Lavender Lake

"So technically, Lavender Lake is a bar. Actually, not technically at all - I have no idea what the technical specifications would be to discern a bar from a restaurant. Maybe one of those urinal troughs. It’s probably safe to say that if your establishment has one of those, you aren’t eligible for a Michelin Star. Anyway, most people would tell you that Lavender Lake is a bar, and it’s best known for having a large and awesome back patio. We actually ended up here recently for the sole purpose of doing some Summer Guide research (that’s now the terminology we use for any time we drink beers and eat food outside), and were indeed impressed with both the indoor and outdoor spaces and the huge bar with many things to drink behind it. But what we found to be really remarkable about Lavender Lake is the fact that they have pretty damn good food too. Ultimately, a place like this could very easily get by with slapping a mediocre burger and some finger foods on a menu, just to keep people sober enough to avoid falling into the nearby canal on their way home. But Lavender Lake seems to have put some care into curating a small but solid selection of bar snacks and entree sized plates. We absolutely loved the burger here, and some of the veggies we had were exceptional as well. And eating these things in the sun with an IPA on the side is not a bad way to spend a Saturday. Just be aware that this place gets really crowded by about 4pm on a nice weekend afternoon, so you might end up sitting with your burger on a bench near some plants, rather than at a real table. At least you know you won’t have to pee in a trough when nature calls, because this is a restaurant. Or wait. It’s a bar. What’s the difference again? Food Rundown Fried Brussels Sprouts Rather than roasted, these sprouts have been deep fried, and the end result is a super crispy vegetable that’s really more of a potato chip. But who cares. It’s still a vegetable. And a delicious one at that. Kale Caesar Salad This is a really solid kale caesar with some pine nuts and shaved parmesan. The greens are raw, but dressed well and cut into small pieces so that you can actually digest them. Order it. LL Burger We were really surprised at what a good burger this is. It’s a half pounder on a brioche bun, and we topped it with some bacon and aged cheddar to great result. There’s also some mustard or something on the bun that gives it a little zing. A+. Pickles You’re in Brooklyn, so of course you’re eating some home pickled things. That’s what they fcking do out here. Pickle. We liked the green beans and enoki mushrooms in the mix." - Chris Stang

"Named after the canal it adjoins, this friendly bar features a very pleasant back yard where generations of Hyperaktivist have sipped moderately priced beer in the summertime. They also have extremely refreshing cocktails and food. We like the fried brussels sprouts with lemon aioli and the burger. Plus, the place belongs to four of our brother designers, who decorated exactly to our taste. Go before 6 to dodge the crowds." - Hyperakt

"Lavender Lake, the Gowanus bar known for its sprawling outdoor patio, which closed in December 2021, is returning to Brooklyn. The team confirms that they’re relocating to 53 Broadway, near Wythe Avenue, in Williamsburg, with an opening date set for March 4." - Emma Orlow

"Lavender Lake The Gowanus Canal has long been a scar on Brooklyn, a toxic Superfund site that the city, state, and federal governments have spent millions of dollars to return to something somewhat closer to a pristine state. With Brooklyn enjoying a red-hot moment, however, developers aren't waiting for the cleanup to be completed. Alongside new condos are a handful of restaurants and bars attracting intrepid travelers to this part of Brooklyn. Lavender Lake's name is a tongue-in-cheek reference to the canal and the sheen created by pollution on the water's surface. On a sunny day on the bar's patio, however, the setting feels more bucolic than post-industrial. The bar's cocktail menu features spirits infused with chai, yerba maté, and chamomile, as well as its own house-made syrups. The limited menu has some innovative vegetarian options, like the cauliflower Reuben, while carnivores can order burgers and steaks. Lavender Lake is especially lively on summer weekends, when DJs spin in the evenings."

"Every year I eat around 60 burgers, not only out of due diligence, but because I love burgers. This was the best, a double-patty cheeseburger in the currently faddish smashed style." - Robert Sietsema