Giando on the Water

Cuisine: Seafood/Italian
Our Rating: ★ ★ ★
Cards: All Major
Price: $$$$
Hours: Mon-Fri 12pm-11pm; Sat-Sun 4pm-12am
Booze: Full Bar
Subway: J, M, Z to Marcy Ave
Menu: Click Here
*Reservations are required*
We say:

Old school Italian. With a beautiful view of the city, Giando is the fanciest place around (if you went to high school in Greenpoint).

The Village Voice says:

Outfitted with masses of gleaming chandeliers, this soaring glass box is located on the Williamsburg waterfront between Domino Sugar and the Brooklyn Navy Yard–hardly an auspicious location. But the pricey retro-Italian fare is much better than expected, as with a first course of penne alla vodka with a zingy cream and tomato sauce, and a second course of well-browned chicken rollatini featuring a huge breast wrapped around cheese and prosciutto. The best deal is the prix fixe four-course dinner, $19.95 before 7 p.m. and $29.95 after. For dessert, don§t miss the freshly filled cannoli.

c/o Flickr

495 Lorimer St
Brooklyn, NY 11211
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718.384.2437

Cuisine: Seafood/Sushi
Our Rating: ★
Cards: All major
Price: $
Hours: Mon-Fri, 11am-8pm; Sat 11am-7:30pm; Closed Sunday
Booze: None
Subway: L to Lorimer St.
Menu: Click Here
Delivery: No
NY Mag says:

Located on a quiet, gentrified block by the second stop on the L train, this Williamsburg takeout joint offers health-conscious hipsters pan-Asian eating that is at once affordable and yuppie-friendly. The Korean staple bul-go-ki (thinly sliced marinated barbecued beef) is Americanized in a wrap sandwich version complete with lettuce, tomatoes, onions and mayonnaise. A limited sushi menu offers more Anglo-friendly selections, like the Philadelphia roll with an added bonus of avocado, but a better bet is the Lady Octopus special bowl, a toothsome array of salmon, shitake mushrooms, avocado, red cabbage, and other goodies served with sticky white rice.

Lighthouse

145 Borinquen Place
Brooklyn, New York 11211
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347.789.7742

Cuisine: Seafood/American Nouveau
Our Rating: ★ ★ ★★
Cards: All Major
Price: $$$$$
Hours: Tue-Thurs 6pm-Midnight; Fri-Sun 6pm-1am
Booze: Full Bar
Subway: L to Lorimer St.
Menu: Click Here
Delivery: No
Paper Mag says:

South Williamsburg has got a new, much needed restaurant: Lighthouse , built from scratch by first-timers Naama and Assaf Tamir (sister and brother team who cut their teeth at  Employees Only and Maco Trading Company), chef Nicholas Cox , formerly of La Esquina , and a few handy, helpful friends. The moderately priced menu features a locally sourced raw bar (ceviche, crudo, shrimp cocktail), whole fish, grilled steaks, chops, and most uniquely, an extensive, housemade pickle bar. “It’s family-style and we want to encourage sharing,” said Naama, who described the food as “fresh and fun and homey.” Naturally, owing to the Tamirs’ background, both classic and inventive cocktails are also on hand. The casual, airy space, stocked with beautiful wood tables and a long, cherry wood bar, seats 60. The space formerly housed “a drug-infused Dominican club,” said Naama. “An upstairs neighbor told us the music was so loud her dishes used to rattle. It was a totally illegal operation; we found gas tanks in the basement so they were running the place off of generators. I can’t imagine what was going on here.” No wonder the locals are so happy.

image via Yelp

1073 Manhattan Ave,
Brooklyn, NY 11222
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718-389-8990, 718-389-8993

Cuisine: Seafood, Lobster
Cards: All major
Phone: 718-389-8990, 718-389-8993
Price: $$
Hours: Tues – Sun 4pm-2am. Closed Mondays. Kitchen serving till 2am.
Booze: Full bar
Subway: G to Greenpoint Ave.
Menu: Click Here
Website: www.lobsterjoint.com
Delivery: Takeout only

c/o NY Mag

81 Broadway
Brooklyn, NY 11211
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718.384.1441

Cuisine: American Nouveau, Seafood
Our Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Cards: All major
Price: $$$$
Hours: 11am-Midnight Daily
Booze: Full Bar
Subway: L to Bedford Ave.; J,M,Z to Marcy Ave.
Menu: Click Here
Delivery: No
We say:

The best damn oysters in New York. Worth the trek to the out of the way location.

Shecky’s says:

With a sly wink amidst the gently flickering candlelight, your waiter presents oysters with Spanish wine and a subtle selection of freshly sliced gourmet meats and cheeses resting atop an array of soft bread. The intimate wooden room warms with light world music, and a mild breeze floats in through the tiny European-style organic market opening out onto the street. If you can’t score tonight, it’s time for some serious re-evaluating. Recently opened (March 2004) by the owners of the nearby Diner, this combo specialty store, wine bar, and secret shucking cellar was made with an eye for romance. On a misty night, the bridge hovers over like the ghost of a clipper ship. Oh, make your move already! This is an aphrodisiac with a business license.

c/o Grub Street

168 Wythe Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11211
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718.388.8833

Cuisine: Seafood/Mexican
Our Rating: ★ ★ ★
Cards: All Major
Price: $$$
Hours: Dinner/Brunch Hours TBD
Menu: www.rosaritofish.com
Booze: Full Bar
Subway: L to Bedford Ave.
Delivery: No
The Downtown Diaries says:

The moment we’ve all been waiting for… or maybe just I’ve been waiting for… Rosarito Fish Shack / Mezcal Tequila Bar officially opens today in the old Williamburg Cafe spot.  This Mexican pescaderia & cevicheria will be serving a variety of fresh seafood as well as Tequila, Sangria, and Micheladas.   I’m excited to have an alternative to the bourgeois Walter Foods and am even more excited for the…. wait for it… the FISH MARKET they will be hosting every Sat and Sun from 8AM -1PM.

Currently only open for dinner, this neighborhood first promises us brunch is coming.

c/o Grub Street

374 Graham Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11211
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718.387.4181

Cuisine: Seafood/Mediterranean/American
Our Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★
Cards: All Major
Price: $$$
Hours: Mon-Thurs 4pm-Midnight; Fri-Sat 11am-Midnight
Booze: Beer and Wine
Subway: L to Graham Ave.
Menu: Click Here
Delivery: No
NY Mag says:

Think of the menu at Sel de Mer, a new seafood-focused restaurant in the old Najeeb’s space, as “a Mediterranean–meets–Long Island kind of thing,” says chef-owner Jeff Slagg: whole roasted dorade and three moules-frites preparations, but also steamers, fish-cake sliders, and fish and chips. That goes double for the new bar. “I wanted it to look like an old dock,” says Slagg, who did a stint at Oceana and more recently ran the kitchen at Sweetwater. “I’m just really into the water.” With its curtained façade, simple décor, and affordable menu, Sel de Mer reminds us of another cash-only Brooklyn seafood bistro: the original La Bouillabaisse during its Atlantic Avenue heyday. Like that crowd-pleasing spot, Sel de Mer is without wine and beer, for now. But that temporary drawback only helps keep tabs low for meals showcasing generous portions of fresh, imaginatively prepared seafood, like a recent halibut special served over coconut-milk-creamed spinach with crispy potatoes ($14), and a curried grouper ($15) that chef-owner Jeff Slagg dreamed up on a stroll down East 6th Street. There are three versions of moules-frites, and a selection of whole fish of the day. But the best deal might be the pair of so-called fish-cake sliders: two hefty hake burgers on toasted English muffins, served with a mound of cole slaw and the expectation that you’ll need a doggy bag ($12).

Shecky’s says:

Who needs a website, publicity blitz, credit card machine, or even a beer and wine license to launch a hot restaurant? Not seafood specialist Jeff Slagg (an ex-Sweetwater and Oceana chef). His tiny Williamsburg baby may have only a handful of tables and a couple of bar stools, but they’re packed with people slurping on mussels and oysters. This bare-bones place has become incredibly popular the moment the doors opened. The seafood is so fresh that most of the regular menu is sold out before dark. But fear not, there seem to be as many specials as there are dishes on the menu. No matter how busy they are, Sel de Mar’s waitstaff will happily rattle off every detail for you. Hint: it’s all seafood. Even the salads feel fishy. If you’ve never experienced a trout salad, now is your chance. Get it before it’s gone.

Surf Bar

139 N 6th St
Brooklyn, NY 11211
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718.302.4441

Cuisine: Seafood/Italian
Our Rating: ★ ★
Cards: All major
Price: $$
Hours: Mon-Thur Noon-11pm; Fri Noon-12:30am; Sat 11am-12:30am; Sun 11am-Midnight
Booze: Full Bar
Subway: L to Bedford Ave.
Menu: Click Here
Delivery: No
NY Mag says:

Formerly known as Hurricane Hopeful/Carmaya, this minimalist space serves decent, if unspectacular seafood and Italian. Chowders, such as a traditional clam and a spicy Bahamian monkfish, anchor the menu while fried clams, mahimahi burgers and a whole fish of the day reveal a certain amount of ambition. The lobster roll is clam-shack simplicity: tender hunks of meat with just enough mayo to hold everything together. Among the old-world selections, a lobster pappardelle is as toothsome and rich as any nonna’s, but a more distinctive Italian accent comes from the deconstructed, dunkable tiramisu, proof that owner Maya Pizzati hasn’t gone Gidget quite yet. Used boards (some for sale) hang above the wax-cloth-covered tables, and the sand-filled garden is a perfect spot to quaff a mojito. Maine lobster is the special on Wednesdays, and some Sunday nights bring a live jazz trio. The post-Rockaway crowd swears by the weekend brunch, especially the Carmaya Plate, a heaping platter of breakfast items that includes pancakes, eggs, and bacon. Recommended Dishes: Lobster roll, $14; pappardelle with lobster, $14; New England clam chowder, $6.25

Metromix says:

Adorned with suspended surfboards (some for sale) and a sand-strewn floor, Surf Bar brings summer-as-stereotype to Brooklyn. The interior is chock full of surf-related tchotchkies (an odd assortment of beach Barbies included) and shoreline snapshots, and the outdoor patio completes the seasonal vibe. Grab a picnic table while the weather’s warm, and order a cold (and pleasantly potent) tiki cocktail like a pina colada or a caipirinha and munch on a basket of conch fritters, peel-and-eat shrimp or an overflowing lobster roll served in a warm buttered hot dog bun.

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.)