Chefs Walker Stern (formerly of Prospect Heights' The Vanderbilt), and Joseph Ogrodnek (of Greenpoint's Anella) opened Battersby in Carroll Gardens last week
There are connections everywhere in the restaurant world. Alan Harding, Smith Street restaurant pioneer and former chef at Patois, has taken the helm at Littleneck, Gowanus’s brand-new clam shack. What happened to the old Patois space, you ask? Say hello to Battersby.
Battersby is a cozy-looking 30-seat spot at 255 Smith, run by chefs Joseph Ogrodnek (formerly of Anella in Greenpoint) and Walker Stern (from The Vanderbilt in Prospect Heights). Taking inspiration from their previous kitchens (Anella has a small, simple seasonally-driven menu, The Vanderbilt serves seasonal small plates, both serve killer cocktails) Ogrodnek told Grub Street that Battersby will stick with the seasonal approach, serving a ”tight, focused menu, that’s changing all the time.”
Battersby's crisp kale salad with kohlrabi, thai basil and chili - The seasonal menu will change often
Initial offerings include a crisp kale salad with kohlrabi, thai basil and chili; whole wheat strozzapretti with squash, brussels sprouts, brown butter and sage; handmade pappardelle with pork ragu, olives, fall greens and lemon; Chatham cod with coco beans, piquillo peppers, and parsley. Too hard to pick? The kitchen also offers spontaneous tasting menus upon request.
A couple of other ways Battersby fits into the current Brooklyn restaurant fabric? They did the build-out themselves (find pictures here), and they won’t be taking reservations (though they will be taking credit cards. Whew!) So you might want to stop by and before everyone else hears about Battersby and you’re stuck waiting for a table out in the cold!
Battersby, 255 Smith Street between Douglass and Degraw, (718) 852-8321
