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✔️Lunch ✔️Dinner ✔️Dine in
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Hours
| Friday | 5–10 PM |
| Saturday | 11 AM–10 PM |
| Sunday | 11 AM–10 PM |
| Monday | Closed |
| Tuesday | Closed |
| Wednesday | 5–10 PM |
| Thursday | 5–10 PM |
Address and Contact Information
Address: 293 Van Brunt St, Brooklyn, NY 11231
Website: http://kesnewyork.com/
Menu Photos
Order and Reservations
Reservations: resy.com
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kesnewyork.com
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Café Kestrel – Brooklyn – a MICHELIN Guide Restaurant
Café Kestrel occupies a diminutive space in Brooklyn’s Red Hook neighborhood, but what is lacks in size it more than makes up for with thoughtful culinary …
Reviews
Nancy Liang
My family and I walked in over Labor Day weekend for brunch on Sunday and loved everything about this place (the food, the garden) except for the service. My boyfriend and I both work in hospitality so we appreciate great service, but we’re not unrealistic with our expectations. We just appreciate kind people who aren’t overbearing or pressing, but the woman who served us was so cold and rude, it truly made us feel uncomfortable. There was no warm greeting, not even a smile, she barely spoke a word to us the entire time we were there. We were one of two tables in the garden and there were 3 tables in the front, so it’s not like she was busy or anything. The 3 of us ordered the dandelion salad, French toast, poached eggs entree, zucchini blossoms, bacon and hasbrowns. Our server didn’t check on us once. Never asked how our meal was, if we needed anything, literally not a word. She literally just took our order, put the plates down and we never heard from her again. The service was very robotic, truly it was like a robot was serving us, because there was just nothing personable about it. There are a lot of places in NY with good food, but it’s the service that sets it apart. I dont think we’ll be returning or recommending this place.
… moreJames Kuznecoff
I’d say this place is really good value in NYC. For me, everything pictured here (split with my friend) represented about $75 (including tip).
The experience is very similar to eating in a Parisian bistro, with the tables being right next to each other in a small environment. The upside to that is that the service was very good—shout out to the staff who were consistently filling my water since I drink a lot
For the food, I was very impressed by the “toast” which is just a grilled baguette. I really like the charred flavor that was imparted onto the bread, which I would gladly have eaten on its own.
We were both surprised by the cafe salad, where the cheese blindsided us. We assumed it was going to be something like butternut squash, but were pleasantly surprised by how everything came together. It was a rather unusual combination that just worked.
I really enjoyed the swordfish due to how deeply charred it was.
One thing that my friend and I do at the end of these types of meals is to rank the dishes. Something that he pointed out with this establishment was that the variance of the enjoyment of our dishes was actually quite low—our favorite dish was not too far away from our least favorite dish. This observation I believe perfectly encapsulates the experience to be had here: everything is very well executed, and it’s unlikely that any individual item will leave one unsatisfied.
I give this place my recommendation, but be sure to make a reservation in advance.
… moreThe experience is very similar to eating in a Parisian bistro, with the tables being right next to each other in a small environment. The upside to that is that the service was very good—shout out to the staff who were consistently filling my water since I drink a lot
For the food, I was very impressed by the “toast” which is just a grilled baguette. I really like the charred flavor that was imparted onto the bread, which I would gladly have eaten on its own.
We were both surprised by the cafe salad, where the cheese blindsided us. We assumed it was going to be something like butternut squash, but were pleasantly surprised by how everything came together. It was a rather unusual combination that just worked.
I really enjoyed the swordfish due to how deeply charred it was.
One thing that my friend and I do at the end of these types of meals is to rank the dishes. Something that he pointed out with this establishment was that the variance of the enjoyment of our dishes was actually quite low—our favorite dish was not too far away from our least favorite dish. This observation I believe perfectly encapsulates the experience to be had here: everything is very well executed, and it’s unlikely that any individual item will leave one unsatisfied.
I give this place my recommendation, but be sure to make a reservation in advance.
Vincent Esposito
Top tier food, service and setting. The garden seating is cool, even on the hottest NYC night. Highly recommend the yellowfin tuna app and the steak (set with a beautiful layered potato pave and chimichurri sauce). The staff is attentive and helpful without ever feeling pressing or overbearing. Will definitely be back!
… moreLori Lam
this place is such a gem! i love how intimate and cozy it felt, it was perfect for date night. highlights on the menu were the baguette with seaweed butter (so good), yellowfin tuna with blood orange & avocados, and the apricot cake (a must). will have to come back to try their spring menu next.
… moreLuis Garcia
The ambience at Cafe Kestrel is lovely — warm and stylish. We sat at the bar, though, and it honestly felt more like sitting at a workstation than a comfortable dining spot. The music throughout the night was great, but since the speakers were right above our heads, we had to raise our voices to talk.
We both really enjoyed the wines — they were well chosen and paired nicely with our meal. Unfortunately, the food didn’t live up to the setting or the prices. The fried mussels were drenched in oil to the point that you could barely taste the mussels. The salad verte was the best dish of the night, and the beans with anchovies were also very tasty.
We also ordered the scallops, chicken with dates, and trout, but every single dish was heavy with oil. We ended up drinking a ton of water just to get rid of the greasy coating in our mouths. When I walked by the kitchen on the way to the restroom, I noticed other plates going out looked the same — all shimmering with oil.
Overall, the vibe and wine are great, but the food quality and execution really miss the mark for the price. Hopefully they can refine the cooking, because the place itself has a lot of potential.
… moreWe both really enjoyed the wines — they were well chosen and paired nicely with our meal. Unfortunately, the food didn’t live up to the setting or the prices. The fried mussels were drenched in oil to the point that you could barely taste the mussels. The salad verte was the best dish of the night, and the beans with anchovies were also very tasty.
We also ordered the scallops, chicken with dates, and trout, but every single dish was heavy with oil. We ended up drinking a ton of water just to get rid of the greasy coating in our mouths. When I walked by the kitchen on the way to the restroom, I noticed other plates going out looked the same — all shimmering with oil.
Overall, the vibe and wine are great, but the food quality and execution really miss the mark for the price. Hopefully they can refine the cooking, because the place itself has a lot of potential.
Rob Iracane
They welcomed us in, despite us being covered with snow and having no reservations, for a delightful meal midday on a wintery Saturday. The poached egg dish and smoked salmon dish were both attractive and well-composed. The star of both dishes were the potato sides. We appreciated the lovely and cozy atmosphere and the friendly service.
… moreZiggy
Best thing to open in Red Hook since Hometown. Just flawless. Get the chicken, cod, sausage, cafe salad, and thank me later. Full report on eatingwithziggy
… moreJedd Levin
Hostess was rude when we tried to sit for an early brunch at 11:30, saying they were fully booked until 1:30. Resy showed plenty of availability, and there were at least two open tables. We came in with well-behaved kids, which likely played a role in how we were treated. Decided to leave rather than book to prove a point.
… moreErick Marquardt De Araujo
My gf and I went there last night, and unfortunately we got pretty sick. We got scallops, swordfish, and salad – all usual suspects for this kind of poisoning. The service was a little pushy, they try to upsell more food then you actually need. And the place is very tight – if you go in couples, I advise you to become friends with your table neighbors as they will hear everything you say anyways.
… moreSophie W
My friend and I had such a wonderful dinner at Cafe Kestral. The food was incredible, the flavors were unique, and it is a quiet, cozy atmosphere – what a gem! We will be back.
… more