Carroll Gardens Residents Love to Work

The Grocery, one of the first great restaurants which turned Smith Street into Brooklyn's Restaurant Row, is run by the husband and wife team of Sharon Pachter and Charles Kiely, who are also neighborhood residents. The New York Post did a nice little article which featured them for Valentines Day:

"In Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn, restaurant owners and chefs Charles Kiely and wife Sharon Pachter say their personal experiences drive them at the Grocery, on Smith St., which is across the street from their apartment. 

The menu changes nightly at the charming little spot, but the rule for the couple in the kitchen has stayed constant for a decade. "Everything is a negotiation," says Kiely, "when it comes to every decision, whether it's to do with the kitchen, recipes, plating a dish, portion size or running the restaurant." 

One of their newer negotiations involves caring for the six chickens they adopted last June (but that's another story). "We're both strong-headed and opinionated," says Pachter. "Because of that negotiation, we come up with the best solution."

"People look at the way we work and can't believe that for 10 years we've spent all days and nights together," she adds. "One of the secrets — we take turns ­giving in.""

One lovely feature about The Grocery is their personalized service from this couple, who often come out table side to deliver their creations.

Image from Brownstoner. Wrote this on Sunday, but Diana got it up first, so check out Cobble Hill Blog.