Guidebook for Brooklyn
Food Scene
Da Francesco was established by executive chef Francesco Cuozzo. His cuisine is influenced by his Italian heritage and exposure to European cuisine. Da Francesco prides itself in using only the finest and freshest ingredients imported from Italy. At Da Francesco you will be introduced to traditional, as well as innovative dishes including fresh homemade pastas, decadent entrees and classic desserts, which all can be paired with a wine from our eclectic collection. You will experience an inviting and memorable meal when you dine at Da Francesco. Find out more on their website, http://www.dafrancescobk.com/
15 locals recommend
Da Francesco
442 Graham AveDa Francesco was established by executive chef Francesco Cuozzo. His cuisine is influenced by his Italian heritage and exposure to European cuisine. Da Francesco prides itself in using only the finest and freshest ingredients imported from Italy. At Da Francesco you will be introduced to traditional, as well as innovative dishes including fresh homemade pastas, decadent entrees and classic desserts, which all can be paired with a wine from our eclectic collection. You will experience an inviting and memorable meal when you dine at Da Francesco. Find out more on their website, http://www.dafrancescobk.com/
Drinks & Nightlife
First came the gastropub, an import from Britain featuring upmarket pub grub in an ale-drinking setting. Now, welcome the gastrodive, which further blurs the lines between restaurant and bar. The Commodore in Williamsburg, with its old arcade games, Schlitz in a can and stereo pumping out the Knight Rider theme song, offers the city’s best cheap-ass bar eats, served in a seedy venue where folks come to get blotto. The short menu—with descriptions as curt as the service you’ll encounter while ordering your food from the bartender—reads like a classic collection of fryolator junk. But the “hot fish” sandwich, for one, is a fresh, flaky, cayenne-rubbed catfish fillet poking out of both sides of a butter-griddled sesame-seed roll. “Pork du jour” turned out to be two soft buns filled with a delicious mix of pinto beans, sweet-spicy barbecued pork and vinegary slaw. Chef Stephen Tanner, formerly of Egg and Pies ’n’ Thighs, heads the kitchen, cooking up fried chicken that trumps even that of his former employers—three fat thighs with extra-crisp, peppery skin and tender brined flesh, served with thimbles of sweet-and-spicy vinegar sauce and biscuits with soft honey butter. Even the thick fries are a superior product—right in the sweet spot between soggy and crisp. While the Commodore, with its fatty foods and blender drinks, would hardly qualify as a destination for dieters—the house libation is a frozen piña colada—Tanner and his crew do a fine job of keeping vegetarians happy. In addition to the creamy, gooey “adult cheese” sandwich—oozing pimento cheese made in house with poblano peppers—there are beautiful seasonal salads and vegetable sides (lemony rainbow chard and buttermilk-dressed snap peas on one recent visit). The Commodore serves no dessert—the only sweet stuff on hand is slushy booze. But if you keep on drinking and require more sustenance, Tanner’s got you covered with a fortifying bowl of posole—exceptional hangover preemption, thick with hominy and tender poached chicken. Find out more on their website, http://www.thecommodorebrooklyn.com/
229 locals recommend
The Commodore
366 Metropolitan AveFirst came the gastropub, an import from Britain featuring upmarket pub grub in an ale-drinking setting. Now, welcome the gastrodive, which further blurs the lines between restaurant and bar. The Commodore in Williamsburg, with its old arcade games, Schlitz in a can and stereo pumping out the Knight Rider theme song, offers the city’s best cheap-ass bar eats, served in a seedy venue where folks come to get blotto. The short menu—with descriptions as curt as the service you’ll encounter while ordering your food from the bartender—reads like a classic collection of fryolator junk. But the “hot fish” sandwich, for one, is a fresh, flaky, cayenne-rubbed catfish fillet poking out of both sides of a butter-griddled sesame-seed roll. “Pork du jour” turned out to be two soft buns filled with a delicious mix of pinto beans, sweet-spicy barbecued pork and vinegary slaw. Chef Stephen Tanner, formerly of Egg and Pies ’n’ Thighs, heads the kitchen, cooking up fried chicken that trumps even that of his former employers—three fat thighs with extra-crisp, peppery skin and tender brined flesh, served with thimbles of sweet-and-spicy vinegar sauce and biscuits with soft honey butter. Even the thick fries are a superior product—right in the sweet spot between soggy and crisp. While the Commodore, with its fatty foods and blender drinks, would hardly qualify as a destination for dieters—the house libation is a frozen piña colada—Tanner and his crew do a fine job of keeping vegetarians happy. In addition to the creamy, gooey “adult cheese” sandwich—oozing pimento cheese made in house with poblano peppers—there are beautiful seasonal salads and vegetable sides (lemony rainbow chard and buttermilk-dressed snap peas on one recent visit). The Commodore serves no dessert—the only sweet stuff on hand is slushy booze. But if you keep on drinking and require more sustenance, Tanner’s got you covered with a fortifying bowl of posole—exceptional hangover preemption, thick with hominy and tender poached chicken. Find out more on their website, http://www.thecommodorebrooklyn.com/
This multiroom dance club, located next to the Wythe Hotel in North Williamsburg, was hailed as the savior of NYC nightlife even before it opened. Time will tell if that's even close to being true—but in the meantime, enjoy its great sound system and firm commitment to the underground, both in its house- and techno-heavy booking policy and general lack of bottle-service inanity. Find out more on their website, http://outputclub.com/
399 locals recommend
Output
74 Wythe AveThis multiroom dance club, located next to the Wythe Hotel in North Williamsburg, was hailed as the savior of NYC nightlife even before it opened. Time will tell if that's even close to being true—but in the meantime, enjoy its great sound system and firm commitment to the underground, both in its house- and techno-heavy booking policy and general lack of bottle-service inanity. Find out more on their website, http://outputclub.com/
Sightseeing
START WITH AN EXPERIENCE UNLIKE ANY OTHER. Positioned on top of the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere, on levels 100, 101, and 102 of the 1,776 foot tall One World Trade Center building, One World Observatory™ provides unique, panoramic views of New York City, its most iconic sites, and surrounding waters. Find out more and buy tickets online: https://oneworldobservatory.com/about-owo/
215 locals recommend
One World Observatory
117 West StSTART WITH AN EXPERIENCE UNLIKE ANY OTHER. Positioned on top of the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere, on levels 100, 101, and 102 of the 1,776 foot tall One World Trade Center building, One World Observatory™ provides unique, panoramic views of New York City, its most iconic sites, and surrounding waters. Find out more and buy tickets online: https://oneworldobservatory.com/about-owo/
Parks & Nature
When Brooklyn Botanic Garden was founded more than a century ago, New York City area was quickly being developed into a cityscape of buildings and paved roads. Creating a public garden was one way to ensure that some green space remained. Today, the Garden has come to represent the very best in urban gardening and horticultural display. Find out more on their website, http://www.bbg.org/
2030 locals recommend
Brooklyn Botanic Garden
990 Washington AveWhen Brooklyn Botanic Garden was founded more than a century ago, New York City area was quickly being developed into a cityscape of buildings and paved roads. Creating a public garden was one way to ensure that some green space remained. Today, the Garden has come to represent the very best in urban gardening and horticultural display. Find out more on their website, http://www.bbg.org/
Arts & Culture
The mission of the Brooklyn Museum is to act as a bridge between the rich artistic heritage of world cultures, as embodied in its collections, and the unique experience of each visitor. Dedicated to the primacy of the visitor experience, committed to excellence in every aspect of its collections and programs, and drawing on both new and traditional tools of communication, interpretation, and presentation, the Museum aims to serve its diverse public as a dynamic, innovative, and welcoming center for learning through the visual arts. Find out more on their website, https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/
3011 locals recommend
Brooklyn Museum
200 Eastern PkwyThe mission of the Brooklyn Museum is to act as a bridge between the rich artistic heritage of world cultures, as embodied in its collections, and the unique experience of each visitor. Dedicated to the primacy of the visitor experience, committed to excellence in every aspect of its collections and programs, and drawing on both new and traditional tools of communication, interpretation, and presentation, the Museum aims to serve its diverse public as a dynamic, innovative, and welcoming center for learning through the visual arts. Find out more on their website, https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/
Essentials
A very nice supermarket located only 2 blocks away, it has everything you need.
129 locals recommend
Met Foodmarkets
131 Driggs AveA very nice supermarket located only 2 blocks away, it has everything you need.
Great neighborhood laundromat with wash & fold service for $1/lb.
23 locals recommend
Bubble Laundromat
400 Graham AveGreat neighborhood laundromat with wash & fold service for $1/lb.