Every week, I document another dish that impressed and satiated me during my food adventures around New York City
It does seem like the same new restaurants get all the hype in the NYC food world and some under-the-radar businesses open without much of a hubbub and maybe a few good Yelp reviews.
Well, I’m here to sing the praises of one such new business that is well off-the-beaten path at the edge of Atlantic Avenue where Cobble Hill meets Brooklyn Heights.
Diem Eatery is a small little Vietnamese café specializing in coffee and a few takes on classic Vietnamese dishes.
If they have received much press or social media shoutouts, it’s probably because of their secret bathroom. It’s hidden behind a bookshelf that appears to be nothing but a wall. A speakeasy bathroom, if you will.
While I had to relieve myself, I also had to have lunch and that’s really why I was here.
I’m always tempted by bánh mí sandwiches, but on a hot day I felt the need for something a little lighter and more cooling. Amazingly, the turmeric fish bún (at less than $15) was a lot more filling than expected.
This dish is known as Cha Ca La Vong and for those that are not familiar with it, it’s a favorite of Vietnamese cuisine.
Big meaty chunks of white fish are stained deep orange from the color of herbal aromatic turmeric. The fish easily flakes apart and is delicious on its own. Holding it all up is a bed of slippery vermicelli noodles that can be mixed with the accompanying flavor and texture-heavy accoutrements: peanuts, fried shallots, scallions, cilantro, and loads of fresh dill.
It’s a perfect unsung lunch option on a hot day. And nobody is writing about this place or the dish. Well, except for the bathroom paparazzi. Price: $12.75
| DIEM EATERY |
| 79 Atlantic Avenue (between Hicks and Henry Street), Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn (917) 909-1037 |
| diemeatery.com |
