Mominette, French Bistro in Bushwick. (all photos by Maria Gotay)
Last week, I had the distinct pleasure of being the first of the Bushwick Daily family to try Mominette, a new French Restaurant that opened at 221 Knickerbocker on the corner of Troutman. The bar & bistro’s golden glow is a gorgeous (although slightly out-of-place) vision on the block, which features bodegas, a massive dollar store, a laundry mat, and the recently renovated Associated Market. Despite its uncanny location, the restaurant is here to stay, with its classic furnishings, romantic atmosphere, friendly staff, and fantastic food. From perfecting French staples like Escargot and Creme Brulee to simply nailing Mac’N'Cheese, Mominette is without a doubt Bushwick’s Best New Restaurant.
Smiles for Mominette
Cheese plate
Bushwick Sour
Mominette, which features full dinner and brunch service, doubles as a romantic bar with a full menu of Brooklyn-specific beverages concocted by their resident bartender. My favorite was the Take Me Home- a satisfying blend of Passionfruit Puree and Makers Mark, spiced with Chile de Arbol. It was the perfect beverage to sip on while peering at the candle-lit restaurant’s unique decour- from vintage chandeliers to newsprint wallpaper and bottles of Mominette’s own wine.
Friends enjoying mussels
Escargot (left) and mac’n'cheese (right)
As far as French cuisine goes, I have never had better eats in New York. Afraid of trying Escargot? Don’t let your distressed taste buds hold you back any longer. Love Escargot? You’ve found your neighborhood joint. Snails have never tasted as rich- baked with tomatos and garlic & topped with parsley, the rare dish is served with crispy french bread.
Owners Steven Mark Sciacca & Laurent Sorel
Mominette is the beautiful incarnation of the shared vision of three men. Jean Pierre Marquet is the big name behind the restaurant, a Frenchman who owns Williamsburg brunch staple Le Barricou and Cobble Hill bakery Marquet Patisserie. Laurent Sorel, who is also French, managed Marquet Patisserie before partnering up with Marquet to form Mominette. And Steven Mark Sciacca is the energetic voice of the operation, whom you might see sitting in the cafe, reading emails over a drink.
creme brulee w/ blackberries
It’s safe to say we were wowed by Bushwick’s newest addition. Mominette is open daily, and has a menu featuring a varying pasta, soup, and platter of the day. For reference, last week the pasta was tomato and cream, incredible chicken soup equal parts acidic and hearty, and fall-apart-in-your-mouth bourgignion. If you’re still not convinced, spin by and look at the prices- nearly the entire menu is under $20. Oh, and bring dollar bills- it’s cash only. Bon Apetit!
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About Maria Gotay
strict rule breaker. photographer. music obsessee. brooklynite.
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Hi Maria, just wanted to drop a note saying thanks for this great review. Your photos are amazing, everyone I know that read the piece loved the camera work. It was a pleasure meeting you, look forward to seeing you again soon.
Hey Maria, just wanted to drop a note and say thanks for this terrific review. Your photos are amazing, everyone I know that read the piece loved them. It was really nice meeting you, look forward to seeing you again soon.
Thanks, Steven! It was a pleasure to dine at Mominette. See you again soon
Hi, the photos have a pretty strong color cast. Almost any digital camera has a way to adjust the color temperature (called “white balance”). Try setting it to “tungsten” or the picture with the light bulb and it will add some blue to the photos evening them out. If you are using lightroom they are really easy to adjust using the white balance
Please keep me in the loop
Ina, you can sign up to our free Friday newsletter, and get all the most popular posts of the week to your mailbox
would like to try but they dont accept credit cards. get with the times.