7 nights in Brooklyn

[OliverB]

Not sure exactly where I'll be staying yet, but somewhere in the Park Slope / Fort Greene / Prospect Heights / Carroll Gardens / Cobble Hill vicinity... likely a brownstone apt. rental in one of the above mentioned neighborhoods. Staying with another couple; close friends who are on a tighter budget ($45 p/p range) than myself. No matter as we'll treat them to at least one nice meal and with other friends in the city, won't necessarily have to dine together each night. I usually stay in Manhattan and rarely venture off the island into the outer boroughs, so I'm looking forward to a different 'taste' of New York this fall...

Here's what I have on my radar from some quick yelping and chowhound search plugs, and would appreciate feedback as well as specific suggestions for a recommended itinerary for our week-long visit; ie. breakfasts/brunches, lunches, dinners, cocktails, etc:

• Applewood - (Park Slope)

• Juventino - (Park Slope)

• Rose Water Restaurant - (Park Slope)

• Al Di La Trattoria - (Park Slope)

• Jpan - (Park Slope)

• Palo Santo - (Park Slope)

• Thistle Hill Tavern - (Park Slope)

• Slope Cellars - (Park Slope)

• Blue Angel Wines - (Park Slope)

• Beer Table - (Park Slope)

• Cherry Tree - (Park Slope)

• Blue Apron Foods - (Park Slope)

• Tom's Restaurant - (Prospect Heights)

• Stonehome Wine Bar - (Fort Greene)

• abistro Restaurant - (Fort Greene)

• Black Iris - (Fort Greene)

• Caffe e Vino - (Fort Greene)

• Olea Mediterranean Taverna - (Fort Greene)

• Aqualis Grill - (Fort Greene)

• Soigne Restaurant & Wine Bar - (Fort Greene)

• Habana Outpost - (Fort Greene)

• Foster's Restaurant - (Fort Greene)

• Henry Public - (Cobble Hill)

• Buttermilk Channel - (Carroll Gardens)

• Prime Meats - (Carroll Gardens)

• Peter Luger's Steakhouse - (Williamsburg)

• Motorino Pizza - (Williamsburg)

• Amarin Cafe - (Greenpoint)

• Ba Xuyên - (Borough Park)

PS - Only place I've been to is Pete Luger's (no surprise!) -- Other than Coney Island (Totonno's, Nathan's, etc) and Steve's Key Limes by the waterfront... but won't be heading out that way this time around! We're from Montreal btw, NYC is second home to us yet we've only ever crossed over to BK to visit friends. We're all adventurous eaters and budget isn't a big concern. All kinds of cuisine (with preferance towards upscale market-fresh and innovative/interesting) as well as ethnic lunch destinations, gastropubs, wine bars, etc. Not looking to venture into Manhattan at all on this trip!

[bobjbkln]

iCi is very close to you. It is also a locally sourced, New American restaurant and easier to get into (and less expensive) than Applewood. Agree with the recommendation for A Bistro. The newer place on DeKalb Ave. has a full bar and is much more spacious than the original (they are both still open). Also highly recommend your choices of the Grocery and the Good Fork. Also by you we like Autour du Monde, a French Bistro. Madiba isn't consistently great, but it offers a South African menu, if you are looking for something different.

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Ici
246 DeKalb Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11205

Applewood
501 11th St, Brooklyn, NY 11215

The Grocery
288 Smith St, Brooklyn, NY 11231

Abistro
154 Carlton Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11205

Madiba
195 Dekalb Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11205

The Good Fork
391 Van Brunt St, Brooklyn, NY 11231

Autour du Monde
860 Fulton St, Brooklyn, NY 11238

Abistro
250 DeKalb Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11205

[OliverB]

Thanks so much... I'd rather avoid French bistros for obvious reasons.

We don't have many "New American" farm-to-table restaurants in Montreal sourcing local and regional products; it's a different food culture. Our 'cuisine du terroir' is mostly French influenced, or contemporary Quebecois comfort food.

This is really my preference when traveling Stateside. The closest I can think of for us, would be restaurants like Hen of The Wood in Vermont, which I make a point of visiting at least once every autumn, or similar places further upstate and around the Hamptons.

Out of all those mentioned: Applewood, Henry's End, Grocery, Good Fork, Traif, Saul, Dressler, Diner, Rye, Ici, Stonehem, etc... which would you rate the highest in terms of creative/innovative cuisine, local flavor, value for dollar, and overall ambiance? I'm trying to narrow a few of them down and would really like to sample the best of the best. As mentioned, I will probably save Diner and Rye for lunch/brunch, but if you could help me break down the others, it'd be much appreciated! Are any of the above mentioned uniquely Brooklyn? ie. something I would not find in Quebec?

Thanks again!

[Geo8rge]

? ie. something I would not find in Quebec?

I don't know Quebec.

Brooklyn has a large Caribbean community. An upscale restaurant is http://sugarcanerestaurant.com. Along Flatbush are many smaller establishments. Look up roti and jerk chicken.

There are some southern, soul food, or african american restaurants. try Mitchell Fish & Chips, which while inexpensive is a nice little 'sit down' restaurant, with an excellent tin ceiling if I remember.

Additionally there are many middle eastern along Atlantic Ave. and other places.
Russian/Eastern European at coney island
Jewish in Boro Park.

David's Brisket House might interest you.

There are also South Asia Bangladeshi and Pakistani If that interests you.

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Sugarcane
238 Flatbush Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11217

Mitchell's Soul Food
617 Vanderbilt Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11238

[chowbie]

Please, please go to Traif. It's so good on all your criteria. I think they even take reservations.

Roberta's and Franny's are kind of similar so I would go to one but not both (Franny's is closer to you and more sleek; Roberta's is funkier). Go during off hours to avoid huge waits. They do have excellent, locally sourced ingredients. But they are only partly pizza places--be sure to get other things and just one pizza, especially if you go to Paulie Gee's for pizza.

Non-Montrealish food would certainly include a lunch at Tacos Matamoros. Another fun dinner suggestion (and super cheap/byo) is the Guadeloupian cuisine at Kaz an Nou, in Prospect Heights. Get there before 7.15 to avoid a wait.

Thumbs down on Henry's End and Stonehome for quality of cuisine compared to your other ideas. iCi is too French for you. Personally I think Applewood, Grocery and Saul are overrated for not super interesting food, but not everyone agrees. Look at their menus online and see if you think they are "innovative" and "value for money" (and pick just one of the three if you go, as they're also kind of similar.) Good Fork I like for its innovations. Taro is just decent sushi, which I'm sure you have in MTL. Have fun!

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Saul
140 Smith St, Brooklyn, NY 11201

Franny's
295 Flatbush Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11217

Applewood
501 11th St, Brooklyn, NY 11215

Henry's End
44 Henry St, Brooklyn, NY 11201

Stonehome Wine Bar
87 Lafayette Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11217

The Grocery
288 Smith St, Brooklyn, NY 11231

Taro Sushi
244 Flatbush Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11217

The Good Fork
391 Van Brunt St, Brooklyn, NY 11231

Roberta's
261 Moore St, Brooklyn, NY 11206

Kaz An Nou
53 6th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11217

Paulie Gee's
60 Greenpoint Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11222

Traif
229 S 4th St, Brooklyn, NY 11211

Tacos Matamoros
5717 5th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11220

[gort]

A taco stop in Sunset Park is definitely a good idea and would make a great weekday outing. We took a friend from MTL on a Sunset Park mini-food crawl that included stops at a few taquerias, Yun Nan Flavor Snack, and Ba Xuyen.

OP mentioned interesting drinks at one point upthread, and based on that I'd recommend a visit to Amor Y Amargo on 6th Street in the East Village. It's in Manhattan, but at this point I think they're doing some of the best and most unique cocktails in the city and I can't think of anything comparable in BK.

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Ba Xuyen
4222 8th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11232

Yunnan Flavour Snack Shop
775 49th St, Brooklyn, NY 11220

[Silverjay]

Love A yA. Used to go to kill time before Death and Co. but now I just go there. It's worth noting that Sam, one of the main bartenders there, also tends at Maison Premiere in Williamsburg. I think there are some overlaps with the Dram crew as well. I think both Dram and MP are up there with the best in cocktail craft these days. Definitely comparable to AyA.

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Dram
177 S 4th St, Brooklyn, NY 11211

Maison Premiere
298 Bedford Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11211

[gort]

Good to know. My visits to MP thus far have been to take advantage of their oyster selection, and I've stuck with the Donnybrook Stout as I really like that combo. Dram has been on the list to try for a while, but this summer we always ended up at Rye. Now that they've discontinued the cocktail program, I'm sure I'll be better about branching out.

[OliverB]

Thanks so much for all of the help... The Good Fork and The Grocery are two others that I'm considering for evening meals. I think I'll probably move The Diner and Rye to the lunch/brunch list and based on feedback in this thread, scratch out Stonehem for one of the others named. Any thoughts on Taro Sushi at all?

Is East Harbor still the best place to go for dim sum? Will probably add Fette Sau, red Hook Lobster Pound, Steve's Key Limes, Ferdinando's, Paulie Gee's, Smorgasburg and the Ball Fields Food Stalls to the lunch list as well. Sound like a pretty well rounded week in Brooklyn?

Thanks again for all the feedback and suggestions!

[gort]

Paulie Gee's doesn't do lunch, so bear that in mind when making your plans. Egg would be a good choice for a weekday breakfast or lunch in Williamsburg.

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Paulie Gee's
60 Greenpoint Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11222

[OliverB]

Apart from Brooklyn Fare, how far in advance would I need to make reservations at the other restaurants on my list?

[famdoc]

Al di La--no reservation policy. Arrive early OR wait for a table OR leave your name and cell phone number and have drink nearby OR (my preferred choice) eat at Al di La wine bar, around the corner, where you can usually be seated quickly (at a table or at the bar). Sample a few glasses of wine by the glass and enjoy the same menu as at the main restaurant.

Applewood--one week ahead for a Friday or Saturday evening. One day or same day for weeknight seating. Also has bar seating, a good choice, as bartender is personable and wine savvy.

[boredough]

Just so you know - Brooklyn Table starts taking reservations 6 weeks in advance every Monday at 10:30am. (Yesterday was for the week of October 10.) Last Monday (the 29th) by 11:00am-ish, the entire week had already been booked. Yesterday, however, we struck gold after auto-dialing again for at least 30-35 minutes, and finally got the Wednesday reservation we wanted. So if you're so inclined and it isn't already too late for you, put the phone-date on your calendar.

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Brooklyn Fare
200 Schermerhorn St, Brooklyn, NY 11201

[vhbklyn]

I live in Ft Greene and have been to almost all the restaurants on your list. You must go to aBistro! They just opened a 2nd location on Dekalb Ave which is bigger than the original on Carlton Ave. The food is phenomenal. A mix of French, American Soul food, and Senegalese, unlike anything you've had before. I go there regularly for brunch and dinner and have never been disappointed.

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Abistro
154 Carlton Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11205

Abistro
250 DeKalb Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11205

[OliverB]

Oops, I thought I dropped Amarin!

I actually had that list saved in a notepad file. I have something similar for every city I visit.

To be fair, I really don't want to travel more than 15-20 mins. from Central Brooklyn. Unless there's a VERY good reason! All I'm asking is that if you ONLY had 7 restaurants to eat (dinner) in Brooklyn, which would you pick?

Also, how important are advanced reservations for most places? Could we just wing it from the list based on where we end up and what we're in the mood for, or would most places require advanced reszervations for seating?

Thanks!

[jen kalb]

This 15 min thing - if you are serious about it - is going to depend on exactly where you wind up staying and whether you have a car or are relying on foot/public transportation. My suggestion is to wait til you know where you are staying and then ask your question again. Tranportation from one neighborhood to another (look at the geographic spread on the map on the right just for a sample of the restaurants) is not necessarily quick and easy. Hopstop will help.

You can then narrow your choices knowlegeably rather than having a fairly useless 100 restaurant list.

[OliverB]

Okay, so we've just confirmed that we will be staying in a lovely brownstone on Washington Ave. in Cobble Hill for 6 nights - (good/safe area? foodie interest?)

I will be driving, so hopefully parking on Washington Ave. won't be a problem. We'll have a car to get around the city...

Here's the tentative dinner list so far; some of these could possibly be swapped for lunches though we'll probably want to do the markets and cheaper ethnic/neighborhood destinations during the day, at least a good part of the time.

How does this list sound so far (too many similar menu choices?) and please feel free to help sway decisions over the multiple neighborhood dinner spots like Dressler, Diner and Traif, etc. We'll have to knock a couple of these out and I plan to call ahead for reservations later this month, or is that too soon?

- Applewood
- Chef’s Table at Brooklyn Fare
- Al Di La Trattoria
- Saul
- Henry's End
- Dressler/Rye/Diner/Traif
- Stonehome Wine Bar
- Taro Sushi (better than Gen?)

Does that sound like a pretty solid list of dinner meals?

I plan on spending one afternoon in the Italian neighborhoods, one afternoon in Chinatown, some stops at the Polish, German and other ethnic neighborhood eateries, etc. These will be easier to narrow down based on where we find ourselves during the day, though I'd like to plan a couple of must stop brunch and lunch spots as well based on all of your feedback above.

Thanks again for all the help!!

[famdoc]

You're going to have to have an alternative to the Chef's Table, as they are fully booked six weeks in advance. Make a point of telling Sarah, the reservationist, that you'll stand by for any cancellations.

I'm with you on Applewood and Al di La as the best Park Slope has to offer. I'll let other hounds comment (with their usual good humor and opinionated perspective) about the other choices.

Consider a dim sum brunch in Sunset Park's Chinatown. My favorite is Pacificana, although there are a few others that others prefer.

A Paulie Gee stop is obligatory. Perhaps preceded by a beer tasting at Brouwerij Lane.
A lengthy thread has been accumulating on these pages regarding Roberta's, which garnered two stars from the NY Times' reviewer, Sam Sifton. My experience there was less than stellar, after a lengthy wait for a table. Anyway, few would argue that Roberta's pizza is in the same league as Paulie Gee's. Finally, a slice at DiFara's would round out your week nicely. After your slice, walk around the corner to Coney Island Ave. and buy an assortment of pickles from the pickle store.

Finally, why not shop at one of Brooklyn's Greenmarkets, buy some really nice wine at one of Brooklyn's fine wine merchants and maybe a four-pack of Six Point ales and cook at home one evening? Then, the question is where to buy your dessert.

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Pacificana
813 55th St, Brooklyn, NY 11220

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

Applewood
501 11th St, Brooklyn, NY 11215

Roberta's
261 Moore St, Brooklyn, NY 11206

Brouwerij Lane
78 Greenpoint Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11222

Brooklyn Fare
200 Schermerhorn St, Brooklyn, NY 11201

Paulie Gee's
60 Greenpoint Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11222

[Steve R]

If you're staying on Washington Ave, you wont be in Cobble Hill, but (most likely) Clinton Hill. Depending on where on Washington (it's not a very long street by NYC standards, stretching from near Atlantic Ave to near Eastern Parkway) you will definitely be in some food neighborhood. Take a look at mapquest, plug in your address & let us know where on Washington you'll be & we can give you specific places within a couple of blocks walk. That being said, with your car you are within 10 minutes of all the other neighborhoods on your restaurant list & there'll be no problem getting to any/all of them (well, maybe except for parking).

As for your above dinner list, you have some of my favorites & some I'm not too fond of; however, what you do have is a real overload of basic American cooking. In a very ethnically diverse place such as NYC (& Bklyn specifically), I would recommend a bit more diversity. Of course, I'd leave my favorite Henry's End & scratch some of the others but that's just me. With a car, I'd really add an "old line" Brooklyn Italian (Al di La is one of my favorites, but its not a "red sauce" place). Just sayin'. Have fun.

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Henry's End
44 Henry St, Brooklyn, NY 11201

[OliverB]

Thanks, and did I type Cobble Hill (oops!) -- I meant to write CLINTON Hill!

The address is 323-325 Washington Ave.

Could you please specify which of the above listed restaurants are those that you are not so fond of, and why?

I do plan on doing the red sauce Italian joints, bakeries, Chinese, etc. as mentioned... but the above were meant only as dinner selections, when we'll mostly be in the immediate area as we have plans in downtown Bklyn each night and won't venture too far off. I plan on touring the more ethnically diverse neighborhoods along the waterfront during the daytime and in the afternoons. We will definitely make time for the green markets and local food destinations.

What's the consensus on Taro and Gen and how would you say they compare to the best that Manhattan has to offer?

Thanks again!!

[Steve R]

Given the address, you are on Washington between Lafayette and DeKalb. Both of these are main streets and, walking toward Flatbush Ave, have many restaurants & coffee shops dotting them. This is the side of Washington that borders Ft. Greene so look at posts for that neighborhood to see what you like.

As for my personal likes and dislikes, I havent been to Bklyn Fare but hear great things about it... reservations are very tough these days and you better like a long dinner comprised of inventive small plates and an opinionated chef. I'd also recommend the tasting dinner at Roberta's (a 10 minute drive from you into Bed Stuy neighborhood), but that's also a tough reservation (not the regular dinner menu... see other posts). Everyone knows I'm a regular at Henry's End and think the world of the cooking and the extensive (& very reasonably priced) wine list. No reservations taken for parties of 2, but same night res. can be had for larger parties. I'm not enamored with Saul... I think its a fine place but not special and better can be had for the price in Manhattan. Similarly, since I'm not really into the sourcing of the foods, I've always found Applewood to be of good quality and taste, but too "delicate"? for my tastes. I'm not sure why... I've had good meals there, but dont seem to remember it fondly enough to go back. Dressler's food just didnt impress me. For that price range and type of atmosphere, I'll go elsewhere. Nothing wrong with it either... just a matter of opinion. Other than Henry's End, my favorites in this area of Bklyn have always been Chestnut, Noodle Pudding and, further afield in Ditmas Park, Farm on Adderley.

Make sure you hit Atlantic Ave between Court and Clinton and stop into Sahadi's, a major Lebanese grocery store that you wont forget. Also hit the bakery next door (Damascus) and the two Middle Eastern groceries across the street. Walk down Atlantic to the new waterfront park 4 blocks away.

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Damascus Bread & Pastry Shop
195 Atlantic Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11201

Sahadi's
187 Atlantic Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11201

Chestnut
271 Smith St, Brooklyn, NY 11231

Saul
140 Smith St, Brooklyn, NY 11201

Noodle Pudding
38 Henry St, Brooklyn, NY 11201

Dressler
149 Broadway, Brooklyn, NY 11211

Applewood
501 11th St, Brooklyn, NY 11215

Henry's End
44 Henry St, Brooklyn, NY 11201

The Farm on Adderley
1108 Cortelyou Rd, Brooklyn, NY 11218

Roberta's
261 Moore St, Brooklyn, NY 11206

[gort]

Gen is an OK neighborhood spot. Taro has better than average sushi and is a good value. Neither are on a patch with the better places in Manhattan.

[Marion Morgenthal]

I would have to throw Convivium Osteria into the mix. I think the food is equal to the quality of the others on your list, but the setting (particularly in the wine cellar or the patio) is pretty unique.

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Convivium Osteria
68 5th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11217

[ANin]

Weighing in late to the conversation...

- Applewood
Definitely a good choice for the locally-sourced, "new american" kind of cuisine you're talking about downthread. They're pricey for Brooklyn but not for New York as a whole. Lovely space - very cozy and pretty.

- Chef’s Table at Brooklyn Fare
If you can get a reservation, do it. But as others have said, you should definitely have a back up plan.

- Al Di La Trattoria
My favorite Italian in Brooklyn. Not red sauce Italian but definitely worth a dinner stop. If you go in the middle of the week rather than a weekend you'll have a much more managable wait. Honestly I sometimes enjoy eating at the bar in the wine bar section (they share a kitchen in the middle, so the menu is the same) when seats are available.

- Saul
I don't particularly care for Saul and I do think there are better choices. Personally I'd maybe do Convivium Osteria or another choice instead. Saul certainly isn't bad, but I don't think it's an interesting enough choice when you have limited time.

- Henry's End
Great choice.

- Dressler/Rye/Diner/Traif
I'd do Dressler out of these choices - it's a fancy "nice dinner" experience in a way that's actually pretty singular in Brooklyn. Not Manhattan style fancy dinner - something uniquely Brooklyn. I know that's a bit vague but I'm not sure how else to say it.

- Stonehome Wine Bar
I'd definitely skip Stonehome - I think they're overpriced and honestly fairly mediocre (except their cheese/charcuterie plates which are usually pretty good. If you're in the Fort Greene area, I'd personally go to Olea. Stick with the tapas menu their rather than large plates, get oysters and a good bottle of rose. Their a neighborhood spot but I think their small plates are pretty strong, prices are very reasonable, and their atmosphere is lovely. If you're not already in Fort Greene for other reasons, I think there are more interesting places to eat - I wouldn't go to FG solely for a restaurant trip.

- Taro Sushi (better than Gen?)
Taro is better for Sushi, Gen is better for more out-there creative small plates and non-traditional rolls. They both have strengths, but I'd pick Taro. Gen's service is really spotty.

Other places I'd strongly consider:
- Convivium Osteria (as mentioned above). Cash only. Gorgeous space. Great food and wine.
- Franny's. Another hyper-locally-sourced restaurant. Great pizza (obvioiusly this is a contentious subject in NY) but their creative small plates and apps are actually my favorite part of this restaurants. Get a couple of crostini and veggie sides, the clam pizza and a funky white wine to match it.
- Vinegar Hill House. If you're willing to endure what will most likely be a long wait. They have a small menu but almost everything on it is good, particularly the pork chop and the chicken.
- Farm on Adderley. Kind of in the middle of nowhere but it's a big and pretty restaurant with really creative cocktails and an interesting and frequently changing menu.

Also worth considering:
iCi, James, Noodle Pudding, Rosewater (for Brunch), The Islands (Carribean), Tom's (for a totally kitschy American diner experience), Moim, Tanoreen

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Convivium Osteria
68 5th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11217

Ici
246 DeKalb Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11205

The Islands
803 Washington Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11238

Tanoreen
7523 3rd Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11209

Saul
140 Smith St, Brooklyn, NY 11201

Moim
206 Garfield Pl, Brooklyn, NY 11215

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

Noodle Pudding
38 Henry St, Brooklyn, NY 11201

Dressler
149 Broadway, Brooklyn, NY 11211

Franny's
295 Flatbush Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11217

Gen
659 Washington Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11238

Applewood
501 11th St, Brooklyn, NY 11215

Henry's End
44 Henry St, Brooklyn, NY 11201

Stonehome Wine Bar
87 Lafayette Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11217

Olea
171 Lafayette Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11238

Taro Sushi
244 Flatbush Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11217

The Farm on Adderley
1108 Cortelyou Rd, Brooklyn, NY 11218

Tom's
782 Washington Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11238

James
605 Carlton Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11238

Vinegar Hill House
72 Hudson Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11201

Brooklyn Fare
200 Schermerhorn St, Brooklyn, NY 11201

Rose Water
787 Union St, Brooklyn, NY 11215

[jen kalb]

If you are interested in something different, you might want to consider Purple Yam and Umi Nom, Both offer small plates oriented stylish versions of southeast asian (filipino - thai etc) food and both have some delicious dishes - sumptuous pork is a special feature along with fish, rice and some good veg dishes. Of the two, I like Purple Yam a bit better with a wider menu and a lighter, more appealing space. At both you will have unusual tasty food that you will not find in Quebec.

of the others, we like Al Di La and Convivium very much, and think Frannys would also please.

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Purple Yam
1314 Cortelyou Rd, Brooklyn, NY 11226

Umi Nom
433 DeKalb Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11205

[OliverB]

Lastly, any recommendations for great cocktails that I'm missing, or fantastic wine bars and places with unique drinks??

And if there any any truly horrendous names that appear on the mega-list (obviously I don't plan to stop at 1/4 of those places! it's just for referance really) - please let me know and I'll strike them out! I tend to sometimes excuse places of heritage or retro kitsch and novelty for quality of food and offerings at times.

Again, doesn't mean I intend to set foot in half of these places... but if I should find myself nearby and trolling for chow, I've now got my Bible of Brooklyn!

Thanks again!!

[Silverjay]

Your Bible of Brooklyn is a considerable pain in the ass to scroll down through- even on my 24" monitor. Outer Boroughs tend to have people who are much more neighborhood focused in their expertise. So asking for pan-Brooklyn advice on every cuisine isn't going to yield the best results. Suggest you make some cuts based on advice you've recieved (how many of us have to tell you to skip Amarin in GP?), cuisines you're interested in, and neighborhoods you plan to visit. It's fun to help out with these type of trips- especially if you promise to report back- but that's a monster list.

[Bkeats]

For cocktails, if you enjoy the brown liquors, go to Char No. 4 on smith street. Great collection of bourbons, rye, scotch, etc with a bartender who can tell you about the nuances of each. Spent one night with a buddy sampling way too many until closing time. Food is pretty good too. And the key lime pie is fantastic.

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Char No. 4
196 Smith St, Brooklyn, NY 11201

[OliverB]

Okay Okay Okay this is all great and thanks for the many suggestions!!

This was really not going to be a foodie trip (I know the original list might've stuck to formula and not seemed to really envelop the food culture of Brklyn so much) but as my reason for cisiting and activities were going to be pretty centralized, I just wanted to get some good dining suggestions within a 15 min range - HOWEVER - when in Rome... why not?

Here's the all-inclusive list for Brooklyn and includes every restaurant that seemed remotely interesting from cheap eats and kitsch to innovative fine dining. Inclusive of many above suggestions!

If you could now help me reduce this list to the following requisites for 7 nights of dining, it'd be extremely appreciated!!!

1 - Absolute TOP (seven) dining destinations: accounting for variety and cuisine, which of the following would make the list for dinners-only covering a 7 night visit?

2 - BEST Restaurant in each district - in case we should be restricted for whatever reason due to itinerary

3 - Same as above but for breakfast/brunch

4 - Breaking away from the dinner regiment (see no.1) what are the absolute NOT TO MISS eating experiences throughout the entire borough; not inclusive solely to dining but anything of local flavour including bakeries, foodshops, markets specialty foods, etc.

4.5 - Further, if sorting by types of cuisine, which are the absolute 'Best of Brooklyn' when it comes to: Sushi, Japanese (izakaya/kaiseki), Noodle Bars, Asian Fusion, Auth. Chinese, Dim Sum, Thai, Vietnamese, Spanish, Mexican, Italian (Fine Dining), French, Contempo American, etc. etc. - Only one! If you have a strong opinion on any specific places listed or otherwise!

5 - Anything else I'm missing or leaving out from the encompassing list??

THE LIST - by district (thanks for the helpful additions!)
---------------

• Paulie Gee's - (Greenpoint)

• Lomzynianka Restaurant - (Greenpoint)

• Karczma - (Greenpoint)

• Krolewskie Jadlo - (Greenpoint)

• Amarin Cafe - (Greenpoint)

• Brouwerij Lane - (Greenpoint)

• Kiszka Meat Market - (Greenpoint)

• Dandelion Wine - (Greenpoint)

• Peter Luger's Steakhouse - (Williamsburg)

• Dressler - (Williamsburg)

• Diner - (Williamsburg)

• Rye - (Williamsburg)

• Traif - (Williamsburg)

• 1 or 8 - (Williamsburg)

• Tabaré - (Williamsburg)

• Mesa Coyoacan - (Williamsburg)

• Fette Sau - (Williamsburg)

• Sel de Mer - (Williamsburg)

• Motorino Pizza - (Williamsburg)

• Egg - (Williamsburg)

• Saltie - (Williamsburg)

• Momofuku Milk Bar - (Williamsburg)

• Grande Monuments - (Williamsburg)

• Smorgasburg Saturday Market - (Williamsburg Waterfront)

• Roberta's - (Bushwick)

• Saraghina - (Bedford Stuyvesant)

• David's Brisket House & Deli - (Bedford Stuyvesant)

• Henry's End - (Brooklyn Heights)

• Colonie - (Brooklyn Heights)

• Noodle Pudding - (Brooklyn Heights)

• Saul - (Cobble Hill)

• Henry Public - (Cobble Hill)

• Sam's Restaurant - (Cobble Hill)

• Mile End Delicatessen - (Boerum Hill)

• Brooklyn Fare - (Boerum Hill)

• Stonehome Wine Bar - (Fort Greene)

• abistro Restaurant - (Fort Greene)

• Caffe e Vino - (Fort Greene)

• Olea Mediterranean Taverna - (Fort Greene)

• Aqualis Grill - (Fort Greene)

• Soigne Restaurant & Wine Bar - (Fort Greene)

• Habana Outpost - (Fort Greene)

• Foster's Restaurant - (Fort Greene)

• Der Schwarze Kölner - (Fort Greene)

• Gnarly Vines - (Fort Greene)

• Brooklyn Flea - (Fort Greene)

• Gen - (Prospect Heights)

• Taro Sushi - (Prospect Heights)

• Tom's Restaurant - (Prospect Heights)

• Franny's - (Prospect Heights)

• Weather Up - (Prospect Heights)

• Applewood - (Park Slope)

• Juventino - (Park Slope)

• Rose Water Restaurant - (Park Slope)

• Al Di La Trattoria - (Park Slope)

• Jpan - (Park Slope)

• Palo Santo - (Park Slope)

• Thistle Hill Tavern - (Park Slope)

• Slope Cellars - (Park Slope)

• Blue Angel Wines - (Park Slope)

• Beer Table - (Park Slope)

• Cherry Tree - (Park Slope)

• Blue Apron Foods - (Park Slope)

• Littleneck - (Gowanus)

• Ferdinando's Focacceria - (Brooklyn Waterfront)

• Steve's Authentic Key Lime Pies - (Brooklyn Waterfront)

• Buttermilk Channel - (Carroll Gardens)

• Prime Meats - (Carroll Gardens)

• Lucali - (Carroll Gardens)

• The Good Fork - (Red Hook)

• Red Hook Lobster Pound - (Red Hook)

• Red Hook Ball Fields Weekend Food Stall Vendors - (Red Hook)

• Tacos El Bronco - (Sunset Park)

• Tacos Matamoros - (Sunset Park)

• Ba Xuyên - (Borough Park)

• Lucky Eight Restaurant - (Borough Park/Chinatown)

• Pacificana - (Borough Park/Chinatown)

• Tanoreen - (Bay Ridge)

• Bab Al Yemen - (Bay Ridge)

• Karam Restaurant - (Bay Ridge)

• Schnitzel Haus - (Bay Ridge)

• Polonica - (Bay Ridge)

• Piattini Ristorante - (Bay Ridge)

• Nino's Pizza - (Bay Ridge)

• La Palina - (Bensonhurst)

• Tommaso Restaurant - (Bensonhurst)

• Ortobello Restaurant - (Bensonhurst)

• John's Deli - (Bensonhurst)

• Lioni's Italian Heroes - (Bensonhurst)

• Monte's Deli & Catering - (Bensonhurst)

• La Bella Panini - (Bensonhurst)

• D'netto's - (Bensonhurst)

• Pastosa Ravioli - (Bensonhurst)

• Papa Pasquale Ravoli & Pasta - (Bensonhurst)

• Krispy Pizza - (Bensonhurst)

• Il Colosseo - (Bensonhurst)

• Bad Boys Pizza - (Bensonhurst)

• J & V Pizzeria - (Bensonhurst)

• Frank's Pizza - (Bensonhurst)

• Meze - (Bensonhurst)

• Ocean Port Seafood Restaurant - (Bensonhurst) - Closed??

• Hand Pull Noodle and Dumpling House - (Bensonhurst)

• Istanbul Fast Food - (Bensonhurst)

• Cafe Kiev - (Bensonhurst)

• Peggy's Burger House - (Bensonhurst)

• Tasty Bagels - (Bensonhurst)

• Villabate - (Bensonhurst)

• Royal Crown Pastry Shop - (Bensonhurst)

• Rimini Bakery - (Bensonhurst)

• Il Fornaretto Bakery - (Bensonhurst)

• Tasty Pastry Shoppe - (Bensonhurst)

• Cherry Hill Market - (Bensonhurst)

• L&B Spumoni Gardens - (Gravesend)

• Tacis Beyti - (Gravesend)

• Adelman's Kosher Deli - (Midwood)

• Gulluoglu Cafe - (Midwood)

• Cafe Izba - (Midwood)

• Think Sweet - (Midwood)

• Pirosmani - (Sheepshead Bay)

• Roll-N-Roaster - (Sheepshead Bay)

• Donut Shoppe - (Sheepshead Bay)

• Totonno's - (Coney Island)

• Gargiulo's - (Coney Island)

• Nathan's Famous - (Coney Island)

A tad compulsive, I know! haha Thanks for all the helpful tips!

[famdoc]

Yikes! That list is way too long.
Just a few comments: Slope Cellars is a wine store, not a restaurant or wine bar.
Advise stopping at Brouwerij Lane for a few beers before eating at Paulie Gee's.
Since Park Slope is my neighborhood, I'd say Applewood and Al di La.

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

Applewood
501 11th St, Brooklyn, NY 11215

Brouwerij Lane
78 Greenpoint Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11222

Slope Cellars
436 7th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11215

Paulie Gee's
60 Greenpoint Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11222

[Asumnuthin]

Greenpoint is my neighborhood, so Ill stick with that too and a smattering of williamsburg

I’ve been to Paulie Gee's only once. I thought it was OK, to be fair I got take out and although I live very very close I have a feeling it detracted from how good the pizza really is, since they get such wonderful reviews all of the time I would be willing to try again

Lomzynianka is the best polish hands down, I believe Cash only….

Brouwerij Lane is my favorite place for buying beer, while Diamond bar is my top place for drinking it. Both are worth a stop in my opinion

Steves is better than Kiszka Meat Market and the lines are usually shorter

Diner has been one of my favorite spots for dinner in Williamsburg for some time now.
Dressler is also quality, but if I had to choose one it would be the former.

Fette Sau is my number one pick on your list, for me it is a must and spyten dyvil is right across the street, also my top pick for a drinking establishment. Can you tell I am a beer drinker??

I do recommend Smorgasburg, like I said before I think it’s a nice quick representation of a lot of Brooklyn cuisine. Milk bar included

-----
Fette Sau
354 Metropolitan Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11211

Spuyten Duyvil
359 Metropolitan Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11211

Lomzynianka
646 Manhattan Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11222

Diner
85 Broadway, Brooklyn, NY 11211

Dressler
149 Broadway, Brooklyn, NY 11211

Steve's Meat Market
104 Nassau Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11222

W-Nassau Meat Market
915 Manhattan Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11222

The Diamond
43 Franklin St, Brooklyn, NY 11222

Brouwerij Lane
78 Greenpoint Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11222

Paulie Gee's
60 Greenpoint Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11222

Smorgasburg
27 N 6th St, Brooklyn, NY 11211

[sgordon]

That list is insane.

My top 7 in the neighborhoods you've suggested (including a couple restaurants that haven't been mentioned yet) -

Henry's End (Brooklyn Heights) - A gem. Great neighborhood joint, duckling not be missed, soft shell crabs fantastic. Easy walk down to Brooklyn Bridge Park after or before dinner, too.

Convivium Osteria (Park Slope) - homey Meditteranean food, beautiful setting. Outdoor seating if the weather's nice, if not both the main dining room and the cozy wine cellar are great. Food is hearty, rustic, delicious.

Applewood (Park Slope) - arguably the best of the local/seasonal New American places in the Slope. Rose Water is also excellent, though, so....

Rose Water (Park Slope) - a neighborhood favorite

Roberta's (Bushwick) - a bit out of the way, but one of the best new restaurants in NYC to pop up in the last few years. Go with a group so you can order lots o' stuff.

Brooklyn Fare - I mean, if you can get in and afford it, might as well.

...and Tacos Matamoros. Sure.

-----
Convivium Osteria
68 5th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11217

Applewood
501 11th St, Brooklyn, NY 11215

Henry's End
44 Henry St, Brooklyn, NY 11201

Tacos Matamoros
4508 5th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11220

Roberta's
261 Moore St, Brooklyn, NY 11206

Brooklyn Fare
200 Schermerhorn St, Brooklyn, NY 11201

Rose Water
787 Union St, Brooklyn, NY 11215

Tacos Matamoros
5717 5th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11220

[famdoc]

Re: sgordon's list:

--Applewood is preferable to Rose Water
--You need to book at Brooklyn Fare on a Monday morning, six weeks in advance of your intended visit, although occasional cancellations do occur and open a seat or two
--I know how popular Roberta's is, but, recently, I waited 2 hours and 15 minutes for a pizza that was just okay and a salad that cost $10 but filled two spoons. Do the aforementioned Brouwerij Lane for beer, followed by Paulie Gee's.

-----
Brouwerij Lane
78 Greenpoint Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11222

Brooklyn Fare
200 Schermerhorn St, Brooklyn, NY 11201

Rose Water
787 Union St, Brooklyn, NY 11215

Paulie Gee's
60 Greenpoint Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11222

[flwmoveover]

and Difara's is not on the list because???????????

-----
Di Fara Pizza
1424 Avenue J, Brooklyn, NY 11230

[sgordon]

Because they're not worth going out of one's way for? Because they're pretty good, but seriously overrated?

[Mulan]

Totally agree they are over-rated. We used to go as kids in the 60s so I was excited to go back and try it now that it was trendy. Way disappointed. No way this was the pizza I used to eat and it was dry and not tasty. This was about 4 or 5 years ago.

[twan55]

Go to The Good Fork in Red Hook.

Sit in the garden.

Thank me after.

-----
The Good Fork
391 Van Brunt St, Brooklyn, NY 11231

[chewbie]

A few "nice" dinner options:

Brooklyn Fare
Dressler
Saul

Possible additions:
Rye (strongly recommend)
Saraghina (cash only)
Taro (pricey but you can manage based on what you order)
Traif
El Coyoacan
Sel de Mer
Good Fork
Red Hook Lobster Pound

Also, I live in Clinton Hill and there are a few places that you can afford to miss around here:

Habana Outpost - cool watering hole on a nice day but food is not the real draw
I would do EITHER Aqualis or Olea or do Olea for brunch

-----
Saul
140 Smith St, Brooklyn, NY 11201

Dressler
149 Broadway, Brooklyn, NY 11211

Olea
171 Lafayette Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11238

Taro Sushi
244 Flatbush Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11217

The Good Fork
391 Van Brunt St, Brooklyn, NY 11231

Habana Outpost
757 Fulton St, Brooklyn, NY 11217

Rye
247 S 1st St, Brooklyn, NY 11211

Brooklyn Fare
200 Schermerhorn St, Brooklyn, NY 11201

Red Hook Lobster Pound
284 Van Brunt St, Brooklyn, NY 11231

Sel de Mer
374 Graham Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11211

Saraghina
435 Halsey St, Brooklyn, NY 11233

Mesa Coyoacan
372 Graham Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11211

Aqualis Grill
773 Fulton St, Brooklyn, NY 11217

Traif
229 S 4th St, Brooklyn, NY 11211

[Asumnuthin]

I prefer Grocery over Saul, but thats just me
grab a drink at bar great harry while your over there

-----
Saul
140 Smith St, Brooklyn, NY 11201

The Grocery
288 Smith St, Brooklyn, NY 11231

Bar Great Harry
280 Smith St, Brooklyn, NY 11231

[tex.s.toast]

Id consider heading to Bay Ridge for a meal at Tanoreen. Its not cheap-eats but its pretty affordable and really good, loads of threads discussing it on the boards.

Of the mentioned places id seriously second a stop at smorgasburg, luch at ferdinando's (panelle is good and highly unusual/hard to find).

i think the scene and pizza is better at Robertas than either Lucali (not crazy about the crisp crust) or Franny's (good, but i thought it was overpriced and its even harder to get into than the other two)

-----
Lucali
575 Henry St, Brooklyn, NY 11231

Tanoreen
7523 3rd Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11209

[OliverB]

Thanks so much for all of the suggestions everyone; it's really appreciated and I've refined the list based on all of your feedback! Initially, I was just looking for the best options in the area, but I'll have a car and I'm sure it's much easier to get around on wheells than Manhattan, so we may as well seek out the best the city has to offer! I've added all of your reccomendations to my notes and will be sure to post again as our trip draws nearer. Thanks so much for all the helpful chow tips!

~ Oliver

[MsAlyp]

Hi Oliver,
Honestly if I were coming to Brooklyn to visit I'd bypass the food choices for Ft. Green none are stellar or really wowing. There is so much good food in Brooklyn I wouldn't bother there.

• Stonehome Wine Bar - (Fort Greene) Have been, it's a nice/ good place but not worth seeking out.

• Black Iris - (Fort Greene)- Don't bother! food is ok, atmosphere is OK, more of a take out joint.

• Olea Mediterranean Taverna - (Fort Greene) - Good / nice but not a stand out. If you want to try I'd go for brunch.

• Habana Outpost - (Fort Greene)- It's really a place to go during the weekend for some day time drinking. Lots of young hipsters getting trashed in the sun on frozen margaritas. Not authentic.

Having been to all of the above (i used to live in the area) none of them are stand outs they are all average.

I would suggest Paulie Gee's or Roberta's for Pizza over Motorino. Motorino was great then the other guys came along. I have been there several times and don't get me wrong- Motorino is good but I'd suggest one of the others.

Where are you from? Are you interested in BBQ? If you're from the South us Yankees can't compete I'm sure but as far as BBQ goes up here Fette Sau is great.

Are you looking for anything in particular?

Are drinks included in your interests?

A more livier atmosphere or quiet?

-----
Fette Sau
354 Metropolitan Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11211

Stonehome Wine Bar
87 Lafayette Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11217

Olea
171 Lafayette Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11238

Roberta's
261 Moore St, Brooklyn, NY 11206

Habana Outpost
757 Fulton St, Brooklyn, NY 11217

Motorino
319 Graham Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11211

Black Iris
226 DeKalb Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11205

Paulie Gee's
60 Greenpoint Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11222

[MsAlyp]

I almost forgot! Mile End is a great option that won't break the bank! it's a good lunch spot. Their meat sandwiches (brisket, etc) are amazing! Also if you want to go t0 Williamsburg you should really check out Smorgasburg which is on the water front on Saturdays. There are SO many good vendors (if you go check out the fabulous doughnuts by Dough) and its a nice activity. If you go there there is also now a ferry right next to Smorgasburg that will take you to Manhattan for $4- another nice cheap idea.

If your interested in picking up something for after dinner stop by MILK Bakery on Metropolitan Ave in Williamsburg for the crack pie and compost cookies.

-----
Mile End
97 Hoyt St, Brooklyn, NY 11217

Momofuku Milk Bar
382 Metropolitan Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11211

Dough
305 Franklin Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11238

Smorgasburg
27 N 6th St, Brooklyn, NY 11211

[tractarian]

This is too inauthentic of a list. I;d recommend taking the 20 minute train ride down to Bensonhurst and checking out some of our Italian markets and restaurants, as well as the Syrian Jewish businesses on Kings Highway, the Kosher deli/bakery type places, some Chinese places, and maybe also some Caribbean places and a Greek joint. We have a lot to offer here, especially in way of bakeries, salumerias (Italian grocers), etc. I believe Brooklyn is probably the best place to put on at least 10 pounds in the city, if not the country.

[tractarian]

Here's an idea. Get a couple of loaves of good brick oven Italian bread, a couple of pounds of fresh mozzarella, some roasted peppers, artichoke hearts, good olive oil, vinegar, some prosciutto, caponata, Italian cold cuts (soppresata, capicolla, etc.), some good cacciocavallo or provolone, some rice balls, prosciutto balls, maybe some eggplant rollatini pre-made, some good greens and heirloom tomatoes from the Greenmarket, and a nice bottle of wine, some good strong coffee, and a couple of pounds of Italian pastries/cookies from one of the bakeries down here, and you will have a great summer meal, antipasto/tapas-style that could feed a group rather inexpensively. And the best part is that the work is already done fro you! Feel free to email me for specific recommendations.

[missmasala]

OK, since I've heard mile end rec'd three times in this thread now, I have to speak up. Mile End, judging from the lunch I had there recently, is a great restaurant with great food. However, I would no more recommend that someone from Montreal spend one of their meals of the week there than I would want a Montrealer to suggest that I spend one of my precious meals in Montreal eating at the New York Diner, even if it's really really good.
So no, since you live in Montreal, don't go to Mile End, a Montreal-style place run by people from Montreal, unless you are really, really homesick.
And def go to Al Di La, but do it for lunch so you don't have to wait.

[famdoc]

Re: Al di la. As has been suggested so many times before, if you can't get seated in the dining room, go around the corner to the wine bar. Same menu. Rarely a wait. Good bartenders, who know their wines, making the experience all the better. Order the malfatti or the beet ravioli. Or, both.

[Asumnuthin]

If you plan to go to smorgasburg, you can skip the stop at MILK, they are there and have both compost cookies and crack pie

I know I got me some last weekend
YUMMY!!

I think smorgasburg is worth checking out, since they have such a varity of vendors there, and some yummy BK spots, minus the travel.

-----
Smorgasburg
27 N 6th St, Brooklyn, NY 11211

[shirlotta]

I agree with the above reviews on the Fort Greene restaurants listed. There is good food in the area, but not amazing enough to warrant a special trip, I'm sad to say. (I live here.) If you want to take a look around Fort Greene, which is a lovely neighborhood, come for Saturday's Brooklyn Flea, where there are lots of delicious food vendors. I haven't been to Smorgasburg yet, so can't compare, but at Fort Greene's flea my favorite vendors are porchetta rolls, the redhook ball field vendors, the grilled cheese stand, the pizza stand, brooklyn soda works, people's pops, and the new donut people. Plenty to eat! And lots to look at. Then you could perhaps take a stroll around the neighborhood and to the park, where lots of people picnic. OH. And I love the new taco truck, "The Jalapeno", where they have delicious stewed goat tacos. I love lengua, too, but I dont' think their lengua is amazing. The stewed goat, though... mmmm. It's usually parked near Fort Greene park on Saturdays.

-----
Brooklyn Flea
176 Lafayette Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11238

Smorgasburg
27 N 6th St, Brooklyn, NY 11211

[LauraAlice]

From another Fort Greene resident: Skip all the places you mentioned in Fort Greene. Olea's great for a neighborhood restaurant, but it's not a destination. My only FG pick would be No. 7 (on Greene). You should also check out Jame on Carlton in P. Heights -- it's always great.

-----
Olea
171 Lafayette Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11238

James
605 Carlton Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11238

No. 7
7 Greene Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11238

[jen kalb]

I have reservations about James since when we were there (one visit) everything was a bit overseasoned, the plates were ridiculously huge and unweildy and the noise level was too high. However, its very popular so maybe our experience was atypical.

For something different Umi Nom or, even better Purple Yan would be unique Brooklyn experiences.

-----
Purple Yam
1314 Cortelyou Rd, Brooklyn, NY 11226

Umi Nom
433 DeKalb Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11205

[Steve R]

Places you've not listed that you should go to:

Henry's End (Bklyn Heights) - American w/great wine list. Soft shell crabs are in season & the menu is quite diverse... good duck, fish and even excellent fried chicken. Casual but solid.
Noodle Pudding (Bklyn Heights) - it's Italian, more similar to Al di la than anything else,with a broader menu w/fresh fish
Lucali's (Carroll Gdn.) - pizza and calzone, very fresh & well done
Ferdinando's (C.Gdn - other side of highway on Union) - as someone already said, Sicilian specialties for lunch. Panelle, vestedda (spleen), sardines.
Colonie (Atlantic Ave, Bklyn Heights side) - the current trendy place. My wife likes it more than I do but it seems to fit what you're after.

If you're willing to travel a little for ethnic, go to 8th Ave in the 40s-50s for a Brooklyn Chinatown that's growing by the day. Lots of little dives, noodle places & street food, stretching over 30 blocks. On weekends, the Red Hook ballfields have Latin American vendors in trucks lining the street (Bay, off Henry).

-----
Red Hook Recreation Center soccer fields
155 Bay St, Brooklyn, NY 11231

Lucali
575 Henry St, Brooklyn, NY 11231

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

Noodle Pudding
38 Henry St, Brooklyn, NY 11201

Henry's End
44 Henry St, Brooklyn, NY 11201

Colonie
127 Atlantic Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11201

[Daniel76]

You must go to Franny's, stay the heck away from Habanna Outpost though, grab a beer at Der Shvartz Kolner near by. Never heard of Foster's restaurant and I live close to Fort Greene. I like to gets drinks at Weather Up. If you guys like coffee I really like WTF Coffee..

Mile End is a nice place for breakfast or lunch during the weekday.. Peter Pan Donuts is a fun place to go for a weekday breakfast.. Sit at the counter, drink scalding hot coffee eat donuts, amazing egg sandwiches on fresh bagels and garlic rolls..

Egg is really good for breakfast too and it takes you into Williamburg

Great sandwiches at Saltie...

-----
Franny's
295 Flatbush Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11217

Egg
135A N 5th St, Brooklyn, NY 11211

Peter Pan Donut & Pastry
727 Manhattan Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11222

Habana Outpost
757 Fulton St, Brooklyn, NY 11217

Weather Up
589 Vanderbilt Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11238

Der Schwarze Kolner
710 Fulton St, Brooklyn, NY 11217

Saltie
378 Metropolitan Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11211

Mile End
97 Hoyt St, Brooklyn, NY 11217

WTF Espresso and Tea
47 Willoughby Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11205

[Silverjay]

In Greenpoint, I would drop Amarin from your list. It's not destination-worthy in the least bit. Replace with either Paulie Gee's/ beer stop ( Brouwerij Lane or The Diamond) or check out Lomzynianka, which is a excellent neighborhood Polish restaurant. Greenpoint is the second largest Polish community in the country. Another idea is to visit and shop for sausages and smoked meats at the local Polish meat markets. We've done threads on them.

In Williamsburg, consider Diner for good local farm-to-table food. They were sort of a pioneer locally in this vain. For ethnic in W'burg, Tabaré for Uruguayan cuisine is getting a lot of good buzz...For general grazing, every Saturday by the East River is Smorgusburg, a local food fair with all kinds of stuff. Overall, the neighborhood is probably better for drinking. We've done threads on destinations, itineraries, etc. recently.

-----
Lomzynianka
646 Manhattan Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11222

Diner
85 Broadway, Brooklyn, NY 11211

Amarin Cafe
617 Manhattan Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11222

The Diamond
43 Franklin St, Brooklyn, NY 11222

Brouwerij Lane
78 Greenpoint Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11222

Paulie Gee's
60 Greenpoint Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11222

Smorgasburg
27 N 6th St, Brooklyn, NY 11211

Tabare
221 S 1st St, Brooklyn, NY 11211

[gort]

I strongly second the suggestion to drop Amarin in favor of Paulie Gee's if you're going to be visiting Greenpoint.

-----
Amarin Cafe
617 Manhattan Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11222

Paulie Gee's
60 Greenpoint Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11222

[famdoc]

And, a few glasses at Brouwerij Lane before you go to Paulie Gee's.

-----
Brouwerij Lane
78 Greenpoint Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11222

Paulie Gee's
60 Greenpoint Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11222

[piattoparla]

For lunch, try Ferdinando's for authentic Sicilian panelle...I also second Al Di La. Have fun and welcome to BK!

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

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

[famdoc]

Just one suggestion re: Al di La. You must know they have a no reservations policy. If you cannot get seated in the main dining room, go around the corner to their wine bar. Same menu. Less wait. Sample a few wines by the glass. Bartenders usually very well-informed about the unique wine selections.

[famdoc]

Interesting challenge. You've got a few of my favorites on that list (Al di La, Applewood). If you've got only 7 nights and some budget considerations, you'll have to narrow it down considerably. I'm sure you'll get quite a few responses, but let me shift your paradigm a bit: rather than specific restaurants, let me suggest you pick neighborhoods (yeah, I read your second post indicating your intention to stick to the Downtown Brooklyn vicinity, but I'll ignore it for a moment).

Neighborhoods to include: Greenpoint (I'll have to suggest a tag team or Brouwerij Lane, followed by pizza at Paulie Gee's), Sunset Park (maybe tacos on Fifth Ave., followed by Chinatown, perhaps Lucky Eights or Pacificana...or dim sum at Pacificana, followed by tacos), Brighton Beach (several threads on this board list favorite Russian places).

I just posted my experience with a recent Roberta's trip. Unless you are into a potentially long wait, hipster overload and pies that are not as good as Paulie Gee's, I'd skip it.

Good luck, and say "bonjour" to Chef Normand Laprise at Toque next time you're in Montreal's financial district.

-----
Pacificana
813 55th St, Brooklyn, NY 11220

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

Lucky Eight
5204 8th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11220

Applewood
501 11th St, Brooklyn, NY 11215

Brouwerij Lane
78 Greenpoint Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11222

Paulie Gee's
60 Greenpoint Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11222

[OliverB]

Btw, we'll mostly be sticking within our downtown Brooklyn zone, with maybe a couple of trips out to Williamsburg/Greenpoint to visit friends in that area. If you had only 7 nights to spend in town and wanted some great meals and a good feel for the foodie scene in Brooklyn, where would you suggest we definitely put on the destination list?

[ChiefHDB]

Roberta's is a can't miss on a Brooklyn trip.

I'd add Mile End in Cobble Hill for breakfast/lunch one day too. Sam's on Court Street is also an experience.

-----
Roberta's
261 Moore St, Brooklyn, NY 11206

Sam's
238 Court St, Brooklyn, NY 11201

Mile End
97 Hoyt St, Brooklyn, NY 11217