New York

My first--and, I hope, last--experience at Stone Park Cafe came a year ago at the Fifth Avenue Fair. They were serving up hotdogs for $9 or, as I like to say, nine f%$&#*$ dollars?!?##!?! Long story short, I bought one. Because they called them "Kobe Beef Hotdogs" and I am a slow-witted nincompoop easily wooed by dull yuppie marketing ploys. That said, I regretted the decision after one bite. It wasn't bad; it just made me realize that most hotdogs are good, and that using an overpriced cut of meat byproduct adds nothing to the mix. Which is to say, I spent a bucksaw on this glorified "Nathans" and haven't let go since. So learn from my mistakes, friend. If you ever run across one of these overpriced long dongs, don't be tempted: play like Slick Rick and just walk on by.

Photo:  J. Slab

I couldn’t wait to talk about this place—BLTs served with pork belly and heirloom tomatoes? Young’s Special London Ale on tap? And beef marrow as an appetizer? Yum. It’s already near the top of my list for great meals in Brooklyn. Some more points to consider: --It also serves an excellent brunch in addition to dinner Tuesday-Sunday. --It also has special “tasting menu” nights. --It’s patently obvious from the preparation of the food to the intelligence of the staff that Stone Park isn’t going to serve you something that isn’t fresh, appropriately seasonal, and totally mouth-watering. So enough jabber—just take a working credit card with you and you’re good to go.

Photo:  Rob Tallia