c/o NY Mag

253 Grand St
Brooklyn, NY 11211
view map
718.387.8783

Cuisine: Seafood/Raw Bar
Our Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★
Cards: All Major
Price: $$$$
Hours: Mon-Thurs 5:30pm-1am; Fri 5:30pm-2am; Sat 11am-2am; Sun 11am-2am
Booze: Full Bar
Subway: L to Bedford Ave., J,M,Z to Marcy Ave.
Menu: Click Here
Delivery: No
NY Mag says:

Barrio Chino owner Dylan Dodd and former Balthazar bartender Danny Minch opened this Grand Street bistro and raw bar where bow-tied waiters present stiff cocktails and sturdy American dinner fare. Pale cream walls are scattered with the occasional black & white photograph of burly fishermen or wooden sail boats. Dark wood booths and a restored vintage bar compound a somewhat over-calculated atmosphere, though the new-olde look hasn’t stopped local scensters from thronging the bar on weekends in search of gimlets or dark n’ stormies. Thankfully, it’s not all preening at Walter Foods. Dinner more or less delivers, with nostalgic appetizers like pigs in blankets and substantial mains including a 1 1/2 pound lobster and respectable Filet mignon with show-stopping crushed potatoes. A smattering of more strong sides—the roasted Brussels sprouts and beer-battered onion rings in particular—round out the experience. Be prepared to settle in with your drink and wait for a table during the dinner crunch, or stop by at around 11. Like the neighborhood, this restaurant stays up late.

The New Yorker says:

Gone are the days when Williamsburg was defined by cheap, funky places like Oznot’s Dish and Planet Thailand. As the Zeitgeist caught up with itself, waterfront glass towers were erected, artists were priced out of the neighborhood, and dressed-up joints like Dressler and DuMont, Hotel Delmano, and Marlow & Sons moved in. (This wasn’t a bad thing, culinarily speaking, but it was more expensive.) And thus a couple of Manhattanites, Dylan Dodd (of Barrio Chino) and Danny Minch (a former Balthazar bartender), opened Walter Foods, part bistro, part old-school chophouse.

At the handsome bar, cordial gentlemen dole out an eclectic list of well-crafted classics such as the tropical cliché the Singapore Sling—a mix of gin, pineapple, and Luxardo, a maraschino liqueur—and a bourbon-heavy mint julep, just right. The bar is a fine place for a clever appetizer, like the pig in a blanket (chorizo wrapped in pastry) or the spot-on buffalo lollipop chicken wings. The dining-room ambience is pure New England, with its dark wood-beamed ceiling, antiquey prints of fishermen, and leather-cushioned booths, and the waiters, in their starched white aprons and bow ties, convey an air of formality that is propagated by the menu of the chef, Justin Ernsberger (Clinton Street Baking Company). One night, the raw bar offered pristine Beau Soleil, Hama Hama, Malpeque, and Blue Point oysters, king crab, and plump shrimp cocktail. But the clam chowder had a wan broth of buttered milk, and the blackened shrimp was oversalted. Lobster salad was luscious with avocado and hearts of palm but swimming in dressing, albeit a light, citrusy vinaigrette. The fried chicken, served with an addictive honey-chile dipping sauce, was too dark—“truculent, not succulent,” said one diner—but a perfectly seared salmon fillet with French lentils and beurre blanc solved the mystery of why such a banal-sounding dish was on the specials board. The burger was distractingly smoky, inside an insufficient bun, but the filet mignon, with a decadent peppercorn-cream sauce, was charred to such perfection that it seemed to challenge Peter Luger, not far away, to a steak throwdown.

In spite of all the stiff-fronted decorum, the erstwhile Billyburg ethos seems to thrive. Amidst a dull Saturday-night roar, the urbane servers had, at times, an air of bewilderment; the clientele favored beards, T-shirts and jeans, tattoo sleeves. A young couple sat at the bar feeding each other: on one plate, the French dip ($18), on the other, surf and turf ($44). (Open daily for dinner and on Saturdays and Sundays for brunch. Entrées from $13 to $44.)

Warsaw

261 Driggs Ave.
Brooklyn, NY 11222
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718.387.0505

Rating: ★ ★ ★
Cards: Cash Only
Hours: Tue-Sun 5pm-midnight; Mon, closed
Subway: G to Nassau Ave.
Food/Menu: No food available
Booze: Full bar
Happy Hour: None
NY Mag says:

An integral part of the city’s music scene, Warsaw (located inside the Polish National Home, in Williamsburg) has played host to outré newcomers (Le Tigre, the New Pornographers), as well as still-relevant favorites (Patti Smith). It’s a discerning balance that most clubs–with their unsubstantial underground acts or museum-worthy oldies bands–fail to achieve. Warsaw’s high ceilings, good sight lines, and clear sound make the venue one of the city’s premier nightlife destinations–in any borough.

Citysearch says:

Brooklyn’s Polish National Home, a meeting room-cum-performance-space for the neighborhood’s Polish community for nearly 100 years, is leading a double life in the new century. In 2001, Village Underground and former Tramps guru Steve Weitzman convinced the old guard to open the doors to its ornate 800-capacity ballroom (complete with fleur-de-lis plasterwork and framed oil paintings) a few nights a week for music more suited to Greenpoint and Williamsburg’s hipsters, the new breed of Brooklyn immigrants. And Warsaw was born. Monday nights are free, featuring spinners like DJ Cheyney, who pump out old and new wave. More notably, Warsaw is becoming a performance destination for indie-rock icons and up-and-comers, likes Luna, Le Tigre, Cat Power and New Pornographers. At the bar, enjoy a cheap ice-cold draft beer in a plastic cup–or an ample cocktail–while an inter-generational mix of locals shoot the breeze (and pool) in Polish.

Wasabi

638 Manhattan Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11222
view map
718.609.9368

Cuisine: Sushi/Japanese
Our Rating: ★ ★
Cards: All Major
Price: $$
Hours: Mon-Thurs 12pm-11pm; Fri 12pm-11:30pm; Sat 12pm-11:30pm; Sun 1pm-11pm
Booze: None
Subway: G to Nassau Ave.
Menu: Click Here
Delivery: Yes
We say:

The sushi is good, but cheaper fare that is just as fresh can be found a block away from the Williamsburg location at Miyako. Plus the atmosphere at Miyako is more intimate. And who wants to eat at a restaurant with such a lame name anyway. There is the plus of a heated patio for the smoking crowd though.

NY Mag says:

Although Wasabi’s flavorful but undistinguished sushi wouldn’t turn heads in Manhattan, it’s nothing short of a miracle in sushi-deprived Greenpoint (although perhaps not as shocking in Williamsburg). The restaurant itself is stylish but not elaborately so; the focus is on getting Brooklyn hipsters fed in an efficiently appealing setting. That said, the service can be both spotty and surly. But if you’re willing to put up with it, you’ll be rewarded with tasty selections from the extensive menu. The rolls are particularly satisfying, including vegetarian rolls like the Zen-Zen, an orgy of mixed seaweed, tofu, asparagus and mushroom. Wasabi may have an extensive menu (there are also numerous hot entrées), but its prices aren’t similarly profligate, making it one of Brooklyn’s best bets for Japanese cuisine.

c/o NY Mag

212 Bedford Ave.
Brooklyn, NY 11211
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718.218.8828

Cuisine: Pan-Asian Vegan
Our Rating: ★ ★ ★
Cards: All Major
Price: $$
Hours: Mon-Thurs 11:30am-10:30pm; Fri-Sat 11:30am-11pm; Sun 12:30pm-10:30pm
Booze: Beer and Wine Only
Subway: L to Bedford Ave.
Menu: Click Here
Delivery: Yes
NY Mag says:

Not to be confused with the sleek Grove Street Thai of the same name, these tranquil vegetarian eateries serve ubiquitous Asian dishes—stripped of meat add-ons and speckled with substitutes like tofu and seitan—plus Western health food. Oak is the overwhelming design scheme: Furnishings and deep picture frames displaying rows of dried navy beans, black-eyed peas, and other legumes are made from the light-caramel wood. Even tiny gunmetal vases holding dried buds of burdock vanish into the organic surroundings. The presence of mock meat on the menu fits the earthy vibe, and while mushy vegetables with tofu teriyaki might fare better on a commune, tender white slices of soy protein coated in a mellow, but delectable, potato-enriched Malaysian curry may trick skeptical meat eaters. The crowd is less overtly crunchy—Bette Paige bangs and stovepipe gray jeans are as common in the Bedford Avenue space as are colorful Alife high-tops at the diminutive Broome Street locale. If you’re craving a big, market-fresh salad, you’re in luck: Mixed greens layered with shredded mango, asparagus, peppers, alfalfa sprouts, beets, and a sweet, mustardy dressing hits the spot.

Blackbook Mag says:

Zen pocket of organic, vegan eats. Damn, we feel healthy already. Food is actually plenty flavorful despite the lack of killing animals. General Tso is rolling in his grave over soy protein in his namesake dish, but it’s delish, as are teriyaki seitan, curry stews, udon noodles. Attracts vegetarian crowd, so scene is commensurately mellow. Creamy walls, wood furnishings, and a little bamboo for good luck.

Williamsburger

342 Wythe Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11211
view map
718.486.6969

Cuisine: American/Burgers
Our Rating: ★ ★ ★
Cards: All Major
Price: $$
Hours: Sun-Thurs Noon-Midnight; Fri-Sat Noon-1am
Booze: Beer and Wine Only
Subway: L to Bedford Ave.
Menu: Click Here
Delivery: Yes
We say:

On a less-traveled block at S. 2nd and Wythe lays the newly opened Williamsburger, a joint whose name leaves little to the imagination. Indeed, the cuisine is your standard cornucopia of artery-clogging classics — burgers, milkshakes, onion rings, fries, hot dogs, and even pierogies populate the menu. The simple interior of the restaurant, which isn’t yet serving alcohol, further bolsters their nothin’ but meat atmosphere.
Williamsburger’s mantra is “beefing up hipsters,” and needless to say, with a slogan like that A LOT could go wrong. However, the fare is pretty damn satisfying. All of the burgers are made with Hereford Beef from Washington State, and are served with a fresh and delicious side of fries. A few salads as well as a chicken burger and a tuna burger work as alternates for those of the non-beef persuasion, although everything comes drenched in dressing and/or mayo. The $4 milkshake is overpriced, but so delicious (Cappuccino and Butterscotch are particular gems) that it might be worth the splurge.
The stoner population of the South Side will surely embrace this place more then they seemed to enjoy its previous embodiment as Fire and Ice bar — and we have a feeling that towards their later PM hours, delivery will boom. But the real test will be to see if Williamsburger can avoid almost certain defeat from neighborhood staple DuMont Burger. After all, DuMont has a liquor license, is only two blocks away on Bedford, and their gourmet burger prices are comparable. For now we wish Williamsburger good luck, ironic menu, décor, and all. 

NY Mag says:

Chef Cory McPherson calls his patty “the best burger on the block,” an assertion that may well be true on this quiet stretch of Wythe Avenue. Get past the punny name and the antiseptic, vaguely retro yellow interior, and you’ll be treated to a classic, if unremarkable Hereford-beef grind served on a soft sesame bun with a side of fries. Grab some extra napkins and prepare for a messy table—with toppings like caramelized Vidalia onion and blue cheese, or iceberg lettuce, Jersey tomato, and “Government” cheese (good ol’ processed American), these burgers are impressively overstuffed. The brightly lit joint also serves up “Doggies,” Mom’s Secret Family Recipe coleslaw, and steaming hot pierogi. For those averse to red meat, there’s an Asian chicken burger with chile-garlic mayo and a sesame-crusted yellowfin-tuna burger. Cap off the night with a Boylan’s Artesian soda or a nostalgic, creamy black-raspberry milk shake.

c/o Flickr

524 Metropolitan Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11211
view map
718.486.0757

Cuisine: Mexican
Our Rating: ★ ★ ★
Cards: Cash Only
Price: $
Hours: Noon-1am Daily
Booze: None
Subway: L to Lorimer St.
Menu: Click Here
Delivery: Yes
Gridskipper says:

Don’t blink, or you’ll miss Yola’s Cafe. This Mexican hole in the wall, located a few steps below a busy stretch of Metropolitan Avenue in second-stop Williamsburg, Brooklyn, isn’t much to look at, but the food is so good that it’s rapidly becoming one of my favorite restaurants in New York. I’ve always been a fan of their big beefy burritos, but lately I’ve been working through their recurring daily specials, all of which impress. Corn shuck-wrapped tamales come stuffed with tangy chicken or sublime adobo pork. Fish tacos, each with a perfectly flaky flounder filet swaddled with salad and guacamole in two flour tortillas, could easily be served at a fancier restaurant at twice the price. Yola’s is mostly a take-out and delivery place, but there are two tiny tables as well as four revolving bar stools set against a six-inch-wide counter. To kill the seven or so minutes it takes for your order to be ready, go to the bodega next door for a $3 quart of Tecate (last cooler on the left, bottom shelf), pound a tequila shot across the street at the Subway Bar, or just enjoy the hilarious Spanish-language soap operas on the TV.

NY Mag says:

Hole-in-the-wall Mexican take-out and delivery joints are a dime a dozen on the streets of Brooklyn, but few have menus as varied, creative, and authentic as that of Yola’s Restaurant, a go-to spot in Williamsburg for tacos, burritos, fajitas, quesadillas, enchiladas, and a host of more esoteric south-of-the-border delicacies. Among the pleasant surprises are the chilaquiles, soft corn tortillas smothered in a mild, creamy red or green chili sauce and topped with cheese and sour cream. These don’t turn up on New York menus all that often, but in Mexico they are a staple and known as a great breakfast food after a night of heavy drinking. (Yola’s, open daily until 1 a.m., makes a great stop during a night of heavy drinking, too.) Even the more mundane dishes offer exciting twists. Look no further for proof than the chicken mole burrito, which incorporates that chocolate-tinged sauce to Pavlovian effect.

c/o NY Mag

107 North 6th St.
Brooklyn, NY 11211
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718.384.1903

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★
Cards: Cash Only
Hours: Daily 2pm-4am
Subway: L to Bedford Ave.
Food/Menu: No food available
Booze: Full bar
Happy Hour: Daily, 2pm-8pm; $3 well drinks, $2 PBRs, $3 Bud and Bud Light drafts
Citysearch says:

This spacious bar has all the neighborhood-hangout amenities (pool table, darts, 12 beers on tap) with tasteful touches that make it extra-inviting. Owner Ari Zablozki brought in the mahogany bar from upstate and signed on lighting designer and pal Sean Gulette (the actor from “Pi”) to set off the room with subtle, half-lampshade sconces and study-like table fixtures. Zablozki, who shares an easy rapport with his customers, also comes through with low drink prices.

NY Mag says:

During happy hour at Zablozki’s, it’s not uncommon to spot underage drinkers–namely the sort who drink out of sippy cups. Their parents appreciate the inclusive hominess of this neighborhood spot, as do the other fashionably mussed locals who fill the warmly-lit, wood-paneled space from late afternoon until long after the kids have been put to bed. Zablozki’s has a near-ideal layout, with a long bar stretching back towards the wallpapered pool nook, and a two-tiered main floor with lots of space for tables, comfortable chairs, and cozy leather banquettes. Unfortunately, the main-drag location means the space is no secret and weekends can get uncomfortably packed. When the crowds are sparser, you’ll have room to appreciate Zablozski’s attention to detail: little bowls of snack mix, cool half-lamp shaped wall sconces, and perfectly-chilled pints of good beer.

Zebulon

258 Wythe Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11211
view map
718.218.6934

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★
Cards: All Major
Hours: Daily 9am-4am
Subway: L to Bedford Ave.
Food/Menu: Bar Snacks
Booze: Full bar
Happy Hour: None
Calendar: Click Here
NY Mag says:

Only a few blocks from the art-school monoculture of Bedford Avenue, Zebulon Cafe Concert is a dark, glittering, entirely different world—an authentically bohemian boite better suited to the Boulevard St. Germaine. Under dim streetlamp-style globes, a casual, congenial, international crowd snacks on crisp panini and avocat vinaigrette while toasting at tables with a glass of Lillet or one of the reasonable reds from the Tarif des Consommations. The small, L-shaped room’s décor includes an antique tin ceiling and dark mirror behind the bar, set off by old LP covers and posters of Miles, Monk, and Mingus—complementing the main event, nightly jazz or world music on the undersized stage. Owned by two Gallic music lovers who spin vinyl rarities from their own collection between sets, Zebulon never charges a cover or a minimum for a serious roster of artists that has included saxophonist Ravi Coltrane and cornetist Graham Haynes, plus salsa, zydeco and Afro-Brazilian musicians. Instead, a tip basket winds its way across the tiny, packed dance floor as revelers finish their rounds and decide to stay for the late set.

Citysearch says:

Akin to a smoky beatnik bar in Montparnasse, French-owned-and-operated Zebulon offers free experimental live jazz and blues nightly by mind-blowing local musicians and drop-ins by the occasional vagabond. Pale yellow spheres of light illuminate the dark room like a dozen mini-Parisian moons. The decor feels fresh with a smattering of old jazz concert posters and album covers. Perch atop a bar stool or sit at a stage-side tables for an unfettered view of the action. On any given night, the room is packed with lively, unpretentious Brooklynites, ranging from young-ish record store geeks to veteran jazz zealots. The bar snacks are luxe: plates of foie gras, cheese or charcuterie slices. There is a full bar and healthy range of beers, but opt for a reasonably priced glass or bottle from the extensive French wine list.

c/o NY Mag

77 N 6th Street
Brooklyn, NY 11230
view map
718.388.8985

Cuisine: Japanese
Our Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★
Cards: All Major
Price: $$$$
Hours: Wed-Sat 6pm-Midnight; Sun 5:30pm-11:30pm; Closed Mon & Tue
Booze: Beer and Wine Only
Subway: L to Bedford Ave.
Menu: Click Here
Delivery: No
We say:

In Williamsburg, vinyl-sided buildings are as ubiquitous as skinny, stretch jeans with white high tops, but the owners of Zenkichi gave their vinyl-sided building a facelift, converting it into something utterly unique. The plastic clapboards of the building’s edifice are masked in dark wood planks – the perfect exterior to the hidden Japanese tapas oasis within.
North Sixth is the Williamsburg strip where most restaurants conspicuously flaunt their crowds by packing them into large, noisy open spaces. With no sign to mark the entrance, Zenkichi is easy to miss, but inside is a welcome alternative to this trend. Walking in, we felt like we’d stumbled upon a cross between a Zen garden and a three-leveled carnival house-of-mirrors. The host led us up the stairs and through a disorienting maze to our own private cubby booth – complete with bamboo blinds and equipped with a buzzer to ring for our waitress. We felt like we entered a Japanese film noir where a smoke machine was the only missing element. Zenkichi is one of many izakaya spots springing up around the city. The Japanese equivalent of a tapas bars, izakayas are great places to try a variety of little dishes while sipping sake. We decided against the Omakase for Two — ten tastes chosen by the chef for $88. Since we didn’t want dessert and were curious about a few items not on the tasting menu, we opted to make our own selections.
We started with two raw dishes, Tako Wasabi and Maguro Carpaccio. The briny taste of wasabi-cured raw octopus was a refreshing spin on the sushi we were craving. More a condiment than a dish to satisfy hunger pangs, the Tako was nice light start on a hot summer night. The freshness continued with a traditional Japanese tuna dish, Maguro Carpaccio. The tuna was lightly coated in a sweet sesame marinade and wrapped around chilled, thin slices of radish and chives.
Next we moved on to something more substantial with the Pork Kakuni. A complex caramel broth, at once sweet and salty, seeped from the pork belly. It was among the best we’ve eaten. Cooked for three days, the tender, slow-cooked pork can be lifted from the fatty belly with an easy tug of the chopsticks. Equally satisfying was Zenkichi’s generous portion of Saiko Miso Black Cod. The hint of miso absorbed in the firm fish was a salty reminder to take another sip of sake. Less successful dishes included the Japanese Mushroom Gratin and Umaki and an omelet wrapped freshwater eel. Despite what the menu’s claim that the Japanese Mushroom Gratin contained Enoki, Simeji & Oyster mushrooms, we only tasted straw mushrooms which were lost amid the creamy bechamel sauce. And though the omelet wrapping the freshwater eel in the Umaki was delicious, a larger piece of eel would have allowed the fish flavor to go head to head with the sweet egg.
Since the importance of drinking is almost equal to eating at an izakaya joint, we were disappointed to find that the sake menu had only a limited selection of inexpensive sake. The cheapest (and only) carafe was $45 and the average bottle of sake was in the $50 to $60 range. Opt for the summer sake tasting menu where you can sample three glasses for $18.
Left to our own devises, we ordered seven dishes — more than enough food for two. The bill for two before drinks totaled $60. With friendly, attentive service and many dishes we didn’t get to try, we’ll be returning soon for more.

Daily Candy says:

In a city that loves the see-and-be-seen song, it’s a new tune when a restaurant hides its diners. But that’s how it works at Zenkichi, which opens today in Brooklyn. It’s an izakaya, a modern gastropub that follows the traditional rules of private Japanese dining — which means that you might feel like the only one in the place. (And you can actually hear the conversation at your table.) Wooden tables are enclosed in nooks around a bamboo garden; the waitstaff flutters about and, after you get your food, approaches only when you ring for them. (Which must drive them nuts.) Mirrors conceal the true size of the 80-seat space — funhouse style — making navigating the three-story spot a tad confusing (especially after a few sakes). But there are no illusions with the small-plates menu. Most dishes cost under ten bucks: soft-water eel and cream cheese tempura, Botan shrimp and avocado tartare, fresh tofu, and grapefruit agar gelee for dessert. Wash it down with a smooth glass of Suishin or Sapporo. Now you see it, now you don’t.

c/o Yelp

295 Broadway
Brooklyn, NY 11211
view map
718.388.2161

Cuisine: Mexican
Our Rating: ★ ★ ★
Cards: All Major
Price: $
Hours: 3pm-Midnight (Kitchen); 3pm-4am (Bar)
Booze: Full Bar
Subway: J,M,Z to Marcy Ave.
Menu: Click Here
Delivery: Yes