It’s the prost with the most!
The owners of a German beer hall in Fort Greene — Black Forest Brooklyn — have opened a new beer and brat spot in Boerum Hill. The beer hall operators, who both hail from Germany, say that Black Forest on Smith brings a much-needed touch of Deutschland to the nabe.
“We always really liked Smith Street and an opportunity happened with this spot,” said Tobias Holler, who owns the eatery with his wife Ayana. “There’s not a single German place, and we thought it would be a great fit for the neighborhood.”
The restaurant between Warren and Wyckoff streets is very similar to its Fort Greene counterpart, with a menu of wursts and schnitzels, but sets itself apart with a larger selection of draft beers, Holler said. The new spot has 16 taps, two more than the Fort Greene location.
Guests can enjoy their drinks and food while sitting in a cozy bar area near the street, or at communal picnic tables in the back. The eatery also plans to offer private dining in the basement in the future.
The space also comes with a massive L-shaped backyard, but Holler nixed plans to put in a beer garden there after locals rallied against it, worried that patrons would disturb residents living in the apartments overhead. Holler has not completely ruled out opening an outdoor oasis in the years to come, but said he wants to earn the public’s trust by demonstrating that his bar is more of a family-friendly environment than a wild frat party.
“We decided not to pursue it particularly because we want to be good neighbors,” he said. “The neighbors didn’t really know us, they were apprehensive. But I think once they know what kind of operation we have they’ll come around. We’ll see what happens.”
Black Forest on Smith opened its doors on Oct. 21, and has been slowly expanding its hours and introducing more items to its menu each day. It will host a huge grand opening party on Dec. 9 that will include free beer from a hand-tapped keg and lots of fun, according to Holler.
“Whenever we do a party, it’s always a great party,” he said.
A lot of Boerum Hillers have already stopped in to try out the fare and throw back a beer, according to Holler, who can’t wait to showcase his homeland to the rest of his neighbors.
“We look forward to becoming a fixture on Smith Street,” he said.
Black Forest on Smith [181 Smith St. between Warren and Wyckoff streets in Boerum Hill, (718) 522–1806, www.black
