Miss Ada

Miss Ada Restaurant Review:

About the chef: At his open-kitchen bistro in Fort Greene, Israeli chef Tomer Blechman (Lupa, Maialino, Cookshop) offers a very personal tribute to his Middle East upbringing and Latvian heritage.

Likes: Feels like you’re dining in someone’s home with very personal and friendly service.
Dislikes: The restaurant can get very noisy as tables are close together in the small space.

About the food: Vegetarian, seafood and meat choices feature on a changing menu based on the bounty of the season. On a given night you might find the likes of bright, sassy hiramasa (similar to kingfish) crudo or yellowfin tuna with delicate placements of elderberries and huckleberries for a light start. A must-order, Blechman’s hummus is warm, rather than cold, and is served with veggies such as fresh English peas or sweet potato. Skewers are grouped under a separate heading with a savory kofta kebab perked up with a secret spice blend. For entrées, the half-brick chicken, a Mediterranean favorite, comes sliced and seasoned with harissa, preserved lemon and taggiasca olives. Shakshuka takes on a Tomer twist with the addition of goat cheese. If you still have room after this medley of dishes, ice cream and sorbet from Il Laboratorio de Gelato offer a cooling finish, or perhaps consider the addictive appetizer of whipped ricotta with honey and sage.

About the drinks: Cocktails have a farm-to-table orientation such as the Beet-On with fresh beets, lemon, mint and arak, an anise-like spirit from Western Asia. The wine menu is creative with a selection of orange wines, European whites and reds.