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17 Awesome Places to Eat on Your Visit to MOFAD Lab in Williamsburg

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While there’s plenty to see and do inside MOFAD Lab, there’s also plenty to see and do — and eat — around it, too. The Lab is tucked between two great Brooklyn dining neighborhoods, Greenpoint and Williamsburg, so why not make a day of your visit and get in a great meal (or two)? To help guide the way, here’s a guide to 17 great dining options in the area, chosen by the greatest experts on the matter, the staff at MOFAD. Whether you’re looking for an awesome lunch, a dinner adventure, or just a sweet treat, they’ve got you covered.

And there's even better news for MOFAD Lab members: You can get 10% discounts at these participating neighborhood spots (some restrictions may apply).

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This relaxed Brazilian cafe just a short block south of MOFAD is open all day, but it’s especially great for an evening snack and a drink or two. The food is simple, mostly sandwiches and bar bites like empanadas or pao de queijo (chewy, cheesy little rolls made with cassava flour), plus a great feijoada (a traditional bean and smoked meat stew), and the drinks are, too. Go for Brazilian classics, like a caipirinha or whiskey with coconut water. And if brunch is your thing, Beco’s a great bet.

Patisserie Tomoko

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This elegant Japanese pastry shop just a few blocks from the museum is run by the talented Tomoko Kato, who was the opening chef at East Village tea house Cha-An. You can grab a macaron, a pretty little fruit tart, or the ultra-soft, freshly made mochi to go, but for the full experience, sit at the bar order the dessert tasting menu. Kato serves two and three-course tastings, with options like black sesame crème brûlée and green tea cake roll, plus bonus petit fours. Wine pairings are also an option.

Mi Tierra Ecuatoriana

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This Ecuadorian diner in the shadow of the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway may not look like much, but its food is excellent and the lunch specials unbeatable. For $8, you’ll get a soup (like seafood, or a collagen-rich cow foot), a hearty main dish (like rotisserie chicken), and a glass of one of Mi Tierra’s fresh juices.

Lorimer Market

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This family-owned Italian butcher shop and deli is the real deal. It’s easy to get distracted by the gleaming cases of meat and prepared sides, but for lunch the right move is the hero sandwiches, which are some of the best in the neighborhood (and maybe even the city). The Boss — a spicy monster of a sandwich stuffed with hot capicola, hot soppressata, prosciutto, smoked ham, fresh mozzarella, tomato, arugula, banana peppers, and a dose of chili oil — is a MOFAD staff favorite.

Beer nerds (and all beer drinkers, for that matter) will need a pilgrimage to Tørst, the craft beer bar from Jeppe Jarnit-Bjergsø, the Danish brewer behind Brooklyn-based Evil Twin Brewing, and chef Daniel Burns. The bar offers 20 beers on tap, including many rare and sometimes strange European brews. Burns’s Michelin-starred tasting menu restaurant, Luksus, is in back, but up front he serves Scandinavian-leaning snacks, like smoked trout with fingerling potatoes and a confit duck sandwich.

Black Star Bakery

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Black Star Bakery & Cafe offers a great selection of freshly baked pastries, french macarons, breakfast sandwiches and Oslo coffee. Located in the heart of Williamsburg it's the perfect place to meet a friend, grab a quick lunch or a post museum caffeine kick.

The Brooklyn Kitchen

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If a visit to MOFAD inspires you to experiment in the kitchen, this Williamsburg shop sells everything from utilitarian copper mixing bowls and neatly designed servingware to esoteric tools you never thought you needed but always wanted. Browse the shelves of Wusthof knives and Le Creuset pots, then get to the fun stuff: fermentation and homebrew supplies, Chemex and French Press coffee makers, and measuring scales.

Greenpoint Fish & Lobster Co.

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A trip to Greenpoint Fish & Lobster feels almost like a trip to the coast. Specializing in sustainable seafood, Greenpoint Fish & Lobster is part seafood market, part casual raw bar. The day’s catch from the sea and region are highlighted on the restaurant’s chalkboard above a bustling kitchen, where you’ll find staff shucking oysters and prepping seafood dishes. The Maine-style lobster roll is a safe bet — and so popular that it often sells out — but the Tokubesu rice bowls and fish tacos are equally delicious.

Juicery Kitchen

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Colorful rows of cold-pressed juices and teas are the main attraction at Juicery Kitchen, but the almond-milk smoothies and vegan baked goods get their due, too, at this Williamsburg shop. Get an acai bowl or tofu scramble to go, or grab a seat in the small bar area to savor a quiet moment and sip a bottle. The Dulce Verde green juice or King Blood carrot and beet juice may be your standard if you’re a cold-press junkie, but Juicery Kitchen’s other varieties will shake up your juice routine; try the pineapple, ginger, lemon, and oregano oil juice for a immunity boost.

Kings County Imperial

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Forget what you know about Chinese restaurants and dive headfirst into Kings County Imperial, where the soy sauce flows freely (seriously, it’s on tap at the bar) and the Shanghai soup dumplings satisfy your cravings. This Williamsburg restaurant with a flare for Central Chinese dishes made with local, organic ingredients comes from the folks behind Park Slope’s Stone Park Cafe. Vegetarians will be pleasantly surprised by the vegetable-heavy menu and the “mock eel” made from shiitake mushrooms; all will be pleased by the tiki cocktails.

Park Luncheonette

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This once-shuttered locale is back, giving Greenpointers another casual dinner and brunch spot in the hood. You’ll never feel bad about ordering a lollipop kale salad with an assortment of seasonal vegetables, but you really should indulge in the duck fries (tossed in duck fat and served with a saffron aioli) or the breakfast pizzas. The Egg Florentine pizza reimagines a brunch classic with a baked egg on top. And a build-your-own mimosa bar is also available.

Pete's Candy Store

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You’ll never meet a beer-and-shot special you don’t like at Pete’s Candy Store. Grab a Miller High Life and a no-frills sandwich to sit in the bar area, or sneak in the back to the music venue. Macrobrews are standard for Pete’s drinkers, but don’t miss the Braven Bushwick Lager.

Polka Dot

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A gem in Greenpoint, this family-owned Polish deli will hit the spot at a very inexpensive price point. Pierogies, borscht, and potato pancakes are hot items, but this meat market is more of a meat mecca: The deli sells more than 20 house smoked, cured, and cooked meats. (Kielbasa is king.) It’s great for takeout, but there’s a small seating area if you’re too hungry to wait.

Every imaginable bread and baked good — focaccia, muffins, brioche, the list goes on — makes Saltie a step above your average sandwich shop and cafe. Owner Caroline Fidanza has inspired a cult following for Saltie, and for good reason: Try the best-selling Scuttlebutt, with hard boiled egg, feta, olives, capers, pickles, and pimenton aioli served on a freshly baked focaccia loaf. The iced coffee, particularly the iced New England, is not to be missed, either.

Sottocasa

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Neapolitan wood-fired pizza has tough competition in Brooklyn, but Sottocasa rises to the challenge. Gooey mozzarella, ripe plum tomatoes, and a crispy crust — what more could you want? They’ve got beer and wine, too, and even Italian sodas.

Spiritzenhaus

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This massive beer garden-slash-pretzel and Belgian fry heaven is an easy stop after a Saturday afternoon in at MOFAD Lab. The tap list has plenty of German brews but a few domestic and local choices too, like the Brooklyn Sorachi Ace. You’ll never be more happy to munch on a Sigmund’s pretzel, especially with one of the many dipping sauces to choose from. (We like the jalapeno mustard aioli and the curry ketchup.)

Vine Wine

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This Williamsburg corner shop specializes in small-production, natural, and biodynamic wines. Tastings are a regular Wednesday occurrence, so stop in for a sip of an off-the-beaten-path wine or spirit. Plenty of up-and-coming wine regions are featured, plus there’s an ample $15-and-under selection.

Beco

This relaxed Brazilian cafe just a short block south of MOFAD is open all day, but it’s especially great for an evening snack and a drink or two. The food is simple, mostly sandwiches and bar bites like empanadas or pao de queijo (chewy, cheesy little rolls made with cassava flour), plus a great feijoada (a traditional bean and smoked meat stew), and the drinks are, too. Go for Brazilian classics, like a caipirinha or whiskey with coconut water. And if brunch is your thing, Beco’s a great bet.

Patisserie Tomoko

This elegant Japanese pastry shop just a few blocks from the museum is run by the talented Tomoko Kato, who was the opening chef at East Village tea house Cha-An. You can grab a macaron, a pretty little fruit tart, or the ultra-soft, freshly made mochi to go, but for the full experience, sit at the bar order the dessert tasting menu. Kato serves two and three-course tastings, with options like black sesame crème brûlée and green tea cake roll, plus bonus petit fours. Wine pairings are also an option.

Mi Tierra Ecuatoriana

This Ecuadorian diner in the shadow of the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway may not look like much, but its food is excellent and the lunch specials unbeatable. For $8, you’ll get a soup (like seafood, or a collagen-rich cow foot), a hearty main dish (like rotisserie chicken), and a glass of one of Mi Tierra’s fresh juices.

Lorimer Market

This family-owned Italian butcher shop and deli is the real deal. It’s easy to get distracted by the gleaming cases of meat and prepared sides, but for lunch the right move is the hero sandwiches, which are some of the best in the neighborhood (and maybe even the city). The Boss — a spicy monster of a sandwich stuffed with hot capicola, hot soppressata, prosciutto, smoked ham, fresh mozzarella, tomato, arugula, banana peppers, and a dose of chili oil — is a MOFAD staff favorite.

Tørst

Beer nerds (and all beer drinkers, for that matter) will need a pilgrimage to Tørst, the craft beer bar from Jeppe Jarnit-Bjergsø, the Danish brewer behind Brooklyn-based Evil Twin Brewing, and chef Daniel Burns. The bar offers 20 beers on tap, including many rare and sometimes strange European brews. Burns’s Michelin-starred tasting menu restaurant, Luksus, is in back, but up front he serves Scandinavian-leaning snacks, like smoked trout with fingerling potatoes and a confit duck sandwich.

Black Star Bakery

Black Star Bakery & Cafe offers a great selection of freshly baked pastries, french macarons, breakfast sandwiches and Oslo coffee. Located in the heart of Williamsburg it's the perfect place to meet a friend, grab a quick lunch or a post museum caffeine kick.

The Brooklyn Kitchen

If a visit to MOFAD inspires you to experiment in the kitchen, this Williamsburg shop sells everything from utilitarian copper mixing bowls and neatly designed servingware to esoteric tools you never thought you needed but always wanted. Browse the shelves of Wusthof knives and Le Creuset pots, then get to the fun stuff: fermentation and homebrew supplies, Chemex and French Press coffee makers, and measuring scales.

Greenpoint Fish & Lobster Co.

A trip to Greenpoint Fish & Lobster feels almost like a trip to the coast. Specializing in sustainable seafood, Greenpoint Fish & Lobster is part seafood market, part casual raw bar. The day’s catch from the sea and region are highlighted on the restaurant’s chalkboard above a bustling kitchen, where you’ll find staff shucking oysters and prepping seafood dishes. The Maine-style lobster roll is a safe bet — and so popular that it often sells out — but the Tokubesu rice bowls and fish tacos are equally delicious.

Juicery Kitchen

Colorful rows of cold-pressed juices and teas are the main attraction at Juicery Kitchen, but the almond-milk smoothies and vegan baked goods get their due, too, at this Williamsburg shop. Get an acai bowl or tofu scramble to go, or grab a seat in the small bar area to savor a quiet moment and sip a bottle. The Dulce Verde green juice or King Blood carrot and beet juice may be your standard if you’re a cold-press junkie, but Juicery Kitchen’s other varieties will shake up your juice routine; try the pineapple, ginger, lemon, and oregano oil juice for a immunity boost.

Kings County Imperial

Forget what you know about Chinese restaurants and dive headfirst into Kings County Imperial, where the soy sauce flows freely (seriously, it’s on tap at the bar) and the Shanghai soup dumplings satisfy your cravings. This Williamsburg restaurant with a flare for Central Chinese dishes made with local, organic ingredients comes from the folks behind Park Slope’s Stone Park Cafe. Vegetarians will be pleasantly surprised by the vegetable-heavy menu and the “mock eel” made from shiitake mushrooms; all will be pleased by the tiki cocktails.

Park Luncheonette

This once-shuttered locale is back, giving Greenpointers another casual dinner and brunch spot in the hood. You’ll never feel bad about ordering a lollipop kale salad with an assortment of seasonal vegetables, but you really should indulge in the duck fries (tossed in duck fat and served with a saffron aioli) or the breakfast pizzas. The Egg Florentine pizza reimagines a brunch classic with a baked egg on top. And a build-your-own mimosa bar is also available.

Pete's Candy Store

You’ll never meet a beer-and-shot special you don’t like at Pete’s Candy Store. Grab a Miller High Life and a no-frills sandwich to sit in the bar area, or sneak in the back to the music venue. Macrobrews are standard for Pete’s drinkers, but don’t miss the Braven Bushwick Lager.

Polka Dot

A gem in Greenpoint, this family-owned Polish deli will hit the spot at a very inexpensive price point. Pierogies, borscht, and potato pancakes are hot items, but this meat market is more of a meat mecca: The deli sells more than 20 house smoked, cured, and cooked meats. (Kielbasa is king.) It’s great for takeout, but there’s a small seating area if you’re too hungry to wait.

Saltie

Every imaginable bread and baked good — focaccia, muffins, brioche, the list goes on — makes Saltie a step above your average sandwich shop and cafe. Owner Caroline Fidanza has inspired a cult following for Saltie, and for good reason: Try the best-selling Scuttlebutt, with hard boiled egg, feta, olives, capers, pickles, and pimenton aioli served on a freshly baked focaccia loaf. The iced coffee, particularly the iced New England, is not to be missed, either.

Sottocasa

Neapolitan wood-fired pizza has tough competition in Brooklyn, but Sottocasa rises to the challenge. Gooey mozzarella, ripe plum tomatoes, and a crispy crust — what more could you want? They’ve got beer and wine, too, and even Italian sodas.

Related Maps

Spiritzenhaus

This massive beer garden-slash-pretzel and Belgian fry heaven is an easy stop after a Saturday afternoon in at MOFAD Lab. The tap list has plenty of German brews but a few domestic and local choices too, like the Brooklyn Sorachi Ace. You’ll never be more happy to munch on a Sigmund’s pretzel, especially with one of the many dipping sauces to choose from. (We like the jalapeno mustard aioli and the curry ketchup.)

Vine Wine

This Williamsburg corner shop specializes in small-production, natural, and biodynamic wines. Tastings are a regular Wednesday occurrence, so stop in for a sip of an off-the-beaten-path wine or spirit. Plenty of up-and-coming wine regions are featured, plus there’s an ample $15-and-under selection.

Related Maps