c/o NY Mag

20 Skillman Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11211
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718.218.7272

Cuisine: Comfort food
Our Rating: ★ ★
Cards: All Major
Price: $
Hours: Sun-Thurs 4pm-2am; Fri-Sat 4pm-5am
Booze: Full Bar
Subway: L to Graham Ave.
Menu: Click Here
Delivery: Yes
Citysearch says:

On the same stretch of blocks as Galapagos, Northsix and Sweet Water Tavern, Anytime appeases streams of bargoers with its round-the-clock eats. Its small industrial space is painted in white, gray and orange, and holds a takeout counter with a couple of suspended wooden-beam tables. The best thing about the space, though, is skipping it and getting snacks delivered to your door.Grilled sandwiches, soups and toasts (such as smoked mozzarella and roasted peppers) provide the primary sustenance, along with appetizers in the jalapeno popper/buffalo wing family. The eight-ounce burger arrives well-done on a shiny bun–comforting stuff, especially when accompanied by tater tots. Potato leek and scallion soup is green and flavorful, and the balanced fruit yogurt shake satisfies. Anytime’s menu shifts with the seasons, offering chilled soups and sophisticated salads in the summer.

New York Mag says:

Can a late-night restaurant with offerings that run the gamut from low-brow mozzarella sticks to ambitious pan-seared salmon actually be any good? Yes. And happily, this establishment on Williamsburg’s North Side succeeds in being most things to most people. Your image-conscious friends will dig its hipness: banquets swathed in nubby orange upholstery cradle Diesel- and Seven-sheathed behinds on a regular basis. Cash-strapped pals will appreciate the excellent value. After a couple of drinks, even you’ll be pleased with the availability of cheap, greasy tater tots and chicken fingers at post-last call hours. And once you’ve sobered up enough to have your culinary wits about you, try the silky and tangy hummus with a garlicky bite—a point of pride with the Israeli owner.

c/o The Breukelen

513 Grand St
Brooklyn, NY 11211
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718.388.3021

Cuisine: Indian
Our Rating: ★ ★
Cards: All Major
Price: $
Hours: Mon-Sat 1pm-Midnight; Sun Noon-1opm
Booze: None
Subway: L to Lorimer St.
Menu: Click Here
NY Mag says:

While it boasts too many Pan-Asian places to count, Williamsburg is severely lacking in Indian options. Brooklynite Alex Azad saw an opportunity, and opened this organic spot in late 2009. White tile floors, bare white walls, and fluorescent lights create a somewhat sterile ambience, but streaming Bollywood music videos and white tablecloths and linen both soften and jazz it up. Aloo masala, with potatoes, corn, and peas in a light, slightly crispy roll, makes a nice starter. An order of naan bread arrives warm and fluffy enough to share. The go-to chicken tikka masala in a tasty cream sauce is especially tender, though under-spiced for most, while beef bhuna gosht, spiced with garlic and ginger, and mixed-vegetable curry harbor more flavor. Besides the standards, the menu offers more-interesting seafood entrées—like shrimp vindaloo and lobster tikka masala—but call first, since availability is limited.

Metromix says:

Like Clark Kent without the costume change, Williamsburg’s superhero-themed Action Burger quickly morphed into Comic Burger soon after opening. Unfortunately, it seemed too much effort went into the goofy gimmick, and not enough into the quality of the wares. Its replacement, Curry Heaven, certainly isn’t overreaching in the high-concept department: The clean, no-frills space is purely utilitarian, with no comic-book kitsch in sight. Brooklynite Alex Azad is a first-time restaurant owner, but notes that his chef has over 35 years of experience in the kitchen. The menu incorporates the range of organic Indian cuisine—not sticking to any one region—and covers the basics like chicken tikka masala and tandoori lamb and vegetables.

c/o Thousands Bars

519 Metropolitan Ave
Brooklyn, NY 1121
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718.384.6429

Cuisine: Mexican
Our Rating: ★ ★
Cards: All Major
Price: $
Hours: 12pm-Midnight Daily
Booze: Full Bar
Subway: L to Lorimer St.
Menu: Click Here
Delivery: Yes
NY Mag says:

A restaurant claiming to serve Mexican “style” food usually warns off seekers of authentic eats, but if you hold off on the rush to judgment, first impressions are fortunately deceiving on this corner of an as of yet ungentrified chunk of Williamsburg. Past the slapdash streamers and liquor ads, a few well-chosen pieces of art dot the unassuming space. One sip of a margarita or mojito showcases an able hand at the bar, and a glimpse behind a curtained-off area reveals a comfy lounge, prone to playing contemporary Latin rock come nightfall. The menu proves itself in similarly small, impressive ways. Crunchy, El Paso-style shells on the taco plate are an initial turnoff, but a cautious bite delivers a stuffing of particularly well-seasoned chunks of beef. And while enchiladas Suizas may look sloppy and gloppy, the accompanying salsa verde is agreeably full of cilantro, and crema fresca as a welcome, authentic touch. The real finds, however, are the Ecuadorian specialties: Shrimp ceviche marinated in fresh tomato, lime juice, red onion, and cilantro, and weekend-only specials like goat stew pull out all the authentic gustatory stops.

Blackbook Mag says:

Fronts as Mexican, but actually serves South American versions of staples like salsa, enchiladas, and burritos. Hard-shell tacos and nachos. Probably best if you’re here to knock back a few margaritas and not eat at all. Cheap interior is actually comfy, with mellow wood, crimson walls. Loungey feel near the long bar, cranked volume on the sound system keeps things festive.

Fette Sau

354 Metropolitan Ave.
Brooklyn, NY 11211
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718.963.3404

Cuisine: Barbeque
Our Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Cards: Mastercard and Visa
Price: $$
Hours: 5pm-2am Daily
Booze: Full Bar
Subway: L to Bedford Ave. or Lorimer St.
Menu: Click Here
Delivery: Yes (except on Fri & Sat)
We Say:

Standing in line at Williamsburg’s newest barbecue joint, I witnessed something close to a miracle. The strangers on either side of my party wanted to engage in conversation. Card-carrying hipsters, notorious for cold shoulders and silent treatment, wanted to discuss the meat counter where we were heading. They asked questions and offered ordering advice, like one pound of pork shoulder should be enough for two people. For a restaurant to create an atmosphere of engagement is a feat that will keep crowds coming back, despite the long waits in line.
Fette Sau, which means “fat pig” in German, opened its doors in March 2007, brought to us by the owners of Spuyten Duyvil — a favorite beer garden across the street. Kim and Joe Carroll transformed a former auto-body repair shop into industrial barbecue cavern with a whole wall of hand painted cuts-of-meat, a fake fire burning on the television screen and heavy picnic tables — both inside and out. At the bar in the back you can choose from a wide selection of whisky or take a pint, quart or half gallon growler of beer back to your table to wash down the greasy meats.
At the meat counter, if it’s pork shoulder you want, arrive early. I have yet to try it, since the kitchen can’t keep up with the high demand. My reluctance to taste the recommended alternative, dissipated the moment I bit into the buttery moist pork belly, piled high on my butcher paper-covered tray. The brisket and sausage is also a hit. My only complaint is, with the exception of the smoky pork-laden baked beans, the side dishes are a huge let down and should be avoided. The broccoli salad was soggy with vinegar and the potatoes in the potato salad were undercooked and needed salt. Pay homage to Dr. Atkins and stick to the meat counter. And if you’re a vegetarian, just stick to the whiskey or beer. We’re hoping the Fette Sau will hire a pastry chef to prepare a juicy key lime pie to cleanse the palate after the full meat encounter. Until then, there’s beer, whiskey and the company of strangers.

Gothamist says:

Fette Sau (German for Fat Pig) rests back from the street off Metropolitan Ave, in an old garage outfitted with what is one of Brooklyn’s newest barbecue joints. It is rightly getting loads of press for its food, but what many of them forget to mention is that it’s also loaded with one of the most impressive collections of bourbons in the city. We counted 55 different ones the last time we were there, which sounds more like a dare than a list. It isn’t all about the different variations of Jim Beam, either. They have New York’s only bourbon, Hudson Baby Bourbon, and Four Roses, which just recently came on the New York market. Six bucks can score you a cheaper, rougher style (Rebel Yell!) that will probably suit those ribs better. If you’ve got extra cash burning a whole in your wallet, go for the $18 Pappy Van Winkle. They are all served in nifty snifers and can come however you like to suck it back.

c/o City Guide

295 Grand St
Brooklyn, NY 11211
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718.387.1919

Cuisine: Vegan Fast Food
Our Rating: ★ ★ ★
Cards: Cash Only
Price: $
Hours: Sun-Mon 11:30am-11pm; Tue-Thurs 11:30am-midnight; Fri-Sat 11:30am-2am; Sun 11:30am-11pm
Booze: None
Subway: L to Bedford Ave. or Lorimer St.
Menu: Click Here
Delivery: Yes
City Guide says:

The online manifesto of this vegan restaurant is stuffed like a punching bag with utopian slogans. It pledges, for example, “to provide free food for workers on strike.” It would be funny to see a picket line of hungry Teamsters take these idealists at their word. There’s nothing like a mock beef quesadilla or a no-chicken cutlet sandwich to take the edge off a hard day spent fighting the man. But whatever your tastes, there’s no denying the good intentions behind the solid vegan cooking at this cheery, brightly painted Williamsburg cafe. The menu warns that the faux bones in their faux chicken are not for eating and “may present a choking hazard to children and the elderly.” More importantly, the owners recognize that though meat can be murder, it also has unbeatable texture and mouth-feel. They do their best to replicate the joys of fast food, skimping only on the milking and the slaughtering.

NY Mag says:

Imagine the snack bar at the local ice rink in the town where you grew up: the friendly bar where you ordered; the garish décor; the plastic trays and baskets; the laminated tables and booths; and the greasy fried food, too-sweet soda, and impossibly thick milkshakes. Now imagine that spot without any signs of actual meat or dairy products and situated in dripping-with-irony Williamsburg and you’ve got yourself Foodswings, the greasiest vegan spoon in town. They manage to create some convincing deep-fried favorites out of soy products. The typical snack bar fare—hotdogs, hamburgers, nachos—is augmented by salads and lighter sandwiches, and the novel “milk” shake flavors, like peanut butter and jelly and pistachio, give McDonalds a run for its money. The “chicken” drumsticks in Buffalo, barbecue, and Southern-fried versions particularly impress, approximating their free-range equivalent in taste and texture—though diners should beware the chopstick-like bone at their center.

c/o Yelp

172 Grand St
(Between 1st St & Bedford Ave)
Brooklyn, NY 11211
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718.782.7596

Cuisine: Chinese
Our Rating: ★ ★
Cards: Cash Only
Price: $
Hours: Mon-Thur 11am-11:30pm; Fri-Sat 11am-12:30am; Sun 12pm-11:30pm
Booze: None
Subway: L to Bedford Ave.
Menu: Click Here
Delivery: Yes
We say:

Standard greasy counter joint.

Khao Sarn

311 Bedford Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11211
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718.963.1238

Cuisine: Thai
Our Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★
Cards: Cash Only
Price: $
Hours: Sun-Thurs 11:30am-midnight; Fri-Sat 11:30am-1am
Booze: Full bar
Subway: L to Bedford Ave.
Menu: Click Here
Delivery: Yes
NY Daily News says:

The area already boasts several Thai restaurants, but this relative newcomer has won raves for its flavorful, authentic cooking. The large menu features the familiar, like Thai red curry ($6.50-$7.95), along with the unusual, like the som tom platter (papaya salad, barbecue chicken/Thai sun-dried beef, and sweet sticky rice, $7.95).

The New York Times says:

Khao Sarn is a sweet and simple place. Judging by its plywood benches, strewn with soft pillows, the rough-hewn counter and the paper menus that double as takeout flyers. It’s a low-budget operation and that is part of its charm. The food is low-key, spicy but not fiery, delicately balanced between hot, sour, salty and sweet, rather than overtly assertive. Soups are superb, especially the tom yum, spicy, full of shrimp and gloriously sour yet fresh, and the tom kha, made rich and soothing with coconut milk and tender chicken breast. Curries are likewise deftly prepared, full of flavors that grow slowly in the mouth. The pad Thai was supple and slightly moist. The restaurant offers the usual desserts with one exception, the unfortunately named Thai sticks. These are excellent little beignets, crisp yet billowy, served with a dipping sauce of sweet condensed milk and crushed peanuts.
Other recommended dishes: Squid salad, pork larb, massaman curry.

c/o NY Mag

533 Grand St
Brooklyn, NY 11211
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718.782.7372

Cuisine: French Bistro
Our Rating: ★ ★ ★
Cards: Cash Only
Price: $$
Hours: Mon-Thurs, 11am-4pm, 6pm-midnight; Fri 11am-4pm, 6pm-2am; Sat 11am-2am; Sun 11am-midnight
Booze: Full Bar
Subway: L to Lorimer St.
Menu: Click Here
Delivery: Yes
NY Mag says:

When he opened Marquet Patisserie in Boerum Hill in the late eighties, Jean-Pierre Marquet was a Smith Street pioneer. Since then, he’s relocated to Court Street, sold his Manhattan and Fort Greene outposts, and bought a manufacturing plant in Bushwick. Now he’s branched into the bistro business with Le Barricou, a Williamsburg restaurant whose French street signs leave no doubt about the restaurant’s provenance. Chef-partner Joab Masse’s menu, though, takes a multicultural approach, offering coq au vin alongside salmon over Asian long beans with Thai barbecue sauce.

Shecky’s says:

Ah, Williamsburg, home of too cool for school hipsters, kitschy bars, and…thankfully a crop of dining hot spots. So maybe you won’t be transported to gay old Paris when you enter Le Barricou, but owner Jean Pierre Marquet and chef Joab Masse have definitely added some foreign flair to the neighborhood. The eclectic menu features everything from burgers and lamb shank to Thai mussels ($9) and the French favorite, Coq Au Vin ($15). The spacious restaurant, plastered with vintage news clippings, allows you several options for seating as well. Enjoy your meal at a table for two or make new friends over the modest selection of beer and wine at the elongated wooden bar. Lest you forget you’re in the Burg, the old school foosball table in the back serves as a gentle reminder. Le sigh.

Life Cafe

983 Flushing Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11206
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718.386.1133

Cuisine: Comfort Food/Bar Food/Vegetarian
Our Rating: ★ ★ ★
Cards: All major
Price: $
Hours: Sun-Thurs 1oam-midnight; Fri-Sat 10am-1am
Booze: Full Bar
Subway: L to Morgan Ave.
Menu: Click Here
Delivery: Yes
NY Mag says

Just as the original East Village Life Cafe was a haven for that neighborhood’s early gentrifiers, Brooklyn’s Life Cafe 983 caters to the new crop of young artists skulking about the otherwise industrial neighborhood of Bushwick,. Part cafe, part local bar, Life is an oasis on dismal Flushing Avenue that offers hearty, healthful meals that fit the budgets of the local creative set. The menu has slight Mexican influences and the mega burrito ($5.95), turkey club ($5.95) or Chili Q’s (scrambled eggs with tortillas, cheese, salsa, rice and beans, $5.25) pack enough punch to fuel an entire day at the easel. The internet jukebox, rotating display of Brooklyn artists on the deep red walls, and live performances provide atmosphere without the straining self-consciousness of other hipster hangouts.

Blackbook Mag says:

Spinoff of Rent-inspiring East Village original, totally fitting since this nabe approximates the EV of yore. From sunup to sundown, keeps the food steaming and the drinks flowing. Perfect for brunch or late-night bites. Often busy, pick up free eavesdropping alongside your grub.

Lobster Joint (c/o Read NY)

1073 Manhattan Ave.
Brooklyn, NY 11222 (Greenpoint)
view map
718.389.8990 or 718.389.8993

Cuisine: Seafood, raw bar, lobster
Our Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★
Cards: All Major
Price: $$
Reservations: No
Hours: 12p-12a/2a, Weekends 11a Brunch, (Closed Mondays)
Booze: Full bar
Subway: G to Greenpoint Ave
Menu: http://lobsterjoint.com/
Website: http://lobsterjoint.com/
Delivery: Noon to Midnight
Here’s Greenpoint says:

The specials remain in constant rotation, but a few of the staples are Lobster Benedict ($17), Sausage Stuffed French Toast ($6), and a killer Lobster Tail Bloody Mary ($9). Last weekend they had Grilled Salmon w/ Roasted Beets, Toasted Almonds and Horseradish Cream, as well as Salmon Tartare. The joint recently started a weekday happy hour from 4-7pm that features $1 oysters and $2 off pitchers of beer and cocktails. The oysters come raw and fresh on a bed of ice, with garnishes of lemon and a homemade vinegar-based dipping sauce. Aside from the delectable Lobster ($17) and Crab ($14) Rolls, Market Fresh Oysters, and Fish Sandwiches ($12), most of the menu depends on what gets picked up at the market in the morning. Chef Justin Ernsberger has a personal fishmonger who’s up every morning 3am scouring the New York area for fresh clams, crab, oysters, salmon, shrimp, and other delicacies that inevitably make their way onto your plate. The result is a focused and reliable selection that never threatens stagnation. Case in point: The Mussels and Fries ($14), a quiet, simple platter addition that may very well be the kitchen’s new secret weapon. There is also a new Crab Cake Burger ($14), complete with a patty that, unlike most I’ve had, is heavy on the crab and light on everything else. The sandwich arrives hot on a bed of tarters sauce and a side of slaw and chips, fries, or salad. Another new thing: They’re now open for lunch service beginning at noon. For that they have added a sous chef who spends half of his time working alongside Ernsberger in the early evenings. If that weren’t enough, they’ve also started delivering orders free of charge to Greenpoint and Williamsburg, from noon until midnight everyday. What about those who don’t live nearby, you say? Owner Tommy Chabrowski told me they’re willing to deliver larger orders to anywhere in the city, provided you’re willing to pay for the delivery boy’s cab fare. Many already have. Those who don’t have to should simply be thankful they live so close.

Immaculate Infatuation says:

This joint f*cking rules. Until now, none of NYC’s interpretations of the dressed down seafood shack actually led us to believe that we were anywhere near a beach. But even though it isn’t exactly located close to marine life (unless you count the East River), Lobster Joint accomplishes this. They may not have a pool or any sand, but we’re rocking our bathing suits and flip flops here anyway. The restaurant has a laid back approach that you don’t often find in NYC. We love the the order-at-the-counter-and-we’ll-bring-out-your-food system which works great with the spacious, open air dining room. There’s also a nicely sized, well maintained Outdoor/Patio Situation littered with picnic tables and umbrellas. If you’re a seafood freak like we are, prepare to be in heaven. If it comes from the sea, they put it on a bun. And you’d be hard pressed to find any joint better suited for summertime Day Drinking than this one. We could hang here all day sucking down beers, fried clam strips, and lobster rolls. Speaking of lobster rolls. We may be throwing down a high rating on the Lobster Joint based on the overall experience, but when it comes down to straight up roll vs. roll, we still think Luke’s is the best. The Joint has them beat everywhere else.