Resto

No Longer In Business

OK...I see the reviews are mixed...but I mean c’mon...the Belgiums here alone are worth the visit. Then add the great deviled eggs, & the grilled cheese with pork belly & bacon, and what’s not to like? I can’t speak to not getting a table...I just figure...if you love beer and a place is good other than the crowds...then you just come when they are not crowded. And let’s not forget that you can walk through to the connected and co-owned Cannibal directly from Resto. So really...what’s not to like? I had a couple of amazing sours while I was here...both on draft. Definitely worth a visit.

They are recently under a new GM and Chef with some notable credentials so things seem to have changed quite a bit since the older ratings. I think I went last night for my birthday dinner and to finally make it to this Belgo-American beer restaurant, I think one of NYC’s 2 actual proper restaurants focused on beer more than wine. [DBGB being the other and Beer Table doesn’t count. It’s not a standard restaurant IMO]. It is a place I have wanted to check out since moving here but never had the occasion. It didn’t disappoint. The atmosphere is very nice with a rustic european feel...great for a date or dinner with friends alike. The food has Belgian favorites but is going more American now with large cuts of very good meat aged and butchered on premise. We had a fantastic leg of lamb that was enough for 4 people at least though advertised for two. The butchers board was excellent as well. The service was very friendly, fast, and knowledgable about both the food and beer. Their list is not extensive and is mostly more or less well known Belgian classics, which rock and pair really well, with some American Belgian style ales mixed in. They have some uncommon stuff to see on tap as well as a good selection of magnums and larger. It worked great for the purpose of being a notable restaurant rather a notable beer list with some typically crappy bar food to ruin your palate. The server made intelligent suggestions for pairing...the whole point of going in my opinion. I would definitely go again!

came with high expectations. at least for the food. about 8 taps, all belgian. Popperings Hommel!!!. nice belgian selection. Food was sort of disappointing. Great deviled eggs & grilled cheese with pork belly & bacon. Fries- not so good. mayos-pretty good. Burger- disappointing, not even asked for a temp. Short rib sandwich- sounds better than it is, but still good. Waiter was attentive & nice. stop for the beer & grilled chese

Where to start with this guy? OK - first, it’s packed and hard to get a table, and when you finally do sit down the food menu is very expensive, and IMO, not as superlative as its reputation portended Service was mediocre at best. Their beer selection was good but their pricing was weird. They were charging exorbitant amounts for certain 33 cl bottles, but then among the cheaper stuff on the menu was stuff like St. Bernardus Abt 12...so there were relative bargains to be had if you know what to look for.

I am surprised this place hadn’t been rated sooner. A casual, but upscale restaurant with a medium to small sized room and a bar with maybe14 seats? Resto has a fairly extensive belgian bottle list, but this is not a place to find the rare and obscure. All the commercially available trappists are well covered, with a pretty good selection of the other belgian and belgian style beers, including a smallish sour list. But combine this list with their delicious food, and you have a good reason to stop in. Two years ago New York magazine rated the burger here number 1 in New York. It is probably not number 1,but it is really,really good. They have a much more extensive menu than burgers, as this is by no means a burger joint. Delicious appetizers can be found here, along with great mussels and fries. Leans toward the pricey side.

Minimalist style Belgian restaurant with 6-7 Belgians on tap. Behind the bar is an impressive selection of glassware for every tap and bottle they carry. Much more dressy than a beer bar. They have the recognizable Leffe’s and Chimay’s and Kwak, but worth a visit for the 1-2 on tap Belgians you only see in bottles. Food looks intriguing, but I didn’t try it.