Sunken Hundred is a newly opened Welsh restaurant in the very cool Cobble Hill, Brooklyn. Serving Welsh inspired food such as Welsh cakes, bara brith, ffagodau and an abundance of sea food, Sunken Hundred feels like being back home. That is until you look out of the window and see the streets of Brooklyn and realize, no, I am in fact eating Welsh cakes in New York. It’s a very strange experience, but an amazing one nonetheless.
Since coming to New York three months ago, I’ve been to Sunken Hundred twice. The first time was with a friend and the second time was with my family, for my birthday dinner. (I’m looking for an excuse to go a third time, so if you want to try some delicious Welsh food, please let me know, I know what’s good.) It’s weird that the first Welsh restaurant I’ve ever been to is here in New York. It’s even stranger seeing Welsh words and hearing Welsh accents after being away from Wales for a long time. It’s so nice to be somewhere in New York that almost feels like home.
I don’t want to sound biased, but the restaurant itself is very cool. It has a laid-back, chilled out vibe, which fits the atmosphere of the surrounding area perfectly. It’s decorated with Welsh posters and has a few Welsh books lining the shelves, in case you forget that you are, in fact, in a Welsh restaurant. The two times I’ve been there, it’s been busy. Not so busy that I had to wait very long, but the kind of busy that gives the place some energy. Its busyness is also an amazing sign of how many New Yorkers are interested in Welsh food, which makes me really happy. More people need to try Welsh cakes!
Speaking of the food, they encourage sharing so all the dishes are smaller portions, but designed to share. So you can try everything. And trust me, you will want to. As a vegetarian, I can’t eat most of the sea food, but that does not mean I don’t have any options. There are plenty of veggie options, such as chips with seaweed ketchup, braised leeks and a warm mushroom salad, just to name a few.
After a certain time, the lights are turned down, the music turned is up and the restaurant turns into a bar. Suddenly, it becomes a very cool place to spend the evening -- they might be on the same level of the nearby bars. If you’re thinking of going, I’d recommend the Glamorgan Croquettes, the Autumnal Gratin and of course, the epitome of Welsh food, the Welsh cake. I’m aware that I’ve mentioned Welsh cakes three times within five hundred words, but trust me, they’re good.
Sunken Hundred is located at 276 Smith Street and you can check out their website here.
