Eatery - House of Small Wonder (NY)

77 N 6th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11211 (Neighborhood: Williamsburg)
Pricing - $$ | Dining - Casual | Cuisine - Japanese, Brunch
http://www.houseofsmallwonder.com/

One of the reasons why I enjoy going to New York is that my older brother lives in Brooklyn so 1) I have a place to stay and also 2) I get to see him! However, because we are both busy busy, it isn't too often that we get to do much together when I'm in town. This trip around, we got to check out a brunch spot that he likes visiting called House of Small Wonder which is a bit of Japanese fusion. Think of a menu that offers the likes of Okinawan Taco Rice, Fig Brie Apple Sandwich, and Croque Madame all at one mealtime. The outdoor area is unassuming with its big wooden slats that hides the restaurant away from the street view aside from its chalkboard menu signs. The inside is certainly in the style of a tiny wondrous house.



I'm not sure how busy this spot gets but there really aren't very many seats. We had to wait a little while to get a table and even then, there was hardly a waiting area. Combine that with our backpacks for the long day out (we were there for breakfast) and we felt like invasive bumbling elephants inside. Once we got seated though, it was cozy and appropriately decorated for my friend to get their Raspberry Mocha ($6) and me to want their Lavender Latte ($5). Both were adorably presented in mugs with sprinklings of the flavor profile on the surfaces and warming wholesomeness.


With the slightly chill morning, I wanted to indulge in their Winter Special which was a feel-good hefty helping of Mommy's Organic Vegetable Curry ($13 - organic vegetables cooked in original spices and served over rice with mixed greens salad and sliced hardboiled egg). The warmth of the delectably spiced curry was plenty to keep me feeling satisfied, and the generous amount of vegetables throughout the entire dish (sides and all) really appealed to me as I've been eating more vegetables.

My friend went for their Sashimi Zuke Don ($15 - soy sauce marinated sashimi of the day, avocado, sweet mushrooms, sesame, egg sprinkled over sushi rice) which is available in limited quantities daily there. Beautifully arranged, this looked something to me like a colorful mix between a cold bibimbap and poke bowl. Its subtle marination married all of the ingredients together well, and the freshness overall of all components was a real draw. I'm not sure I'd choose this for a breakfast however; lunch seems like the better way to dive into such a bright dish. My brother went the heavier, more savory route with their Japanese Hamburg Steak ($15 - organic ground beef patty with melted Gruyere on top simmered in demi glace sauce and served over rice with mixed greens salad and sliced hardboiled egg) which really lay the demi glace on thick. The style seemed too sweet and weighty to me to have a whole plate of but the two bites I took confirmed that this would definitely be a go-to during dinner or when seeking strong comfort food.

Overall, this is certainly a cute spot to visit in Brooklyn if you are looking for a little bit of everything mixed into Japanese cuisine. Just a note though - it is cash only so keep that in mind. Oh and yes, be prepared to wait a little; it is a house of small wonder after all.

Photography by Minerva Thai.