Playground Tentacles, Then Dumplings Beneath the Train
Explore colorful fish embedded in sculpted arms before settling over Eastern European comfort food. Watch your footing on slippery surfaces outdoors, and expect a noisy dining room where conversation can require raising your voice.
Brooklyn Art and Comfort Food
A Sea Creature Among Pines
Giant Squid in Asser Levy Park has colorful fish figures embedded in its tentacles. The oversized playground sculpture stands on Surf Ave. Children can explore its sculpted details up close. Check footing before climbing, as the surface can get slippery underfoot. Worn paint needs refreshing. The site is open twenty-four hours daily. Friends can make this their first outdoor stop before a meal at Ocean View Cafe.
Comfort Food Beneath the Railway
Potato varyeniki and chicken cutlets are part of the Eastern European menu at Ocean View Cafe. The old-school dining room sits on Brighton Beach Avenue. Sweet kompot can accompany the meal. Train noise overhead may mean raising your voice across the table. A ten percent service charge is automatically included in the bill. Daily hours run from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM. Orders can also be placed by phone.
Sculpted Curiosity Meets Homestyle Cooking
Giant Squid in Asser Levy Park and Ocean View Cafe give friends two different ways to linger. At the first stop, attention goes to colorful fish embedded in oversized tentacles and the sculpture's worn paint. At the second, it shifts to Eastern European dishes such as potato varyeniki and olivia salad in an old-school dining room. The connection is a change of setting, hands-on outdoor exploration followed by a meal, with the elevated train adding its own soundtrack.
