Trout
- Nearest Transit:
Bergen St (F, G)
Hoyt-Schermerhorn Sts (A, C, G)
Hoyt St (2, 3)
- Price Range: $$
- Accepts Credit Cards: No
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Good for Kids: No
- Takes Reservations: No
- Delivers: Yes
- Waiter Service: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: Yes
- Happy Hour: Yes
- Alcohol: Full Bar
- Smoking: Yes
- Coat Check: No
33 reviews
Neighborhood: Brooklyn/Gowanus
"I was pleasantly surprised by Cherry Tree. Here is what I liked about it: Lindeman's Framboise bottles (although they are quite…" read more »
33 Reviews for Trout
The food: edible, offers little more. I ordered the chicken sandwich and I would have been more satisfied going down to Wendy's and getting a value combo. The chicken was thin and salty and it was on a white sub roll.
And my corn on the cob was totally overcooked. There is nothing worse than soggy corn. Nothing.
My opinion of Trout has totally changed. What happened to this place? We went on a very hot summer day and I couldn't believe the difference. They were still playing great music but there the similarities ended.
Partner in crime ordered a drink of some kind (a mojito, maybe? I can't remember) and I ordered a glass of water and a lemonade. Just a plain lemonade. So the water and the mojito came and then we sat and sat and sat and I was getting really thirsty and my blood sugar was dropping and I'll admit I was a bit cranky. And the waitress kept ignoring us and it was getting hotter and someone turned the music up and now I was downright uncomfortable.
So finally we flagged down our waitress and asked about the lemonade and were rudely informed that a.) they don't sell lemonade and b.) the bartender can't make lemonade even though he has access to a full bar which I assume includes sweet and sour mix and lemons and sugar and c.) we had never ordered a lemonade and what were we talking about? So we finished our drinks and dropped some cash on the table and left, probably never to return.
Bummer.
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1 Previous Review: Show all »
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08/19/2007
Man, this place is awesome on a sunny, breezy Saturday. The drinks are really strong but somehow… Read more »
Generously strong Margaritas and friendly staff make this open-air watering hole, a great stop mid-week. I like to order the corn-fried chicken tenders so the fresh air and Margaritas don't put me under the table. (The pulled pork sandwich works too.) Paired with corn on the cob and slaw; they're amazing!
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Kick-ass catfish po boy, its a ton of food and comes with delciious hush puppies.
This is like Gowanus Yacht Club gone right, awesome back deck (reminiscent of Havana Outpost). Also $4 bloody marys (for a damn good bloody mary) is an amazing deal. Definitely had some kick and is a great value for the money.
Friendly staff here too, great for a Sat / Sun day drinkfest.
Makes me wish I lived in CarGardens....
How can you not love a place that has Big Buck Hunter, outdoor seating, and wicked cheap beer and wing specials? Perfect place to spend a Sunday afternoon drinking to avoid Monday.
I seem to always end up at Trout during my jaunts to Brooklyn as I did again last night. It's a great atmosphere to have conversation because the music is not at a deafening level. I love the spacious, outdoor patio with mismatched patio furniture. Drinks are stiff, generous in size and reasonably-priced.
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Not a place to go for food, but a great "after work" haunt. The atmosphere of this quirky bar is chill and certainly its greatest asset. You'll feel like you are hanging out in someone's backyard (albeit a strange yard filled with ship parts). One big negative though, there are only two bathrooms (located basically in the kitchen) and they are a little scary...at least to me.
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I take back what I said about this place not being vegetarian friendly.
We've been back since I wrote my last review and had another great experience. This time, I read the menu more carefully, and they have a veggie burger, vegetarian chili, corn on the cob and old bay fries. So, yay! I can bring veg friends here. And we will.
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1 Previous Review: Show all »
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07/07/2008
Fuck the haters!
I just got back from a quick dinner at Trout, where our waitress was fierce, the… Read more »
No. You want it to be yes, you really, really want it to be yes, but it's still N-O.
Drinks are pretty good, as are the fries. The 'Lobster Roll' makes you wonder if there's such a thing as 'imitation lobster', though if there is it costs a damn sight less than what they're charging. Sorry guys.
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Pretty mediocre fare. Nice enough decor; faux Maine shipyard stuff. Menu is pretty limited, but with a name like Trout, what did you expect? We had the fried catfish (actually tilapia) po boy, which was actually much to large to eat as a sandwich and the grilled chicken sandwich, which was nothing to write home about. I had a disgusting concoction called a "Michelada", a nasty mix of blood mary and beer. Yecch. Service friendly enough, but plenty of other choices in the neighborhood. Skip it.
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Great Service...Lobster special was ok...small lobster, but I didn't expect it to be huge. Fish&Chips were blah...equivalent to fish sticks from the grocery store. Would not go again for the food- maybe for a pitcher on the benches outside.
The food is extremely mediocre (fish and chips are DISGUSTING, though calamari appetizer is OK). Place smells dirty, like stale beer. I've also eaten at its buddy restaurant, Pacifico, which seems to share a kitchen. It's also icky. Not recommended. There are better places to go for a beer. And there are many, many places nearby whose food hasn't made me feel sick afterward. Thus, I will no longer be going to Trout.
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I am super disappointed that Gravy as I knew it is no more. Apparently, it has morphed into just being Trout, and that's not a great thing for my vegetarian (no, don't even eat seafood) self. Even the beer selection wasn't the same on my last visit, AND the prices went up. Gone is my cozy diner-esque spot and in its place is a run of the mill replacement. When I asked the server and the bartender what was up with the changes, they said they didn't know. Thank goodness the pool table is still there, but I won't be going back anytime soon. A loyal customer has hit the road!
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I am sure Trout or Gravy or whatever the f it is currently called serves perfectly mediocre food just like most of the restaurants on Smith. However, upon moving to Brooklyn, Gravy (now Trout - same owner/s) my first trip to a restaurant in my 'hood was gravy.... I dont even need to comment on the food because something was in the booth with me (starts with "r", ends with "oach"). I left, never to return. I dont even like to walk on that block now. Ugh...ick...::shivers:: Now I know many kitchens may not be perfect, but at least their pests have the decency to hide. WTF.
Anyway, I am saddened by this unfortunate incident which has now forever cursed this location (in my mind). The reincarnation, Trout, looks like a great place to sit outside and get drinks/brunch/burgers, in the summertime. too bad.
Imagine a beach where a dog has been mercilessly ripped apart by a shark. High tides wash ashore a few pieces of the remaining flesh, which are soon joined by some strands of seaweed and a few clams. Imagine that an entrepreneurial passerby picks it up, throws it into a bowl with some broth, and serves it -- no, sells it even-- to an unsuspecting customer. Also please imagine that the customer has impeccable tastes and good looks, is muscular and charming, and women everywhere find themselves mysteriously drawn to him.
That's really the only way i can describe the beer clams appetizer that was served to me tonight at Trout, with its soggy garlicky spinach and gross chunks of Choriso.
This was by far the worst meal i've had in a long time. This place may be a good choice for drinks/hanging out, but don't go for dinner! The decor and atmosphere were cool, but the food was just plain GROSS and the experience overall wasn't a good one.
The house salad was just plain lettuce. The salmon w/ mustard was nothing special. The bread (that i had to ask for to sop up the broth in my clam appetizer) was somewhat stale, and unappetizing. The pecan crusted trout, although delicious sounding, looked soggy and unappetizing and was very very bland. One high point: the marinated asparagus that accompanied the salmon was actually really good.
Either we smelled gross, or the busboy character bringing out the food was realllly lazy because instead of actually placing our dishes on the table in front of us, he stood a few feet away, held the dishes high in the air, and waited for us to reach over to him and grab them..it was strange. Oh yeah, and the main dishes were brought out way too soon after the appetizers.
Also, despite the fact that the place was pretty empty on a tuesday night, the waiter seated us at table which required that i squeeze through a very tight space to get to the my side of our table. The waiter also could have been a little friendlier, although he did his job fine and got our order right.
Oh, and it's cash only. I thought only GOOD restaurants could demand that of their customers..
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I haven't tried the food, but this is a nice, laid back place to have a beer or a margarita outdoors.
Not sure if Gravy morphed into Trout or what...They're all part of one big corner compound on Pacific and Smith Street...including Pacifico and the Italian pizza joint whose name keeps changing. Trout is fun in the summertime--great outdoor space. Food is decent and reasonably priced. Great neighborhood joint but you Manhattanites can just stay in Manhattan and go frequent some joint where you can keep your sunglasses on the whole time. :P
I have been to trout a number of times and I want to like it so badly but it is nearly impossible. Their staff, among other things, is perplexing. There does not seem to be a uniform "type" for the staff which I initially believed to be a good thing. However, it turns out that they do all share one quality: ineptness. They consistently forget parts of an order or drinks altogether and worst of all, seem to have the "cooler than you" attitude, even towards customers. On top of this, my sister and her boyfriend became sick after eating an undercooked hamburger from their grill. What did the manager say when they called to complain? Well, nothing because although they were told he would by the hostess, he never returned their call. If you want my recommendation, like Pharcyde, pass it by.
When my friend and I were unfortunately harassed the other week by two unimaginative overgrown frat guys, I unwittingly happened upon the owner himself. I identified him as SOMEone who worked there and told him what had happened. The guy immediately bought us drinks and went over to set the guys straight. I really had been having a pleasant evening-- even the waitress bought us a glass of wine; she'd been grand and attentive all night, and the weather was great, so I'd been super happy--until the dudes crapped all over it.
While you can't really avoid jerkfaces accosting you and being jerky, it's nice to know that some business owners are good enough to handle said jerkfaces. I'll be back; hopefully the jerkfaces won't be.
****OMG so, an edit! An edit months later! My most recent impression: They've turned Gravy into Trout, okay? It's now a fish restaurant, not just a bar. Number one: The calamari sucks. Big time. That's not my issue though; my issue is when my boyfriend ordered a cranberry vodka. I guess his first one was kinda weak, but my friend and I drank our wines and he didn't say anything. But the second one... the second one was a deep, dark red-- indicative of a lack of vodka. I mean, one could assume. But I tasted it-- absolutely NO vodka. None of those tell-tale vodka fumes coming off the top. My friend tasted it. Same reaction. So I took it back for him. I apologetically said I hated being a douche, but could he add some vodka?
His response: "I filled half of the glass with vodka but I'll give you more. Vodka tastes like water anyway." My response: "....yeaaaaah....... but no." a few dudes nearby who overheard snickered, but the bartender didn't even meet my eye.
Honestly, WTF. It's OBVIOUS he was shortchanging us, so what's with the snark? What's with the BS? Vodka tastes like VODKA, assface! I'd say I'm far less impressed with the place this time around. Not sure I'll be back-- or if I am, I definitely wouldn't trust the dude with anything he has to mix. What a rip-off.
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It's like 19 degrees today and I'm writing this blurb simply as a way to stay warm, because Trout means only one thing ... Summer.
I was fortunate enough to hear about this place a bit ahead of the curb and enjoyed some comfortable weekend afternoons getting pissed on Brooklyn Iced Tea (a potent $10 mixture of Jameson, lemons and cherries ... I think), $2 PBR and $4 Bloody Marys. Unfortunately, the spot got a little overexposed by the end of summer and the wait for a table became pretty painful. But I'm not hating. The place deserves a packed house, because they do things right.
The food is solid as well. Tender pulled pork sandwiches, corn on the cob with the right butter and seasoning, spicy tomatoey chicken wings, cheese fries, calamari, watermelon slices! Seriously unhealthy fare, but who gives a shit when you're 3 BITs in the bag. And it's easy to get there, as bartenders spin a wheel of death on the hour, offering great specials like 2-for-1.
And speaking of the staff, I usually found the servers/tenders to be overtly friendly, if not a bit drunk themselves. And they play great music. I recall them playing an entire Sea and Cake album (One Bedroom I believe), which fit the lazy afternoon vibe beautifully. Counting down the days until this place is open for the season.
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It was a perfect early evening for Trout.
Just saw a movie, and needed a little outdoors drinking to chase the chill away!
Beer and fried shrimp, outside, in a place that manages to avoid feeling like a frat bar (of course, I'm not usually there at 1 AM, so I can't attest to the later night vibe).
I could swear a fellow Yelper was at the next table, with a group of English-types...but I had to stop staring!
Always enjoy the vibe at Trout; a simple thing like drinking outside in a place that feels like the backyard instead of a sidewalk can't be beat.
GEM. There's nothing I can say that hasn't been said, so I'll only add my voice to the choir and say Trout is damn fine. I appreciate the watermelon and corn, at $2 a piece, during the interminable happy hour, and the blessed assortment of good drinks and cheerful folk. Perhaps it's just me, but this feels like everything the Gowanus Yacht Club is not.
ode to trout:
monday night
broiled lobster was $15
caesar salad and a giant bowl of mac and cheese
and beer
built sculptures from lobster carcasses
ate a 5lb piece of red velvet cake
they played cream/disraeli gears 2 times in a row
then i died and went to heaven.
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yay backyard trout!
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I'm not trying to trash this group of restaurant's name or anything. . .i love Pacifico, and i use to frequent gravy before we realized how bizarre the wait staff is. Still, i did want to make everyone aware that after eating at gravy last weekend, my boyfriend and I got VIOLENTLY ill. We ordered hamburgers for lunch, and it happened to be the first meal of the day for us. About 3-4 hours later both of us were feeling pretty nautious. By 7:00pm, we were both DYING. We were up all night throwing up etc etc etc (you know what i mean). . .we will never eat there again.
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Trout is my way of luring people out of Wburg and Gpoint. Because seriously, $2 PBRs and $4 bloodys, outside, with sweet music? You just can't argue with that. Plus, the veggie burger is homemade and delicious (and $4!), the calamari is some of the best I've had in NY (shockingly not overcooked, with vingary hot sauce and pickled peppers!) the bartenders are drunk, friendly and somehow still attentive and they have an OYSTER SHOOTER for $8--a shot of Absolut Peppar, a shot of (really, really good) bloody mary mix and a raw oyster! So good on a hot day. I'd like to come here every day during the summer, and so far I've made a valient effort to do just that.
BLOODY HELL! I had a proper Bloody Mary here-the spices and seasonings were visible-sold. When you step into Trout, it feels like you've arrived at a dockside eatery. Seating spans the fenced in outdoor patio. The furniture is notably weathered, and rescue boats hang overhead. Not to mention, the bar has B.M.'s $4 all day Sat./Sun., $8 summertime cocktails, cheap tap beer, and 4-7pm happy hour M-F. Wow, I sound like an alcoholic...The wine/spirits list exceeds the menu! Typical seafood/bar fare is offered: buffalo wings, corn on the cob, burgers, oysters, calimari, etc. I had a very affordable and lovely veggie burger made from scratch. Cute, kitschy, and cheap-just like that t-shirt you're wearing...heh
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I just moved to Brooklyn from California and have been whining to my girlfriend about paying $8 for a Bud Light at mediocre bars. She brought me here, where they have a couple good microbrews on tap ($5), $3 bud light pints, $2 PBR cans, and delicious wings (half price during happy hour) - I couldn't be happier. Top that off with being able to sit outside and you have yourself a 5-star beer garden at 2-star prices.
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Would you go back to trout? Let us know at beststreetBrooklyn.Blo...
They took a good thing and ruined it. Gravy was a great restaurant, but someone had the lame idea of turning it into a half-assed fish shack. The booths have been ripped and turned into Frankenstein booth/tables (half booth seating, the other half chairs), the atmosphere has changed from warm, rustic northwoods diner to dirty gulf coast shanty, and the menu has been purged of everything that made it good. Lobster Roll has about three pieces of lobster and is a ripoff at $15 (though the waiter referred to it as "nothing fancy"). Sandwiches are served in baskets instead of plates, but french fries, which traditionally come in a "basket" type serving, are extra. So what's the point of putting a burger in a basket and not a plate, then, unless you're just trying to look low-rent? The burger itself would be justifiable at $5, not $7 plus extra for cheese. They messed with success, this place is a joke now.
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Trout is a hidden gem on Pacific Street. It is nice to sit outside and have yourself a cocktail or two on a warm summer night. You can smoke there, which is an added bonus, since the place next door (also outside, partially) won't let you. The staff at trout is cool and laid back.
I love Trout. I can't wait until the weather warms up and it opens again.
PS: Last summer a bartender complained about the lack of tipping going there. Just because you pay $2 for a can of PBR doesn't mean you are let off the hook from the standard $1 per drink tip!
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haven't eaten here but drinks on a summer night are nice.
a great, casual place for tossing back some pitchers with a few buds outside. the pulled pork sandwhich is worth a visit alone.
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