The Vanderbilt
Cusine: Global
Price Range: Inexpensive

Prospect Heights
570 Vanderbilt Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11238
(718) 623-0570

Saul Bolton (owner of two starred Saul) has teamed up with Ben Daitz of Num Pang to bring small plates to Prospect Heights. I say anything associated with Num Pang (more specifically, with Num Pang’s five spice pork belly sandwich) is worth checking out.

The Vanderbilt menu is described as "seasonally-inspired New American fare" with dishes ranging from $4 - $16. Grilled Spanish octopus with cranberry beans, spicy blood sausage with Yukon potatoes, and the current menu must have- fried chicken wings, are just a few dishes from the extensive small plates list. The vegetarian plates are really well thought out and include butternut squash with homemade ricotta, pine nuts, and lemon confit, poached duck eggs with fontina toast, and polenta soup with duck gizzard.

A few months ago Bolton did an interview with Metromix where he voiced his desire to add a good donut dessert to the menu and it seems to have worked out. Homemade donuts with berry filling, fried apple turnovers with vanilla ice cream, and chocolate peanut butter cake with a grape gelee and buttermilk ice cream are among the sweets being served.

The Vanderbilt is opening Friday and aims to be a casual neighborhood spot, with exposed brick and distressed wood giving the place a cozy feel. The restaurant won’t be open for lunch though, with stated hours as 5pm – midnight on weekdays and until 2am on weekends.