Music venue-turned-restaurant seems to be a theme this year in Bushwick, but Outerspace has fully committed to the bit. The happening spot features a seasonal, Mexican-leaning menu created by chefs Conner Updegrave and Luis Herrera. Highlights include the dry-aged burger with garlicky aioli; and a massive, fire-grilled cumin lamb shank, which sits atop a delicious bed of grains and minty yogurt. They’ve revamped their outdoor dining setup with dozens of cozy, heated outdoor tables and fire pits, as well as plenty of indoor seating in their 5,000-square-foot space.

Formerly known for its dancefloor, Elsewhere has transformed its rooftop into Icewhere Chalet, a winter-themed restaurant serving up strong cocktails and barbecue by Holy Ground, with a rotation of live music streaming to the dining area from its remote studio. The new winter menu boasts umami mac and cheese with gouda and jalapeno; juicy chopped brisket sandwiches; and warm winter cocktails, including a spicy Mexican hot chocolate made with mezcal and cayenne pepper. The space is decked out to transport guests to what feels like the inside of a snowglobe, while keeping tables warm with firepits and space heaters.

Faro, one of the most critically-acclaimed restaurants in the area, is still considered a well-kept secret. Chef Kevin Adey’s upbringing in Rome, as well as the restaurant’s former Michelin-starred status, are evident in handmade pasta dishes like gnudi and peekytoe crab spaghetti — even when they arrive in a takeout bowl. The restaurant is currently closed for in-person dining, but offers an extensive to-go menu, at-home pasta kits, and Thanksgiving and holiday wine bundles for delivery.

Operating inside a former tailor shop built in 1914, Otis is a restaurant and cocktail bar where husband-and-wife team Michelle Lobo-Hawley and Scott Hawley have put together a globe-trotting menu that pulls from all over the world including India, Italy, and South America. 

The open kitchen allows diners to watch head chef Hawley and his sou chef Paul Terceros prepare ambitious dishes like chimichurri-topped market fish and miso-braised pork shoulder, served with housemade pesto and fresh gigli pasta. Imagined first as a cocktail bar, Otis’ bar program includes stellar cocktails like Bruce’s Revenge, made with shōchū, ginseng, and calamansi, and a curated list of global wines. If the weather doesn’t cooperate, pick up the restaurant’s date-night takeout package, which includes a four course dinner and a bottle of wine for $95.

The menu at Momo Sushi Shack nods to the eclectic spirit of Bushwick, featuring both dishes that use traditional Japanese cooking methods and ingredients as well as vegan adaptations inspired by local produce. Find sushi served in their signature “bomb” style — warm rice balls topped with sashimi and a dollop of avocado or spicy mayonnaise — alongside items like crispy garlic cauliflower wings and maki made with mushroom and tofu skin in lieu of fish. The variety makes this one of the best dinner spots in the neighborhood to accommodate a group with different diets. The restaurant currently offers takeout, and also has covered tables available for outdoor diners.

Bunna Cafe was started by owners Sam Saverance and Liyuw Ayalew as a pop-up to highlight the importance of coffee (bunna) in Ethiopian cuisine and culture through elaborate coffee ceremonies. It has since become a permanent fixture of the vegan food scene in the neighborhood. Perfect for sharing, the main attraction is the Beyaynetu feast, a pizza box containing injera with a choice of five to nine sides including Misir Wot, spicy red lentils with garlic and roasted tomato, or Yater Kik Alicha, an Ethiopian split pea stew with turmeric and ginger. Bunna is open for limited indoor seating, as well as takeout and delivery.

After a hiatus with his family in Puebla, Mexico, former Jean-Georges cook Andrés Tonatiuh Galindo Maria decided it was time to create something of his own, and recently opened Nene’s Deli Taqueria. He serves up Mexican classics like pork mulita alongside new inventions like birria ramen and bone marrow, tucked away in a non-descript deli. The birria, a meat stew made with guajillo chillies and garlic, comes topped with onion, cheese, cilantro and is served on homemade tortillas. These juicy tacos have quickly become the talk of the neighborhood, and can be snagged for just $2 each on Tuesdays. Currently, Nene’s is available only for takeout and delivery.

John De Piper, James Freeman, and Matthew Maddy created Sally Roots as a reasonably-priced, Caribbean-American restaurant that strives to be the type of place where customers can hang out for hours. Every dish is generously portioned for its price, particularly plates like the jerk chicken hash with eggs and the crispy coconut shrimp with sweet chili sauce, which each cost around $15 apiece. The entire menu is available for takeout, but there’s an option to dine on a large back patio while sipping one of the “extra fun-sized” cocktails — that are about three times larger than average — for $25 each.

While the title of best taco in Bushwick may be forever contested, the short and sweet taco menu from Mad Tropical is a winner. Grab a frozen cream pie colada, made with light and dark rum, coconut, and orange, while pondering the taco menu, which includes just four different options along with chips and guacamole. The carnitas, topped with grilled cabbage, pickled red onion, and cojita cheese; and the fiery chicken tinga with guacamole, smoked chile oil and cilantro, are must-haves. The restaurant is open for indoor and outdoor dining, as well as takeout and delivery.

From the creators of vegan favorites Screamer’s and Champs Diner, Hartbreakers serves up vegan fried chicken made with seitan that rivals the real deal. The chik’n sandwiches are all stacked high and packed with flavor, especially the Thunderbird, which is made with a tangy slaw and finished off with jalapeño cilantro aioli. Make sure to stuff your to-go bag with a pile of Hartbreakers’ dipping sauces, including sweet mustard and sambal mayo. Currently, only takeout and delivery are available.

Longtime Bushwick residents Liz Stauber, Ryan Dolliver, and Blake Ventura are the co-owners behind Palmetto, a thoughtfully-executed wine bar that opened a month before the pandemic hit. The menu is short and sweet, featuring a strong selection of natural wines and expertly-made cocktails like the Negroni Sour and Colonia Roma. They also regularly host pop-ups with local restaurants such as Towd Point Oyster Company and Ha’s Đậc Biệt. The bar has semi-private booths inside, plus outdoor seating depending on the weather, and hand-picked wine packs for takeout. 

Note: As of November 29, Palmetto’s owners have temporarily closed out of caution amidst the evolving restrictions for indoor dining. They’re planning to re-open in the spring, or as soon as restrictions are lifted.

Chef Johnny Huynh was raised in Bushwick by his grandmother, Lucy, and serves pho, banh mi and vermicelli inspired both by Vietnamese street food as well as classic dishes. The pho is served with vegetarian broth, made with star anise, cinnamon and charred shallots, and can be topped with a variety of proteins, including a 14-hour smoked brisket or vegan ginger chicken made with soy and basil. The Bushwick location is currently offering takeout and delivery.

Chef Ella Schmidt’s pinchos-style restaurant lives up to the meaning of its name — “one to be loved” — with dishes that combine Basque and Italian cuisine with influences from her Colombian upbringing. On the menu you’ll find staples like empanaditas and arepitas — with fillings that rotate seasonally — and salt-crusted rib eye, alongside an extensive menu of natural wines. The restaurant’s indoor space has plenty of fresh air from garage-style windows that will remain open throughout the winter, weather-permitting, plus some outdoor seating on one of Bushwick’s quieter streets.

Finding Father Knows Best is like stumbling upon a brunch oasis in the quieter end of Bushwick on a stretch — between Myrtle Avenue and Ridgewood — with fewer sit-down restaurants. The cheddar scallion biscuits, served with honey chipotle butter, are worth the trip on their own. The breakfast burrito with chorizo and ultra-crispy shoestring fries can be paired with a michelada or lavender collins to create a cure-all for any weekend morning ailment. While there’s limited indoor seating, there is a large covered back-patio decked out with colorful murals.