Food Fanatic Road Trip: Brooklyn

Who needs Manhattan when you have Brooklyn? The once rugged city streets of this New York borough have seen a surge of gentrification as old warehouses and buildings have become the new enclaves for young, talented chefs looking to make their mark.

First, grab a falafel from one of the local street carts and head to Brooklyn Heights. You’ll find the most epic views of New York while strolling the Promenade and crossing the Brooklyn Bridge. After all, you’ll need to work up an appetite before digging into all the amazing restaurants.

For a taste of old school Brooklyn, head to L&B Spumoni Gardens for grandmother-approved Italian-American. Coney Island might feel like a tourist trap, but it’s worth the trip if only to grab a slice from Totonno’s Pizzeria Napolitana and a hot dog from Nathan’s Famous.  

This is definitely a pizza town with plenty of divisive opinions. Some swear by the coal brick oven pizzas at Grimaldi’s while others show up early to wait in line at Di Fara’s. There’s also a whole generation of hipster pizzerias such as Roberta’s, Speedy Romeo, Lucali’s and Motorino. 

The DIY ethos is strong here with a focus on locally grown ingredients and unique artisanal foods sprawling through neighborhoods like Williamsburg, Greenpoint, Red Hook, Bushwick and Park Slope. And the latest crop of James Beard Award-nominated restaurants like Delaney Barbecue, Mile End, Maison Premiere and The Elm prove that there’s no stopping Brooklyn. 

The HIGHLIGHTS

Fette Sau
This barbecue joint studies more than smoking.Chef-owner Joe Carroll and his staff know every aspect of their products’ life cycles, from the farms the animals came from to the wood flavoring the meat.   

Glasserie
In the former home of the Greenpoint Glass Works, Chef Eldad Shem Tovthe serves market-driven Middle Eastern cuisine packed with hearty vegetables, whole grains, nuts, spices and herbs.

Talde
The flagship restaurant of Chef Dale Talde’s Park Slope empire puts an inventive touch on Asian-American dishes. Don’t miss the Korean fried chicken and the pretzel pork and chive dumplings.

Digital Exclusives 

Traif
Serving all things non-kosher, Chef Jason Marcus offers a hyper-seasonal menu of originals like Buffalo-style frog legs, sauteed sweetbreads and his famed bacon doughnuts.

Berg’n
What’s cooler than a massive beer hall? One with packed with eateries like Asia Dog, Pizza Moto, Mighty Quinn’s BBQ and Ramen Burger for an epic food crawl. 

The Elm
The latest offshoot from former Corton Chef Paul Liebrandt’s opulent dishes—from dry-aged steak to duck with radishes, hazelnuts and cherries—brings an enviably clean precision to modern French food. 

Randazzo’s Clam Bar
Eat the clams at Randazzo’s every which way—fried, steamed and raw—and there’s really no losing with any of them.