Back Forty

This multi-room East Villager courts nabe dwellers in their late-20s and early-30s, but it's nonimposing enough to draw in their parents, too. Earthy details abound, including lots of wood, mounted farm tools and a subtle landscape behind the bar, while the softly lit white walls and tall windows lend the space a crisp, elevated quality. Chef Peter Hoffman (Savoy) works with locally sourced ingredients and the dessert selection is brightened by seasonal fruit pies made by Hoffman's wife, co-owner Susan Rosenfeld. –

Editor's Tips

What to Drink:: The stout ice cream float ($7) is best appreciated as a novel beer rather than a sweet treat.
Know Before You Go:: Main dishes are moderately priced, but the sides must be ordered separately, taking the bill up a notch.
When to Go:: The restaurant is open for dinner on weekedays (no reservations taken except for large groups), and weekend brunch offers specialties like fried chicken and waffles, steak and eggs, and a bagel with house-smoked trout.

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User Reviews (12)

ambiance	100.0% positive	“Great atmosphere, crappy food.” “Overall, great service, nice atmosphere and amazing burgers.” “But a big kudos on the decor though i wish i would have just looked in from the window.” “While the atmosphere was not bad, the real disappointment came with the food.”
dessert	100.0% positive	“Although the brownie and ice-cream was very tasty, it's difficult to mess that up.”
drinks	86.11000061035156% positive	“Oh, and by the way, excellent drinks.” “We enjoyed the food and the drinks there, but the attitude that we were getting from our server was ridiculous.” “It is a cute restaurant with full bar and very friendly staff.” “great wine, nice casual/laidback feel, good lighting, amazingly FRESH FOOD” “We sat at the bar and the food was terrific and the bartender was friendly and attentive.” “would suggest beers at the bar and appetizers (some squash tempura looked tasty) and that's it.”
food quality	88.19000244140625% positive	“good food, but what happened to the service” “We enjoyed the food and the drinks there, but the attitude that we were getting from our server was ridiculous.” “Very good food” “Tender pork belly dipped in amazing jalapeno jam.” “The half-chicken was incredibly dry and seemed to be more so because of the dusty seasoning.” “Great atmosphere, crappy food.” “We sat at the bar and the food was terrific and the bartender was friendly and attentive.” “It has to be the best fish I have ever eaten.” “The back forty cocktail was quite yummy as well.” “The food was very good and unpretencious.” “All told we still left paying close to $70 for a very mediocre meal.” “While the atmosphere was not bad, the real disappointment came with the food.” “Really juicy flavorful burger” “Price of our meal was not bad at all.” “would suggest beers at the bar and appetizers (some squash tempura looked tasty) and that's it.” “Overall, great service, nice atmosphere and amazing burgers.” “As if the food wasn't bad enough we asked not to be seated by the door since it was freezing outside so the waitress took us to the backroom and sat us by the back door which i think was even colder!” “So unfortunatley, i'm giving Back Forty a big thumbs down on the food.” “The food was simply amazing, and I have been to much more expensive restaurants that didn't roll out FRESH AS EVER food like Back Forty.” “There was no unique flavour in any dish.” “Loved the burger.” “Although the menu of mains is small, we were attracted by the reasonable prices: $9-$20 and the tasty-sounding veggies on the side.” “Although the brownie and ice-cream was very tasty, it's difficult to mess that up.” “must admit the burger is fabulous.”
menu variety	100.0% positive	“when we got the bill, we were so impressed, we ordered about 80% of the menu and the price was VERY VERY GOOD!” “Although the menu of mains is small, we were attracted by the reasonable prices: $9-$20 and the tasty-sounding veggies on the side.”
overall	100.0% positive	“Very nice place.”
service	86.11000061035156% positive	“good food, but what happened to the service” “Overall, great service, nice atmosphere and amazing burgers.” “It is a cute restaurant with full bar and very friendly staff.” “We enjoyed the food and the drinks there, but the attitude that we were getting from our server was ridiculous.” “We sat at the bar and the food was terrific and the bartender was friendly and attentive.” “As if the food wasn't bad enough we asked not to be seated by the door since it was freezing outside so the waitress took us to the backroom and sat us by the back door which i think was even colder!”
value	83.33000183105469% positive	“Although the menu of mains is small, we were attracted by the reasonable prices: $9-$20 and the tasty-sounding veggies on the side.” “when we got the bill, we were so impressed, we ordered about 80% of the menu and the price was VERY VERY GOOD!” “The food was simply amazing, and I have been to much more expensive restaurants that didn't roll out FRESH AS EVER food like Back Forty.”

03/09/11

Terrible deal...

by harveezy

Ive been here on a regular night and just didnt enjoy the food at all. We just gave it another shot for Fat Tuesday and had a prefix meal (for $55). It was horrible. There was a plate of bread, a salad, and rice and beans.... Definetely left feeling jipped. Service was good but the food was only ok at best. Last time we go here.

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06/02/10

Really juicy flavorful burger

by Athena Chang , Citysearch Contributor

Back Forty has been in the back of my end for quite a while but I am just too lazy to walk past my avenue. Although today was an exception. I decided to venture 2 avenues down to see if it is truly what it is known for.

It is a cute restaurant with full bar and very friendly staff. I looked at the menu and it seems this restaurant is slightly on the pricey side although nothing seems outrageous. The burger here is $13 but it has no cheese, no bacon and no fries. Everything extra is $2 more, which I think is a bit too much. I mean seriously, $2 for cheese?!

Anyway I got the burger with fries and my boyfriend tried the burger with bacon. I must admit the burger is fabulous. It is big but not sloppy; juicy but not dripping, flavorful but you could still taste the beef!

The fries are rosemary fries but I couldn't taste too much of the rosemary per se.

We also ordered the fried pork jolt for $4, which I thought was really cheap for an appetizer dish. Then, it came and I know why. Only 3 pieces of fried pork cubes! Regardless, it is really delicious. Tender pork belly dipped in amazing jalapeno jam.

Overall, great service, nice atmosphere and amazing burgers. But I think they charge quite a lot for a burger.

Pros: Juicy, perfect size, great flavor
Cons: Pricey

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06/01/10

nothing you cannot cook at home

by gaiamcraft

I like that this place offers farmer's market cousine, but I wish it tasted better than your average diner. Really even though the brussel sprouts were good, anyone can make them. The burger was fine, but again something that is easily replicated at home. There was no unique flavour in any dish.

The service was aweful; rushed and inattentive. Not to mention that it is so loud here you can barely hear yourself talk. This place gets packed but I'm guessing that's more for the bar area than for the food.

Cons: average food, inattentive service, noise

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07/22/09

good food, but what happened to the service

by patsu78

My friends took me to back forty for my birthday dinner. We enjoyed the food and the drinks there, but the attitude that we were getting from our server was ridiculous. We felt like we were in a Chinese restaurant, being rushed to order and rushed to pay the check. There was nothing genuine about the service. When we tried to split the check between three cards, we were told that the restaurant only splits between two cards. I heard of this once upon a time in another decade, but nowadays? For a $50 meal, we expected a lot more from the restaurant and our server.

Pros: food, beer selection
Cons: rude service

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01/25/09

Great atmosphere, crappy food.

by mchmiel8

I've given Back Forty 2 chances because it's really quite a beautiful restaurant with a great atmoshere but unfortunately both meals were quite under par. The grass fed burger was well..lets just say grass may have tasted better. It was completely flavorless and dry. The brunch i had also was nothing spectacular. I would describe the meals as edible and nothing more. The prices, for what you get, are a bit steep as well. 1/2 a chicken is served on a plate with NOTHING ELSE and that's $16! If you want a side of fries you need to fork over another $5. As if the food wasn't bad enough we asked not to be seated by the door since it was freezing outside so the waitress took us to the backroom and sat us by the back door which i think was even colder! And then our server forgot to bring the ONE DRINK we ordered...i mean come on man...we ordered ONE DRINK...is it really that difficult? So unfortunatley, i'm giving Back Forty a big thumbs down on the food....But a big kudos on the decor though i wish i would have just looked in from the window.

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What People Are Saying About Back Forty

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Editor's Tips

03/09/11

Terrible deal...

by harveezy

06/02/10

Really juicy flavorful burger

by Athena Chang , Citysearch Contributor

06/01/10

nothing you cannot cook at home

by gaiamcraft

07/22/09

good food, but what happened to the service

by patsu78

01/25/09

Great atmosphere, crappy food.

by mchmiel8

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