By COLlive reporter
Photos: Shalom Burkis and Scott Dere
Gavriel “Gabe” Don, who has opened the new grill restaurant Carbon in Crown Heights this week, says he wants to “elevate” grill dining – for himself and for his guests.
“As a baal teshuva – returnee to Orthodox Judaism, Carbon will elevate the grill dining experience, as well as my past,” he says.
The restaurant at 262 Kingston Avenue, (formerly Izzy’s Fried Chicken) is strictly Glatt Kosher, under the CHK supervision, and features a full variety of delectable quality charcoal-grilled chicken and meats.
Don, a self-described foodie and former resident of the Five Towns, NY, developed a friendship with Chabad Rabbi Simcha Birnhack some years back, and the two began a chavrusa learning class near the Rebbe’s Ohel.
“One week, I spent Shabbos at the Ohel, and it was the most amazing experience,” Don says. “I began coming to the Ohel every Shabbos.”
Don is now a full-fledged baal teshuva, and lives in Crown Heights. While he is a partner in many businesses, he has always wanted to open a restaurant.
He specifically chose Crown Heights as the location, he says, so as to be able to provide Lubavitch Shechita delicacies to the community.
Don has teamed up with famed Kosher Chef Bosh Boshnak, renowned for his grilling expertise, and Argentinian chef/butcher Benjamin, and together they have created a menu of hearty, delicious charcoal-grilled fare.
Menu offerings include a homemade grilled chicken or beef entree and choice of sides, in-house-made sausage, burgers, wings, kebabs, Empanadas, and fries. Sandwiches include charcoal chicken salad, roast beef, and chicken Milanesa. Side dishes include bourbon yam mash, charcoal veggies, caramelized carrots, and burnt rice.
Desserts are created by Michelle Kogan, who has worked in Michelin star-rated restaurants, and include grilled pineapple, alforjes cookies – traditional Argentine cookies with dulce de leche caramel, drunken plantains, carrot cake and coquito rice pudding.
The restaurant is warm and inviting, with exposed brick walls framing the restaurant’s showpiece – an 88-inch fresh wood and charcoal grill. Playing off the name Carbon, the tables were created of carbon fiber.
The restaurant can seat 50 inside, and an outdoor garden space is under construction, scheduled to open in a few weeks, and which will be available for all types of events. They also hope to have their full bar set up in the next few weeks as well.
Customers can also order online, from their tables, or from self-serve kiosks in the restaurant.
“We are looking forward to serving the community our delicious, great quality, yet affordable, charcoal grill delicacies,” Don says.
Carbon is open weeknights this week from 3 pm – 10 pm.
In future weeks they will extend their hours to midnight during the week, Thursdays at midnight and Motzei Shabbos until 2 am.
Carbon
262 Kingston Avenue, Brooklyn, NY
Under CHK Supervision
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carboncharcoalgrill
Order online at https://www.toasttab.com/carbon-bk-262-kingston-avenue/v3/
See opening preview menu below.
So excited to try it
Looks like interesting food. I can’t wait to order and try it.
Wishing the owners lots of hatzlacha!
Looks delicious, and we’re so excited to come and eat there.
The best chefs in the house!
somewhere to eat in Crown heights. I recently visited and I just could not find anywhere to eat.
Were you really in Crown Heights 😉
This looks great , May I point out something? PLEASE PLEASE have jewish music playing. I have left a few restaurants IN crown Heights because they were playing goyishe music. I don’t want my family to hear radio songs. Please let’s keep to Chabad standards.
This is a business decision. Not a religious one. The owners can make a determination. Personally, and I think I speak for many others, I’m ok with any style of music being played.
Meaning is the chicken David Elliot or shor habor ? Also where is the meat from? However, overall I am very impressed to see a high class restaurant like this coming to crown heights!!!!
If it’s under the CHK then it requires them to use fleish under their shchita too.
ty
Thanks for opening in crown heights but please respect the neighborhood and play chasidic music.
Hatzlocha for this new endeavor- and to all storekeepers developing our neighborhood.
However it is indeed special to be able to dine in our own daled Amos with a comfortable jewish atmosphere including Jewish music. There is so much in this genre to choose from.
Anyone who enjoys other music can listen at home or other outside venues.
Be kind and sensitive to others. So Special when we can still preserve a certain atmosphere within our own neighborhood. If not here- then where??
Thank you
I wish it were a requirement of the hechsher to play “kosher” music too.
Many places serve only chabad shechita but then have kol Isha and music that is “religious” (not Jewish!). Then when asked to please change it, they become annoyed.
It can really ruin the enjoyment for many people who are concious of the music the entire time and have a hard time tuning it out.
Wish the restaurants would be more sensitive about that and at least use just instrumental if the Jewish music doesn’t have the vibe you’re seeking.
Really good …you get the full south American flavor here
WOW THE FOOD IS SO GOOD I AM THRILLED