Mister Cheeks to open in Carroll Gardens
A day-to-night restaurant serving breakfast, lunch, dinner and softserve.
Mister Cheeks, a cheery all-day cafe from two culinary industry veterans, will open in mid-October in Carroll Gardens, replacing what was Enoteca at 347 Court Street.
Mister Cheeks comes from Hilary and Lindsay Rappaport, a couple with strong ties to food, entrepreneurship, and culinary creativity. Lindsay is a recipe developer who spent five years at HelloFresh and the last four years as the Director of Portfolio at CookUnity. Hilary was a food stylist for Blue Apron, and prior to that worked in food styling across brands like Bon Appétit, Refinery29, Whole Foods, and Cuisinart.
The restaurant is a personal one for the couple who moved to Carroll Gardens in September 2021, eagerly anticipating the arrival of their son. (The restaurant’s name is inspired by his cheeky vibe.) “We fell in love with the neighborhood and all the specialty food shops, restaurants, and coffee shops, but felt there was a gap for a good lunch spot and an easy take-out for dinner,” said Linsday. “Even as two trained cooks, there were nights we did not want to make dinner, and just wanted to go and pick up really good prepared foods,” Hilary added.
Mister Cheeks will fill in all those gaps – beginning with coffee and morning pastries, muffins, and scones from a take-out window (making it easy for folks walking dogs and with big strollers), and moving onto a menu of house-prepared foods from day to night – grab and go breakfast items, sandwiches, soups, colorful salads and grains, and their signature rotisserie chicken.
While the menu is still a work in progress, dinner will always include their rotisserie chicken, as well as a vegetarian protein like lentil meatballs, a fish, as well as a chicken schnitzel, with a variety of sides, salads and soups to round out the meal. They will also do deli salads, and a black and white cookie “which we are very excited about,” they said. Being so close to Carroll Park they will also offer some fun snacks for kids, including homemade un-crustables!
The entire menu can be ordered to go, or eaten at one of the restaurant’s 20 tables (a coveted perch is a beautiful booth crafted from an old utility closet), or out in the back garden.
But wait. There’s more. Mister Cheeks will also serve home-made softserve from the take-out window, a nod to Galley’s on Martha’s Vineyard where both women spent their summers. “Softserve is a passion for both of us,” said Hilary. “We both loved Menemsha Galley’s and we’ve also worked at ice cream shops. I was responsible for cleaning out the gelato machine when I worked at Lilia, and I still love it,” Lindsay added. They plan to make one simple flavor like vanilla, and one seasonal flavor, alongside with a roster of fun toppings, offered in cups or cones.
The restaurant was designed by the couple’s good friends Griffin Whitehead of Macrocarpa and Angus McIntosh of Yakka Studio, with branding by Paperwhite Studios. “We loved collaborating with them,” Hilary said. “We feel the love shines.”
“From the moment we arrived, we felt at home. We were embraced by families who have called this neighborhood home for generations, as well as newcomers like us, hoping to make a home for generations to come,” they said.
Welcome to the neighborhood Mister Cheeks! I can’t wait to pop in. When you do, tell Lindsay and Hilary The Strong Buzz sent you.
Mister Cheeks is located at 347 Court Street, between President and Union. Follow along on Instagram for opening date and hours.
Was just wondering about this new place as I walked by it yesterday! Great timing.
Great news!