Situated on Brooklyn’s iconic Brighton Beach Boardwalk, mere steps from Coney Island, Breva is a new neighbourhood brasserie and craft cocktail bar boasting stellar ocean views.
With over a decade of experience in kitchens including Michelin-starred Forgione in Tribeca, chef Travis McGinty has overseen the brunch, lunch and dinner menus at Breva, with the New American-inspired cuisine offering up a selection of starters, shareable plates, and entrees.
Kick off proceedings with caviar tots with Yukon gold potato, crème fraîche and black caviar, or the colossal shrimp Cocktail with smoked vodka cocktail sauce and lemon; share a section of plates such as fava bean hummus topped with mint and charred lemon and served with grilled sourdough, or the smoked mahi dip prepared with pickled shallots and chives and served with corn tortilla chips. Still hungry? Maybe opt for the Breva double cheeseburger, a sesame seed bun topped with two Black Angus beef patties, aged cheddar cheese and Breva sauce; or the skirt steak frites, a signature offering served with sea salt fries, choice of Caesar or Mediterranean salad, and choice of chimichurri, bearnaise or au poivre sauce.
The cocktail menu features elevated classics inspired by the neighbourhood’s Eastern European roots and Russian traditions around vodka, and as a further nod to Brighton Beach’s predominantly Eastern European population, Breva will also feature various vodkas available by-the-bottle presented in the restaurant’s very own Vodka Book. Each bottle is accompanied by house made fruit compote and seltzer chasers, following local tradition.
Designed by hospitality development company Apicii, and with the aim of creating an authentic setting, their design team restored a century-old building, preserving the original brick window arches and ceiling vaults to showcase its architectural heritage. Next, they added vintage Italian tiles, herringbone wood floors, a honed marble bar top and limewash paint to evoke a modern industrial look.
The dining room opens to the restaurant exterior with floor-to-ceiling garage-style glass doors and floor-length windows, maximising views of the Brighton Beach Boardwalk and ocean. With room for 120 diners in the main area, plus a further 20 in the bar/lounge area, and space for 110 more guests along the boardwalk in the summer months, the focus here is to “bring people together and celebrate the nature of waterfront dining.”
Responding to evolving demographics and a growing demand for contemporary dining options in Brighton Beach, Breva and its offerings look towards the future of the neighbourhood. With elevated cuisine, inventive cocktails, and a respect for the area’s cultural heritage, Breva sets a new standard for dining along this historic Brooklyn waterfront.
Breva Brighton Beach Photography, Eric Medsker.
