A Corner Cursed Since 1963

Since 1963
102 Smith Street
Brooklyn, NY 11201
718-935-9090 (rings to Pacifico)
cash only

How do I begin to describe this train wreck?  Well, I guess that explains it.  The name is deceiving.  WHAT, exactly has been there since 1963?  When I moved to the neighborhood 7 years ago the spot was a dilapidated grocery store, or something.  It then became Gravy which became Trout, then that closed and now the same owners have opened Since 1963.  But the question still remains…what has been there since 1963?

Sigh…I LOVE barbecue.  LOVE IT!  When I saw that the spot formerly known as Gravy was to reopen as a BBQ joint I was tickled pink (in the middle, but nicely charred on the edges.)  My hope was that they would at least bring back the amazing chicken fried steak, Dark N Stormy, and Mac & Cheese.  No, it’s all new, but hardly improved.

My friend Brian and I stopped by last week to give it a shot.  You walk in to an open counter with a few picnic tables.  The trick is to order, get a table, and they bring the food to you.  Pay first.  Cash only.  This is different, but clever I suppose.  We decided to share a bit of a lot of things.  We ordered the pulled chicken, pulled pork shoulder, 12 hour brisket, St. Louis cut ribs, with sides of baked beans, fried Mac & cheese, and cheddar biscuits with a couple Lone Star beers.  This sounds like a lot of food, but sounds can be deceiving. 

Instead of sitting on top of the counter area we moved into the main dining room which appeared to still be under construction.  Whatever.  They still had tables and buckets of napkins, so that was inviting enough.  I was hoping for a little Mets action on the TV’s, but instead we got Beetlejuice.  Brian and I were the only customers in the main dining area.  It felt cold.

The food came fairly quickly, but without utensils or our beers.  Brian got up to grab some plastic forks and knives.  Our beers came a minute or so after he came back.  We dug in.  Here’s what we thought:
1) The complimentary sauce (1 kind) is a sweet Kansas City style sauce.  This is a very good sauce if you like sweet BBQ sauce.  For those of you who prefer a spicier sauce, you’re SOL.
2) The chicken and pork were both moist and succulent with lots of flavor.
3) The ribs are awful.  The spice rub is nice and flavorful, but the ribs were very fatty, and had what I described to Brian as an awkward flavor.  I will describe that flavor now as airplane bathroom.  No, I’ve never tasted an airplane bathroom, but I know what they smell like, and the flavor of the ribs made me think of an airplane bathroom.  Gross, I know.
4) The brisket has the same spice rub, but was also fatty, and overcooked.  Brisket should melt in your mouth.
5) The beans are an absolute mess.  They were not soaked long enough, so they were kind of al dente.  Plus, when you eat BBQ baked beans the flavors should all come together but these felt separate.  And the flavors are not good.  And they weren’t baked long enough.  And they were cold.
6) The cheddar biscuits tasted fine, but they were undercooked – apparent in their doughiness.  Biscuits should be flaky.  These are not.
7) The shining light of the meal was the fried mac & cheese.  Brian noted that they could have used some pepper, but I let that pass.  The mac & cheese seemed to be the same recipe they worked with at Gravy but it is deep fried.  You can deep fry an old shoe and that would probably taste good too, but I’ll give them this one.

Overall the experience was disappointing, but not unexpected.  They should have stuck with the formula from Gravy.  Why did they ever change it?  I don’t know.  It always seemed to be busy.  The food was good.  The drinks were good.  They served an amazing brunch too. 

If Since 1963 lasts a few more months I may give it another shot.  They could have been working out the first week kinks.  I think they should add more sides like braised cabbage, and perhaps other beverages besides soda and beer.  And give the patrons handi-wipes.  This is BBQ, sort of.

~Sam