Park Slope in Brooklyn has a great selection of restaurants, so when Sue and I were planning our night out, we decided to go to Haenyeo, which is one of her old favorites in that area. On the subway, on my way to Haenyeo, there was a signal error, so I was late. I ran the short stretch from Union St. station, and got to the restaurant 10 minutes late, and rather short of breath.
Haenyeo is a Korean restaurant with an interesting mix of traditional Korean dishes and modern Korean food side by side in the menu. Even though it was just an ordinary Tuesday, the restaurant was completely full that evening. Haenyeo is known for good cocktails, so Sue suggested that I tried her favorite, The Squid and the Whale, with shochu, egg white and sesame oil. It may sound like a weird mix, but it was really good. I’m definitely developing a taste for egg white in my drinks. Merle the Pearl was also nice, but when it comes to cocktails for a girls’ night out, size matters, and the largest one (The Squid and the Whale) wins.
The crudo was a nice little thing to start out with, and the gooseberries were an unexpected, but interesting addition. I liked how the bright golden-orange berries added both a pop of color and a dash of fruitiness to the dish.
Sue also insisted that we got the watercress salad, and it was nice and tasty, with lots of crispy greens and a generous amount of sliced avo. Though compared to the other dishes we had, this is probably the least memorable.
Talking about memorable, we had an amazing plate of perfectly cooked duck breast. Oh my, it was delicious! Though it doesn’t seem to be on the menu anymore, when I checked the website, so I won’t dwell on that. Such a shame, I hope it will be back.
We also had the grilled oysters with seaweed butter on brioche toast. It is one of Haenyeo’s signature dishes, and it was amazing. I usually prefer to eat oysters raw, but the grilled ones at Haenyeo were excellent. Yum, I could go back just for the oysters.
I was in the mood for kimchi jjigae, which is a traditional Korean soup with kimchi and tofu, and which Haenyeo made to perfection. It’s the perfect cold-weather comfort food, especially if you like a little heat in your soup, but it’s also rather filling, so if you want to try more food at Haenyeo than just the kimchi jjigae, you might want to bring a friend or two to help you finish it.
When I was younger, a night out often meant dinner at a restaurant, followed by drinks at a bar and then clubbing until the wee hours, but now when I’m older, I prefer to stay at the same place the entire evening. I also don’t want to stay out too late, so dinner and drinks at a restaurant like Haenyeo, is a perfect night out for me.
My guide to Korean food and restaurants in New York City >>
Haenyeo, 239 Fifth Avenue, Brooklyn, New York
