Meet Clover Hill, Brooklyn’s Tiny But Mighty Michelin-Starred Restaurant Reimagining Fine Dining

It’s often said timing is everything. That’s certainly the case with Clover Hill, the tiny but mighty Brooklyn Heights restaurant that just earned a Michelin Star.

After shuttering a few months after opening due to the pandemic, owners Clay Castillo and Gabriel Merino had time to dream about how they could shape Clover Hill’s future. What they already loved was the restaurant’s address and design. Hidden away on a hushed, tree-lined block in Brooklyn Heights steps away from the East River, the cozy 700 square-foot space with just 30 seats graced with vintage art and books, dark wood flooring, and pressed tin ceilings is reminiscent of Brooklyn spots that nudged the borough out of Manhattan’s shadows and into its own light as a dining destination (the original DuMont and Marlow & Sons come to mind).

While Clover Hill maintained the same charming aesthetic when it reopened earlier this year, Castillo and Merino brought a new chef onboard to help the restaurant find its footing again. Raised in Detroit and trained at some of the country’s most lauded establishments (Eleven Madison Park, Benu, Jônt), Executive Chef Charlie Mitchell came in with an acute understanding of fine dining. Perhaps more important, he wanted to create a more inclusive and approachable experience without sacrificing creative ingenuity. “I’ve been in those dining rooms with standoffish service,” explains Mitchell. “I want to reinterpret the fine dining experience, while keeping things fun and intimate.”

Though Mitchell’s plates are positively pretty, every ingredient is intentional and in service of flavor first and foremost. He comments, “I’m focused on execution and creating a good product. If it’s not delicious, then it doesn’t matter.” You’ll also notice the prominence of seafood, which Mitchell favors for its sustainablity and the challenge of preparing it well because “there’s such a small margin for error.” During a recent visit, for example, I tucked into a bowl of crispy Madai Snapper fillet in a pool of dashi fortified with smoky ham hock, and brightened with shiso leaves. Deeply savory, wholly original, and influenced by multiple cultures, it’s exactly the kind of food a lot of us are craving right about now.

Despite the recent accolades, perpetually full house (reservations are a must), and being the first black chef to run a Michelin-starred restaurant in the metropolitan area, Mitchell isn’t swayed. “We work hard, and are proud of what we do,” he says. “We’re not going to be gone tomorrow. We want to establish ourselves as a real destination, one of the great restaurants in New York City.”

For a totally unique dining experience: Turo, the world’s largest peer-to-peer car sharing marketplace, teamed up with Clover Hill with a special offer available every Saturday November 5 through December 18. Book Joulez’s 2022 BMW iX on Turo starting November 1 to unlock the package, which includes a restaurant reservation, immersive chef experience, and hotel stay with your electric vehicle.