Masquerade

"Walk under the shadow of the JMZ tracks and find Masquerade. From the onset it might look like just another Williamsburg bar, but it is so much more: a music-filled lodge and easygoing social space (no surprise since the owners are in a band). The Persian lounge is tastefully laid back. Drinks are peppered with Persian flair like pomegranate, saffron, mint, cardamom. Their casual food menu changes more frequently, a mix of larger entrees and snacks — all meant to be shared. When it’s on the menu, the ash reshteh is a must-order. It’s a hearty Persian noodle soup filled with legumes, beans, dried mint, and signature Persian kashk. Soup at the bar? Yes." - Samir Ferdowsi

"Masquerade is a Williamsburg bar where you'll find people dancing under red lights and a disco ball until 2am on Saturday nights. But we'd suggest stopping by earlier in the evening so you can get a full dinner. There’s a short menu of Iranian mezze, like mast-o-moosir and creamy kashke bademjan, plus some bigger entrees, like juicy apricot chicken on a mound of crispy tahdig. Once you’ve eaten, it’s time to order another rosewater Negroni and dance on their super-cute back patio. " - neha talreja

"On Saturday nights until 2am, you'll find underground DJs and a Williamsburg crowd wearing short fringes and very expensive sneakers in the all-red room at Masquerade. But this bar is also a restaurant, with Iranian-inspired cocktails—which incorporate ingredients like saffron, cardamom, and pomegranate—and a short menu of small plates and entrees, like the creamy mast-o-moosir full of Persian shallots, or juicy apricot chicken. You can eat at the bar or bigger tables inside, but they’ve also got a great back patio that stays on-theme with red-tiled tables and lanterns. Once you’ve eaten, order another rosewater Negroni to keep you company under the disco ball. photo credit: Alex Staniloff photo credit: Alex Staniloff photo credit: Alex Staniloff Food Rundown photo credit: Alex Staniloff Spicy Saffron Prawns These pack an impressive amount of saffron and chile flavor. After you eat the plump prawn meat, slurp more saffron seasoning right out of the shell. photo credit: Alex Staniloff Tahchin We wouldn’t mind an all-rice birthday cake if it tasted like tahchin. This mound of rice is crispy on the outside, with a yolky, custard-like interior, and you can cut it into slices like a cake or casserole. Masquerade’s version tastes great thanks to the saffron-infused rice crust, though it can get a tad dry. We recommend ordering a yogurt-heavy mezze with this, like the mast-o-moosir. photo credit: Alex Staniloff Chicken Leg This chicken is nice and juicy, with a sweet and sour thing going on from the apricot, saffron, and pomegranate sauce underneath. photo credit: Alex Staniloff Rosewater Negroni This is a Persian spot, so naturally, you’re going to consume some rosewater. It blends beautifully with a floral gin in this drink, and they add extra rose petals to perfume the air around you." - Neha Talreja

"Masquerade is an Iranian tapas bar located in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. It is part of the expanding scene of Iranian culinary options in Brooklyn." - Robert Sietsema

"Masquerade is a bar where you'll find underground DJs and your typical Williamsburg crowd wearing short fringes and dirty white sneakers. But the Iranian cocktails and food bring something truly new to the neighborhood. They currently have a short menu of mezze like hot-pink mast-o-laboo and creamy kashk o bademjoon, which comes with sangak bread from beloved New Jersey Persian bakery Gandom. We especially love the small mound of crispy tahchin and its yolky, custard-like inside. " - Bryan Kim, Kenny Yang, Nikko Duren, Matt Tervooren