Ah, Brooklyn. The new, cool, hip place to geotag on Snapchat and Instagram. A mere subway ride away from Manhattan, Brooklyn is the new HBIC (head bitch in charge). Even if you don’t have a reason to trek over to the BK, the food is enough. Check out Spoon’s comprehensive list of the dopest brunch, lunch, dinner, happy hour, and dessert spots in Jay-Z’s hometown.
Best Brunch Spots
Char No. 4
Southern brunch just sounds right. Picture fresh biscuits, fluffy pancakes, and dank brisket. This place is also known for it’s whiskey dranks so get ready to down a couple (or 7) Chipotle-bourbon Bloody Mary’s.
Lobster Joint
Lobster roll, cup of wine, and cole slaw at The Lobster Joint in Greenpoint @immaculateinfat #bkwegrubhard A photo posted by @euhana on Sep 30, 2012 at 3:29pm PDT
Pre-fixe menus rule because they stop you from drunk ordering everything on the menu (we’ve all been there). For just $21, the LJ will serve up Lobster Rancheros and fresh-as-hell Mimosas. Into it.
Five Leaves
A photo posted by Marc! At the Disco (@marcxor) on Jul 12, 2015 at 7:18am PDT
Five Leaves is where you go to impress your parents or boss or future in-laws. It’s definitely more upscale with dishes such as a Moroccan scramble with merguez sausage, spiced chickpeas and avocado. (Does anyone know how to pronounce merguez??) Sometimes it’s nice to switch the boozy brunch up with a place that’s a tad nicer.
Best Lunch Spots
Little Muenster
Starting my work week off right A photo posted by @snacksaftersundown on Jun 23, 2014 at 6:52am PDT
Cheese, plz. This grilled cheese joint serves up gourmet sandwiches such as asiago with butternut squash and candied bacon. And it’s ain’t even that pricey. Lunch for less than $10 in NYC is hard to come by these days, so don’t pass up on this opportunity.
Peas & Pickles
A photo posted by A.I.R. Gallery (@airgallery) on Mar 11, 2015 at 9:11am PDT
Peas & Pickles is essentially a grocery store, BUT, it also has dope grab & go options if you’re in a rush. They apparently have an outrageous selection of chips and drinks (which are almost as important as the actual lunch item).
AlMar
Grilled octopus antipasti #octopus #salad #yummy #nyc #newyorkfood #almardumbo #restaurant #latepost #latergram #food #foodporn #foodies #instafood #foodgasm #foodlover #dinner A photo posted by C a r m e n (@caarmenn.93) on Jul 11, 2015 at 8:04pm PDT
AlMar is like the cool-hip-Brooklyn cousin of Panera. They have a $10 lunch combo (similar to Panera’s pick two) that lets you pick between a small salad, soup, and half a sandwich. Be warned: you will probably be chugging their chickpea soup because it is that tasty.
Best Dinner Spots
Arrogant Swine
A photo posted by Tyson Ho (@arrogantswine) on Jun 30, 2015 at 10:29am PDT
Awesome name: Check. Awesome Food: Double check. This BBQ-joint is Carolina-style which means they’re using the whole hog. Maybe not the best place to bring your vegetarian significant other…
Berg’n
Welcome @bunkervietnamese! (photo credit: @jrbutler69) #bergnbk A photo posted by Berg’n Beer Hall (@bergnbk) on Jun 30, 2015 at 10:41am PDT
Do you fancy yourself a trendy hipster who enjoys beer halls and unique dishes? Well look no further, cause Berg’n has got you. This place was founded by the people who created Smorgasburg so you know that food is going to be outrageously good. You may need to unbutton that top button of your jeans.
Marlow and Sons
Sweet corn & cherry tomato tart.
A photo posted by Marlow & Sons (@marlowandsons) on Jul 9, 2015 at 7:15am PDT
Even though people don’t go on dates anymore, this place would be perfect for one. The dining room is darkly lit and the menu is small with locally-sourced food. You won’t even be tempted to take a snapchat since you’ll be too distracted by the awesome food and company.
Best Happy Hour Spots
Soft Spot
A photo posted by Brokelyn.com (@brokelyn) on Jun 13, 2015 at 12:26pm PDT
Get ready to get #wasted with 2 for 1 draft and well drinks everyday. Yeah, you read that right. 2 for 1 draft and well drinks everyday. With a cool mediterranean feel, this is one happy hour.
Baby’s All Right
A photo posted by Baby’s All Right (@babysallright) on Jul 9, 2015 at 4:08pm PDT
This place is chillllllllll and their happy hour is even chiller (chillier?) We’re talkin’ $1 tacos and $3 “Pink Baby’s” which is essentially pink grapefruit, vodka, and mate. Yum.
The Diamond
Kolsch kind of Sunday with @tomrenn1, @mmchabot, and Tim. #brooklyn #greenpoint #beer #kolsch
A photo posted by Nick Lumba (@nlumba) on Jun 28, 2015 at 4:15pm PDT
Shuffleboard and a great beer list makes for one very happy hour. If you want to pretend to be classy, they have $3 glasses of wine for happy hour as well as $3-$5 beers which is a bargain.
Best Dessert Spots
The Chocolate Room
A photo posted by The Chocolate Room Brooklyn (@thechocolateroombrooklyn) on Jun 2, 2015 at 8:22am PDT
This place boasts, yep, you guessed it, chocolate. In my opinion, if a dessert doesn’t have chocolate in it, I don’t give it the time of day. Try a milk chocolate, peanut-butter, sea-salt cookie for that sweet/salty fix.
Momofuku Milk Bar
A photo posted by Kettle (@kettlenyc) on Jul 17, 2015 at 1:34pm PDT
You already knew this insta-worthy hotspot was gonna make this list. Thank the Momofuku gods for opening up a storefront in Brooklyn so we can get their tasty soft-serve whenever, wherever (cue Shakira).
Just-Desserts
If you’re over the standard ice cream, cake, cookie, etc. for dessert, then Just-Desserts is the spot for something completely different. From grass jelly with mixed fruits to red bean coconut pudding, you’ll be so distracted by the amazingness of it that you won’t even remember to google what the hell grass jelly really is.