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
Blackbird Parlour
image c/o Gowanus Lounge
CUISINE: Coffee/Tea/Sandwiches/Wine Bar
ADDRESS: 197 Bedford Ave, Brooklyn NY 11211
PHONE: 718.599.2707
HOURS: Mon-Fri 8am-11:30pm; Sat, Sun 10am-11:30pm
CARDS: All Major
SUBWAY: L to Bedford Ave
MAP: Click Here
DELIVERY: No
TIMEOUT SAYS: From the owners of Queens hangouts Oleput Lollipop and Sparrow comes this Greek-inflected café. Choose from 23loose-leaf teas, plus sandwiches—like a grilled manouri cheese—that reflect the proprietors’ Hellenic heritage.
* Bridge Vineyards Urban Winery
image c/o Eater
20 Broadway, Brooklyn, NY 11211 (nr. Kent Ave)
PHONE: 718.384.2800
HOURS: Wed-Sun, noon-midnight; Mon-Tue, closed
MENU: Click Here
CUISINE: mainly a wine bar but Italian & Spanish Tapas are available
SUBWAY: J, M, Z at Marcy Ave.; L at Bedford Ave.
MAP: Click Here
WEBSITE: http://www.bridgevineyards.com
WINE PRICES: $6-$12
CARDS: American Express, MasterCard, Visa
BOOZE: Beer and Wine Only
RESERVATIONS: Not Accepted
NY TIMES SAYS: Greg Sandor and Paul Wegimont, the owners, have opened Bridge Vineyards Urban Winery and Tasting Room, an industrial, brick-walled space nudging the Williamsburg Bridge. Their wines and others are available for tasting with small plates of wine-friendly food ($4 to $10). Come fall, they hope to start using the stainless steel tank on the premises for blending wines and bottling, too.
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).
* 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.
The Habitat
CUISINE: Bar Food
ADDRESS: 988 Manhattan Ave., Greenpoint
PHONE: 718.383.5615
HOURS: Monday thru Friday 4pm to close
Saturday and Sunday 2pm to close
SUBWAY: G train to Greenpoint Ave, exit at India Street,
located one block north on Manhattan Ave.
MAP: Click Here
WEBSITE: Click Here
CARDS: American Express, MasterCard, Visa
BOOZE: Full Bar [beer/spirits menu]
MENU: Click Here
HAPPY HOUR: 4pm - 7pm
"2 for 1" Victory, Sweet Action, Lagunitas and Penn Dark
$2 off Well Drinks
$8 Glass of Sangria + Empanada
$4 Mac & Cheese
GOTHAMIST SAYS: New York City's urban rustic trend keeps on trucking with the newest addition to Greenpoint’s ever-expanding nightlife scene, The Habitat. Housed in an old convenience store and built with lumber salvaged from as far away as Maine, the bar and restaurant will let Brooklynites savor back porch ambiance without having to breathe the air from the nearby sewage treatment plant. The kitchen is located behind what looks to be the exterior wall of a house, and a raised deck seems destined for late-night bluegrass jams. Chef Ashley Engmann, former manager at Park South and cook at Lotus, [prepares] mostly-American small plate menu, though her specialty is said to be her empanadas. A pecan mandarin salad, a twice baked potato, cheeseburgers, sandwiches and other late night snacks are also planned. The yellow pine bar, salvaged from an old mechanic shop, is irreverently topped with cement in the center, and 12 beers, mostly microbrews, will be on tap, as well as wine and spirits.
* 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...
* Il Passatore
CUISINE: Italian
ADDRESS: 14 Bushwick Avenue (between Metropolitan ave & Devoe st)
PHONE: 718.963.3100
HOURS: 7 days 12pm to 10pm
CARDS: Cash Only
BOOZE: Yes (wine list)
ENTREES: $10-$15
MENU: Click Here
SUBWAY: L to Graham or Grand
MAP: Click Here
DELIVERY: Yes
WEBSITE: Click Here
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
Mighty Diamond
CUISINE: Caribbean-Style Vegetarian/Vegan
ADDRESS: 347 Graham Avenue, Williamsburg Brooklyn
between Metropolitan and Conselyea
PHONE: 718.384.7778
HOURS: noon-midnight, every day
CARDS: Cash
BOOZE: None
MENU: Click Here
SUBWAY: L to Graham Ave
MAP: Click Here
DELIVERY: None
CITY SEARCH SAYS: Nestled into a relatively quiet section of Williamsburg, this brightly painted spot draws a neighborhood mixture of budget-conscious youngsters and health-conscious elders. Combo plates ranging from $7 to $11 are a good way to try several different items off the ever-changing menu of Rastafarian-approved dishes like jerk tofu, spicy chickpeas, and curried seitan "goat." Dairy-free desserts such as banana cake and ginger cookies round out the meal with a sampling of the Caribbean's sweeter side. Wash down your meal with a traditional Jamaican beverage like ginger beer or sorrel juice. Alcohol is not served, but you are welcome to bring your own; several nearby bodegas are well-stocked with specialty beers. This restaurant is counter-service only, and you will earn high marks with staff for busing your own table.
Miranda
80 Berry St., Brooklyn, NY 11211 (nr. N. 9th Street)
CUISINE: Italian and Latin American
PHONE: 718.387.0711
HOURS: Mon-Wed, 5:30pm-10:30pm; Thu-Sat, 5:30pm-11pm; Sun, noon-3:30pm and 5:30pm-10:30pm
SUBWAY: L at Bedford Ave.
MAP: Click here
MENU: Click Here
PRICES: $14-$24
CARDS: All Major
BOOZE: Beer and Wine Only
RESERVATIONS: Reservations are only accepted for groups of five or more.
WEBSITE: Click Here
NY MAG SAYS: Miranda is a mom-and-pop shop done up in the simple style of a neighborhood trattoria. Sasha Rodriguez, the Queens-bred daughter of a Dominican father and Irish-American mother, runs the kitchen, while her fiance, Mauricio Miranda, of Guerrero, Mexico, works the dining room like a young Silvano Marchetto--greeting guests as if they were long lost relatives, recommending bottles of (often organic) wine, and occasionally breaking into a little cha-cha-cha dance whenever the joy of owning and operating a restaurant with the woman he loves becomes too much.
The couple met while working at Verbena, started dating, and soon dreamed of opening a place of their own. What kind of place they didn't know. Subsequent stints at Alto and the C.I.A. Italian program (Sasha) and L'Impero and Spigolo (Mauricio) convinced them that combining the Latin American cooking they grew up on with their love for Italian food was a good way to go.
And for the most part it is, thanks to the fact that the menu doesn't hit you over the head with the fusion conceit. The problem with cross-culinary cooking of this sort is that it can seem far-fetched or forced, like the gastronomic equivalent of an arranged marriage. Not so here: Latinized arancini are a little too soft and crumbly on the outside, but they're dappled with a bright tomato sauce and filled with a winning mixture of chopped spinach and Mexican chorizo. A salsa guajillo is a good, smoky match for breaded and fried smoked mozzarella. Other appetizers, like mussels marinara, and a sparkling salad of baby romaine, ricotta salata, and sun-dried tomato, for example, simply forgo fusion altogether.
Mizu
image c/o Eater
CUISINE: Sushi & Japanese
ADDRESS: 192 Bedford Ave, Brooklyn 11211
Btwn N 6th & N 7th Streets
PHONE: 718.782.6666, 781.782.6665
HOURS: Mon.– Thu. 1:00 pm - 11:30 pm
Fri. & Sat. 1:00 pm - 12:00 midnight
Sun. 1:00 pm - 11:00 pm
CARDS: All Major
BOOZE: Beer & Sake
AVERAGE ENTREE:
MENU: Click Here
SUBWAY: L Train to Bedford
MAP: Click Here
DELIVERY: Yes
WEBSITE: Click Here
Mulholland's
CUISINE: Sports bar with pub fare
ADDRESS: 312 Grand Street Williamsburg Brooklyn, 11211
(Located at the corner of Grand and Havemeyer)
PHONE: 718.486.3473
HOURS: Mon-Wed 4PM to 2AM, Thurs - Sat 4PM to 4AM, Sunday 12PM to 12AM
DIRECTIONS: From Lorimer L Train: Walk beneath the BQE on Metropolitan Avenue for about three blocks. Take a left on Havemeyer Avenue and walk another two blocks. Take a right on Grand
Avenue and The Pub will be on your left.
MAP: Click Here
SUBWAY: L Train to Bedford Ave or Lorimer
WEBSITE: www.mulhollandsbklyn.com
MENU: Click Here
BROOKLYN PAPER SAYS: On a recent Monday night, Williamsburg's newest sports bar was packed. Everyone in Mulholland's had one thing in common: a thirst for free beer. Free beer may, in fact, be the only explanation for beefy fraternity types in football jerseys and the neighborhood's trademarked bespectacled hipster to be mingling; when I returned the following Wednesday, the bar had lost the grandeur of its opening and was nearly empty. Far from the energetic nightspots that Billyburg is known for, Mulholland's felt more like a bar in a strip mall. But Sean Mulholland, who owns the watering hole along with his brother Bill, insisted that the neighborhood's chic, young residents are really "closet sports fans." The Mulholland brothers spent years working in bars, clubs and restaurants -- most recently Eugene, a glossy lounge in Manhattan -- and had been looking to buy their own spot for the past two years. Although they initially looked at Manhattan's Lower East Side, Williamsburg's cheaper rents and less commercial vibe won them over. "We just fell in love with the neighborhood," said Sean. "It's like a small town -- everyone's really sweet. It's almost like there's a Midwest feel, which we think is awesome!" Local residents might quibble with his assertion that they're akin to Midwesterners, but the Grand Street corridor is quickly becoming more high-end, and therefore more open to a wider variety of nightlife options. KEEP READING.
* Nita Nita
image c/o NY Press
CUISINE: Spanish Tapas
ADDRESS: 146 Wythe Ave (At N. 8th St.)
PHONE: 718.388.5328
CARDS: Cash Only
HOURS: Mon-Fri 4pm-1am, Sat-Sun 11am-4pm, 5pm-1am
BOOZE: Full bar
SUBWAY: L to Bedford Ave
BRUNCH: weekends between 11am and 4pm
MAP: Click Here
MENU: Click Here
NY PRESS SAYS: There is a smattering of tapas joints amid the ever-expanding dining landscape of Williamsburg, and most of them feel about as authentic as the infamous "loft-style" luxury apartment buildings that have been popping up in the neighborhood even more rapidly than restaurants. That changed three months ago, when Nita Nita, a tapas bar actually worth venturing into, opened its doors. Plate-glass storefront windows and a yawning set of doors reveal a candlelit interior with warm tones and clean lines that don't try too hard. Nita Nita's menu is Spanish-inspired and eclectic and the recipe list, like the decor, is pared-down. And with a short but appealing selection of wine, food and cocktails, patrons feel like they've stepped into the local bar they've always looked for, but classier, and with a delicate buttery scent calling to them from the kitchen. The cozy interior of Nita Nita was the perfect spot for dinner one rainy summer night since the place never feels too crowded, but there are always just enough people chatting with owner Samantha Di Stefano, or petting the part-time resident dog for you to feel welcome....An alcove behind the kitchen offers more seating, a well-stocked jukebox and a door to the back garden, which, while we visited, was being steadily drummed by rain. Although Nita Nita's mixed drink specials ($10 each), including the Tequila Mockingbird and Ginger Rummy, are the most innovative part of the menu, an insidious hangover prevented me from diving into the cocktail options. However, compelled by my duty as a responsible journalist, I returned the following night to try the Barton Pear, an insanely good combination of Grey Goose Lapoire, fresh pineapple and orange juice, seven up and a few other ingredients I failed to note as the drink went to work on my short-term memory. We started with an appetizer special of brie on a toasted baguette alongside a roasted leek soup ($10). The soup smelled great, but turned out to be somewhat bland, though inoffensive, sprinkled with refreshing parsley to give it a little kick. The bread was fresh and flaky, and the brie warm—the perfect addition. Next, we ordered the sautéed greens and shaved parm ($5) next, and got exactly what you'd want from this simple dish. Chopped collards were cooked in butter just long enough to take the edge off the bitter vegetable, release its flavor and keep a crisp freshness intact. Unfortunately, the Mojo potatoes ($5) were disappointing, drenched as they were in a peppery red sauce, but oddly lacking in spice. A salad of cranberries, sliced almonds and feta dressing over pedestrian mixed greens ($6 special, price varies) is a fresh and satisfying, if not massively original, flavor combination. My friend had the Mojo chicken ($7) next: three drumsticks nestled together with a cucumber dipping sauce on a white porcelain plate. The meat was tender, and fell off the bone easily, with a slight spiciness nicely complemented by the cool cucumber. Meanwhile, I inhaled the Cheese Board ($12), a delightfully stinky mix including a sharp aged Gouda that I could taste in the back of my mouth, complimented by apple slices and quince paste. The bar pizza ($6) is a light, cheesy take on Turkish-style pitza, with fresh mozzarella and just enough sauce drizzled over a nicely crisp flatbread. We finished off our meal by sharing a chocolate chip cookie ($2)--after such girl-centric conversation we chose to further the stereotype by daintily considering our figures. The dessert was phenomenal. Though it tasted like almost pure sugar, its gooeyness and melt-in-your mouth perfection was like some long-forgotten childhood memory.
Oak Cafe
CUISINE: American traditional, nuevo American
ADDRESS: 361 Graham Avenue, Brooklyn NY 11211
(at Conseylea Street)
CARDS: Cash Only
PHONE: 718-387-1245
HOURS: Mon-Fri 7:30AM-10PM, Sat 9:00AM-10PM, Sun 9:00AM-4PM
Brunch 10AM – 4PM Sat & Sun
SUBWAY: L Train to Graham
MAP: Click Here
BOOZE: BYOB
MENU: Click Here
MIKECAP SAYS: This new, nearly hidden gem of an eatery keeps getting better every time I visit it. Conveniently located one block North of the Graham Avenue L stop, the Oak Cafe provides a casual atmosphere and superb food. The interior and exterior are quite humble, and not terribly spacious, but this modest cafe serves up some top notch food at a reasonable price. They very recently began serving dinner from 5:00p.m. to 10:00p.m. nightly, and as I had a delicious lunch there previously, I decided to give it a shot.
I started with a bruschetta appetizer; fresh tomato and basil, the tomato diced, ripe and full of Summer, and mixed with some seasonings and sliced strands of basil adorning two thin, buttery crisps of toast sliced on the bias. Each bite was flavorful and full of mixed textures - a true delight. Dinner was pan-seared chicken breast with peaches and blackberries atop a slice of polenta. I very much wish I had brought my camera, because the presentation was an absolute treat: luscious, shiny blackberries scattered amongst rich, slow-baked peaches and a crisp, juicy collection of meaty slices stacked neatly onto a bright yellow rectangular slab. Once again, the seasonings were impeccable, and the crunchy-moist texture of the chicken dovetailed into the snappy juiciness of the blackberries and the sublimation of the soft roasted peaches. When combined with a stiff chunk of the savory polenta, it achieved perfection.
All that remained was dessert! And I was eagerly anticipating marinated figs with fresh ricotta and balsamic vinegar - I was sure that this was what was on the menu, but instead I was delivered strawberries and toasted pine nuts with the above. Really I was just there for the ricotta... I had sampled it previously at a lunch with a superb eggplant sandwich, and I must say that the fresh ricotta is one of the things you must try when you come here. As a dessert, it was excellent, sweet and smooth and perfectly complemented by the nutty crunch of the pignoli. The strawberries were a little bit bland and underripe, and there was really too much balsamic vinegar in the dish - it would have been better served with tastier fruit and just a bit of drizzled balsamic over the top instead of pooled in the bottom. The entire meal altogether ran me about $30 including an iced cappuccino.
Sadly, Oak Cafe does not yet have a license to serve alcohol, but they will gladly let you bring and drink your own beverages. Their patio is very pleasing, and has a lot of outdoor outlets for people to plug their electronic devices into; I haven't confirmed it, but I also believe they have wireless access available, as befits an excellent cafe.
Pampa Grill
image c/o City Search
CUISINE: South American/Argentinian Steakhouse
ADDRESS: 372 Graham Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11211
(Btwn Skillman Ave & Conselyea St)
PHONE: 718.387.7405
CARDS: All Major
AVERAGE ENTREE: $22
HOURS: Sun through Thurs: 12pm-11pm, Sat & Sun: 12pm-12pm,
BOOZE: BYOB
SUBWAY: L to Graham
MAP: Click Here
MENU: Click Here
DELIVERY: Yes
Paper Moon Cafe
CUISINE: Comfort
ADDRESS: 52 Havemeyer St, Brooklyn, NY 11211
At North 6th Street
PHONE: 718.384.1116
HOURS: Fri-Tue: 11am-9pm
Wed-Thu: 11 am-5pm
CARDS: cash only
MENU: Click Here
SUBWAY: L Train to Bedford
MAP: Click Here
DELIVERY: Yes
* Radegast Hall & Biergarten
CUISINE: Austrio-Hungarian beer hall
ADDRESS: 113 N 3rd Street, Williamsburg, Brooklyn NY 11211
PHONE: 718.963.3973
HOURS: Mon-Thu, 3pm-2am; Fri-Sun, noon-4am
CARDS: All Major
BOOZE: Beer Garden
MENU: Click Here
SUBWAY: L Train to Bedford
MAP: Click Here
DELIVERY: No
WEBSITE: www.radegasthall.com
NY MAG SAYS: Ivan Aohut, part of the team that turned Astoria's Bohemian Hall into a destination back in 2000 now partners with a couple of Czech friends and his wife Joanna, a private chef who cooks hearty dishes like roasted pork tenderloin topped with prunes and porter beer sauce and served with potato dumplings and red cabbage. Aohut, who built the outdoor bar at Bohemia, has built his solo venture to resemble a 1890s Austrio-Hungarian beer hall, with communal tables made from 150-year-old barn wood. The garden, where burgers and an array of wursts are grilled, will eventually have infrared heating under its retractable canopy.
Red Bowl
image c/o Gowanus Lounge
CUISINE: Pan-Asian
ADDRESS: 208 Bedford Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11211
PHONE: 718.388.8898
HOURS: Daily, noon-11pm
CARDS: All Major
BOOZE: No Alcohol
ENTREES:$8-$18
MENU: Click Here
SUBWAY: L at Bedford Ave.
MAP: Click Here
DELIVERY: Yes, until 11pm
WEBSITE: Click Here
NY MAG SAYS: Entrée names like "Double Happiness" and "Happy Family" have staying power, but this modern Asian spot has dispensed with tradition by naming plates after friends and family, based on what they liked during previews. Vivian's Curry Seafood, for instance, is a favorite of owner Vivian Chan, and David's Salted Pepper Prawns is the go-to of her husband David Chiu. The fave of head chef Mark Cheng (formerly of Mr. Chow and Philippe) is the Crispy Whole Fish