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.

All photos in this article by @parkslopeliving

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!”

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.”

We were delighted by the variety of options on the menu, all of which looked enticing. The chilled beet salad with stone fruit & whipped feta was a refreshing start to the meal. The “Big Ol’ Meatballs” was a favorite with all of us, as was the perfectly crisp-skinned seared steelhead trout paired with broccolini and cauliflower purée. I recommend ordering the bread with roasted garlic butter to savor every last drop of the flavorful sauces. The charcuterie board featured delicious house-made pickles and a selection of meats and cheeses like speck, camembert, and aged gouda. We ended on a high note with a light and refreshing pavlova with seasonal fruits, including figs, gooseberries, and blackberries.

Patry says: “I believe local, fresh, sustainable ingredients can be highlighted as much by being incorporated into ‘the classics’ (a lasagna or a burger) as much as if they are in some dish a diner has never heard of! 

Growing up in the northeast, Italian-American food was as much ‘American’ as anything else and that’s why you can see that influence come through on the menu. The crispy eggplant in particular was directly inspired by something I would eat as a kid when going out to a local restaurant with my parents. Other items are more classically American like the burger, the trout, and the chicken salad sandwich. I think being located so close to the Grand Army Plaza Farmers’ Market is a real boon and I’d love to source from there as much as we can. Our wine program reflects this idea as well; we lean heavily toward natural wine which is typically produced with sustainable practices with fewer inputs.”

The best spot to see all the action is the chef’s table, where you can watch the dishes freshly prepared and served. The service was friendly, professional, and efficient. Final touches are being applied to the backyard, and the brunch menu is being fine-tuned with plans to launch in October.

Patry envisions Dilly Dally as “A really comfortable environment for the neighborhood; a new ‘third place’ where people would want to go on a date as much as they would want to celebrate life events like a birthday or graduation. Our goal is to be a staple for years to come!”

You can visit Dilly Dally at:

626 Vanderbilt Ave, Brooklyn

(Between Park Pl & Prospect Pl)

Below is a preview of the menu (note that items and prices are subject to change) and more photos of the beautiful space: