Bonnie’s Review

Bonnie’s, the heart song of Brooklyn local Chef Calvin Eng is the Cantonese American dream restaurant. Many of the dishes are based on the flavor pillars of Cantonese cuisine, Shrimp and Pork, but are molded into recognizable American dishes. The Wun Tun Ravioli combine the techniques of Italian American cooking with the flavors of a Cantonese wonton soup. Rather than a classic wonton soup the offering consists of round raviolis generously packed with shrimp and pork wonton filling and rather than broth, an emulsion of butter and citrus lightly glazed the flavorsome bundles. I prefer to eat these with the serving spoon, scooping some sauce and one ravioli in each bite, but you can go the pasta route and sauce and eat them with a fork like a pasta dish if you prefer. The long beans in fermented bean curd garlic butter provide a great vegetable option when dining with groups but they eat like a meal. If you’re a solo diner that needs their veggies I would recommend this option as the sauce provides a savory unctuousness and their hearty texture satisfies. Little pieces of fried cruller are mixed in and soak up the loveliness of the fermented bean curd and garlic butter. Pair these with a noodle dish like the ravioli and you’ll leave full, happy and thankful you had some vegetables. Other dishes that can not be missed include the salt and pepper squid, where the perfectly crispy squid strips (rather than rings) are deliciously salty and a garnish of sliced serrano peppers provides a spicy punch. If you need respite, the house made ranch dipping sauce is the perfect accompaniment. The X.O. Cheng Fun, rice rolls with dried shrimp and pork, epitomize the textural components of Cantonese cuisine. The rice noodle rolls pan fried in X.O sauce have a crunchy outside which gives way to delicate layers of rolled rice noodle, but don’t expect large pieces of shrimp or pork as these ingredients are more of a seasoning than the main feature of the dish. For dessert, the Chow Nai sundae is the best way to end the meal. The sweet and salty combination of vanilla ice cream and malted fried milk is so tasty and adding the pork floss is a must. Don’t skip the pork floss. Start the meal with a few sips of the House Shot, or if your date doesn’t look like their pictures take it down in one and order another; it’s sweet and strong and you wont be sorry. Bonnie’s is not to be missed if you’re dining in Williamsburg, want a fun and relaxed atmosphere and delicious food.