MEAT is an upscale steakhouse located in Crown Height, Brooklyn. The Kosher Cactus visited MEAT in May of 2021.
Where is MEAT located? What is the best way to get there?
Meat is located at 123 Kingston Ave, on the corner of Bergen St. The restaurant is open from 5:30-11PM, Sunday through Thursday, and seasonally from 7:30PM-11PM on Saturdays. It is closed on Fridays.
MEAT is almost evenly spaced between the Eastern Parkway/Kingston Ave 3 train and the Fulton St/Kingston Ave A and C trains. It is about 6 minutes from each station to the restaurant.
If you are driving, you should be able to find parking on Dean St or Bergen St. Both streets are very well lit, so even if you are walking back to your car late at night, you should not have any issues.
The best way to get to MEAT is by cab or car service. The drinks are fantastic, and the cocktails are unique and delicious- it would be a shame to waste the opportunity.
MEAT has food available for delivery via ChowNow, which you can order directly through the restaurant’s website.
Do I need to dress up to visit?
MEAT is upscale. The architecture, the ambience, the decor and the gentle jazz… this is definitely a place to dress up for.
Although some guests were dressed more informally, everyone looked like they had made an effort. Personally, I’m a big believer in making an effort.
When you dress up for dinner, you are showing the other patrons and your companions that you care about their dinner experience too. The restaurant staff also appreciate it. Ok, I’m done.
Basically- even if you don’t wear a black tie, at least brush your hair. OK, I’m really done.
What is the vibe at MEAT?
The restaurant is extremely tastefully decorated, with a modern 20s vibe. There are dark shades that make you forget you are in Brooklyn, which is always a good thing, in my opinion.
MEAT is a good reminder that you get what you pay for. I have never had a better experience with wait-staff.
We were seated at the bar, then escorted to our seats, given a menu and some time to peruse it. As soon as it looked like we were ready to order, a waiter appeared to take it. (Side note: he remembered it all, no paper).
Dishes arrived promptly, water was refilled only when the glass was low. No one interrupted us… but every so often, one of the staff would catch our eye and smile, just to check that everything was okay.
The food is its own story, but if I may ramble about one thing here… I have never experienced such incredible service in my life. There was no need to flag down a waiter; there was no stressful waiting for anything.
I have no idea how they divided the job, but it appeared that every waiter was there to wait on us personally. And for the record, the restaurant was packed.
What type of food does the restaurant serve?
When we arrived, we started with cocktails. Because I was drinking on an empty stomach, the rest of the evening was a little floaty. The food, however, was superb.
We decided to order 6 appetizers to share between us, so we could get a little taste of more of the menu.
They brought out the Charcuterie Board first, which was an assortment of dried, aged meats, pickled vegetables, and a show-stopping mustard sauce. I was glad they timed it with the drinks. It gave us a chance to savor the different tastes of each meat, and appreciate the incredible mustard.
Lamb, aka. The Best Dish of the Night. Served with roasted eggplant, plum tomatoes, tahini and pan frittata. An explosion of flavor. It was so tender, the pieces just fell apart in my mouth. You could have served me just this for the entire night, and I would have been happy. I would have been ecstatic.
Just so you know, I happen to think that lamb is a pretty hard dish to pull off- it has a game-y taste that is intensified with the wrong seasoning. Boy, did MEAT get it right.
Duck Fettuccine. Pasta made from scratch, crispy duck slivers and a creamy sweet potato sauce. It was so, so good.
The waiter told us that the sauce is made of nothing but sweet potato, salt and a little sugar. I have no idea how they got the consistency that they did, but it was heavenly. Sweet potato and pasta sound at odds with each other, but this was not. Light, creamy and somehow perfectly balanced with the pasta.
What is on the menu at MEAT?
The menu at MEAT is a one-page affair, which means you know they have perfected every dish. There’s Hot Appetizers, with dishes like Breads and Spreads, a board of various baked breads
There’s Cold Appetizers, with dishes like the Charcuterie Board, Endive Green Salad, and Veal Sweetbreads.
We actually ordered the Green Salad to add some balance to our meal, and I’m glad we did. It was light and delicious- and also my least favorite thing, even though it was a great salad. It’s just that everything else was so off-the charts amazing. Anywayyyy.
MEAT also serves a variety of meat main dishes, as well as steaks and aged meats. Someone at the table next to us ordered a Lamb Shoulder, and we could smell it from our table. Next time we go, I’m getting one.
What else?
- Hot Appetizers
- Cold Appetizers
- Salads
- Burgers
- Sandwiches
- Steaks
- Charcuterie boards
- Sides
- Drinks
Do they have vegetarian or vegan options?
MEAT is a steakhouse, so the majority of the dishes heavily feature meat.
There are a few options for vegetarians: the Tomato Salad, which includes a soft-boiled egg, or the “Meat” Consomme, which actually includes no meat (I think they mean MEAT Consomme, lol).
You can also try the Gnocchi. It’s made with Jerusalem artichoke, potatoes and sundried tomatoes. Our waiter told us that that is a favorite with the regular customers.
Does MEAT serve drinks?
Yes, MEAT serves drinks! As well as an extensive wine list, the restaurant also has a few house-created cocktails. We ordered a Pomegranate Vodka, and a Rum Old Fashioned, which was served traditional style, with a giant ice cube and an orange peel.
You can also request any standard cocktail, or your shot of choice.
What Hashgacha is MEAT under?
MEAT is under the Kosher supervision of the OU. All meat is glatt, and there are Chassidishe and Lubavitch shechita options available on request. All wine is Mevushal.
Are they Kid-friendly?
No. The entire MEAT experience, including the menu, is geared to drinking-age adults.
Although older teens (especially those with a palate for interesting flavors) may enjoy MEAT, it is definitely not for children. There is no children’s menu and the open hours are late.
I mean, my kids wouldn’t enjoy chickpeas and chicken gizzards. Even if they are dished up with caramelized onion. Or wrapped in a heavenly pastry, and renamed Sambusak.
Quite frankly- get a babysitter. You’ll enjoy yourself more.
Is MEAT wheelchair accessible?
MEAT is wheelchair accessible, and has a wheelchair accessible restroom. There’s plenty of space to fit easily between tables, with room to spare.
Final Thoughts
MEAT is incredible. The service is 5-star, the ambience is everything you expect and more, and the food is truly a work of art. For our meal of 6 apps, drinks and a dessert to share, we paid $314.
Although it was a lot to spend on one night, here’s why it was worth it: at the end of the evening, while I was lifting up my purse from the chair, I knocked over a bottle of water on the table.
And the waiter laughed, and said, ‘no more wine for you, ma’am’.
He was joking.
Of course, I apologized, but it just sums up the quality of the experience. Even if you spill water, honestly, everyone there just wants you to have a good time.
