NYC $10 Eats: Brooklyn Blend Brings Taste Of Wellness To East NY

BROWNSVILLE, BROOKLYN — If its name didn't give it away, the health food restaurant Brooklyn Blend is all Brooklyn, all the time.

Sandwiches — such as the Saratoga Shrimp or the Montague Mushroom — are named for Brooklyn blocks, a framed map of the borough hangs proudly on the wall, reclaimed pieces of the Coney Island Boardwalk decorate the space, and even the Wifi password gives a tip of the hat to the restaurant's daylong dedication to BK.

Said Brooklyn Blend owners on their website, "We made sure our spaces preserve elements of Brooklyn’s deep culture."

The eatery, a short walk from the Livonia Avenue L train stop, is the second Brooklyn Blend restaurant (the first sits on Tompkins Avenue in Bed-Stuy). The East New York outpost opened in 2020 in fulfillment of Brooklyn Blend's goal to provide underserved areas with "access to quality food options," owners say.

"We are passionate about inspiring and encouraging a wellness focused lifestyle," owners write. "Especially within communities that are underserved and overlooked."

Patch visited Brooklyn Blend's East New York location at 601 Livonia Ave. Friday as part of a new series dedicated to highlighting a New York City speciality: cheap(ish) eats.

We'll be spending about $10 on a meal and reporting back on what found and most importantly, how it tasted.

Here's what Patch found at Brooklyn Based:

Why we went: A Patch reader recommended we try it! Have a recommendation? Submit it here.

What we got: The "Navy Yard Tuna Steak Sandwich," which comes with tuna steak, lettuce, tomato, onion and chipotle sauce on a bun.

How much it cost: $13. Most of Brooklyn Blend's lunch items fall between $11 and $15. Breakfast is also offered until 12 p.m. with prices as low as $8 or $9 for a meal.

How it tasted: The owners West Indian roots are clear in the sandwich's flavorful chipotle sauce, which offers the right amount of kick to a healthy portion of tuna steak — cooked to your liking by the restaurant's chefs. A flaky bun and bed of lettuce, tomato and onion are a perfect compliment to the hearty sandwich.

The Atmosphere: The Livonia Avenue outpost offers several small tables, window seats and a countertop where customers can dine-in. Easy-to-use Wifi (just ask for the password!) makes it a great spot to catch up on work while grabbing lunch — as long as you don't mind bopping to Beyonce as you chow down (this reporter certainly did not). Staff are friendly, accommodating and will bring your food and, if you'd like, free flavored water right to your table.

Would we go back? Absolutely!

Find out more about Brooklyn Blend here.