YUMMY Been meaning to try and the katsu sandwich was super solid, the corn miso pudding was so good with great texture like quinoa and I think tofu skins. The pancake was really fluffy and the butter in it was so decadent. They give you a cute card for birthdays. Restaurant is cool modern and wood vibes. read more

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I had brunch here and it was SO good! They do such a great job bringing Japanese influence into both the food and the atmosphere without it feeling forced. Everything felt really thoughtfully done, and the staff was super nice. We were initially seated in the sun, but when we asked if we could move, they were really accommodating and happily reseated us somewhere more comfortable. Great food, great atmosphere, and genuinely friendly service. Would definitely come back! read more

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Rule of Neglecting the Thirds The space is truly iconic. Rule of Thirds occupies a fantastic warehouse in Greenpoint, and the architecture is a major part of the experience. N Architects worked with the industrial character of the building rather than against it: huge volume, high ceilings, long views across the room, and a controlled roughness that makes the place feel very Brooklyn. The food is more irregular. Everything is designed to be shared family-style, which makes dinner fun, particularly with a group. The Fish Sando is extraordinary: hake, butter roll, salsa verde, and somehow exactly the right proportions. The shishitos are excellent too. The Yaki Onigiri, on the other hand, were surprisingly dry and heavy. Not terrible, but not something I would order again. The sake selection is impressive. One of the pleasures here is asking the staff to bring a few different bottles to taste before choosing one. They have happily done this for us, and it can turn ordering sake into a great part of the dinner. What is strange is how inconsistent this experience can be. On different visits, with similarly sized groups and substantial bills, the range of sake offered for tasting has varied enormously. On our last visit, for reasons we never understood, someone apparently decided that we were on a budget and offered us only the least expensive options. We eventually found one we liked, so no harm done, but it was a peculiar assumption to make. Then there is the Rule of Thirds problem. We were a party of three, but throughout the meal the service repeatedly behaved as though we were a party of two. For the sake tasting, two glasses arrived. Dessert was shared, but only two spoons appeared. We pointed it out several times, yet somehow it kept happening. It was annoying for all of us and particularly uncomfortable for the third person, who understandably began to feel singled out. Perhaps it was an unusually off night. But after our last dinner, it has been renamed as the Rule of Neglecting the Third, and honestly this might be the reason to not coming back. read more

Interior has great vibe. Food was Okay. I am Happy for check this place off my to try list! read more

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Been wanting to come here for a while and it was definitely worth the wait. The chicken kaarage was perfectly fried. We also got the gem salad, silken tofu, and a5 wagyu beef tartare - all were so flavorful and enjoyable. They are a shared plate style place so we ordered many plates and split them between 3 people. Our servers were extremely friendly, knowledgeable about the menu, and very quick despite how busy the restaurant was! We were seated in the outdoor section which had some fans and covering and it was perfect for a late summer evening. read more

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We made reservations at 10am to try Rule of Thirds for brunch. The restaurant is very spacious and each area is designed in a unique yet complementary way. Ambiance had a nice vibe. There was a limited availability menu as well as there regular menu, so we ordered from both: Chutoro Sashimi ($27) - included 6 pieces of fatty bluefin tuna, that could be paired with a wasabi kizami (chopped fresh wasabi stems and leaves marinated in soy sauce), and aged soy sauce. Fish was fresh and the pairings added nicely to each bite. Crab Somen ($29) - included somen noodles, a cold crab dashi, with tomato ohitashi, herbs, and chili oil. The broth was very salty but it didn't cling to noodles well. Adding some chili oil helped a bit, but the star was the cherry tomatoes. Without it the dish would have tasted plan. I was not a fan of this one. Japanese Breakfast Set ($30) - normally the set comes with a roasted market fish, assorted seasonal vegetables, nanatsuboshi short grain rice, and almond miso soup. We swapped it for the limited time Misozuke Tuna Belly, which was dense, meaty, and was marinated in a saikyp miso. The tuna belly was flavorful on it's own, but adding the lemon and green kizami (not sure what this was made of, but it had a pickled, relish, citrusy, savory umami flavor) made it more enjoyable. The rice was fluffy and the light meaty floss on top paired nicely together. I was impressed with the egg and pickled side. Egg texture was like a custard tofu fusion, and I really like the julienned pickled radish. The miso soup is different from regular Japanese restaurants since it had a roasted nutty depth of flavor. This set was delicious. Chicken Katsu ($18) - included panko-fried thigh, b&b daikon, katsu sauce, and mustard. The chicken was juicy dark meat, portion size was a good. I like how they added crunch with the lettuce and sliced daikon. Note to only add a little Japanese Mustard because it was hot. Hottokek ($20) - This is a Japanese Souffle Pancake fluffy hotcake, with honey maple butter, and sesame. When looking at other tables, I understood why people only ate from the middle outwards. The core of the dish was a good souffle, with a soft, airy, creamy texture, in conjunction with the butter and syrup. However, due to the size it's difficult to maintain that quality throughout the whole souffle. The outer layer just tasted like a Chinese sponge cake. Would have liked if there was more butter and syrup provided on the side. The dishes come one at a time so it's not overwhelming to eat, especially when you have a small table and you order a lot of food. The prices are a little steep, but service is good and staff was attentive. It kind of shares a space with a wedding venue, so you can hear and see guests walking, which is interesting. There are 5 individual bathrooms provided, as well. Overall rating would be a 4.5, but I rounded it up to a 5 since I would want to come back again. read more

Rule of Thirds - Japanese Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

I came to Rule of Thirds for dinner. The menu was covered a lot, but there were only a few items per category. I wasn't sure what to make of that, but everything we ordered was delicious! I particularly liked the wagu noodle dish with the yuzu soft serve to top it off! The restaurant is super nice inside and also has a great outdoor seating area as well, depending on what you are feeling, however service was a bit slower outside. I can't wait to go back and try brunch! read more

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Shared several dishes with my friends. We got the Tuna & Nori, House Silken Tofu, Mac Salad, Fish Sando, Chicken Sando, Salmon Breakfast Set, and the Hotteokeki (Japanese soufflé pancake). Overall, everything was really good. The only thing I wasn't too impressed by was the mac salad. I would 100% get the Japanese soufflé pancake again. I loved how soft and moist it was. It didn't leave me feeling heavy or stuffed like regular pancakes usually do. Definitely one of my favorite dishes we ordered. I love the aesthetics of the restaurant and design of the menu. read more

I absolutely love the vibe of this place. It's SO spacious and offers a variety of seating options, from bar seating and garden seating to an omakase-style counter and traditional indoor tables. The food has been consistently excellent. I've tried the Japanese breakfast (just note that the fish selection can't be substituted), their famous pancake, and the chicken sando. Everything was yummmyy. The pancake is quite large, so I'd recommend sharing it. The staff is attentive and welcoming. Its hard to make resy but you can usually grab a seat at the bar or a smaller table without needing a reservation. read more

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Everything is done right here! I don't think anything on the menu can be bad, even if it sounds odd or you don't know all the ingredients, each plate or drink is balanced perfectly and incredible tasty! The service is soo nice, speedy, and clean too! I loved spending a special birthday dinner here. read more

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I enjoyed it, but it left a little to be desired. The mustard set the katsu sando off, the soufflé pancake had great consistency and the tuna belly was cooked well. The wait staff was very attentive to our needs. The restaurant is very unassuming from outside but was packed and bright inside. read more

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I've been here multiple times over the span of 5 years and Rule of Thirds is still keeping its charm. The place is always buzzing, so I recommend getting a reservation. Last I was here was for brunch and we sat in the outdoor patio area. We got a two things to share and a main each. Shared plates were the soufflé pancake and silken tofu. Both were a miss for me. The pancake had a baking soda aftertaste and also they brought it out right away instead of after we finished our mains so it sat around in the table for a while until we were ready to eat it. Silken tofu had a mediocre flavor palette. There was no variation in texture either, just one plate of mushy items. We didn't finish either one of those. For a main, I ordered a a Wagyu beef bowl. It was really good but on the smaller side. The service was attentive aside from a spillage when the order came. Then they started placing plates on top of the spill instead of wiping the table. Eventually they cleaned it but overall there was lack of training in this case. I am not dying to come back here but would consider if I'm in the area again. I really like the actual space but food/service can improve. read more

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We got there around lunch time on a Sunday and we got a table for four in about 30mins! Because there are many shops you can look around in vicinity, it didn't feel too long. The seating was very cute! It was outside but divided from the entrance/outside with curtains and felt like we were glamping or something. If you like savory cocktail with some kick to it, bloody moon was one of the best cocktails I've ever had! And the appetizers we had was also delicious. I feel like the cutlet could've been a little juicier. It did feel a little dry. I had a great time there! read more

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I had the hottokeki (souffle pancake), which had a nice combination of caramelized exterior with a custardy inside. It was topped with a fragrant compound butter and some syrup. I definitely tired of the sweetness about halfway through and had to take the rest home. The restaurant itself is beautiful, and if the weather is nice I'd recommend sitting in the outdoor area. I sat at the bar which was also nice enough. My meal came to $26 after tax and tip. Not cheap, but also not as expensive as other brunch spots in the neighborhood. read more

Rule of Thirds - Hottokeki - Japanese Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Solid spot, but we weren't completely full, and nothing was amazing. I thought that the lemon/lime flavor in the tuna and nori overpowered the rest of the dish. The tonkatsu was more enjoyable with the sauce, but I felt that it was more bland without. The mazemen was probably my favorite! It's such a cool dish and is slightly more filling. My favorite part is the space though. It's such a large space with low lighting. Service was alright. It took a while before we were able to order our food. read more

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Got brunch here on a Sunday with a friend. We split the Hot Honey Gem Salad and Hottokeki (Japanese soufflé pancake). The pancake is gigantic and is absolutely meant to be shared. It was really fluffy and smelled soooo good (reminiscent of the HK street cart waffles). But because it's so big, by the time we ate half of it, we were getting a little tired of the same taste. The salad was good but nothing to rave about. For drinks, we tried the Lebowski-San and Kettl Hojicha Kombucha. It was my first time trying a clarified cocktail and it was really unique. I thought there would be more ice cream honestly but I still loved it. The kombucha though was shockingly tasty. I loved it so much that I bought a bottle online once I got home (they're from Kettl, a local distillery in Brooklyn). The venue is really spacious and I actually planned a wedding here in the past. They host a lot of events and there was even a birthday party happening when I ate there. The only downside is the location. The only train that goes there is the G so it's a bit hard to get to. Food: Hot Honey Gem Salad (radish, buckwheat, fennel, yuzu vinaigrette) 9/10 Hottokeki / Japanese Soufflé Pancake (fluffy hotcake, honey maple butter, sesame) 9/10 Add Mini White Sesame Soft Serve (soy milk, sesame oil) 10/10 - I would recommend just getting this on its own instead of the Hottokeki if you're craving just a little dessert. Drinks: Lebowski-San (green tea shochu, pisco, sakura leaf, clarified matcha ice cream, cold brew coffee floater) 9/10 - This is a clarified cocktail which I didn't expect. I thought I was ordering a matcha ice cream-like drink so although the drink was good, all the ingredients are very subtle in flavor. Kettl x Unified Ferments 'Hojicha' Kombucha (jou yanagi hojicha) 10/10 - This is an absolute must-try! read more

Rule of Thirds - Hot Honey Gem Salad 9/10 Hottokeki 9/10 - Japanese Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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Came here on a weekend for brunch and did not have a reservation so the wait was 1.5 hours. We were seated in the outdoor hut which was initially super warm but they were able to turn off the space heaters and turn on the fan. We ordered the hottokeki, katsu sando, kakuni donburi and karaage. The souffle pancakes were nice and fluffy. The katsu sando was crispy and flavorful. The kakuni donbur was filling and the pork belly was wonderfully braised. It came with an almond miso soup and it was just okay. The almond pieces made the soup gritty and it wasn't great to eat. The karaage was crispy and I liked the sauce it came with. However I wish the sauce came on the side because it was all at the bottom of the bowl. Service was good and they came by several times to refill water and take away plates. The space indoors and outdoors is lovely and I look forward to coming back to try the other items. read more

Rule of Thirds - Japanese Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Branzino was really charred to the point where you can barely taste the fish, most of it was just rubbery, chewy, and bitter. Spirited away drink was a bit too sweet. You mostly taste the honey. It wasn't well balanced. Chicken karaage was salty and the batter was heavy. We liked the tuna tartar and the chicken meatball. Service was good. Chill ambiance. read more

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Came here on a Thursday evening and got seated at the bar, we really wanted to get seated at one of the table on the courtyard but got declined cos we were walk in without resy. we ordered bunch of a la carte including tuna and nori which i was very satisficed, it's a great combo that I'd not think of myself, silken tofu was really smooth and flavorful! however was a little bit disappointed w karages, the batter was abit thick, and the flavor was mediocre. lastly my friend ordered tonkatsu, i had a pc to sample and was not impressed, even not impress that it costs almost $40 for such an ordinary dish. the space is definitely nice, high industrial ceiling w tables spaces out, there are some booth seats and private party room. overall 50% of what we ordered were just mediocre. maybe i'll come back for their brunch menu. read more

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The soufflé pancake is what I came here for and it was everything I wanted and more. The pancake was soft and a little chewy . The butter on top was salted and the maple syrup added just the right amount of sweetness. I am coming back for this! I tried the yuzu mini soft serve but I think I would like the black sesame one more. Coming back for that too! The chicken katsu curry was good. The chicken was well seasoned and cooked. We also got the macaroni salad and it came with pieces of sausage which I really enjoyed. The decor was nice and felt really comfortable. It was a packed house even on a snow day so reservations are recommended z read more

Rule of Thirds - Chicken katsu curry with Almond Miso Soup and a side of Mac salad - Japanese Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Beautiful space with beautiful food that honestly just tasted fine. Like everything was good but nothing really blew me away, until the dessert that was stellar. Generally shared everything to get a taste of a bunch of things. To start with, the Karaage was really crisp and had a nice sauce. The Oshizushi tasted fresh. House Silken Tofu was very interesting, super duper soft almost like a pudding. Also got the Almond Miso Soup which was divine. Unfortunately did not taste as much almond butter as Id hoped but the broth was incredibly flavorful and super creamy. Tried a few of the Binchotan and sides too. Chicken Meatball had a nice marinade. Macaroni Salad was a large portion. Yaki Onigiri was one of my favorite items despite literally just being rice, but the char and the chicken fat wash made it so delish. Then came dessert which was def the best dishes. The Rice Cooker Cheesecake was so light and airy and the pumpkin, caramel, and persimmons were such a good touch. Then the Yuzu Soft Serve was one of the best soft serves Ive ever had. Sweet and super tart too, perfect level of creamy too I just couldnt stop eating it. Also the soft serve with the cheesecake in the same bite was a legendary combo. read more

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The service was amazing and the food was nothing like I expected! Shocking and delish! Would recommend read more

Rule of Thirds - Tonkatsu, Salad, cucumber salad, roasted potatoes, chicken karagi - Japanese Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Such a great experience. The food is so good and so are the cocktails. The staff is so kind. It is a very fun environment as well - kid friendly read more

I am obsessed with their soft serve and now they have yuzu which is so refreshing and lemony! I love the sesame more though and want to eat AlL of it. Dinner was good but not as great as our first or second or third time here. We sat in a hut and it was so cold and windy. The food was solid especially the sashimi. Don't order the sukiyaki though. It wasn't great. I love the salad and soft tofu. David is an EXCELLENT waiter so all stars for him!! Our 4th time here and extremely disappointing!!! :(( I am obsessed with their soft serve and now they have yuzu which is so refreshing and lemony! I love the sesame more though and want to eat ALL of it. Dinner was good but not as great as our first or second or third time here. We were exiled to sit in a hut and it was so cold and windy. The food was average other than the bluefin sashimi. Don't order the sukiyaki though. It wasn't great. I liked the salad and soft tofu. David is a solid waiter so all stars for him!! read more

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Need to go back for brunch to try souffle cake. Tonkatsu has a bit of red spots so made me feel a lil uneasy to eat and also portion for that was small for the price. Better to go with a group to try out everything. Tuna Nori, Salad, Binchotan were really delish! Service was top notch bc I appreciate how attentive they are. read more

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This is a review from August 2025. We came for brunch on a Saturday and made a reservation in advance. We were seated fairly quickly after arriving. The place was pretty packed. The service was very fast and we were brought our drinks pretty quickly. In terms of food, we shared a chicken Katsu sandwich, tuna sashimi, and their famous pancakes. The sandwich was delicious and so was the sashimi. The pancake was very good but definitely filling. They had a good selection of teas and cocktails. The place had a cute vibe and a great brunch spot I would definitely come back again. read more

Rule of Thirds - Chicken Katsu - Japanese Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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I'll just cut to the chase -- their soufflé pancakes are HEAVENLY. Soft as pillows and not too sweet. It certainly was the star of the meal for me. In fact, I would go there just for that! I ordered other items as well, including breaded chicken curry (delicious!). Besides the food, the location is stylish and spacious. They provide a rack for you to hang your coat so you're not burdened by it while you dine. I had a good time there and have been planning to return again. read more

Rule of Thirds - Japanese Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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This place never disappoints! I've been several times for different occasions and times of the year. I think my favorite seating was last month in October with my childhood best friend. We ordered a banana cocktail, miso almond soup (amazing), hamachi collar (delicious), tuna & nori (probably the least tasty, but still great quality), house silken tofu with mushrooms (must/order), tonkatsu (wow factor), and macaroni salad. By the time the tonkatsu arrived, we were stuffed but one bite of the nearly sliced pork loin, we just couldn't get enough. This is definitely an underrated dish and do not know why the servers never play this dish up. I do wish the bathrooms skewed a bit warmer, they are completely metal/steel inside. Just waiting to try the brunch and my reviews of this restaurant will be complete. read more

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It was an incredible experience! I came here for brunch with a friend and we had a great time. The restaurant was very cool and had a nice vibe. The food was super delicious with a great drink selection. Yuzu sake soft serve was incredible. Service was excellent too. I'd recommend it to everyone. read more

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3.5 stars Came here for anniversary dinner and staff were very kind and gave us a anniversary card. Ambience was very modern and dimly lit. Very great service from staff. For appetizers: we ordered tuna and nori, chicken meatball, maitake mushroom, and duck hearts. Tuna and nori was not our favorite, had more bread crumbs than tuna. Would not recommend it here. Maitake mushroom was our favorite appetizer, it had a good sear and nice seasoning. Duck hearts were solid. I never eat duck hearts but these were tender. Chicken meatball had a soft texture, flavor was okay. For entrees, we ordered mazemen crab and uni pasta,, tonkatsu, and scallop special. Mazemen was my second favorite because I like crab and uni. Flavor of the sauce was a buttery sea salty taste. Our favorite was the scallop special because each component eaten together was a very complex and tasty bite. Highly recommend definitely one of their best dishes on the menu. Tonkatsu was medium rare to rare. For dessert we ordered: white sesame soft serve. It was solid by I wasnt astounded or impressed. They also gave us free sample of the yuzu soft serve which was so nice of them! Overall this was a good experience, I like their staff's attitude and attentiveness (5/5). As for the food, it was definitely (3.5/5) for me. The tonkatsu was too under for me personally. It was basically rare, the fat didn't get the chance to render, still white and raw. It would've been nice to have the option to choose what temperature we prefer for the Tonkatsu. The food was okay. I felt like the price we paid went to the restayrant aesthetics and not actually into the quality of the food. I would say it's definitely not worth the price to eat here unless you're only getting the mazemen and the scallops special. Again wonderful staff! read more

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Went here for my friend's birthday brunch and we sat outside. Service was extremely attentive and the staff were all so so nice! The food was amazing, I have to say the highlights were the wagyu burger (special) and the soufflé pancake. The wagyu burger came with a cured egg yolk I believe, to dip it in and it was phenomenal. So juicy and delicious. The soufflé pancake was not too sweet and came out at the end, it was shared amongst 5 of us and we still couldn't finish it! It was airy, bouncy, and fragrant. I think this is a great place to grab a bite if you're in the area, would definitely recommend! read more

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This place just popped up in my photo memories from 4 years ago, when we'd gone there for a friend's birthdays. The main food item I remember from the food was the Hottokeki, so i suppose the rest was not that memorable. I do remember I really liked the ambiance of the place, it was very light & airy and everything was open to the breeze on a nice day. read more

Rule of Thirds - Hottokeki - Japanese Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Large restaurant with a lovely ambiance and solid food. Great place to catch up with a friend, especially when the weather is nice. I came here for brunch on a weekend with a friend. Entering it can feel a little bit like a maze, as the restaurant is huge (there's several rooms, both indoors and outside-- it's so large I know people have had their weddings here while the restaurant has still functioned like normal!). We sat in the outdoor patio area. I will say service was a little bit slow, but perhaps that's due to the number of tables? I'm not sure how the area does if it's really hot/cold, but when we visited the weather was perfect so it was really lovely to be outdoors. For food, we decided to split the souffle pancake and the wagyu burger (which was a special). Both were delicious, with the burger being rich and juicy. The souffle pancake was pretty airy and not very sweet-- to be honest, after a while it got a little one-dimensional so I would suggest sharing with up to 4 people. Overall I think the food is solid and it's nice to have a Japanese brunch option in town. I would come back here with both smaller and larger groups in the future as a spot to catch up. read more

Rule of Thirds - Japanese Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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Came for the happy hour and stayed for the ambiance! Had a great outdoor meal at Rule of Thirds, with quality Japanese food meant for sharing. Next time will come back to try their full menu. My favorite was the miso soup! It was freshly made instead of premade stock at other sushi locations. read more

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Had an amazing brunch here! As soon as we walked in, we were taken by the interior which was a converted open-air concept. Between three of us we shared the: * Souffle pancake (so fluffy and the butter and syrup were the perfect complement without weighing it down!) * Katsu sandwich - impressed with how juicy this was and loved the house mustard though I definitely got a wasabi kick when I dipped too much. * Smashed potatoes - were a little heavy on the gochujang but it's hard to go wrong with potatoes! Left feeling very satisfied and recommend this place for brunch! Prices were very reasonable as well! read more

Rule of Thirds - Smashed potatoes, Chicken Katsu sando, and soufflé pancake - Japanese Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

The food was excellent. Cool vibe. Staff were very friendly. Looking forward to visit again. read more

Came here for a Saturday dinner, interior is absolutely beautiful, great date night vibes, quality meats but the food tasted okay in my opinion The pork tonkatsu is cooked to medium rare? Not my cup of tea. mazemen was good but also threw me off with the ramen texture and pesto sauce Kaarage uses real chicken pieces which was unique BUT THE SERVICE..! Really respectful and understanding. Our waiter saw that the tonkatsu was untouched and offered to take it off the bill for us since we didn't like it. read more

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I've been here many times but mostly for brunch. The brunch is good but not my favorite. The pancake is delicious! I've had their dinner a couple years ago but I don't remember it being THIS good. I would have given it a 4/5 a year ago. I thoroughly enjoyed my experience this time around. I had an interesting glass of Shochu (it's strong, and maybe not the drink for me but glad I tried it) The summer menu is amazing. The summer corn was a highlight of the meal and the branzino was superb. I enjoyed some yuzu sake at the end of my meal along with the mochi cake, it was chefs kiss. Our server was also well versed on the menu and explained every detail. The ambience of this restaurant is very open and modern yet comfy and inviting. The menu is pricey, the best way to enjoy this place is with a crew IMO. I had a a great night! I'd highly recommend. read more

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Love brunch here! Big fan of the soufflé pancake (I ask for extra butter for sure, their serving is not enough for me). Big fan of their chicken karaage as well! The space is gorgeous. There are weddings sometimes. Servers are always super nice and welcoming. read more

A little bit over hyped and pricey. The pancake is incredible in the center but gets pretty dry at the edges. The veggies we were really yummy! My friends got the breakfast set and thought it was a little underwhelming. Overall I'd go for the ambiance but the food is just ok. read more

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