Thistle Hill Tavern
“I munched as much of the flaky outer coating, the divinely sea salted and olive oiled fennel's warm tongue meshing with mine…”
“The house salad is good too, only I get it without the cheese and the kale salad was so-so without the non-vegan slaw dressing.”
“it was called "The Breakfast": heritage acres bacon, ricotta-herb pancake, farm fresh egg, peppered maple syrup.”
Thistle Hill Tavern
Take-out: Yes
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Bike Parking: Yes
Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
Good for Groups: Yes
Outdoor Seating: Yes
Waiter Service: Yes
Price range.
$$ Price range $11-30
8 reviews
Rate and write a review Cancel reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
This was a 5-star meal, knocked down to 4-stars by somewhat poor service.
The good: Crazy delicious food, pulling from a variety of cuisines, landing on somewhere around comfort food, with influences from Italian and Asian food. I ordered the falafel burger and it did not disappoint in the least. The falafel patty/burger was so crispy and flavorful. The accompanying hot sauce and white sauce really made the sandwich stand out and elevate it to next-level falafel.
I also sampled bites from my friends' plates: buffalo cauliflower (spicy and tasty!), collard greens (I'm a sucker for collard greens, and these were great), tagliatelle with lamb (perfectly cooked pasta).
The menu really had something for everyone. One of my friends is a vegetarian and the menu perfectly balances between meat and meat-free options, without leaving anyone behind.
The bad: Our service was just kind of odd. We were seated quickly, and our waiter came over welcoming us. He promptly told us that there were no specials (why even mention them, then?) I asked if it would be possible to substitute collard greens for the fries as a side on my plate and was told no (which is fine, I should have mentioned that I would have paid a slight up charge, but to just say 'no' was surprising), my friend asked how big the portion of the buffalo cauliflower was – asking if it was shareable or more of a side and the waiter said "well you could share it, I guess." For most of the meal, our server was kind of missing in action. Our order was taken by the woman who seated us, who was doing double duty as host and server.
The food was really remarkable and everyone LOVED their meals. The vibe is fun and cozy. But the service was lacking.
Good
Price and
Something for
Everyone on
The menu. A few outdoor seats. Takes cards.
I came here for brunch on St. Patrick's Day with some girl friends. We came early enough that our table reservation was available (even though the host kept warning us that if the rest of our party didn't come soon, he'd have to give the table away to the next full party that arrived….annoying.) Once seated, the service was decent. Nothing great stood out and it was rather hard to get the waitress' attention just to refill out water glasses. I had the hash and I would recommend that dish. They also have good side dish options (I always ask for a side of fries with everything.) What did help is that I had a couple of coffee w/ baileys and booze with brunch is the only way to go 🙂
Their pulled pork and pancakes are incredible. The first time I ordered it, I immediately regretted my decision, thinking such an odd combination couldn't possibly be good. It was not good– it was fantastic! The perfect blend of sweet and savory. Their brunch cocktails are a bit on the pricey side. I ended up having a mint julep instead. As it was my first mint julep, I have no standard of comparison. It pretty much tasted like lemonade, which is A-okay in my book.
The restaurant is pretty cramped and the outside dining area is even smaller. But it's cute and quaint.
Thistle Hill Tavern is a good alternative to the ridiculously long waits on the Saturday night in Park Slope. Low-key and cozy–bars that remind me of sitting at home really do it for me. As if that wasn't homey enough, you can treat yourself to several comfort foods here. The southern fried chicken with sweet potato mash was decent. I've had moister chicken breast elsewhere, but far from the worst. The Falafel burger was a little dry as well, but the salt and pepper fries were a delight. I'd recommend the baked ricotta as an appetizer–soft chunks of bread smeared with warm ricotta is something that is sure to please.
I'm a little surprised at all the negative reviews. Thistle Hill is a good, solid neighborhood place. Yes it's a little pricey but no more so than pretty much every other place nearby. Service is always friendly & courteous although it can be slow at times, probably because there are usually only two servers due to the size of the place. Never had anything I didn't like although some things stand out over others. Highly recommend the bone marrow appetizer but make sure you are sharing or having it as a main: it's huge. Salads also are sized for sharing. The fried chicken is fantastic – just the right amount of crunch – but I don't love the deviled egg potato salad that comes with it. Substitute the fries, which are awesome.
Service here was impeccable. The food was absolutely divine, tasty, and wonderful for a winter evening. I enjoyed their drink selection.
I highly recommend the fried chicken with cheddar mashed potatoes. The best fried chicken I have had. Please note this is being compared to some of the famous well know fried chicken places in Williamsburg. I ordered a side of Brussel sprouts and they were exceptional.
Apple pie was not what I expected, but not bad. I personally prefer a tad bit more cinnamon. I felt as if it were very tart. However, depends on the apples you use that day. My one complaint was the potato skin appetizer. Whenever I come here, the portion size is very inconsistent.
Bathroom was EXTREMELY CLEAN.
This is your neighborhood spot for a beer or cocktail and a burger.
Pretty decent burger. Friendly bartenders. They spirits selection is oddly deep in some sections which is great.
This is A-OK!