Photo Courtesy of Glenwood - Do or Dine Exterior
Spike Lee directed and starred in the film, Do the Right Thing (1989) which had the neighborhood and personalities of Bedford-Stuyvesant as the backdrop. Three of the four restauranteurs, who worked at MoMA’s The Modern, made a collective decision to leave Midtown and to go deep, in Brooklyn. Luke Jackson, George McNeese, Justin Warner, and Perry Gargano (Front 242) conceptualized and designed an American Izakaya aptly named Do or Dine. For months there was no sleep “in” Brooklyn and the attitude to soft open by Labor Day 2011 was worthy of Bed-Stuy’s 90s colloquialism, “Do or Die”.
Photo courtesy of Nona Brooklyn - Culinary Gang
Do or Dine is a restaurant located on 1108 Bedford Avenue. The owners very much respect the neighborhood and were committed to blending in and supporting their creative community. They left the original awning of the former West Indian restaurant and commissioned local artists from a graffiti crew called 907 (Droid, UFO, Oze108, Sadue, Goya, and Gen2) to work on a collaborative production. The food inspired mural was effected by Justin Warner, who contacted the curators of an alternative art exhibition titled, PANTHEON: A history of art from the streets of New York City about graffiti and street art, that was situated across from The Modern at the former Donnell Library Space. Consequently, Do or Dine hosted PANTHEON’s book launch and secured Radeberger Pilsner as a sponsor.
Courtesy of Serious Eats - Fish and Some Chips
Since the opening, their odd yet cleverly paired dishes have intrigued, stirred and dared many to try E666s, foie gras doughnuts, fish and some chips, to name a few. Indubitably, neighbors, foodies, artists, filmmakers, rappers and the press leave with a memorable meal. Do or Dine has been reviewed by Eater NY, New York Magazine, New York Times, Nona Brooklyn, Serious Eats, Spanish Hipster and has been featured on LXTV with host Maria Sansone. Brave it to Bed-Stuy and get their “takedown” on all day brunch Sundays.
Photo courtesy of Spanish Hipster - Foie Gras Doughnut
Cover image: Liz Barclay
