Soft Opening For the Public on Sunday, February 15th, from 5pm ‘til Late! (All are welcome!)

If you’ve been wondering what was happening at 247 Dekalb (between Vanderbilt and Clermont), the answer was worth the wait — Brooklyn Public House will offer simple quality pub fare, 16 beers on tap, and classic cocktails, all in the first floor of a beautifully restored brownstone. I sat down with business partners Kevin Lunney and Gerry Rooney to learn more about their venture.

(Chris Morgan is also a partner, and Chef John Parlatore will be running the kitchen). The three partners met while working together in Manhattan. Kevin and Chris both live in the Fort Greene area. Here’s what we talked about:

Bar, restaurant, both?

Both. It’s a gastropub so the focus is on the food and the beverages. The front room is more of a bar area; it has a 30 ft. bar, high tables, and two banquets in the windows. The back room has a number of cozy booths and wooden tables, and will have more of a dining room feel.

The food

Comfort food; no pretense, just good home style cooking. The menu consists of straightforward appetizers, sandwiches, lots of burgers and toppings, entrees and salads, such as artichoke dip, fish and chips, pot pies, mac and cheese, and cast iron pizzas (cooked in cast iron pans).

The drink

They’ll have 16 beers on tap, including their own brew, Brooklyn Public House Ale. A note for beer aficionados: They’ll be using a nitrogen port to carbonate the beer on tap, as opposed to CO2, so no flat beer here. There will be classic American cocktails and wine as well.

The décor (and some history)

The main portion of the building dates back to the 1850s, most likely around 1858. The building used to be an old candy shop during Prohibition, and while renovating Kevin, Chris and Gerry found old pulleys used to transport the candy up from the basement.

They also found old posters and newspapers (and even a mirror) dating back to the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, which you’ll see hanging throughout the pub. If you look closely at some of the walls, you can just make out the text of old newspapers that papered the walls at some point during the building’s history. Another find: Old opium bottles from Behrens pharmacy, just down the block, probably from the mid 1800’s, when opium was legal.

The ceilings in the bar area are the original tin, and the tables in the back room were made using original wood flooring from the building. (Just try to pick one up, they weigh a ton.) The benches along one of the walls in the back room came from an old monastery in Manhattan.

Basic Info:

Address: 247 Dekalb (between Clermont and Vanderbilt), Fort Greene

Phone: Coming shortly

Hours:

On February 15th: Soft opening for the public on Sunday, February 15th, from 5pm ‘til Late. Come enjoy a drink and sample the menu.

Starting February 16th, open every day:

Dinner*: 4pm -2am on weekdays; 4pm -3am on Fridays and Saturdays
*Late night menu available from midnight, on

Lunch and Brunch: Coming very soon; within the next week or so

Prices:

Appetizers: $8-$12

Sandwiches/Burgers: $8-$12

Entrees: $13-$18

Cash and Major Credit Cards accepted.

Look for outdoor seating come Spring!

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