A Little Hope Goes a Long Way

With economies collapsing left and right, natural disasters, that Bay Ridge reality show, climate change and the imminent end of the world in December… Things can occasionally look pretty grim. Luckily, last night no one had to worry about any of that, as Hopeland was here to brighten Brooklyn's day!

This new Italian gem on Atlantic Ave welcomed in the best of Brooklyn Yelp for an evening of good food, good drink, and good friends. With spring in the air and summer on the way, Hopeland was a wonderful reminder that yes, we can relax and enjoy ourselves despite the inexplicable celebrity of the Kardashians. It wouldn't have been a Brooklyn Elite event without a bit of rain, but the gorgeous covered patio was still inviting, and the sweet sounds of Liliana Araújo and her band chased away the gloom and created a mood that was festive and fun.

Behind the bar, Vinnie and James kept the Cavoda Vodka cocktail of the evening flowing freely, and Bill T touted the flavors of fig and rosemary as "delicious and so smooth!" But Brooklyn yelpers are always classy, and no one got out of hand except Rodolfo.

The drinks paired beautifully with the tastes of Hopeland's Southern Italian-influenced menu, which included dishes deconstructed into crostini form like the seared pork sausage with fava beans and escarole and the ricotta with roasted peppers. The hanger steak with pan-tossed artichokes was also a favorite, but it was the creamy cavatelli with a shortrib ragu that rocked the house. Leslie D deemed it "cooked to perfection" and "the best in the city." This Cilento-inspired space isn't just beautiful, the kitchen is stellar as well!

A huge thanks goes out to Roy, Pietro and the rest of the Hopeland staff for welcoming the Yelp Elite with open arms. Whether or not you made it out, make sure you check out all the photos courtesy of Melanie Fidler, and what people are saying in reviews and on Talk.

Cheers,
Peter D and the rest of the NYC Yelp Team