c/o NY Mag

1116 Manhattan Avenue
(at Clay Street )
Brooklyn NY, 11211
view map
718.349.8429

Cuisine: Mexican
Our Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★
Cards: All major
Price: $
Hours: Mon-Fri, 8am-10pm; Sat-Sun, 9am-10pm
Booze: Beer and wine
Subway: G to Greenpoint Ave.
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Alien Cafe

812 Grand St
Brooklyn, NY 11206
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347.294.4288

Cuisine: American Cafe
Our Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★
Cards: All major
Price: Fairly Cheap
Hours: 7am-11pm, Daily
Booze: None for now
Subway: G to Grand St.
Menu: Click Here
Delivery: Yes
Brooklyn Exposed says:

The new Alien Cafe in Williamsburg is not as foreign as you might think. Opened in early November, the space has been in owner Robert Sandoval’s family since 1999 – first as Grand Street Grill run by his father and then by Sandoval himself. The new cafe has a big name attached to it as well, with L’Artiste menu creator-chef Luis Santos at the helm of this menu. Cozy up at a two-top with warm butternut squash soup ($7) while you ogle at the designed wallpaper. Or select from varied and large servings of sandwiches ($8-10), omelettes ($6), and salads ($7-9). Real meal deals come in the form of duck ragout parpardelle ($14), a brioche bun burger ($12), and even a braised lamb shank with mushroom polenta ($18). And it would be no cafe with no cafe – robust Blue Bottle is available in drip or a personal French press. With that, skip straight to dessert for a perfect pairing with the nutella, banana, and berry crepe ($7). Though no liquor license as of yet, don’t wait to enjoy these earthly delights.

I Heart Brunch says:

There has been a lot said about the gentrification of Williamsburg over the last decade, and particularly the last few years since the rezoning of 2005 opened up the waterfront areas for development. Much of this “urban renewal” has taken place on the North and South sides, which are generally divided by Grand Street, but it’s the East side that is now experiencing a broader transition period.

Nowhere is this more evident than east of Union Ave on Grand Street where the gentrification process is noticeably making its way down the street, block by block.

Alien Cafe takes brunch in East Williamsburg up a notch.

Opening in early November, Alien Café aims to take the neighborhood up a notch. Formerly the Grand Street Grill, a quick-service takeout joint, Alien Café owner Robert Sandoval decided to revamp the space his family has owned since 1999 to create something a bit different and more refined. And he’s serious about the food, enlisting award-winning L’Artiste chef Luis Santos to create the menu.

On the exterior, Alien Café sports a spaceship sign that bulges from the front of the unassuming building and lights up at dusk. But don’t let the kitschy name and sign fool you. Once inside you’ll be eased by a casual bistro atmosphere, charming enough to bring a date, and impressed by food that may be the only thing otherworldly about the place.

Options like Eggs Benedict with chipotle hollandaise or French Toast with sautéed apples and walnuts are delicious and worth the visit, but it was the Three Color Omelet that truly impressed me. Perhaps the most perfectly cooked omelet I’ve ever had, the egg was light and fluffy and had a perfect ratio of mozzarella, fresh tomato and basil meticulously diced and speckled throughout the egg. Every egg dish is accompanied by mixed greens and nicely prepared home fries and I added a side of crisp apple wood smoked bacon to round it all out.

The food is as easy on the wallet as it is delicious – no breakfast entrée eclipses $7 and the lunch options are just a couple bucks more. Plus, coffee lovers will delight at the café’s use of the classic French press, emphasizing the bold flavors and captivating aroma of organic Blue Bottle Coffee.

Alien Café is a welcome addition to the East side that will delight neighborhood residents and hopefully continue the trend of culinary innovations in the area.

Atlas Cafe

116 Havemeyer St
Brooklyn, NY 11211
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718.782.7470

Cuisine: Coffeeshop
Our Rating: ★ ★ ★
Cards: Cash Only
Price: $
Hours: 7am-10pm Daily
Booze: None
Subway: L to Lorimer St., J,M,Z to Marcy Ave.
Menu: Click Here Delivery: No
New York Mag says:

There’s something about this coffee shop that has the feel of a college town cafe. The two floor-to-ceiling windows of the corner place fill the room with sunlight, making it particularly attractive for the laptop writers who occupy their tables for hours at a time, digging the free Wi-Fi and occasionally spacing out to the wall-sized map of the world. Large, milky pendant lights and wooden tables lend a softness to the room, and two outside benches take on some of the extra traffic when the turnover slows down. Everything is served at the counter, and hot and cold drinks run the typical gamut-cappuccino, espresso, mocha, sweet and spicy chai latte, and a strong yet delicately foamed macchiato, as well as Odwalla juices and Boylan’s sodas. The edibles cover basic breakfast pastries-soft scones, danishes and muffins from Tomcat Bakery in Long Island City-as well as a few lunch items, like mozzarella, pesto and tomato or a nicely mashed tuna salad on a baguette. Bagels also go over big, especially topped with creamy hummus or tender slices of lox. The cafe largely empties out by nighttime, leaving plenty of seats for freelancers on an evening schedule. Recommended Dishes: Bagel with cream cheese and lox, $6; tuna salad on baguette, $6

c/o Eater

131 Grand St.
Brooklyn, NY 11211
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718.384.7273

Cuisine: American
Our Rating: ★ ★ ★
Price: $$
Hours: Open 24 Hours
Cards: All Major
Booze: BYOB
Subway: L to Bedford Ave.
Menu: Click Here
Delivery: Yes
Time Out New York says:

Williamsburg night owls in search ofa 3am breakfast have a new option with the arrival of this 24-hour diner. In addition to the standard omelettes, there are a few wacky creations, like BBQ-shrimp pancakes and the Machete plate (mac and cheese with eggs). The massive menu is also vegan- and vegetarian-friendly—look for meatless burgers and meatballs made with spiced beets.

c/o The Brueklyn

483 Grand St
Brooklyn, NY 11211
view map
718.387.0270

Cuisine: Coffee shop
Our Rating: ★★★
Cards: Yes
Price: $
Hours: Mon-Sun 6am-9pm
Booze: None
Subway: L to Lorimer St., J,M,Z to Marcy Ave.
Menu: Click Here
Delivery: Yes

Bahia

690 Grand St.
Brooklyn, NY 11211
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718.218.9592

Cuisine: Salvadoran
Our Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★
Cards: All Major
Price: $$
Hours: Mon-Thurs 11:30am-10pm; Fri 11:30am-11pm; Sat 9am-11pm; Sun 9am-10pm
Booze: Beer and Wine Only
Subway: L to Graham Ave. or Grand St.
Menu: Click Here
Delivery: Yes
We say:

Our favorite under-the-radar restaurant Bahía was featured on the Food Network recently and we were delighted to see them finally get some props. If you haven’t tasted their pupusas yet, run out now and try them. (Pupusa are yummy corn pancakes filled with cheese, pork, etc). Their cerviche is also always fresh and delicious. Never had Salvadoran food? Do yourself a favor and try Bahía before everyone else discovers it. The atmosphere is bland, but the food is amazing. Note – the pasta dishes are ok, but are mainly included to please the heavily italian neighboorhood. Stick to the Salvadoran food.

Citysearch says:

Rows of glass-topped, red-tableclothed tables stretch back to the rear of the brightly lit space, whose white walls hold a few seafaring decorations–a boat painting here, a captain’s wheel there. The small wooden bar and counter up front incorporate a wine rack and dessert display. Neighborhood friends and families spread out with plenty of room to spare. The best surprises on the El Salvadorean menu are the appetizers. Pupusas, filled with pork, beans, chicken or cheese, are sumptuous pancakes bursting with the flavor of fresh corn. The simple corn tamale comes with a mild homemade sour cream, and the inexpensive enchiladas, prepared with expertly spiced strips of beef, could easily serve as an entree. Main dishes, such as the sirloin steak, are less robust, but the enormous mixed seafood grill, including stellar shrimp, salmon, calamari and mussels, stands out. Finish with a lovely flan.

c/o Gothamist

180 Franklin St
Brooklyn, NY 11222
view map
718.389.2806

Cuisine: American Cafe/Diner
Our Rating: ★ ★
Cards: All Major
Price: $
Hours: Mon-Fri 7am-5pm; Sat-Sun 9am-5pm (brunch)
Booze: None
Subway: G to Greenpoint Ave.; L to Bedford Ave.
Menu: Click Here
Delivery: Free with $10 Minimum
NY Mag says:

Call it a bustling coffeehouse, an upscale diner, or a calculated hipster haven. This Greenpoint hot spot, on the bottom floor of the Astral Apartments, specializes in being whatever you want it to be. During the day, sunlight bleeds through the oversize windows onto the long, wood bar, where the “self-employed” sip bottomless mugs of coffee and pick at tempeh Reubens while pretty baristas keep the burr grinders buzzing. By nightfall, couples fill out the dark, cushioned corners—tucking into textbook crisp-skinned chicken or one of Brooklyn’s cheapest steak frites and contentedly conversing over a loud, Pitchfork-approved soundtrack. Sure, some menu items vanish mid-service and the disaffected waitstaff look and act like moonlighters from a roving indie band, but what makes this neighborhood haunt worthy of a train ride are the little touches—the whiff of cardamom in a near-perfect cappuccino, the Plugra butter generously provided for your basket of Ceci-Cela pastries, and the house-made hot sauce and ketchup for an otherwise average pile of fries.

City Search says:

This is the ideal Brooklyn neighborhood spot, complete with an unassuming crowd, hot comfort food and good coffee. During the crowded brunch service, plentiful light reflects off the yellow walls and the large restaurant is filled with morning chatter from everyone from athletic cyclists to hung-over hipsters. Details like patches of exposed brick and an artfully distressed ceiling add that funky Greenpoint touch. Homemade American fare like buttermilk fried chicken, biscuits and sausage gravy, burgers, and red flannel hash are all guaranteed to fill you up, while the Mayan, a velvety mix of hot cocoa, mildly spicy pasilla chili and two shots of espresso, will make sure you don’t get drowsy.

1015 Manhattan Ave.
Brooklyn, NY 11222
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718.569.0077

Cuisine: Colombian Tapas/Coffee Shop
Our Rating: ★ ★ ★
Cards: Cash only
Price: $
Hours: Mon 8am-4pm; Tues-Thurs 8am-10pm; Sat 9am-11pm, Sun 9am-10pm
BOOZE: Full bar
Subway: G to Greenpoint Ave
Menu: Click Here
Delivery: Yes
City Search says:

In keeping with its Colombian roots, this charming cafe’s takeout menu translates the word Greenpoint into its Spanish equivalent, Puntaverde. Bright yellow walls, local artwork and couches set a festive scene for consuming iced cafe con leche and sampling the arepas–the Alimbar packs ham, queso blanco and guava, while the Medellin appeases vegetarians with cranberry beans and green plantains. Seven kinds of salads and sandwiches made with Petrossian bread provide further fuel for bopping along to DJ-provided beats.

The Village Voice says:

This novel Greenpoint coffee shop and wine bar translates Colombian cuisine into the tapas bar genre, with some success. If you’re a fan of East Village arepas–– the moist, white–corn flatcakes that are a staple starch in Colombia and Venezuela–– you won’t be disappointed here: most of the two dozen or so evening menu choices are centered on an arepa topped with a salad or meat-bearing assemblage. Many are quite good, although figuring out what these warms lumps contain is a challenge in the dim light. We especially liked the Medellin (beans, plantains, white cheese, hogao sauce) and the cordillera (rice, beans, Colombian chorizo). A handful of toasted sandwiches, salads, and skewers round out the menu, but the real treat here is the off-priced South American wines.

c/o The Downtown Diaries

427 Graham Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11211
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718.383.5744

Cuisine: Italian Coffee Shop
Our Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★
Cards: Cash Only
Price: $
Hours: Tues-Sun 7am-7pm; Closed Mondays
Booze: None
Subway: L to Lorimer st. or Graham Ave.
Delivery: No
We say:

This long-standing barista boasts the neighborhood’s finest iced coffee (even at $4 a pop it’s a steal) as well as a cannoli that would make an Italian mama blush. The interior, dripping with seasonal Easter bunny cut-outs or fruit-striped candy canes, is warm and inviting and the counter is always loaded with fresh baked sweets wrapped in cellophane. You might catch the occasional shag hanging about, but there are only four tables to lounge around in and the extended family takes up two of them. Plus, owner’s Joe and Sarah nixed their smoking section last year, cutting its hipster lingering down by almost 50%. Don’t worry about losing out on all the fun by asking for it to go-Joe weaves a great two-minute story chock full of neighborhood lore.

Brownstoner says:

This homey neighborhood favorite at 427 Graham Ave. in Williamsburg is the place to go for inimitable iced coffee. Shortly after Sarah Devita and her brother-in-law Joseph Rinaldi opened in 1974, they had the idea of feeding coffee through their gelato machine. The result is a perfectly crystallized coffee. Because no ice is added, the drink stays as strong as when it was first served. Thirty-two years later they’re still serving the same drink made with the same device (served at just a few tables). “We’ll probably stay as long as the machine stays,” warns Devita.

c/o Time Out New York

555 Drigs Ave.
Brooklyn, NY 11211
view map
718.384.8144

Cuisine: American
Our Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★
Cards: All Major
Price: $
Booze: None
Subway: L to Bedford Ave.
Menu: Click Here
Delivery: No
Metromix says:

Who wants hot dogs!? Pretty much all of Williamsburg. Crif Dogs brought their signature brand of gourmet franks over from St. Marks in the East Village. Expect a lot of folks to roll into this small storefront after a night out at the many bars in the area. What’s better than a dog smothered in chili cheese with a side of taters at that point in the night? The correct answer to that question is passing out in bed, but not until you finish your hot dogs! Expect creative options when it comes to the wieners—you can get a lot more than ketchup and mustard as toppings, including cream cheese, scallions, seeds and pineapple. Sadly, this outpost of Crif comes without a secret cocktail bar hidden in the back (you’ll find PDT in the village’s outpost). What you get here is early morning service. The store’s take out window opens at 7 a.m. to pour coffee to commuters heading to the L Train.

Time Out New York says:

Crif Dogs New Jersey native Brian Shebairo expands his popular East Village hot-dog mecca to Williamsburg. True to its casual roots, the small Brooklyn outpost will be outfitted with old-school video games, steel floors and a vintage skateboard collection. You’ll find the same late-night munchies on offer: Tater-Tots, chili cheese fries, milk shakes and snappy, deep-fried dogs in creative combinations, like the Tsunami (bacon-wrapped with teriyaki sauce, pineapple and green onions) and the John-John Deragon (cream cheese, scallions and a sprinkling of everything-bagel seeds). But this location will also appeal to the early-morning set with a takeout window serving Intelligentsia coffee and breakfast sandwiches a few steps from the Bedford L stop.