Air Pizza
image c/o itsthetastebuds.com
CUISINE: Pizza, Chicken
ADDRESS: 227 Roebling Street, Brooklyn, NY 11211
PHONE: 718.302.1149
BOOZE: None
MENU: Click Here
SUBWAY: L Train to Bedford or Lorimer
MAP: Click Here
DELIVERY: Yes
The Williamsburg, Brooklyn Restaurant Guide
ALL | BEDFORD | LORIMER | GRAHAM | GREENPOINT
EAST W-BURG | SOUTH W-BURG | RECOMMENDED | NEW
Atlas Cafe
CUISINE: Coffeeshop
ADDRESS: 116 Havemeyer Street, Brooklyn, NY 11211
PHONE: 718.782.7470
HOURS: Daily, 7am-10pm
CARDS: Cash Only
BOOZE: None
SUBWAY: L at Bedford Ave. ; G, L at Metropolitan Ave.-Lorimer St.; J, M, Z at Marcy Ave.
MAP: Click Here
CUP ON NY SAYS: Atlas Cafe is perfectly located for people-watching. The floor-to-ceiling windows along two walls of the cafe let in a ton of light too, so it's a fun place to sit and relax over a cappuccino, which is well made... As a plus, if you go before around 2:00 on a weekend, it's easy to find a seat -- unlike most coffee shops in less densely-hipsterized areas.
* Baci & Abbracci
image c/o Flickr
CUISINE: Italian and Gourmet Pizza
ADDRESS: 204 Grand St., Brooklyn, NY 11211
nr. Bedford Ave.
PHONE: 718.599.6599
HOURS: Mon-Fri, 4pm-midnight; Sat-Sun, noon-1am
CARDS: American Express, MasterCard, Visa
BOOZE: Full Bar
ENTREES: $10-$22
MENU: Click Here
BRUNCH: Yes, Weekends
SUBWAY: L at Bedford Ave.
MAP: Click Here
DELIVERY: Yes, S. 9th St. to N. 15th St., Manhattan Ave. to Kent Ave.
WEBSITE: www.baciabbracciny.com
TIME OUT NY SAYS: Though its name means "hugs and kisses" in Italian, Baci & Abbracci carefully balances its grandma-style Italian rusticity with a Euro-chic sensibility. Subtle architectural touches, like saucer-shaped light fixtures and a chrome-furniture-filled back garden, lend the casual eatery a modern, space-age look. The old-world influences pop up in the kitchen. The bulging wood-burning oven (imported from Naples) evokes the homeland, and Sorrento native Francesco Mastellone tosses the pies. In addition to pizzas, the menu includes classic dishes like sauteed calamari and veal milanese. We especially liked the polpa e patate appetizer, meaty hunks of octopus and boiled potato slices tossed with slivers of zesty raw garlic, olive oil and plenty of parsley. We also enjoyed a sauceless pizza topped with chewy smoked mozzarella, strips of mild pancetta and caramelized onions. Unfortunately, the crust lacked the crispness of a perfect thin-crust pie. A dessert, torta di nonna, with custardy sabayon, chocolate-cream piping, and crushed, toasted pine nuts and pecans, was named for -- you guessed it -- grandma.
* Bamonte's
image c/o livinginny
CUISINE: Old school Italian
ADDRESS: 32 Withers Street, Brooklyn NY 11211
(between Lorimer St. & Union Ave.)
PHONE: 718.384.8831
HOURS: Mon and Wed-Thu, noon-10:30pm; Fri-Sat, noon-11pm; Sun, noon-10pm; Tue, closed
CARDS: MasterCard, Visa
BOOZE: Wine/Beer/Spirits
AVERAGE ENTREE: $13-$20
MENU: Click Here
SUBWAY: G, L at Metropolitan Ave.-Lorimer St.
MAP: Click Here
WEBSITE: www.bamontesrestaurant.com
DELIVERY: Take-Out only
WE SAY: Established in 1900, Bamonte's has the best Italian atmosphere in the hood. Has an old-school, Sopranos feel and is gloriously hipster free. Plus, many of the pastas are homemade. Bamontes effin rules and is a hidden treasure. The best place in Williamsburg to take out of towners. Be sure to make a reservation on weekends. Bamonte's will make you feel like you have gone back in time to experience the authentic American Italian experience in Brooklyn.
Bao
image c/o Rewards Network
CUISINE: Paninis, Italian, American
ADDRESS: 633 Grand Street, Brooklyn, NY 11211
(between Leonard St & Manhattan Ave)
PHONE: 718.782.3330
HOURS: Mon-Sun: 10:00AM - 10:00PM
CARDS: All major
BOOZE: Full bar
MENU: Click Here
SUBWAY: L Train to Lorimer
MAP: Click Here
Rewards Network SAYS: Bao Bar & Lounge is a place to grab a nice bite including assorted authentic Italian Panini (pressed sandwiches). Plus it's a comfortable lounge to come to and unwind from a hectic day. A liquor license is pending and is expected in the very near future. Then a full bar will await serving everything from beer and wine to martini's and other mixed drinks.
Black Betty
CUISINE: Mediterranean
ADDRESS: 366 Metropolitan Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11211
at Havemeyer St.
PHONE: 718.599.0243
HOURS: Daily, 6pm-4am
CARDS: American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
BOOZE: Full Bar
HAPPY HOUR: Daily, 6:30pm-9pm; $3 margaritas and Brooklyn lagers, $5 mojitos
AVERAGE ENTREE: $10
MENU: Click Here
SUBWAY: L Train to Lorimer or Bedford
DIRECTIONS: Walk beneath the BQE on Metropolitan Avenue for about 2 1/2 blocks. Black Betty will be on your left, just before Havemeyer Street.
MAP: Click Here
DELIVERY: Yes
PAPER MAG SAYS: "Though Black Betty doesn't look like much from the outside, once you're inside you feel transported to a dive bar in Casablanca. Pumpkin-colored walls and eclectic appointments like an I Dream of Jeannie horseshoe-shaped couch and tapestries add to the cozy environment. The vibe is carried to fruition by an adjacent restaurant that prepares 'nouvelle Middle Eastern' fare. Black Betty attracts all walks of life, making it the perfect spot to soak up booze and Brooklyn-by-way-of-Marrakech bohemia alike."
* Bozu
Photo by Robert K. Chin, NY Mag
Eclectic Asian/Japanese Tapas
296 Grand Street, Brooklyn NY 11211
(between Havemeyer and Roebling Sts.)
PHONE: 718-384-7770
HOURS: Sun-Thu, 6pm-midnight; Fri-Sat, 6pm-1am
BOOZE: full bar
CARDS: MasterCard, Visa
AVERAGE ENTREE: $8-$20
MENU: Click Here
MAP: Click Here
SUBWAY: L Train to Bedford
Buffalo Cantina
Mexican
149 Havemeyer Street Brooklyn, NY 11211
L Train to Lorimer of Bedford
PHONE: 718.218.7788
FAX: 718.218.7761
MAP: Click Here
MENU: Click Here
Website: Click Here
FREE DELIVERY
Cheers
Thai
612 Metropolitan Ave
PHONE: (718) 599-4311
AVERAGE ENTREE: $8
CARDS: Visa/MC/AmEx
BOOZE: Beer only
DELIVERY: Yes
MAP: Click Here (Lorimer/Graham stop on L train)
MENU: Click Here
Free Delivery
WE SAY: If you want to take out-of-towners to a restaurant and show them what a cool neighborhood you live in, take them to planet Thai. If you want great Thai food, go to Cheers. Worthy of it's name, Cheers' classically tasteful interior of dark wood and navy blue booths is the most comfortable and low-key Thai restaurant among many around town, and in the summer months, the garden at cheers is nothing short of a dream.
The menu is short and simple with all of the classic Thai dishes done very well. Pad Thai, summer rolls, and curries are exceptional and the famous Thai hot and sour soup, tomyum goong, is second to none. For four straight Sundays, I went to cheers and had the pineapple shrimp curry served in a clay pot and loved it every time. Averaging about $8 per entree, Cheers is a pleasure that can be afforded again and again; and they deliver.
Chimu
image c/o Williamsburger
Peruvian Cuisine
482 Union Ave
PHONE: 718-349-1208
MAP: Click Here
MENU: Click Here
WE SAY: The ambience leaves much to be desired, but the food is fresh, unusual, and amazing. Chimu is omur favorite new Williamsburg restaurant. Best of all, it is usually fairly hipster free since the owners are actually Peruvian. Their BYOB policy is due to expire as soon as they get a license, so take advantage while it lasts.
Destefano's Steakhouse
image c/o Noah Kalina
CUISINE: Steakhouse
ADDRESS: 89 Conselyea Street, Brooklyn, NY 11211
PHONE: 718.384.2836
CARDS: All major
HOURS: Tue-Sun 5pm-10pm
BOOZE: Full bar
SUBWAY: L at Lorimer or Graham, G at Metropolitan Ave
MAP: Click Here
MENU: Click Here
CITY SEARCH SAYS: Williamsburg hipsters aren't really prime contenders for steakhouse dining, but DeStefano's courts more of an old-school neighborhood crowd anyway. Family photos line the walls, a fireplace heats up cold winter nights, and the tin ceiling already looks worn in. The real cred, however, comes from owner Joey DeStefano: He's lived in the neighborhood for years, and the restaurant is located in his mother's former house. Steaks as thick as the last Harry Potter book arrive on hot plates, Luger-style. Dry-aged porterhouse has a pleasantly salty char but isn't pink enough in the center, while filet mignon gets a moisture boost from a side of Tuscan beans simmered with sausage. And though cottage style fries are too dry and broccoli rabe too soggy, other non-beef options, like the chipotle-spice crab cakes and delicate pistachio-crusted lamb shops, impress. And the fluffy ricotta cheesecake gives another Brooklyn institution, Junior's, a real run for its money. Though steaks make an admirable stand, lamb chops and cheesecake are the surprise menu champs. Sides let down their meaty main attractions, especially the dry-as-a-bone fries. The mostly Italian wine list offers something for every budget ($30 to more than $100).
* Dumont
CUISINE: American Noveau/American Comfort
ADDRESS: 432 Union Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11211
(between Devoe St. and Metropolitan)
PHONE: 718.486.7717
HOURS: Mon-Sat, 11am-3pm and 6pm-11pm; Sun, 11am-3:30pm and 6pm-11pm
CARDS: MasterCard, Visa
BOOZE: Full Bar
AVERAGE ENTREE: $12-$21
MENU: Click Here
BRUNCH: Yes, Sat, 11am-3pm; Sun, 11am-3:30pm
SUBWAY: G, L at Metropolitan Ave.-Lorimer St.
MAP: Click Here
DELIVERY: Take-out only
EXTRAS: Outdoor dining in one of the 'burgs best gardens
WEBSITE: www.dumontrestaurant.com
WE SAY: 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. By DuMont's burger alone they deserve to be famous. From well done to rare there's a blackened savory flavor on the outside that makes the DuMont burger distinctivley wonderful. The skate with mashed potatoes is equally divine and the mac & cheese entree is to die for. Always well executed and varied specials add to the menu. True to the doctrine of New American cooking, the specials adhere to the seasons. This summer I enjoyed a wonderful herb-stuffed trout, and on Valentine's Day their entrees of coq au vin and bacon wrapped monkfish medallions were perfect for the occasion. Although open for several years, DuMont has the feel of a decades old establishment. The combination of excellent meals, a Williamsburg-appropriate casual atmosphere, low prices, and downright welcoming staff make DuMont a classic. On the downside, they do get a bit crowded, especially during the colder months when the garden is not open.
Enid's
560 Manhattan Ave.
MENU: Click Here
BOOZE: Full Bar
CARDS: Cash Only
HOURS: Mon-Fri 5pm-4am; Sat-Sun 10am-4am
SUBWAY: G to Nassau Ave, L to Bedford Ave
PHONE: (718) 349-3859
MAP: Click Here
WE SAY: One of our favorite local bars. Plus they serve a great brunch and dinner. We had our misgivings since, well Enids is more of a bar than a restaurant, but surprisingly the food is great! One of the best -- and crowded -- brunches in the neighborhood.
* Falafel Chula
CUISINE: Middle Eastern
ADDRESS: 436 Union Ave., Brooklyn, New York 11211
(Between Devoe Street and Metropolitan Ave.)
PHONE: 718.387.0303
HOURS: Mon-Sat 12pm-12am
CARDS: Cash Only
BOOZE: None
AVERAGE ENTREE:
MENU: Click Here
SUBWAY: L at Lorimer St; G at Metropolitan Ave
MAP: Click Here
DELIVERY: Yes
EXTRAS: Outdoor dining
WE SAY: The owner of Taco Chula has taken over the storefront and garden formerly known as Uncle Mina. Though not as upscale as its taco counterpart, if frequent dining is an indication of a good eating joint, this one may be our current #1. For the past week we've ordered take out from Falafel Chula almost every night. The reasons: a). They’re inexpensive and quick for a working girl like myself who doesn’t always feel like cooking. b). Their Middle Eastern food is fresh and we can tell they change the oil in the fryer frequently. c). The staff is so nice that it’s like our falafel sandwich is not only wrapped in pita, but packaged with love. Love from a waitstaff is pretty hard to find these days, especially in snarky Williamsburg, so we’re going to take all we can get. We have been having a difficult time moving beyond the Deluxe Falafel sandwich. The roasted eggplant and freshly fried green falafel is some of the best we’ve had in the city. We’ll let you know how the other menu items are when we grow tired of this sandwich. But we suspect it’s going to be a while.
- Amy Brown
* Fette Sau
image c/o World's Best Ever
354 Metropolitan Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11211 (at Havemyer St.)
Barbeque
PHONE: 718-963-3404
MAP: Click Here (Lorimer or Bedford Stop on L train)
BOOZE: Full Bar
CARDS: Mastercard, Visa
HOURS: Sun-Thu, 5pm-2am; Fri-Sat, 5pm-4am
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.
- Amy Brown
* Fiore
image c/o City Search
CUISINE: Italian
ADDRESS: 284 Grand Street., Brooklyn, NY 11211
nr. Roebling Street
PHONE: 718.782.8222
HOURS: Mon-Thu, 5pm-11pm; Fri, 5pm-midnight; Sat, 11am-midnight; Sun, 11am-11pm
CARDS: Cash only
BOOZE: Full bar
AVERAGE ENTREE: $12-$14
MENU: Brunch | Dinner
BRUNCH: Weekends
SUBWAY: L at Bedford Ave.; G, L at Metropolitan Ave.-Lorimer St.
MAP: Click Here
NY MAG SAYS: In no time at all we zoom over the Williamsburg Bridge to the charmingly rustic Fiore, with its spiffy service, flea-market treasures, and enticing Italian home cooking. Warming up over a bottle of Mount Veeder Cabernet, the six of us share the excellent grilled pizzas, all of them: bianca with cheese and prosciutto, a peppery two-cheese pie, and the house's namesake, paved with zucchini and perfumed with truffled Robiola cheese. Then it's on to a runny Burrata, a mound of fried calamaretti and zucchini, and a salad that mixes roasted butternut squash, radicchio, Pecorino, and walnuts--enough to share. When Teodora's chef-owner Giancarlo Quadalti finished restoring this crumbling little building, he realized he didn't want to run a trattoria beneath his own duplex, so he persuaded chef Roberto Aita of Roc to cross the bridge. Now Quadalti stops by for dinner often, joining us tonight for cavatelli with broccoli rabe and sausage, and monkfish with roasted garlic, preserved lemon, and caper sauce. I've tasted three versions of bucatini all'amatriciana in the past week, and this one, just $9, is the best. Twelve dollars for half a giant-size chicken on roasted potatoes gives new strength to the dollar. Next time I'll ask for the herbed fries or roasted potatoes "extra crispy." Of the $4 desserts, I like the polenta cake and a primitive apple torta, but the tiramisu has uptown class. Our penny-pinching pals with a car are already planning an encore, and I'll be joining them.
Food Swings
Vegan Fast Food
295 Grand Street
PHONE: (718) 387-1919
AVERAGE ENTREE: $6
MAP: Click Here (Bedford or Lorimer Stop on L train)
MENU: Click Here
HOURS: Monday closed, Tues-Thurs 5pm to 12am, Friday 5pm to 2am, Saturday 12pm to 2am, Sunday 2pm to 11pm
FREE DELIVERY
Fortunato Brothers
Italian Bakery
289 Manhattan Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11211
Phone: 718.387.2281
Map: Click Here
* Gimme! Coffee
Coffee shop
495 Lorimer St. (between Powers and Grand)
[L train to Lorimer]
PHONE: 718.388.7771
HOURS: Daily, 7am-8pm
WEB: Click Here
WE SAY: The best coffee in Williamsburg. Plus, they sell their own delicious beans for home brewing!
* Huckleberry Bar
image c/o NY Mag
CUISINE: A fancy cocktail bar with sandwiches, cheeses, and appertizers
LOCATION: 588 Grand Street, Brooklyn NY 11211
between Leonard and Lorimer
PHONE: 718.218.8555
HOURS: 4pm-4am every day
CARDS: all major
MAP: Click Here
SUBWAY: L Train to Lorimer
MENU: click here
WEB: www.huckleberrybar.com
MYSPACE: www.myspace.com/huckleberrybar
EATER SAYS: Bars are a dime a dozen in Williamsburg, but the pedigree of the team behind Huckleberry Bar sets it apart from the pack (two clichés in one sentence!). Owners Stephanie Schneider and Andrew Boggs and chef Seth Johnson have all done time in one or more of Danny Meyer's joints. They are offering, per Lady Strongbuzz, 'well-valued wines by the glass, inventive seasonal cocktails and carefully chosen imported and domestic beers' as well as small plates (natch). It all seems a bit fancy for East Williamsburg, but hey, if Wombat can survive over there...
Jimmy's Diner
image c/o Flickr
(formerly Union Picnic)
CUISINE: Southern Comfort
ADDRESS: 577 Union Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11211
at N. 10th Street
PHONE: 718.218.7174
DELIVERY: yes
HOURS: 10am-10pm
CARDS: Cash Only
MENU: Click Here
SUBWAY: G, L at Metropolitan Ave.-Lorimer Street
MAP: Click Here
Kellogg's Diner
Standard Diner Fare
518 Metropolitan Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11211 (at Union Ave.)
PHONE: 718-782-4502
CARD: Cash only
BOOZE: No alcohol
SUBWAY: G, L at Metropolitan Ave.-Lorimer St.
MAP: Click Here
MENU: Click Here
WE SAY: The absolute shittiest diner in the United States of America.
Lady Octopus
Seafood/Sushi
495 Lorimer Street, Brooklyn, NY 11211
PHONE: (718) 384-2437
HOURS: Open Mon- Sat 11am-8:30pm
CARDS: Visa/MC
MAP: Click Here
MENU: Click Here
495 Lorimer Street, Brooklyn, NY 11211
PHONE: (718) 384-2437
HOURS: Open Mon- Sat 11am-8:30pm
CARDS: Visa/MC
MAP: Click Here
MENU: Click Here
Lazy Catfish
Southern Comfort Food
593 Lorimer Street, Brooklyn, NY 1121
PHONE: 718.599.9055
SUBWAY: L to Lorimer or Graham
MAP: Click Here
HOURS: Open 7 Days; 3pm-2am
MENU: Click Here
Le Barricou
Photo by Morini & Montanari for New York Magazine
CUISINE: French Bistro
ADDRESS: 533 Grand Street, Brooklyn, NY 11211
(at Union Street)
PHONE: 718.782.7372
HOURS: Mon-Fri, 5pm-11pm; Sat-Sun, 11am-4pm and 5pm-11pm
CARDS: Cash Only
BOOZE: Full Bar
ENTREES: $9-$16
MENU: Click Here
BRUNCH: Sat.-Sun., 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
SUBWAY: G, L at Metropolitan Ave.-Lorimer St.
MAP: Click Here
WEB: http://www.lebarricouny.com/
DELIVERY: Yes, 6-11pm, 10 block radius
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."