Review: Brooklyn Star, Williamsburg's rising star of a restaurant

(Pictures courtesy of Carey Jones from Seriouseats.com)

Upon entering the Brooklyn Star in its secluded, off the beaten path location in Williamsburg, you get an almost instantaneous cozy and comforting feel as the likes of Bob Dylan and The Strokes play in the background. It is not a very big place, about 5-6 tables, adding to that homey atmosphere. If there was one word to describe the menu, it would be HEAVY. From top to bottom, the menu is laced with buttery, fatty, delicious, tasty morsels of food ranging from the Buttermilk Biscuits to Dr.Pepper ribs.

(Pictures courtesy of Carey Jones from Seriouseats.com)

We sampled a good portion of the menu, and were pleasantly surprised with all of it.We started off with the Cornbread($4), Buttermilk Biscuits($4) and Mac Cheese, studded with bacon($9). The cornbread came out in a cast-iron skillet, extremely hot, just coming out of the oven. The cornbread in addition to the Biscuits were buttery, moist and crispy all in one, these are really great, especially with the addition of a swipe of butter or dollop of honey. The Mac and Cheese also comes out in a skillet, and it was bubbling with its gooey, cheesy awesomeness. The mac and cheese was just the beginning of the heartiness that is laced throughout this menu, but, its still pretty good, it could've used a little salt though.

(Pictures courtesy of Carey Jones from Seriouseats.com)

Next to come were the much hyped Dr.Pepper ribs($16) and they did not disappoint. They got a double douse of the doctor, as first they were braised in the sweet soda, then tossed in a sauce made from bubbly drink. The ribs were falling off the bone, melt in your mouth tender. The ribs retained its textural integrity through its nicely seared crust. The sweet sauce would no doubt overwhelm most meats, but these ribs are so flavorful and porky that they are a perfect balance.

(Pictures courtesy of Carey Jones from Seriouseats.com)

The main dish was the gigantic Pork Chop($17), smothered in a hot and sweet pepper compote, accompanied by buttery Scalloped Potatoes and Collard Greens. It was cooked perfectly, extremely juicy, but it was also very heavy with the potatoes and a buttery sauce and pepper compote.

In the end, the Brooklyn Star lives up to the hype, but it will keep you full for a week, it is not a place to go to on a regular basis, as it is just too fattening for more then once in a blue moon, but the food is just so good, its tempting not to keep going back and back.

Brooklyn Star

33 Havemeyer Street, Brooklyn NY 11211;

(map); 718-599-9899;

thebrooklynstar.com