BRENNAN and Carr was founded in 1938 at Gravesend Neck Road and Nostrand Avenue and has sold roast beef sandwiches as a staple from the very beginning. It’s famed for its heaping sandwiches au jus, served with fries and other sides. For years, its combo burger/roast beef sandwich (the Gargiulo Burger) was a secret item known only to regulars. Its hot dogs and desserts such as blueberry pie a la mode are also highly rated. Though it has a popular takeout window, it’s a sit down restaurant with white-coated waiters (as opposed to its opponent in the Sheepshead Bay Roast Beef Wars, Roll n Roaster on Emmons Avenue, which has a fast food vibe). Unlike other venerable beeferies like Peter Luger, which specializes in porterhouse steak (though its lunchtime burgers are also highly scored), you can eat heartily at B & C for $20 or less (though recent inflation may have made that moot).
To be frank, I’m not a big roast beef guy. To me roast beef is relatively bland unless it comes with bread, cheese and gravy. I found the Roll N Roaster roast beef sandwich relatively deficient. However, given the chance I’d take the Brennan & Carr Gargiulo Burger for a whirl.
Unfortunately I haven’t sampled the B&C treats since the 1980s when I had a friend who lived in the area, and I prefer to have someone along when in a sit-down restaurant. Who’s up for it? [Yelp reviews]
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2/16/23