Hilton Brooklyn hotel expands food-and-beverage offerings

Diners won’t have to travel farther south than Brooklyn to enjoy great southern brunch fare, thanks to consulting Chef Rob Newton of Hilton Brooklyn New York’s Black Walnut Restaurant. The new brunch launched on May 6 and will continue every Saturday and Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. 

The brunch reflects Newton’s interpretations of the diverse cuisines of the American South and Asia. His roots in Arkansas and years travelling across Asia find expression in such dishes as country sausage and sweet potato hash, fried chicken po’boy and shrimp roll, but traditionalists will also find variations of eggs, pancakes and salads on the menu. Prices range from $12 to $18 per entrée.

Comfortably stylish, Black Walnut has become a new neighborhood favorite since its opening in November 2016, so much so that lunch has also just been added to its hours of operation. As of May 1, lunch is served daily from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. The menu offers another great sampling of Newton’s imaginative fare, from charred shishito peppers and sweet chili glazed grilled chicken legs to a soft-shell crab sandwich and shrimp and grits.  Entrée prices are $15 to $28.

In other food and beverage news, Black Walnut Bar began a new weekday social hour on May 1, featuring glasses of white and red wine (both domestic and foreign) for $8 and domestic beer for $5 between the hours of 3 and 7 p.m.  The bar is already well known for its Brooklyn-inspired specialty cocktails: the Capote (Tito’s, lemon and orange marmalade), The Port Arthur (reposado, green tea simple syrup, orange bitters) and Sunset Park (mezcal, Ancho Reyes, Koval and lime), among others.