Photos courtesy of Sungold.
Sungold, a cheerful restaurant in the stylish Arlo Williamsburg, serves up a Mediterranean menu perfect for a summer’s day, with salads, handmade pasta, and shareable wood-fired pizzas. Its elegant exposed brick interior, high ceilings, cocktail selection, and tasty fare are a draw for hotel guests and locals alike. The namesake is a nod to the sweet Sungold cherry tomato.
At the helm is Executive Chef Michael King, a culinarian who has worked at the Ace Hotel in Brooklyn, along with Michelin star restaurant Vai in the Upper East Side. King takes pride in using locally sourced ingredients, working with the vendor Eckerton Farms at the Union Square Market, as well as Hudson Valley Farm.
Must try-the Arlo Espresso Martini. Also offered as part of the ‘Brooklyn Happy Meal’, served with french fries and a fortune cookie, during Sungold’s Lucky Hour.
Grabbing a late lunch with a dear friend, we started with the Market Tomatoes dish, offering a fresh burst of flavor, with charred avocado, cucumber, cipollini, za’atar. We also got an order of freshly made hot pita, which was a nice accompaniment. For cocktails, I opted for the divine Arlo Espresso Martini, made with Green tea-infused Grey Goose vodka, Mr. Black Coffee liqueur, Afficonado espresso, cacao syrup, and molé bitters. My friend enjoyed an Angry Orchard.
Sungold prepares a variety of wood-fired pizzas, such as the Arrabbiata (above).
Next, we perused the selection of wood-fired pizzas, with options such as the Arrabiata, with Spicy tomato, guanciale, VT mozzarella, topped with a sunny farm egg. Being meat lovers, we opted for the Cristo’s Seven Star, topped with crispy bacon, pepperoni, and extra mozzarella.
Summertime is tomato season. Sungold’s tomato forward menu features other delectable seasonal cocktails and bites, from the Caprese Martini, expertly mixing mozzarella cheese clarified Ketel One vodka with tomato and basil, and topped with blue cheese olives; to the Maine Oysters, made with a bright, acidic sungold and shallot mignonette, or the Sungold Bucatini – the restaurant’s signature pasta made with a Sungold tomato confit and basil, aged parmesan and chile breadcrumbs.
Appetite sated, we still found room for dessert, and shared a generously sized warm Apple Tart, served with caramel and vanilla gelato. Other choices include Flourless Chocolate Terrine, Orange Blossom Panna Cotta, and Il Laboratorio gelato and sorbet.
Sungold is currently participating in Restaurant Week, running now through August 17. Their Lucky Hour is offered M-Fri, 4pm-7pm, and for night owls, the Get Lucky Hour is offered Friday nights and Saturdays from 1am-3am (popcorn included!) For more information and reservations, visit sungoldbk.com