clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

The Brooklyn Heatmap: Where to Eat Right Now

View as Map

12_bk1212123123112008_10_hasmaps%20%281%29.jpegDoes Brooklyn have its own unique culinary identity apart from Manhattan? Are all the young, ambitious chefs and restaurateurs opening in Brooklyn these days? And are any Brooklyn restaurants worth the train/cab/boat/helicopter ride from the Upper East Side? These are all questions that can be debated, endlessly. But one thing's for certain: There are a lot of terrific new restaurants in Brooklyn right now. Here they are in map form.

Some of these restaurants serve fancy tasting menus, while others offer great comfort food. All of them are less than a year old. Take a peek at Eater's Brooklyn Heatmap:

For a guide to Manhattan's restaurants-of-the-moment, check out the Manhattan Heatmap.

Read More
If you buy something or book a reservation from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics policy.

Aska is the big Brooklyn surprise of the fall. This new restaurant operates out of Kinfolk Studios at night (during the day, the space is used as a coffee shop and design studio). The chef here is Fredrik Berselius, a young gun who earned critical acclaim for Frej, his pop-up restaurant with Richard Kuo. Berselius's menu of modern Scandinavian food includes dishes like mackerel with "soured cream," pork ribs with rutabaga, and fried broccoli with oyster cream. The beverage menu features eight original creations from cocktail guru Eamon Rockey. The food and drinks are sophisticated, but the vibe here is super relaxed.

BrisketTown

Copy Link

After hosting a string of successful pop-ups, pitmaster Daniel Delaney decided to open a brick-and-mortar restaurant specializing in brisket. Delaney learned how to smoke meat from Aaron Franklin of Franklin Barbecue and Wayne Mueller of Louie Mueller Barbecue. The menu here is simple: just brisket, homemade Pullman-style white bread, daily sides, and pie. This place is already packed.

The Pines

Copy Link

The Pines is the new restaurant from Aaron Lefkove and Andy Curtin of Littleneck, and chef Angelo Romano, formerly of Roberta's and dearly departed Williamsburg restaurant Masten Lake. Romano coaxes a lot of flavor out of simple proteins and fresh market vegetables, and his pastas are incredible. The dining room has a nice, worn-in feel.

Dear Bushwick

Copy Link

This new Bushwick restaurant offers rustic English fare in a cozy, somewhat chic dining room. Make sure to order the iron skillet pork chop, which comes with a side of Brussels sprouts with bacon dressing. Almost everything on the menu is under $20.

Antica Pesa

Copy Link

This Roman import serves solid pastas and excellent meat dishes in a stylish, but comfortable setting. Order the lamb chops and the baked mozzarella with prosciutto.

After garnering acclaim for his tasting menus at Roberta's, chef Carlo Mirarchi decided to bring the operation to whole new restaurant next door. The meal includes about 25 small courses, including pasta, fish, meat, and vegetable dishes. Reservations for the $180 dinner are only available by phone on the first of the month. (Photo)

Selamat Pagi

Copy Link

The owners of Van Leeuwen ice cream recently opened an all-day Balinese restaurant near McGolrick Park, and so far, people are digging the food and the atmosphere. Selamat Pagi serves brunch every day of the week except Monday, with a menu that includes pan fried spicy chicken, savory rice porridge with vegetables, and steak & eggs.

La Vara

Copy Link

At La Vara, chefs Alex Raij and Eder Montero are serving a style of Spanish cuisine that has Moorish and Jewish influences. The food coming out of the kitchen here is unique for New York, but it's also very easy to enjoy. Make sure to order the fideúa and the chicken hearts.

Hunter's

Copy Link

This casual new American restaurant on Smith Street features a menu by Angelo Schifilliti, who previously worked as the executive chef of Landmarc Tribeca. The menu includes several homemade pastas, plus entrees like a mushroom pot pie, a roasted chicken with Brussels sprouts, and a pork shoulder braised in milk and honey. All of the dishes are made with locally-sourced ingredients, and many of the entrees are under $21.

Krescendo

Copy Link

San Francisco chef Elizabeth Falkner and Brooklyn native Nancy Puglisi recently opened this Boerum Hill Italian restaurant. The menu includes pastas and classic Neapolitan style pizzas, plus a few pies with untraditional toppings like goat cheese and padron peppers. So far, people love what's coming out of the kitchen.

Fletcher's Brooklyn Barbecue

Copy Link

Fletcher's is the new Gowanus barbecue joint from 'cue obsessive Billy Fletcher. The menu includes pork shoulder, hot links, brisket, St. Louis-style ribs, and char siu pork, all of which are smoked over red oak and sugar maple in a huge barbecue pit. Like BrisketTown, this place ain't cheap. [Photo]

Dassara

Copy Link

The big draw at this new Carroll Gardens restaurant is the "deli ramen" made with matzo balls and smoked meat from Mile End. But so far, early diners also love the more traditional noodle soups, and the small plates like pork buns and mackarel tartare. To drink, Dassara offers several sake and shochu-based cocktails developed by Alchemy Consulting.

Loading comments...

Aska

Aska is the big Brooklyn surprise of the fall. This new restaurant operates out of Kinfolk Studios at night (during the day, the space is used as a coffee shop and design studio). The chef here is Fredrik Berselius, a young gun who earned critical acclaim for Frej, his pop-up restaurant with Richard Kuo. Berselius's menu of modern Scandinavian food includes dishes like mackerel with "soured cream," pork ribs with rutabaga, and fried broccoli with oyster cream. The beverage menu features eight original creations from cocktail guru Eamon Rockey. The food and drinks are sophisticated, but the vibe here is super relaxed.

BrisketTown

After hosting a string of successful pop-ups, pitmaster Daniel Delaney decided to open a brick-and-mortar restaurant specializing in brisket. Delaney learned how to smoke meat from Aaron Franklin of Franklin Barbecue and Wayne Mueller of Louie Mueller Barbecue. The menu here is simple: just brisket, homemade Pullman-style white bread, daily sides, and pie. This place is already packed.

The Pines

The Pines is the new restaurant from Aaron Lefkove and Andy Curtin of Littleneck, and chef Angelo Romano, formerly of Roberta's and dearly departed Williamsburg restaurant Masten Lake. Romano coaxes a lot of flavor out of simple proteins and fresh market vegetables, and his pastas are incredible. The dining room has a nice, worn-in feel.

Dear Bushwick

This new Bushwick restaurant offers rustic English fare in a cozy, somewhat chic dining room. Make sure to order the iron skillet pork chop, which comes with a side of Brussels sprouts with bacon dressing. Almost everything on the menu is under $20.

Antica Pesa

This Roman import serves solid pastas and excellent meat dishes in a stylish, but comfortable setting. Order the lamb chops and the baked mozzarella with prosciutto.

Blanca

After garnering acclaim for his tasting menus at Roberta's, chef Carlo Mirarchi decided to bring the operation to whole new restaurant next door. The meal includes about 25 small courses, including pasta, fish, meat, and vegetable dishes. Reservations for the $180 dinner are only available by phone on the first of the month. (Photo)

Selamat Pagi

The owners of Van Leeuwen ice cream recently opened an all-day Balinese restaurant near McGolrick Park, and so far, people are digging the food and the atmosphere. Selamat Pagi serves brunch every day of the week except Monday, with a menu that includes pan fried spicy chicken, savory rice porridge with vegetables, and steak & eggs.

La Vara

At La Vara, chefs Alex Raij and Eder Montero are serving a style of Spanish cuisine that has Moorish and Jewish influences. The food coming out of the kitchen here is unique for New York, but it's also very easy to enjoy. Make sure to order the fideúa and the chicken hearts.

Hunter's

This casual new American restaurant on Smith Street features a menu by Angelo Schifilliti, who previously worked as the executive chef of Landmarc Tribeca. The menu includes several homemade pastas, plus entrees like a mushroom pot pie, a roasted chicken with Brussels sprouts, and a pork shoulder braised in milk and honey. All of the dishes are made with locally-sourced ingredients, and many of the entrees are under $21.

Krescendo

San Francisco chef Elizabeth Falkner and Brooklyn native Nancy Puglisi recently opened this Boerum Hill Italian restaurant. The menu includes pastas and classic Neapolitan style pizzas, plus a few pies with untraditional toppings like goat cheese and padron peppers. So far, people love what's coming out of the kitchen.

Fletcher's Brooklyn Barbecue

Fletcher's is the new Gowanus barbecue joint from 'cue obsessive Billy Fletcher. The menu includes pork shoulder, hot links, brisket, St. Louis-style ribs, and char siu pork, all of which are smoked over red oak and sugar maple in a huge barbecue pit. Like BrisketTown, this place ain't cheap. [Photo]

Dassara

The big draw at this new Carroll Gardens restaurant is the "deli ramen" made with matzo balls and smoked meat from Mile End. But so far, early diners also love the more traditional noodle soups, and the small plates like pork buns and mackarel tartare. To drink, Dassara offers several sake and shochu-based cocktails developed by Alchemy Consulting.

Related Maps