Picket Fence love
Thursday, July 22nd, 2010
A food blogger goes to Picket Fence:
Their interior is cozy; the design reminds me of a summer home in Connecticut. They also have ample seating in the back garden area.
We were seated in the back. The waitress was friendly and we didn’t have to wait long for our food, which always enhance a dining experience.
I ordered the Skillet Roasted Chicken ($15). It was served in a tomato shallot sauce with a polenta cake and steamed broccoli.
This entrée was just amazing. The chicken was so tender that it fell off the bone without the assistance of a knife. The polenta cake was the texture of a creamy cloud. The broccoli was perfectly cooked and well complimented by the savory sauce – it was the perfect crunchy element of the meal. Needless to say, I practically licked my plate clean…my mama woulda been proud.
53 Responses to “Picket Fence love”
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may says:
Interesting, the few times I’ve been to Picket Fences for dinner I’ve had to wait from 45 minutes to an hour for food to arrive with no apology or explanation.
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Michigas says:
Blogger- you had a unique experience. Try a few more times and see what your opinion is then. I avoid this restaurant… Too many good ones on cortelyou now.
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Michael says:
Things I like about Picket Fence: generally no waiting; burgers and chicken wraps are pretty good; kid-friendly; laid back; prices are reasonable; delivery is fast.
Things I’m not so crazy about: hit-or-miss menu items; laid-back service sometimes means lackadaisical service; their phone frequently doesn’t work so ordering delivery is a roll of the dice.
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Rachel says:
Picket Fence can be very hit or miss, but most recently we found it to be miss. The last time we got delivery the chicken pot pie was burned to the point where it wasn’t even edible. We’ve avoided it since.
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Eleanor says:
Picket IS up and down, although lately I’ve found it more up than down. In spite of their rough patches, I do still love it – it’s just so low-pretention, which can be a relief.
Plus, we should give them props for being an early adopter on that strip. They’re kind of like the crochety old grandpa of Cortelyou restaurants – anything can happen!
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Carmen Sognonvi says:
Glad to see Picket Fence getting some blog love! I agree with Eleanor that the lack of pretentiousness is a plus. And it’s definitely nice to not have to wait for a table (most of the time, at least).
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maryhada says:
I’m sorry but Picket Fence is a sorry excuse for a restaurant. It’s amateur. Terrible decor. Awful food and diner-like service. I think people writing favorable things about it are just a little too desperate to have stuff ‘happening’ in the neighborhood.
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Nick says:
I’ve never once had a good service experience at Picket Fence – the service has always been the worst possible combination of slow, surly, and inattentive. Furthermore, while the food SOUNDS good and can be good when well executed, it is all too often just bad. I’ve had fried chicken that was burned beyond recognition and skillet roasted chicken that was seared on the outside and cold and raw inside…
I can’t deny my love for their gouda mac and cheese and their pulled pork and grits, however. I just always order it take out and avoid the dining room all together.
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Ditmiss says:
I really want to love Picket Fence but after our last visit we decided it’s too frustrating to dine there anymore. The food has always been decent, but the service. Oh dear. We had high hopes that increased competition would result in better service but if anything, the opposite is true. Waiting an hour for food with no one checking in, then being told they forgot to put in the order for our child? It was ridiculous and it wasn’t that busy. I think they focus too much on takeout/delivery and not enough on their in house patrons. It’s a bummer. They should be so much better.
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Rob says:
It’s the worst restaurant in the neighborhood, unfortunately. The food is mediocre and it’s prices rival the Farm. There is a need for “that” sort of place to exist in the neighborhood but it could be done much, much better
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SA says:
This was the first restaurant (with different ownership) that made a move to come to Cortelyou and actually succeeded.
It would be great if someone turned them on to this post so they could in fact improve. I feel pretty confident that they would want to make it a better experience in all ways for their customers since it would benefit them in the long run.
They happen to be lovely people, but if customers don’t come forward to say how they feel, they will probably go under at some point. -
The Mayan says:
You are a harsh and evil crew. I think the empathy gene is missing in many of the posters. Of course, if this was your business people were tearing apart, I think you respond differently.
Picket Fence has been a solid player in the neighborhood. They have inconsistencies, but so has the Farm which has been lacking in the service department lately. All businesses go up and down. I give them a fare shake. They do fine by me.
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Amber says:
I go to Picket Fence pretty regularly and have never had a bad experience. I don’t doubt some people have, aren’t all restaurants hit or miss? I love the garden, the garden burger, the chutney spread for the garden burger..in fact, I’ve found this place to be very consistent. That may be my only complaint – a little too consistent – and the prices are on the high side for what they offer – especially when it comes to brunch. I have never enjoyed brunch here and I’ve tried a few times. But I think they are very nice and attentive and not deserving of scorn, just feedback as SA suggests.
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sassy says:
I was so excited by the idea of Picket Fence when I moved here but my dining experiences have been pretty lousy. One ok lunch, two terrible brunches (I had to send one back) and one tasty dinner. And while the dinner was quite good, we killed a roach crawling on the wall behind us with our napkin. Although roaches are ubiquitous in this city and although the roach situation did get us a couple free drinks on PF, it was still pretty gross. I too hope that PF reads this blog entry and realizes that with all the new restaurants in town, many of which now offering breakfast, they really need to step up their game. Once they do, I will happily return.
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Jason says:
The multiple experiences of terrible service at Picket Fence have erased pretty much all the good will it earned by being the first of the new Cortelyou road restaurants. Even when it is nearly empty, you are likely to have to wait for the simplest things. It’s as if you’re in a Kafka novel.
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Amaunet says:
I love the concept of Picket Fence, but miss some of the menu items they used to have – the goat cheese ravioli in particular, which you could get as an appetizer or main dish. I agree in general the service could use some work. I like their mesclun salad with grilled steak and the salmon BLT is good too. What about adding some more salads to the menu, though? And lowering the prices on the pasta dishes – last time I was there, a pasta entree (with no meat, just a tomato-based sauce) ran $18!
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rubyo says:
Sad to say I agree with the negative experiences, and not that I want to or that I’m evil or cruel, just sharing my own experiences and I have given them many many chances. Although I didn’t kill a roach before my meal, more than once I ordered a burger and it was charred on the outside and raw on the inside. Same for the chicken. This happened when I was pregnant so I was even extra grossed out. The service really does suck for no good reason, and all NYers have high expectations for service, not just the snobby ones. BUT I also agree the smoked gouda mac & cheese is the rockinest thing on the menu! Maybe they should just have a little mac & cheese place
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Martha says:
Empathy is for people (ie., babies and sick people), animals, and other vulnerable and needy beings, but not for restaurants.
But seriously, I hear you, The Mayan, and believe me I want to love Picket Fence – they were really the first consistent restaurant on Cortelyou, but it is truly an amateur restaurant. The last time I went there ( a few weeks ago) I actually felt a bit depressed by the time I left.
so…very…sad … -
BD says:
Sorry to be evil or cruel, but I’ve tried it twice, food was ok but service sucked. I mean sucked. Not goin back unless I hear that it’s stepped up.
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Sharon says:
Am I the only one who’s had a good experience at this place? I’m beginning to think so. I’ve been here many times with my fiancée, with my parents, with friends, and the service has been fine – no mistakes, the food cooked well, all of that. Occasionally I’ve had to flag someone down to refill my water or get the check during a really busy night/brunchtime, but that’s about all. But if that’s what counts as “surly and inattentive service” around here, I guess my skin is too thick or something.
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bean says:
i have to tell ya that the last 2 times we dined at farm, the service was pretty awful. we’re there at least once a month and lately twice a month. the first of the last 2 times, the hostess basicallly waited on us. the waiter didn’t even come over until after the appetizers were served! and last time we ordered another round of beer and waited about 20 minutes and then had to ask about them before we got them.
picket fence is a basic place we go where i eat the turkey meatloaf and teenage daughter craves the easy-to-like chicken pot pie. i don’t expect culinary fireworks and i like the lack of pretense. yes, food is hit or miss.
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Michael says:
I think some commenters are a little harsh, but I think everyone wants to like Picket Fence. I don’t think name-calling other posters helps much, though I hear your frustration, Mayan.
I still go there, and I want them to improve.
And, by the way, we’ve found the brunch to be better than their other meals … the black bean tortilla is excellent, the coffee is good and plentiful, and no one cares if we have our stroller in there.
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Anna says:
Picket Fence opens earlier than The Farm on the weekends, and I go there to bypass the crowds and enjoy their lovely back garden. But once I’m seated, forget it. I have to flag the waitstaff for everything: water, to put in my order, coffee refill, ketchup, check. It’s just not worth it. It’s not a bargain and the food isn’t particularly special.
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Rob says:
I’ll try not to pile on and say what I really want to say but I don’t think critiquing a restaurant is evil or mean or harsh – it’s the truth and clearly it’s not the minority who has had a bad experience. I don’t get my money back when I eat a crappy meal – now I’m not supposed to mention my experience?
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carissa says:
I have to say that while it is possible that there are more good experiences like the blogger’s for others, the neighborhood is small and it’s possible they know the bloggers in general.
I will however, based on this blog post, try picket fence ONCE more. Because just like people, restaurants can change- and perhaps they have? Of course I want to like it AND support it. Maybe all of our negative experiences are past and I didn’t pay attention but maybe most of the posters have not been there in a while? (for good reason)
My experience each time (worse when the group was large and we were hosting) matched up with every experience (save the bug) on this list and I tell visitors to avoid it- I have never been satisfied after 2 years and probably 6 visits. I leave every time wondering when I will learn. It’s a place I would frequent if they could get their act together and serve food that wasn’t a disappointment. And by good food I am not talking gourmet, just consistent quality, not-bland food. Take a cue from Cheryl’s in PH. If she was in DP we would be there a couple times a week.
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carissa says:
Oh, and by “know the bloggers” I meant by sight, as they come in- not that they are in cahoots. Just like the food critics who are known. This is as fair a neighborhood blog as can be.
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Emily says:
I went on a really nice date there once – I loved the skirt steak and sitting in the backyard garden. I would go to breakfast there more often if it was cheaper. I know they have to make $, but you can find pancakes for half the price just about anywhere else. I’ve found many of their “fancier” brunch items are a little over-ambitious and end up being poorly executed. Which is disappointing, considering they all look so good on the menu!
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William says:
I have hesitated posting because I don’t really want to say anything if all I have to say is something negative. But in the interest of helping them to improve:
I really want to like Picket fence. It should be awesome.
I am a person who is very low maintenance. I can put up with a lot.
I have tried to eat at Picket Fence a couple of times and was never even able to sit down. They asked me to wait by the front door while they cleaned the table. I proceeded to wait over ten minutes staring at an empty table in front of me not getting cleaned. As I waited, I looked at the unhappy looks of all the people who were actually sitting waiting for their food and decided I would leave and try someplace else. This has happened a couple of times, and I have never actually tried their food.
I hope that this and all of the above comments do something to improve the situation of service. We want to love you Picket Fence, we really do. Help us to love you.
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Rugby says:
Picket Fence was not the first restaurant of the Cortelyou revival. The first restaurant was Rug-b. Rug-b was a very nice fusion west indian place where Picket Fence is now.
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Crusty says:
We went every Friday night until about a year ago when Rebecca and Lisa were waitressing. Dinners were warm, neighborhood evenings with friends. The food was the same as it is now- mediocre- but the dinner was great.
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jjs555 says:
>>Empathy is for people [...] but not for restaurants.
Sorry, who do you think *operates* the restaurant?
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Used to love PF says:
Martha, you are hysterical and so very right on.
We moved to DP BECAUSE of Picket Fence several years ago. Well, PF and because we found a great apt in this beautiful neighborhood. But many happy & delicious dining experiences at PF really sold us on this place.
Since Graham left, it’s simply gross, dirty with strange decor, terrible food and slow, comatose service. No thanks.
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bklynartiste says:
“You are a harsh and evil crew. I think the empathy gene is missing in many of the posters. Of course, if this was your business people were tearing apart, I think you respond differently.”
If it were my restaurant, I’d be listening to what people have to say about hit or miss service (over several posts over the years) and think that just mayyyyybe it’s something I should address.
That said, I will say again: the smoked gouda mac and cheese is hands down the best.
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Jaguar says:
Why do people want to love a restaurant that isn’t very good?
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manco says:
Jaguar, I agree especially when you’re paying $15 for a plate of chicken with polenta in Ditmas Park. I’ve been there a couple of times and the service is friendly but slow and the food was mediocre to poor. I don’t think it’s evil or cruel to expect more from a restaurant no matter how nice the owners are. It’s a business and if they expect to stick around it’s fair to let them know how they’re doing with the hope of keeping them around. I went to Purple Yam once and had real sandy Mussels they took the dish back brought us another plate of Mussels and same thing. The owner and the staff apologized profusely and didn’t charge us for those plates. I figured “ok they got a batch of bad mussels today” no biggie the rest of the meal was great. The difference between the 2 (other than the type of food served) is overall good quality and consistency of the food and the willingness to keep a customer happy if they make a mistake. I unfortunately don’t get that from Picket Fence but do hope it changes.
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Michigas says:
Someone ought to print this out and hand it to the owners. My guess is they’re not reading this blog. Maybe I will be the harsh and evil volunteer.
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lauren says:
Unfortunately, I have to agree with many of the posters here and am relieved to know that others have had negative experiences at Picket Fences, as well. I hate complaining about ‘service’ because I do recognize how hard servers work and try to be respectful of that. But when you’re out to eat and trying to have a good time, it just sucks to have to be always asking where your food is, to have your water filled, etc. Very unpleasant and distracting from the food.
We wanted to love this place, loving some of the dishes (mac and cheese and banana pudding are amazing!). But after going to brunch a few times, we realized that it’s just too frustrating to dine in the restaurant. The last time we ate there and I ordered the unlimited mimosas – and basically had to beg to get it refilled. They kept forgetting, and I ended up with only one refill – over the course of a pretty long time waiting for the food. Just made a mental note that this is not somewhere where I can go and relax and enjoy brunch and haven’t returned since.
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New on the menu says:
Fresh from Prospect Park, Cooked Goose. Served with golden ruset potatoes, corn on the cob and side salad. Your choice of vegie.
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john says:
My recent experience with Picket Fence has been horrible!
Even though the place was almost empty when we arrived
the food took over one and a half hours to arrive. No explanation, just a lot of “in a few minutes”. People who arrived after us got their food, eat it, paid and left and still no sign of our food.
It only arrived after I got angry at the manager and threatened
to leave with out paying for the undelivered food.I honestly can’t say if the food was good or not because I was so angry all I could taste was my bile!
I enjoyed Rug-B although they could be slow, especially if you
came in after a large (four or more) group. However Rug-B’s
management would always warn you about that and treated the
customers with respect. I would advise Picket Fence to take note! -
Brooklyngirl says:
I think inconsistent is how I’d describe PF – you never know what is going to happen there. I tried it again for brunch in May, after not going there for several months, and had really tasty eggs benedict and decent service. I also was thrilled that I could bring my newborn in her stroller while I dined in the backyard. So next time I brought my husband too. Unfortunately where the first time was a “hit”, this time was a “miss” – baked eggs arrived hard as a rock and I had to practically tackle the waitstaff for mimosa refills. If the place could be more consistent I’d be thrilled.
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Juicy Fruit says:
I don’t mind Picket Fence. I’m actually more likely to go there than to The Farm, if only because it’s friendlier and has a better (if someone nondescript) “vibe”.
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sea says:
Yeah this is not a good place, but we ate at Kumo today for the first time. This wasn’t bad, not horrible and disgusting, but it wasn’t very good either. The fish in their Sushi “deluxe” was hardly deluxe with only five varieties of fish. The pieces were extremely inconsistent in size, in some cases varying by about fifty percent from the largest to the smallest. Pieces varied greatly in thickness as well. We waited so long for a decent sushi restaurant to open, can’t believe this is what we got. Please don’t tell me that Top Cafe is good, the rice is as compact as a golf ball and seems to have no vinegar. Sushi is more than fish on white rice, there is a balance and texture that should be present.
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carissa says:
Well, if anyone goes after a while and has some good news to report, please do. I would hate for this to be the last thing that is posted about them if they do indeed change.
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SA says:
Rug-B should not be part of this conversation.
They may have been first, but often more than 3/4 of the menu listed was not available. So what’s the point.It is important to care about whether a restaurant succeeds here as over the last 26 years living here I have watched Cortelyou Rd become a “destination restaurant” spot. This has made it possible for other small businesses to open and take a chance on surviving here, properties to maintain their value in this bad economy, and for all of us living here to have choices without having to leave the neighborhood.
Whether you like the food or service, or not, as someone living here you should feel somewhat invested in the businesses doing well.
I see a lot of complaining and not too much problem solving. That being said, I would like to suggest that we turn this conversation into forthcoming posters offering a suggestion for improvement.
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Jennifer says:
I seem to be in the minority here, in terms of experiences with PF staff: they have always been attentive and friendly, especially when food takes a bit longer to arrive. That is a kitchen issue, not a waitstaff issue.
It seems to me that there are far too many choices on the menu. Perhaps if the kitchen did not have to prep for/serve so many different dishes, they could concentrate and become more efficient. They could start by looking at what gets ordered least and axe a few of those.
The food is decent. I like the veggie sides and veggie burgers (the only place to serve them in the neighborhood!) It would be even better, however, if most items were a dollar or two less. The place seems to be somewhat highly priced for the kind of food they serve.
I might get hell for this comment, but I’ll say it. Another area that could use improvement is the decor, especially the backyard. The decor is a bit chintzy or too cutesy. I’m not sure what it is really, but it is a bit “off” (best I can describe it for now). The yard should be planted with herbs and cleaned up. It could be such a fantastic space. We enjoy it now as it is, because it is wonderful to be able to eat outside without waiting for a table, but the yard really has potential to be super.
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carissa says:
SA: I agree about the neighborhood and supporting it. It’s why many of us want to love it so much.
I think the areas of improvement are implied in the complaints- be more consistent with food, bring food out at a reasonable time, apologize and make ammends when things don’t go well (take things off the bill/free dessert etc), and overall appreciate your customers – I have rarely been greeted in there, or told thanks and goodbye. When it was mother’s day and we went in with a big group, it was a nightmare and didn’t feel celebratory at all, we felt like we were in their way. The moms of the group should have been greeted and the morning should have been smoother. Anticipate that you will be busy and adjust.
I had years as a waitress and loved my work- I’d say there needs to be someone always at least saying “hello” upon someone’s arrival, the basic checking in on tables, the servers need to be trained to consider their entire section as one table (meaning don’t run back and forth for one errand/one table, see ALL the things your section needs, make one large round trip) and if all of that doesn’t help, hire another server so that people have a good experience (and thus tip better, also more likely to come back and give more business- making everyone happier) Maybe hire a food runner. A great server could do it all, but with a kitchen that drives them nuts and then wanting to avoid communication with their customers…it’s a bad cycle. The servers have to be given range to make things better- offer something to waiting customers, take something off the bill. The management is to blame.
Mainly, communication. Err on the side of over-communication and then when you learn to read your customers better, you can know when to back off.
In terms of the atmosphere, all would be forgiven if all of the above just happened.
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carissa says:
this could be a perfect “kitchen nightmares” episode.
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Freddy says:
We used to go to PF all the time, but after enough bad experiences, we were going to give up. But the last time we went (2 weeks ago), it was no better. The problem is the place is very poorly managed. The owner (at least I think he is the owner) was there, but not at all friendly. The servers seem to spend time chatting at the counter, forcing customers to wave to them to get their attention. I don’t get the impression they are very happy working there. Instead of the popcorn on the table, they brought over 4 small slices of almost-stale Italian bread (there were 4 of us) supermarket quality. I wouldn’t complain except this is not budget place. We waited a long time for the food given the place was almost empty. The food wasn’t bad, but not worth the price.
I want to love and support PF. I hope the owner is reading these posts. He has to know that on a weekend night there is a wait for a table at Farm, PY, Top Cafe and even at San Remo. Yet PF seems half empty. So clearly the posters here are not the only unhappy customers.
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Barbara-Ann says:
I haven’t been to the Fence in almost a year; have they changed owners again? *This was a great restaurant when Grant opened it in 2005 (Grant reminds me of Gordon Ramsay: not a nice guy, but he sure did know how to cook and run a restaurant). The food quality went a little downhill when the restaurant changed hands a few years back, but they kept a lot of the famous Fence menu items, like the mac n cheese. I am surprised that people are complaining about the service; I always had wonderful attentive waiters, and hardworking busboys/gals who were quick and efficient. **Their brunch is excellent (or at least it was up to a year ago, the last time I went there). **The Fence is a nice change from the pretentious hipster-(and Marty)-attracting, suck-your-money-fest known as The Farm.
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Lucy says:
I was *always* thinking of Kitchen Nightmares over my last few visits there. It would be the perfect victim for Chef Ramsay.
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Jimmy says:
Sadly Picket Fence has failed the “three strikes and your out” test. I ate there three times and each experience ranged from disappointing to disgusting. Bad food, bad service. Nice backyard though.
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efine says:
I’m glad Picket Fence is here, and the Farm, and all the other places new and old, but I have had very disappointing service at PF, pretty consistently. The servers are friendly, but don’t seem to know the rules of waiting, which were very well stated above by Carissa. Last time I went there, I had to go inside and ask for a menu and some water, after waiting a long time in the back – and I had made sure that they saw me come in and knew where I was sitting right away. I also had to seek out the server so I could pay – they were just hanging around the counter, never bothering to check to see if I or anyone else needed their checks.
I was surprised to read here that people have had bad experiences at the Farm lately, but after a recent visit there, I have to concur. The last time I was there, I was told a few minutes after ordering that they were out of what I’d ordered. OK, no problem. I asked to see the menu so I could choose something else, and the server impatiently told me that the kitchen stops serving breakfast at 11 – it was well before 11, and people were still coming in to order breakfast. I fought the urge to remind him that I’d already ordered, so please don’t give me a hard time, but I was very annoyed by his attitude. I also had to order coffee twice, and then had to call him back to get sugar and a stirring spoon. These are basic breakfast things. I don’t completely blame the server, though. He seemed to be the only one on that day, which isn’t fair. But he should know better than to rush customers, especially when they’ve already ordered and it’s the kitchen that’s lacking, and not the customer. For the record, I’m a former waiter and have worked many busy breakfast shifts. There are certain base rules of service that should be observed.
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manco says:
I don’t think I could watch a kitchen nightmare of the Picket Fence. If the food is inconsistent I wouldn’t want to potentially feel sick from seeing behind the scenes in the kitchen. A couple of posts mention reducing the menu which would be a good thing for this place. I can’t speak for everyone but I would not want this place to fail because supporting local business is important especially in this economical climate. As for Kumo, yeah I was hoping for something better but haven’t had any major issues with it. At least they could have got different signage and not use the San Remo font
