the cutest restaurant in the neighborhood that’s always full! we got a relish tray and a hash brisket. both were good.

+3

Brand new place to Prospect Heights. Food was very good. The inside seating felt slightly crowded and loud but nothing that would keep us from coming back.

Ever-reliable neighborhood haunt in Prospect Heights. We had the market vegetable plate (leeks and black garlic sauce) along with the burger and left grinning ear to ear. Special shoutout to the service staff, who were charming as always, and the french fries, which put McDonald’s to shame. A visit to the area would be incomplete without stopping by Gertrude’s.

Fantastic meal! We had the artichoke to start, rose, the margarita, salmon salad, and eggplant- all excellent and fresh! Will definitely be back in the future. Service and staff were warm, friendly, and incredibly thoughtful in their recommendations.

Gertrude's is my platonic ideal of a neighborhood restaurant, from its cozy ambience, to its creative but not overly complicated cocktails, to its menu full of familiar dishes prepared with interesting twists and technical finesse (I assume it changes with the seasons, but a recent favorite was the chopped salad, which leaned on refreshingly bitter radicchio). I've been for dinner a few times now and appreciate that you can easily order for a more casual experience, or a more decadent and celebratory one. Most importantly, if you have the chance to get the warm challah bread pudding—take it!

Gertrudes is our go-to brunch spot for hosting visitors. Do yourself a favor & order to share The Best Catch, Brisket Hash, Pickle Plate & some Latkes.. then Babka French Toast for dessert. Thank us later! The Borscht Bloody & Port Tonic complete the party. You'll also find us at the bar on Friday nights with the Stuffed Cabbage, Burger & a glass of chilled red. All the vibes!

OMG! So hard to find good latkes but these are amazing. We had Sunday brunch and the bagels, cocktails and coffee were delicious. Friendly service and a great vibe

We just left Gertrude's and it was an amazing experience! We were there to celebrate my son's marriage ceremony. Everyone was.extremely attentive and went way beyond taking care of us! Daniel and his waitstaff couldn't have been nicer. My new daughter in law is already planning a return trip next week. The food was delicious as we had several appetizers and 4 main courses. Unfortunately no desert as we were too full. Thanks again for a great night!

Weekends bring such crowds that reservations become almost necessary. The menu items are delicious. gertrude’s maintains both a cool vibe and excellent service. Staff remain pleasant without any arrogance. My overall impression remains positive.

Had a wonderful time here on Wednesday night as a walk in. There were two ideally placed bar seats confirmed as open to us, and we sat down for two delicious drinks - a Gertrude’s Martini and Oyster Gibson. The bartender was friendly and helpful with drink suggestions in a very warm and engaging way. We’ll definitely be back!

The service and staff were excellent. Although they had run out of warm cinnamon buns, we opted for the berry tart instead, which turned out to be a delightful choice. We chose to sit outside in the covered seating area, which added to the pleasant ambiance. The beet Bloody Mary was a unique twist on the classic cocktail and was absolutely fantastic. Additionally, the egg cream latte was thoroughly enjoyed.

Incredible food and fantastic service. All the great Jewish deli food I grew up eating but so elevated and interesting. Thanks especially to Jordan and Gabby for making our experience so special. The salmon pate, latkes with roe and sweet potato knish are a few of my favorites!

Couldn’t say enough good things about Gertrude’s- such a wonderful and needed add to the neighborhood - incredible location and ambiance, fantastic service, and the food and drinks were so, so special and delicious — run, don’t walk!

+1

We came into town from Upstate for the weekend and found this little gem of a restaurant after our day of strolling the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens. We didn't have reservations, but they squeezed us in and we were delighted. The four of us enjoyed sharing a variety of delicious dishes: Latkes; Knish; Spaetzle; Cabbage Salad and Cabbage Rolls... all very tasty, prepared perfectly & presented nicely. In addition to great food, we had great service. Definitely recommend this restaurant.

Wonderful brunch spot with delicious Latkes, bloody Mary’s and smoked salmon and egg dishes. They also have a small menu for kids which is always appreciated. Staff was extremely warm and food was awesome

Had the best time here. Went on a Saturday morning for brunch and sat on the heated patio! The staff was incredibly friendly and it was a cozy neighborhood spot. You could tell everyone had a lot of love for this place. Highly recommend!

Great spot for brunch! Enjoyed the latkes- they’re a little thicker than the average making them soft on the inside and perfectly crispy outside - the chocolate babka French toast, and the eggplant leek gratin with a fried egg & bread. Cute decor and good service, will totally come back for the $3 oyster happy hour

Hostess was awesome and helped me out on getting a table when the place was jam packed. Good is spectacular, but the menu is small. Will definitely be returning because my guess is that they rotate the menu pretty frequently. Had the eggplant schnitzel and the burger.

Cute cozy neighborhood spot. Went there around noon on a Sunday without any reservations and had no issues getting a table. The nosh plate was perfect to split between two people; their latkes are crispy on the outside but still pillow on the inside (really good). *update review* I suggest making a res if you’re going on the weekend during the summer. And the simple child bagel I thought was a bit salty and had less avocado than what I was expecting.

This was excellent - honestly one of the best brunches I can remember having in nyc. The tower was an ensemble of so many things, left feeling very full. Also the quality of each item was top notch - whitefish salad was incredible! Staff were lovely

I ate here with friends September 27th of 2025 for the first time. The place is clean and it's a nice restaurant. Unfortunately I have a pepper allergy, I can have black pepper but not pepper the vegetable, chili pepper, things like bay seasoning which I told the server when ordering. I got the latkes and trout, had an allergic reaction, and was sick for three weeks. It's just such a miserable experience for me and has happened twice in the last five years, here and at a Super Bowl party. I'm leaving five stars because I don't like bashing businesses and I would highly encourage you to chance your processes so this doesn't happen to other patrons. Something as simple as a small red flag attached to a toothpick with the allergy written on it (which they have at some other restaurants) could make such a difference for someone.

All the compliments written about this restaurant are deserved. This place delivers on quality without charging luxury prices. Employees provided warm service and answered everything with good cheer. The restaurant delivers on location, service quality, and price fairness. This spot delivers excellent service.

Grabbed brunch there with some friends and it did not disappoint. Smoked whitefish salad, brisket hash and French toast sticks were on point- and the service was great- look forward to going back!

This place seems to be always busy which is a good testament. I had been curious to try since moving to the neighborhood and it did not disappoint. The food and drinks were good - I got the salon bialy and the pomegranate cold brew. Our waitress was also so kind and warm. Highly recommend for a neighborhood brunch spot.

This place is divine in every way. From the food to the vibe to the way the staff treated all of us, it’s sure to win you over. We had the big leafy salad, the seared cabbage with cashew cream entree, roast chicken and the latkes with roe. It’s clear the chef loves what he does because the food is the star of the show. The staff was mindful of any dietary restrictions we had, and were kind, helpful and professional. Thanks so much Gertrude’s!!!

This is a review update. My first time wasn’t the best experience because I was sat outside and it was raining. I’ve since been back to Gertrude’s about four times and the atmosphere is well curated and gives that warm neighborhood feel. The menu features in season ingredients, which is always a good sign. Their fish is amazing! Steak au poivre leaves more to be desired but the burger and fries are insane, in a good way! Lovely staff that make you feel at home and taken care of.

Had an excellent early brunch here! We showed up shortly before 10 and there was availability and we got seated right away. We really went big with a bagel special, apple cake, latkes, and eggs with a side salad. Everything was excellent. The Apple cake and latkes were standouts and the service was perfect: attentive but not rushed. Highly recommend!

Controversial take but this is better than Sadelle’s relative to value. The signature bagel & shmear balanced each other perfectly, not overwhelming. The maple cocktail was punchy good too. Latkes were pretty standard but then I’m not into potatoes much. Great and attentive service.

Gertrudes is nicely tucked away from the busy downtown Brooklyn. For a spot that opened just last year, it feels like it's been there forever. The corner window table is one of our favorite spots in Brooklyn to bring friends.The 'le grande gertrude' smoked fish tower is a sick item for a group of 4+, super fun place to bring a small group and get a bit of everything. The pickle martini is one of the best martinis in NY. A martini, a Reuben style burger, dill pickle roast chicken, and the layer cake is a perfect order for 2. Also amaro options are on point.

Wonderful restaurant with creative seasonal specials, delicious food, and vibrant neighborhood ambiance. We had the special corn salad pictured here, bluefish app (so good) and tongue which was crispy with a refreshing sauce and such a fun new experience of eating tongue. Our mains were WONDERFUL: the whole trout cooked perfectly with delicate flavor and amazing fennel sauce, and a burger with the best mustard sauce ever. I loved the latkes too - and dill sauce with the burger. The staff was friendly, attentive but with a laid back approach. You cannot top this chocolate cake!!!!! Best finish to a fabulous night of food and dining al fresco! Gertrude's is an absolute must!!!

Used to love and eat at James in the same space for years. Happy to say that Gertrude’s wonderfully fills that hole in our heart and for all of Prospect Heights. From the Niçoise salad to the challah bread burger to the squash spaetzle and mushroom galette, the meal was terrific from start to finish. But yes, we did of course finish with the 7-layer cake and it was so delicious we’d go back for it alone. And I didn’t even mention the cocktails any service! Cannot recommend highly enough.

Had a lovely dinner here. Drinks were perfect, food was yummy and in good portions. The staff was great, particularly in getting creative regarding a workaround for a food allergy.

A friend referred me to Gertrude’s and the food, drinks, and experience were all incredible. It was my first time there, so we got a mix of app’s including the seasonal spaetzle, pickled tomatoes, pletzel, and burger/salad. Everything was so flavorful and the right balance when sharing bites. The folks working there are super friendly and had great recommendations for drink pairings. We didn’t feel rushed and there’s a great mix of indoor and outdoor seating to accommodate diners.

One of the most pleasurable dining experiences I’ve had in Brooklyn, perhaps the US. I was seated for my reservation at the bar with no fuss before my friend arrived, and was greeted promptly. I had a white Americano to start and it was a perfect pre-meal cocktail. Friend that I was dining with got the chicken with their perfect shoestring fries and I got the burger with dressed latkes. Everything was excellent. Price was reasonable. We had a blast.

Service and staff were great. They were out of warm cinnamon buns so we went with the berry tart. We sat outside in covered seating. The beet bloody merry was different than a normal Bloody Mary but was still awesome and the egg cream latte was enjoyed too.

Must-try! The food is definitely a standout! The latkes are a bit small but boy does it pack a flavorful punch. Their pickles are tasty and has a firm bite, all that you want from pickles. The chicken is surprising flavorful and well cooked. We had their special dishes that night (steak and pesto spetzel) and they’re both amazing. Worth it to save some room for the summer fruit cobbler. Drinks are good and stiff flavors of classic drinks.

+5

Such a great first impression of Gertrude’s. Cody, the sweet bartender, made a delicious cocktail with rum and herbs! The interior is calming with light pastels ( as a realtor - A+). Its European influence is so cute. I’ll for sure be back for more :)

Delightful warm and friendly service. Excellent Monday night burger special- "incredible" says our resident burger eater. Great patio seating for a large party, delicious, fun, and unique menu, really great desserts- every plate licked clean!

Fantastic all around. Fantastic friendly owners. Great staff. The pickle brined chicken is fantastic. The star of the dinner was the tzimmes! But you'll be a fool not to save room for the AMAZING 7-layer cake. Bring your appetite and bring a friend, this place is a real treat.

+2

I'm always impressed with Gertrude's and the team there. It's my ultimate cozy neighborhood restaurant. The menu always hits all the spots — especially love the Burgers With Buddies collabs — and I feel like you can't go wrong with cocktails, wine or the beer. Quality's top-notch, service is great, execution always 100%. Forever a fan.

I came here with my partner to celebrate getting engaged that day and it was a great experience. very nice servers, cozy atmosphere, and the food was unreal. highly recommend the babka french toast and the lox bagel. the pomegranate cold brew coffee was delicious too. would come back any time!! thank you gertrude's 💘

Jenny Hottle

My husband and I celebrated New Year’s Eve at Gertrude’s and had such a fabulous experience that we decided to return again for our anniversary this month. So glad we did! We were greeted with a glass of sparkling wine for the occasion, which set the mood right off the bat. Everyone on staff was so friendly and warm — I think three different people wished us a happy anniversary throughout the night. We ordered the prix fixe menu, which was an excellent value. We started off strong with the latkes and pickle plate, then were wowed by the spaetzle course. I liked spaetzle growing up, but I never had an elevated version of it. I’d come just back for the spaetzle and another glass of the house spritz! And then there were the entrees! I ordered the trout with a delicious dill meunière and fried capers, and my husband got the hanger steak after we were so blown away by it the last time we ate here. As well paced as the service was, we still decided to take the insane seven-layer cake to go because the portions of each course were so generous. But what a highlight that cake is! And honestly, it’s probably the key reason why we trekked to the restaurant in such frigid temps in the first place. This restaurant is so special — truly a neighborhood gem, as others have said —and I look forward to coming back soon!

Johann R.

Great prix fix menu. The highlight being the giant cake in the end. Didn’t expect it and loved every bite. The tables outside unfortunately are sloped due to the slope of the sidewalk so our drinks kept sliding around the table. That aside, we enjoyed our time and great service.

Clarence Ragland

Gertrude’s offers a warm and welcoming dining experience with a comfortable atmosphere and thoughtfully prepared dishes. The food is flavorful and well presented, service is friendly and attentive, and the overall vibe feels relaxed yet refined. It’s a great spot for a casual meal, a special occasion, or enjoying quality time with friends and family.

Audrey Baker

Extremely good experience. Excellent, unique, delicious food. Wonderful down to earth attentive service. Cozy, beautiful, hip ambiance. Killer house martini. My 11 year old gives it a "7 out of 5" and I can't disagree

Carrie Moskowitz

Gertrude's is hands-down our favorite neighborhood spot. From the moment you walk in, the staff makes you feel genuinely welcome- always attentive and friendly. The food is consistently excellent, I have had every item on the menu! Add to that a relaxed, inviting vibe (with perfect music) that makes you want to stay awhile, and its easy to see why Gertrude's is such a gem.

Christina Marino

We had such a lovely night here! My friend and I sat at the bar and the service was incredible. Karla took care of us from food (get the trout, its incredible) to drinks to skincare! The atmosphere is cozy, and the food.. the latkes were devine and the steak melted in your mouth. It was the best girl dinner!

Madi Halleck

My boyfriend and I went here for a date night and I have nothing but good things to say about this place! We made a reservation over the phone and were seated a few minutes early upon arrival (it was cold so much appreciated!!). The staff was INCREDIBLY sweet and attentive. The food was to die for, we had the burger and the eggplant au gratin, both were delicious! I also can’t stop thinking about the fries!! perfectly thin and crispy and a great portion size!! I had the “Dirty Gertie” martini and I will be back for that alone! If you’re a pickle fan, it’s a must! Huge thanks to the serving staff and kitchen staff for making it a great night! Will be back soon! :)

Steph

I hadn’t been in New York in 10 plus years but this neighborhood restaurant on election night made me feel like a real New Yorker. This is clearly a local favorite from the conversations we had with our neighboring tables but this was all destination dining for me and my best friend, Linette. Linette and I celebrated 35 plus years of friendship and are both originally from D.C. I live in New Zealand now and booked a hotel in Brooklyn specifically near Gertrude’s as I follow the chef Eli Sussman @gertrudesnyc - Partner/Exec Chef @talkininthewalkin on social media and was keen to try Gertrude’s with high expectations. This election night was magical with the city feeling upbeat and positively giddy. I had told Gertrude’s it was our Frienniversery of 35 years and Allie the bartender greeted us with vodka beet juice shots that got the party started! Great introduction to Gertrude’s! Scott was our server with Lisa the floor manager stepping in at times to serve or check on us. Jacob and Reni were other servers that night on the floor. The service was impeccable. Professional, of the highest standards, while warm and intimate. It’s an absolute pleasure when the service matches the excellence of the meal. Gertrude’s was outstanding Jewish Soul food, elevated comfort food to gladden the heart. We started with Challah Park rolls,Latkes with Crème Fraîche & Trout Roe and Beef Tongue Tartine. We were treated to Whitefiish & chips and housemade Spaetzle, complimented from Gertrude’s. Everything was presented well: correct temperature, lovely plating. and delicious flavors. Ingredients balanced and complemented each other. Linette & I both had the 10oz Bavette Steak with sherry bordelaise, pickled shallot medium rare ( the best way!). The meat was beautifully marbled and perfect cooked. There was a choice of fries or salad greens. We chose fries. Wonderful curated wine list to match and excellent recommendations from Lisa! To finish, we had the Black & White ‘Seven Layer Cake’. My mom use to make us a chocolate layered cake with Sarah Lee pound cake (when guests over!) and it reminded me of being around the kitchen table with family and friends. A truly memorable dining out experience and evening that puts us in a New York State of Mind! A must experience in Brooklyn, New York.

+7

Mariya Proyss

Gertrude’s is the kind of place that quietly wins you over from the moment you walk in, it’s cozy, elegant, and effortlessly welcoming. The space has that signature Brooklyn charm: lively but relaxed, with a sense of care in every detail. The menu strikes a beautiful balance between comfort and sophistication, fresh, seasonal dishes that feel both homey and refined. Service is warm without being overbearing, making the visit feel personal. Gertrude’s is where you go when you want a meal that feels special, but never pretentious, a true neighborhood gem. Travelled all the way from LES!

+5

Dilan A

We had one of the best dinners ever at this restaurant, thanks to the exceptional bartenders Allie and Karla. Their recommendations for both food and drinks were spot-on. I can’t wait to return and explore more of their drinks and food! (The layer cake was INSANE)

+2

Ryan Tammaro

Great spot in Prospect Heights with a cozy atmosphere! The burger was juicy, and the latkes were crisp. I also enjoyed the Black & White Seven layer cake which was rich without being too heavy.

+1

Spencer Coplan

Delicious meal! I recommend the pre fixe menu. Great service, fun atmosphere, and wonderful drinks.

+1

Adam

Came here Friday night with a bunch of friends and it was really great. We got oysters and a whole platter of different smoked fish and all sorts of stuff and it was just really an amazing way to spend happy hour right before dinner. The food was great. The service was great. The drinks were awesome and I would highly recommend this place to anyone looking for some great drinks and great bites in Brooklyn.

+3

Matt Brown

Amazing food, vibes and service all around. Worth making a reservation for! The latkes w/ trout roe and the burger are menu standouts for sure. Half chicken also deserves a spot on the table to share! Have been twice for dinner - once during their ‘burgers with buddies’ series and again with a group of 6. Holds up! Highly recommend.

Priscilla Combari

I came here for brunch on a Saturday with a friend. The space inside is very tight, which normally is whatever but it had been raining all day, so it made things a little uncomfortable. I ordered the Best Bialy, but had them put it on an everything bagel. I also ordered the House Salad. My friend had the burger. The food was fantastic. The bagel is served open faced and it’s a huge portion. The vinaigrette on the salad was super tasty; it made the dish taste very bright and fresh. I had some of my friend’s fries, which were also good. They are the thin and crispy type, which I love. I also had a glass of the Muscadet, which was good and my friend had a glass of the orange wine. Total bill was well under $100, which I thought was very reasonable for two meals that included wine. I will be back!

+1

Really delicious food! We had a reservation and asked to switch to outside on a Saturday night so it took awhile to sit, but the food was worth it; we had latkes, half a chopped salad (huge!) the burger and chicken. The Seder plate margarita and dirty Gertie martini which they comped bc of the wait. We want to come back on a weeknight and sit at the bar!

The seven layer cake is gigantic. Overall very good food. The whole fish is amazing. Has decent list of bottled wine.

Great neighborhood spot. Staff is fun and friendly, drinks are good, and food is tasty. We had the eggplant schnitzel, the spatzle of the day, and a couple appetizers. The fries were absolutely amazing and the food was all good and satisfying. Definitely a solid spot for dinner.

+2

Overall rating: 4.5 As a new restaurant, this spot was hustling. So crowded at like 5:30, which is crazy to me. So it must be good! The first time I went I tried to do a walk-in which was no bueno. Next time, I did a reservation and the hostess was very nice. I was kind of expecting for them to give me some tang to sit at the bar since I was solo, but since a table was reserved it was pretty easy. The server was so nice, but I was a bit taken aback by these prices. Usually, I prepare myself mentally when looking at the menu online. But they don’t show prices on their online menu, so when I got there it took me some time to adjust. I got a burger which was okay. Not okay enough for $30. The fries were good. And the drink prices were very reasonable! But I’m not sure if this is something I would come back to on my own. I can see it being a great place if I worked in the area or I was dating someone that lived close by. But idk, there’s something off for me. The staff was soo friendly and the restaurant looks great! But I don’t think I’m the target audience & that’s okay. Give it a shot and see what you think :)

+6

Typical brunch spot in the area with some interesting plates. The majority of the menu is normal brunch food but I’d highly recommend their latkes which stood out to me the most. Enjoyed the coffee but overall the food was just okay. Would recommend trying it out if you’re looking for a place to eat.

Went here before a nets game. Overall satisfied. Ordered the seafood tower, which was great. The latkes were clearly made by professionals, but they very salty. For an entree I got the steak, and I wouldn’t recommend it, as it was extremely chewy. Nice cozy little place to pull up to, would recommend.

dropped by for a post movie cocktail ... on leaving made reservations for dinner tuesday night. great pickle plate. great dirty martini with housemade pickles and pickle brine. house water drawn thru converted draft line ... great tunes playing. what's not to like?

Have been on my Jewish food tour of Brooklyn. Came here and was good. Wished the salad was a little more generous with the white fish but the bagel was flowing with white fish salad. So can’t complain there. Will come back and try other dishes. What was ordered: White fish salad 7/10 White fish bagel melt: 9/10

My partner and I popped by on a Saturday brunch time without a reservation & was able to be sat in about 20 minutes (took a little walk of the surrounding blocks). Food was absolutely incredible, no complaints. I had the Babke French Toast, very sweet and filling. My partner destroyed the Big Nosh. Prices are decent for the amount of food. The outdoor seating was quite uncomfortable, seating on a slant with tables propped on little levels. Additionally, they seemed a little short staffed for a busy weekend hour. The service, while all incredibly nice and accommodating, was quite sporadic in timing (all different wait staff, hard to pin down when ready to pay check).

Hal Doueck

Beautiful atmosphere, good music, great service. Latkes are a must. Deep fried little goodies topped with sour cream, dill and roe. The purple potato knish was cool, but not necessary. We liked the pickles. The sour beer I had and my wife's New Year's Eve brandy was great. The spaetzle was OK, but a bit like eating unnecessary carbs (we got the veggie version). Noodles, mushroom broth and that's about it. Shnitzel squash had a great salad but the breading came off. Should not be on the menu. They need an actual veggie main, like a veggie burger. They also need a fish entree. All in all, solid experience

+2

Bianca R

Saturday brunch was lovely. We shared platters around the table. The Best Bialy was very good, but the bagel a bit hard or stale. The Babka French Toast was amazing and the Latkes too. The Reuben Burger was only ok and the Hy’s Melt was average, would not order it again. Coffee was good! Prices were very good for the food quality. Nice brunch spot, charming servers and good price quality ratio for the area!

Have been here for brunch before and had the most delicious meal and terrific service! They have a happy hour as well, and I wish restaurants would get rid of their happy hours if they are going to act so resentful of them? Nothing more disappointing than have a great meal one day and then coming back (and excited to do so!) and being treated with less than stellar service, food that has been obviously sitting under a heat lamp for some time (perhaps because I’m only paying happy hour prices?) and an overall air of annoyance that you’re there at all.

My experience at gertrudes was a mixed bag. Cons - the borscht bloody was really horseradish forward and chunky (but I understand its an acquired taste) - there was a hair in the burger which was gross 😭 Pros - the chocolate egg cream was so delicious - latkes delicious but small portion - best bialy was also delicious!!

I was walking and looking for The James and had mixed feelings about this restaurant now standing in its place. I decided to give them a whirl. It looks like the neighborhood likes them a lot but I'm going to need more convincing. I'll try them again sometime in the future. All I have to say is stick to the small plates and the Borscht Bloody is worth a visit.

Came in on Sunday for brunch, and was disappointed with the execution of the food. Have always been a fan of Gertie’s so was very excited to try out Gertrude’s, but it felt like the brunch rush really impacted the quality of the food. We started off strong with latkes & cinnamon sticks, but when the mains came out, we were kind of surprised. The bagels were cold and not toasted, and seemed like the smear was lacking. My friend got the hash, which was also skimping on meat, and some potatoes were undercooked. Wanted to love this place but not sure I’ll be back.

Gertrude’s in Brooklyn serves elevated Jewish classics in an intimate space. Our favourite item was the matzo ball soup. The spetzle was also good, but not incredible. We felt the tables were a bit cramped and didn’t love that the chairs were stools with no back support. The challah bread pudding dessert was too sweet for us and the ratio was off: it was 80% compote, 20% challah bread pudding. Also the ice cream had tons of ice chunks in it. Overall, we expected better given the prices and what we’d heard.

While the atmosphere and service were great, the food at Gertrude’s isn’t that good. Dishes have no complexity of flavor and some are plain bad. On the good side, the three layer cake and cocktails were tasty and satisfying. A steak special was also delicious. Everything else was somewhere between meh to bad. The challah roll was dry, the latkes only flavor was salty, the House Chopped Salad was just not tasty with the salami overpowering everything else. The half chicken had a lot of cartilage in it, and the duck spatzle’s only flavor was bitter. We left a lot of uneaten food on the table, which wouldn’t happen if we liked it better. I think this place has a lot of potential, if they fine tune their food.

+1

Lovely staff, great drinks, but the kitchen was going through some teething issues when we went last Wednesday. Ended up waiting between 1h - 1h 15 to get our food after we ordered, and the appetizer took 45 mins to arrive as well. Unfortunately the burger was lukewarm and the bottom bun totally soaked through from sitting in the kitchen for a while I assume so it wasn’t great. The latkes were good, fries good, and the squash too. We had been waiting for quite a while at that point so just ate and left as they were still really busy and didn’t want to add to the stress. Will be back and hopefully it’s better this time.

Went for birthday brunch. Sat in the heated patio during winter. Bagels were small and dry. The $150 tower of food was delicious, but the “heated” patio was cold as sin. They obviously know the heat doesn’t work because they provide blankets, but only per table (which is hard to share for four people). With the door constantly opening on a busy brunch morning, there’s no way it was going to stay warm, and you could tell even the waiters didn’t want to come outside. We wore our coats and hats the whole time and it was hard to eat finger foods with frozen fingers.

Went here for brunch and was greatly disappointed as I had read so many glowing reviews of this place. It's kind of comically expensive for what you are actually ordering. First we had three mini-Latkas for $21, which were served without apple sauce (whats the point?) Even at the absurdly overpriced Kat's Deli, you could get twice as many Latkas for just $16. Then we ordered the Rueben Burger and the Brisket Hash. The hash was dry and I was hard pressed to tell you where the meat was. Felt like a scam for $30. The burger was good but nothing to write home about. I also ordered one iced tea. After tip our meal came out to $105. Which, frankly, made me feel like I had been shaken upside down until all the change had fallen out my pockets. Even by Brooklyn standards, this felt especially egregious for what was essentially Deli food. I know I shouldn't judge a restaurant off of their brunch, but it would take a lot of convincing to come back here for dinner.

Meagan H

Latkes were good, but very tiny for the price (a little larger than a quarter). Bagels were not great compared to other bagels in the area. Gluten free options were very limited. We also had to remind service to bring out a side and coffee drink they forgot. My French toast babka was just fine and only came with 3 little slices of strawberry. This place is pretty expensive for brunch in the area and overall was kinda disappointed

B I

I love gertrude’s. I’ve recommended this restaurant to a bunch of folks, locals and out-of-towners. They have a great happy hour deal, $10 martinis. Their fries are perfectly crispy. And their black and white cake is my favorite, I literally dream about it. However, today, I noticed the inconsistencies with this restaurant. Sometimes gertrude’s is the best, and sometimes it is only okay. I’ve been served burgers that were too rare and too salty. My partner always orders it without cheese, and we’ve had to send it back a few different times. Most servers are nice, and one was rude enough to leave a bitter taste. All in all, this place is great, but only sometimes. Come for the happy hour and the cake, but don’t expect much else.

Rebekah S

Gertrude’s is a charming restaurant tucked away in the heart of Prospect Heights, offering a delightful dining experience. The ambiance has warmth and charm to it, particularly if you're fortunate enough to secure a coveted bar seat—an option I personally prefer for its cozy atmosphere. The menu at Gertrude’s is a Mix of fusion of classic Jewish dishes and innovative culinary creations. Among my favorites were the trout roe latkes and the burger accompanied by crispy French fries. While the food was certainly enjoyable, I must admit that I wasn't completely blown away. Some dishes leaned a bit heavily on the salty and vinegary side for my taste.

+1

What a waste of an evening. Had a reservation for 7:45, showed up in their cramped heated patio (where our table was open when we arrived) at 7:42. Several wait staff walked past the unmanned maitre d' station empty-handed and stared through us while we awkwardly shuffled here and there to avoid people entering and leaving the place. We were finally told the hostess would be with us shortly, (which was a relief, because we'd assumed she had died) and she was, several minutes later, and in a further 5 or 6 minutes after that we were seated at the empty table we had been looking at since we arrived. (Apparently getting to sit down and take off our coats in this tiny space before silverware was placed would have ended the world.) Which all would have been fine if anyone had acknowledged that we'd been there awhile and there was nowhere to stand. They sat us at a table next to the patio's saran wrap wall, which leaked cold air on us through the meal. The table was slanted so the water glasses would have slid right off had they not been stopped by the saran wrap. We were wedged uncomfortably between a table of too-close fellow diners and a large fake plant that I couldn't get outta my hair. It was extremely dark and the candles on the table had scalloped containers that made their light useless for reading. I briefly considered using one to set fire to the drinks menu, so I could use its burning brilliance to read the unimaginative dinner menu. Finally my girlfriend turned on her iphone flashlight so we could look like proper middle-aged idiots. Our waitress was nice and should not be lumped in with this. May she get a job somewhere cooler. The drinks took their time and were fine. The pickle plate was nothing special for what it cost. The latkes were nice. The salad was bitter as hell, not surprising given its ingredients, and I enjoyed it fine, but my girlfriend couldn't handle it and would have appreciated a 'bitter as hell' disclaimer on the menu. The burger we split contained un-advertised horseradish in its special sauce that also bothered her. Fries were good, but did not come out super-hot, and were mostly eaten by the time someone went back to the kitchen and (I assume) squeezed the tomatoes and farmed the CLOVE to make the ketchup they brought us for them. Overall the food was just ok and felt overpriced. This whole Jewish deli food but in a dark sit-down Brooklyn restaurant with bad too-loud Spotify playlist disco music that no one is dancing to going the whole time is a shaky concept at best, and I didn't taste anything that felt original or challenging or remarkable, except maybe the gold-medal bitter salad. Maybe I could have enjoyed it anyway if the wait staff (our actual server aside!) and the crappy table in a crappy patio hadn't been telling us to go to hell from the moment we arrived. I mean I know we read reviews mainly for the food, but good service and atmosphere is what helps you enjoy spending $110 on $19 worth of ingredients, after all.

Overall just an okay place. I went for dinner over 7 months ago. And just went back for brunch today. Both times I had a reservation but still had to wait over 30 minutes to be seated. The drinks were just okay at dinner. Food both times also just okay, nothing special. Also the food took forever to come out both times. I could get some latkes and a bagel at any Jewish deli around the area in a fraction of the time, and it'll be better probably.

The cabbage dish was way undercooked, bland and the filling was primarily canned cannelloni beans. Weird take on a traditional Eastern European Jewish dish. The latkes are tiny, overcooked and very salty. Not worth the price or the effort to get there. The other dishes, burgers and chopped salad were unremarkable as well. Never going back.

the best part of this experience was the bathroom. food was quite lousy/mediocre/subpar. the bagel felt like it was from a package. french toast definitely frozen. the bloody mary was mislabeled. the space itself is cool. server was kind of miserable. cardinal sin - bad bagel. food so salty, the yolks were pale and clearly low quality eggs. don’t go here! go to russ and daughters or agi’s counter.

Nice atmosphere and good spot for a buzzy neighborhood Friday evening. However, despite a great looking menu, the food seriously lacks any kind of wow factor. Everything we ordered seemed like no one in the kitchen had bothered to taste it. The chocolate cake (presumably not made on site) was the only memorable item in an otherwise underwhelming meal. We had heard such good things about this place but were left scratching our heads as to why.

Where to begin… Our server was inattentive, seemed overwhelmed, and distracted by coworkers. For such a small space the restaurant was surely over staffed which made the wait for everything feel even worse. We waited a while for our drinks and when they did come it was just a few drinks at a time and not the entire tables order, one of which never came. As the food started to come out we had some level of expectation given the price point. Plate after plate we felt underwhelmed and felt like it was just another small plates restaurant that was built on hype and not substance. A lot of the food felt like it lacked salt, sugar, acid, etc. I believe most of us who went will not be going back. I’m sure there’s people who enjoy this kind of place but it’s definitely not for me. On a positive note the decor and atmosphere was really nice and they have a lovely bathroom. I don’t normally ever write reviews even for mediocre experiences but I and my table really felt the need to say something this time.

Cute place- was excited to finally get dinner here, sat at the bar. Disappointing. We won’t be back. Bartenders were friendly, but food was bad save the latkes and slow to arrive / weird timing. Too expensive for this kind of experience. Ordered the chicken and honestly, this was the driest chicken I have ever had at a restaurant (or maybe even at home). It was as if they cut it and it sat under a heat lamp or they put it back in the oven until no moisture was left. Mentioned to the bartender and they were apologetic about it, offering free dessert. So we ordered the cake which I’ve heard so many good things about and two espressos. Espressos were cold and the shots so long they were undrinkable. It took *forever* for the cake to come out- and when it did, was cold as if it just came from the fridge. The icing was rock hard. If they didn’t have this ready to be served, I wish we would’ve been told. I would be understanding and ordered something else. Also I prefer the coffee to be served with dessert, not 15-20 minutes beforehand.

We had brunch here with my friends and not a single item we ordered was satisfying. Besides, they can’t make poached eggs so we ordered soft boiled but apparently they can’t even serve them warm. Not coming back.

An adult-priced restaurant should have adult-sized chairs. We were sat on comically small stools, and when we asked if they could be switched out with normal chairs (which other tables had), the host declined. We left.

My friend and I recently visited this restaurant in New York, and unfortunately, our experience was far from pleasant. While the service was decent, the food left much to be desired. The salad my friend ordered came with undercooked potatoes, which was quite disappointing. However, since we were celebrating that day, we chose not to make a fuss and decided to let it go. Our real shock came when we received the bill: $200 with tip included, for just a bottle of wine, six oysters, one salad, and one dessert. There were no hot appetizers or main courses. As it turned out, the bottle of wine we ordered cost around $100, despite its retail price being no more than $30. This was particularly upsetting because we had asked for a more affordable option, but the waiter recommended a wine that was well above our budget. Trusting the waiter’s suggestion, we didn’t double-check the price, assuming it was close to the one we had initially selected from the menu. This left us feeling quite taken advantage of. To sum it up, the oysters were tasty, but the salad was terrible, and the dessert barely deserved a 4 out of 10. We will never return to this establishment again.

Came here last night, long weekend, on the early side around 7. There was no one in line and a lot of empty tables and seats around, but the white male host said the wait for 2 would be 45 minutes. While I can’t say for sure it was racially motivated [I’m not white], it seemed really suspicious at minimum. I’ve lived in the city almost 20 years so I try to give places the benefit of the doubt, but if you’re POC, just be aware … They likely won’t miss my kind but I won’t be back.