Now Open: Elbow Room

The Elbow Room Brooklyn opened up yesterday, October 25th, and in an hour they were sold out for lunch - not prepared for the excitement of Newarkers to embrace this new restaurant on Halsey Street. They closed their doors for a few hours and reopened for dinner.

The Elbow Room features 9 varieties of Mac & Cheese including Poutine (short rib gravy, Yukon French fries, fresh cheese curds) and Chicken Tinga (shredded chipotle chicken, Monterey jack, avocado, pickled red onion) which seemed to be crowd favorites at the opening. Owner, Joel Bolden, created a menu with comfort foods that are integrated seamlessly with mac and cheese and also offers a variety of salads. AND we can't forget a homemade ice cream sandwich for dessert. Prices range from $5 to $13 (with the most expensive item being the Lobster Macaroni Salad in the largest size for $22).

The Newark location is the first of the Elbow Rooms to open up, followed by their next location opening in two weeks at the Barclay Center and soon their Prospect Heights location. Within the year, they will be opening up two more restaurants, but not under the Elbow Room name. So why Newark? Mr. Bolden had learned of the Halsey revival from Mayor Booker and thought it was reminiscent of Brooklyn's own renaissance.

If you're looking for Comfort - food isn't the only thing enticing you to enter. The restaurant offers a bright and airy layout mimicking a Brooklyn Brownstone. When you enter , the living room features comfortable chairs and couch and the dining area takes you back to classroom days with high lab stools and metal chairs.

At their tasting, a customer noted, "I feel like I just left my grandmother's house."
Welcome to Halsey, Elbow Room!

The Ribbon Cutting will be on November 8th at 4pm with Mayor Booker and Michael Strahan. Other Elbow Room fans in attendance: Justin Tuck, Deron Williams and Jason Kidd.

Elbow Room Brooklyn

41 Halsey Street, Newark
973-642-2300
www.elbowroombrooklyn.com

Hours: 11am-11pm Daily (yup Saturday & Sunday)