Law Offices of Eugene Goldstein & Associates
Being a lifelong habitué of what was once the city of Brooklyn (now merely, alas, the borough of Brooklyn), many friends and colleagues have asked for places to visit, as well as restaurant suggestions in this multi-ethnic fruit-salad of three million people. The following suggestions are wholly impressionistic and unsystematic. They are a few of the Brooklyn favorites my family and I frequent. Since Brooklyn is a huge and constantly evolving patchwork of neighborhoods, by next week many of these restaurants may be out of date – or there may be new places to see and visit. Please let us know what you think of these restaurants. Who knows. This is a work in progress. We hope you enjoy our favorites as much as we do. Bon appétit!
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Brooklyn: Coney Island Avenue/Kings Highway
Coney Island Avenue runs from Prospect Park to Brighton Beach. It is a commercial strip going through one ethnic community after another – Turkish, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Orthodox Jewish (with the largest Kosher supermarket in the world), Russian and Turkish, again.
1424 Avenue J, Brooklyn NY 11230
Subway: Q to Avenue J
Difara, one block from the “Avenue J” Q station in Midwood, is one of the best, if not the best pizzeria in New York. It is also one of the only top pizzerias to serve slices. Even for slices there is usually a wait because the only guy who puts his hands in the dough is the proprietor, and a crowd usually shows up to watch him. This means that every slice is spoken for before the pie comes out of the oven. For anyone who likes a thicker crust pizza, try the Sicilian slices.
Tacis Beyti(718) 627-5750
(718) 627-57501955 Coney Island Avenue, Brooklyn NY 11223
Subway: B/Q to Kings Highway
From Gravesend to Sheepshead Bay you will find some of the finest Turkish food in New York. Tracis Beyti is one of the best. The dining area is full of small tables pushed together for groups – frequently from Brooklyn’s large Russian community. The décor leaves something to be desired, but once you sit down to eat, the food will make up for the lack of ambiance – but hold the dessert.
Brooklyn: 1985 Coney Island Avenue, Brooklyn NY 11223
Subway: B/Q to Kings Highway
Manhattan: 982 Second Avenue, New York NY 10022
Subway: 6 to 51st Street or E/V to Lexington Avenue
Down the block from Tacis Beyti is Gulluoglu – a Turkish coffee house which imports much of its sweet Turkish pastry from Istanbul – and bakes it right in their kitchen. If you went to Tacis Beyti for dinner, I would recommend holding off for dessert and coffee at Gulluoglu. The baklava, kenafe, and other pastries are well regarded in Turkey. They are the best in NYC. The baklava melts in your mouth as you bite into the mixture of honey and pistachio. Also, try the real, dark and strong Turkish coffee – as well as the tea – but order it sweetened, because the sweetener is mixed in with the coffee at the beginning. If you are not inclined to go to the Gulluoglu in Brooklyn, Gulluoglu recently opened a branch in Manhattan at 982 Second Avenue, but with less selection.
Midway down Coney Island Avenue is Quentin Road (Avenue “Q” to those uninitiated), a block from Kings Highway, the heart of central Brooklyn – the former home of doo wop rock and roll. Once upon a time the street corners were alive with spontaneous doo wop groups – when they were not busy stealing hubcaps.
2337 Coney Island Avenue, Brooklyn NY 11223
Subway: Q to Avenue U
Another notable Turkish restaurant is Sahara. It is much larger, better for parties, and has great shepherd salad and bread, but some of the other dishes do not live up to Tacis Betyi. But, it is still a fine Turkish restaurant.
2710 Emmons Avenue, Brooklyn NY 11235
Subway: B4 Bus to Emmons Avenue and East 28th Street
Turning east off to Ocean Avenue onto Emmons Avenue you will find Liman, perhaps the only genuine Turkish seafood restaurant in New York. Turkish seafood avoids fancy seasoning, focusing instead on the freshness and the natural taste of the fish. The fish here is served whole with lemon and olive oil, although they will filet it for you, if you want to identify yourself as an American.
M & I International Foods (718) 615-1011
(718) 615-1011249 Brighton Beach Avenue, Brighton Beach, Brooklyn
The M & I International Foods is the biggest Russian deli/takeout in NYC (with a café upstairs) for prepared foods – like potato and fruit pirogi, stuffed cabbage and borscht. Watch your place in line – it can get a little aggressive!
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South Brooklyn: Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens, Boerum Hill
South Brooklyn is made up of Brooklyn Heights, Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens and Boerum Hill. Arthur Miller, the great American playwright put “A View from the Bridge” into the area. If you go to one of the restaurants in this area, don’t forget to take a walk down the Brooklyn Heights Promenade to see the Manhattan skyline and the Statue of Liberty.
Sam’s Restaurant (718) 596-3458Vinny’s of Carroll Gardens (718) 875-5600
(718) 596-3458Vinny’s of Carroll Gardens (718) 875-5600238 Court Street, Brooklyn NY 11201 295 Smith Street, Brooklyn NY 11231
295 Smith Street, Brooklyn NY 11231Subway: F/G to Bergen Street Subway: F/G to Carroll Street
Subway: F/G to Carroll StreetSam’s Restaurant and Vinny’s of Carroll Gardens are Italian restaurants which have survived the gentrification of South Brooklyn for good reason. When they were first opened, the neighborhood was blue collar Irish and Italian. Today, South Brooklyn has been split up into the more familiar sounding neighborhoods. Sam’s is in Cobble Hill and is still serving great Italian fare and pizzas. Sam’s “décor” takes one back to those old South Brooklyn days. Vinny’s is in Carroll Gardens and is still serving healthy portions of great traditional pasta and meat dishes in a family style setting of long wooden benches.
Ki Sushi (718) 935-0575
(718) 935-0575122 Smith Street, Brooklyn NY 11201
Subway: F/G to Bergen Street
If you enjoy seafood, sushi and sashimi, Ki is the place to go. Hidden between Dean and Pacific on Smith Street, Ki is a neighborhood gem in Cobble Hill. The fish Ki uses in its sushi is fresh and the portions are generous. Customers can enjoy the fresh flavor of the fish without soy sauce or other condiments. Also, diners can find rare sashimi and sushi that is usually not found in other sushi restaurants. If you are adventurous, try the omakases. These are sample platters prepared by the chef with the freshest fish of the day.
Red Hook Ballfields Vendors
Bay Street between Clinton and Court Streets, Brooklyn NY 11231
Subway: F/G to Smith Street and 9th Street
From Spring to Fall, the vendors at the Red Hook Ballfields have become known as a destination for great Central American food. The food vendors, originally set up to serve the Central American soccer players and spectators who gathered on weekends, serve everything from cerviche to drinks such cantaloupe juice and horchata, a traditional Central American drink. Two favorites are the Country Boys a.k.a. Martinez Taco Truck, and Red Hook Ballfields Vendors Pupusas. The Martinez Taco Truck serves Mexican dishes and specializes in “hauraches”, a tortilla cooked with beans inside, then folded and served with the standard toppings and choice of meat. Try the pork which is marinated in a zesty sauce. Red hook Ballfields Vendor Pupusas serves the Salvadoran street food called “pupusas.” These are cornmeal pancakes with meat, cheese and/or vegetables inside.
Brooklyn: 379 Columbia Street, Brooklyn NY 11234
Subway: B61 Bus to Van Brunt and Commerce Street
Manhattan: 261 Third Avenue, New York NY 10010 (212) 614-1500
(212) 614-1500Subway: 6 to 23rd Street
Defonte’s has been serving giant Italian, roast beef, and potato and egg heros to the waterfront workers of Red Hook since the 1920s. Many of those waterfront jobs may no longer be there, but Defonte’s still is and is serving those giant heros, which may contain fried eggplant, a Defonte’s special ingredient. For those who won’t be going to Red Hook anytime soon. Defonte’s recently expanded into Gramercy Park in Manhattan.
359 Van Brunt Street, Brooklyn NY 11231
Subway: B61 Bus to Van Brunt and Dikeman Streets
While in Red Hook you can also try Baked a café that makes great brownies and cookies. They have also been featured in many food and bridal magazines for specialty cakes.
204 Van Dyke Street, Brooklyn NY 11231
Subway: B61 or B77 Bus to Van Brunt and Coffey Streets
Also visit Steve’s Authentic Key Lime Pie, a South Florida dessert which, apparently, lost its way. You should also try to get to the waterfront for the great views of Downtown Manhattan and the Varrazano Bridge.
480 Van Brunt Street, Brooklyn NY 11231
If you are in the area, try the outdoor café at Fairway (a grocery store) for a unique view of the Statue of Liberty and the harbor, and good lobster salad. In the summer, you can also take a harbor tour on a sailboat before buying some groceries.
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Brooklyn Heights:
From Manhattan, you can walk over the Brooklyn Bridge and you will find the boroughs’ first brownstone neighborhood with its promenade. The Heights was the site of Washington’s successful evacuation of his troops after the unsuccessful battle of Brooklyn – which is significant because we wouldn’t be as we are, had it not been. The Heights is also the first of brownstone Brooklyn’s “gentrified” neighborhoods. Some of the better restaurants are:
44 Henry Street, Brooklyn Heights NY 11201
One of the neighborhood’s oldest with a tradition of serving seasonal foods – game nights in the fall. Low on ambience and high on price – but good food – and make a reservation.
Noodle Pudding (718) 625-3737
(718) 625-373738 Henry Street, Brooklyn NY 11201
Noodle Pudding is a neighborhood pasta joint with good simple food – but no sign telling you it is there. It is very popular for families with children – but be prepared to wait.
Iron Chef (718) 858-8517
(718) 858-851792 Clark Street, Brooklyn NY 11201
Iron Chef is the always crowded neighborhood Japanese restaurant which is a level above in imagination and selection.
Teresa’s Restaurant (718) 797-3996
(718) 797-399680 Montague Street, Brooklyn NY 11201
Teresa’s is a Polish restaurant which has reasonable prices, and good simple dishes. During warm weather it also has a sidewalk café. Although the Heights has some run of the mill diners – this is the place the neighborhood goes.
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Other Notable Areas in Brooklyn:
Brooklyn also has two Chinatowns, one on 5th Avenue and the other on Avenue U.
178 Broadway, Brooklyn NY 11211
Williamsburg is now a going, active, and expanding residential place, but Peter Luger’s has seen it all for more than one hundred years. Some say it is the best steak house anywhere – but you will need to wait, even with reservations, and it is very pricey.
Where to Eat in Brooklyn?
By Larry and Eugene Goldstein
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