Petite Crevette

"Petite Crevette is why people ignore common sense (your studio with no dishwasher costs how much?) and refuse to live anywhere but New York. Petite Crevette is the type of place you could walk past a hundred times without noticing before finally popping in. Petite Crevette is one of those rare neighborhood spots that caters to area locals, without being pretentious or exclusive to outsiders. Petite Crevette is kind of just a fun name to say, and makes you appreciate what a gift Alex Trebek is to all of us. Sitting on a less-than-picturesque block on Union and Hicks (mmm ya smell that? It’s the BQE), this is a local seafood gem with a seriously dedicated following. The dining room is small - it squeezes in maybe 20 bodies at a time - and often crowded. But the two aren't necessarily related. There are plenty of cutesy, quaint places in this area, and few of them see the same kind of nightly turnover. The menu isn’t huge, but there are enough reliable fresh fish dishes that you can come back again and again without having to reorder the same thing. Yes, cash-only is annoying, but a [perfect_for slug="byob"]BYOB[/perfect_for] policy with a very minimal corking fee ($5 last time we went in, and no charge the second time) makes up for it in a big way. Plus there's no need to schlep stuff in advance thanks to a bodega on the nearby corner for beer, and a wine shop around the way for a bottle. Like any good local spot, Petite Crevette is full of character. The dining room looks like the owner went to a yard sale and just bought the entire lot, with an assortment of knickknacks placed at random. You know, put the mannequin down here, hang the bird clock over there, and just chuck that hub cap wherever. Oh, and the chef has been known to throw lobster at fussy customers who question the freshness of his product. Like we said, a neighborhood place full of character(s). Food Rundown Wild Mushrooms Solid veggie starter if you're in the mood. A mix of mushrooms sautéed up in a sherry vinaigrette sauce. A good share for the table. Corn Crab Chowder Holy sh Fried Oysters Oyster first, fried second, these are my new favorite fried oysters. Most fried oysters are heavy on the fry, light on the oyster, but not these. This plate of five-to-seven oysters are coated in a little bit of breadcrumbs and then seemingly flash instead of deep fried so they have a little crunch without being anywhere near greasy. The oyster still shines. And boy does it shine. Cioppino with Seafood A light, tomato-based fish stew. Chock full of seafood, with half a meaty lobster (don't sleep on the swimmies), two scallops, two shrimps, and a healthy dose of mussels. A very good sampler of the seafood, and something almost every table seems to order. Thai Curry A bit odd to see a Thai curry on the menu at this place, but it is a very good rendition. The reddish-yellow curry is a solid mix of sweet-and-heat, but as with everything else in this place, the fish does the heavy lifting. Instead of the thinly pounded chicken or beef you are used to in your curries, this dish comes with a healthy portion of perfectly cooked, flaky cod. The curry is excellent, but the cod is a solid meal on its own. Burgers Beef, salmon, and tuna varieties. If you are simply in the mood to eat with your hands, go for one of these. That said, if you want salmon or tuna, you might as well get the entree version instead of the burger as the portion is a bit smaller and the bun is pretty worthless. Side of fries were done up nicely though. Whole Fish They have a daily serving of Dorado, Branzino, and a wildcard (think Snapper, Porgy, Cod). Grilled up nice and barely filleted, you should plan on getting your hands dirty picking your way through this guy. It's tasty if you throw enough lemon on it, but not the best whole fish we've ever had. One too many dry bites to score an A. Skirt Steak Cooked well and full of flavor. If you really don't want to eat seafood (that's sad), this is a solid entree option." - Ben Kopelman

"Petite Crevette is a French seafood restaurant located in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn." - Luke Fortney

"Relaxed and unassuming, this cheery neighborhood seafood spot in Red Hook lists its fresh catch on a blackboard. At Petite Crevette, there are simple wooden tables, mismatched chairs, and random knick-knacks scattered about, but the room and service are homey and the BYOB policy keeps it particularly affordable. Simple preparations run the gamut from fried oysters to cioppino (fish stew) to Thai curry." - Beth Landman