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$$$ | Greenpoint |
Co-owned by Homer Murray (actor Bill Murray's son), this restaurant gained notoriety when it relaunched with a legendary event featuring the older Murray tending bar. But it's worth a visit, with or without Bill, for chef Sean Telo's creative menus that aim to make tasty dishes while sourcing sustainably and reducing food waste; from tempura-coated shishito peppers to wood-fired pizzas, it's always fun to see what he'll come up with. The urban-rustic design (white subway tiles, wooden tables, hanging plants) is equally welcoming for weekend brunch or a romantic dinner by candlelight.
21 Greenpoint Ave., Brooklyn, New York, 11222, USA
Known For
- Owned by Bill Murray's son
- Creative menu
- Dedication to sustainability
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch weekdays
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Modeled after an old-school salumeria, and run by the grandson of Bensonhurst’s beloved Italian food importing and distribution business, D. Coluccio & Sons, this specialty grocery stocks everything from cheese, chocolate, salami, imported pasta, sauces, bread, and pizza dough to prepared foods and salads. The memorable Italian heroes and sandwiches include the Pork Ridge (with homemade porchetta, Italian Crucolo cheese, and the spicy, spreadable salami called 'nduja) and the vegetable and ricotta sandwich. There are a few tables up front, but the prime picnic territory of Shore Park is just a short walk away.
8613 3rd Ave., Brooklyn, New York, 11209, USA
Known For
- Italian sandwiches
- Many kinds of imported pasta
- Small but impressive cheese selection
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$$ | |
Don't let the unassuming air at this intimate restaurant on a leafy, largely residential block fool you: there is some serious cooking going on here. Case in point: any of the house-made pastas (perhaps cavatelli topped with shaved Parmesan and black truffles); bright, seasonal salads (maybe peach, arugula, and goat cheese); or any of the fish or meat main dishes, like lamb chops milanese or roasted chicken.
132 Greene Ave., Brooklyn, New York, 11238, USA
Known For
- Unpretentious neighborhood spot
- Laid-back brunch
- Excellent cocktails
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch Mon.
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$$ | Park Slope |
Roughly translated as "beyond," al di là has been consistently packed since it opened in 1998, and it's easy to understand why: it serves well-prepared Northern Italian dishes in a cozy atmosphere. The warm farro salad with seasonal ingredients and goat cheese is perfectly al dente; the hand-pinched ravioli are delicious; and meatier entrées like braised rabbit, Tuscan tripe stew, and pork loin scallopini with prosciutto are highlights.
248 5th Ave., Brooklyn, New York, 11215, USA
Known For
- Knowledgeable servers
- Ragù
- Local favorite
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun.
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Among artisanal ice-cream fans, nobody has earned a more passionate following than Ample Hills, the Prospect Heights creamery started by screenwriter Brian Smith and his wife, Jackie Cuscuna. Their Gowanus branch churns with families and ice-cream aficionados, who pack the second-floor terrace and attend ice-cream-making classes. Favorite flavors are Mexican Hot Chocolate and Salted Crack Caramel.
305 Nevins St., Brooklyn, New York, 11238, USA
Known For
- The dark chocolate--based It Came from Gowanus
- Rooftop terrace
- Windows into the production kitchen
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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Handmade pastas, exceptional antipasti, and wonderful brunch have earned homey Aurora a loyal following. Most ingredients are locally sourced, though the mozzarella and burrata hail from Italy. Ricotta, black truffles, and prosciutto di Parma elevate the eggs Benedict at brunch, when the French toast comes stuffed with apple compote and topped with Amarena cherries. The trattoria's main dining room is inviting enough, but angle for a seat in the enclosed garden (heated in winter), where lush ivy covers the brick walls.
70 Grand St., Brooklyn, New York, 11211, USA
Known For
- Rustic space with an enclosed garden
- Authentic Italian food
- Superlative brunch
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$ | |
Head to this nondescript spot at the north end of Chinatown for outstanding bánh mì sandwiches that cost just $5. The No. 1, with several kinds of pork, pickled vegetables, and a mound of cilantro on a baguette that's perfectly crusty on the outside and soft on the inside might very well blow your mind. Order one to go, with an avocado shake, and enjoy lunch alfresco in Sunset Park, just a block away.
4222 8th Ave., Brooklyn, New York, 11232, USA
Known For
- Awesome bánh mì
- Avocado shakes
- Bare-bones decor but very friendly service
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$ | Red Hook |
Original creations like the Brookster (chocolate chip cookie dough baked inside a brownie) and delicious interpretations of whoopie pies, blondies, bars, and cookies keep this sleek bakery and café buzzing. There are breakfast items and a few lunchtime savory selections, too. Buy the cookbook so you can re-create the recipes at home.
359 Van Brunt St., Brooklyn, New York, 11231, USA
Known For
- Creative brownie recipes
- Comfy seating
- Homemade granola (take some home)
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$ | Greenpoint |
When Williamsburg's best European-style bakery wanted more space, it opened a Greenpoint outpost and included a rustic communal table, antique finishes, and hand-painted wallpaper. From house-made focaccia to financiers, there are plenty of mouthwatering choices (including vegan and gluten-free options) for breakfast and lunch. At breakfast you can watch the bakers in the open kitchen as you sip your morning coffee and snack on a raspberry pistachio muffin or Norwegian skolebrød. Soups and sandwiches on freshly baked bread are served at lunch.
105 Freeman St., Brooklyn, New York, 11222, USA
Known For
- Croissants and other European pastries
- Rustic chic vibe
- Vegan and gluten-free options
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Self-described coffee aficionados line up for the espresso and pour-overs at Blue Bottle, which originated in Oakland but feels very much at home in Williamsburg. The former factory building has light streaming in through large windows so the La Marzocco espresso machine seems to shine, and a Kyoto-style iced-coffee dripper, which looks like it belongs in a science lab, is displayed opposite the coffee counter. There's not much seating, so it's best to get your coffee and snack (mmmm, s'mores) to go. Beans are roasted in a vintage Probat roaster in back.
160 Berry St., Brooklyn, New York, 11249, USA
Known For
- Third-wave coffee
- Great pastries
- Cool design
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In need of picnic supplies, lunch, or a take-home meal? Owner Joe Brancaccio has been feeding the neighborhood with his daily-changing menu of sandwiches, rotisserie chicken, and prepared pastas and vegetables since 2010, and the shop just keeps getting busier. There are also house-baked croissants (plain, chocolate, or cheese), imported Italian sodas, and hard-to-find Mexican Coca-Cola (made with cane sugar, not high-fructose corn syrup).
3011 Fort Hamilton Pkwy., Brooklyn, New York, 11218, USA
Known For
- Awesome sandwiches
- Extensive changing menu
- Renowned rotisserie chicken
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Tues.
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$ | DUMBO | Coffee
Artfully disheveled staffers brew coffee from fair-trade and rain-forest alliance–certified beans, while local gallerists and start-up techies flirt over perfectly poured cortados and other beverages at this East River--adjacent café. The loft-style industrial space is filled with antique roasting equipment and ample seating, and also serves pastries and sandwiches.
25 Jay St., Brooklyn, New York, 11201, USA
Known For
- Artisanal coffee
- Industrial architecture
- Pastries and light snacks
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$ | Greenpoint |
Coffee aficionados head to Greenpoint for Búdin’s $10 latte—it's pricey because it's made with Danish licorice syrup, topped with licorice powder, and served on a silver tray. Come during the day for coffee by the Oslo-based roaster Tim Wendelboe, whose beans are favored by top European chefs, or after hours for wine and Nordic craft beer. The back of the shop is stocked with a rotating selection of Scandinavian-design goods .
114B Greenpoint Ave., Brooklyn, New York, 11222, USA
Known For
- A $10 licorice-inflected latte
- Scandinavian design
- Nordic craft beer
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$$ | Bushwick |
The best way to sample the diverse flavors of Ethiopian cuisine is by dining at this stellar restaurant that transports you to Addis Ababa through its decor, music, and above all, it's selection of traditional dishes. All dishes are plant-based and full of flavor, which aligns with most authentic fare, including chickpea-based shiro, lentil wot, and a mushroom version of tibs (a stir-fry with meat and vegetables). It's all served with injera, a sourdough flatbread used to scoop up the various stews, with your hands. The drink menu includes traditional t'ej (honey wine), cocktails, and wine and beer from Ethiopia. The namesake bunna—Ethiopian coffee brewed with cardamom and cloves—is worth a try, too.
1084 Flushing Ave., Brooklyn, New York, 11237, USA
Known For
- Shareable plates
- Traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony and teas
- Live music events featuring Ethiopian artists
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Tues.
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$ | Park Slope |
A charming European atmosphere and a focus on top-quality products like La Colombe coffee, Jacques Torres hot chocolate, and Dona chai (hand-brewed in Brooklyn) make the two tiny locations in Park Slope feel like a special-occasion getaway. Snacks are few but the relatively new red banquettes make it comfy to linger longer. The petite spot at 318a 11th Street is best visited solo.
158a Berkeley Pl., Brooklyn, New York, 11217, USA
Known For
- Cold brew
- Running out of pastries
- Its interior wall mural
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner
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$$$ | Brooklyn Heights |
The key to this restaurant's success lies in its use of ultrafresh ingredients, sourced from local purveyors and presented with style in an upscale, yet casual space that honors its neighborhood's historical roots. A selection of small plates and crostini complement popular main dishes like bison steaks, bone-in pork chops, and homemade pastas. Weekend's offer popular brunch fare including shrimp and grits and "eggs in purgatory" (spicy tomato pomodoro).
127 Atlantic Ave., Brooklyn, New York, 11201, USA
Known For
- Weekend brunch crowds
- Homemade pastas
- Hearty meat dishes
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch weekdays
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$$$ | Park Slope |
The rustic Italian farmhouse decor, Mediterranean wines, and candlelight at this renowned neighborhood restaurant will transport you to another land even before you try the food. The menu is inspired by Italy, with hints of Spain and Portugal, and organic ingredients and naturally raised, free-range meats are used in dishes like braised rabbit or pine nut–crusted rack of lamb. Pastas and baked desserts are made in-house.
68 5th Ave., Brooklyn, New York, 11217, USA
Known For
- Romantic ambience
- Coveted wine cellar seating
- Antipasti selection
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch
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At this coffee shop with roots in Bogotá, the beauty of the space is matched by the quality of the coffee, which comes exclusively from small farms in Colombia. Fresh beans are brought directly to Brooklyn, where they're roasted on-site within a few days of arrival. Take a seat on one of the leather sofas under the skylight or at a table in front of the living wall, and enjoy a cappuccino with one of the homemade medialunas or croissants. The stylish space has books, magazines, and even dominoes—perfect for a relaxing Sunday afternoon.
69 Grand St., Brooklyn, New York, 11249, USA
Known For
- Third-wave Colombian coffee
- Bright, welcoming space
- Living plant wall
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$$ | |
Brooklyn legend Domenico De Marco has been handcrafting pizzas with top-quality ingredients in this Midwood storefront since 1965, and even the locals wait upward of an hour (and sometimes two) for pizza that's a contender for best in the greater New York area. You can order a slice ($5), but you're better off with a whole pie, because the pizza maker waits until there are enough slice orders to complete a pie. The "classic" is topped with sausage, peppers, mushrooms, and onions ($33), but the "regular" ($29) lets you appreciate the pure goodness. The small, worn space has a handful of tables (no table service), so don't expect anything fancy. For a shorter wait, arrive well before they open at noon.
1424 Ave. J, Brooklyn, New York, 11230, USA
Known For
- Legendary pizza
- Classic toppings and quality ingredients
- Long lines
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.
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The Soviet-era childhoods of its two owners inspired the food and decor of this casual coffeehouse that has impressed the neighborhood with its Russian-inflected lunch and brunch fare. Popular dishes include the buckwheat-and-kale salad and the avocado toast, both topped with a fried egg if desired. Cheburashka sweetened coffee, named after a character from Russian children's literature, is the signature drink. It's tempting to linger here, either in the sunny front room or, in warm weather, on the large back patio.
146 Evergreen Ave., Brooklyn, New York, 11206, USA
Known For
- Cheburashka sweetened coffee
- Health-forward brunch dishes with a Russian slant
- Large back patio
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner
