Dino
“They added this polenta and eggs dish for brunch that is out of this world.”
“Absolutely out of this world:
Kale caesar
Spaghetti lemon
Baked ziti
Chicken dinner
Steak dinner”
“The space is small but never too crowded, the backyard is the standard New York garden size, and looks really sweet and charming in the evening.”
Dino
Takes Reservations: Yes
Delivery: Yes
Take-out: Yes
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Bike Parking: Yes
Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
Outdoor Seating: Yes
Waiter Service: Yes
Price range.
$$ Price range $11-30
8 reviews
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This place has a fun ambiance but the food was barely decent and the service almost abysmal so only earned 2 stars. Came in on a slow Wednesday night with 2 friends for dinner and drinks.
Food was enough but nothing special. For starters we got glasses of the house red and the calamari appetizer. We ordered the spinach gnocchi, chicken parmesan, and a shell noodle dish with sausage (name is escaping me). Of this, I'd only order the gnocchi and wine again. The consistency was amazing and great gnocchi but the taste didn't meet our expectations. In short, it was pretty bland. The shell noodle dish (sorry again about the name) tasted like buttered noodles so I asked for a marinara to give it even an ounce of taste. It worked but still wasn't anything special.
The service was…surprising…even for NYC. Specifically, we asked about the specials when our server finally found us (not a busy night) and he acted like we should have known them. Also we all leaned in to hear and asked him twice to speak louder. Finally, he was surprised when we asked what certain ingredients were, we're not pesky but wanted to be informed of our choices. Basically, it seemed he wanted to be anywhere but there.
PROS: gnocchi, ambiance for friends/family/intimates
CONS: food; service; tightly packed (but manageable for agile ones)
I'm surprised I haven't reviewed Dino yet since it's one of my favorite low-key spots. I wouldn't make a trip here from Manhattan or a distant Brooklyn neighborhood, but if you live in the Fort Greene/Clinton Hill area it's a great place for some classic Italian food. Though they can get crowded, they're good at turning tables and there's a nice bar to relax at if you're waiting. The pastas and the sides/vegetables/appetizers are all equally great. Recently I liked the kale caesear with lemon and the veal meatballs. The parmesan polenta is fantastic as well, and they have a great–and cheap–house red.
Although lately Dino can be hit or miss… I'm still a fan. The 4 star rating stems from the specifics that I describe below (it is not a 4 star overall rating of the restaurant).
KALE: I have been patronizing this local restaurant since it opened a few years ago. I used to LOVE their black kale caesar salad (which they no longer serve). However, they have replaced that with the black kale panzanella, which is warm, savory and very tasty.
FISH SPECIALS: I do not say this about most restaurants, but my favorite entrees at Dino have historically been their fish specials. I have had some of the most interesting, fresh and tasty bites of fish at Dino. Having said that, you never know when a fish special will be on point.
BRUNCH [ESP. FRENCH TOAST]: We stopped in for brunch a few months ago and I was pleasantly surprised. I had the eggs & polenta and it was delicious. However, I want to RAVE about the Dino French Toast that my spouse ordered. I rarely like french toast – too sweet for my taste – especially when drenched in syrup. This was NOT a traditional french toast. It was a slice of thick pullman bread stuffed with berries and it was only slightly sweet. We were able to add maple syrup and fresh, homemade whipped cream to our taste. For the win.
KITCHEN TABLE: I went to Dino two years ago for my birthday and we reserved the large kitchen table that is indoors and I just loved sitting there. You feel like you are dining in someone's farmhouse kitchen if you are able to fill the table with friends/family. I would say that TABLE is my favorite table to sit at in Brooklyn.
(The rest of the menu is fine – the black linguine is not as good as it originally was. I pretty much stick to the above).
This place is splendid and I never got around to reviewing them back when I went. I had this delightful dish of pasta with sage and butter. It was a gnocchi that literally melted on the fork. I was so overwhelmed that I felt like passing out so I literally fainted. I wish I could say that it was because the food was so amazing because wouldn't that be a great end to the story. But nope, I just simply had the flu. And when the folks dragged me back up off the floor and I drank some water to come to, I was happy that I'd eaten everything on my plate beforehand. Wonderful place and extraordinary food and really patient staff that help fainting people up and into cabs. They are worth the time and the wait for their food.
Had a wonderful dinner here tonight.
Great staff
Casual atmosphere
Amazing Italian food
Indoor and outdoor seating
Well-priced for the portions and all the dishes I tasted (burrata, fedelini pasta, calamari, kale caesar) were delicious. Service was great and attentive.
Kind of a tight squeeze now that there's no outdoor seating, so you'll probably want a reservation. Close to the C and G train!
Lovely, cozy little place and warm staff.
Came here on a summer evening on a whim after seeing the menu outside. While we originally wanted to sit outside to take advantage of the weather, mosquitos drove us back inside. (This, by the way, was hardly a letdown–our seats were by the large windows so we still got plenty of breeze and the setting sun.)
The food was A-OK. We had the burrata and rigatoni with sausage and fresh ricotta. I'm not sure what they put in the burrata-must have been some delicious creamy witchcraft because as good as it as, we couldn't finish it (It was that filling!). The rigatoni was decent as well. Nothing that blew me out of the water, but it tasted fresh, the pasta had a great bouncy texture, and made for great leftovers for a midnight snack later on.
Overall: decent prices, decent food. Worth a stop if you're in the neighborhood.
Dino serves as a great date spot, especially if you're going for dinner and a movie at BAM (which is just a short walk away). This cozy little nook offers good, reasonably priced food, a killer ambiance, and very friendly service. My girlfriend and I both ordered special of the day (as there was practically a whole menu of them) and both were tasty! Just be sure to get there at a reasonable time. The place is small, so seats will fill quickly. Recommended!