Best Restaurants for Local Ingredients in Gowanus

Beautiful restaurant with outstanding service. The food is spotty. The fried chicken was dried and overcooked - had to send it back. The sweet potato bread was bland and in desperate need of the delicious accompanying herb butter. The burger was very good but hardly "the best in the city" as our server informed us. The mushroom pizza with it's bountiful array of earthy, "freshly foraged" mushrooms atop a crispy wheat crust was excellent. The fact that you pay a king's ransom for the pleasure of dining at this Jean-Georges Vongerichten restaurant made it somewhat disappointing. I'm happy I went but wouldn't go back.

Outstanding service, all of the staff works together seamlessly. The octopus appetizer was delicious and we had a very good and reasonably priced bottle of red wine. The standout for me was the swordfish special, one of the best restaurant dishes I have eaten in a long time. It was super juicy and flavorful. I tasted my companions squid ink pasta and the dish was bursting with flavor. We had a great time and very pleasant experience.

Aska delivers an extraordinary culinary journey in a beautifully restored 1860s Williamsburg warehouse. Chef Fredrik Berselius masterfully blends Scandinavian traditions with local Northeast ingredients in a refined 12-14 course tasting menu. The intimate setting of just 10 tables creates the perfect ambiance, with impeccable yet approachable service. Each dish showcases subtle, delicate flavors that reflect both technical excellence and creative innovation. While portions are modest, the expertly crafted dishes and wine pairings create an unforgettable fine dining experience worthy of its two Michelin stars.

The food was very good. Delicious PEI Pink moon oysters and other great selections. Hamachi crudo was great and I love the idea of local fresh ingredients. I’m glad we came- the halibut was a little too hard on the outside for me but the inside was nicely cooked. Brussels and potato purée were simply delicious. The brûlée cheesecake and cappuccino to finish helped power the 20 block walk home! It’s up there with the best of the restaurants I’ve been to. Prices were a little high but that’s what you expect in NYC.

It was a wonderful Christmas dinner! Food was excellent and the whole service crew was very friendly and attentive. Special thanks to Jasmine who has been phenomenal! We learned about the Christmas cabin from her the last time we were at the restaurant!