In between the tall skyscrapers and glittering urban density of NYC lies a much homely residential neighborhood, Brooklyn. Manhattanites as well as foodies from other parts of the US, are attracted to the best restaurants in Brooklyn. We can call NYC one of the best cities for foodies, but in my opinion, Brooklyn comes first when we are counting separate neighborhoods, all thanks to its melting pot cuisine offerings like Ethiopian, French, Italian, Middle Eastern, and so many other delicacies.
Diverse recipes, fancy tasting menus, charming views, and cool décor… you name it, Brooklyn has it.
There are carrot crepes at Olmstead, fried coconut milk cakes dunked in taro and black bean, and desserts that are so delicious you will forget everything after one bite. But hey, don’t miss the apple cobblers, complete with the best selection of wine and the ever-popular seafood, clams, and oysters.
The best Brooklyn restaurants cater to everyone, from meat lovers to vegetarians and vegans, so don’t worry, you will definitely find your next favorite spot to eat in the list to come.
The Oh-So-Many List Of Best Restaurants In Brooklyn
Olmsted
Address: 659 Vanderbilt Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11238, United States
If you wanna make sure that you don’t really miss out on NYC’s specialties, why not reserve a spot at Olmsted? I have never regretted gaining a pound or two at this restaurant in Brooklyn. After all, when there are seasonal ingredients, fresh and locally produced, in the form of carrot crepes, watermelon sushi, froyo, heirloom tomato schnitzel, and whatnot, few people can resist making multiple visits to this restaurant. My favorite spot to dine is the gardens, accessible via the back door, though it can sometimes get a bit hot in summer.
Lilia
Address: 567 Union Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11211, United States
Lilia is one of the best restaurants in Brooklyn that makes you go mamma mia! Now, this is the type of Italian food that I will gladly chomp on, even if I have had my fair share of pasta and seafood. Try their soulful recipes made with simple ingredients that somehow make total sense – Prosciutto with Balsamic Mustard, grilled scallops with yogurt and walnuts, Sheep’s Milk Cheese Agnolotti with dried tomatoes and saffron, and whatnot! Just make sure to reserve a seat ahead of time, and don’t forget to save some room for the dessert.
Tanoreen
Address: 7523 3rd Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11209, United States
Don’t feel like eating only Mediterranean cuisine? You can try Tanoreen – they have the best food in Brooklyn, and you can taste Mediterranean, Palestinian, and Middle Eastern cuisine. The mother-daughter chef duo put their heart and soul into every recipe, which is why it felt like I was eating something my grandma would make in her small and warm kitchen. The dishes that I am talking about are falafel, Mediterranean eggplant, shepherd’s pie, and knafeh (which is probably my favorite dessert from now on).
Osteria
Address: 458 Myrtle Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11205, United States
Osteria is among the best restaurants in Brooklyn that are open to celebrate every occasion, whether it is brunch, Valentine’s Day, Thanksgiving, New Year’s Eve, Christmas, or a happy hour. I went there for lunch with my girlies, and honestly, it was my best lunch in Brooklyn after trying out a couple of other Italian restaurants in the area. There is everything from a Margherita pizza to Sardinian flatbread and shrimp ceviche, and even charcuterie boards with smoked prosciutto, mortadella, and so much more. The ambiance is also stunning, with the friendly staff stealing the hearts of the customers on every visit.
Clover Hill
Address: 20 Columbia Place, Brooklyn, NY 11201, United States
This is the tasting menu that I can gladly squeeze into any plan of the day. With only 20 seats nestled within an intimate setting, this is one of the best Brooklyn restaurants, courtesy of Executive Chef Charlie Mitchell. Cue a fine dining menu that feels luxurious, and something like a loved one would cook for you. Sweet Corn Tarlet, Samegawa Karei, Dry-aged Rohan Duck, and Coconut and Pineapple cheesecake – it’s always a pleasure to dine in this unforgettable ambiance.
Michael’s
Address: 2929 Avenue R, Brooklyn, NY 11229, United States
At Michael’s, you will see some of the best Italian food in Brooklyn. The place is guaranteed to make you feel nostalgic and tingle your taste buds, just like it did to mine. Think fried calamari, sauteed baby artichokes, baked clams, and cheese ravioli, handed down to three generations since 1964, and still sticking to the old family recipes that made me fall in love with this Italian restaurant. Oh, and don’t forget to try the Fisherman’s Platter, which brings everything to your table, from lobster tail to calamari.
Vinegar Hill House
Address: 72 Hudson Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11201, United States
Have you ever eaten at an American restaurant that feels like someone decorated an old backyard with beautiful flowers and some cozy chairs? Vinegar Hill House has a feel-good, garden-style setting – one of the best restaurants in Brooklyn that stays true to its reputation of being as unassuming and hospitable as possible. The restaurant sources fresh meat, fish, and other ingredients, and if you want to have the best dinner in Brooklyn, do seek a spot under a cherry tree with a wholesome farmstead cheese, charred octopus, or a chicken liver mousse.
Blanca
Address: 261 Moore Street, Brooklyn, NY 11206, United States
Blanca might be a bit expensive and reservation-only, but it is so worth it to make plans in advance and take time out to try out this fine dining in Brooklyn. I mean, the tasting menu is somewhat of an ever more improvised version of local gourmets, which has crept up this little tasting room on the ladder to become an international dining sensation. But like many other fine dining restaurants in NYC, the prices are nothing short of an over-splurge. Prepare to spend a whole lot of $$$ on food and drinks.
Francie
Address: 136 Broadway, Brooklyn, NY 11249, United States
Another fancy brasserie, which I love to revisit every now and often. Francie is the best restaurant in Brooklyn if you are looking for a place exploding with European-inspired dishes and creatively crafted cocktails. Discover the wonderful 3-course dinner, which is currently for $60 a person and features baby lettuces and fried artichokes in the first, rigatoni and bucatini in the main, and chocolate gateau, artisanal cheese, and much more in the dessert menu. The corkage fee is $90, and one bottle is available for two people, with a maximum of two bottles.
Meadowsweet
Address: 149 Broadway, Brooklyn, NY 11211, United States
How can you visit Brooklyn and not visit Meadowsweet? And if you do, you might find yourself wondering how a place can be fashionable and, at the same time, affordable. Well, I surely did. The friendly service makes this one stand out among the best restaurants in Brooklyn. You can sit outside – it is my favorite spot in the restaurant – but the ambiance inside is equally attractive. And I had heard so much about the mushroom and roasted pepper omelet and mid-day drinks, so obviously, that was what I ended up ordering.
The River Café
Address: 1 Water Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201, United States
I never planned to visit The River Café – I had spent enough on food and drinks in that month. However, when the group chat received those aesthetic pictures of the ambiance, none of us could say no to the plan. Thus, we visited The River Café, and I can confidently say that it was the best restaurant in Brooklyn, New York, that I had the pleasure of visiting. This place is located under the Brooklyn Bridge and has a stunning view of the Hudson River, a formal dress code, and food that looks too pretty to eat.
The Four Horsemen
Address: 295 Grand Street, Brooklyn, NY 11211, United States
Now, this restaurant in Brooklyn is really up my alley. Did anyone mention a cozy and intimate dining place, an unforgettable brunch, and an endless list of wines with new additions every now and then? The food also raises the bar for all other restaurants to come on this list, with very interesting choices of small plates, such as yellowfin tuna, fried chicken, and others.
Cornbread
Address: 409 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn, NY 11216, United States
Okay, maybe I lied. Cornbread is my favorite restaurant and has the best food in Brooklyn. The place is so laid-back, but at the same time funky and attractive. And did I mention they also have this cute space outdoors if you don’t wanna sit inside? The soul food is made from scratch, and you can taste it in every bite how much the restaurant takes pride in its recipes – fried chicken meals, cornbread, catfish, BBQ ribs, and my guilty pleasure, apple cobbler. More power to the women who make such dreamy restaurants come to life.
Kokomo Restaurant & Lounge
Address: 65 Kent Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11249, United States
Kokomo restaurant in Brooklyn has a Friday and Saturday brunch, an after-dark menu, Sunday drunch, the Koko happy hour, and the best dinner menu in Brooklyn. The Sunday Drunch totally hit the mark. There were roasted stuffed sweet plantains, a seafood cake, a pikliz fish sandwich, even mac and cheese, and coconut white rice, and we downed it all with the island goddess and painkiller beverages before making our way to the rum raisin bread pudding.
Hart’s
Address: 506 Franklin Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11238, United States
Hart’s, at a glance, looks like another one of those Mediterranean restaurants with a swagger-open kitchen and a cozy vibe. But this one is slightly different, I promise. The whole team takes so much care of your dining experience – from food to wine choices, every detail is focused and customized, which means that, obviously, it is hard for me to choose a favorite or two. But if I have to go with one dish at Hart’s, it would be the Clam toast with pancetta!
Ugly Baby
Address: 407 Smith Street, Brooklyn, NY 11231, United States
You simply cannot come to Ugly Baby and say no to the soups and spicy curries. Get yourself the best lunch in Brooklyn, with a Fried Turmeric Sea Bream, Tue Ka Ko (fried coconut milk cakes that are served with taro and black bean – super delicious!), and not to mention the Laab Ped Udon, because have you ever been to Ugly Baby if you didn’t try out their spicy duck salad. The wine selection is also amazing, just like the food. But make sure that you are prepared for all that spice! After all, what is Thai food if it is not filled with chili peppers?
Bunna Cafe
Address: 1084 Flushing Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11237, United States
No, I didn’t forget my vegan friends. How about some Ethiopian rolls of injera, chickpeas in a ginger-based broth, or toasted injera? Bunna Cafe is, without a doubt, the best Brooklyn restaurant for delicious food, beautifully presented alongside the complex Ethiopian coffee in a dimly lit dining room. The whole menu is vegan and vegetarian, and the customer service is so good that Bunna Café has now become one of those places that every New Yorker has either heard of or tried out themselves.
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