Bar Bolinas
Permanently Closed
Californian-inspired seafood & fare, beachy vibes, redwood bar
Californian-inspired seafood & fare, beachy vibes, redwood bar
"Named after the beloved northern California surf town whose residents are notorious for removing road signs to deter tourists, Bar Bolinas brings the northern California vibe to Brooklyn (including its Dutch Crunch rolls!), but without the attitude. The eclectic menu is carefully curated with its California roots crisscrossing into Mexican and Asian territory from time to time, making for a unique and delicious meal that will appeal to even the most discerning palate. Pair a hand-picked rosé with a summer dinner on the back patio, an unusual cocktail with snacks for a cozy evening at the bar, or a latté with brunch in the light-filled back room—all providing a momentary escape from Brooklyn without traveling too far." - Makewell
"This might be our favorite restaurant in all of Brooklyn, and is definitely our favorite in the Navy Yard. A new addition to the neighborhood Bar Bolinas serves various small plates during dinner more on the vegetarian side. During brunch you can indulge in the fried chicken sandwich in NYC. If your going to pick a place to eat in the area, this should be it." - Adam Brodowski & Clara Bunker
"We’ve always believed that if a restaurant can’t be great at everything, it will be most valuable if it can figure out how to be really good at one thing. Sort of like a Silicon Valley start up, but with an actual business model. Bar Bolinas’ one thing is eating a burger outside. This Clinton Hill restaurant from the team behind Allswell does that very well. The burger here is a unique creation, mostly in that it’s served on Dutch Crunch bread, which has a sweet crust on the outside of the otherwise soft bun. It’s a very interesting, very good hamburger, and it comes with very good fries. It can be consumed anywhere in this small Myrtle Avenue restaurant, but it is best consumed on Bar Bolinas’ excellent patio, ideally for lunch when things are less crowded than they can be at night. That’s not to say that there aren’t other good things to eat at Bar Bolinas. It’s a solid neighborhood restaurant with nice people, good drinks, and occasionally excellent desserts. But lots of places have those things. Nobody else has this burger and that patio. Get it in your portfolio. Food Rundown Cheeseburger A tasty burger with a big fat patty, some cheese, a big pickled onion, and the aforementioned Dutch Crunch bread for interesting texture and a bit of sweetness. Oysters Start with a dozen, finish with a burger, repeat. Green Chile Coconut Soup The soups at Bar Bolinas are always interesting, and this one is made up of liquified green chiles and coconut and hopefully a little Pepto. Tagliarini with Roasted Cherry Tomatoes & Ricotta Salata A nice, light pasta that we’d come eat once in a while if we lived nearby. Don’t feel the need to travel for it. Summer Fruit Crumble With Fennel Custard Dessert options at Bar Bolinas are few but generally worth it. This fruit crumble is basically what you’d expect it to be, except for the fennel custard which...tastes like fennel." - Chris Stang
"Bar Bolinas is very good for exactly one thing: eating a burger outside. The ivy-covered back patio is the ideal place to get involved with the thick burger on Dutch Crunch that they serve here." - katherine lewin, hillary reinsberg
"Has everything you’d want in a neighborhood spot: good energy, ample seating, and an eccentric but considered menu to accommodate a range of appetites. The spicy fried chicken sandwich and a grain bowl with green stuff are highlights. The Teen Angel, a bourbon cocktail topped off with pamplemousse rose, is a must-try drink." - Stefanie Tuder