Freek’s Mill
“My date ordered the swiss chard agnolotti (lobster dish), and the asparagus oscar (crab and bok choy dish).”
“They don't charge gratuity like some finer dining establishments and they fold your napkin when you step away to the bathroom.”
“I want to try the pork jowl next time.”
Freek’s Mill
Takes Reservations: Yes
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Good for Groups: Yes
Waiter Service: Yes
Price range.
$$$ Price range $31-60
6 reviews
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People often ask me what I think the best new restaurant is, and as of this writing, my answer is Freek's Mill. Hands down.
You only get so many perfect meals in your life, and what we experienced here was nothing short of that.
It's no secret that Gowanus is rapidly changing, and Freek's Mill is a very welcome part of the revival. Just two years ago, I would've never imagined such a place existing in this area. But take a walk by, and there are giant windows open to the sidewalk, awesome street art on the side of the building, and one of the most inviting restaurant experiences inside. There are a ton of tables, communal seating, and seating at the bar and at the open kitchen bar in the back. Exposed brick, filament bulbs, and candle lighting complete the atmosphere.
I called ahead on a Friday and they told me it might be an hour. Walked in, and was quoted 25 minutes. Went to get a drink, and they called back in 10 minutes and said the table was ready. Not that I'll ever complain about shorter wait times, but that was a surprise to say the least.
At first glance, the menu seems like it's on the expensive side. But consider that they don't accept gratuity and that the plates are made for sharing. Our waitress told us that usually 2-3 per person is a good start, but we erred on the side of caution and went with 6 dishes among the three of us.
Tip: The menu is basically organized from lightest to most heavy.
What we ordered:
-red snapper ceviche
-octopus with fingerling potatoes, ramps, and chorizo vinaigrette
-seared scallops with roasted lemon and asparagus
-crispy soft shell crab with baby bok choy, sambal and cashews
-Enligsh pea agnolotti with lobster and chanterelles
-stuffed quail with peas, morels and spring onion
There wasn't a miss among the bunch. It was amazing how different and distinct each dish was, which is crucial if you're doing things family style. The highlights were definitely the quail, agnolotti, scallops and octopus. I realize I just named 4/6 of the dishes we ordered, but they were THAT good. The seafood was amazingly fresh (some of the best scallops I've had in my life, hands down). The stuffed quail was tender and cooked perfectly (the peas and onions just melted in your mouth). The flavors of the octopus dish all worked together so well (the chorizo in particular).
They have an ample selection of cocktails, beers and spirits (whiskey in particular). The cocktails are $15 a pop, but again, remember that gratuity is included. When I went, the cocktail menu was dominated by gin. I had the Spring Mill, which was very refreshing for a summer day. It was reminiscent of a Pimm's Cup, but better.
In case you can't tell, I really liked Freek's Mill. To quote my brother-in-law-to-be, "I've never had food like this before!" And he meant that in a very good way. There were also red meat dietary restrictions within our group, but we were still able to piece together an amazing dinner. I can't even begin to imagine how much better it'll be without any limitations.
If you want an excellent meal, you owe it to yourself to go to Freek's Mill while it's still relatively easy to get a table.
I'm seriously considering making it my new go-to third date restaurant. So… start lining up, ladies.
We tried this place out a couple nights ago, had the crispy chicken livers, roasted oysters with lemon, chèvre "flan" (more like a chunk), asparagus Oscar, and carrots with yogurt sauce and peanuts. Food was pretty delicious (carrots were the favorite) and came in reasonable time, but there was nothing to write home about/it wasn't amazing enough to make us need to go back. The service was not totally stellar (bread didn't come out until the first course, waiter forgot my rosé and brought it out ~10 minutes after my husband's cocktail, etc.), but we figured we'd give them somewhat of a break on that since they just opened recently. The cocktail he had-something grapefruity-was delightful, so I'd consider coming back for drinks. Overall, a pretty solid small-plates spot, but hoping it'll get even better in coming months. Good ambiance, would work for a date. And we loved the tips-included pricing!
If you're familiar with the term "hidden-gem" then you'll know what Freek's Mill is all about. Certainly off the beaten path – even in today's growing Gowanus presence in the food scene, Freek's Mill is a freshly arrived, small plate adventure.
Cozy, friendly and inviting are all appropriate adverbs to describe Freek's Mill. From the time you are greeted, seated, presented the menu, introduced to the sommelier, to water refills and the check receipt you are graciously, but not hurriedly, served and cared for. You might think that is antithetical to a "new-age" no tipping restaurant, but thankfully it's not. I'm relatively certain that the staff was appropriately compensated and they demonstrated it.
When I first looked at the menu in the window right after opening I was worried I'd have a hard time finding things I'd enjoy – particularly when I saw several things with nuts in them (I'm allergic). That didn't stop me though, which was great since my wife surprised me by taking me here for a date night. It's always a solid start when you're brought a small (awesome) bread plate with a custom butter slab.
After ordering the Paloma for a cocktail – inclusive of the ice rail that is in it (if you're averse to grapefruit don't order), we started with the highly suggested carrots with yogurt (or yoghurt if you will) and let or waiter know about my nut allergy. He assured us it wasn't a problem and we wouldn't be sorry with our selection. What a treat! Almost all of the carrots were cooked/charred to perfect tenderness that let a wonderful sweetness come through and blend with the yoghurt. We also opted for the steak tartare which was great quality, but nothing overly special.
After a drink, and being adventurous, we decided to move to a bottle of wine. The Georgian white was well described by our excellent sommelier and from tasting to finish was a unique and refreshing journey. If you're not as bold, try a glass!
For our larger plates we choose the parpadelle and the quail. We were talked out of the pork jowl since we do not prefer fatty meat and our excellent waiter explained it. The housemade noodles were just the right texture for the preparation and the ricotta added the perfect amount of creaminess. Quail isn't a large bird but with the bed it is on and the supple stuffing it's a good sized portion. It had soft flavors and lightly crisp texture – a great second.
Finally, and so very worth the room we saved, we opted to split the bread pudding. It was heavenly. Soft and rich with the right hint of fruitiness coming from the rhubarb. However, it was almost too small and I longed for a few more spoonfuls.
Follow your spirit and make your way across Union Street bridge for what is sure to be a worthwhile experience. I'm already looking forward to mine.
A beautiful space with good food.
Gratuity is included, but it is very easy to forget that especially if you're paying with credit card because there is a line for Gratuity and there is no reminder that it is already included.
Came for brunch and was really impressed with the decor. We shared some sides to start. The jalapeño tots ($8) were a standout. Good thing these weren't spicy and just had great flavor. We also shared the biscuits ($8) which were nicely buttered and had a hint of a sweetness.
The grits ($8), lobster omelette ($22), and soft shell crab blt ($20) were all just ok. I would skip it.
The burger ($20) was made well and very flavorful.
I would come back to try the dinner options.
KenScale: 8.5/10
While I try to go to Brooklyn as often as possible, especially during the summer season, my venture is typically limited to Williamsburg and Carroll Garden area. Gowanus is an area that has long eluded me because it doesn't usually have the line-up of restaurants that I would venture far from Manhattan for. When a new restaurant named after an ancient mill that operated in Gowanus back in the pre-Revolutionary War years of 18th century America, it immediately piqued my interest. All sentimental element aside, I've been hearing good words about this place for the seasonal small-plates based dining experience, so after crossing the Brooklyn Bridge on a very hot summer Sunday, figured I could use a nice place to cool off. I couldn't have asked for a better place for a leisurely Sunday dinner.
While the menu at Freek's Mill looks so predictable, none of the dishes that I had tried were boring. In fact, I was very impressed with the elements of surprise and beautiful execution that each dish displayed so well. The citrusy sensation of striped bass ceviche worked wonders with avocado for wonderful mix of flavor. Crispy soft shell crab was another winner, with the tender crab meat that was such a pleasure to eat that my dining companion and I quickly disposed of the entire thing before we knew it! English pea agnolotti pasta with lobster was also an above-average pasta dish that displayed very nice balance of flavor without a ton of heaviness. The winner of the night, however, clearly belonged to dry aged duck with refried cranberry beans and rosemary honey. I always have a liking for perfectly cooked medium rare duck that is very moderately seasoned to give maximum effect to the texture. Freek Mill's duck has already done that; what really separated this dish from other duck dishes that I have had elsewhere is how the cranberry beans gave a rustic touch that was just absolutely sensational. I kept marveling at how the kitchen put together this dish which, despite its simple-looking plating, displayed such complexity of flavor and texture! My dining companion and I were pretty stuffed at this point, but panna cotta with blueberry granite was a light dessert that would end your meal on a perfect note.
Getting a reservation doesn't seem too hard at Freek's Mill but this place has quickly become a neighborhood destination for Brooklynites and the dining space was absolutely packed during my meal; my suggestion is to book early if you can. I absolutely loved the cozy, inviting vibe of the restaurant that is perfect for diners who are looking for serious dining experience without any pretension of some established places in Manhattan. The restaurant has a full bar with French-heavy wine list. Freek's Mill is truly a worthwhile place to visit in Gowanus if you are looking for a casual yet satisfying dinner experience where a lot of seasonal plates with interesting twists here and there will make you come back again. I don't know when I will be in Gowanus next time, but I would definitely love to come back here at some point in the future.
Hard not to give this place 5 stars, my party and I ate almost everything on their menu. Literally we ordered all by three things I believe. Everything was super good!
It was great that when we sat down the waitress informed us of plate sizing and recommended 2-3 plates a person. (Our four person party was at the high end, but we still ate everything!
Highlights:
soft shell crab was most flavorful dish.
BBQ Kolrabi was awesome! I've never had kohlrabi before but the BBQ taste and grits were paired so nicely.
Asparagus Oscar was a table favorite.
The wine sommelier is awesome. He recommended two different Chenin Blancs for the table that were both delicious. (And well priced)
The restaurant is a living wage/no tipping restaurant so the prices might seem high but in the end works out to a reasonably priced meal.
Definitely come! They take reservations. Everyone we interacted with was friendly and knowledgable.