Welcome To Jarro Xiv, 'We're Not Broken English'

When Jarro Xiv quickly opened up in the space formerly occupied by Broken English, at 68 Bergen Street, many in the area expected the new iteration would be much like the old one. But owner Simon Clementi and his general manager Soyini Grant sat down with Patch to set the record straight—and invited the neighborhood to stop by this weekend to get a taste at their official opening party.

First things first: Jarro is nothing like its predecessor.

"I’m really the last remnant of Broken English," chimes in manager Soyini Grant. "Everything else has been changed, from the menu to the management."

Clementi took over the restaurant in November, he says, and began making plans for its swift transformation. The new name, "Jarro the Fourteenth" refers to the 19th Century novelist Giulio Piccini. It is also the name of Clementi's two other restaurants, in Rome and on Lake Bracciano—where, incidentally, Tom Cruise is said to have a nearby home.

"They are all lounge-type places that are very relaxed," describes Clementi, who speaks excellent English but is Italian. "You can come for a drink and a bite with friends or family. It's a neighborhood place and we also always use local ingredients."

Monkey Bar and Colicchio & Sons alum Rodrigo Nogueira has taken over the kitchen, offering up seasonal pasta dishes, house-cured duck ham and other small bites. But while the restaurant on Bergen Street can provide a full-fledged dinner experience, Clementi explained that his plan isn't to turn tables and upsell with additional courses.

"I always say that my best client is the client who comes here after work just to get a glass of water, because it means that they love us," says Clementi, then he laughs. "Well, this is my idea. We’ll see if it works.”

As a result of this ideology, the menu features quite a bit of light fare, called pintxos (like tapas) and has expanded its bar program, hiring a mixologist who is fast at work infusing alcohols and crafting barrel-aged cocktails.

"We welcome lingerers, we want you to come in and relax," says Grant. "It’s not a special occasion place, but you can stop by and have a drink on your way home."

Jarro’s first step in that direction will take place this weekend, when it hosts an opening party on Saturday, March 9. The event will take place from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. and is open to the public. 68 Bergen St., 718-488-3906.