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Isa

Isa

(Now Closed)
American Restaurant$$$$
Williamsburg, Brooklyn
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  • Stars
    The experts at Travel + Leisure and The New York Times recommend this place
    • Travel + Leisure
    • The New York Times
Tips and Reviews icon96 Tips and reviews
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  • Cooper S.heart icon on user image
    Cooper SmithMay 28, 2013
    Make a full meal for 2 out of just appetizers:: Arugula salad with olives, fried artichokes and lemon. Wood fired mussels. And last but not least, the pork and beef meatballs in a spicy marinara
  • Christine C.heart icon on user image
    Christine ChangOctober 6, 2014
    Perfect for date night and for sharing appetizers. They have an amazing variety of flavorful appetizers. The daily pizza has great ingredients and the dough is light and fluffy!
  • Heather R.heart icon on user image
    Heather RepinskiJuly 13, 2015
    Avocado toast is to die for and definitely try the brunch bowl. Both I would recommend asking for a poached egg on top instead of hard boiled egg.
  • Trista K.heart icon on user image
    Trista KempaApril 9, 2014
    Easily the best meal I've had in Williamsburg. Drinks were overpriced but food was amazing. Had tomato mint soup, arugula avocado and sprout salad, and the goat cheese and spinach tortellini. GO!
  • Meredith B.heart icon on user image
    Meredith BlechmanDecember 6, 2014
    The coziest restaurant on a quiet street in Williamsburg. Wood burning oven (always get the special pizza), and a rotating menu with seasonal ingredients. Everything was delicious.
  • The Wall Street Journal
    The menu is strong on hearty takes on brunch classics like boudin noir sausage with egg chickpeas and cilantro toast; duck leg with yolk and sweet potato; and roasted eggs and mushrooms. Read more
  • Melanie T.
    Melanie TravisApril 13, 2013
    I had the skirt steak and it was so so good. The polenta was delicious, and the cocktails good and strong. 30 min wait for a table, but that's not bad on a Friday night. Highly recommended.
  • Fodor's Travel
    Fodor's TravelSeptember 9, 2015
    Ask for a seat near the open kitchen if you want to see what the chefs are up to, or sit on the other side and watch the bartenders shake cocktails using herbs from the rooftop garden. Read more
  • Date Night Is...
    Date Night Is...April 24, 2013
    Amazingly fresh, stunningly well-cooked meals from fresh, seasonal ingredients. Isa is a perfect spot for your "special occasion" Date Night.
  • Emily A.heart icon on user image
    Emily AbtAugust 14, 2012
    I took the hubby here for his 35th bday on saturday and it turned out to be our favorite meal this year. Everything was delicious, ambience delightful, service top notch, can't wait to go back!
  • David R.heart icon on user image
    David RosenbergFebruary 24, 2014
    A bold claim, but this might be the best brunch in Williamsburg. The breakfast pizza, ricotta pancakes, avo sando and the whitefish are good starting points.
  • Asia L.heart icon on user image
    Asia LindsayNovember 29, 2014
    This might sound weird but their menus are beautiful! Good food too- the breakfast pizza is a must. I had the healthy bowl and it was surprisingly filling.
  • Sandy A.
    Sandy AlbertAugust 26, 2011
    The sardine skeleton was amazing. Also not to be missed is the gnocchi, mackerel, and hanger steak. Still BYOB and cash only. Awesome ambiance and great service. Perfect for a date or with friend's...
  • Travel + Leisure
    Travel + LeisureJuly 30, 2012
    There’s a hippy, trippy kind of rough-hewn beauty to this Williamsburg outpost. The warm, rustic lodge aesthetic matches the inventive dishes on the constantly changing menu.
  • Lia D.
    Lia D'AmicoMay 17, 2013
    In love with the place. Have the pork sandwich, it's unbelieveable and perfectly seasoned. Just wish there were more food and drink options on the lunch menu.
  • Bitches Who Brunch
    Bitches Who BrunchOctober 16, 2015
    The Bitches say: B-. Isa is a friendly, neighborhood spot, but could use some work on its service. Its wood-oven pizza can’t be missed during brunch or dinner. Read more
  • Cooper S.heart icon on user image
    Cooper SmithOctober 11, 2014
    One of the only places in the hood that is oddly strict about reservations. Call ahead, and don't plan on walking in, especially on a Friday or Saturday night
  • 7th.List
    7th.ListDecember 11, 2011
    Urban woodsman meets country kitchen. They describe Isa’s rustic fare as “modern primitive”: Expect sardine fillets served with their fried skeletons and a treviso salad with a vegan nut dressing. Read more
  • refinery29
    refinery29August 3, 2014
    An organic garden on the roof provides veggies for former Il Buco Chef Ignacio Mattos, who charms diners as he displays his talents in the open kitchen. Read more
  • Ranu R.heart icon on user image
    Ranu RajkarnikarDecember 13, 2014
    Incredible space. Super cozy for a date. Their food is amazing and I love the wood burning stove inside.
  • goop
    goopAugust 5, 2014
    The food is simple yet innovative, focusing on the flavors of the quality ingredients with frequent hints of smoke from the wood-burning oven. Read more
  • lily m.heart icon on user image
    lily meyerFebruary 25, 2015
    Everything here is good. It is one of our favorite date spots. Love the wine selection.
  • Jen C.heart icon on user image
    Jen CallowayJanuary 11, 2015
    The baked eggs with polenta, tomatoes, and parmesan is incredible
  • The New York Times
    The New York TimesNovember 29, 2011
    Recommended dishes: Sardine, tartare, chanterelle and pig ear, white beet and apple salad, pig tail, broth, calamari, cod, duck, rib-eye. Read more
  • Luca M.heart icon on user image
    Luca MessinaNovember 26, 2012
    Make sure you listen in on the specials, tonight they had a French soup in a bread bowl that was phenomenal. Manage your hunger accordingly as it's filling.
  • Youngna P.
    Youngna ParkSeptember 25, 2012
    Go Monday & Tues nights to get killer cocktails from my buddy Steffen. Oh, and get the pizza of the day and the grilled kale caesar.
  • Rick V.heart icon on user image
    Rick ValenzuelaMarch 8, 2015
    Never thought I would add a kale salad in tips, but the fact that they grill the kale makes all the difference
  • Time Out New York
    Time Out New YorkOctober 5, 2011
    Try chef Igancio Mattos’ rib eye, so tender it’s served with a table knife. It’s one of our #100best dishes and drinks of 2011. Read more
  • Pueblo Viejo Tequila
    Pueblo Viejo TequilaDecember 21, 2016
    Reflect your inner self in a cocktail mixed with Pueblo Viejo. Ask the bartender of Isa to make a Tequila Sunrise for you.
  • Kayla
    KaylaMarch 28, 2013
    Love the decor, music was a downer, food was really good but definitely over priced. Had the pizza special and it was amazing, but $14 for a kale salad that was mediocre. No bottles of wine under $40
  • Melissa R.heart icon on user image
    Melissa RosenfieldMarch 7, 2015
    Breakfast pizza #FTW and the budino for dessert.
  • Ebee D.heart icon on user image
    Ebee DFebruary 13, 2015
    Chicken was really tasty and large portion. Need to order sides or app because it's served solo. Skip the squid.
  • David B.
    David BanApril 13, 2013
    The steak is delicious, albeit tough. The bathroom's bumpin' rock speaker, however, makes up for any and all transgressions.
  • Katherine T.heart icon on user image
    Katherine TsaySeptember 16, 2014
    Small brunch menu but everything is delicious and the service is chill but helpful
  • Marcel K.
    Marcel KornblumJanuary 15, 2012
    Extremely considered daily menu with unusual ingredients/combos. come with friends and share a lot of dishes!
  • Jessica A.
    Jessica AbellDecember 9, 2012
    Their dinner is incredible. Get the grilled kale salad and chicken with polenta.
  • Jannica R.
    Jannica RobertsonApril 7, 2012
    Great Caesar salad! Come hungry for the roast pork with eggs, polenta and brussel sprouts.
  • Quinton M.
    Quinton MaAugust 2, 2013
    The appetizers are amazing (duck sausage and polenta!). Don't get the mussel entree.
  • Maya J.heart icon on user image
    Maya Jimenez 😬June 19, 2015
    Family friendly! The arugula salad isn't filling. (Brunch)
  • Sarah G.heart icon on user image
    Sarah GoerzenNovember 11, 2015
    Gnocchi was delicious and a big portion!
  • Sophia Z.
    Sophia ZikanovaOctober 19, 2014
    They pour water out of an Erlenmeyer flask. Very cool relaxed vibe
  • Cheryl
    CherylFebruary 26, 2014
    Mediocre menu, cute space. However, it was disappointing to see that our waiter took the liberty to add an extra 12% tip to the bill - I only caught this later on my credit card statement. So shady!
  • Ryan T.
    Ryan TaylorJuly 22, 2012
    The breakfast pizza was worth it on the brunch menu. Very good.
  • Jolene
    JoleneJuly 16, 2014
    Love that the cocktails are named using Back to the Future references.
  • Michelle
    MichelleFebruary 15, 2013
    Eh. I would have forgiven the stank-faced waitress if the food was good but it's just ok. Pasta was not made in-house, steak had too much gristle, & the polenta had the texture of greasy shrimp toast.
  • Tasting Table
    Tasting TableMay 2, 2012
    Sample the silky beef tartare with smoked-hay oil, flax and rye crumbs: Read more
  • Conor O.
    Conor O'HollarenOctober 20, 2013
    try the breakfast pizza! there are eggs on it
  • Amanda V.
    Amanda VictoriaJuly 8, 2013
    Unassuming, great cocktail program-- yes please!
  • Scott S.heart icon on user image
    Scott SullivanAugust 24, 2014
    Breakfast pizza is unreal
  • Veronica C.
    Veronica CarvalloSeptember 17, 2011
    Amazing staff, scallops are delicious! Bring wine no liquor license yet!
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