NYC Recomendations

If you put your name in at Lucali do they text or call you when its your table? I was thinking of that as an option when I am coming in April...

 

Just an fyi, beer witch in Brooklyn seems to have sacred profane going on Lukrs. Wish I could go but hopefully some on these boards can enjoy the beer as it was meant to be in Biddeford.

 

So I'm doing my bachelor party in Brooklyn in May - looking for recommendations on everything except for beer - bagels, coffee, pastries, dinner spots, cocktails. I'm working on a preliminary itinerary that goes something like this:

get in Friday go to HT BBQ then Strong Rope Red Hook to enjoy some views. Check in to the hotel (the Sheraton), then head to Grimm and head west towards TALEA/et al, looking for a dinner spot in that area.

Saturday pick up bagels or pastries or both, get some coffee, go to OH at open, grab lunch somewhere and enjoy the Boerum Hill/Park Slope breweries. Still need to lock down dinner.

I've read this thread. I've starred many of the places recommended in this thread. I don't care if a place is highly rated. If you enjoy it, I would like to know why. Local color is much appreciated.

 

How many people will you be with?

Sam’s restaurant on Court St across from the Cobble Hill movie theatre has been a family favorite for decades (my great grandparents used to frequent the place). It’s a no frills old school Italian place about a mile from OH.

The reason I ask how many people is because the owner is a bit of a curmudgeon. He’s a great guy but has been known to turn groups of people away if he just doesn’t feel like serving you. Large groups usually draw his ire. His family has owned the place for decades, so he technically doesn’t need the business. However, ask any local who has lived in that neighborhood for a long time and they’ll give nothing but high praise.

 

Noted, adding it to the starred list of places in Brooklyn. We will have 4-5 people so nothing too big.

 

First off congrats on the wedding! I'm assuming the downtown BK Sheraton; nearby is Someday Bar that has good beer, good food, and a fun ambiance. Owner is wonderful and I couldn't think of a better "one last beer" place near your hotel (or most of town, really).

A block over from you is Café d'Avignon for pastries. My wife is French and her mother is a trained pastry chef and both were pleased with what they produce, moreso than the dozen other places we've tried with her and over the years. They aren't mind-blowing, but after the Saturday you have planned they'll hit a spot. And Shelsky's, maybe 10-15 minute walk from the hotel, does great bagels/sandwiches. Court Street Bagels a block or two south is also very good.

Across from Talea for cocktails I remember a drunken night at The Shanty that was a lot of fun. That area is littered with cocktail bars, I usually end up at Beer Street or Torst when there. Torst would also be good for a more casual beer dinner. I have The Hidden Pearl, a cocktail bar right next door to Torst, saved for some reason I wish I could remember. Xi'an Famous Foods is right nearby and an institution of sorts, a right of passage to get the spicy cumin lamb and watch someone who doesn't like spicy food fight through it. And you can head over to The Gutter for late night bowling and beers if there's any lanes open. Otherwise near Talea I've heard prasie for Silver Light Tavern as another easygoing drinks/dinner set up. A little further east is Cozy Royale, run by the people at Meat Hook, that is very good and if they still have the same outside setup as they did a year ago would be great if we have a warm May.

Saturday lunch idea would be Court Street Grocers for sandwiches for lunch. Dinner ideas - Claro, Littleneck and Runner & Stone are right nearby and all very good. Otherwise a walk over to 5th Ave and you'll find something up your alley: Brooklyn DOP for pizza, Haenyeo for Korean, Tava has good Turkish food (one of the best lahmacun I've had in the city), and so on. Wild East almost always has Saturday food pop-ups (and arguably the most diverse tap list for a Brooklyn brewery) so that's worth keeping an eye on if they have something you're interested in for lunch/dinner.

 

Thanks for the recs. Thinking Court Street or Shelsky's could be a good saturday breakfast option before hitting OH at open. CS grocers might be a good option as we wade our way back towards the Boerum Hill/Park Slope breweries. Planning this is a bit of sensory overload with all of the places we could go. Not a bad thing at all. But I want to check every spot out, which I know we can't do.

Anyone have favorite coffee spots? I'm more pourover/black coffee focused vs lattes etc but interested in knowing what the favorites are.

 

Less planning and go with the flow for some things. Way more fun that way especially since you have so much planned already.

 

For sure. Certain places will be jumping off points. If we're somewhere and having a good time, we're not going to go somewhere else just to meet some arbitrary goal (like hitting a certain # of breweries).

 

Need to solidify my Friday night dinner plans (hoping to have that sorted later this afternoon) but made a reservation at Ugly Baby for Saturday night, so I'm psyched about that. I also will make sure, within all of the brewery hopping, that we make it to Wild East, so that @shkin doesn't yell at me.

 

Dude ghosted BA once 2023 began. I wonder if he got caught up in the ban hammer action on NYE or gave up either drinking/posting pictures of lagers on BA as a new year resolution.

 

He was active a little bit ago today so he at least wasn't banned.

I have reservations at Meadowsweet and Ugly Baby now. I probably dropped the ball on some places based on how long ahead you can reserve and I should have paid more attention. Regardless, I'm pretty pleased with these.

 

This is a good coffee spot that’s pretty close to Other Half Centre St.

https://principlesbk.nyc/

But there are good coffee places all over the place.

Nerd Be Cool is another by Other Half on Court St.

 

Already had Principles starred but always good to get an actual thumbs up. Starred Nerd Be Cool now as well. Gotta stay caffeinated!

 

Not sure where else this would be of remote interest, but Bread & Honey made a little cameo in the last episode of Succession

 

Going to be in BK this weekend with my dad and my 13 year old son. Looking for a place to grab dinner (burger or pizza or something) and have a couple good beers.

I'm pretty well familiar with the beer bars, but I'm not taking a 13 year old to Torst, haha. I havent been up since covid, so some of the spots I might have gone to like Mission Dolores or Croxley Abbey or Sugarburg have gone.

Mekleburgs? Double Windsor?

 

Mekelburg’s is probably a good choice based on what you are looking for.

Brooklyn Burgers and Beer on 5th avenue is pretty popular. Beer list is pretty good but a step below Mekelburg’s.

Double Windsor has great food and Ok local centric beer menu. I’m there a lot because it’s a 2 minute walk.

Sixpoint at City Point has good food and their beer (including Southern Tier)

Checking the food truck schedule at teenager friendly breweries could work too.

A “different” option could be a movie at Nitehawk or The Alamo. Food and decent tap lists with entertainment.

 

yea i thought about popping in Threes if we got there on the earlier side

 

What are the favorite slices shops in Brooklyn?

 

L’industrie is my favorite.