Jeffrey's Restaurant: One of Bed-Stuy's Secret Gems
Jeffrey's debuts new menu and creates a new crop of converts
Photos
Jeffrey’s Restaurant, located at 426A Marcus Garvey Boulevard, held a tasting Saturday night, unveiling its new menu.
“Basically, we’ve scaled everything down to offer our most popular items, changed a few of the sauces and made the entire menu a la carte,” said co-owner Michelle Johnson. “Some of our customers wanted certain entrees, but not always the sides. So we’ve changed the menu so that the customer can choose exactly what they want, and improved on some of the other items.”
The food at Jeffrey’s was so astoundingly good, the service so exceptional, and the environment so warm, after the appetizer – Goat Cheese Crostini with Cranberry Balsamic Glaze ($6), a Romaine Salad with Garlic Parmagian Dressing ($8) and one glass of wine (brought over from Olivino Wines), I was ready to grab a pillow, curl up and go to sleep until morning when I could start all over again with breakfast.
But I didn’t. Instead, I also tried the Pan-Seared Tilapia with Citrus Fish Fumét ($14), one of their most popular dishes, and it was easy to see why: The fish, braised in a light punchy sauce, nearly melts in your mouth and gets better with each bite.
For poultry lovers, their White Truffle Chicken Marsala ($15) is also to-die-for, a breaded chicken breast pan-fried in white truffle oil, Marsala wine and Carmini. I feel confident in proclaiming it possibly the most tender and well-seasoned chicken breast I’ve eaten in Brooklyn to date.
My favorite entrée, however, was the Steak Diane with Cognac Cream Sauce (yes, I was still eating). For $17, this dish finally sent me over the top: steak medallions with cognac, mushrooms and shallots in a very light cream sauce.
Diners also will notice, there are no salt or pepper shakers on any of the tables. But you don’t miss the seasoning – not for one second – as everything already is seasoned with precision and… dare I say, “love?”
Yes, in fact, I did taste love, and that’s probably because Jeffrey’s is a family affair. The restaurant is owned by a young brother-sister team (Michelle and Jeffrey), while their father works as the head chef. And it’s not unusual for the cooks to drop unexpectedly by your table and ask how you’re enjoying your meal.
If it sounds like I was thoroughly impressed by Jeffrey’s, that’s because I was. But I’m not the only one.
“Their food is great, their pancakes are the best I’ve ever eaten, and their coffee is the best. I send a lot of my friends here for brunch, and they love it. My mom comes here with her church group every Sunday, and she loves it! I send all my friends here, and they love it,” said Sharron White, a self-professed Jeffrey’s regular. “They’re very friendly, as you see they called me by my name. And you will see the same people in here, because once you taste their food, you’ll be back.”
“I love their service,” said Tameka McNeil, who was eating with Sharron. “They’re really friendly, their menu is diverse, and their pie is really good.”
For vegetarians, there’s the Artichoke Ravioli – artichoke and ricotta-stuffed ravioli with fresh tomato and basil sauce and fresh Parmesan ($16) and the Jeffrey’s Broiled Veggie Burger ($12).
I count Jeffrey’s as one of Bed-Stuy’s secret gems. Why more people are not hailing it, is somewhat of a mystery to me.
Perhaps, it is because Jeffrey’s is not on one of the main commercial strips in Bed-Stuy where many of the restaurants thrive. In fact, if you don’t reside close by or have not heard about the restaurant through word-of-mouth, you might miss it altogether, because from the street outside, it’s rather non-assuming.
But now that I’ve sampled nearly half of their menu, I’ll be back. Already, I’m coveting another order of their romaine garlic Parmesan salad and the Steak Diane. And I’m also looking forward to trying their famous pancakes.
Jeffrey’s seats about 25 people, ideal for small, private events, and it also caters. Also, it is B.Y.O.B., so if you’re heading there for dinner, don’t forget to swing by Olivino’s and grab a bottle of wine beforehand.
Vintage
9:45 pm on Tuesday, January 17, 2012
I ordered one of their pasta entrees, I have no idea how it tasted because there was a long, curly hair sitting on top of it. Maybe a leftover from when the place sold hair supplies (or maybe because the woman working behind the counter with the curly weave was not wearing a hairnet). Anywho it grossed me out so badly I threw it away, and never went back since.
Robert E. Cornegy Jr
8:02 am on Wednesday, January 18, 2012
This is absolutely one of my favorite haunts. It was a secret (thanks Patch!!) great food better service and owned by an original BedStuy family. I can truly appreciate that combination. I am duly bound to recommend it cause I love it. However secretly I hope you don't go at least not while I am chillin at my favorite table kicking it with my wife, a juicy steak, a freshly uncorked bottle of vino and a smile!
Kevin
1:19 pm on Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Got food there once. Both shrimp dishes one a pasta. It was a Saturday afternoon, took forever to get the take-out orders. Spent a lot of money for food that was inedible The shrimp were not fresh, and the smell of old shrimp sent it right to the garbage.
Old shrimp that should have been thrown away days before were served to customers. Never again.
Tenia Knight
2:56 pm on Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Patch, you hit it right on the nose. This is definitely of one Bed Stuy's Secret Gems. If it wasn't for a groupon I purchased a few months ago, I never would of discovered this place. I love the food, ambience and service so much. Everything is delicious and I can say that because I'm pretty sure my friends and I have been through this menu a few times.
As for the previous comments, not sure what your real issue is with the place. Maybe you don't want to see anything nice in the neighborhood or you're more upset that the owners are actually from the neighborhood. Anyway, you all have no problems with McDonalds, you'll wait for their nasty food and return religiously but when it's something good, you have a problem. I don't mind waiting for my food to be prepared freshly for me and I like the fact that I can watch it get prepared. It's not like the make it in the morning and have it sitting all day for you on a steam table.
Back to the focus of this article. Thank you Patch for recognizing such a good establishment, not sure how I would feel if I come in next time and can't get a table but I wish this place much success.
Vintage
8:41 pm on Wednesday, January 18, 2012
My real issue with the place was I did not order a side of weave to go with my pasta. That would keep me from going to any other establishment, and no one gets a pass from me just because they are Black. You are assuming a lot just because your feelings are apparently hurt (McDonald's, really?) and calling people names for telling THEIR experience is beyond childish and over-sensitive. Suggestion: since you get angry so easily don't ever read Yelp, there might be reviews in there of your fave places that will send you over the edge.
Wearing a hairnet while preparing food is standard in even the greasiest spoons. Perhaps you are not used to sit down restaurants where basic hygiene is acknowledged and you're excited. In any event, chillax.
Tenia Knight
9:01 pm on Wednesday, January 18, 2012
@vintage, I did not insult anyone. And who are you to make such acqusations about the girl, I'm sure she wasn't the one who prepared your food. So why do you keep insulting her? I'm not sensitive about this place at all, I'm just voicing my opinion. I order from there all the time and she's only at the counter, she isn't in the kitchen so what's your problem with her or the establishment. The chef has always had a chef hat on when I'm there. Mayby the hair came from your head.
Vintage
1:09 pm on Thursday, January 19, 2012
You are an overly defensive, obnoxious female who has problems when someone does not share your exact opinions. First, you call people "ignorant" (which is actually an attempted insult from someone of your ilk) because you don't want to believe they had a different experience than you. You have a right to add your opinion, and so do others. But then you subtly imply that 1) maybe others are gentrifiers (that means White people moving into Bed Stuy in case you are confused) "upset because the owners come from the neighborhood", or 2) maybe long time locals who don't know anything "good" . I am guessing guess any restaurant with white tablecloths is a fine establishment to you, since hairy food apparently is ok for you. Neither of these apply to me, so you need to release your narrow mind, cobble your few pennies together and go back to Jeffrey's with your girls and tell them how you made a fool of yourself online for them. Perhaps they will give you some free bread to go with your purple drink.
And it was a synthetic hair, so nope-not mine.
Tenia Knight
3:40 pm on Thursday, January 19, 2012
Really, a purple drink??? I'm going to leave that one alone because you are beyond ignorant. Simple mind...
Vintage
1:41 pm on Friday, January 20, 2012
Sorry there weren't enough small words in the post for you, hoodrat.
Anthony Williams
3:32 pm on Wednesday, January 18, 2012
When my wife sent me this link, I couldn't believe our little secret made the papers. My wife and I enjoy Jeffrey's every time we visit and we visit quite often. We've never had a bad experience with this place, the food is always exceptional. The food will have your palette going insane. I can't explain the taste that you experience with this food but I can say it isn't anything that I have been able to find in Brooklyn in over 40 years. To have a chef like this right in my neighborhood is a blessing.
Halsey Street
4:27 pm on Wednesday, January 18, 2012
I want to support any business that is willing and able to open up a successfully run business that brings a much needed service to the neighborhood. One poster above states that the owers are "an original BedStuy family." Another states that "the owners are actually from the neighborhood." I'm not sure what that's about. The guy who opened up Saraghina and Celestino lives right on Halsey Street. He is from the neighborhood. One of the owners of Peaches lives over on Dean Street. I would say he is from the nighborhood. I don't even know what "an original BedStuy family" is. I also can't get over the fact that one of the other posters speculates that some of the negative reviews may be because those posters are "upset that the owners are actually from the neighborhood." Forgive me, but where in the world does that come from? There's no hint of that in either of the negative reviews. You might like the place, but others may not have had good experiences. I am not going to speculate on why you like the place and you should not speculate on why others don't like it - at least when you don't have any basis for your theory. At the end of the day I wish Jeffrey's well and I am glad that some people are enjoying it and I am hopeful that more sucesssful businesses on Marcus Garvey will encourage others to open up there.
Tenia Knight
5:47 pm on Wednesday, January 18, 2012
I did not say that they didn't enjoy the food because the owners are from the neighborhood, I said "Maybe you don't want to see anything nice in the neighborhood or you're more upset that the owners are actually from the neighborhood." That's just my opinion and I'm free to say so. My people are so quick to support others but have a real problem supporting each other and I'm sick of it. The patch wrote a beautiful review on this place, there was no need for the negativity. If you have nothing nice to say, say nothing at all or take it up with the restaurant directly. One person didn't even try the food so why put that post up here. Contact them, if it's really the truth.
I'm so upset that this forum is going on right now, it's so unnecessary. I really should stop following this, some people are so ignorant. I'm sorry Jeffrey's.
David
5:32 pm on Wednesday, January 18, 2012
I agree, not everyone is going to enjoy a place, whether it's at Jeffrey's and or any other restaurant. Bad experiences are bound to happen. But I agree with the "original bed stuy family" comment. It is very rare to see a business in this community by one of our own. Just because you live here now, doesn't mean you're from here. I definitely understand what that means. Maybe Saraghina owner moved here but they're not from here, the menu isn't even in English. Another perfect example of someone else opening up a business in our community. I'm sure he wasn't playing with me in 35 park back in the days. The employees don't even look like us. They're in predominantly black neighborhood with all white employees (what's wrong with that picture?). So to say an "original bed stuy family" means a lot. Something positive can come from bedstuy; we don't always need somebody to bring it to us. A lot of you won't support them just because they're from here and that's ok. Because there are a lot of us that do support them and are very proud of them. I feel good knowing that these owners look like my children and me. Jeffrey's brings that, I hope they're here to stay. The food is of a very high quality, it's tasty and healthy. OMG, a healthy choice. Something that is needed with such a high incidence of high blood pressure and diabetes in our community. Wake up people!!
Vintage
1:17 pm on Thursday, January 19, 2012
You had a Spike Lee moment from two negative reviews about the food? -lol
SuF
8:28 am on Friday, January 20, 2012
David, if you go to a restaurant that's run by someone from Senegal, for example, and something on the menu has a Senegalese name, does that offend you or make you angry? Doesn't it just mean that the owner or chef is proud of their cuisine and wants people to experience it in a real way? To know that it has a name, an identity, that's part of their culture? Or if someone from Bed-Stuy went to Italy and opened a restaurant with classic African-American dishes on the menu, don't you think they'd call them by their American names instead of a translating them into Italian? It seems to me about being interested in other cultures and having the pleasure of learning something about them--how their food tastes, how it's named, etc. I think Italians would take delight in learning what "fried chicken" means and why can't we enjoy learning what "pancetta" is? Otherwise, every culture just wants all other cultures to be translated into their own frame of reference, but the world is full of interesting differences and it seems more fun to try and learn to move around in that medley.
pat
9:08 am on Thursday, January 19, 2012
@ David, what do Saraghina employees look like? They look pretty human to me, maybe I missed something. The owners look like your children and you? What does that mean. That is probably one of the worst generalizations I have ever heard. That is like me saying I look like Pancho Villa. All Blacks, don't look the same and I hope some stand up and put you in your place. That is a terrible thing to say about another persons family. I would say long time Bed-Stuy residents would be a little better. So if I live in Bed-Stuy where am I from? Stop being a damn racist it is visible beyond your choice of words. @ Knight, you already made a donkey of yourself, just put it behind you and roll with it. We all say dumb things from time to time. There is nothing at this point you can say that will change your original statement. It does not even have enough substance to attempt to derail the meaning behind it. Eat there if you like it, if not don't go, who cares. At least they are saying it is in Bed-Stuy and not a made up place. The owners probably don't even care about this silly argument and seem to be way better people than you two knuckleheads.
Jeffrey's
3:16 pm on Thursday, January 19, 2012
Vintage and Kevin, we at Jeffrey's sincerely apologize for the experience you had while visiting us. Please give us a chance to make it up to you and contact us at info@jeffreysny.com
Everyone is welcomed at Jeffrey's. This is a business built on love and family. We all make up this community; it does not matter whether you were born here, visiting or a new resident. Bedford Stuyvesant is a beautiful place and it’s the people that make it beautiful. Let’s keep it that way. Thank you.
Vintage
1:42 pm on Friday, January 20, 2012
That is very gracious of you, thank you for the offer.
Kioka
5:32 pm on Thursday, January 19, 2012
I haven't tried Jeffrey's yet but I will be heading there this weekend. Sounds like the food is good. I've walked by a few times but they will be seeing me inside very soon. I'll judge for myself.
Noah
11:04 am on Friday, January 20, 2012
This really is a great article but does anyone else notice the comments have nothing to do with the restaurant. They got about 4 comments related to the food and everything else seems to be about gentrification. Maybe the author should do an article on the gentrification in Bed Stuy and hear everyone's thoughts, sounds like a good subject. I feel bad for Jeffrey's, they got a little spotlight and the subject being discussed isn't even on them anymore. I can tell from their comment that they're caring people. You all should take this discussion to another board and let the comments be about the restaurant. Some of you have been really vicious to eachother (Tenia and Vintage). Just a thought
Vintage
1:46 pm on Friday, January 20, 2012
Just another thought- Perhaps you could try visiting Jeffrey's, and share your experience instead of being an impromptu board moderator.
Bed Stuy Original
10:33 am on Sunday, January 22, 2012
Sorry, anyone who does not know what an "Original Bed Stuy Family" is? Hmm, here to help. Firstly, let me say that it is nice that all types of people are moving into Bed Stuy and appear so far to get along harmoniously. That said, Bed Stuy, like Harlem, like the South Side of Chicago is a historical Black neighborhood, period. Now we can pretend that there is not a reality that many white people who can no longer afford to live in other areas in Brooklyn or Manhattan are coming into Bed Stuy and bidding up houses, fixing them and raising rents past where most original inhabitants can afford. To be clear, higher prices and nicer amenities are good for the owners of all kinds, however there is a concern that the neighborhood will lose its character. My family first moved into Bed Stuy in the 1930s and bought in the 1940s. We have seen the neighborhood rise, fall and rise again. Through the civil rights movement (Gardener Taylor, Sandy Ray), riots (MLK dying), crack crisis and now the cleansing (take it how you will), we have been there. All, we can all live here together, let's respect our new friends, and new friends, please respect the history of this neighborhood (not just on a superficial level, who has been to dinner at your house lately?)