Construction shot. (Bill Baker’s Flickr)
Hot on the heels of James Murphy’s wine bar, The Four Horsemen, Williamsburg’s Grand Street strip is getting another “libation-friendly seasonal American menu” courtesy of Bill Baker’s, which opens next month.
In an opening announcement, the place, named after the banker grandfather of one of the owners, claims that its “menu of delicious American fare will make us one of Brooklyn’s favorite neighborhood restaurants.” With its remote location flush up against the BQE, it’ll have its work cut out for it if it expects to lure folks east of kindred spirit Walter Foods (not to mention another Grand Street newcomer, the forthcoming Witlof.) So, among other things, it’s playing up its beer program.
Chef Nels Benton, a refuge of the Philly dining scene, and his partner and fellow brewing enthusiast Adam Randisi have come up with recipes to be turned into “Baker’s Brews” by Long Island’s Spider Bite Beer Co. In addition to the four custom creations, there’ll be 16 craft beers on tap as well as 40+ small-batch American whiskeys.
(Photo: Daniel Maurer)
The menu of “shareable small plates,” which is still being finalized, will feature steakhouse/bistro favorites like Beef Wellington (trend alert!), chicken-liver pate, and roasted marrow bones, as well as more exotic touches like Creole shrimp and grits, fluke crudo, and “cracklin’ duck pierogi” made with duck confit, duck cracklings, and huckleberry miso. Larger dishes will include a Hawaiian butter fish and a chicken schnitzel.
A late-night bar menu, served till 2 a.m, will offer “bacon puffs” (bacon and mushroom cream in brioche) as well as standards like devils on horseback, deviled eggs, Bavarian pretzels and such. And there’ll be a Pat La Frieda chili cheese dog served with choice of goose-fat fries or cheddar-grit fritters.
Come Fall, there’ll be a downstairs cocktail bar, as well.
Bill Baker’s Restaurant & Bar, 364 Grand St., at Marcy, Williamsburg; 718-734-8890.
