Pok Pok, Pok Pok, Pok Pok. While not much was written in advance about UES Thai spot Dragonfly, the food blogs have been chomping at the bit the last few months over Pok Pok Ny, the just-opened sit-down restaurant from Portland chef Andy Ricker. And, considering how much of the food's ingredients are sourced from Thailand (most of them), and how good it all looks—we can understand.
Pok Pok, which is located in Brooklyn's Columbia Waterfront area, is actually the second Pok Pok to land in town this year. Ricker opened Pok Pok Wing here in January. But where that LES shop focuses on a relatively short menu, the new one has a far more expansive menu to explore. From the $14 Yam Kop (spicy Northern Thai pork bone soup with smoked frog legs) to the $14 Hoti Thawt (crispy broken crepe with fresh mussels, eggs, garlic, chives and bean sprouts) to the $16 Muu Kham Waan (pork neck rubbed with garlic, coriander root and black pepper, glazed with soy and sugar and grilled voer charcoal), this really isn't your run-of-the-mill Thai place. And, in part thanks to its location, it won't break the bank the way a lot of "big" openings can and do.
As for the decor? The space, which boasts very distinct front and back dining rooms has a charmingly low-key "let's focus on the food" feel to it. This isn't a white tablecloth place but the tables are covered with funky cloths. The back room in particular definitely has an East Asian garden vibe to it. The food though is definitely Ricker's focus though (which isn't to say the drinks are bad).
Right now the restaurant is open for dinner only, Wednesday through Sunday. And do note: They don't take reservations, so expect loooooong waits.
127 Columbia Street // 718-923-9322
