The Snail
American restaurant · Greenpoint
544 Manhattan Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11222
Highlights
Upscale American bistro with expertly executed classics, great cocktails
Upscale American bistro with expertly executed classics, great cocktails
"A Brooklyn bistro serving a “chocosu,” a riff that recalls chocoflan: tiramisu assembled atop a dramatic charcoal-black chocolate cake. The combination feels like a worthwhile evolution of tiramisu — more than a slight tweak, a bold reinterpretation that still leans on the dessert’s essential appeal." - Bettina Makalintal
"The chef at this hot Brooklyn spot previously worked for the group behind 4 Charles Prime Rib, and the two restaurant’s burgers have a lot in common: a pair of nicely seared patties smothered in creamy cheese, with absurdly thin mandolined pickles. The Snail’s version is great. But it's not great enough to justify the two-hour wait for a table, especially given how inconsistent the rest of the paint-by-numbers trendy menu (steak frites, shrimp cocktail, house martini) tends to be. Verdict: Good burger, but not worth the hassle till the hype dies down." - bryan kim, team infatuation, molly fitzpatrick, garrett snyder, candis mclean, john ringor, bryan kim, aimee rizzo, juli horsford, julia chen 1
"Dining at The Snail is like going on a first date with someone who’s already stalked you on the internet, and is now telling you what your interests are. Candles flicker and ’90s hip-hop plays over a reel-to-reel, and you’ll find the kind of TGI Friday’s-esque menu that’s inescapably trendy in NYC. In addition to a house martini (now required by municipal law), this Greenpoint spot serves food to appease a picky child: cheeseburgers, pasta, and shrimp cocktail. As with anyone whose personality feels manufactured for likability, we find The Snail’s appeal a little shallow. But hey, the burger is very good. Piggybacking on trends might be a safe play, but it’s paying off. The Snail is a hot restaurant. It's walk-in only, with people waiting upwards of two hours at peak times. And even that wait feels calculated to appeal. There’s nothing today’s diners love more than the exclusivity of a line, if only because it gives us something to complain about over brunch, after waiting in a different line. photo credit: Kate Previte photo credit: Kate Previte photo credit: Kate Previte photo credit: Kate Previte photo credit: Kate Previte Pause Unmute What you'll see on most tables is the burger, and with good reason. The chef previously worked for the same restaurant group as 4 Charles Prime Rib, and even side by side, it’d be hard to differentiate between the swanky West Village restaurant’s version, which is NYC burger royalty, and the juicy, cheesy specimen served here (minus the egg). But there are a lot of good burgers in this city. Is this one worth all the fuss? Not necessarily. We’d sooner brave the equally daunting waits at Bernie's, just across the street. Not only would we take the chicken parm there over anything on this menu, but the nostalgia-themed immersive theater of Bernie's red-checkered tablecloths and frosted beer mugs is a much more memorable experience. But if a more-glamorous-than-usual Greenpoint dinner out is what you're looking for—where the exclusivity of the line only enhances the experience—you'll have a good time at The Snail. Otherwise, go right when it opens on a weekday, wait till the hype cools down, or cross your fingers they start taking reservations. Food Rundown Chips & Ham This ideal drinking snack (much like the one served at Ernesto’s) pairs nicely with an octopus gilda-topped martini, so you can really commit to pretending you’re in Spain. photo credit: Kate Previte Escargot The restaurant is called The Snail, after all—how could they resist? But you don’t need to order this. The garlicky parsley butter is nice, but the snails themselves are rubbery. photo credit: Angie Chavez Shrimp Cocktail The most important thing to know about these lemony, plump shrimp is that they’re served over ice, with a lit candle flickering in the middle of the platter. Romantic. photo credit: Kate Previte Caesar Salad The Snail makes a good one—with radicchio leaves for color and bitterness, fried capers for crunch, and an aggressive, though not unwelcome, showering of pecorino. “Fancy” anchovies are an extra $5, if you’d like some additional funk. photo credit: Kate Previte Double Cheeseburger The reason you’re here. Two nicely seared but still juicy patties smothered in creamy cheese, with thinly mandolined pickles on a toasted brioche bun. Fries aren’t included, but they’re well seasoned, crisp yet fluffy, and worth ordering. photo credit: Kate Previte Steak Frites Au Poivre The steak is cooked to a gorgeous ruby mid-rare, but the au poivre sauce is inconsistent—sometimes it’s as sweet as mulled wine. Sometimes it finishes too bitter. Desserts The Sticky Toffee Date Cake with a luscious caramel sauce (sweet, but not cloying) and the Spanish Sundae with hot fudge, marcona almonds, and heavy glug of olive oil are both excellent choices. Just skip the Chocosu, a dry chocolate cake-tiramisu hybrid." - Molly Fitzpatrick
"If Bernie’s is overflowing and you just need steak frites, shrimp cocktail, and a martini, The Snail, which is nearby in Greenpoint, also serves many of these things. Right off McCarren park, this American bistro from a former Saraghina chef also does things like tuna carpaccio and tiramisu." - will hartman, bryan kim
"Opened in November at 544 Manhattan Avenue in Greenpoint, this new bistro comes from Austin Baker, an alum of the Hogsalt restaurant group in Chicago (known for spots like the burger destination Au Cheval) and, more recently, Saraghina Pizzeria in Brooklyn. What should have been a prime location with spillover from McCarren Park has been a challenge for restaurants over the years; the space at one point housed the restaurant Annicka. The place is walk-ins-only, and the reviewer's experience illustrates the demand: though dinner service doesn't start until 5 p.m., the line at 4:39 p.m. on a recent Saturday was about 30 people and by opening had stretched to Driggs Avenue; the reviewer put a name in at 5:12 p.m., was quoted a wait of about 1.5 hours, received a text when a table opened and was seated by 6:30 p.m. The text system keeps the entry area from congesting, and despite the initial crush the room felt "surprisingly chill and charming" — upbeat, rhythmic music at a conversation-friendly volume, snug but not cramped tables, low but adequate lighting and a wall of windows facing the park; interiors favor simple white walls, hanging plants and light wood, anchored by a horseshoe bar in front of an open kitchen. Service was comfortably paced, making it a good date-night option. The bar lists only a "house martini" (vodka or gin) that can be topped with an octopus Gilda for a $5 upcharge, a selection of wine and beer, and some "spirit-free" options. Food-wise the reviewer calls it a "New York Happy Meal" kind of place — an unchallenging, hits-driven menu that nonetheless executes classics well: snacky plates like a tower of chips layered with Broadbent ham ($13) and the namesake escargot served with classic parsley-garlic butter and a baguette from nearby Nick & Sons ($23); raw crudos including a cracker topped with silky tuna and avocado ($19); the shrimp cocktail ($19); a Caesar ($19) with a generous "blanket of grated Parm" and crispy capers; three pastas including tender, crab-filled cappelletti in orange saffron beurre blanc (seven pieces for $29); a popular cheeseburger; and a steak frites au poivre (eight ounces for $45) whose sauce the reviewer found properly savory and peppery on this visit after previously hearing it skewed too sweet. Desserts riff gently — the "chocosu," a dense, strikingly black chocolate cake topped with tiramisu, is restrained in sweetness and pairs well with a boozy finish (the house espresso martini leans toward a carajillo). The overall takeaway: unchallenging dishes, done well — not necessarily destination-worthy, but the sort of spot the reviewer could see themselves returning to if the crowds move on. For a more relaxed visit the staff advised going on a Wednesday or Sunday night; asking about a later drop-in earned the candid warning, "Three to four hours," from the host (the restaurant closes at 10 p.m.)." - Bettina Makalintal
