The Ox Tavern Reviews

My friend and I ended up eating here on a whim one night and were very pleased with the food and the space. We didn't have a reservation and only ended up having to wait in the bar area for about 10 minutes before a table opened up. We shared a $34 bottle of sauvingnon blanc which was very tasty to accompany our seafood meal of blackened catfish and crispy seat trout. To start we also enjoyed the kale salad. The space itself if pretty small, so if you are traveling to the area specifically in hopes of dining here, it may be wise to call ahead for a reservation.

This is a very lively place. I went last week when visiting friends in the area and had one of the best burgers I've had in a while. Good beer selection as well. My only real complaint was spotty service. It seemed to take a while to get waited on, despite arriving around 6 pm when it wasn't fully packed - I had to get someone's attention to be noticed. I had a better experience my 2nd time. It has a lovely neighborhood hang-out feel and my waiter and the restaurant manager recognized me on my return visit which was nice. Solid choice, you can't go wrong!

We have been coming here since they opened - in fact the name is now The Ox Tavern, they dropped the 'cart'. The food here is good to very good. Burgers, fish-n-chips are always reliable. They will alswys have something different on the menu based on what is available. This past Friday I had a whole branzino grilled with vegetables which included a side of risotto with shrimp - all very good. Most importantly the fish was not overcooked. Don't go here thinking quiet or luxury - think neighborhood joint, with lots of people - including kids in highchairs - and a somewhat crowded floorplan - and that's 'the Ox. The beers are good, they make good drinks and have a passable selection of wines to keep everyone happy. Service can be frenetic at peak times, but the staff are usually friendly and accommodating - esp. if you are nice to them. We will keep coming to The Ox since its walking distance from our house. If you are in the neighborhood give it a try.

Visiting Brooklyn for a family weekend, my brother, who lives just a few blocks from the Ox Tavern joined us for dinner. Though the menu looks pretty much like "normal bar food", every one of our meals was just as good as it gets. My wife and I had fish and chips, the best we've ever had! They had a rose wine that my wife and daughter just raved about. Though they were slammed with customers, the wait staff were attentive, very helpful and nice to all the customers! Next time we visit, the Ox Tavern will be on our list!

I was in Brooklyn for one day visiting friends, and after a jam-packed morning, we wanted to walk somewhere to grab lunch and a beer. I’m not from NYC, so the options can be overwhelming, and when I’m hangry, even daunting. Our friends suggested we all go to a local pub they just started frequenting - Ox Cart Tavern. I was pleasantly surprised when we walked in and got seated right away (it was a Monday around 2pm), and our drinks arrived at our table shortly after. Everything on the menu sounded fantastic - I opted for the fish tacos. The service was quick and personable, and our food arrived fast. The breading on the fish tacos was flakey and complimented the rest of the ingredients perfectly. I did steal some guacamole from my partners breakfast burrito, which made the flavors on the taco pop even more (guacamole makes everything better!) I’m very glad we found this little tavern off he beaten path!

A great place to eat and drink, a good range of beers including craft ales, a good range of food on offer and a nice friendly atmosphere.

The restaurant offers many traditional dishes — burgers, fish & chips, etc., — but each of them has its own special twist. What you find is a solid and rustic cuisine that definitely adds an interesting and exciting style to its dishes. Some have even a slightly Mexican nuance. The selection of craft beers is small but extraordinary. For my personal taste, it has the best selection in Brooklyn. Oxcart also offers homemade lemonade, which is outstandingly delicious! Sure, Oxcart wouldn’t be your first choice when it comes to have a business dinner in an exquisite and stylish restaurant. You may find some minor imperfection, but it’s a cozy place with excellent food.

Was introduced to this place by my friends, had a big breakfast here twice during my winter trip to Brooklyn. One of the breakfasts happened right at the bar which I would usually hate (as I am a grumpy introvert) but the staff here was really friendly in a non-annoying way so I felt like I'd been a regular for ages. Also this was the first time ever I got seriously over caffeinated this early in a day. Sweet memories.

The Ox Cart Tavern was a 10 minute walk from our bead and breakfast. the food and service were excellent. A great menu with a variety of offerings. this is a very worthwhile place to relax, enjoy and see Brooklyn in its quaintest sense.

Small corner restaurant/bar; few tables & booths; small bar area (five or so seats) with opening to see into kitchen; two TVs + music played over speakers; craft beer (with rotating taps) & cocktails; ordered lamb lasagna (sauce and cheese were good but the lamb did nothing for me)

Wonderful meal with son and daughter-in-law; clearly a local gem. Nice choices of beers and wines and a convivial group of diners when we were there. We'd go back!

Ox Cart is located in a primarily residential neighborhood where a good restaurant is much appreciated. It is housed in a small, cozy space. The wine is reasonably priced, as is the food. We had two unusual entrees; one was a lamb lasagna, delicious, and the other was pulled pork with mashed potatoes which was also prepared with a little spice. Service was friendly and attentive. Parking is on the street, but not usually a problem.

A popular eatery in the Ditmas Park area. The menu is quite extensive and the food is delicious and presented well. The burgers are award winning. I loved the spicy pork and garlic mashed potatoes. You can't go wrong here.

Not bad restaurant to visit. Food is hit and miss though. Our fish and chips was great, but burger was too dry.

I've never had a bad meal here. The flan is shockingly good (and I don't like flan!). Always delicious drink specials, and always friendly staff. A favorite place to eat and decompress after a long day. My friends and husband love the burger, and the vegetarian options don't disappoint either! So glad it's in my neighborhood.

My son and I had a meal at the Ox Cart Tavern and enjoyed it immensely. We started with the chicken liver mousse which was fantastic! I then had the lamb lasagne which I can't wait to have again. My son had the half chicken which was also delicious! It was nicely decorated, had very good service, and on an exceptionally warm night the A/C worked great!

It's still hard to believe that this tiny corner restaurant served (consistently) the best burgers I've eaten. I've taken numerous friends there over the years, and they all agree, just about. Their homemade ketchup is also amazing.

We love this place. They don't take reservations so expect to find it crowded and yes you might have to stand in line. It's worth it. The atmosphere is very friendly, The food is delicious. Don't forget to try the fried pickles!

Ox Cart may be known for its delicious burgers (as good as any in NYC), but their fish and chips will bring you back over and over again. Truly outstanding and very consistent (we live nearby and order this regularly).

My husband and I were eating there every evening, during our 4days stay in NYC. We liked the place and the staff very much. We always felt welcomed and we were served well. The dishes were always freshly cooked and delicious. Every evening something new and interesting appeared in the menu ( both food and drinks) - menu of the day. So it was always the very good end of the day. We will miss you, Guys!

I have to agree with URBANGUY' review. Noisy,dark,almost non existent service. The food however was very good. My Poor old boy burger was delicious. The plain Ox Cart burger was also good. Our server Rachel was, let's say,"surly",abrupt and a "I have to do this, so let's get it over with attitude" type of waitress. She actually made a face when we said we did not want desert. To top it off after a long wait, they mixed up our credit cards with another table. I Had to check with my card company to make sure I was billed properly. We most likely will not be coming back.

Ox Tavern is located in a residential neighborhood, and, as such, gets a good amount of walk in business. Having said that, I don’t live there and consider this a favorite restaurant worth traveling to. We started off with mussels in a delicious Thai curry coconut sauce, excellent, and large enough for two to share. The entree of fish and chips was fabulous, as was the chicken, accompanied by a delicious side. Happy hour is featured Monday through Friday. The price of the house wine is very reasonable and the pour is generous. Prices good and service attentive. Highly recommend!

I hardly ever give 5 stars to a restaurant, so don't be put off that I give the Ox Tavern four stars, this place is great! A family of four, we visited without a reservation (I don't think they take reservations, they don't need to, they are always busting at the seams) and had to wait 10 to 15 minutes before a table was available. While we were waiting, I noticed that there were a number of tables occupied by people who didn't seem to be ordering anything or doing anything more than lingering over a final glass of wine, even though new customers were starting to pile up in the doorway. That's a problem for the restaurant's business model, and I don't know what to suggest other than giving lingering customers a dirty look, but the very slow turn over at the tables was quite remarkable. However, once seated, the food and the service were absolutely delightful. I wish I had gotten the names of our servers, but they are probably the usual ones on duty on a Sunday evening in the winter. They were prompt, knowledgeable, helpful, and kind in serving us our delicious food. Everything we sampled there - the Peasants Chicken, the burgers, the pan-seared swordfish, the mussels and the calamari - were just outstanding, but the best thing we had was an appetizer, the roasted brussel sprouts. These had already come highly recommended by my son, but when we got there the waiter endorsed that choice as well - he claimed they were the best brussel sprouts he'd ever tasted - and I bet he wasn't wrong! Great food and great service all around. Mind you, the place is a little quirky - some of the patrons seem to set up camp for the duration with computers, cell phones etc. and the wait staff doesn't seem to mind, it reminded me of a Bohemian coffee shop where people could just chill over a minimum purchase for hours and hours. That, no doubt, is responsible for the slow pace and slow turn over, but we found the staff very accommodating and they were able to fit us in by shifting a few smaller tables around, smiling all the while and doing a very graceful job. I would definitely go back!

This was of my biggest surprises. I usually a good sense of the quality of the place by reading the reviews, this place had great one and is on my neighborhood. I was not impressed at all; we tried two different burger, liver moose, fried pickles, and soft pretzel. Everything was just ok, nothing to brag about. The only thing i would go back for is the fried pickles everything else is just ok. i was hoping this place was good because is in my area but i guess is not. They open for happy hour at 5 and for dinner at 6 we got there at 530 and decided to wait by 555 the place were completely full. In the menu they have limited cocktails. The place is very family friendly must customers had small children with them which i really liked. I probably be back for those fried pickles.

My daughter and I ate here based on recommendations from friends. Tight seating, but relaxed atmosphere. Great selection of burgers (on homemade rolls) that were literally too tall for your mouth!! And plenty of fries to boot.

Great burger. A number of combinations. Alcohol is a bit on the expensive side. $7 a pint is the norm now, I know. But we're in residential Brooklyn, you don't have to be a miserly wanker about it. Anyway back to the food: The burgers are great quality. Seriously, that's what they're known for. I live a block away, and I'm very fortunate. I could walk in with my pink bunny slippers and robe and order up some grub, but I have too much self-respect. I usually order the Good Ole Boy, which is a flavorful beef burger with cheddar, bacon, lettuce, tomato, onion. You can get grilled onions, but that'll set you back an extra buck. You can substitute a turkey burger if that's your thang. Fries are awesome, nice and hot and crispy. Their house ketchup is funky, but ask for Heinz if you desire. They have a handful of other options on their "burger board", so knock yourself out. I'm sure you can create your own combination if you want. You notice I have mentioned other food items? That's because I always get a burger. Why mess with a good thing? I've ordered a non-burger item once or twice. It was average. I'll stick to the above average thank you very much. I've met people from the Bronx and Queens who came all the way for the burger. You should too. The place is small, but comfy and inviting. There a few burger places I'd go out of my way for. Donovan's Pub in Woodside and OxCart. Nom nom.

Burgers are awesome, and so are the appetizers. It hasard a nice and cosy atmosphere in a calm neighbourhood, wich is nice. I recommend this place if you are in a mood for a Burger, with friends or family.

Yesterday after a Long Trip from Belgian where we Just missed the bombing, we crashed at the Ox cart in Brooklyn. After we sat down we ordered a beer and wine. Both were good. The crab cake and burger tasted Excellent. In short we could Relax and enjoy our arriving in New York after a Esther stressful day.

What a find. Everything looks so good it was hard to figure what to order. My wife had the skillet scrambler. Served over home fries, it was a hit. I had stuffed french toast. It was as good as I've had. The home made whipped cream and fresh fruit made the stuffed brioche delicious. Good service, great coffee and good service. A winning formula. Check out the daily specials. One sounds better than another. A keeper. Don't tell anyone!

Small and you might have to wait for a table on the weekend but worth it. Great lamb lasagna, burgers, and baked pretzels at very affordable prices. Full bar and nice wine and beer selection. Located 3 blocks south of Cortelyou Road on a commerial strip that's starting to revive, the Ox Cart is worth a look.

Always a friendly welcome at this intimate neighborhood restaurant. We arrived by design before 6 on a Saturday night, since it does get very busy and the interior is small. They have the best mussels in Brooklyn, in my opinion!! We have tried several different menu items and each is delicious and features creative sides. Happy hour house wine (before 7, I think) is a terrific deal. Service is good and prices are reasonable. Parking is on the street in this residential neighborhood which is sometimes a challenge. Highly recommend!

Great atmosphere and burger. Real quaint, small gastropub with great ingredients near flatbush. Real friendly staff and kitchen is right next to the dining room. Overall a great find.

Should have written this a long time ago as we have been coming here since its inception. For those of us living in the neighborhood it is a godsend. You can come here to get a simple (or more complicated) burger and fries - that is always something you should have in your repertoire. However, Ox Cart offers much more. They have a terrific bar where you can get excellent drinks, a good selection of beers both bottled and on tap, as well as a decent selection of very reasonable wines. Of course, there is a Happy Hour and there are TVs located directly over the bar if you want to watch sports. Happily, they are not intrusive if you choose to sit at a table. The additional menu items, as well as the daily specials, are also worth going for. This week my wife and I had the fish and chips - always good and fresh - as well as a special - Shepherd's Pie, which was also very good. They also often have freshly baked pies that are worth trying if you have room for dessert. It is not a huge place so it can get crowded and you may have to wait, but now that the weather is nice you can hang out on the benches out front. There is also a brunch which I imagine is also well attended, but we have not been there for brunch. If you are anywhere in the Ditmas Park/Flatbush/Kensington area give it a try, you won't be disappointed.

Small but with excellent food - try the Scottish Sea Trout. This place has a great atmosphere. We enjoyed two meals here and on both occasions found very friendly locals - so good conversation, beer and food. Recommended.

This is one of my neighborhood eateries.. they don't accept reservations and the place is quite small so expect to wait especially on weekends. Tight seating. Don't come with a big group. Food is great. They have lots of daily specials. Love the onion rings. Ask for no chilli powder dusting though. Ruins it. Interesting dishes Fish and chips are great. Friendly atmosphere and servers. Small bar only site 4-5 people. Phenomenal brunch on weekends.. mmm... All in all a great spot!

it's not big in size, but it delivers big. little corner tavern with good bar and GREAT food. The menu was diverse and all the food was eaten down to the plate. With fair prices too. Can't ask for more than that.

Met a friend here at her suggestion. In an area that is wonderfully multicultural it is hard to find a place to sit for an alcoholic beverage with your meal. The Ox has friendly professional staff, excellent beers on tap and besides a solid burger selection, a menu with such diverse options as chicken liver mousse and catfish and crawdad étouffée!! All delicious. Not a fussy place but perfect for high energy conversation over great food and drink. Really nice people.

It has such a good flavor. My personal favorite is the ox burger. It's sometimes cold in there, so always bring a sweater or jacket. Also, it's pretty dark. But, that doesn't matter! You should s͢t͢i͢l͢l͢ go there. The choices are great all day! Including burgers with French fries🍔🍟 and pancakes with cranberries. Always a good choice.

If only they would turn down the music a bit, the conversational crescendo might not rise quite as high. The food is very good but the wait for it can become unbearable.

While visiting my daughter in Brooklyn her husband suggested we dine here. The place is ok appointed and the service good but not great. It is really a bar with a few tables thrown in for people to eat. I guess it is a pub. My son-in-law likes it because they make good cocktails. He had a gin based one with lemon base and mint. Have never tried it and I did and liked it. But I went with a beer which was good. Nowadays these kind of places have beers I never heard of. No Bud, Miller Lite, etc but beer with unknown names. Most of the menu at reasonable prices was made up of different types of burgers. My son-in-law had a vegetarian burger which he said it was not too goo, My grandson had a standard burger and he said it was pretty good. Tons of fries. My wife had salmon and she said it was a 4. I did not feel like a burger for dinner and went with the lasagna because it was the least expensive entrée. It was lamb lasagna which I had never had. To my great surprise it was terrific. I say an easy 5 and among the best I have ever had. For dessert we shared a strawberry bread pudding which also was very good. The bill for the 4 of us came to $117.98 including a $20 tip. Where we come from in Florida this kind of place, this would be considered very expensive. Here I was told this is ok. It is NY City.

has some great comfort food with a local feel, just hope they get a bigger beer on tap selection, as them being a pub, and maybe have some raw food selection like Asian fusion salads and carpacio and tartar type of selections

The Ox Cart Tavern is a small, corner bar/restaurant. Small, sometimes equates with being intimate, but more about that later. There is a bar with 6 stools, 2 booths, and about 9 tables. This place must be popular. When we arrived, there were only a handful of people there, but when we left every seat was taken. Yes, the food was very good, but it was too dark, too loud, and the service was poor. -- There is background music (really good music) playing, but way too loud. When we first arrived, the conversation level was okay (fewer people), but once I filled up, it was loud (folks having to talk over the music?). -- Yes, too dark. I could barely see the menu, and I had to bring the candle over to read the bill. -- Service? Pretty non-existent. Yes, she was the only one working the booths and tables, but after delivering the food, not once did she stop by to ask if every- thing was okay, no water refills, no nothing. To make sure I would get my check without a long wait, I pushed my empty plate to the edge of the table where she would have to see it. The food was very good. I had the "Good Ol' Boy" Burger ($16), a huge burger, packed, with delicious hand cut fries. My wife had the fish, fries, and pickled vegetables. She said everything was great, and all the portions were very generous.

This place was bustling on the frigid weeknight when we went with friends for a casual dinner. But making up for the noise was the very good food, including a perfectly cooked medium-rare Ox Burger and a nicely spiced white bean soup that was a chalkboard offering that night. Salads were fresh and inventive, and dessert--a sophisticated take on a s'more--was a delicious finish. Unlike some other viewers' experience, ours was not marred by poor service. No complaints on that count. Ox Cart is an easy walk from the Newkirk subway stop, and it's definitely worth repeat visits.

We entertained our visiting son and 'new' daughter last month. They loved the burgers, and skirt steak, and sides. As did we. The fries can be addictive. I love the fish burgers. The service is enthusiastic and warm. Go and enjoy. It's a kid friendly place too, and old folks friendly.

Nice atmosphere, short but varied menu. We went twice and each time the food was excellent. Beer list could have been a little longer (only 3 on draught). A slight victim of its' own success as waiting for a table is common.