I saw the metal shroud hanging over Odara last week, and was hoping they were just keeping odd hours. Sadly, it looks like it’s permanent. The Mediterranean restaurant was one of the cozier, friendlier places on that stretch of Graham Avenue (which happens to be on my walk home), and I could never figure out why it wasn’t more crowded.  Was it the location, the prices, or is East Williamsburg just anti-hummus?

Yelp reviewers gave it an average of 4 and 1/2 stars — but it only had seven reviews. (Compare that to the 28 reviews for Variety Cafe, which is two doors down and serves only coffee and muffins, and to nearby Mother’s, which has 26 reviews in just over three months.)

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Photo: Tom Pavlich

Ed Raven, a noted beer importer, recently opened his first retail store, Brouwerij Lane on Greenpoint Avenue. The store, which sells craft beer from all over the world, is a much needed addition to a neighborhood where purchasing large Polish beers at corner stores is far too standard a practice. While the store boasts a large and far-reaching selection of bottled beer, it’s real sweet spot is it’s “Fillin’ Station”, from which customers can fill, and refill, 64 oz. growlers with an assortment of fresh brew.

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