Alibi

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I like the fact that the developers and operators have attempted to recognize the historic significance of the building through their naming of the hotel (Liberty), restaurant (the Clink), and this lounge (Alibi). Reportedly, they have even sought to preserve the structure by building out conference rooms in the meeting area in a way that allows for easy dismantling of those elements without injuring the core building.

Anyway, I digress...I met a few friends here for drinks on a recent Friday night. They'd been there for a few hours, having secured a table in the front of the lounge prior to the reservation period. Unfortunately, they had a very busy waitress who informed them of the 8 p.m. reservations policy in a less-than-professional way. The good thing is that the GM, Dimitria, quickly diffused the situation and comped my party a round of drinks - standard but appreciated treatment.

Overall, the scene is more akin to the boutique lounge scene that was popularized for the mainstream by the W and Rande Gerber's establishments. As such, you get the feeling that you've been in this place before. Nothing spectacular about it but still enjoyable with the right company. Plus, the people watching is nice.

From a menu perspective, I found that some of the offerings were a bit heavy for a hotel lounge. High-end cheese fries (basically, french fries with parm. cheese), medium-sized pizzas, potstickers, etc. I got the feeling that I was in some suburban or Midwestern cookie-cutter hangout as a result of this. Similarly, the drinks were standard fare - no superb creativity in the drink menu but it was adequate.

The music was a bit quirky, sounding more like my iPod on shuffle than anything else. I prefer a more coherent mix - even if the genres are varied. Going from The Cure to Bill Withers to The White Stripes only works when you have a DJ like Mark Ronson or Diplo ensuring that the mash-up is right. Otherwise, it just sounds like a bunch of songs.

All-in-all, it was a decent experience. I would go back but mainly for the people watching...

Prune

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LOVE this place. It's been open for sometime yet it still draws crowds. Here's a tip: get there before it opens on the weekends. We were there at 10 minutes before opening on a Sunday and there was already a line outside the place. Fortunately, we made it inside on the first seating.

The food is quite delicious and well-presented. While the portions are consistent with most restaurants that cater to the middle/upper-income crowd, they are perfect for those who don't want to feel bloated at the end of a meal.

I'd suggest starting with the merveilles (deep-fried pastries dusted with powdered sugar). The serving is enough for three people. These were YUMMY.

My two dining companions had omelettes while I had a standard bacon, soft-scrambled eggs, potatoes rosti, and english muffin. The eggs were delicious, cooked with parsley and other spices. I must admit that this dish was the weakest of the three, but that's because bacon, eggs, potatoes, and english muffin is a rather ho-hum combination for anyone.

One of the omelettes was to die for. It was made with carraway seeds and sour cream. Perfect pairing. The creamy tartness of the sour cream was contrasted with the licorice-like goodness of the seeds, rounded out by the texture of the eggs. I'm getting hungry just thinking about that again.

The other omelette was not on the menu but was still quite tasty. It was made with smoked salmon and cream cheese. The smoked salmon there is great. I think they get it from Russ and Daughters, a well-known family deli in the East Village.

Service was great. We received an adequate amount of attention but never felt rushed, even though there was a line outside waiting for seating during the prime brunch hour. I'd definitely go back and can't wait to try dinner there!

Grimaldi's

Was this useful? +1

Better than Lombardi's, for sure. I LOVE to get pizza here whenever possible. Unfortunately, so do most of the tourists when they are on their "Brooklyn tour." This place serves classic NY-style pizza (as if there's any other kind). The crust is thin and perfectly balanced between crisp and chewy. The ingredients are always abundant, yet not overwhelming. I can't say enough good things about this place. They only get four stars because they don't deliver, which is tough unless you live in Brooklyn Heights or DUMBO.

Word of advice: be prepared for a long wait if you go on a weekend. Lines are typically very long. One alternative is to call ahead for take out and either drive there or catch a cab from there so your pie doesn't get cold.