Cotra

"There’s a Japanese izakaya in Gowanus that’s making wood-fired corn ribs in a converted pizza oven. If that doesn’t sound like the most quintessential Brooklyn statement, we’re not sure what does. Either way, it’s what’s happening at Cotra, a restaurant from the team behind Bed-Stuy’s Trad Room. You'll find the leather booths and exposed brick of long-time neighborhood favorite Monte’s still here, as well as the oven—the sushi chef experiments with Japanese-style pizza. With its flickering candles and mismatched chandeliers, this place is great for a casual date night over a bowl of noodles with someone who will agree to the carafe of house sake even when they said they were taking the night off. Or have yourself a solo evening at the bar up front, with a cocktail and some mochiko chicken. photo credit: Cotra Food Rundown Addictive Cabbage This one is entirely self explanatory. Ok, we'll help. Tart, marinated cabbage remains perfectly crisp. A salt-and-vinegar chip in cabbage form. Start your meal here. photo credit: Cotra Sake Kasu Caesar Of all the alternative caesar salads we've ingested (so many alternative caesar salads), this one stands out. The asian pear is the perfect balance to the salty parm, and fried lotus root is a standout substitute for croutons. Sushi Roll Cotra has a whole section of their menu devoted to sushi, but we'd skip it. The rolls are all pretty standard, and they're made with brown rice, which isn't our thing. Stick to the rest of the menu. photo credit: Cotra Soft Shell Crab Mazemen If this is available, you should be eating it. Noodles in a ginger scallion sauce, hiding under a whole fried soft shell crab. This and a carafe of house sake could be your whole meal. It shouldn't, because you need the addictive cabbage too, but it could." - Willa Moore