September 30th, 2007
Apropos Cafe is a quaint little wine/panini spot in Park Slope. I checked it out last week when visiting a friend who recently moved there. Overall, I wouldn’t travel far to get to Apropos but if you find yourself in the neighborhood it’s not a bad place to know about. The restaurant is casual with exposed brick walls, a handful of tables, and a small bar. The menu consists of small salads, pizzas, bruschettas, and paninis with Italian influences. We started with a meat and cheese plate consisting of sopressata, montrachet, and piave vecchio (an Italian cow’s milk cheese). The platter was rather meager with four tiny crostinis for the three of us and a smatter of each cheese and meat. Honestly, it felt a bit cheap to me and the crostinis had nothing to offer in terms of added flavor. Someone should tell these folks to spring for some nicer bread. Afterwards we shared two personal pizzas: a portabella with garlic-shallot puree and pecorino fresco then a gorgonzola with caramelized onions and arugula. The pizzas were tasty enough but once again seemed lacking in flavors- the arugula was thrown on top without any seasoning and added nothing to the pizza. The wide open spaces between toppings didn’t add anything either. We shared an espresso- banana bread pudding to round out the meal (and fill ourselves up) which was nicely made though the ground espresso beans thrown on top seemed a bit silly. Just call it a banana bread pudding! They did have a thoughtful selection of wines with a decent assortment by the glass which I appreciated. I do have to say that the meal was incredibly affordable, a nice departure from a typical meal in Manhattan in that aspect.
Apropos Cafe- 186 5th Avenue at Sackett , Park Slope Brooklyn
Cuisine- Italian, Small Plates
Filed under Cafe, Restaurant Reviews |
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I will say that this was one of the few times I didn’t think gorgonzola was gross.
Wow, your review made absolutely no sense to me. I really had difficulty telling what your opinion is.
I’ve been there MANY times since most of my friends live in park slope and have always been amazed by the food. I don’t really know what you expect from a small little cozy cafe like Apropos.
You said things like “tasty” then “lacking in flavor” (tasty means it has a good flavor sweetie) and then things like “cheap” (in a negative sense) and then “incredibly affordable” (in a positive light).
Your critiques are very contradicting and confusing. Perhaps you did find the portions “cheap” but you said you bought the small cheese plate for THREE people? Then between THREE people you split only TWO PERSONAL pizzas. I dont really believe the restaurant is the cheap one to be honest. I totally understand taste testing things but this isnt TGI Fridays where the portions are huge for the price. The portions are adequate for one human being to eat not three. By the way, the piave vecchio im sure could be made by any other nationality of cow not just an italian one however yes it is an Italian cheese.
As someone who has gone there often (6 times to be exact) I talk to the people who work in the kitchen and ask them how they make things cuz I enjoy finding new ways to cook. Everything they make there is freshly made. I taste great flavor in their breads and cheeses. It tastes home cooked and the service there makes you feel comfortable.
I did tell that you enjoyed yourself at the restaurant you sound like you liked it yet were capable of speaking poorly of the place at the same time. Its a small wine cafe that serves great food for the price you pay. You sound like they gave you everything you expected yet you wanted more. You got what you should have for the price and should be content with that. Three people? One cheese plate? Really now? Seriously?
My apologies but it annoys people when they see hypocritical reviews on places they know deserve better. I know everyone I recommend that place to come back thankful I mentioned it. I came upon your blog reviews because a friend of mine mentioned you had some good ones. Then I saw this one and was shocked. I mean a restarant reviewer is normally more precise but then again I know youre not a professional food critique just someone with an opinion so I shall leave it at that.
Hi Natalia-
I appreciate your comment and I actually am pleased to have struck a nerve and to initiate a dialogue here. I’m sorry that I was disappointed with a place that you know and love. I will address some of your points:
- I used the word “cheap” to describe the portion sizes, not the prices. I don’t appreciate your tone as I’m very aware of what cheap means. I said the prices were affordable because I was trying to say something positive. Apropos had specifically asked me for a review and I guess I felt guilty bashing it completely, knowing they will be seeing my critique. Perhaps that was weak of me, but I chose to have a heart about it.
- The pizzas were “tasty enough” meaning that they were OK given the fact that like you said, it’s a “small wine cafe” but I felt that they missed the bar in flavor in some aspects i.e. the tasteless arugula on top. Something as simple as adding some balsamic or even salt to arugula does not cost anything and it would have made a world of difference.
- I never said we needed huge portions but giving four (small) pieces of bread to three people with a cheese plate was stingy. Whether it is designed for 2 people or 8, it would have been nice for them to add in a couple more pieces of bread. Once again it’s not difficult, it just requires some extra thought on their part. Also, we did not order a “small” cheese plate, there was only one size so I expected more. Had there been a large, we would have ordered it.
- Part of a waiter’s job is to guide his patrons in their choices. If our cheese plate and two pizzas was not adequate for three people, he could have given us some direction. Given it was our first visit, we had no way of knowing how large the pizzas would be. The term “personal” can vary greatly across restaurants.
- “Italian” was not a modifier of cow it was a modifier of “cheese” and remarks of that nature do not benefit anybody.
- I’m glad the breads are freshly made but I stick to my original opinion about them.
I am capable of enjoying myself somewhere while making constructive criticism without being hypocritical. This is what I’ve done here. I hope I’ve shed some light on some of your questions.
[...] recent situation that has recently developed with reference to a restaurant review. Specifically, a post about Apropos Cafe. I am not and do not claim to be, a professional food critic. I have no ads on [...]
Natalia sucks. Don’t hate cuz you don’t know betch. ERIKA RULES!!