Just ate there last night for a birthday and the food was great! Everything was really tasty.
The atmosphere is cute and small, but unfortunately the service was lacking. Our waitress seemed to have an attitude and was not very helpful. Normally bad service wouldn't drop a rating down to 3 in my book, but even when we asked to shut the front door due to some bad smells wafting in from outside they were not accommodating and refused to do anything.
Everything about this place was excellent, except the food wasn't seasonal at all. Â It was excellent food -- roast chicken, pork face, date cate -- but in the heat of July it wasn't refreshing. Â The staff obviously knows this; our menu was labeled "Winter/Spring 2013."
Perfect for a drink, or a steaming dinner on a cool night.
It was excellent till 3 years ago, It went down these couple of years,
Atmosphere is still cool, Staff were much cooler 3-5 years ago, It feels like getting worse those year or two. Foods,some of them are great some of them are somehow okay. I have been trying around dinner time and experience things are not that good.
I think the chief's quality is not that great at dinner.
Brunch is still good good music and relaxing food as it was.
That's my opinion. I used to love this place sad that Its getting little off from how it was.
What is all this fuss about??? I had read and heard so much about it that we went there, two consecutive nights. First time because we heard nice music coming out of it - live concert. Bad luck we arrived just as it was finishing. So we decide to go there the next day and I then order a glass of wine, which arrives in a soda glass. When I complain about it, the guy simply says: welcome to brooklyn it's like this here. But wait a second, two weeks before I was in Oyster and it was the contrary, ridiculously big and inappropriate glasses for wine. So what is this? Are wine glasses a fashion that you could agree or disagree with? so tomorrow what about you try to eat your fries and burger with some chop sicks!
Review Source:A nice place for a drink and a bite with a friend or a date.
The food is mostly above average...although I will say I didn't really like their mussels. There was something off about them.
Everything else is quite tasty however you can find similar fare all over Williamsburg.
The draw of the place is the interior which is decorated like a cafe from 1920s Paris.
I think my first sentence sums it up best:
A nice place for a drink and a bite with a friend or a date.
Here it goes... I was here about a year ago and I absolutely LOVED Moto. So much in fact that I made a point to return this time we were visiting NYC, even though it was very far from where we were staying... amazing food, awesome atmosphere. I thought it was a gem. Unfortunately this visit (for brunch) was such a let-down. The ambiance was still there, but the food was off. The espresso machine was broken, the card machine was down, the waitstaff seemed disinterested. My girlfriend did not like her food at all. Mine was alright, but not up to the level of amazing that is was before. It was also hard not to notice that the music playing was really quite bad, and that the country pop song "I need You Now" was played twice while we were eating. Huh? Anyway, what a let down! I'm hoping that this was just an "off" day somehow. I rarely leave reviews like this, but I was very disappointed.
Review Source:Just watched a documentary: Eat This New York, from 2004. In it, the story of Moto and how it came to be is portrayed. Seeing how much effort and sweat went into creating such an amazing space made me appreciate it even more. It's clear that every inch was curated with love and skill. I've got to get back to NY!
Review Source:As if this place needs another review. Superb atmosphere, great crowd, and delicious food. This place tends to get crowded at night but if you're there to have some wine and listen to some classy jazz then worry no more, the host is so welcoming and sweet. My friends and I arrived on a Friday night for dinner and drinks and it was packed. We asked the host if he could get us a table for 5 and he said it might take an hour and he would call us when the table was ready. 10 minutes later my phone is ringing and a table is waiting for us, with the host waiting  outside greeting us to our table. Such great service for such a busy place I was very surprised. If you haven't been here yet, then it's definitely  worth the trip, not your average jazz bar.
Review Source:Okay, I have to give credit where credit is due. I was brought here on a first date for dessert and I have to say this guy is a secret fatty with tastebuds that match my own. He didn't tell me where he was bringing me or what I'd be eating but when the warm date cake (maybe he likes puns?) came out I was floored. I love bread pudding (I didn't tell him this) and the date cake has almost the same consistency. It was hands down the best dessert I've had. It doesn't taste like dates but it has a sweetness that reminds me of the golden Malaysian style cakes at dim sum parlors.
When we visited on a Thursday night, they had live music and the atmosphere was cozy but not pretentious. I guess it's a good date spot with date cake. I'll be dropping by again, with or without the aforementioned guy haha
Used to be my favorite restaurant in Williamsburg. Current chef is awful. Music is still great, service bad. Cheese plate was a pile of cheap cuts of the same kind of cheese (no selections!) Next to some stale bread. Chicken plate was undercooked. The best date cake that was once warm and melty in your mouth is now hard and piled on. Tragic turn for a formally amazing restaurant.
Review Source:Breaking my heart that I am giving this place 4 instead of 5 stars.
Reason for taking away 1 star
- I never though I will find a place more cramped than Chavella's ... but there you go  Moto it is!  (Maybe I need to stop complaining about space in NYC)
- Waitress was just not looking happy..... laxative anyone?
Somethings which were not the best but don't  bother me much, there is definitely a wait on busy nights, menu is written on a blackboard on wall.
Now the good stuff
- Food is DELICIOUS ... just DELICIOUS.
- Live music
- Great wine collection
- Our host Matthew was so nice and just happy to be doing his job that I really did not mind the rude waitress.
- This place is cheap, I would probably pay more for the same food.
- Free postcard with the cheque!
Effortlessly cool, Moto is a place I could eat at all the time. The menu has so many appealing appetizers and entrees, plus a panini selection with some of my favorite combinations (brie, pear, and mixed greens gets me every time!). If you dine at Moto, make sure to order the date cake for dessert! Check ahead of time for the live music line-up as well.
Review Source:Easily one of the best places in the city. Â Every time I've left NY to go live elsewhere I dream of their amazing Date cake, awesome and sometimes quirky live music, and its uniquely Brooklyn atmosphere.
I started going to Moto years ago and while I've left NY for long periods of time, after every return it is one of the first places I visit. It reminds me of the reason I love New York and its cultural vastness. I've had quite a few second dates in this place, and I find that it is a good litmus test for a person I'd want to get to know better.
To summarize, I'll just say this. If you're down-to-earth and want uncompromising taste without a pretentious atmosphere, and prefer a fun out-of-the-norm experience, this is the place.
If you're unsure, I'd still recommend you go just for the experience. But go only with an open mind otherwise you'd be wasting your time. You know, now that I think about it, it reminds me a bit of one of my favorite cities, New Orleans. Only it is a grittier, darker take on it.
This place is creepy! Â But in a good way... Â It has a European ghost bar feel to it. Â I love the ambiance and the food is fantastic. Â This place is definitely on the expensive side but the atmosphere and the great service is worth the price. Â They even have live musicians once in a while it seems. Â I've tried a few different dishes there now and I must say my favorite is the mac n cheese which comes with apple sauce. Â But save room as the Date Cake for dessert is what tops the experience here. Â I don't know how some people feel about the train tracks above the restaurant but I think it just adds to the spooky atmosphere.
Review Source:Imagine paris circa 1850. Warm ambient, yellow street light gently filtering through rustic, foggy windows enveloping a bustling restaurant filled with intellectuals, bike enthusiests, and locals with live music in the background.
That's the atmosphere at Moto.
I've never experienced anything like it and I can't wait to go back next time I'm in the neighborhood.
And the food's pretty good too :)
I frequent Moto but I figured it was time to write a review! And a little update for yelp, Moto finally takes credit cards! This place is my go to neighborhood spot. They consistently have amazing food, a wonderful ambience, and great service. Sometimes the live music gets a little too loud and intense, but I suppose that's all part of it.
The other great thing about Moto is that it is quality food for the right price. Servings are medium-sized and the food looks and tastes great. Their wine and beer selections are also reasonably priced, and they offer a wide variety.
This place is great morning, afternoon, or late night. A little hard to seat a lot of people at once, but they do the best they can. I like it most when I'm just with one other person or a small group.
enjoy!
Extremely good food at a great price point. We had marinated olives, a huge and lovely arugula salad, mac and cheese. For dessert -- get the date cake! To be honest it didn't sound that exciting, but it was truly delicious. The waitress suggested getting the cinnamon sugar donuts to dip in the caramel sauce from the cake...and she was right. Crazy, but delicious.
Amazing atmosphere and flattering, sexy lighting. Friendly service was unexpected but very much appreciated.
It seems like it's owned by some brothers. I hope they continue to be personally involved with the business because you can tell they've put heart and soul into the space and menu.
What a hidden find! Â As soon as you exit the J/M Hewes Station, you come across this quaint cafe right by the train underpass, but as soon as you step foot into Moto, you are surprisingly welcomed with such a romantic ambiance and cool vibe.
We came here for a light dinner and the food was excellent. We arrived on the early side, so it was even more romantic. Â
- The braised portuguese octopus was so delicious and cooked to perfection - absolutely tender and the flavors were amazing. It was accompanied by fingerling potatoes, harrisa, parsley, picholine olives, and lemon - a great complement to the octopus. Â
- The carnaroli rice risotto with fava beans, market mushrooms, & parmigiano reggiano was so delicate yet rich in flavor. Â A hearty dish, perfect for cold winter nights, definitely makes you feel so warm and happy.
Moto also offers a variety of wine by the glass and beer menu. Â We just missed the happy hour, but we were still happy with our beverages. Â Also, this place does accept credit cards, so perhaps this was a recent addition. Â No need to worry!
I came here on a first date. The place looks like a hideaway from the outside, but the inside is so mellow, beautiful and they had live music from a 3 person band, it seems like they always have live music. The music was happy, with a guitar, singer who also danced a little and another instrument that I cannot remember.
I tried the cheese platter which was small but good because the prices are not outrageous. My date tried the whole steamed artichoke with saffron alioli. I had never tried whole artichoke but it was good. I had german beer which was pretty strong. I really loved this place, it had really good lighting and the server gave us our time but was not too far away. The service is good. There is only 1 restroom but the wait is worth it because it is not your typical bathroom. I would come back here to decide how much I like it.
Somewhere between walking down the steps from the J-M Hewes Station, we entered a slipstream into a parallel universe and Moto was there waiting for us on the other side with its vintage yet timeless aesthetic, dark and moody lighting, and autumn branches creeping up the walls and ceiling. It's bigger on the inside.
We were travelers of a sort. Some came to Brooklyn a few years ago, some came a few days ago. There was a midwest meat eater, a vegetarian, a food fiend, in various states of employment and financial stability. Finding a common place for a group of five could have been a disaster, but someone said Moto, and we all were happy with the results.
A group this size means a table on a Friday night will be hard to acquire, but the bar was welcoming with its range of local to Belgian ales. A group this size also means it's possible to order almost one of everything on the menu! The salads and starters were all great. Of the mains, we really liked the octopus, mainly because we were expecting it to be chewy, but it was tender. Like al dente pasta. Delish!
Firsts are in the $5-9 range. Mains are in the $12-15 range, and considering the quality and creativity, this seemed dead reasonable. If you get the lamb ribs, it's a good idea to order something additional as a side, because the lamb ribs are just that, a platter of ribs. Order some extra napkins too, as the ribs are quite drippy from lemon juice and rich rendered fat.
Music: wonderful! It was half the reason we were there. Live, unamplified music every night. Loud enough to enjoy listening, and not loud enough so we can enjoy our own conversation too. On this night it was Tamar Korn, whose style I can vaguely describe as Old Time Speakeasy Jazz. We were sitting maybe 4 feet from her and could still talk amongst ourselves or to the table next to us when it came time to high-5 the gal sitting there for paying her bill with a Hello Kitty credit card. Oh yeah, btw, Moto now takes credit cards.
Good company, good food, good beer, good music, it's no surprise I felt the happy fuzzies throughout the cold night - it warmed my heart.
Finally, if there's more than three people in your group, order two date cakes and maybe also a round of grilled doughnuts. The first date cake went so fast, it is henceforth renamed: speed dating.
I went here for the first time with my roommate as a celebration for moving into the area. I had heard great things and really wanted to try it out.
The whole night, it was just my roommate and I. The mood had dimmed lighting and was super romantic. Though we weren't on a date and it didn't matter.
We sat down and the waiter came to us and was very nice. I forget his name, but I remember his service was superb. Anyways, I ordered some wine and wanted something special to remember the night.
We ordered the steamed asparagus and poached egg as a started and it was super yummy. It was super fresh and light, but had touch of savory-ness with the egg yolk.
For our entrees, my roommate ordered the stuffed quail which he absolutely enjoyed and I had a special scallop dish was just melted in my mouth.
The highlight for the night would be the warm date cake with toffee sauce and fresh cream. I could not stop eating it. It was so good, we ordered a second one. -_-.
I'm so happy that this place is literally down the street. They play great live music and really have an amazing atmosphere. I would definitely come back to try other things on the menu for a special occasion.
Grade: A
One of the best meals I've had in awhile. Â I had the lamb ribs with a side of mashed potatoes. Â I wish that a side was included because a plate of meat does not a meal make but it was delicious so no real complaints. Â For dessert my friend and I shared the date cake and donuts, both delicious. Â
It's right near the train so it is noisy and the door being open didn't help but nevertheless the atmosphere is lovely and romantic. Â Can't wait to come back
As an avid pursuer of paranormal activity, I came here while I was in New York as I heard there was an apparition that resided at Cafe Moto. I did not let my intentions be known to anyone, but during a simple trip to the bathroom I discovered all the evidence I needed to know as to whether the management of Cafe Moto believes the place is occupied by an apparition. In faded chalk, on the bricks leading down the stairs to the bathroom I saw a version of the famous poem "Antigonish," which starts something like "...I saw a man, upon the stair, I saw a man, who wasn't there." This poem is often used by those not well versed in paranormal activity to frighten ghosts and spirits from a location. In my experience it seems to do the contrary, as the unwanted spirits either get emboldened, or encouraged that their efforts to be noticed are successful.
I won't go into all the details, as there are many that I have uncovered in my research of this location. I will say this: before this property was Cafe Moto, apparently it was an office space of some sort with bright fluorescent lights and an ugly foam drop ceiling, a far cry from detailed vintage look of the place today. In this location apparently a person was murdered and this upset spirit never left this location, as sometimes happens to spirits if a body meets it's end in a terribly violent manner.
Oh, and about the restaurant. I am not one for vintage, archival music. If you are going to be an artist I would rather you be an individual than badly ape what was popular 80 years ago. Be yourself. The food was great and the decor was nice as well. Mostly I give this place 5 stars as it is very rare to find a place with an active ghost or paranormal spirit, much less have an encounter with one as I did the night I visited. Highly recommended and I will definitely be coming back.
Moto is an example of a place that just got it right.
The date cake and salami with bulgarian feta are my favorites. Also fantastic is the meatloaf when they have it as a special.
Pretty much my favorite place in the world.
If it was big enough to host my wedding, I totally would have had it there.
They just opened another bar called St.Maize in south w.burg which will eventually have food too, I can't wait.
The atmosphere is unexpected considering the neighborhood, but I find that's the case for many Brooklyn restaurants. Walking in is like being transported to the 1930s. Great atmosphere and great place for a date. The space isn't that big, but we didn't have to wait for a table because we came for an early dinner.
Service was great, the wine was great, but the food was just ok. We tried to order the artichoke appetizer, but it wasn't in season (we last visited MOTO in the winter). I tried the mussels, and they were good but nothing to write home about. My date was happy with her salad.
I'll definitely be back, maybe for brunch or drinks during a live performance. I wouldn't make the trek out this way and expect to be blown away by the food, but the ambiance of the place is something worth coming for.
Cash only!
4 stars for charm and affordability!
Tucked beneath the williamsburg bridge, Moto is an intimate and quaint little restaurant that offers french food at very affordable prices, friendly service, and live music every night. The food is somewhat inconsistent, and ranges from ehhh to fantastic. I'd highly recommend the mussels, though, as you get a huge and surprisingly filling serving.
thank god for places like this in east williamsburg!
Really cool French spot right off the Hewes JM stop. The sign is just a vintage rusted bicycle and the interior as others have mentioned is steam punk. There are different musicians each night that go along with the whole theme. When I went there was a woman singing and playing a light up accordian!
I had the lamb ribs with lemon and a side of vegetables. The ribs were fatty which didn't bother me, and my server was kind enough to let me know beforehand. I split the Date Cake with a friend and now I know what all the hype is! I left feeling satisfied, and not fatty gross full. I wish they would sell liquor, as they only have beer and wine. Martini please. Anyway - they have super friendly service and the vibe is really great. Definitely will be coming back with friends.
"What is this doing here?'
I was pleasantly surprised to enter this nifty little cafe in Brooklyn. Â It's always very impressive to me when I find an owner to take such pride in their establishment. Â The tables, chairs, lighting, adornments on the wall, bar that forms the room's centerpiece, all sync to create a unique atmosphere that is reminiscent of a1930's French cafe that has been sprayed with a contemporary flair.
What's unique
- Steampunk decor
- Balanced cafe and bar theme that totally works
What's cool
- The waitress and staff.
- Clientele
- Where it is in BK (hint there is not much else around here)
What could be better
- This place screams for mixologist quality cocktails. Â They would fit perfectly here.
- Bathroom was little smelly and less than clean.
I didn't sample the food or see any performers, so I can't tell you about them. Â And that's all I got.
Now that my proximity to this fantastic little establishment is coming to an end, I'm growing a bit nostalgic and may wax a bit sentimental in my review.
First of all, I find it hard to believe I haven't written a review of this gem of a spot already. Atmospheric with a Victorian/French steampunk/bicyclist theme, this spot occupies a strange little corner in a neighborhood that offers very few charms. I have to say, I was thrilled with that I found when I pulled open that heavy rusted door that first weekend I moved in down the street almost a year ago.
Come in for lunch! They serve that now. Cash only, as always. But it gets really lovely in the evening when they turn the lights down low. Then, you're someplace that's not Brooklyn anymore and  there's a warm, sticky date cake with real, unsweetened cream that will shut you up for several good minutes. The rest of the food is decent, but I'd say Moto is more of a spot for ambiance, perfect for lovers and good friends--gather in circles at the bar or elbow-to-elbow over a small candlelit table--and just listen to that live band playing their old timey jazz.
For a space that is sitting conspicuously right below the JMZ train line, this place manages to have a seriously good vibe, decked out in depression era everything. Â Clearly they went all out to set the decor just right, from the bar, to the glass windows, to the walls and tables. Â It's a real sight to behold in this otherwise out there neighborhood.
On the food side it isn't necessarily a vegetarians paradise, but there are options. Â From mashed potatoes, green beans with sun dried tomatoes, and faro mixed vegetable plate. Â Also the ommegang was very good. Â The waitress was super friendly too, and that certainly makes a difference.
5 stars for hardest bar to find for a non-Brooklyner. Â 5 stars for awesome desserts and drinks on menu. Â Another Adventurous Dining excursion. Â
After stuffing our faces we were reluctant to walk the 15 minutes to get to Moto and our field scout only heard us complaining that it was taking forever and that we were lost, but she fought through it and got us to Moto. Â
Moto got 5 stars immediately for having the Black Velvet (Guinness and Champagne) on the drink menu. Â I order it from time to time, but have to tell the bartender/waiter(ess) how simple it is to make. Â Moto had it ready for me, waiting. Â
We shared some desserts as well, some homemade donuts, ganache and DATE CAKE. Â The date cake was awesome. Â I was expecting not to have much of the dessert, but after I had a bite it was game over and we had to order more date cake. Â
MOMMMMM, DATE CAKE!!!
Oh yea, they had live music too. Â
Will be back for sure.
Visited Williamsburg over the weekend and Moto came as a recommendation from a friend from Chicago who had been. Â She was right on the money with the recommendation. Â
We started with the donuts. Â They were warm and delicious. Â A great start to brunch!
We also had the cheeseplate of the day, and some people in our party had the daily special which was eggs in tomato sauce. Â It looked amazing! Â I opted for a tomato, prosciutto and pesto panini and wasn't dissapointed.
I would recommend this place for its charm, ambience, good food and service.
omg Date Cake!!!
That's all you need to know about this place. We ordered three out of the 4 desserts including date cake, the donuts, and the ganache. The donuts are skippable, ganache was pretty good, the Date Cake was mind blowing. Ok I'm definitely hyping it up way too much again but what's another way to say it was freaking awesome but still go in with moderate expectations?? We each had a bite and immediately wished we had ordered three Date Cakes instead. We were stuffed from dinner, but it was so good that we contemplated for 2 full seconds whether we should order a second, caved in, and devoured another.
On to the place itself. I don't think the restaurant is located in the best part of Williamsburg. The menu even mentions that a car service is located next door and encourages you to "get home safe". Â It's also not marked - it's just the unsuspecting restaurant on the corner. You then pull away the heavy black curtains and you are transported into a prohibition era style bar/restaurant. They have live music going on every night and we enjoyed the jazz that was playing on the Tues night that we went. There was a full dinner/drinks menu as well but we didn't order any typical dinner items. A couple of my friends got Black Velvets. Not a big fan personally, but they also had other beers/drinks on the menu.
Will definitely return here for that delicious cake...
Cash only!
Surely the gods were smiling down upon us the other night, for my favorite little dark & rusty den in Brooklyn had a sweet table for two close to the curtained doorway, front doors opened to allow in a hint of the unseasonably warm air and the rumble of the trains as they passed by above. Such a wistful sound for me and the perfect soundtrack to yet another fine night at Moto. It had been a while...
I was overjoyed that it wasn't insanely packed as it has been every other time I've visited (they do *not* take reservations).
My favorite dining experiences always involve a bunch of small plates and copious amounts of vino. Moto has a great selection of both to crowd your tiny tabletop (vino of choice: a superb Valpolicella). I had forgotten how perfectly seasoned everything is here, especially the lentils which are beyond delicious. Ordered up my usual favorites: olives & walnuts and the steamed artichoke with saffron ailioli. And then there was the polenta, heavenly and creamy, topped with vegetables (it comes with pancetta, though I left that off).
And then... the date cake. Oh yes. The date cake. I don't really need to say anymore, do I?
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