Rule of Thirds Brooklyn

Japanese food is one of my very favorite types of food. There are so many delicious options and incredible flavors I can enjoy as a gluten-free pescatarian. Rule of Thirds in Brooklyn, New York is one of the best Japanese restaurants I’ve had on the East Coast. We went here for brunch the day before we departed for my birthday trip to Bar Harbor & Acadia National Park, and it was a truly fantastic experience on a cozy, rainy day.

Rule of Thirds

Location: New York City, New York
Address: 171 Banker St,
Brooklyn, NY 11222
Food Type: Japanese
Dining Experience: Private, Indoor, & Al Fresco
Price: $75+ per Person
Dress Code: Smart Casual +
Reservations: Recommended
Special Diets: Gluten-Free (not GF dedicated),
Pescatarian

The Ambience

I have loved rainy days for as long as I can remember. That’s part of why I was excited to eat at Rule of Thirds, a restaurant with indoor, outdoor, and al fresco dining options during a thunderstorm. The restaurant’s atmosphere is bright and airy. The private dining spaces are curtained off with long white cotton curtains for a more intimate dining experience for patrons. A neutral color palette throughout the restuarant feels inviting, refreshing, and laid back. The al fresco dining tables, which were under canopies and surrounded by hanging lights, would be the perfect spot for a lunch on a sunny day.

Rule of Thirds Brooklyn Menu & Our Meals

We have now had to postpone our return visit to Japan twice over the past year and half, and we were tremendously disappointed both times. One of the things that has comforted us the most while we have had to stay away from our friends, loved ones, and adventures in Japan is the abundance of delicious Japanese food here in the United States at places like Rule of Thirds.

Tamago Sando

One of the foods Robin missed the most from our time spent in Japan was “Tamago Sando” aka egg sandwiches. They may sound a bit similar to egg salad sandwiches in the US, but the eggs are prepared quite a bit differently, the bread is generally much fluffier, and the toppings are healthier than what we would see here in states. One of the reasons we chose to eat at Rule of Thirds was because they are the only place we’ve ever seen Japanese tamago sando in the US. These were topped with miso mayo, yuzu cucumbers, and optional trout roe. Robin ordered one and said it was as good as the ones he ate in Asia!

Japanese Breakfast Set

One of my favorite foods from our time in Japan was the breakfast spreads that we enjoyed in Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, and Kurokawa Onsen. These breakfast sets vary from region to region, and season to season. Generally, they include things like natto, pickled vegetables, raw egg over rice, miso soup, roasted fish, raw vegetables, and other local specialties. Rule of Thirds Brooklyn also had Japanese breakfast sets, much to my delight. I ordered the Japanese Breakfast Set with roasted fish, and it arrived with nearly all of the classic foods I mentioned above. It was so delicious and it made me nostalgic for our time spent very jet lagged, but so very excitedly soaking in Japan, Japanese culture, and true Japanese food for the first time.

In addition to my meal, I ordered the Smashed Cucumbers. This was a cold dish featuring cucumbers sdashi gelee, topped with shiso leaves, and sesame seeds. This was so refreshing, and was similar to the chilled, plant based spa foods we ate at the ryokan we visited in Kurokawa Onsen village.

Japanese Soufflé Pancake

Our waiter convinced Robin that he also needed to try the Japanese Souffle Pancake. This was the fluffiest, jiggliest pancake we’ve ever seen. It was similar to the one Robin had in Hakone, but at least twice as big. This fluffy hotcake was topped with maple honey butter, a ligth dusting of powdered sugar, and a generous serving of honey. Robin couldn’t finish the entire thing, but he said it was absolutely phenomenal. The smell was so delicious that I was almost tempted to try a bite of it even if it meant putting myself in the hospital. Tragically, it wasn’t gluten-free, so I couldn’t actually try this either.

Final Thoughts on Rule of Thirds Brooklyn

This was one of the best Japanese meals I’ve ever had outside of Japan. Every bite of food was delicious, the restuarant was beautiful, and the sounds of the thunderstorm outside made us both feel very cozy in our dining area. If you’re looking for an excellent, authentic Japanese food experience in New York City, make the trip to Rule of Thirds in Brooklyn!

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