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1. Garden Cafe
620 Vanderbilt Ave, Prospect Heights, NY 11238 · 718-857-8863
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BROOKLYN. Sometimes – in the pursuit of good food – it's worth venturing out a bit. That's certainly the case with Prospect Heights' Garden Cafe. Not at all caught up in the hubbub of the Manhattan dining scene, this cozy corner spot marches to its own beat (skillfully led by owner-chef John Policastro) and goes about the business of serving New American dishes that earn resounding approval from regulars and newbies alike. Best of all, the prices are more than reasonable, easily making this one of the borough's best deals.
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2. River Café
1 Water St, Brooklyn Bridge, Brooklyn, NY 11201 · 718-522-5200
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BROOKLYN. From the River Cafe, diners are able to take in the majesty and spectacle of the looming skyline across the water. Inside, they find that service and food complement the wonderful view. Try sea bass with mashed potatoes for a real winner, and top it off with a luscious dessert. Sunday brunch, meanwhile, enamors with dishes like duck steak and egg, slow-roasted suckling pig, and Atlantic halibut with Parmigianino risotto cakes. The three-course prix fixe meal is $85; the six-course tasting menu is $102. TRAIN: A, C to High St
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BROOKLYN. Looking for an old school setting where you can devour a mammoth porterhouse and munch on fried potatoes? This two-story, time-honored steak place is perfect for you. Remember not to ask for a menu, as menus are reserved for only tourists of the most naive kind. Luger's makes it simple by serving only one cut, the porterhouse, but they do that one cut extremely well! The gift shop offers Luger's popular sauce and souvenirs. TRAIN: J, M, Z to Marcy Ave
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4. Al Di La
248 5th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11215 · 718-783-4565
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BROOKLYN. The husband-wife duo of Emiliano Coppa and Anna Klinger has won over the heart, soul and appetite of Brooklyn's Park Slope area with their delightful foray into traditional Venetian cuisine. Each dish here is lovingly prepared, and the labor-intensive process translates into a long, leisurely experience that allows for the enjoyment of fine wines and good company. Indeed, well worth the wait are dishes like beet ravioli with melted butter and poppy seeds, ricotta gnocchi, and braised rabbit with black olives and polenta. TRAIN: R to Union
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BROOKLYN. The block between Bergen and St. Marks hides one of the best reasons to venture across the bridge to Park Slope, for it's there that you'll find one of the borough's more rewarding culinary surprises – Convivium Osteria. A fun, open place to gather and savor fine wine and good times, this Mediterranean-inspired restaurant also gets the nod for its superb Italian, Spanish and Portuguese dishes. The large wooden tables and brilliant appetizers are just the right ingredients for sharing dishes with good friends. TRAIN: 2, 3 to Bergen St
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BROOKLYN. Located in the Carroll Gardens section of Brooklyn, this intimate little dining room has created quite the stir, managing to combine all the best qualities of a neighborhood-style mom and pop with outstanding New American fare tinged with a few French influences. Because the specials rotate seasonally, it's possible to stop in one month and enjoy homemade sausage or roasted duck and, on your next visit, fresh oysters or freshwater trout. TRAIN: F, G to Carroll St
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7. Saul
140 Smith St, Brooklyn, NY 11201 · 718-935-9844
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BROOKLYN. Located in Brooklyn's Boerum Hill area, this sparse little number has raised eyebrows and charmed palates on a regular basis since Saul Bolton (once part of the kitchen team at Midtown's Le Bernardin) first opened the doors way back in 1999. Indeed, Bolton's seasonal New American fare always seems to be ahead of the game, and the presentations and pairings are reliably impeccable. His three-course prix fixe is a steal at around $45. TRAIN: F, G to Bergen St
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BROOKLYN. Just four blocks away from Prospect Park sits a most distinctive neighborhood eatery ... a place that takes the flavorful cuisine and wine of the Mediterranean and delivers them amid cream-colored walls, a pressed tin ceiling, rich silk draperies, and rustic wooden tables. Upon scanning the menu, diners quickly learn that Tempo borrows from both European and Northern African traditions, resulting in dishes like rack of lamb with Moroccan spice rub and mint tabbouleh, roasted orate with blood orange marmelada, and prosciutto-wrapped duck paupíettes. TRAIN: M, R at Union St
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BROOKLYN. A neighborhood standard since 1973, this simple, redbrick eatery has enjoyed a devout following over the years. Owner Mark Lahm, a bus boy here in the 80s, is a CIA-trained chef who isn't afraid to take the familiar and make it extraordinary – his Southern fried chicken, for example, is coated a delish mixture of garlic, cinnamon, nutmeg and clove. And a word to the wise: Lahm's much-celebrated Wild Game Festival runs from October to February and features a wide array of creative dishes, including pheasant ravioli, ragout of wild boar and black bear with juniper sauce.
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10. Eliá
8611 Third Ave, Bay Ridge, NY 11209 · 718-748-9891
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BROOKLYN. If you're a movie buff, the key words "Elia" and "Brooklyn" may recall Kazan's adaptation of "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn." That said, this Greek charmer is giving folks a whole new reason to think fondly of Brooklyn, Bay Ridge in particular. Like traditional estiatorios or tavernas – those social centerpieces of Greece's quaint seaside villages – Eliá seems to welcome patrons with a warm, cheery embrace that's punctuated by great music, seafood (grilled octopus is a must), and drink. And, just for good measure, be sure to save room for a few pastry bites and coffee before you leave. TRAIN: R to 86th St
Looking for a restaurant? We've explored the options, checked with critics, and pounded the pavement to offer only the best. Recommendations come complete with contact information and a brief description highlighting the important features of the restaurant. Fit our choices to your mood, or let us guide your tastes. You'll likely find a few places that not even locals know about.
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