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Williams Brooklyn Restaurant : The Bottom Line
Kuki is a long way for most people to come – we’re talking deepest, darkest Saitama here – but Williams Brooklyn Restaurant makes the visit worthwhile and I will definitely be going there again. There is a decent number of taps, with a good variety of beer available, as well as some delicious food to pair with it all. The only downside to this place would be that it does get very busy at the weekend during the lunch times, so it might be better to either get here at opening for the lunch or dinner slots. Finally, the whole place is non-smoking and there is no table charge either.
Williams Brooklyn Restaurant : Background
Williams Brooklyn Restaurant in Kuki, Saitama, is an American-style restaurant and brewery inspired by the creative energy of Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The business was founded by Keita Shindo, whose connection with America began at a young age and later developed through his interest in music, fashion and New York’s distinctive cultural scene. In his twenties, Shindo travelled to New York to study DJing and spent time in Williamsburg, where he was particularly impressed by the area’s mix of music, art, fashion, food and independent businesses.
Williams originally opened in 2018 as a restaurant combined with an apparel shop. Rather than simply recreating an American diner, Shindo wanted to capture the atmosphere he had experienced in Williamsburg, where different creative influences overlap and produce something new. The restaurant’s name comes directly from the Brooklyn neighbourhood that inspired it.
The business later evolved significantly. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Shindo began looking for ways to deepen the restaurant’s concept and become less dependent on outside suppliers. This led to the establishment of Williams Brewery in 2022, built in the space previously occupied by the clothing shop. The brewery allowed Williams to produce its own beers alongside food, creating a more complete interpretation of the Williamsburg-inspired concept.
Williams Brooklyn Restaurant : Atmosphere & Interior
If you’re unlucky, like I was on the visit to Williams Brooklyn Restaurant, you might find yourself waiting outside if you want seats inside the place. That’s either a good thing – when the weather is nice – or a bad thing, if the weather is bad or blazing hot like on the day I went. It was mid 30s and humid, with the only cover being the smoking area located outside the door. Thankfully nobody was smoking so there was some shade to be had. There is some outside seating for drinking and eating, though that will have to be tried out at a later, read cooler, time of the year.
Stepping inside, you’re immediately welcomed into the world of the restaurant. Brick and warm wooden walls create a cosy backdrop, while artwork, quirky decorations and assorted bits and pieces fill almost every corner, giving the place plenty of character. There are counter seats sit around the open kitchen, making them a great spot to enjoy a beer while watching the food being prepared and taking in the delicious aroma of meat cooking. If you’d rather take things easy, the spacious sofa seats are perfect for settling in with a beer and some food. Inside is non-smoking and there is no table charge either.
Williams Brooklyn Restaurant : Beer & Tap Information
There are eight taps at Williams Brooklyn Restaurant, with the majority of the beers being in-house efforts, though there are some local breweries on tap from time-to-time. There is also a decent variety of beers on tap, with plenty of non-IPAs to choose from. The beers come in two sizes : half (250 ml) from ¥850 and regular (473 ml) from ¥1,250. Finally, there is also a three beer flight that gets you three 250 ml glasses for ¥2,200 – a good deal really. Finally, there are also some beers to takeaway at the front of the style, with 330 ml bottles being used for those takeaway beers.
Williams Brewery itself takes a fairly adventurous approach to brewing. Alongside more familiar styles such as IPA and Session IPA, its beers have included farmhouse ales, brown ales and sour wheat ales, as well as beers incorporating ingredients such as herbs and fruit. Current and recent examples include Night Shift, a 7% American IPA; Day Shift, a Session IPA; Day Off, a farmhouse ale; Nutty Vanny, a brown ale; and Sherry Berry, a sour wheat ale.
Williams Brooklyn Restaurant : Food & Menu Information
The food is very much built around the American diner concept, with burgers taking centre stage. Williams uses 100% beef for its burger patties, with the meat hand-chopped in the restaurant rather than finely minced. The beef burger selection includes classics such as cheeseburgers, bacon cheeseburgers and avocado cheeseburgers, alongside more extravagant combinations such as Gorgonzola and mushroom, BBQ bacon and egg, garlic and onion, and sour cream with jalapeño. There are also fish and chicken burgers, including Cajun mayo fish and crispy chicken with maple, bacon and other toppings.
In terms of the menus, they are available in both English and Japanese, with plenty of information on there to order from. All of the prices include tax so there’s no surprises at the end of your drinking.
Williams Brooklyn Restaurant : Bar Details
- Open : Weekdays and Weekends 12:00 – 15:00 (L.O. 14:30) 17:00 – 22:00 (L.O. Food 21:00 Drink 21:30)
- Closed : Wednesdays / Thursdays
- Happy Hour : –
- Phone : 050-5456-8631
- Homepage (in Japanese) : Williams
- Social Media : Instagram
Williams Brooklyn Restaurant : Location
