Exposing South Williamsburg's Café Moto

No other borough in New York City is as protective of its neighborhood secrets as Brooklyn. And Café Moto in South Williamsburg is one of those secrets.

Located almost directly under the J-M-Z train, the restaurant shows an unassuming exterior, with peeling walls and a rickety old bike hanging in place of a sign. Because of the narrow space, Café Moto can easily come off as stuffy. Instead, the live jazz entertainment (provided nightly) and laid-back neighborhood crowd immediately makes the restaurant warm and inviting.

For appetizers, my table had toasted bread with a gruyère cheese dip and the steamed artichoke. The dishes were simple yet flavorful, a perfect precursor to our main entrees.

I ordered the pork ribs rubbed with coarse black pepper and spices. It was accompanied with creamy mashed potatoes and a small salad dressed with balsamic vinaigrette. Overall, the food was tasty and satisfying.

This, in addition to the ambiance, left me eager to return and try more of Café Moto’s food. This could be bad news for South Williamsburg residents. For if most diners left as pleased as I was, then their secret won’t last for long.

Additional tip: After your meal at Café Moto, walk a few blocks West to Trophy Bar for great music and drinks.

More on Café Moto:

The Anti-Tourist

Thursday Club NYC

Yelp Customer Reviews