The 20 Best Restaurants in Williamsburg, Greenpoint and Bushwick
Dumont
DUMONT
TAGS: American Nouveau, Brunch (Weekends), Burgers, Fancy Cocktails, Garden/Outdoor Seating, Lorimer
Our favorite Williamsburg restaurant. The regular menu is grounded in a small selection of finely done standards; a house salad, a half-chicken, steak and fries, and burgers. You can do no wrong by ordering one of these, especially the burger, which is so popular, it spawned a spin-off restaurant, Dumont Burger. The combination of excellent meals, a Williamsburg-appropriate casual atmosphere, low prices, and downright welcoming staff make DuMont a classic.
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT DUMONT »
——————————————————-
Rye
RYE
TAGS: American Nouveau, Bedford, Brunch (Weekends), Fancy Cocktails, Open Late, South Williamsburg
With its pre-prohibition era décor and the best Old Fashioned we’ve ever tasted (theirs is made with rye, of course) Rye is a hidden gem. Don’t miss the meatloaf sandwich — it’s made with ground veal, pork, short rib, and duck and comes with house-made pickles. It’s decadent, but amazing. Rye makes a great Bloody Mary too, with a touch of anise, which goes perfect with their Sunday brunch.
——————————————————-
Roberta’s
ROBERTA’S
TAGS: Brunch (Weekends), Bushwick, Garden/Outdoor Seating, Hipster Spottings, Italian, Pizza
You’ll feel like you’ve been invited to a farmhouse in Vermont, until you taste the brick oven pizza which will transport you to Italy. Roberta’s pies rival those found at Motorino for best in the city. Many ingredients are grown on premises in the garden outside. This is our favorite restaurant in Bushwick. Don’t miss their brunch which features much more than pizza.
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT ROBERTA’S »
——————————————————-
Marlow & Sons c/o NY Mag
MARLOW & SONS
TAGS: American Nouveau, Bedford, Breakfast, Brunch (Weekends), Hipster Spottings, Open Late, Seafood
With a moody backdrop of the Williamsburg Bridge this tiny little hole-in-the-wall is our favorite place to go for a good glass of vino and oysters on the halfshell. The menu will please localvores and the intimate atmosphere couldn’t be more inviting. Great for a date, but prepare to wait on the weekends.
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT MARLOW & SONS »
——————————————————-
Bozu (Photo by Robert K. Chin, NY Mag)
BOZU
TAGS: Bedford, Garden/Outdoor Seating, Izakaya, Japanese/Sushi, Lorimer
Sit at the bar at this cozy Japanese joint and enjoy a handful of their small plates. We love the pork belly and the shrimp dumplings, but you can’t go wrong with the sushi either. The strawberry infused vodka is wonderful and has been aged for 8 years and counting. Get a glass to help wash down the fried octopus balls, which we’re told are a staple Japanese bar food. On nice days, the garden is beautiful and festive.
——————————————————-
Fette Sau
FETTE SAU
TAGS: BBQ, Bedford, Delivery, Garden/Outdoor Seating, Hipster Spottings, Lorimer, Open Late, Southern
Prepare to wait in line, but if you’re hankering for a no-frills plate of meat served by the pound, you’ll love Fette Sau. We recommend the pork belly which is hands-down the best (and most fatty) thing on the menu. Otherwise, avoid ribs and meat served on the bone — everything is good, but you are paying by the pound after all. On the downside, the potato salad and the other sides are generally flavorless.
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT FETTE SAU »
——————————————————-
Motorino c/o Eater
MOTORINO
TAGS: Brunch (Weekends), Delivery, Garden/Outdoor Seating, Graham, Italian, Pizza
New York Times says it serves “the city’s best pizza” and we won’t argue. Granted, it’s cozier at Roberta’s but the decadent, rich crust at Motorino gives them the edge. But why compare? Try both.
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT MOTORINO »
——————————————————-
FADA
FADA
TAGS: Bedford, Brunch (Weekends), French, Garden/Outdoor Seating
Williamsburg isn’t known for its French bistros (it’s better known for its surplus of hugely overrated thai food joints) but thankfully we have Fada. Get the mussels, period. They’re among the best we’ve had in the city. On a sour note, the dull wine and beer selection leaves much to be desired.
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT ROBERTA’S »
——————————————————-
Brooklyn Star
BROOKLYN STAR
TAGS: American Traditional, Lorimer, Open Late, Restaurants, Southern
Now in a new more spacious location — the original restaurant closed after a large-scale fire — Brooklyn Star is now serving up comfort food with a Nawlins twist. They no longer have a brick oven, but the menu remains largely the same. And by that, we mean its delicious. Must have dishes include the Dr. Pepper ribs and the
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT BROOKLYN STAR »
——————————————————-
La Superior c/o NY Mag
LA SUPERIOR
TAGS: Bedford, Brunch (Weekends), Delivery, Hipster Spottings, Mexican, Open Late, Recommended, Restaurants, South Williamsburg
This unassuming little hole-in-the-wall has the best Mexican food in the neighborhood. Try the brunch, it’s not to be missed. La Superior also gets extra points for carrying Mexican Coca-Cola which is the way to our hearts. The tacos are among the best we’ve had in New York, albeit too dang delicate and small when we’re hungry.
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT LA SUPERIOR »
——————————————————-
Pies N Thighs
PIES-N-THIGHS
TAGS: Bedford, Breakfast, Brunch (Weekends), Delivery, Garden/Outdoor Seating, Hipster Spottings, Open Late, South Williamsburg, Southern
If you want homemade biscuits, fried chicken, pulled pork and other things that could send you into cardiac arrest, go here. It makes the risk one worth taking. From kale to mac-n-cheese to blackeyed peas, you could make a meal from the impeccable sides alone. Comfort food at its best and you can’t beat the price (entrees are $10-$12 bucks). On the downside the pies are just mediocre, especially after indulging in the amazing chicken and waffles.
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT PIES & THIGHS »
——————————————————-
Sel De Mar (c/o Grub Street)
SEL DE MER
TAGS: American Nouveau, Brunch (Weekends), Graham, Mediterranean, Seafood
The owner’s intention was to create a cozy little place that would transport his customers to one of those seaside fried fish shacks you find in New England. He succeeded. The beer-battered fish is excellent. Actually everything is.
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT SEL DE MAR »
——————————————————-
Tabaré
TABARÉ
TAGS: Bedford, Garden/Outdoor Seating, Good for Groups, South American, South Williamsburg
With the explosion of South American restaurants popping up in Williamsburg, it can be hard to truly stand out. But the recently opened Uruguayan eatery Tabaré will have no problem gaining attention. The interior of Tabaré is intimate and cozy, with concrete floors and soft lighting. Tabaré’s menu is varied with Mediterranean and Italian influences, with pasta dishes aplenty-I’m told it’s a staple of the Uruguayan diet. The owners said they wanted to serve what would be offered at a typical restaurant in Uruguay.
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT TABARE »
——————————————————-
Zenkichi
ZENKICHI
TAGS: Bedford, Izakaya, Japanese/Sushi, Open Late
This place wins for best atmosphere and for the best place to take a date. Dark, shadowy and filled with mirrors and hidden rooms, you’ll feel like you’re in a 40s film noir. Plus the Japanese tapas served here are great. Try the tasting menu for two and don’t miss the very affordable sake sampler. Also, try the Maguro Carpaccio, a tuna dish lightly coated with sweet sesame marinade and wrapped around chilled, thin slices of radish and chives. Delicious.
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT ZENKICHI »
——————————————————-
Bamonte’s (c/o NY Mag)
BAMONTE’S
When you visit Bamonte’s, it’s like stepping onto the set of the Sopranos. Once popular with the Mafioso, this Italian staple still holds campy charm and great food, that is, if you know what to order. Ask your server, likely a dude who loves Frank and has been working there since the 50s, which pastas are homemade. This is important: only order the homemade pastas. (They’re cheap and, trust us, you’ll be disappointed with the other more expensive items on the menu). Get a side of escarole and, if your server is taking too long, use the doorbell on the wall beside your table to get his attention. If you order coffee it comes with free Ouzo. Yahoo.
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT BAMONTE’S »
——————————————————
Saltie
SALTIE
TAGS: Bakery, Bedford, Breakfast, Coffee Shop/Cafe, Lorimer, Sandwiches
Blink and you’ll miss this tiny sandwich & dessert shop on Metropolitan Ave, which was opened by two former Diner chefs in early 2010. The interior of Saltie is sparse; only eight stools are available as seating options. Even though Saltie isn’t a place to linger and park yourself for a few hours, the food is so amazing that we keep coming back time and time again. Try the Scuttlebutt and Clean Plate for amazing combinations of flavors that you’d never think would work on the salty focaccia bread that all sandwiches are served on. The desserts change daily, but we’re partial to the olive oil loaf cake.
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT SALTIE »
——————————————————
Roebling Tea Room
ROEBLING TEA ROOM
TAGS: American Traditional, Bedford, Breakfast, Brunch (Weekends), Coffee Shop/Cafe, Fancy Cocktails, Garden/Outdoor Seating, Hipster Spottings, Lorimer
Open from the wee hours of the morning until late at night, Roebling Tea Room offers everything one could want-amazing breakfast, tasty lunch, and incredible dinner options. The interior of Robeling Tea Room is the bottom floor of a large loft building. The ceilings are high, and the lighting is soft from the sunlight streaming in and the candles that line the walls during the evening. Keeping to the name of the place, there’s a full booklet of teas served, but if that isn’t your thing you can also have creative cocktails crafted for you on the spot.
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT ROEBLING TEA ROOM »
——————————————————
Five Leaves
FIVE LEAVES
TAGS: American Nouveau, Breakfast, Brunch (Weekends), Coffee Shop/Cafe, Delivery, Fancy Cocktails, Garden/Outdoor Seating
Our favorite Australian/American Café sits right on the border of Greenpoint and Williamsburg and serves eclectic food at all hours of the day. Fresh flowers are everywhere you look, and the décor is nautically themed which is always a plus in our books. Our favorite pancakes are from here on the weekend brunch menu, but we also love the truffle fries.
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT FIVE LEAVES »
——————————————————
Diner
DINER
TAGS: American Nouveau, American Traditional, Bedford, Brunch (Weekends), Burgers, Diner, Garden/Outdoor Seating, Open Late, South Williamsburg
Located near the rustic Williamsburg Bridge, when you step into Diner, which inhabits a refurbished 1926-dining car, you’re immediately transported to another era. Serving American Nouveau food, the menu appears sparse at first until you realize that each entrée is a constantly changing special of the day. Brunch is our favorite meal there, although the dinner ranks pretty high on our list as well.
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT DINER »
——————————————————
Brooklyn Bowl
BROOKLYN BOWL
TAGS: American Traditional, BBQ, Bowling, Good for Groups, Live Music, Music Club, Notable Beer, Open Late, Sandwiches, Southern
Bowling alleys aren’t generally known for their food, but most don’t have award-winning chefs cooking for them either. The people behind Blue Ribbon Seafood have taken a stab at American comfort food and are largely successful. We love their wings and fried chicken, but the oyster po’ boy and catfish sandwich are great too. Wash it down with one of the many local beers they have on tap.
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT BROOKLYN BOWL »
——————————————————
ACCESS ALL OF OUR LISTINGS AT WWW.FREEWILLIAMSBURG.COM/LISTINGS
Fiona Goldstein is the food editor of Free Williamsburg. Contact her at fiona@freewilliamsburg.com for any questions/comments.