It’s Tuesday at 8pm…Do you know where your chili is?

GUT talks to Char No. 4 owner while taking on their $22 Bourbon & Chili Deal

If you’re like Suze and me, you don’t have kids.  So, the old line from that early 90s commercial designed to frighten adults into good parenting (“it’s 10pm do you know where your children are?”) really doesn’t hold any water.  To us, a good bowl of chill is equally as essential as one’s offspring, especially if it comes with a side of cheddar jalapeno bacon bread and a shot of bourbon—this all for just $22, far less expensive than let’s say, a seven year-old.  As such, turning this catch-phrase on its head to sing praises of Char No. 4’s delicious, hearty and boozy Tuesday night chili special seemed appropriate.  

Suze and I strolled in around 8pm and got a fantastic seat at the bar.  Originally, we’d planned on chowing in the back dining section, but the bar (which had two sides, one facing the bartenders, and one aligning a wall of windows giving the front space an open, airy feel perfect for socializing) felt cozy and spacious all at the same time. 

The folks behind the bar that night were not only friendly, but deft at stirring a mean, wintry cocktail.  Allie poured me a Noreaster that swirled ginger, beer, lime and a touch of maple syrup that warmed me right up, but didn’t send me into a tailspin (it’s only Tuesday people).  Suze opted for the Hot Toddy to get her warmed from the long (i.e. short) trek from the Subway stop.

And, Scott chatted with us about Polish beers and a friend out in Greenpoint who started the Great Hot Dog Cookoff out of her tiny apartment (he wasn’t being altogether random, we’d started discussing Kelso as Char has it on tap).  Both Allie and Scott were also well-versed in the bevy of brown liquors prominently placed on the wall behind the bar. We’d get to try one of them later.

Hands down, the best part about Char’s $22 special (besides the fact that it also comes with a pint of beer that rotates weekly, paired with the bourbon—we scored a medium bodied, smoky German Marzen) is that you can actually split the dish (and drinks!) with your chosen dining companion, leaving room to try some of the other savory offerings as well.  We obviously took full advantage of that option, enjoying pork nuggets, short ribs (so tangy and slow cooked in Char’s on-site smoker they literally fall apart at the touch of your fork) and swiss chard.  The swiss chard is a must, and cuts the dense, intense flavors of the meat quite well, with tangy oregano and lemon zest.

Suze and I were able to sit down with co-owner Sean Josephs (other co-owner Michael Tsoumpas wasn’t around) at the end of the night to learn a bit more about this warm Brooklyn eatery, and what other tricks (besides the on-site smoker and homemade ice cream) the proprietor has up his sleeve:

Char No. 4, 196 Smith St between Baltic and Warren Sts, Cobble Hill, Brooklyn
Mon–Thu 5pm–midnight; Fri, Sat 10am–1am; Sun 10am–midnight.