The Place: I was a bit concerned when I visited Johnny’s in Williamsburg on a rainy Saturday and by the time I sat down, there was nobody else in the restaurant. Granted it was a rainy day, but I worry about under-hyped neighborhood restaurants like this. These are the places without long lines that are true gems and need to be supported and preserved.
It’s bright, casual, and comfortable. Definitely a place to hang out on a rainy weekend or an early weekday evening. The food here is also shockingly affordable and the menu is not what you might expect in this environment. The cuisine is what you’d find at a chifa (Chinese restaurants in Peru).
In addition to stir fries, fried rice, and spare ribs, they have a really unique and delicious caesar salad with a potent aji amarillo and sesame studded-saltine crumbles. It was a really smart play on a familiar dish.
The Dish: The owners here claim to have a specialty. Their grandfather, who immigrated from Peru, opened up a pollo a la brasa restaurant in Queens back in the 1970’s. And you can tell that Rotisserie Chicken has been in their blood for decades.
The roasting chickens are on display through a kitchen window and are clearly a must-order.
Super flavorful and tender, this juicy chicken was just great. Even better is the creamy, spicy aji verde served on the side. I was ready to order more menu items just to dip them in the fantastic green sauce.
The chicken is available as quarter, half, whole and a la carte or as part of a combo platter. Price: $9-$30
| JOHNNY’S |
| 642 Lorimer Street (at Jackson Street), Williamsburg, Brooklyn (718) 535-8554 |
| johnnysbk.com |
