224 Best Restaurants in Brooklyn, New York City

Five Leaves

$$ | Greenpoint

Tattooed servers wait tables at this prime spot on the corner opposite McCarren Park where chefs take fanciful (and successful) liberties with traditional bistro fare. Popular dishes include the Five Leaves burger with pickled beets and harissa mayo, truffle fries, and ricotta pancakes served at weekend brunch, which can be a mob scene but worth braving if you can’t get here early. The stylish place was inspired by actor Heath Ledger, a Greenpoint fixture who had plans to start a restaurant with the owners before his untimely death; funding from his estate went toward opening it. The sidewalk tables are excellent for people-watching.

Fonda

$$ | Park Slope

Authentic and flavorful contemporary Mexican food, perfectly mixed cocktails, and amiable staff define this cozy restaurant—the first of three in New York City overseen by award-winning chef and cookbook author Roberto Santibañez. It's tempting to order by sauce alone: enchiladas with mole, lump crab croquettes with avocado serrano sauce, and poblano peppers with roasted-tomato chipotle sauce. The small space is always buzzing, and there's backyard seating.

Fortunato Brothers Café & Pasticceria

Of the few old-school Italian pastry shops remaining in Williamsburg, this family-run café and bakery is by far the best. The three Fortunato brothers emigrated from Naples in 1971 and opened this Italian bakery in 1976; the fact that they may not have updated the decor since then only makes the place feel more authentic. Glass cases are lined with trays of cannoli, tiramisù, rum baba, sfogliatella, cream puffs, and cookies, all made in-house. The gelato is homemade, too.

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Frankies 457 Spuntino

$$ | Carroll Gardens

A longtime favorite culinary pioneer in Carroll Gardens, Frank Castronovo and Frank Falcinelli's Italian American restaurant has atmosphere to spare between the backyard and former blacksmith stable. Choose from the well-conceived menu's shareable salads (many with vegetables roasted or marinated with the Frankies' own Sicilian olive oil); house-made ravioli; meatballs with pine nuts and raisins; and crusty sandwiches that ask to be shared. The next-door F&F Pizzeria and Franks Wine Bar are both celebrated destinations in their own right.

Gage & Tollner

$$$$

Tucked on a unglamorous stretch of Downtown Brooklyn, this restaurant can feel like a delightful 19th-century anomaly. That's no coincidence: Gage & Tollner actually has been around for over 130 years. Today the tastefully renovated space, originally from 1892, is like a trip back in time, with uniformed servers, dark wood trim, huge mirrors and gas-lit lamps. The menu also feels decidedly gilded age, with sumptuous cuts of steak and classic sides, luxe seafood platters, and old-timey desserts like Baked Alaska. Start the night off with a drink at the Sunken Harbor Club, with nautical-theme cocktails.

Ghenet

Laid-back and welcoming Ghenet is where to dig into Ethiopian dishes with injera, the slightly spongy sourdough bread, made fresh daily. Use it to scoop up fragrantly spiced dishes like tuna or steak tartare, kitfo (finely chopped prime beef, cooked and aggressively seasoned), and the aromatic doro wett chicken stew.

Gino's

Family-owned and -operated since the 1960s, this always crowded restaurant and pizzeria is known for its red-sauce pastas and classic Italian dishes like pasta e fagioli, rigatoni with eggplant and sausage, and spaghetti and meatballs, all served with attentive service in an exposed-brick and white-tablecloth setting. The restaurant is a favorite spot for family gatherings and special-occasion dining. The casual pizzeria up front is counter seating only; walk through to get to the bar and main restaurant.

Gran Eléctrica

$$ | DUMBO

Modern Mexican flair adorns this stylish neighborhood staple for elevated Mexican street tacos, as well as regional takes on octopus, enmoladas (chicken mole enchiladas), and trout in garlic sauce. With indoor and outdoor dining spaces, this family-friendly restaurant also prides itself on having an impressive list of agave spirits, which they use when conjuring up creative cocktails.

Habana Outpost

$ | Fort Greene

If the hearty Cuban sandwich and spicy Mexican corn on the cob don't win you over, the exceptionally potent margarita slushies will. An indoor--outdoor party scene with democratic appeal and crowd-pleasing Latin American fare, Habana Outpost occupies a spacious corner lot that is popular with families, first dates, and the occasional raucous-but-friendly group of revelers. On Sunday nights, May through October, the restaurant screens free movies like Purple Rain,Pulp Fiction, and at least one Spike Lee feature.

Hamilton's

On a relatively quiet stretch of Fort Hamilton Parkway, this gastropub pairs a vibrant atmosphere with classic dishes like mussels in a garlic-and-white-wine broth or decadent macaroni and cheese topped with crunchy bread crumbs and studded with bacon. Weekend brunch options are similarly satisfying: try the Ella Fitzgerald sandwich with grilled chicken, ham, and Gruyère cheese, topped with a fried egg. The beer list usually has at least 10 to 15 selections on tap and a few unusual bottles.

Hazar Turkish Kebab

In a neighborhood full of excellent Middle Eastern food, this casual restaurant stands out. There's a grill for kebabs, a spit for shawarma, and an oven for delicious made-to-order pides (pitas) like the sucuk pide (stuffed with mozzarella and Turkish sausage). The hummus and the falafel here are phenomenal. For dessert, try the kazandibi, a creamy semolina pudding with a caramelized top.

Henry Public

$$ | Cobble Hill

On a quiet Cobble Hill street, this dimly lit tavern is charmingly styled like an old-time saloon, and the antique and wood decor and fabulous zinc bar set just the right tone for simple standards cooked well. Best bets include the grass-fed burger, a grilled-cheese sandwich with apple slices, and the signature turkey-leg sandwich. The wines are from New York State, and the beers skew regional, too.

Henry's End

$$$ | Brooklyn Heights

This neighborhood institution made its reputation serving wonderful food and excellent wines in an unpretentious, high-ceiling, exposed-brick dining room. Meat takes center stage here, with several nightly changing preparations of duck and veal, but there are fish and pasta dishes as well. The annual Wild Game Festival is a showcase of hearty fare, including elk, buffalo, venison, and rabbit. The wine list includes noteworthy selections at all price points.

Hey Hey Canteen

The Asian comfort food and creative twists on standard dishes pique curiosity, and with inexpensive pricing, it's possible to try a lot of items in a single visit at this low-key spot. On the unusual side, there's eggplant fries with shallot aioli, a Caesar salad made with chrysanthemum leaves, and green fried rice with spinach and cilantro. Noodle dishes and Hong Kong fried chicken are main entrée standouts.

Hibino

$$ | Cobble Hill

There’s something almost zenlike about the food at this open, airy restaurant. The traditional and modern sushi rolls, the Kyoto-style obanzai (Japanese tapas), and the smooth, creamy homemade tofu served in small glass bottles will leave you feeling relaxed and satisfied. The reasonable prices and daily specials keep locals coming back for more.

Hope and Anchor

$ | Red Hook

There's a full bar and extensive menu at this convivial diner, but breakfast (served all day) is the main event: jerk-chicken or root-vegetable hash, a breakfast burrito that knocks out hangovers, eggs any style, and pancakes deliciously doused with butter and syrup are some of the choices. There are sandwiches and burgers, too, as well as excellent fish tacos.

Hunger Pang

Each dish is an experience in layered flavors at this American Asian eatery, from the Szechuan pepper "Pangry" wings to the "misotto" (an Asian twist on risotto) to the beignets with salted caramel sauce. Chef Medwin Pang, who grew up in the neighborhood, trained at Balthazar and Nobu. Evenings, the intimate space has a candlelit, loungelike vibe. A large painting of General Guan Yu, the patron saint of Chinese martial arts, oversees the beer, wine, and sake bar.

Hungry Ghost

$ | Prospect Heights

One of Brooklyn's minichains, Hungry Ghost fuels the borough with coffee, teas, and snacks in sleek, mid-century-modern environs. The beans are from Oregon's cult label Stumptown, and the sandwiches and many baked goods are made in-house. This location gets busy, but you can usually find a seat among the communal tables and comfy leather chairs.

Iris Café

$$$ | Brooklyn Heights

Run by two Brooklyn-raised brothers, this bar, restaurant, and café sits on a quiet, cobblestone stretch of Columbia Place in Brooklyn's "Willowtown," a historic neighborhood dating to the 1810s. Sun streaming through large storefront windows illuminates daytime fare that includes baked goods, daily soups, well-made sandwiches, and excellent coffee. Dinner is a more sophisticated affair, with New American dishes and craft cocktails in a romantic bistro setting.

James

$$ | Prospect Heights

Part of the charm of this acclaimed New American eatery is its jewel-box location on a corner of two otherwise residential brownstone blocks. The menu features fresh takes on comforting staples like tender sautéed skate, Angus beef burgers (arguably the neighborhood's best), flavorful roast chicken, and creative brunch dishes. Some ingredients are sourced from the owners' rooftop garden. The small space has a surprisingly ample bar and is inviting, with live greenery and leather banquettes.

Joyce Bakeshop

$ | Prospect Heights

The neighborhood’s friendliest place for a cuppa joe (locally roasted Gorilla coffee) is known for its exceptional pastries—from French macarons to scones to whoopie pies—baked fresh on the premises. Table seating is available in the bright, airy room.

Juliana's

$$ | DUMBO

This authentic pizza joint has been serving arguably the best coal-fired pies on the block, ever since Patsy Grimaldi severed ties with the Grimaldi's location nearby. Juliana's—named in honor of Patsy's mother—has reigned as the Dumbo destination pizza place, and it's a local favorite for homemade soups, as well as their classic white and margherita pizzas. However, don't expect to stop in for a quick slice; it's personal to large pies only.

Junior's Restaurant

$$ | Downtown Brooklyn

Famous for its thick slices of cheesecake, Junior's has been a quintessential Brooklyn eatery since 1950, with a menu that also includes their famous steakburgers and matzo ball soup. Their Reubens and thick French fries are first-rate, as are the potato latkes and pretty much all the breakfast offerings. Sink into one of the vinyl booths and enjoy comforting diner and delicatessen classics in this brightly lit space.

Kashkar Cafe

$$ | Brighton Beach

Try Uyghur cuisine, from the autonomous region of Xinjiang in northwestern China, at this relaxed café. Decorated with tchotchkes and paintings of the Uyghur people—residents along the Great Silk Road that once linked the East with the West—Kashkar serves dishes reflective of the crossroads of Chinese and Arab influences, including manty (lamb and onion-filed dumplings), and Uyghur lagman (noodles with meat and vegetables). The few Uzbek dishes from the historic Central Asian thoroughfare are on the menu as well, including assorted halal shish kebabs. Alcohol isn't on the menu, but you're welcome to bring your own wine or beer.

Kinfolk 90

Multitasking is taken to a high level at this fabulous space that includes a coffee shop, a men's boutique, and a nightclub, all of which ascribe to the same überhip lifestyle. At Kinfolk 90, creative types meet for locally roasted coffee in a former garage decorated with custom artwork. Next door, the Kinfolk store sells street-style clothes and accessories for the urban sophisticate—it's one of two New York shops that stock threads by Japanese designers Bedwin and the Heartbreakers. And then there's Kinfolk 94, where the in-crowd parties in a custom-built wooden geode outfitted with low benches and a full bar; there are DJs on weekends, the occasional live performance, and rotating art shows.

Korzo

The menu at Korzo is Eastern European comfort food with flair, and it's definitely the place to come when you're hungry and you want some very tasty, hearty food. The Hungarian-style burger, served in a fried bread pocket, has a reputation all its own. The "Halušky Petite Hand Cut Potato Noodles" are also highly recommended: think French fries smothered in cheese, bacon, and chives. The vibe here is laid-back and family-friendly, with a TV in the bar up front.

Kulushkät

$ | Park Slope

At this excellent falafel joint, the falafel balls (classic, spicy, or with spinach and mushrooms) are fried to order and everything is made fresh daily. Run by a family of Jewish-Moroccan heritage, the shop serves mostly takeout, but there are a few stools. The owner’s mother preps the Israeli couscous, vegetable toppings, and other homemade condiments. Coconut milk and fresh fruit are used to make the smoothies.

La Brioche

$ | Brighton Beach

Don't be deceived by the French name: this unassuming bakery is Russian-Jewish, right down to its rugelach roots. The wall-to-wall trays are packed with babka (a sweet yeast cake filled with swirls of chocolate or cinnamon and sugar), smetannik (sour cream layer cake), vatrushki (cheese pastries), and honeyed poppy-seed rolls. Slices of cake are sold by the pound and prices are shockingly low.

La Gran Via Bakery

Indulge your sweet tooth with slices of cake at this Latin bakery, open since the 1970s and now run by the children of its founding family. The bakers fashion a silky tres leches cake, but also do quatro leches and cinco leches versions. Open 24 hours, the bakery also makes sandwiches, doughnuts, cookies, and so many other types of cakes.

Le Paddock

Run by a French and French-Canadian couple, this casual corner restaurant with lots of windows and wood accents serves an outstanding brunch, with egg dishes and breakfast pizzas like the Alsatian-influenced Flammenkuech, smothered in leeks, Gruyère, and bacon. At dinner, the Mediterranean menu includes mussels, couscous, and more wonderful pizzas from the wood-burning oven: La Windsor pizza, with prosciutto, fromage blanc, blue cheese, arugula, and fig jam, is a favorite. Try something from the inventive cocktail list.

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