Quintessentially Borough eateries?

[raphael didonato]

Hi 'Hounds,

I'm going to be visiting for a week in November (staying in Brooklyn near Prospect Park right off the Q - anything exceptional in that area?). I'll be visiting from San Francisco, and I'm looking for something utterly unique in the New York area. I like the fine dining scene - Babbo and Balthazar sound compelling, but I can get amazing Italian and perfect steak frites on the West coast. I'm looking for weirdo/nichey/ethnicky eateries that are totally unique. I'm thinking of Shopsin's, and I've heard of miraculous neighborhood Greek restaurants in Queens (to my knowledge, authentic Greek places are scarce in SF). Any hole in the wall places that do their own thing better than anyone else? Any recommendations?

[bobjbkln]

There is no place more quintessential and quirky than DiFara's which has the best pizza in NY (or perhaps, the universe) and what's more is further out in Brooklyn on the Q line. Just understand that pert of the "quirk" is that you will wait 90 minutes or more for your pie, in this hole in the wall place, but you can watch the master at work hand making each pie himself. Bring a bottle of red wine and enjoy the wait.

West Indian food is something that I doubt you'll find to the same extent in SF and on Church Ave. just south of Prospect park, you find a number of places. Search this board for specifics. (A search on Roti, should get you started). Ferdinando's Foccaccia in Carroll Gardens/Columbia St. neighborhood (a bus ride away) has Sicilian specialties including pannelle (chick pea fritter) and calamari salad.

While, Italian and more upscale, Al di La in Park Slope has great Venetian Food that shouldn't be missed. Well this is a start. Enjoy.

-----
Ferdinando's Focacceria
151 Union St, Brooklyn, NY 11231

Di Fara Pizza
1424 Avenue J, Brooklyn, NY 11230

Al Di La
248 5th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11215

[Tay]

OMG!.. How could you possibly send this poor soul to DiFara's?.
Left Coasters already think we are hostile and obnoxious. A trip to DiFara's will just confirm it!... He's looking for 'totallly unique' not totally frustrating!
Being bullied and pushed ahead of by the, "I'm a friend of Dom's" folks, and the other crazed pizza-o-philes at DiFara's is not a fun experience.
I'd definitely have to agree with your West Indian Recc , but DiFara's?..
I don't think so

[bobjbkln]

Tay,
Whatever your thing is about DiFara's, note that it is not shared with everyone. I pointed out that there might be a 90 minute wait, based on which, the original poster could make his decision. I was there last Thursday when Dom's daughter ran the show. She was the only one who moved the boxes around. No matter who tried to sneak ahead, no one was successful.

Although I called ahead at 4:30 and arrived before 5 (it was Rosh Hashona, so driving was easy), it wasn't until almost 6 PM that I got our exquisite Broccoli Rabe pizza. It was really worth the wait. I can't always handle DiFara's, but when I'm prepared, it's like going to heaven.

Note that a year ago I took my half brother and his wife there. Both born in NY, they now live in Iowa. They said this was one of their most divine food moments in NYC. While waiting for the pie, we managed to snag 4 squares and then they went across the street to Issac's Bakery to get some take-out dessert (perhaps to bring back to Iowa).

Note that at almost 65, I am not some crazy kid. My half brother is just 11 years younger. DiFara's is something special to us despite the effort. Please allow us to share.

[Tay]

bob...I was half joking when I wrote my last posting, although only half :-}
I totally agree that DiFara's makes an out of this world product. It's just the stress of obtaining that product that raises an issue. I mean you called ahead on a Jewish holiday no less, and still had to want an hour to get your pizza. As for your family outing, you have to keeep in mind that when your brother and his wife went, they had the major benifit of having an experienced "Di Farain" AKA: You, to get them through the process.
That makes a big difference. That having been said, I absolutely respect your opinions and enjoy reading your thoughtful postings.

[Geo8rge]

For Greek in Queens search on Astoria (location known for Greek restaurants)

For Russian, search on Brighton Beach

Cheskel's Shwarma King for the kugal although everything is good . - Kosher closed Saturday

Caribbean I always recommend Sugar Cane and Scoops both on Flatbush. Search on Jerk Chicken, Ital, Jamaica, trini.

www.greenfieldchurrascaria.com/

[Linda]

sripraphai in woodside, queens always gets mentioned in these sorts of things. but i advise you go with a group of people. whenever i'm there with only 1 other person, i find that my meal is just ok. with tons of ppl, you can get a variety, which is really the key to why sri is good.

spicy mina also always gets thrown in, but i'm yet to go so i can't offer my opinion (a form of indian food in queens also).

flushing - well, you can't go wrong with the plethora of chinese & korean options in the area. it's more chinese influenced along main street, with the korean places to go to are more on the outskirts of flushing and in bayside.

i also have to throw in the korean fried chicken craze going on - there's bon chon, kyo chon, ufc, baden baden, etc. bon and kyo have locations in the city, too, i believe.

[Mandymac]

A west coaster will have much better access to Thai, Indian, most Asian in Cali, as good as those places are. I would, however, urge the OP to reconsider Italian (a universally acknowledged local specialty) and check out the wonderful Al di La.

[ratatosk]

Really? I totally agree concerning most east Asian cuisines (Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Thai, Vietnamese, Malaysian...), but I've had much better Indian food in Queens than I ever had in SF or LA. The "Little Bombay" or whatever it is in Artesia has absolutely nothing on Jackson Heights (well, wider streets and bluer skies, but we're talking food here), and I never found anything that really blew me away in the bay area. I think Indian in Queens is a pretty reasonable recommendation for a local Borough specialty.

That said, it's got nothing on pizza in Brooklyn. DiFara is DiFara, but it can be a pain to go there on a weekend. If the OP doesn't want to fight through crowds of hungry Brooklynites for his square pie, he could go for the round one at Lucali (though, if you're right on the Q and are here for a week, you could shoot down to DiFara at 2:30PM on a weekday and probably be OK). Other low-end Italian stuff deserves a mention as well - lard bread at Mazzola or cannoli or spumoni at L&B spumoni gardens. As much as I like Al di La, I think SF will be able to hold its own a little better in the high-end Italian Restaurant category than in the low-end Italian-American street food category. What about a good Eggplant Parm hero? A search of these boards will turn up some serious holes in some far-distant Brooklyn walls. Or there's the Arthur Ave area up in the Bronx, with its fresh mozzarella and bottle cheeses and pastries.

West Indian is a good call - plenty of places down on Fulton. I like Ali's, but these boards hold more info than I do. Anyway, I can just about guarantee that that's something delicious that California doesn't have. Be sure to get some pholori!

[MShapiro]

For good sandwiches try Mike's Deli in Bensonhurst. I think Wednesdays are when they make their quintessential roast beef. It’s very close to the 86th street el which I believe is the D or the M trains. It’s about a 10 minute walk from L&B Spumoni Gardens, which has some good if not unusual pizza. I’m not a fan of their spumoni, but I understand it’s very good. B-Hurst is also close to Coney Island – what’s left of it at least. IMO it doesn't get more Brooklyn then a Nathan's hot dog and the boardwalk.

[ratatosk]

And what about Brighton Beach? Also right off the Q. I don't know much about it - I've only been once or twice - but it's worth a mention. Not "Quintessentially Brooklyn" perhaps, but simultaneously not something you can really find anywhere else.

[KateC.]

I married into a Russian family, and there is nothing in Brighton Beach you can't get at 20th and Geary. None of it is as good as home cooked. (If you ever do find yourself in a Russian - or Georgian, rather -- restaurant, be sure to order the Solyenka, AKA hot dog soup. It's lamb broth with pickles, lemons and, ridiculously, sliced hot dogs.)

[Tay]

Are you referring to John's Deli on Stillwell Ave?

[MShapiro]

Yes I was - thanks for the correction...

[Striver]

Arthur Ave is a fun place for a tourist to wander around. For food, I'd skip my favorite (Roberto's) and suggest one of the better more traditional restaurants like Enzo's or Emilia's. Dominick's is also beloved by many for its red sauce dishes, communal tables, old-school waiters, and lack of menus...or just stop into Tino's or Mike's Deli for a sandwich or what-have-you.

And if the OP makes it up there, a stop at Tony & Tina's on 189th and Arthur for a great slice of Albanian cheese bourek is highly recommended (make sure they heat it up in the pizza oven, not the microwave).

[CalJack]

If you're already in Brooklyn and right off the Q, then I'd agree that Di Fara is an absolute must; it couldn't hurt to throw in a visit to Lucali and perhaps even to Franny's (given the close proximity and the contrast in atmosphere and pie pedigree that each offers).

I'm a huge proponent of The Farm On Adderley for anyone anywhere near to the Cortelyou Rd. Q stop - it's certainly not uniquely weird or ethnic, but I find it very symbolic of the comfortable, affordable, cozy ambiance that the Outer Boroughs symbolize for so many of us weary of the usual Manhattan dining frenzy. Plus the food is largely locally sourced, which offers a very literal take on the unique-to-New-York specification.

I can confirm that Spicy Mina is still (as of last week at least) off the charts when it comes to other-worldly takes on Bangladeshi cuisine - not necessarily easy to get there from the Q line, but worth whatever effort may be necessary. Much like an earlier poster mentioned regarding Sripraphai, having a large party along to experience the full range of flavors in Mina's dishes certainly sweetens (and spices, sours, simmers, and savors) the deal, so to speak.

I always find Moto holds a uniquely Brooklyn feel when it comes to eclectic atmosphere and design, and while the food is not necessarily cross-country-destination-worthy, it's always hearty, interesting, and reasonably-priced (I believe others have described it as "French peasant fare" on these boards).

Finally, Dumont's burger is the best hamburger in this city and on either coast (granted, I don't do LA these days, but I can't really imagine why anyone would). I was raised on In-N-Out, and while I pine for it weekly and love the Shake Shack for all its many charms, I will stand by Dumont's springy-soft brioche buns, crisp veggies, and salt-crusted, herb-accented, charred-to-perfection ground beef until my red meat addiction has warmed the globe just shy of medium-rare.

And if you haven't yet made the pilgrimage during past visits, be sure to score a reservation at Peter Luger now so your porterhouse is waiting for you when Williamsburg is once again within reach. A far cry from a hole in the wall, but if you've got a whole week it would be a shame to miss out on the best steak anywhere.

[platypus]

It might not be the easiest place to get to (involving the dreaded G train, a long bus ride or a trip through Manhattan), but I still think it would be worthwhile to go to Kabab Cafe in Queens and eat Ali's take on Egyptian food. Pick up a bottle of red on the way and order the appetizer platter and whichever special sounds most appealing.

[flower_puppy]

My friend who was just visiting from SF was blissed out by the perogies in Greenpoint. There are at least a dozen places in Greenpoint where you can get a delicious Polish dinner (heavy but such comfort!) for around $5. My favorite for atmosphere (David Lynch style red walls) is Lomnyzkaya (sp?) near the Nassau stop on the G train, but my friend Will swears by Pyzza. Worth the shlep - the neighborhood is charming and quintessentially New York.

[Tay]

Polish food in Greenpiont is an excellent suggestion and not, to my limited knowledge, something that is easily available in SF... I second your recc of the, However-it's-Spelled, restaurant.

[KateC.]

Hi -- I'm an SF transplant who's lived in Brooklyn and Queens. My recommendations for outer boroughs would be:

*Spicy Mina's if you want Indian (mixed grill and/or tandoori fish are very good)
*Dumont if you specifically want a beautiful, plain Victorian hipster ambiance and very fresh food (for New York) for only $40 a person. I wouldn't necessarily order the burger. The soups, special appetizers, Mac and Cheese, and pastas are usually very good.

That's it for my outer-borough recs. (I agree Sripraphai is amazing but best experienced in groups. Donovan's does have the best burger in New York (after Shake Shack) but it's not worth the trip. Ferdinando's is very interesting historically but maybe not worth the trip. If you do go, get the sardine pasta and the tiramisu even if you don't like tiramisu. It's highly alcholic wonder bread. There may be Chinese places in Flushing I don't know about and I don't know about Greek places. Some people here in Jackson Heights where I live swear the carts on Roosevelt are to die for, but I've only tried a couple and have yet to experience anything better than just OK. There is a Middle Eastern place in Bay Ridge called Tanoreen that NY Mag called the best inexpensive restaurant in New York in 2006 but I have never been there.)

I will post Manhattan recs to your question on that board.

[KateC.]

P.S. Dumont is actually one of my favorite restaurants in New York, but probably because it reminds me of SF. Maybe it's our Zuni....not that it looks anything like Zuni. The decor is not modern. Also, the burger is good and I often order it. But it's not the best thing on the menu and it's not the best in New York.