Don't Miss out on Greenpoint's newest restaurant!
Located on the ground floor of Greenpoint's historic Pencil Factory and on the corner of Franklin street is “Sereneco,” a warm and healthy restaurant that opened only this September.
As I was about to open the all wood front door, a woman who was walking by stopped my friend and I to say “You are in for a treat because the chef is insanely good.” Well, that’s a good sign to start my night, isn't it? Upon entering, the host warmly greeted and seated us at our table. As we walked to the table, I couldn't help but notice the modern design of the space with high ceilings, wood furnishings, and overhead lanterns.
The restaurant offers contemporary, seasonal New American food in a bright and airy space that pays homage to the building’s original structure. Led by Owner & Beverage Director Billy Van Dolsen and Partner Jim Nawn, the restaurant is a peaceful oasis for locals and visitors alike. Sereneco is really cool in that it gives you the feeling of a cafe kind of place during daytime, and more restaurant vibes during nighttime.
Looking at the menu and you’ll find extremely unique, satisfying dishes. We began our night with the seared octopus which comes with a side of black puree, marinated olives and a fennel salad. I’ve never had black puree before, but it was definitely worth the try. As for the cocktails, I had the Dorothy Parker Sour; so good that the second round was on the table before the main dish arrived. High five to the bartender! We were actually told that the bar offers a variety of cocktails with New York State-produced gins paired with botanically compatible tonics and garnishes; as well as beers exclusively sourced from Brooklyn and natural organic wines.
For my main dish, I had the delicious Seared Cod. It came with a Vadouvan Curry broth, basmati rice, dried cranberries and pistachio; and my friend ordered the Braised Short Rib which came with potato mash, glazed baby carrot and gremolata. She mentioned it was “cooked just right to provide both a crispy and tender flavor.” We ended it with an Apple Crumble dessert, and we were simply just savoring the moment. Just as the woman at the door said, the food was indeed insanely good and gave us the feeling of a meal that’s home cooked by a chef.
One thing that shouldn’t go unnoticed, is the service. All-star for this wonderful service. It was excellent and went smoothly making our night fun and relaxing.
The restaurant had a steady flow of customers without feeling overly crowded, a healthy sign for a new spot opening during a pandemic. I highly recommend eating and/or drinking at Sereneco. You'll support a local business and enjoy yourself.
P.S: We were there on a Tuesday and found out that Sereneco offers Happy Hour from Tuesdays through Wednesdays where guests can enjoy select cocktails for $9, glasses of wine for $8, and beers for $6.
Don’t hesitate to look at their menu here sereneconyc.com and check out their IG page @sereneconyc for the look and feel of the restaurant!
