Junior's in Brooklyn

Day After Thanksgiving

The day after Thanksgiving, Don and I joined my brother and his wife, for a meal at Junior's.

Dave knows we love an old-school dining experience. Especially if the restaurant has been around for over 75 years. Or if you can spot a martini glass on the exterior. Or if the establishment has sort of a retro name, like Junior's.

Brisk Morning

Even the walk to Junior's was entertaining. It was a chilly morning, but the walk from Dave and Amy's apartment was pleasant. 

We spotted some holiday decor. The glowing star-lights looked very vintage.

Some of the older buildings offered hints of the past. It was fun to imagine Brooklyn in the 1950s... or long before!

The wind stirred leaves as we walked beneath the scaffolding.

I could see a cozy glow through the curved glass at Junior's.

We passed by an entrance with lots of glowing bulbs and the word COCKTAILS.

It was a little early for cocktails.

​Corner Entrance

​We entered the red doors at the corner of Flatbush and De Kalb. Now known as Cheesecake Corner.

This corner looked a little different than it did when Harry Rosen operated Enduro Restaurant from 1926 to 1949. 

Mr. Rosen reopened as a family style restaurant called Junior's, in 1950. The name was chosen to honor his 2 sons. Walter and Marvin, not Junior and Junior. 

​It felt cozy and warm when we stepped inside,

The mod, curvy dining counter looked inviting. Holiday decor added a festive vibe.

The walls were filled with framed photos and clippings. ​

Lots of celebs have visited over the years. I regret that I didn't take time to study the walls. President Clinton is shown in the photos above.

Quiet Friday

There were lots of open tables at 10:00 am. Maybe everyone was sleeping late, the morning after their turkey feast. 

Maybe the usual diners were out doing some Black Friday shopping.

​We slid into a cozy booth, with coffee cups waiting.

The menu and cup with saucer looked very 1950. Orange stripes and a smiling fellow wearing a chef's hat. Most Fabulous!

Even the soft coaster beneath the cup, was a nice touch. Ready to absorb my coffee drips.

Breakfast in Brooklyn

I believe this was the first dining experience Don and I have ever had, in Brooklyn. We wanted to order something that fit the iconic restaurant.

We both look sleepy in this photo. Luckily the coffee kept coming.

Hash, Blintzes & Ruebens
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​For $21.95 Don ordered homemade corned beef hash with 2 poached eggs and home fries.

Pricey for a diner breakfast, but worth it!
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​I chose homemade cheese blintzes. 3 delicate-flaky packages, stuffed with sweet cheesy filling. Strawberry sauce, sour cream and powdered sugar. Just right! No way could I eat all!

It was closer to breakfast than lunch, but Dave and Amy couldn't resist Ruebens, with hefty fries and a thick dipping sauce. No photos of the complimentary pickles that our server delivered to all of us.
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Imaging the Past
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Before long we were headed out, carrying leftovers with us. We walked past the retro dining counter and I imagined another time. How fun to go back to 1950 and sip a coffee next to a cab driver... or some celebrity stopping by for cheesecake. So many different kinds of guests over the years.

President Obama ordered some cheesecake in 2013. The cast of  Sex in the City surely had some good things to eat when they filmed a scene at Junior's once. The dining guests were allowed to stay!

Cheesecake

We were tempted to get some dessert to go, when we walked past the case of cheesecakes. I still can't believe we passed on the food that Junior's is known for. 

Junior's puts out more than 5 million cheesecakes a year, using the same recipe from 1950.

Gage & Tollner

Temps were warmer and the walk back to the apartment was pleasant. We'd walked less than 10 minutes when I paused in front of an old building and studied the gold letters on the window.

I suddenly recognized the name from one of our vintage cookbooks, with restaurant recipes! Gage & Tollner opened in this building around 1889! I knew we had a plane to catch, but oh how I wanted to add G & T to our Brooklyn dining adventure day! 

Brooklyn, we'll be back!
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