I go out pretty often, but was never very excited about PDT. It might be me, but they need to keep costs down.

I agree Purple Yam is in trouble (even though they dont know it yet). The menu is confusing, and the restaurant is very discouraging for repeats

I like Picket Fence and have had plenty of good meals there. I’ve had a few bad ones, too, including one this weekend with a problematic hamburger. Still, on the whole I’ve had decent luck there. Some of their dishes are definitely better than others and I think the key is just finding the things you like there. They do a garlic rubbed skirt steak that I like and lots of folks rave about their mac and cheese.

Picket Fence is hit or miss. Often miss for me. But I have to say, their Smoked Gouda Mac and Cheese is consistently fantastic!! They’re worth keeping in the neighborhood just for that!

My only complaint about Picket Fence is that sometimes you get there, and you’re really hungry, and the tables on either side of you have popcorn & you don’t get any until you flag somebody down. But I think the food is always pretty good & oh yes, the Smoked Gouda Mac & Cheese is fabulous.

So sad about PDT…although the last meal was not as good as I remembered the time before…the fish and chips. So maybe something happened regarding their chef? But still it was a nice thing to have around your home, you could just walk over. They will be missed! I’m not that crazy about the Tapas idea. But it’d be great to open a sports bar like 200 on FiFth Ave!!!

Exactly, 200 fifth is awesome. As far as Pablos goes, when I google it, one of the first things to catch my eye is how many violations they’ve had against them in 2009 from the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. They were shut down in December for a few days because of 50 violations. I think I’ll pass, but thanks for the info Jamie!

Bummer. Loved PDT even though they stopped making the chicken liver mousse, which was my crack. Fo’ reals. But what really sucks is that I recently discovered their brunch. Unlimited mimosas??! Je suis désolée.

“I have had two meals at Purple Yam and have been thoroughly unimpressed in spite of really wanting to like them.”

You know, I totally have to disagree with all the Purple Yam agita. Their spring rolls were fantastic and Chicken Adobo is worth going back for again and again and again . . .

I’ve always assumed that restaurants’ health code violations have much more to do with the owners’ unwillingness to pay the inspector a bribe than any real unsanitary condition.

I mean Park Slope.

I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again. Pablo’s could really fill a void if it would just close for a week for a 10k renovation. 5k even… it’s frickin’ DIRTY. I’ve been once and almost left because the filth creeped me out so much. I mean, is it really so hard to clean empty equal packets off a table and wipe it down before someone else sits there?

If they clean it, they will come….

Frenchie, not all of us live in DP for more space.
I live in DP because it’s what I can afford. I have a small studio and it’s a good deal but still more than I can comfortably pay. I’m certain I wouldn’t be able to afford it if I moved into the neighborhood today.
Frankly, I’d live in Park Slope if I could. But my studio can’t get much smaller, and I can’t part with any more money. So DP works.

I can only speak for myself, but I when I left Park Slope, I left because I did not care for Park Slope. My wife and I looked at places in lots of different neighborhoods, including Bay Ridge, Williamsburg, Prospect Heights, Midwood, etc. We ended up in Ditmas because we liked Ditmas. That doesn’t mean that we thought Ditmas was perfect. There are some things in the Slope we wish we could have brought with us. Indeed, there are things in Bay Ridge, Prospect Heights and Midwood we’d like to bring here as well. That’s life I guess.

“Also re: comparison… I was also kind of PUTTING DOWN the Slope, saying if a place as bourgie (Clay Pot anyone? Finance folks and lawyers buying up everything)”

Hey, coolbrooklynguy, Fyi, The Clay Pot has been on 7th Ave since 1969, when it not only wasn’t “bourgie,” but probably wasn’t even called Park Slope.

Ditmas Park was my neighborhood of choice when I started looking earlier this year. I moved to Kensington 4 years ago and realized immediately I should have come here. I lived in Park Slope 20 years ago when it was cheap and couldn’t wait to leave. I’ll go there for dinner and visit my bartender buddies, but there is no neighborhood I’d rather live in than DP! Now, the poor folks in Kensington REALLY need some better restaurants. One of the many reasons I left. Anyone want to start a flame war about Kensington (just kidding).

Chill, Frenchie, chill. I think people don’t like comparisons to Park Slope, because they often cast Ditmas Park as the runner-up, or the cheap substitute, when in fact Ditmas has a whole lot going for it, a totally different vibe that’s deeper than just the number of restaurants per capita. We’re all very invested and prideful of our neighborhood, and we can get a little too defensive sometimes when Park Slope is invoked on the blog. I think a lot of people on this blog (myself included) have a hard time expressing that we love Ditmas Park, but wouldn’t mind having a few things Park Slope has, but we want to keep the essential Ditmas spirit.

Disclosure: I currently work with Canaille Bistro.

I enjoy the passion everybody has for their respective neighborhoods and restaurants. I stumbled upon Canaille several years back and it immediately became one of my favs. My fiance and I have become good friends with the owners Philippe & Marie. Just recently after MANY dinners I offered my services to help them grow their business. I say all this because I personally think Canaille is a really good French restaurant. So much so that I want them around for as long as I live in the Slope.

P.S. I plan on exploring more of Ditmas Park this spring/summer. Please send suggestions on where I should start!

We are very disappointed that our frequented corner Bistro closed. We work in Midtown and live in Midwood. Of course we love “The Farm”, “Picket Fence” and “Purple Yam” But Pomme De Terre was just a bit closer to us and was always perfect. On Ave. J next to Difara’s Pizza we’d love a non-kosher French bistro to open ….Yea like that would happen!!

Someone please post what actually happened??

Andy

Interesting to read all the comments here. Actually went with friend to have dinner, last Thursday, only to learn that PdT was closed! (We both loved their chicken!)As a Midwood resident, I enjoyed The Farm, Picket Fences(good turkey burger and pickle)Mimi’s and of course PdT.Loved the ambiance there though the small size and warm decor that made it cozy, also sometimes caused huge waits.Never have made it to Purple Yam. Have heard mixed reviews. I appreciated the proximity of these establishments, without having to go all the way to the Slope for a nice dinner or brunch. Would love something closer to this nabe, though everything around here is of the Kosher variety. As a neighbor of Ditmas Park, I love your nabe as well as the Slope. OK to love both? Will definitely try Canaille after reading comments here!Will surely miss PdT. RIP

For those of you who are so reliant upon your dwellings to define you, I offer you my sympathy. I’ve always loved Ditmas Park, but the advance of the image freaks is frightening. Re: PdT…I saw the writing on the wall months ago. My partner and I noticed neglect in the upkeep of the place, and the energy was amiss. I will definitely miss our little Sunday night spot.