Dilly Dally Debuts in Prospect Heights this Wednesday!
An Exclusive Interview with Owner Dave Patry
My family enjoyed a memorable dinner at Dilly Dally during its soft opening for family and friends this past weekend. The official Grand Opening is set for this Wednesday (tomorrow!).
The name 'Dilly Dally' immediately catches the eye from Vanderbilt Avenue, piquing the curiosity of many passersby as they peer through the restaurant’s distinctive curved windows.
Owner Dave Patry explains the meaning behind the name: “I am a very playful person and I knew I wanted that idea to come through in the concept of the restaurant. Dilly Dally contains the idea of being comfortable doing nothing or simply enjoying where you might be at any particular moment. We want to be a place where people are content and happy spending time together and making memories that will last a lifetime!”
“I wanted to incorporate an element of nostalgia without being too kitschy or cloying. I think we can all agree that it is hard to appreciate as a child how much your time is your own. As we get older we take on more responsibilities and have less time to just sit and enjoy the world around us.”
Patry is a Prospect Heights local who has lived in the area for over 10 years. He grew up working at his family’s restaurant in Maine for years and always had a passion for food: “It wasn’t until I graduated from college that I really began to think about food with a more thoughtful perspective. I completed the MA in Gastronomy program at Boston University before moving to Brooklyn where I started out working in farmers’ markets around the city. I moved on to a stint in consulting on the financial side of restaurants and other food businesses.
During the height of COVID I worked for an organization called Hunger Free America where I assisted with their outreach programs and worked with college students participating in the AmeriCorps VISTA summer program. It was during this time that I really committed myself to the project of opening a restaurant and re engaged in thinking about what it was I specifically would want to do. Opening a restaurant that was eminently approachable AND thoughtful/intentional became really attractive to me as I looked at the landscape around Brooklyn.”
When the Petite Patate (formerly Maison Yaki) space became available, Patry decided to bring his vision to life.
From the moment you step inside, you're immediately drawn in by the playful artwork and photography (curated by Patry’s wife) that line the walls, the upbeat playlist, and the thoughtful design touches throughout — from the menu to the furniture, and lighting: “I wanted to incorporate an element of nostalgia without being too kitschy or cloying. I think we can all agree that it is hard to appreciate as a child how much your time is your own. As we get older we take on more responsibilities and have less time to just sit and enjoy the world around us.”
