On Draft: Brooklyn Man Discovers Seattle Teriyaki
The latest additions to Flood's Worldwide
I’m back in Brooklyn after a two-week stint in West Michigan (with a few days in Chicago mixed in). This has become my midsummer routine, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. The longest days of the year are spent with family and friends, grilling on the patio as the sun sets — playing gammon until the afterglow slowly fades to black.
Tonight, I’m lying in Fort Greene Park, reflecting on all the recent hits from the past few months. A few gems in Seattle, the best from Sicily, new finds in Chicago, and of course, everything great around New York City. You’ll be getting a few of these On Draft letters over the next few weeks. As always, every single spot I’ve liked, from all around the world, is added to the Flood’s Worldwide map.
Socceria
Brooklyn, New York — Casual Food, To Drink
Over the past month and a half, I have watched upwards of 60 fútbol matches. The most memorable of them wasn’t the most compelling game (Netherlands’ 5-1 drubbing of Sweden). It was a standout because I was watching on a massive screen in a beautiful, airy room, eating a tasty green chorizo quesadilla and drinking an ice-cold Tecate.
Socceria is a hit; there’s no doubt about it. Throughout the World Cup, it was New York’s hottest club, with queues of people vying for walk-in spots to watch every match and eat Taqueria Ramirez adjacent food. But as we bid farewell to this rollercoaster of a tournament, the question now becomes: can it, will it persist? I sincerely hope to spend a few winter mornings here, watching Premier League matches and going in on chilaquiles.
Nikko Teriyaki
Seattle, Washington — Casual Food
I underestimated the flight from New York to Seattle — it’s honestly a beast. Somewhere around hour four, I found myself with a hunger beyond what granola bars and Sun Chips could satiate. Thankfully, Delta’s surprisingly good wifi allowed me to scout a proper Seattle teriyaki hit for when I touched down.
Not long after landing, I found myself in West Seattle — suitcase and garment bag in hand — face-to-face with the sprawling menu board at Niko Teriyaki.
I popped open the lid of the plastic container, and the smell of sticky-sweet teriyaki sauce sent me into a feverish state. I carefully crafted my first bite — a scoop of white rice, the most deeply caramelized of the chicken thigh slices, a few leaves of slightly wilted iceberg salad, dressed in sweet, tangy, garlicky mayo.
It was, without question, the most satisfying first bite of food I’ve had in years.
Strong Rope Brewery
Brooklyn, New York — To Drink
Living in New York makes it slightly challenging to chill out and have a beer by the water. Not impossible, though! A jaunt over to Red Hook is your best bet for a seaside libation, specifically, posting up at Strong Rope Brewery. My ordering strategy at breweries is consistent and straightforward: find the lowest % ABV beer on offer and order it. At Strong Rope, that’ll land you a crisp, balanced Bavarian Pilsner, which goes down as easily as the waves crash against the Brooklyn shore.
PARK at KIMS
New York, New York — Great Cafes
Every time I leave PARK at KIMS, I depart with not only a smooth, balanced cold brew in hand, but also a burst of inspiration. Everything about the sleek, understated Nolita cafe — the design, the ethos, the way it hums — speaks to me on a deeper, subconscious level.
The minimalist, light-wood modular seating allows a late-arriving friend to join the conversation. The pops of chrome add a modern touch without hindering the warmth. The shutters on the front windows allow just enough natural light to spill into the room.
The finer details are what stand out the most, though. The baristas face the back wall — an espresso machine on the left, a shelf of vinyl within arm’s reach. It’s mesmerizing to watch them work, unfazed by the comings and goings in the cafe behind them. There’s a gentle haze of an earthy, woody incense floating in the air.
The Korean-inspired cafe uses L.A’s Loquat as its daily driver beans and features other Korean speciality roasters for even more luxurious pour-over experiences. There’s matcha and nitro chai on tap — which, despite not having tried them, I’m confident are just as carefully considered as the coffee.
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