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    Runner Up

    4.3 (39 reviews)
    Closed 5:00 pm - 9:00 PM

    Runner Up Photos

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    RUNNER UP ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Outdoor seating

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    Chicken dinner and sweet potato with spigarello, oranges, ginger, fish sauce
    Jenna I.

    I applaud Winner's success during a pandemic but I will admit I was a little bit skeptical of their food if for nothing else than the fact that the prices for some of their baked goods border on outrageous (ASTERISK: not outrageous for NYC by any means but just more like "$7 for ONE donut" kinda stuff that I'll do cause it's a small batch specialty thing but also geesh). However, I am very happy to report that Runner Up is not only worth it but a welcome addition to the neighborhood -- especially as a slightly upscale option. There's very little traditional indoor seating and no outdoor heat lamps, which is a bummer, but when I went it happened to be an unseasonably warm day so outdoor seating was swell. We made early reservations to take advantage of the sun and had no problem being seated but it definitely got busier as the night went on. The half rotisserie chicken (with salsa Verde) was outstanding, it reminded me more of duck for how it fell off the bone -- huge positive for me. Then there was this sweet potato with spigarello, oranges, ginger, fish sauce -- also outstanding, never woulda expected all of these things to go together but it knocked it out of the park. We also ordered the crispy grains, which was tasty and indeed crispy, but a bit too lemon-y for my personal tastes. For dessert Chocolate & Coffee Pot de Creme with caramelized cocoa nibs, bruleed banana -- hell yeah! I guess maybe it's kinda dumb to list the items I had considering they're not even available right now as the menu changes often but all of that to say everything we ordered was indeed a winner (wink nudge). Also appreciated the intriguing wine list that offered a handful of interesting things I'd love to come back and try but at the time I wasn't drinking so oh well. Now I have a nice incentive to return (as if I didn't already).

    Outdoor seating
    Kseniya K.

    Was so excited to try this placed based on stellar reviews. Came here at 5pm for a Wednesday night. Was expecting a restaurant, but this is a hole in a wall kind of deal--you sit outdoors, on wooden benches, and everything is super casual. Dress warm, as there are no outdoor heaters (or backs for the wooden benches). There are a few tiny, tinyyy seats available indoors. When I say tiny--I mean you're nose to nose with the kitchen staff, watching the preparation of your food. Very uncomfortable to eat in such squished quarters. Service left desiring more. We were rushed by multiple servers, who were very eager to whisk our plates away. I understand that this is a casual dinner place, but For such price, you should not be rushed to eat your food in minutes. The food menu is tiny. It's seasonal, so you might get un/lucky if you come here at the wrong time. Drinks menu is extensive though. The $10 Monkey bread was delicious, as per all the reviews. Reminded me of croissant texture and taste. However, our portion was very oily--the plate and napkin were drenched in oil, which gave us both heartburn at the end of the night. The $4 anchovies toast was so microscopic, I wanted to laugh. On the photo, the portion looks like something you can hold in your hands. In reality, that tiny square of toast with two tiny anchovies was exactly one bite. Nothing special, easily something you can quickly put together at home (but for a decent price and portion size). The toast was oily (hence, the heartburn). $13 pork rillette tasted like tuna salad. I was so excited for this, but the greens on the plate had more taste than the pork. $24 Half a rotisserie chicken was delicate and tasty. Seasoned well, with herbs appropriate for the spring/summer. $14 roasted mushrooms in miso beure blanc sauce were the highlight of our meal. The sauce made the mushrooms burst with creamy & salty taste. The bill came to $80. We left half starving. Expectations were not met.

    Scallops
    Morlene C.

    Runner Up is really the cutest name for the second eatery from the Winner team, and the two complement one another well. While I know Winner is most known for their baked goods, I've never arrived early enough to enjoy their bread before it was all sold out, but I have visited numerous times for their cool Friends & Family dinners, where a chef will take over for the week. Imagine my excitement when I arrived to Runner Up's tiny little space as a walk in to find all 4 of their counter seats available last night and was told their entire menu was available that evening. Their seafood centric menu was perfect for my pescatarian palate, and we ordered a little something from each section of the menu. Garlic & cheddar monkey bread-- this we had to order to really appreciate the bread made at their bakery and I think it might've been the dish I enjoyed most. It was perfectly buttery and garlicky like a brioche bun and went well with the marinara sauce that came on the side. scallop crudo-- I'm a sucker for scallop crudo, and theirs with cucumber leche de tigre, crispy ham, wakame, pickled apple, and cilantro oil was the dish I was most excited to order. I appreciated the portion for this dish, but felt that the scallop didn't have the sweetness I crave from them, so it was a little lackluster to me. herb crusted pollock- this dish with cannellini beans, habanada pepper and scallion kosho was much too salty, though the fish was fresh and the flavors otherwise worked together. croquettes- breaded cod croquettes with potato, rye, herbed creme fraiche, smoked trout and trout roe were quite tasty, and came 4 to a plate. I could probably inhale a second or third helping of these if I had access to them, even if seeing croquettes on a small plates menu can get a bit tired. Solid execution. roasted squash- with endive, butternut squash puree, honey crumble and fall spices was the most seasonally specific dish, and while I can't get enough of delicata squash, I also felt a little muted about this dish. The 'A' for Effort cocktail called out to me with its mezcal and lychee ingredients list but I was a little disappointed by the drink to ice ratio as I finished the drink in what felt like a few sips and it was missing some pop and cohesiveness for me. Our server recommended a glass of the Chenin Blanc, which I enjoyed as a solid, mineraly white wine. The ambience is cozy in every sense of the word, where if you're sitting at one of their four seats at the chef's counter, the chef and server can hear every word of your conversation. I don't mind that too much because dining out is fun when it feels like a communal experience, but know that going in. There is a large outdoor space which they plan to outfit with working heaters soon.

    Rilette du bluefish
    Patricia P.

    Runner Up has been open for just three months and I wish I found this tapas spot sooner. They're currently in their soft launch phase. With a menu that changes seasonally and makes you want to order the entire thing. What we ordered (party of 4) Boquerones : anchovies in vinegar. Delicious (Spaniard inspired preparation) Half Baguette : wow do not miss the fresh bread, crisp, chewy perfection Croquettes : perfect little bites (4 pieces) Sardine toast : this was my favorite of the meal Scallop Crudo : savory and well prepared, lots of scallop Cochonerries chicken and duck terrine: tasty, I'm not a huge fan of terrine, but was excellent with the pickle acidity and crunch texture. Bluefish Rillette: could have eaten this all by myself - too bad my friends wanted some of it too Crunchy salad : a nice shareable portion. Lots of great textures and beautiful color. Fresh palette addition to our evening That was all "small plates " and now we're on to exploring the MAINS and ACCOMPANIMENTS - Chanterelles : this dish could make ya cry. I really enjoyed it. Poached Steelhead trout: excellent composition. Don't forget to dip into the parsley and scallion salsa. Oh and the chip? Fish skins accompanied by fried garlic and charred scallions. This dish like many of the others had so much dimensionality to it. Charred summer squash : this dish came out last, and might have effected how much we enjoyed it. We were already pretty stuffed, and felt the squash could have been cut more bite sized or delicately. On to dessert: Mocha Sunday - shared among us four was perfect. Drink: orange wine My first time enjoying orange wine. Went perfectly with the meal. We started with individual glasses then opted to shared a bottle. Staff was super friendly and knowledgeable. What a perfect night.

    Chinese broccoli
    Kristi W.

    Cute, small, open kitchen spot great for a date. Wesat inside at the bar and enjoyed it. Tho not outside, plenty of sun came through the big glass door and skylight. The servers also play great music inside so that's a perk! The outside tables don't look very comfortable with wooden boxes to sit on- not good for a bad back. We had some white wines and rose and enjoyed them. They have a small selection by the glass. For a wine bar, a few more options would be nice. The staff was all personable and helpful and let us try different options. Ok, so, get the monkey bread and don't look back. It was a bit indulgent. Warm and delicious with a perfectly paired marinara to dip in. The chicken meatballs were some of the moist and yummy I've ever had and came in the same marinara sauce with toasted baguette. Next time I'll ask for the baguette to not be toasted. It was too crispy and oily for us. Another highlight was the Bitter green salad. All the ingredients complimented each other so nicely and the dressing had great acidity to finish. I wouldn't order the Chinese broccoli again, maybe it would have been a nice side with the rotisserie chicken but it was our least favorite item. We'll be back. It seemed to be a bit on the pricey side, so just know that going in, especially if you want to drink a few glasses of wine each :)

    Christian Y.

    I was excited to try Runner Up after reading about its opening on social media and all the food just looked so good. It turned out to be a much smaller space than expected and a majority of the seating is outdoor/sidewalk seating. We made reservations for the bar, which had literally 4 seats and a full view of the kitchen as you're basically sitting in the kitchen and it is chaotic with the energy to match. The staff was friendly albeit a bit negligent and not attentive. For a party of 2, we ordered a few small plates and a main to share. Out of the dishes we tried, only the crudo was worth it. The bitter salad consisted of roughly chopped radicchio, a couple pieces of cauliflower, and a sprinkling of seeds. The flavor was there, but it was a sad sight to see when it landed on the table.The ends meat sausage (a main entree) was pathetic -- one cooked sausage with some sauteed onions on a plate for $22. Tasted like any other italian sausage from the supermarket. Food was fine, but, unfortuntely, not worth the value.

    Mackerel crudo
    Marc F.

    It's been a while since this place has opened and we finally got around to it for our birthday dinner date night. Sadly, was a little disappointed in the food. The temperature of the mackerel crudo was a little too warm and the fish ended up a little too slimy. The chicken decent enough but was nothing to write home about. The dessert was probably the highlight of the meal.

    Monkey bread
    Kay N.

    Perfect Brooklyn dinner with great food, service and atmosphere. It's labeled a wine bar, but has a full menu that should definitely be experienced. As the sister restaurant to the "Winner" bakery next door - the breads are not to be missed, but really everything was delicious. I booked a reservation at the bar (only 4 seats inside) and was seated right on time. It was fun to see the bartender mixing cocktails and the chefs working in a teeny kitchen. The Somm offered help on picking a wine, and after a few questions he recommended one unlisted, but was just perfect. We ordered a bunch of food (and portions weren't small) and loved 99% of it. I'll definitely be returning to try more things as the seasons change. Round 1: Nduja, Goat cheese, Monkey Bread, 1/2 Baguette, Croquettes, Sardine Toast, and Market Salad Round 2: Meatballs and duck-fat potatoes Wine: (off menu/recommended) Bonnet Cotton Fleurie Beaujolais Dessert: Etan Mess with Strawberry Rhubarb sorbet Favorites (hard to pick just a few, but I'll try!): - Wine - just an awesome recommendation - Sardine Toast - it's on every menu these days, but this is the one you want. So much flavor - Meatballs - super light and flavorful in a singing red sauce. (Though as for the toast 'less well done') - Goat cheese and baguette - classic and perfect - Etan Mess - holey moley I was stuffed before and gobbled this whole thing up. It was so freaking good. Perfect balance of flavors, textures. Just love at first bite Nitpicks: - I wish they spread out the food a bit more... "round 1" should've been split into 2 parts so we could enjoy each dish fresh. It was a bit overwhelming. - I read amazing things about the croquettes, but they didn't quite hold up for me. The trout roe didn't have a salty pop, so it was left a little lacking in flavor. The croquette itself was crispy outside, creamy inside... but it needed the saltiness to balance.

    Croquettes
    Ryan F.

    Went to dinner at Runner Up on Tuesday evening. A lot of fun dishes playing to their strengths, looking forward to how they expand further. Quality: Runner Up is smart to utilize the bakery expertise of Winner to dictate its menu. The bread pops up in many dishes, and is often the strongest element. The Garlic & Cheddar Monkey Bread is a highlight, a reinvention of the typical sweet bread as a savory opener. The Croquettes looked pretty, but were forgettable. The Anchovy Toast was excellent, the burnt sourdough providing the ideal vehicle for the flavors. The Chicken & Ricotta Meatballs were very good as well, getting an assist with the baguette. The Pork Shoulder itself was just okay, but the sauce was fantastic and is the actual feature of the dish. Quantity: Everything is small plates style, easy to share. Value: $10 for Garlic & Cheddar Monkey Bread. $16 for Croquettes. $15 for Anchovy Toasts. $16 for Chicken & Ricotta Meatballs. $22 for Pork Shoulder. Ambiance: Runner Up is located adjacent to Winner in Park Slope. They have a fairly large outdoor area, that includes a long shelter on the street and then some high-tops under an awning. No inside seating, so watch the weather forecast. It is extremely simple and casual. When dinnertime hits the open seating is reserved for the restaurant customers. No music, and early sittings get a lot of sun. Crowd: Reservations are tough to come-by for this limited restaurant. Service: Helpful and friendly staff, weird check-mark ordering style. Parking: Some parking in a residential area.

    Italian white
    Scott T.

    Runner Up to just who? I concur with the nearly 5 star review average score. Stopped in for an quick and easy anchovy toast (with pistachios, quinoa, pickled shallots and more) and the octopus with two types of potatoes. Paired with a nice Italian white wine it was the perfect remedy nearing the end of a long and hot day in the city. No pretense, friendly service and a wealth of outdoor seating make this a great spot. And best, it seems away from the rush of the city a bit, a nice treen line neighborhood with plenty of shade. I'd love to return and try more options from the menu. I get what's going on here and it's pretty first-rate. Highly recommended if you want to just relax and enjoy some fine food outside.

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    1 year ago

    Absolutely delightful experience! Tremendous food and service in a beautiful, intimate space. Thank you!!!

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    2 years ago

    Best restaurant in Park Slope, bar none. Come here for amazing food, great wine menu, and the best people!

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    4 years ago

    Unique ! Check it out! Whatever you think you think, Runner Up ain't that. Book ahead. Done.

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    Levant on Smith

    Levant on Smith

    4.3
    (157 reviews)
    1.4 mi

    I'm amazed but the food keeps getting better and better I…read morehad the tuna tartare and the bass. My wife the goat cheese pastries and the salad niçoise. And we split a cheese cake Everything was super and Felix our server was really great. We've eaten there a few times before but as I said it keeps getting better and better Thanks

    This review is for dinner. Service and ambiance were great, but unfortunately the food was a bit of…read morea miss. Based on the other reviews perhaps it was an off night in the kitchen, but I likely wouldn't go back. Ambiance is intimate and cozy. Great local neighborhood vibes. Definitely a spot I could see coming by on a weeknight if you live around the area. Food, overall the food lacked flavor and at times was overcooked or undercooked. I think there are better spots if you live within your walking distance and I definitely wouldn't travel out of my way here unfortunately. I ordered: -French Onion Soup: looked delish and had nice flavor, but it was actually under seasoned. Needed more salt which is saying a lot for French onion soup. -Zucchini Pancakes: skip. This was raw and we had to send it back. Kitchen remade it and it was still questionable. Quite mushy and just not very flavorful. -Mini Moules (mussels): this was ok. I thought it was under seasoned. -French Fries: perfection. Super crispy, not greasy. -Chicken Cordon Bleu: it looked good, but sadly it was really under seasoned. And the chicken seemed overcooked and was quite dry despite the amount of sauce on it. -Steak Frites: the person enjoyed this. Liked the sauce a lot. We enjoyed the desserts a lot: chocolate soufflé (on the smaller side) and San Sebastián cheesecake.

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    Brunch menu and interior
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    French Louie

    French Louie

    4.0
    (527 reviews)
    1.6 mi
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    Friendliest staff in NYC ive ever encountered. It's a cozy romantic kind of classy place... But…read morehappy to seat a few tourists touring elementary ages kids. The host had even set a table aside for us with coloring pages (based on the mural on the opposite wall, which they loved realizing). Everything was absolutely perfect. The Gougère (a cheese puff pastry) was airy, light and I loved it, more than anyone else at the table. The fried artichokes were more broiled (tasted healthier) and came in a slightly acidic tahini sauce. The sauce was a light layer on the dish instead of on top to keep the brussel sprouts from getting soggy. I got the moules frites, fantastic, no notes. My son got the kids steak and fries which came with a salad he ate first. The price ($22) for a "kids" meal seemed steep, but the steak alone was probably worth the price, and actually seasoned. This is the type of kids meal that builds kids who actually like food. We got some zero cocktails (not enough sleep to drink and travel the next day) and they were great. If I'm at the NU hotel again, this is going to be a must stop place. Total bull was 222 (before tip) for 3 adults and 2 kids. So expensive, but well worth it, and honestly not terrible for NYC standards.

    The food was pretty good, but I have to judge a restaurant by its price and type of cuisine. This…read moreis supposed to be a nicer French restaurant but it was kind of expensive for what I got. I just didn't really like any of it but then again French food isn't my thing, I was trying something new. Service was excellent though, out waiter was on top of everything. The ambiance was very pleasant although it was packed to the brim

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