Restaurant Blotter: La Vara Very Close To Opening, Buttermilk Channel Brings Kids Smiles and More

Carroll Gardens, Cobble Hill and Boerum Hill represent the crossroads of Brooklyn gastronomy. The blotter is our weekly roundup of restaurant happenings, events and deals.

Livin' La Vida Vara in Cobble Hill

As Patch reported back in November, a new restaurant called will likely be opening next week in the space formerly occupied by Breuckelen at 268 Clinton Street at Verandah Place. Owned by the same husband-and-wife chefs Eder Montero and Alex Raij that operate the popular Txikito and El Quinto Pino in Manhattan, La Vara will serve small and large plates that explore Spanish-Jewish cuisine, such as rabbit escabèche, pasta gurullos, flash-fried fish and fideua, among others. Mmm.

Take That, Willy Wonka

Bococaland reports that a new candy store called Sugar Shop is nearing the end of construction at 254 Baltic Street between Court and Clinton Streets. The store's website is decidedly slim on details but a Google search yields the following description: "vintage, modern candy store, old world nostalgic, hard to find candy, local home grown candy." Sweet. Only one concern: It's right next door to .

Children Say Buttermilk Channel is "The Place To Go"

NYEater.com's Kid Critics—Lucy, 8, and Max, 5—paid a recent visit to , describing the fried chicken as "mellow on the inside and the crisp outside tasted like there was lemon. It was amazing and memorable"; the clown sundae was likewise "phenomenal."

Chow Down On the Cheap

Lastly, there are only two days left of ! If you haven't taken advantage of the reduced menu prices, reserve now or forever hold your peace.