Back in the 90s, before Smith St. was the hopping, restaurant row it is today, Patois (255 Smith St. at Degraw) was the first of its kind. A comfy, neighborhood joint with OK food, but warm ambiance and friendly service. Now, of course, it’s closed. And Smith St., as well as the neighborhoods surrounding it, are full of places to eat and drink–some awesome, some not so much. So it seems appropriate that the Patois space will soon become another go-to eatery, this time following the popular locavore movement and offering French, Mediterranean, and Asian accents on its menu (which will include some pastas). Notice it will not take reservations (a serious pet peeve of mine but also a trend in the hood). Let’s just hope they have good cocktails and a comfy bar, cause if you plan on coming after 7:30pm on a weekend, we assume it will be a nice, long wait for a table.
According to the NY Times,

Joseph Ogrodnek, who left his job as executive chef at Anella in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, in February, has teamed up with Walker Stern, a friend and chef who also was at Anella, to open Battersby, a 30-seat spot for locavore cooking with influences from all over the map. The two were also in the same kitchen at Alain Ducasse at the Essex House, where Mr. Ogrodneck said they fine-tuned their French techniques. They hope that the restaurant will be ready for customers — no reservations — by mid-October. The name refers to the Philadelphia street where Mr. Ogrodnek grew up.