. It's from a neighborhood bakery called Laurel & was good, but for food this outstanding, the bread did not wow!

    Andrew K.

    This place really snuck up on me as I wasn't anticipating how much we would enjoy it. We saw in their outside garden area which was so delightful and had such a lovely ambiance for a summer evening. Definitely recommend this over sitting inside, as it really creates sucha more relaxed dining experience. The food itself was divine. There were a few things we were interested in and the highlights included the cod croquette (delicious bite if a bit expensive), scallops (my favorite dish, a must order, so perfectly seasoned), and the skate (okay this was actually my favorite dish and could easily be overlooked so don't sleep on this). The English pea risotto was VERY pea heavy so was not our favorite and the mac & cheese looks like it'll be so tasty, but the sauce/cheese is too thin for mac & cheese. The service could not have been more attentive and pleasant. Can't wait to see what this place grows into.

    Mac and cheese. Need this asap
    Emme M.

    This place is just around the corner and oh so good. Perfectly quant and cozy. Every dish was 10/10 genuinely can't wait to try the whole menu. Every bite was so good I couldn't believe it. Service was super attentive and the decor is immaculate.

    Cameron D.

    Distinguished by its quaint and charming atmosphere, Cafe Kestrel excels in furthering Red Hook's heightening appeal in fine dining. The restaurant culture is upscale yet modest, and the menu is wonderfully eclectic--just appropriately shy of pretentious. The two of us ordered the fried halloumi, the yellowfin tuna, the crabcake, and the grilled swordfish. We left with a unanimous optimism that Kestrel will cement itself as a must-attend restaurant deserving of widespread recognition. If you're lucky enough to snag a prime time reservation, I would easily recommend dining with the small yet mighty Kestrel staff. I will be back! That being said, if you like to cap your meal with an espresso beverage, take the short walk to Bar Mario for the added indulgence. It's Red Hook after all - there aren't many shortcomings to be found...

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    1 year ago

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    10 days ago

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    8 months ago

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    1 year ago

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    9 months ago

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    8 months ago

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    2 years ago

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    1 year ago

    Small. Personal. Great food. And nicely curated wine list. Not the easiest to get to, but a nice change.

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    1 year ago

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Fantastic food, unfortunately very small portions so wouldn't suggest if you're hungry. Expertly curated space.

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    Tadaima

    Tadaima

    4.8
    (91 reviews)
    1.5 mi
    $$

    Here's a polished review that keeps your warm, honest style while making it easy to read and…read morehelpful for Yelp readers. --- Finally got to try **Tadaima Japanese Bakery** in Industry City (Building 5, 2nd floor), and I can see why people line up! They have limited hours and tend to sell out quickly, so on a Saturday I arrived around **11:40 AM**, about 20 minutes before opening, and was one of the first three customers inside (their maximum occupancy). This isn't a place to grab a quick coffee. The owner carefully prepares each drink by hand, so expect to wait about **30-60 minutes** if there's a line. I waited around 10-15 minutes after ordering, but honestly didn't mind because the space is so calm and peaceful. While waiting, I enjoyed browsing the aroma mists, smelling the candles, and just soaking in the serene atmosphere. It's the perfect spot if you're looking for a quiet moment by yourself. For drinks, I really enjoyed the **Black Sesame Latte**. It has espresso and was smooth, light, and well-balanced. I also tried the **Matcha Maple Latte**. The matcha itself tasted like excellent quality, but next time I'd skip the maple syrup since I prefer my drinks less sweet. We also sampled several pastries: * **Hojicha Cookie** - Soft and moist with melty chocolate chips. One of my favorites. * **Coffee Caramel Cookie** - Great if you love coffee. It had a rich, bold coffee flavor. * **Black Sesame Madeleine** - Nice black sesame flavor, though I would have loved a little more butter to make it even more moist. * **Yuzu Cake** - Beautifully decorated with an edible flower and packed with bright yuzu flavor. The cake was on the drier side though. * **Chocolate Cake** - Wonderfully moist and satisfying. The drinks were around **$8.50** each, and the cookies were about **$4** each, so it's definitely on the pricier side. For my Asian palate, most of the pastries leaned a bit sweeter than I prefer, but the drinks were excellent and clearly made with high-quality ingredients. Overall, this is a lovely place to treat yourself once in a while. Come for the peaceful atmosphere, thoughtfully crafted drinks, and beautiful pastries.

    I tried their Japanese style cold brew & it was one of the best! I tried my sister's lavender latte…read more& it was so fragrant + soothing to drink. Love their desserts as always - fav is the yuzu cupcake. Super nice staff. This time we came when it wasn't busy so got to sit inside & the decor is really nice.

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    Interior design
    Interior design
    Salted Apple Caramel Breton
    Salted Apple Caramel Breton
    Black sesame madeleine

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    Black sesame madeleine
    Makina Cafe

    Makina Cafe

    4.2
    (11 reviews)
    0.9 mi

    Great Ethiopian spot on Governor's Island for lunch or a small bite to eat…read more They have outdoor seating only, with bench tables where you can enjoy the nice weather and birds chirping (weather permitting). The staff is friendly and after you order, they give you a number which they call out once your order is ready. We ordered: - Lentil Sambusa (2 pieces) - Crispy Chicken Caesar Wrap The lentil sambusa was warm and crispy on the outside and filled with flavor on the inside. The crispy chicken caesar wrap completely exceeded my expectations--the crispy fried chicken was delicious and the Romain lettuce, cherry tomatoes and shaved Parmesan complemented it very nicely. I don't like too much dressing, so I'd asked for the Caesar dressing on the side, which they kindly accommodated. I highly recommend you stop by for a tasty meal.

    They were serving food during a race: the "NY Runs Ice Cream Social". The line was incredibly long,…read moreand things were not improved because they were incredibly slow. I got in line about 35 to 40 minutes before the race start, and didn't even get to order until 7 minutes until race start. At 2 minutes until race start I asked about the wait time, and they said it was still going to be a few minutes, so I asked if I could get a refund instead because I needed to get to the Start Line (which is roughly 2 minutes away). Then they said, the guy was literally finishing it, so I waited 30 more seconds, he handed me the sandwich, and I had to run for the start. Despite having gotten into the line with dozens of minutes to spare. Food itself, an egg sandwich, was fine, but I didn't really get to enjoy it, as I was literally running as I ate it.

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    Makina Cafe
    Beef Tibs Wrap
    Beef Tibs Wrap
    Makina Cafe

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    Cafe Kestrel - cafes - Updated August 2026

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