I loved attending the opening night party of the new Greenpoint Brooklyn steak restaurant and lounge, Hook & Cleaver. Adorned in all its I’m-so-cool-I–can’t-get –any-hotter with its camouflaged entrance and all! Hook & Cleaver is Chef/Owner Diane DiMeo coming out party after her status was elevated, like Charlie when he went through the roof of the Chocolate Factory, as she has been a contestant on the Food Network’s show “Chopped” and a runner up on ABC’s “The Taste.”

When I asked Diane how did she come to be on all those national TV food shows, she said that she owned some restaurants in Mexico City and the various shows found HER. I guess if I looked like her AND cooked like her, maybe they’d find me too! Diane also told me that the restaurant space, and hard to find entrance are reminiscent of the prohibition era, hence the steak house and the types of specialty drinks that are served.

Enough about the awesomeness of Diane, although one really can’t get enough of her! After you enter the restaurant, you walk into a cool big bar area on one side of the room and white lounge banquets on the other side. It gives you that “I can’t wait to melt right in feeling.” I noticed fun drinks like Tom Collins were being passed around, but my bff and I opted for a glass of the excellent house red wine.

An adorable server with long black curly hair and a fun loving, funky dressed guy (I guess he was a server too?) served delish platters of passed brussels spouts, cheesy cauliflower, bite size pieces of steak, and ribs to us and a happen’ crowd. Man, do I love being at a restaurant opening! Everyone has a camera or a film crew and mic with them, me included.

We were seated at a counter that had an excellent view of Diane and her crew prepping and cooking in the open kitchen. The hugh rustic and aged looking windows, reminded me of the open kitchens that are an LA standard thrown in with Brooklyn bohemian.

So if you’re on the hunt for a new amazing place to spend your evening, and you want to venture, then take a short trip to Brooklyn, 10-minute drive from the midtown tunnel. You’ll love the place for the scene, the amazing food and of course, Diane!

Check out their website, hookncleaver.com as they are only open on certain days and they only take cash.

Happy Eating!