15 Best Restaurants in Prospect Heights, New York City

Yakitori—tasty morsels on skewers—has long been a staple of Japanese cuisine. As the name would suggest, this restaurant takes the age-old concept and runs with it in a faintly Gallic direction, its open kitchen churning out grilled bites on skewers, artfully arranged on plates, or, in the case of the pommes dauphines (crispy spheres of potato), wrapped in paper cones with a delectable dipping sauce. Don't miss the cocktails on tap and delicate desserts, both of which also have a creative East-West slant.

It's hard to miss this charming little café when strolling down Vanderbilt Avenue with its big, faux floral design adorning its doorway. Inside, the decor is just as inspired by flowers and plants, as intended by its Colombian co-founder Camila Soto, who designed it. Her Colombian-influence is evident on the menu (i.e., arepas) of what's otherwise Italian-inspired, thanks to co-founder and namesake Stefano De Martini. Stop in for a quick cornetto or a cortado.

A small, reliably tasty menu of signature ramen bowls headlines this Prospect Heights institution for noodles, buns, and Brussels sprouts in fish sauce. Pork, chicken, and eggs are typical add-ons to any of their flavorful bowls, although any can be made vegetarian. Long waits for a table are the norm, especially during winter months. 

Named after one of the two masterminds behind the design of Central Park and Prospect Park (that would be Frederick Law Olmsted, of Olmsted & Vaux) this restaurant caused a stir when it first opened in 2016, thanks to its penchant for keeping live animals in its backyard. Today, the animals in the garden are gone but you can still sip a cocktail there before enjoying a seasonal, ingredient-forward prix-fixe tasting menu of sophisticated international courses. The airy space with an exposed-brick wall and a cascade of plants is a welcome respite in any season, but gets especially lively during brunch on weekends.

This family restaurant has been described as "a love letter to the Midwest" with elevated takes on Midwestern comfort food. Named after the mother of restaurateur Greg Baxtrom—illustrious chef of several prominent eateries—this kid-friendly restaurant is a throwback to his childhood with adult renditions of fish sticks, burgers, fried chicken, and French bread pizza. It's an expansion of his bakery of the same name, still open for takeout in the backroom daily 8 am–2 pm, which features savory treats like bacon and Brussels scones, and sweet maple crullers that often sell out early.