New restaurant openings can be hit and miss. However, when hospitality runs in your blood like it does for Luana’s Tavern owners Alana and Enrique, things just fall right into place.
When I heard about the new spot opening in the Carroll Gardens neighborhood of Brooklyn, I have to be honest that I wasn’t expecting much, simply because it was new. But when I found myself right down the street one Sunday evening, I decided to swing by and give it a go.
I ordered a wide variety of dishes: duck wings ($16), Caesar salad ($16), and pigs in a blanket ($13). While I waited for my food to come out, I conversed with the bartender while sipping a glass of Gavi di Gavi from their impressive wine list. The bartender told me the burgers seem to be a fan favorite, so I added two burgers to my order: one Tavern Smash Burger and one Tavern Burger. Hey, it’s field research.
I was surprised by how busy the place was for a new spot on a Sunday night. The bar only had a few empty seats, and at least half of the tables were occupied, with plenty more people, kids included, seated outside to watch the game on the large outdoor screen. (It doesn’t hurt that there’s a dedicated toy area for kids to play.)
Shortly after ordering, the Caesar salad and duck wings came out. Before me was a wooden board of wings strategically arranged amid a schmear of apricot, maple, and harissa glaze, topped with scallions and flaky sea salt. The Caesar salad was plated as three halves of wedged lettuce with a thick slathering of dressing, covered in finely grated parmesan cheese and garlic gremolata. The salad provided plenty of texture and a pleasant funk, much thanks to the addition of black garlic. Moving onto what the menu refers to as simply “duck wings,” but which are actually duck confit wings, meaning they are cooked in their own fat. After one bite I wasn’t sure I’d ever be able to order regular chicken wings again. I mean, why would I when I know duck wings are out there? To any other restaurants reading: I hope you’re taking notes.
Next, a plate of four pigs in a blanket came out. For this dish, the plating is simple; just four puff-pastry-wrapped dogs sprinkled with everything bagel seasoning, and two ramekins of mustard. The flavor, however, is not so simple. The dogs, made with American wagyu-style beef, give a satisfying snap thanks to their natural casing.
Now, onto the real stars of the show: the burgers. Luana’s Tavern offers two: the Tavern Smash Burger ($21), made with double patties, provolone and spicy pickles; and the Tavern Burger ($25): a classic, thicker burger with torched aged gouda, onion and optional bacon jam for an additional $3.
I started with the Tavern Burger. Have you ever been transformed by one simple bite of food? That’s what the Tavern Burger at Luana’s Tavern did for me. Burger juice dripped all over my plate (and chin), the slight tang of onions giving it just enough texture, and nutty notes of that bubbly torched aged gouda simply taking it over the top.
“This gives the burger at Luger’s a run for its money,” I told Alana and Enrique, comparing theirs to my personal favorite in the city.
It makes sense that their burger is so good. Alana’s family, the Bitici Brothers, once owned Minetta Tavern, another New York City institution with a beloved burger. She tells me she grew up in the restaurant industry and spent more long nights at New York City establishments as a child than most servers and bartenders do in a lifetime.
Enrique, on the other hand, grew up right down the block from Luana’s Tavern. He knew exactly what the neighborhood was missing: a family-friendly establishment with a maximalist approach to your standard bar fare, not to mention a killer cocktail and wine program. Alana’s expertise matched with Enrique’s knowledge of Carroll Gardens birthed Luana’s Tavern, named for their first-born daughter.
So, if you’re looking for a neighborhood spot run by incredibly hardworking people and offering some of the city’s best burgers and wings, head over to Luana’s Tavern to give this new hidden dining gem a go.
Address: 449 Court St, Brooklyn, NY 11231
Phone: (929) 298-0321
Prices: Small plates and snacks from $13 to $19; big plates from $24 to $28, salads from $16 to $24
Hours: Monday 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., Wednesday-Thursday 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., Friday 2 p.m. to 11 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., and Sunday 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., Closed Tuesdays