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The Brooklyn Heatmap: Where to Eat Right Now

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12312123123112008_10_hasmaps-thumb%20%281%29.jpgDoes 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.

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Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process. If you buy something or book a reservation from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics policy.

BrisketTown

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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

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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

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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.

Krescendo

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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.

Blanca is one of the biggest dining surprises of the year. 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)

La Vara

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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.

Antica Pesa

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Antica Pesa is the sister establishment to an 80-year-old restaurant of the same name in Rome. The stylish Williamsburg outpost is operated by two members of the family that owns the original — Francesco Panella works the front of the house, and his brother Simone runs the kitchen. Order the pasta and any of the seafood dishes.

Dassara

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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.

Reynard at Wythe Hotel

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Reynard is the all-day restaurant in the Wythe Hotel from Williamsburg dream team Andrew Tarlow and Sean Rembold, of Marlow & Sons and Diner. The space is airy and bright, and the menu features the same style of slyly inventive American cooking that made Marlow and Diner such big hits. Order any of the grilled or baked dishes, and make sure to try one of the super-smooth house cocktails.

Pork Slope

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Pork Slope is the new bar and restaurant from Dale Talde, Dave Massoni, and John Bush, who opened the wildly popular restaurant Talde earlier this year. The bar serves cheap beer as well as fancy craft ales, and the food menu includes Talde's version of Southern comfort foods like fried chicken, pulled pork, chili, and a fried shrimp sandwich. This restaurant offers strong value — most of the entrees are under $14, and the burger is just $6.50.

Pok Pok Ny

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Pok Pok NY is Portland phenom Andy Ricker's first sit-down restaurant in NYC. Ricker is dedicated to recreating the flavors and textures of traditional Thai cuisine, and the food is very reasonably priced. There's usually a wait for a table in the tiny restaurant, but thankfully, you can hang out and have a beer in the restaurant's covered outdoor space while you wait.

Hillside

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Head to this cozy Vinegar Hill House spinoff for oysters, wine, and meaty shareable plates like homemade pâté and bone marrow with bottarga. The space has a laid-back, vaguely Southern Californian feel.

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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.

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.

Blanca

Blanca is one of the biggest dining surprises of the year. 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)

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.

Antica Pesa

Antica Pesa is the sister establishment to an 80-year-old restaurant of the same name in Rome. The stylish Williamsburg outpost is operated by two members of the family that owns the original — Francesco Panella works the front of the house, and his brother Simone runs the kitchen. Order the pasta and any of the seafood dishes.

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.

Reynard at Wythe Hotel

Reynard is the all-day restaurant in the Wythe Hotel from Williamsburg dream team Andrew Tarlow and Sean Rembold, of Marlow & Sons and Diner. The space is airy and bright, and the menu features the same style of slyly inventive American cooking that made Marlow and Diner such big hits. Order any of the grilled or baked dishes, and make sure to try one of the super-smooth house cocktails.

Pork Slope

Pork Slope is the new bar and restaurant from Dale Talde, Dave Massoni, and John Bush, who opened the wildly popular restaurant Talde earlier this year. The bar serves cheap beer as well as fancy craft ales, and the food menu includes Talde's version of Southern comfort foods like fried chicken, pulled pork, chili, and a fried shrimp sandwich. This restaurant offers strong value — most of the entrees are under $14, and the burger is just $6.50.

Pok Pok Ny

Pok Pok NY is Portland phenom Andy Ricker's first sit-down restaurant in NYC. Ricker is dedicated to recreating the flavors and textures of traditional Thai cuisine, and the food is very reasonably priced. There's usually a wait for a table in the tiny restaurant, but thankfully, you can hang out and have a beer in the restaurant's covered outdoor space while you wait.

Hillside

Head to this cozy Vinegar Hill House spinoff for oysters, wine, and meaty shareable plates like homemade pâté and bone marrow with bottarga. The space has a laid-back, vaguely Southern Californian feel.

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