We had a great experience. The food was great and the service was knowledgeable and attentive. Extra points for helping me with my elderly mom, who wasn't feeling well. The staff called us a cab and even helped her out to the car. They really couldn't have been lovelier. read more

Enjoyed a fantastic brunch at Runner and Stone! The French toast and omelet special were out of this world. The food was perfectly prepared, and added touches like homemade butter and ketchup really make a difference. The breads and pastries are the best I ever had!! The staff was friendly and attentive! read more

Uninspired food served by poorly trained wait staff. Gorgeous place, really sub-par food. Just pretty uninspired, with a dose of attitude. Was surprised that dishes were plated with no care -- I'm not a picky eater but the food LOOKED unappetizing and was fairly blah. Great bread, wish we had just gotten a loaf to go and been done with it. Not worth the trip to 3rd Ave, and definitely not worth the money. Very overpriced. read more

Bread is amazing. Really like the tarts provided on arrival. The pasta is life changing. Still dream about the tomato jam. Great service every visit. Good ambiance. read more

Had a great evening at Runner and Stone with 12 friends for my birthday - great service, very good food, (especially the grappa-cured bass and pastrami appetizers and chicken main), excellent bread and an amazing Pecan cake with brown sugar pastry cream made to order. Highly recommended. read more

Met friends for a holiday dinner here last week. Creative menu, interesting cocktail menu, and genuinely polite staff. Food was very tasty. I'd go back again. read more

Due to time constraints at work I took my mom here for her birthday on a Monday night and to say that we were pleasantly surprised is beyond an understatement! For starters we had the pretzel with homemade mustard and pickles and also ordered the rice balls. For entrees my mom ordered the fried chicken and since I couldn't decide between the mushroom ravioli and the tomato jelly ravioli, the waiter suggested to give me a tasting of each. Everything was uniquely prepared and served and created a feasts of tastes in your mouth. I also ordered the Autumn Sangria which was a unique blend of spiced cider and chilled red wine. If I didn't have to go to work the next morning, I would have ordered another. For dessert we had the Ricotta Rice Pudding, served with apricots and HOMEADE SHORTENING BREAD. Everything tasted so fresh and every ingredient blended well together, yet you were able to identify each taste individually. Even the breadbasket was amazing as they served several different types of grains that you could instantly tell from the texture that they were baked fresh on the premise. I have two regrets about coming to Runner and Stone, and that's not coming here sooner and not hearing more about it. If you're ever in Gowanus, please make it your business to stop in and treat yourself to great service and an impeccable dining experience! I cannot wait to return! read more

So many opinions, some based on one visit. Bottom line, a roaring success from day one. Excellent bar too. Master chef, master baker. Original review of 1/9/1313 still holds true, more than ever: Our initial time there was in January. Impressed by the credentials of the principals and local word of mouth, we went for dinner. We left having found close to perfection in a restaurant, the architecture a lovely and warm aesthetic, embracing service, and dishes prepared with the highest levels of sought out ingredients, are regulars ever since. The two entrees we shared, after a delicious arugula salad, were subtle, yet definite in flavors, textures, ingredients. Not "edgy", not reaching for rock star different. Simply sublime. The chicken and buckwheat dumplings in a light as air mushroom broth become an instant must have. The lamb breast can only be described as "please try it". Please. If possible, leave a bit of room for dessert. All that said, before the first course ordered, you will be won over forever by the breads. I also enjoyed a syrah by the glass and my wife a prosecco. The final shocker is the affordability. Google the menu. It doesn't get better. For the bourbon or rye drinker (I favor the latter), try the Widow Jane whiskeys. read more

This was our first time to Runner and Stone and we were exited to try something new. The food and service was fantastic, with one exception. The rude and arrogant host, Julio, almost ruined the night. When we arrived he took us immediately to a table in the basement, passing by an open table upstairs he said we couldn't have. The table downstairs was a very tight fit, so he rudely asked another diner to pull in closer to his table, and then reprimanded us for blocking the door to the office. If the table blocks the door, then why put it there? It was his arrogant tone that was most offensive. We started the evening being made to feel second class. Thank goodness Jeremy came to the rescue. He was full of recommendations and knew the menu well. The beet salad with cumin was divine and the entrees, fried chicken, squid ink pasta with lobster, and gnocchi were all delicious. We ended with two amazing desserts. Unfortunately, when the bill arrived we had been double charged for the two desserts and a tea that was never ordered. Make sure to double check the charges before paying!! The dinner and service was wonderful, but I doubt we'll return for the abusive treatment we received from the host. Who needs it!? read more

I appreciate the clean modern architectural interior, which stands in pointed contrast to the ubiquitous rustic, wooden, crumbly, old vintage aesthetic that pervades in so many Brooklyn restaurants. The food, however, is simply not that impressive. I had the orecchiete with sausage and broccoli rabe, which was like a totally boring dish that can be made at home on a weeknight with no effort whatsoever. I really wanted fish this time, but literally the ONLY non-pasta fish or shellfish was the special, hake, which was the special last time too. Hake (seemingly the new skate) is on menus everywhere, which I theorize to derive from its its relatively obscurity, and restaurants' fear of seeming prosaic by offering a much better tasting but more familiar fish. As for wine, we ordered a bottle of Loire Sauvignon Blanc, which was the most acidic of its kind that I've ever had. I'm sure that some of the wines are fine, but this one was not. read more

If only for the bread (and there's a lot more that's good) this place is worth a visit. The have arguably the best bread basket in Brooklyn. Three different varieties ,all house made: baguette,spelt and whole wheat. Each equally delicious with the house-made butter. In contrast to many others I'm not a fan of their grappa-cured bass but think their duck pastrami starter is sensational ( a couple of more slices would be nice) and they also have some unusual and very tasty salads. For mains the lamb shank is a stand out ,and a very generous portion to boot, but we've also savored their pancetta-wrapped fish--changes daily. Vegetarians don't despair because there is plentty for you in their excellent pasta dept. Save room for desserts because, like the bread, they really shine. A lot of small places, including some of my favorites, have lackluster desserts but not R&S. The rye brownie (chocolate but with a hint of rye as in bread ) with whiskey-flavored ice cream is favorite of ours . Not only is the chow good but the wait staff and owners are all warm and friendly. If all this weren't enough, their prices aren't stupid. We've been for dinner twice and plan to come back again soon. read more

Loved the vibe of this place from the moment we approached, starting with the rusted metal facade, to inside where the walls are made of concrete poured into forms of old 50lb.-bags of flower. There were five of us, and we had almost every appetizer on the menu, many of which are deceptively simple, but really yummy. My favorites were, the spicy curried hummus, chicken liver paté, duck pastrami, and, surprisingly, the baby iceberg salad - trust me! My favorite main dish was the spelt gemelli. I don't normally eat pasta, but for all of you who are a bit carb phobic, like me, this is well worth it. The fried chicken is apparently one of the favorite items on their menu, but I always compare it my mom's. (I grew up in the south, and my mom made fried chicken at least once a week.) The chicken at R&S was not my mom's, but it was super crispy on the outside and very juicy on the inside; that in and of itself is far better than most places. But in the end, they completely won me over with two of their desserts. My favorite dessert is some version of a warm chocolate brownie with vanilla ice cream. If that's your thing, they have two desserts you're going to love - the Tres cervezas chocolate cake (so rich, so moist!) and the Rye Brownie Sundae. Neither was warm, but both offered the cakey/cream combination I love. read more

I'm hoping we caught this place on an off night. We have been coming here a few times a year for several years but had a very disappointing experience last night. Service was off when we arrived at 6PM. The hostess sat us and then rushed us through the wine list, had no idea what I was ordering (a red) looked at the white wine list when I told her the name, its a small list. Told her 3 of the 6 of us were drinking it, she proceeded to ask everyone at the table if they were drinking it. She stumbled thru the additions and specials and finally found a print out that was less confusing than her rambling. When the wine came, she noticed at the last minute that she had grabbed an open, half empty bottle and thank God, corrected herself. She allowed us to order an addition and didn't know it couldn't be an appetizer and came back after we ordered it to inform us. And then, she must have gone off shift and left without a word and we had some guys serving our table. Although it was relatively empty on a Monday night, no one ever came to refill our wine glasses or water for that matter. The complimentary olive croissants served up front were cold and stale. Nothing on the menu was a wow and the side of sweet potato fries were hardly fries, more like deep fried air (less than shoestrings, wish I took a picture). Come dessert time and the brownie sundae was inedibly salty. What the heck? I used to love this place, not sure I will chance it again. read more

my cup is taken before i finish the contents and my plate is asked to be taken while i'm still chewing what should be my 2nd last bite. it's not busy, there's no line. can we give the customers a little peace and time to finish their food please? i was so irked by this that i barely noticed everything else that i presume to be good about the place. read more