The trip from Union Square to Gowanus, Brooklyn took 20 minutes as the subway gods were with us. We arrived at Claro restaurant so early, the gate was still down!
Once we got in, we were down to business negotiating what to order. We hadn’t a clue that the portions would be so humongous that the two of us — who are really good eaters — ending up sharing one of our four dishes with the table next to us and took half of another home. We would have been stuffed with one less dish. That said, I wouldn’t know which one to have given up as they were all good.
The octopus came piled so high on a housemade tortilla along with pickled chilies that we actually left some ($23). Do not miss their chipotle-spicy shrimp tacos with quesillo, a white stringy cheese ($17 for three) with a perfect blend of flavors.
The flattened masa cake (the memela) came topped with shredded braised Heritage pork rib seasoned with chile de arbol and sprinkled with farm cheese ($18). I offered a quarter of the dish that went uneaten to the couple sitting next to us who were relishing each of their choices as much as we were ours. They devoured it.
The tastiest dish was the incredibly tender Joyce Farms short ribs in their “Mole Negro” along with spring onions and potatoes ($32). To accompany that, we also had a huge bowl of black beans ($8). Half of each was packed up for home.
I highly recommend a trip to Claro.
And, once warm weather arrives, request a table in the backyard and watch the tortillas being pressed and the masa memelas and tostadas cooking on the wood-fired comal.
Claro
Gowanus
284 3rd Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11215
347-721-3126
https://www.clarobk.com/
Leave A Comment