Maison Premiere

The Cocktails were great. But I had a horrible experience the entire time due to the staff.
The person I was with started figuring out the cocktail menu by asking one of the bartenders what he personally likes to make, the bartender looked back and said «thats a stupid question» walked away and did not return for sometime. My friend apologized for any offense that might have been taken from his question and proceeded to complement the space, The bartender made us our drinks and immediately handed over a check WITH OUR DRINKS. I have never felt like my money was worse spent, this place showed me was the opposite of hospitality is.

I really like this place. Really good cocktails and food menu. Music is great too.
Really professional service and beautiful design.

M-​F 4−7pm $ 1 oysters with about 20 to choose from. The drink menu can be overwhelming seeing as there as three of them (two of which are double sided) but they’re very tasty and presented well.
I mostly enjoy the old time feel that is demonstrated by the décor and the staff’s uniforms. It all comes together to make you feel as if you’re in the 1920s.
Weekend brunch is also delicious but happy hour is 11 – 1 on the weekends.

Maison Première-​If you like oysters and hate Disneyland… I mean Manhattan go here
As much as I talk non-​sense on hipsters in always frequenting hipster establishments. Thereby I could be a hipster unintentionally? Nah.
After having my soul ripped out by 1 whole day in midtown Manhattan I had to get out. So I headed to Brooklyn for the Maison Première Oyster happy hour.
There were 8 – 10 varieties of Oysters on the Happy Hour menu.
There was a line pre-​open and the seating area filled quickly upon opening. There’s a really cool garden area. Service was great.
The crowd is typical of Oyster Happy hours: well informed tourists, people who enjoy backgammon, Bernie Sanders voters, a lady with a triple stroller but only two kids and me judging them.
Who are you too resist?

Love this place!
Came in here as one of our stops during NYE with some friends. There can be a bit of a wait, but they have a system where they can text you when your spots are ready. Once inside, completely fell in love with the charming décor. The place has a vintage/​1920s vibe, and the staff are dressed the part in their dapper vests and bow-​ties. The cocktails we ordered were all strong and delicious, and nothing on the drink menu was a disappointment. Looks like they have an absinthe specific cocktail menu as well, but didn’t get a chance to sample those yet (next time!). We ordered a slew of oysters — their oyster menu was a bit overwhelming and daunting for an oyster neophyte like myself, but the staff there was very knowledgeable and helpful. Most of the oysters were in the $ 3.5−5 range when not there at happy hour, so it’s easy to run up quite a bill if you want a lot of ‘em (like we did haha).
What left the best impression for me was the service. Each staff member we encountered was super friendly and affable. We felt a little bad because although we were by no means dressed like scrubs, looks like they were having some NYE event where people were dressed to the nines. Regardless, the service we got was excellent and different staff members came by to chat it up with us various times throughout the night.
All in all, a great time at Maison Première. Would definitely be back for HH one of these days and to take on their absinthe cocktails. Highly recommended!

Top! The best experience I’ve had with oysters. A must go in Brooklyn. The best is going for the happy hour when the prices are lower and you can try over 30 different types of oysters for 1,5 each.

The hype is real.
My boyfriend and I came early on a weekday around 4:15pm and was told that there wasn’t any open seatings until after 5, we placed our name down and head off elsewhere to kill time. So beware, do reserve ahead of time.
We sat along the bar near the front of the restaurant, which wasn’t a big deal for us as long as they can serve us cocktails and oysters. The waiters, waitress and connoisseurs here are so professional, they were patient, kind, understanding and very helpful. I honestly thought I was at a 5 five star Michelin rated place.
The boyfriend and I ordered basically every oyster on the happy hour menu (ranging anywhere from $ 1-​$ 1.85), it was delicious and the plates were organized in a way where you can tell which specific oysters you were eating. Besides the oysters, their cocktail menu was quite extensive — 80% absinthe related. Heaven? Indeed.
The absinthe here are dripped and cut with sugar and water. They are absolutely divine. If you appreciate liquor, absinthe is definitely one of its kind that you need to try. One highlight of the night was the Old King Cole Martini which was prepared tableside, very delicately concocted and mixed. Everything was explained to us and the cocktail was worth the show. By the way, the olives were amazing.
So, if you want to impress a date or be Mr./Mrs. Bigshot, Maison Première will not disappoint.

They really go all out to capture that saloon look, down to the details of the bathroom. Their absinthe cocktail menu is loads of fun and I was impressed with the international caliber of a fairly brief beer list.

Voilà un bien joli endroit que «Maison Première «dans le quartier de Williamsburg au nord de Brooklyn. Un lieu pas forcement bien indiqué car l’entrée sur Bedford Avenue est plutôt anodine et la seule indication serait un panneau avec l’inscription «Bar et Oysters «. Impossible de lorgner à l’intérieur et probablement que si l’on né connait pas le lieu, on passerait devant sans s’arrêter.
» Maison Première «fait surement partie des lieux qui ont le plus de charme dans la ville de New-​York car l’on y retrouvera une ambiance feutrée, romantique et presque d’un autre siècle. Il est vrai qu’il y a un côté un peu français car tous les serveurs sont habillés en gilets noirs comme dans des brasseries du siècle dernier mais ce qui est le plus marquant c’est cette douceur qu’il règne avec ces lumières très tamisées à la limite du sombre.
On entre dans un établissement dont la pièce centrale est un magnifique bar autour duquel on vient principalement déguster des produits de la mer et surtout des huitres. Un bar et comptoir en arc de cercle, au centre les barmans qui préparent de savants cocktails et à l’arrière les mareyeurs qui ouvrent toutes sortes d’huitres.
Un lieu avec un côté également un peu colonial avec ces ventilateurs au plafond et ces murs un peu délavés comme si la chaleur moite aurait fait virer la couleur blanche initiale a quelque chose de plus jaunâtre.
Au fond, quelques tables de style bistrot, des lumières en forme de boules, des miroirs un peu irréguliers en raison de leur ancienneté. Une ambiance presqu’un peu magique.
C’est donc face aux mareyeurs que nous prenons place, devant un comptoir avec une plaque de marbre circulaire sur laquelle se trouvent verres et serviettes blanches.
Dans un autre coin, une jolie cheminée avec un vieux portait sur le dessus; tout est fait pour créer une ambiance presque historique dans en fait une maison de brique de Brooklyn.
La carte des vins est exclusivement française et évidemment les prix né sont pas des plus bas. Un choix d’un Pouilly Fumé à 15 USD le verre et nous voici ensuite face aux menus des fruits de mer. Coquillages ouverts devant vous et présentés dans des cuves de glacé pilée.
Et c’est là que cela se complique car le choix d’huitres est vraiment très large et les espèces totalement inconnues pour les européens. Une douzaines d’huitres avec des «Shooting Point Salts «de Hog Island en Virginie, des «Chesapeake Gold «de Fishing Creek dans le Maryland, des «Wellfleet «, des «Duxbury «, des «Standish Shore «et des «Cotuit «toutes du Massachussetts. Difficile de vraiment voire les différences peut-​être moins marquées que le françaises avec une palette de saveurs plus uniformes allant du peu au fortement iodé. Accompagnées ici avec soit du citron, d’un vinaigre à l’échalote ou de raifort.
Suite à cela, des «Moostone «de Point Judith Pond de Rhode Island. Des huitres plus grosses et plus charnues. On pourra commander également des clams ou alors des plateaux de différentes tailles.
On viendra ici probablement pour déguster une très belle sélection d’huitres plutôt inhabituelle et tout ceci dans un magnifique décor qui pourrait rappeler également la Louisiane des années 1900.
A noter que plus tard dans la soirée, il semblerait que l’on puisse manger un menu de dégustation et en été même manger dans une courette avec son jardin.

I travel from Harlem to Bk just for this place.
They make a mean Pimms cup, and the absinthe cocktails are to die for. In terms of food, the oysters and seafood towers are delicious.
I usually always sit in the back bar area (I love cracking jokes with the staff while they shuck). They also have a lovely garden in the back that’s great to sit in during the warmer months. I’ve always had good service here– unpretentious and friendly.
Definitely one of my favorite date spots.

They’re well known for drinks and oysters, especially during Happy Hour for $ 1 oysters.
To start off, they have a huge selection of oysters to choose from, not matter what you get, you’re immediately fall in love with them like I did. Fresh, crisp, and just downright delicious, you cannot go wrong with whatever selection for oysters. I’m definitely making a return to this establishment because it’s worth a trip. The décor is also vintage inspired, like 1920s era, with the bar set up, lighting, interior design. There is a wait for parties larger than 2 people, so keep in mind when coming, especially during happy hour.
They’re also well known for their absinthe drinks, didn’t feel like drinking then, but will try it next time I visit.

OK, I will be first to admit I cracked enough jokes about Maison Première and lines waiting at their doors. But truth be told, I love this place.
So, I think it’s time to proper review.
Last time we came here was to celebrate very special birthday weekend — it was part of days-​long restaurant crawl in Brooklyn and beyond.
After short wait at the bar, with drinks served, we moved to the back, to oyster bar. It’s quite cool to sit there and watch fresh oysters to be shucked for you. Fresh! — they are fresh and amazingly tasty.
Their oyster selection is absolutely the best I encountered in NYC and in my travels — they seem to have good scoop on both west coast and east coast oysters, not to mention specials.
Bread is fresh, and drinks are very, very well done. And décor is hawt.
Seriously, do it.

For my first time to Brooklyn, both my friends in the neighborhood, and my boss (a former Brooklyner and a major player The Restaurant Industry) strongly recommended my love and I go to Maison Première for our first real dinner in the city. I managed to get last minute reservations on a Friday night for 4, and be seated right next to the Oyster Bar and the lovely patio entrance, surrounded by romantic candles, lending to a really amazing atmosphere.
Then we indulged on raw oysters that were fresh and fantastic, a little horse radish and vinegar to give bite, and plenty of plump sea bodies to chew on… my heart yearns to be back there eating them now!
The cocktails were great, service was excellent (our servers were actually very sweet and fun), and the food was delicious. We ordered a second round of oysters for dessert! I wish we could have stayed all night, but we had dancing to do at a nearby club. Damn.
$ 300+ for a dinner for 4, which is expected for such a lovely dinner and experience. Whenever I return to Brooklyn I will insist on another beautiful evening with oysters at Maison Première!

What’s better than brunch with $ 1 – 1.50 oysters? Answer: nothing.
I came here on a Sunday around noon with a party of 3, and we were able to be seated right away. They have a drinks bar, and an oyster bar, and you can be seated at either one if you’re interested. The nice thing is that they have hooks for coats under the bar. The place is very pretty and traditional looking.
From 12 – 1 they have $ 1 – 1.50 oysters. It’s only for a small selection of all of the oysters they have, but it gives you maybe 7ish to choose from across east and west coast, which is plenty.
For brunch, other than oysters — I’d recommend the brioche French toast. It was unbelievably good.

I really, really wanted to give this place 5 stars but our waiter kept running off with the menus after taking my order and before my dinner companion had a chance to tell him what he wanted. We had to ask if we could keep the menus at one point because the portions are small and we were still hungry. We felt like maybe we were being rushed out so that they could turn over the tables quicker.
The wait for the bathrooms were extra long because there are only two stalls for this super busy restaurant.
Overall, this is a beautiful restaurant, the cocktails are excellent and the oysters, crudo and scallops were really fresh. We would’ve ordered more but we left to eat and drink more somewhere else.

Apparently the normal weekend night wait here is something like 18 hours after adding your name to the list (or actually two hours, we were told). We arrived on a Saturday night following a private party that bought the place out through 11pm, so MP stood largely empty for us and the rest of the night. It has a truly beautiful, snap a picture worthy main bar area, back oyster bar, and backyard, plus great drinks: I tried both absinthe and a pisco sour and was impressed. The only drawback was that our bartender was overly serious and sort of a jerk, but maybe he was having a long night. Were it the United Nations, I might understand. We’re just talking cocktails though, so chill out, dude!

Spending my husbands money is a hobby of mine. Maison Premier made this almost impossible for me to do!
First Davinda, you’re the worst. Upon arrival on a Sunday night, yes without reservations so what, Davinda told us it would be 45minutes for my husband and I to be seated, we didn’t care where (bar, oyster bar, table). Okay we’re cool with that, did she care to take our names, NO, maybe a cell number? NO. Why? Because she very rudely turned and walked away! Okay, hello obvious Busser, is it possible for us to stand and have a cocktail? No this bar ledge around the wall is purely decorative. Okay cool. So I stood there awkwardly by the door as it was chilly outside and I only had a shirt.
Here comes Malaika, I thanked all restaurant gods for this lovely server. She asked why I was standing there and if I needed help. I explained to her the situation, she then looks into the iPad, and walks to the back of the restaurant. When she came back in less than 2mins she asked if the oyster bar was okay for my husband and I. Yes Yes! That’s perfect. We were seated given menus asked what kind of water, I said none I was purely interested in alcohol. I then looked around, guess what 2 out of the 5 tables in the back were empty. There were also 3 empty stools at the oyster bar. So Davinda, why did I have to wait 45 minutes?
Whatever, we asked to move to a small two top from the oyster bar and Malaika had no problems. We looked over the menu and we’re ready to order, but guess what? There was no server around! 15 mins later, guess who comes to our table… Freaking Davinda, ugh this is going to be bad. No hello, welcome or intro, whatever here’s my menu here’s what I want. Oysters out in 15mins, Yay super fresh and delicious. Still awaiting cocktails. 10more mins yay cocktail and absinthe. Hubby def is not a fan of absinthe, so he wanted to order something else, I drank the absinthe. Looking for our server, no where to be found but the creepy manager is, he’s directly adjacent to us and staring, probably thought I was gorgeous. Anywho very nice once to the table and suggested an amazing locally brewed beer. Thanks!
After I basically swallowed the oysters, my husband isn’t keen on them, I wanted more. Hey Davinda can I order a whole lobster? No you may not hungry possibly intoxicated young customer. Why? Because the kitchen closes at abruptly 11pm… although it was 1052. I can play the same game Davinda. She walks away says she will try okay, 30 seconds later I stop and ask to add another full lobster… She says no. The kitchen told her that my single lobster was the absolute last thing they were making. I didn’t know they had to make the lobster, all they had to do was cut it open and throw it on top of ice. Pricks. Where’s the manager now?
We’re pretty much tired of being abused, where’s my server I need my check. Nowhere!!! 15 mins later the Busser came by to pour more water we asked him for the check. Our server emerges out of no where and brings our check without even the smallest hint of a smile.
We pay and still leave %18 tip. Obviously she must not be making any money, that’s the only way to explain this disgusting display of the worst service on earth.

I used to love the Maison Première happy hour, so much so that I basically timed my life around trying to get to Williamsburg by 4pm to beat the lines and guarantee myself a seat. The cocktails were delicious, if a tad too sweet, and not happy hour prices, but more than offset by the piles and piles of cold, delicious, briny oysters that I could partake in.
Sadly, this is no more. The East Coast oysters are still $ 1/​pc during the HH but they’ve raised the prices of their West Coast oysters which makes it much less appealing. While I still love the variety of the oysters they have on hand, I am deeply saddened by their HH changes.

I love this spot. It’s a bit pretentious in some ways (service, atmosphere, reservation/​table policy) but it’s still Brooklyn and people are still pretty down to earth.
The pastrami sandwich is BOMB. Always get it!!!
The last time I was there I also got a croissant (warm, flakey and delicious) as well as a poached egg which was perfectly done. Nice side jobs.
The oysters are awesome and beautifully presented. Can’t go wrong there.
We also got some absinthe which was delicious (they have a pretty extensive selection) but was a little bummed that I wasn’t part of the water-​sugar-​pouring-​over process (they do that behind the bar). Bummer!
But yeah love this place… not inexpensive (mostly because the atmosphere just makes you want to get many rounds of drinks and eat lots of oysters and hang out) but always a pleasure.

The oyster happy hour here is SOLID. Maison Première provides a selection of about a dozen or so oysters for $ 1 or $ 1.25 a pop, and a few others for normal price. I tried «one of each» on the happy hour menu and threw in a few clams for completeness.
They arrived, ice-​cold, with two sauces (vinaigrette and cocktail sauce) and horseradish and lemons. The server was courteous enough to tell me which oyster was which (complete with a list), allowing me to do a side-​by-​side taste comparison of all the oysters. They were fresh, clean, and ranged in flavor from briny to melon-​like to sweet to mild.
The appetizers and entrees here are also pretty good, specializing in seafood but with understudies of chicken and meat. Razor clam is always delicious as an appetizer and sea whelk toast is as delicious as it is unique and a conversation starter. I also ordered the venison, which was slightly stringy in texture but absolutely rich in flavor. I should’ve stayed with sea but gambled with land (and lost).
But for the oyster happy hour alone, I would give this place 5 stars. Perfect.
Pros:
— Oyster happy hour is one of the best in the city: huge selection, nicely shucked, good condiments, clean, ice cold.
— Interesting happy hour composed plates like sea whelk toast and razor clams with apples
— Good selection of wines and cocktails
Cons:
— Very busy during happy hour and can lend to long waits
— Land entrees are not the speciality of the house. This is a seafood joint!
— Alcohol can get pricey during happy hour (no specials!)

Believe the hype.
A year ago: tried coming here on a Saturday night, with the naïve notion that I’d be able to get a table. Two hour wait.
Last week. came early on a Saturday night, threw in our names, was quoted two hours, and then got a call back in 15 minutes saying a table was ready.
So yes, I finally got to step foot inside the famed Maison Première. I got to order from their amazingly extensive list of oysters. I got to sip on their finest absinthe cocktails (which led to my eventual blackout). But most of all, I can finally tick this place off the bucket list.
Let me tell ya, the guys behind the bar dress the part because they’re great mixologists. Loved everything I tried, but especially the Arsenic and Old Lace.
Of course, no visit to MP would be complete without a dozen oysters (or two dozen).
First round: Chesapeake Gold (MA), Irish Point (PEI), and Fanny Bay (BC).
Second round: Island Creek (MA), Kumamoto (Humboldt Bay, CA), and Skookums (WA).
They were all amazing. I haven’t had Island Creek oysters since I was in Boston, and the last time I had Skookums was in Nashville (long story). Loved the Kumamotos and the Irish Points as well.
Hard to believe that they can get away with charging $ 1 apiece for weekday happy hour.
Sadly, we had to pay full price since it was a Saturday, but they were totally worth it anyway.
Making it a point to come back for happy hour, where I will plop down my wallet and tell them to feed me dollar oysters until I explode (or until HH is over).
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EDIT:
It only took me less than a week to come back for Happy Hour. The hostess even remembered me. Like last time, we were quoted a long wait for a table, but it actually ended up being 15 minutes. I think maybe I just have the best luck when it comes to table reservations. Speaking of tables, they gave us a pair of tables by the right side under the mirror. Very cozy in the booths, and no risk of people bumping into you as they walk by.
We wasted no time in ordering oysters. Most were $ 1, some were $ 1.25, and then the market price list was also available. Still the best oyster HH selection I’ve ever seen.
Went with two dozen because why not? Favorites were probably the Effinghams (BC), Chesapeake Golds (MD), and the Holy Grails (MD).
But really, the main reason I had to write a review update was because I also had dinner here and it was AMAZING. Because of the two dozen oysters the two of us had, we wanted to have something a bit lighter for dinner. Well, we totally failed by getting the bread w/​seaweed butter. It was basically three types of bread — a thin French baguette, two thick slices of something wheatey, and a mini boule of some sort. It was a LOT of bread. The butter was delicious though. So creamy, with just a touch of flavor from the seaweed flakes.
But the star of the show was definitely the venison tartare. I can’t even begin to describe how amazing it was. The taste of the raw meat mixed with the raw smoked egg on a toast point was a wonderful mixture of flavors. Nice gamey flavor in the meat, but not overwhelmingly so. LOVED it. Will definitely come back for this dish.
Also had the sweetbread and scallops. An interesting take on surf and turf. I thought the sweetbreads were just okay, but the scallops were amazing. Among the best I’ve had in years.
Of course, the service was impeccable, and the weekday waitstaff is also exceedingly beautiful and/​or handsome.
Is there anything Maison Premier doesn’t excel at? I’m willing to come back over and over again to find out!

Una de las maravillas de Williamsburg. Maison Première es un cocktail bar chiquito sobre Bedford que a mi entender, tiene la mejor propuesta de cocktails del barrio. Además de la coctelería, su fuerte son las ostras; es súper normal ver la barra atiborrada de fuentes de ostras, ya que tienen una promo bastante interesante para los que gustan de ese plato.
También tiene como plus el servicio de Absinthe, con una fuente decorada con un Napoleón que es una delicia a la vista. La atención es excelente, pero le resto una estrella porque nunca me tocó un doorman que no tuviera modales bruscos. Hay que visitarlo si uno anda por la zona, es una gran experiencia.

Grosse envie d’huitres arrivée sur la cote Est, mon ami m’a amené ici, l’endroit préféré de son proprio de tout Brooklyn!
On entre dans cet élégant bar resto comme on entre dans une autre époque, celle du quartier francais de la Nouvelle Orleans fin 19e siecle, vieux bar en bois et marbre, tabourets vintage, lumière tamisée, ventilo au plafond…
On commence par des cocktails, faisons exotique, allons à l’absinthe! Apparemment ils ont la plus grande selection d’absinthe premium à New york. J’ai siroté un Lady Liberty ($ 11) très frais.
Pour le diner, il y a une carte divisée en trois: les chilled on ice, crudo et small plates entre $ 11 et $ 21.
Ils offrent un très grande variété d’huitres de la east à la west coast à la carte qui leur vaut leur réputation, mais aussi d’autres fruits de mer. J’ai pris des huitres pochées, servies dans une soupe de poireaux et pommes de terres, et truffles ($ 16). Un délice.
Mon ami a pris du crudo, du black bass cru, c’était très bon et fin aussi, mais là ou le bat blesse: $ 15 pour quelque chose comme 3 tranches.
Le dessert était top aussi: «French Breakfast» $ 9 coffee-​chocolate pot de crème et mini madeleines aériennes encore toutes tièdes.
Contrairement aux grosses quantités auxquelles on est habitués aux US, ici, c’est très light, meme si nous avons pris des mets de la carte du «diner» et le dessert, j’ai pris un burger au bar d’apres!
Une belle expérience globalement mais à faire en début de soirée en apéro, ou en orgie d’huitres avec leur happy hours à $ 1 en semaine de 16 à 19h!