Gus's — Restaurant in New York

In the heart of Brooklyn's Carroll Gardens, a neighborhood celebrated for its gastronomic vibrancy and historic charm, Gus’s Chop House stands as a monument to culinary dedication and craftsmanship. Marrying the grandeur of European chop houses with the familial warmth of casual bistros, this establishment beckons one and all to partake in a dining experience that feels both grounded in tradition and passionately inventive.

Their mastery in culinary arts is palpable in each shareable appetizer, offering a symphony of flavors which tenderly segue to the following acts that are no less remarkable. It is the meat dishes that stand as titans in this culinary narrative, a befitting crown to its European chop house inspiration. The pork chop and the steak bring with them a rich decadence, echoing stories of the finest, meticulously sourced ingredients brought to life with revered culinary techniques. There is an unspoken grace in the brown butter basting, a gesture that imparts a rich depth of flavor, elevating the meat to celestial heights of gastronomic joy.

Yet, the conversation of meat at Gus’s is far from complete without mentioning what is possibly one of the best burgers gracing NYC. This isn't merely a burger but a thoughtfully crafted blend of ground beef and pork adorned with cornichons and parmesan. The patty exhibits an understanding of the sublime, a testament to the care and knowledge infused in choosing the perfect blend. Accompanied by fries — golden beacons of crisp perfection, thick-cut and generous — the burger showcases an effortless marriage of refinement and comfort, establishing itself as an imperative experience for any culinary enthusiast.

The finesse of the culinary journey finds its harmonious complement in a Wine List that not only stands as the best in Carroll Gardens but beckons to be renowned much beyond. Offering treasures from the Old World, the list carries within it a curated homage to vineyards that have mastered the art of winemaking through generations. Every sip promises a narrative, a journey through famed terrains offering a perfect accompaniment to the meal, enhancing each note and offering a depth of complexity that is both invigorating and comforting.

Gus's Chop House is not just a dining establishment, but a living, breathing entity that carries within its walls a pulse that is vibrant, warm, and unapologetically honest. It’s a homage to the age-old traditions of European chop houses, a celebration of the casual bistro vibe, and a testament to the potential of a neighborhood restaurant to not just serve food, but to offer an experience that is rich, satisfying, and...

UPDATED: We popped in on Halloween 2024 and had the most amazing waiter. Lots of energy, super friendly and very on the ball. He was really being an advocate for the restaurant by making sure we knew about special nights, family meal special and more!

Another good dinner too!

OLD REVIEW

Came in around 9:00 p.m. on a Saturday, without a reservation, and got a couple of seats at the bar. As expected from previous experiences at Popina, everyone was very gracious and the good was very good. The menu is divided up into snacks, appetizers, mains, and sides. Not sure what the difference is between the snacks and the appetizers because the snacks were pretty big. We had two from each category which was too much food but we ate it.

Snacks: good shrimp cocktail but we really loved the panisse with kohlrabi. I never had panisse before. Are chickpea flour cakes and they were light and creamy and crisp. Served with a kohlrabi slaw and a puddle of chili sauce.

Appetizers: The hash browns are like a slab of super crispy potato roesti topped with sour cream and smoked trout roe. Yum! We had the leeks prepared in the style of the wedge salad and that was kind of fun. The leeks are braised and then it has leek straw on top with blue cheese.

Entrees: The skate which was beautifully cooked and delicious. I did not care for the side of parsley root. I thought it had no distinguishable taste and it certainly wasn't seasoned enough to stand out. I was confused because I thought this is really weak tasting celery root?

Brisket was super tender and served with Asian "cabbage" -- a surprise -- and veggies.

Sides: the mushrooms with lentils were very generous and tasty.

The carrots were good as well.

There was no room to try dessert. Perhaps next time we will order more conservatively and be able to do so. I also had an excellent glass of Riesling or two off the one by the glass list.

Looking forward to more dinners at...

We were seated right away in the back of the restaurant where it was mostly empty, and it seemed like there was a party happening at the front of the room. We ordered after about 20 minutes of waiting. Another party with an infant came in after us and was sat next to us. They order almost identical food as we did, and they were served first even though we ordered a bit before them. Our food came out about 15 after, and the party with the baby was almost done eating by the time we were given our food, despite being there first.

Our server encouraged us to get the meal deal which included one desert for the table and supposedly we would save some $. We were left alone for 30 mins at a time and spent around 2 hrs at a restaurant waiting and bored. When we got the bill we calculated and noticed that the meal deal in fact did not save us money, in fact, we were spending more than the items combined (and we did not plan to get dessert there anyway so that tacked on another $14) it took them 15 mins for someone to walk past us to flag down and another 20 just for them to see if we were lying about the check. Once they verified the costs they apologized and gave us a check with another mistake so more time wasted. We eventually were able to get out but with the cost and the fact that everything is a la carte, you’re paying for a vibe and this vibe was not it. I never review places but we were there for our anniversary dinner and to say it was a disappointing dinner is an understatement. We left tired and annoyed for a day that was meant to be romantic and fun. Unfortunately this restaurant seems to value familiar faces and large parties being it looked to be that everyone else was treated more friendly than we were. Feeling like a second thought is really upsetting and hopefully they see this review and make...