The Woodland

From the crew behind the recently (and lamentably) shuttered Vandaag, Woodland has proven to be a welcome addition to Park Slope’s restaurant scene. The menu is lined with adventurous dishes, like Pig’s Head Croquets, Housemade Bratwurst, and Venison Tartare, while the drink menu is relatively tame with reds, whites, ciders, and beers on tap.  But there’s one cocktail, the “Brooklyn Shandy,” that easily stands up to the hearty menu offerings.  Made with apple-infused American brandy, ginger cider syrup, Blanche de Bruxelles (a white beer), and ginger ale, it’s a refreshingly light cocktail with a bright acidity to cut through the delicious fat of any one of these dishes. Speaking of which, we highly recommend the Riesling-Braised Rabbit, or for something a little lighter, go for the Fried Baby Artichokes and Grilled Oysters with Leek Crème.