George’s Restaurant — photo by Justin Denune
Sometimes the tastiest of meals come from unsuspecting locations; such is a rule of thumb that this food enthusiast has come to expect from Bushwick, which is a haven for some low-key eateries worth checking out. One in particular that I find myself mindlessly salivating over is George’s Restaurant. Situated on the corner of Broadway and Graham, the eatery is in a flatiron building with an ornamented terra cotta facade, and is conveniently located adjacent to the Flushing Avenue JMZ stop. This “Spanish-American” restaurant does everything from cubanos, to rotisserie chicken, to octopus salad! The range of George’s menu is fantastic and welcome in our relatively food deprived neighborhood.
I’m the type of person who finds something he likes and sticks to it consistently; that’s not to say I’m picky… just focused. I’ve been flipping over their soft shell tacos for a while now — to me they don’t get old. The chicken and pork are always fresh and retain their natural flavors by cooking in minimal dressing.
They cook their meats on low, for long periods of time -– it’s all very tender. Along with my tacos, I always get a side of yellow rice and pinto beans and never leave without a stuffed plantain, deep-fried and packed with their meat sauce. And for the price of one buck I can’t not mention their papas rellenas, a deep-fried mashed potato ball stuffed with meat.
With everyday prices a-steadily risin’, it’s refreshing to see George’s stay so affordable: tacos are $2/pc, sides range from $1-$3, with full meals averaging $6-$8. This is definitely a casual destination to hit up if you’re a J-train rider, or anyone in the neighborhood who appreciates Spanish-influenced foods… Enjoy it!
George’s Restaurant
1 Graham Avenue
718-388-7794
Alberto October 31st, 2008 at 1:21 pm
I’ve been eating their rellenos de papas for two decades and its the ONLY meal you can find for a dollar that is the bomb. THE BOMB. (Plus you get an extra high off of the goza seasoning aka msg). Wepaaa!!!
The Changeling October 31st, 2008 at 2:38 pm
Thanks for reviewing this place! I always wondered about it when I passed by on my many trips to the post office. Now I have a reason to stop in and grab a bite.
Greg (George) November 1st, 2008 at 10:22 am
My middle name is “George.” I thought that when I saw the actual restaurant and this post. Get yourself a sandwich here, our Bushwick version of Juniors.
Betty November 1st, 2008 at 10:44 am
Georges is great…especially their breakfast sandwiches and their roast pork, rice and beans…I eat there all the time.
BUT what the author fails to say is it is located in E. Williamsburg…not Bushwick! It’s part of the great shopping district that too few people know or make use of.
Notice that the streets are kept clean…the stores were not open when this picture was taken making it look isolated…it isn’t. AND the graffiti is constantly removed. This restaurant is part of the Graham Avenue Business Improvement District which runs from Broadway to Boerum Street. It is Williamsburg’s largest and most affordable shopping area…sadly when we fought to keep our municipal parking lot your paper chose to call our district a “dump”…NOT true and I was born and raised in Brooklyn…and this retail area has a long history of fighting to make things better and safer. In the summer try our Farmers Market on Cook St. or the burgers at the Red Apple donut shop on Broadway across from Mc Ds…Great prices/food…but you guys don’t help by making statements without checking your facts…no one called our BID to get the other side of the story about the parking lot or Tony Avella…ps: he was on the land zoning committee that was to be involved with the parking lot decision. Your antedotal stories are not Mad Magazine…they are poor journalism at its best…you want a story…call me … 180 retail stores going out of business because they lose customers is NOT FUNNY. The privately owned valet parking replacing our lot will be finished in 1-1/2 years…leaving no off street parking in an area that not only supports 180 stores but Boricua College (where George’s is) and Woodhull Hospital. The area also lost more than 3 full blocks of parking due to the construction…something we feared, fought for and lost. When your dumb, lazy ass is ready… come talk to me and we’ll discuss just what Graham Avenue is all about. Meanwhile…learn to appreciate the good people who didn’t run scared out of Brooklyn when things got tough. Now when the boro is coming back you want to take the credit and forget those who remained to fight! Not fair …we don’t need division again…new folks are welcomed,but the old population still calls this home…how about some respect!
Emmanuel Montalvo November 1st, 2008 at 11:06 am
lol i remember eating arroz con pulpo all the time when i was a kid maybe i will give them a try ii’m always in the mood for platano dulce
Juan November 1st, 2008 at 12:21 pm
Memories wow! Haven’t eaten there in years. I use to go there for lunch on Saturdays with my parents (back in the 80′s when we went to shop @ Big R Food Warehouse, now Food Bazaar) when I was a kid. I used order the hot dogs, I thought they were better than the dirty water ones. The place has expanded with a bigger dinning area last I saw.
Armstrong November 2nd, 2008 at 12:10 am
It sounds like Betty was drunk when she wrote that. What has the article got to do with the parking issues you mention? What are you talking about?
Tony November 2nd, 2008 at 3:55 am
Betty girl get a holds of yourself. The article was a short write up about the food at a local restaurant. That’s all. How you managed to turn that into a 400 word acerbic rebuttal baffles me. You’re picking the wrong fight. A lot of the things you mentioned seem interesting on their own. Why don’t you calm down a bit, have some herbal tea, sit down and compose your own piece on the problems facing Graham Avenue Business Improvement District and ask Jeremy if he would consider posting it. I’m sure I speak for many here that it would be an interesting read.
camcir10 November 2nd, 2008 at 3:34 pm
Yes to what Armstrong and Tony said about Betty’s comment #4. I think that’s the weirdest reaction to an article I’ve ever seen on this blog. This may be her cry for help.
ricmac01 November 2nd, 2008 at 3:35 pm
OOPS -the above was from me, not my alter-ego
Dresden November 2nd, 2008 at 10:52 pm
Betty, if you need instructions on suicide, I can help.
911NewYorker November 3rd, 2008 at 5:04 am
Betty: there you go again, with the same con game myth; about long time residents not running scared & staying in the hood when things got tough.
you should also state…those so-called “long time residents”, stayed in the hood; because mostly were poor & really had no place to go too! Go figure!?
michael November 3rd, 2008 at 4:27 pm
Ive been eating there since i moved to the neighborhood 2 years ago. gotta tell you its fresh,tastey and plenty for the price, and when your in a rush to get to work your in and out in less than 5 minutes. try and see.
michael November 3rd, 2008 at 4:35 pm
by the way you got the phone number wrong it,s
(718) 388-7794
Jeremy Sapienza November 3rd, 2008 at 5:37 pm
Haha, Betty is like a caricature of Brooklynites. What a great spokesperson for Brooklyn business you make. “Ay you should maybe come ovah heah to dis business district, we got awl kinds o’ shit fah you to buy. 180 stawz fah you to blow yiz paycheck in, ya pussbags. An’ if you don’t shwo up, folk you, you know what I’m tawkin abow heah? Eyyyyy.”
Jeremy Sapienza November 3rd, 2008 at 5:40 pm
Anyway, looking forward to trying out George’s, definitely need a new place to add to the limited list of places we go in the hood. Michael, thanks for the correction.
IC Student November 3rd, 2008 at 6:50 pm
erm, jeremy, that wasn’t even funny, it was sad. Apart from, that theres plenty of places to eat in bushwick, you guys just dont look.
shavon November 3rd, 2008 at 10:56 pm
DIS PLACE IS DHEE BOMB!!1 I LUBBZ IT SOOO MUCHOO DHA FOOD IS 2 DIE FER ND DHA PRICES R EVEN BETTA CUM DOWN ND C FER YUHR SELF!!! xD MY FAV IS DHA ROTISSERIE CHICKEN WIT WHITE RICE THEIR BEANS ND ALCAPURIAS!! DHA BESTEST!!
Alberto November 4th, 2008 at 9:45 am
the alcapurias in the red market on humboldt and moore are better… BLOGGER!!! COVER “LA MARQUETA”!… talk about business improvement, this place has so much promise to mix old with new in da hood.
betty November 4th, 2008 at 12:13 pm
Hey guys…apologies to Justin…great write up on a little known eattery.
I went ballistic in me firstpost because of an earlier story by Jeremy re: parking lot debate and how it hurts Graham Avenue Shopping area…where George’s is located. If I posted on that story you guys would never have read it or commented. So thanks..even negative reactions let me know you can read! Tony…gd idea if Jememy has any real news sense I’d write; I am not drunk Armstrong; not weird camcir; dresden…suicide?? get a life; 911 myth..hey if the poor stayed you guys came back and are paying thru the nose for it..jokes on you!; Jeremy…you’re the one who really started this…and drop the ignorant Brooklyn accent…it left with the 60′s;..Alberto…right on with the Marqueta…we’re working on a better mix.You’re the people the nabe needs to know and work with!
Jeremy Sapienza November 4th, 2008 at 2:15 pm
Betty, it’s sad that this is the way you thought this should be handled. I would think that the executive director of a business improvement district would have far more media savvy than this. Telling a media person they’re a dumb lazy ass and then insulting potential local customers is not becoming of a person of your position. It’s too bad you didn’t instead reach out.
Betty November 4th, 2008 at 8:31 pm
Hey Jeremy
Calling me the executive director of a BID is a jump,no??
I’ve never insulted any potential local customers…even though one of your readers invited me to a suicide session! Now who’s doing the insulting or mishandling? As for the media person…I hope you are not referring to yourself…that’s a stretch. Your article calling the BID shopping district a dump is what pains me. The article was writen without any research or facts. Hey Jeremy the dumb lazy ass thing was anecdotal…isn’t that how you always see things! If it really bothered you I apologize, but it’s sad you still don’t get it.
ricmac01 November 5th, 2008 at 5:11 pm
Gosh, I should know better but…
Betty – Wasn’t the post you are referring to written OVER A YEAR AGO? How is it that an informative, positive review of George’s Restaurant reminded you of unrelated things written so long ago and moved you to finally voice your opinion? Seems weird to me but maybe you’ve just been busy.
You’ll find more of my thoughts on this subject in the BushwickCooks section of this blog – in about a year!
Meanwhile, could someone please turn down that “Twilight Zone” music that’s playing in the background?
Ando November 7th, 2008 at 11:34 am
Less Betty talk, more good eats at real everyday prices!
Poetsona November 9th, 2008 at 7:05 pm
hahahahahaha….poor betty…anywho….this places rocks
sssssss November 22nd, 2008 at 4:45 pm
the water here is so fucking good